Category: Art
Posts in this category include descriptions about my art, artwork, and collages.
Celebrate Grandparents Day with a Story and a Pocket Full of Memories
Grandparents Day: September 7th
Grandparents Day is definitely more than a date on the calendar—it’s a chance to slow down, share family stories, and strengthen the bonds between generations. Besides what better way to celebrate than with a heartfelt picture book and activities that spark connection?
That’s exactly what a new aws Studios picture book Lucy’s Pocket offers.
About the Book
Fia never met her great-grandmother, Lucy. Nevertheless, thanks to her grandmother Alis’ stories, she learns about a woman who followed her creativity, adapted when life changed course, and always carried a spark of joy.
In the beginning, Lucy dreamed of art school, but when that wasn’t possible, she attended beauty school instead, becoming the most beloved hairdresser at the Vanity Salon. One day, she treated herself to a beautiful fur coat—a coat that would quietly witness decades of family history.
Through marriages, children, and years tucked away in closets, the coat became a treasure trove of memories. Eventually, it was transformed into pillows for Lucy’s children and granddaughter Fia—who received the pillow with the coat’s pocket. Now Fia carries her own mementos everywhere, adding her chapter to the family story.
Perfect for Grandparents Day
This story celebrates family legacy, creativity, and the power of shared memories—themes that feel especially meaningful on Grandparents Day.
- As a gift: Grandchildren can give the book to their grandparents as a shared reading experience.
- As a memory-spark: The coat’s journey inspires families to talk about their own heirlooms, traditions, and special keepsakes.
- As an activity: The companion Reading Guide helps parents, homeschoolers, and teachers bring the story to life with creative, hands-on projects.
About the Reading Guide
The Reading Guide for “Lucy’s Pocket” includes:
- Discussion prompts to spark conversation about family history, keepsakes, and creativity.
- Hands-on activities like making a “memory pocket” pillow, drawing family memories, and creating Grandparents Day cards.
- Games like “What’s in the Pocket?” to make the concept of mementos interactive and fun.
- Craft extensions such as “Yarn Curls” inspired by Lucy’s salon days.
These activities are simple to set up, work well for ages 4–6, and can be adapted for classrooms, homeschool settings, or family gatherings.
For Parents & Homeschoolers
- Encourage your child to ask their grandparents about the objects in their home—every heirloom has a story.
- Use the “memory pocket” activity to help children understand the importance of preserving special moments.
- Read the story together over video call if grandparents live far away, then share the completed crafts by mail.
For Teachers
- Incorporate the book and guide into a Grandparents Day celebration at school.
- Invite grandparents or older relatives to visit and share their own family stories.
- Display children’s “memory pocket” projects in the classroom to spark conversations about heritage.
A Gift That Connects Generations
Whether it’s wrapped with a handmade card or paired with a craft from the reading guide, “Lucy’s Pocket” isn’t just a gift—it’s a way to create and share lasting memories.
This Grandparents Day let’s celebrate the stories that live in the objects we pass down, the memories we keep in our pockets, and the love that ties generations together.
What about you? We would love to hear about your stories of your grandparents or great grandparents
Read about how I used clip-art for the book’s illustrations!
You’re invited to my holiday gallery opening!
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“Apples for Cider” Picture Book Hero
New Online Art Gallery featuring Abstract Collage
Art and Mental Health
Hopefully, my readers know I write about both my art and mental health resources. If you are a new reader, well, there you have it – here at the “…Studios” you will get a little of both of my Gemini sides! With today’s post about my new online art gallery.
Helping Readers Navigate
I’ve tried to clarify about doing both art and mental health in my blogs over the past year. Still, I figured, subscribers and guests need an easier way to view my art.
New Online Art Gallery
As a result, I am unveiling my new online art gallery. The gallery is divided into six curated collections:
- Coastal Collection: abstract collage landscapes and other coastline art.
