Haystack Magic

Haystack Magic

There’s something really special about Haystack Mountain School of Crafts that I still haven’t been able to pin down. Maybe it’s the remoteness, the quiet, the ocean. I think a lot of it is the people, and the space to bring out the best in ourselves. Being at Haystack was like being on vacation, but one where I was inspired and craved making art and wanted to be in the studio, socializing, and being part of the world.

Haystack Mountain School is located right on the Atlantic Ocean. On the right, the deck between the Graphics and Fibers studios, where many students gathered to socialize and create art in the sun.

I love teaching and I love assisting teachers. When Tikva asked me to be her Technical Assistant for the Graphics class, I was honored and humbled that she asked me. Tikva and I met in graduate school at Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2014. We have kept in touch and collaborated over the years, and we got to have a grand reunion in Maine after not seeing one another for 6 years!

Left: a watercolor monotype fresh off the printing press. Right: adding water-soluble crayon to my monotype plates

Artwork ready for the Studio Walkthrough at the end of class. This is just a snippet of all the amazing art that the Graphics class made in their 2-week class.

Some of my favorite things at Haystack:

(list inspired by Alex Kalil!)

Nutritious food
Walking up and down hills
Quiet cabins
Fresh air
Access to tools and high quality materials
Being out in the sun
Rocks and moss
The library (open 24/7)
Limited cell service/internet
Finding connections with people
Being surrounded by artists
Meeting and working with staff members
Chewy coconut cookies
Jumping in the ocean on the solstice

Left: Tikva and I collaborated on these miniature diploma prints (made with watercolor monotypes,
linocut, and hand-drawn type). Right: Tikva and I hosted a 10-minute graduation ceremony for
Graphics students; Tikva hands me my diploma!

Sun prints

Some of the watercolor monotype prints I made at Haystack are now available as digital downloads on my Etsy site! They are printable art that you can purchase, download, print, and fit into your own 8x10 frame.

www.etsy.com/shop/redlentilpress

Putting 2 and 2 together

Tikva recently made this incredible video that describes her artmaking practice and printmaking process. I am obsessed. If you’re curious about the work we were making at Haystack, this is an incredible overview.

2024 Moon Calendars Now Available

2024 Moon Calendars Now Available

This year, I am celebrating 7 years of creating moon calendars! It has been a true joy to make these though the years, share them with people, and hear how they have been helpful in their lives. Each year, I learn more and more about the design process and how to make these simple and effective calendars.

Start fresh in 2024 with a handmade notebook that features the entire year according to the lunar calendar. These 13-month journals begin with the new moon in January 2024, and end in December 2024.

These are blank journals, helpful for recording what happens in your life according to the lunar cycle. Track things such as: when projects begin and end, when you meet new people, gratitude lists, daily happenings, and birthdays. Each person brings their own information and style while filling out the calendar - adding color, notes, shapes.

Here is a sample of how I fill out my calendar:

Each book includes 16 pages; the book measures 11in x 17in when open, printed on thick card stock. Printed and hand-bound in Cleveland, Ohio.

www.etsy.com/shop/redlentilpress

Have a great day,
- Em

Organizing in Autumn

This year, I started working as a professional organizer! It is so much fun working with my clients, clearing out home and business spaces, and organizing the items they love and utilize. I’ve learned so much and appreciate everyone I have worked with this year :) My favorite things to organize so far have been books, clothes, sentimental items, and storage spaces.

Here are some before and after photos of a pre-school storage closet that I organized. We went individually through every item in the closet. We grouped items that belonged together, decluttered some items that were no longer needed. Then, I found the right size bin, basket, or box - and found the right spot for each category in the storage closet. The final touch - adding labels.

2023 Moon Calendars

2023 Moon Calendars Now Available

This year, I am celebrating 6 years of creating moon calendars! It has been a true joy to make these though the years, share them with people, and hear how they have been helpful in their lives. Each year, I learn more and more about the design process and how to make these simple and effective calendars.

Start fresh in 2023 with a handmade notebook that features the entire year according to the lunar calendar. These 13-month journals begin with the new moon in January 2023, and end in December 2023.

These are blank journals, helpful for recording what happens in your life according to the lunar cycle. Track things such as: when projects begin and end, when you meet new people, gratitude lists, daily happenings, and birthdays. Each person brings their own information and style while filling out the calendar - adding color, notes, shapes.