- Cozy Cabin: all things cabin and cozy!
- House and Home: interiors and exteriors in a variety of media.
- Fall and Farm: scenes from the Upstate New York countryside.
- Patterns: showcasing my vintage Apple Trees and Cores pattern and
- The Whimsicals: vintage pen and ink with watercolor characters.
While I currently work with recycled fabric and paper collage, each collection contains art I created using other media too. These include watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media.
Art and Mental Health
Viewing art is good for our mental health. Recently, I did this while visiting my sister in Boston. She treated my other sister and me to a day at the Museum of Fine Arts. Studies show that looking at art can can improve our mental health. This includes stress relief, improving mood, enhancing creativity, give a sense of relief, and improve social connections. Our “sisters trip” to the museum definitely improved our connections. We hadn’t done anything together with just “the sisters” since we were kids! Not only were we treated to the art, but we learned more about each other in the process.
Which is Your Favorite?
I hope you enjoy a look around my gallery. In “Comments,” I’d love to hear which is your favorite collection or art work. Or tell about your experience with art and mental health.
If you are interested in any of the art, email me at alis@awsstudios.art
As always, enjoy and thanks for reading –
New Picture Book about Apple-Picking!
(If you don’t see the newsletter, click on the blue “AfC Newsletter Announcement” and it should appear. You don’t have to download it unless you want to.)
Lessons Learned from My Print-On-Demand Journey
Dream Come True
When I found out I could have my original artwork reprinted on home and personal products, I was thrilled and excited. I have always wanted to share my “Apple Trees and Cores” design with others. But I wanted a way where I didn’t have to make multiples of the products myself. Enter Print-On-Demand. POD gives artists the ability to have their designs printed and not only on T-shirts and sweatshirts. The manufacturers also offer items like wall art and personal accessories. These include tote bags, purses, pillows, wrapping paper and even cell phone cases. (See the “Apple Trees and Cores” design products here.)
Whoops!
When I started designing products, I took time to learn the process. Unfortunately, when I laid out my ATC design for a purse, I thought the same design would be used on both sides. I didn’t realize I needed different designs for the front and back. When I got the final product, the front had my design, but the back was white.
Lesson Learned
I complained to the manufacturer only to learn that they were just following my direction. Since I didn’t specify a design for the back, it was left blank (which turned out to be white). I have since corrected this design error. The fun purse now happily displays the pattern on both front and back sides. Lessons earned from my Print-On-Demand journey. I must say, though, the one purse with the white-only back looks good. It looks like I planned it that way!
Guaranteed
I have learned the ins and outs of using POD to print products with my designs (though, I’m sure my learning is not over). If you ever have questions or concerns about a purchase from my shop, understand, I am here to make it right.
A New Etsy Art Shop Amidst Controversy
New Etsy Shop and Controversy
Just after opening my aws Studios art shop on Etsy, my husband heard a report on NPR about Etsy. The broadcast told of how the company was involved in a controversy. The hubbub is about how the online marketplace has been inundated with third-party sellers. These sellers may sell arts and crafts but they are not artists nor craftspeople themselves. From the beginning, Etsy has been known as a place for artisans to sell their art.
Of course! I thought – a controversy just when I took a chance to open a shop!
Going with Etsy
Controversy or not (read more about it here), I am sticking with Etsy. I chose the online marketplace as my shop host because of its experience and focus on artists. Around since 2005, I shopped on Etsy soon after it opened, finding it both a smooth and fun experience.
As an Etsy seller, I appreciate the ability to set up a shop where I can showcase my artwork. I also like having an online shop without the hassle and extra cost of doing it on my own. Thank you for this Etsy. Plus, the site offers me a lot of support. With its Marketplace dashboard, I can easily access things like my listings, orders, and financial account.
A Platform to Showcase Original Art
It’s unfortunate third-party sellers moved in to sell on Etsy. My new Etsy art shop amidst controversy will, many other true artisans, will stay open. We will continue to use the supportive platform to showcase our art.
How about you?
Are you an Etsy shopper? Seller? What are your experiences with the platform? Good? Bad? Let us know in the Comments section below.
Note: This is not a paid endorsement or otherwise. It is my opinion with transparency about my decision to use the Etsy marketplace.
New Picture Book Included in National Ag Curriculum
Lack of Rural Teaching Resources
Parents, homeschoolers, and preschool teachers often struggle to find picture books about rural agricultural areas where their students live. Because of this, educators must change what is available or go without. This causes extra work and leaves children missing out on important information about their home.
Efforts are being made to ensure citizens are agriculturally literate. This is necessary to have a society that values agriculture, makes informed decisions about the food they eat, and advocates for agriculture among other initiatives.
More Resources About Agriculture Needed
Parents and teachers want books for kids living in non-urban areas. They seek books related to local happenings. These educators want resources that speak specifically to the farming happening around their community. For example, kids living in rural areas see apple farming happening all around them. Their parents and teachers want picture books that cover life about orchards.
A New Picture Book with an Ag Theme
To tackle this issue, my picture book, Apples for Cider, is an agricultural resource for parents and teachers. It helps them bring their rural agriculture community into their homes. They can also integrate it into their classrooms. Apples… is one of many needed picture books about rural agricultural areas. Plus, the book is now part of the National Agriculture in the Classroom Curriculum Matrix. The Apples for Cider picture book is now a Companion Resource attached to three Matrix apple lessons:
Additionally…
The Apples for Cider Parent/Teacher Reading Guide will also be available for download. The Guide is another way to help educators when using a picture book to extend learning. The Reading Guide includes various prompts for discussion and activities including a:
- Social-emotional learning activity
- Collage-making activity
- Apple cider guide and
- Pastiche discussion and activity
Find Out More!
- About the Apples for Cider picture book
- See reviews of Apples for Cider here and
- Apples for Cider is now available on Amazon and, as always, at the
- aws Studios art Shop
Perfect Art for Empty Walls
Filling Space on a Large White Wall
Finding large original art to fill a wall frustrates even the savviest of interior decorators and designers. And, often, large art is too abstract for more relatable needs. As well as obtaining a perfect fit can take a while. With the holidays coming, many experience anxiety that their home or office won’t be ready. Time is running out.
Finding That Illusive Treasure
If this sounds like you, you don’t want to shop any longer. Furthermore, you want large original art and different from what other people have in their home or office. You’d like the art to go with your contemporary style and furnishings and for it to fill you with joy. You’d like guests and clients to notice the work and make positive comments. Additionally, you prefer art with mountains, especially the Adirondacks, a family favorite.
New Large Original Wall Art
“Blue Mountain Lake: A View from Castle Rock” is a new large original art collage from aws Studios. The large mountain art pleases the buyer who needs to fill a large wall in a home or office. An Adirondack landscape, the three 20”x 34” panels, or “triptych,” satisfies an art enthusiast’s love of the mountains. “Blue Mountain Lake: A View from Castle Rock” checks all the boxes:
- Art to fill a large wall
- Perfect for the contemporary home or office
- A good fit with modern furniture
- A representational abstract
- Unique collage art made with recycled fabrics
- Depicts the pastel colors of the distant mountains, the sparkling water of the lake, and the warm white viewing platform of Castle Rock
- Ships unframed. All panels together weigh less than 1 lb.
A Pleasing Conversation Piece
If you need art that will fill a large space in your home or office, “Blue Mountain Lake: A View from Castle Rock” fits the bill. The collage is a different mountain and lake landscape seen in most galleries. You will be proud and pleased and the envy of friends and family of this large stunning “conversation piece.”
The art is sold unframed. It is shown here in frames to give buyers an idea of how the art be placed in a home or office. If you have questions about this artwork or the shipping window, email me at: alis@awsstudios.art