Here is a sample of how I fill out my calendar:

Each book includes 16 pages; the book measures 11in x 17in when open, printed on thick card stock. Printed and hand-bound in Cleveland, Ohio.

www.etsy.com/shop/redlentilpress

Organize Your Home with Emily

I am happy to announce that I am now offering a ~new service~ in addition to my art, design, and zero waste work. I am working as a Professional Home Organizer!

Of course, I had to make a mini zine to describe the type of work I am doing:

I’ve been working with clients this year, and it’s been an amazing experience. I’ve been learning so much by working directly with people and helping them to organize areas of their homes and lives. I’ve also spent lots of times reading countless books on the subject, and taking an online course on becoming a Professional Home Organizer. It’s been so enlightening and lovely to hear how organizing has helped my clients!

Client Testimonial:

With Emily’s guidance, I became clear about the objects that really served me and reflected my intention. Not only has my decluttered wardrobe brought peace to my morning routine, but as I consider bringing new garments into my space I am able to employ the clarity and insight gleaned from my session with Emily.

Learn more on my website

Recycling Returns to Cleveland!

I’m happy to announce that recycling will be returning to Cleveland on June 13, 2022.

The Cleveland recycling program was put on pause in April 2020. If you’re curious about why it was put on pause, you can read more about it in the article I published in the Cleveland Catholic Worker newspaper in summer 2020.

In the meantime, Cleveland was doing an extensive recycling audit, finding a new company to work with, and recently signed a contract with Rumpke - who will now pick up recycling (and actually recycle it!) from Cleveland residents who opt-in to the program.

Your address must be enrolled in the City of Cleveland's recycling program to participate. You will receive a list of recyclable items, stickers to put on your blue bins, and educational information in the mail after enrollment.

Click here to opt-in to recycling in Cleveland

Patches from my 2016 show, “Trash Love”

Between April 2020 and June 2022, if you lived in Cleveland and were putting recycling into the blue containers, it was getting picked up and sent to the landfill.
But, if you opt-in (and put the new stickers from the welcome packet on your blue bin) your recyclables will now get picked up by recycling trucks and get recycled.

Starting the program fresh, in my opinion, was the best way to restart and properly educate residents on what can be recycled - starting small and building as they go.

Recycling infographic I made in 2019. This will be updated in the future to reflect the new recycling changes.

Recycling is not a perfect system. Metal, paper, and cardboard are valuable, sought-after materials and have the best chance of being recycled into new products. Glass is less valuable, and plastic even more so (only about 9% of plastic gets recycled, and it is always downcycled). There are alternatives for reducing consumption and waste, so that we are less dependent on recycling (that’s why I’m so into zero waste!).

Zero Waste Zines

In 2018, I completed the Cuyahoga County Master Recycler program.
During the course, I learned all about what can and cannot be recycled,
information on the recycling industry, and what resources are available
in the Cleveland area.

Additional Links

Here is information on the program from Sustainable Cleveland

Cleveland names Rumpke as recycling processor -
Press release from the City of Cleveland

Frequently Asked Questions from the City of Cleveland

The Dirt on the City’s New Opt-In Recycling Program from The Land

Imprint Zine Fair POSTPONED until May 21

The Imprint Zine Fair will now take place on Saturday, May 21, 2022
because of the rain anticipated this Saturday.

Vendors will be showing their art, books, and zines
from 1-5pm at Visible Voice Books in the Tremont neighborhood,
2258 Professor Ave, Cleveland OH 44113.

I’m teaching a Zine 101 Workshop
during the fair from 1-2pm!

This is a simple workshop on how to make a book with one
sheet of paper, one staple, scissors, and drawing utensils.
We will discuss what to make zines about,
why we make zines, and how we share zines.

My books and zines will be on sale,
including the first batch of 2023 Moon Calendars.

Imprint Art & Zine Fair

I’m happy to announce that I will be showing my books and zines at the Imprint Arts & Zine Fair on Saturday, May 14, 2022. My books and zines will be on sale, including the first batch of 2023 Moon Calendars. Hardbound notebooks, zero waste zines, and composting zines will also be available. You can take a look at some of my books on my Etsy site.

Come see all the awesome zine makers at the event! Come say hi to me at my table!

Learn more about the Imprint Arts Collective here. Located at Visible Voice Books in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. 2258 Professor Ave, Cleveland OH 44113.

The rain date for the event is Saturday May 21, 2022.

Zine Workshop at Imprint

I’m teaching a Zine 101 workshop at Imprint from 1-2pm. This is a simple workshop on how to make a book with one sheet of paper, one staple, scissors, and drawing utensils. We will discuss what to make zines about, why we make zines, and how we share zines. Hope to see you there :)