New Products and Giveaway!

I'm beyond excited to share with you 2 brand spanking new categories of Swell Papel products and 4 new products!  I have been working so hard lately and so I'm both ecstatic and exhausted!

Well, the first product that I'm really excited about is a 2014 Digital Calendar available as an instant download for only $6!

All you do is go to the shop, purchase this listing and download the file.  Once on your computer, you can print them on letter paper and cut them out.  It looks amazing displayed on an easel!

This calendar is also available for purchase as a printed calendar.

The next product is a 2014 Printed Calendar featuring the most popular Swell Papel prints and printed on fine art paper with pigment inks which make the prints POP from the paper!

Also, I'm offering any 5x7 versions of any of my prints!  They come in sets of 2 and you get to choose which ones you want!  These are perfect for those who don't want to commit to a large print and want something to bring a bit of color to their space!  Click here to go directly to the listing.

Finally, a reworked version of one of the prints nearest to my heart, it's titled HOME is where the HEART is.  

Please remember I ship worldwide, so don't hesitate to shop around.  A Paypal account is easy to set up if you don't have it already.

In celebration of all of this good news, I'm hosting a giveaway on Facebook!  Go to my page, find the post mentioning the giveaway and leave a comment.  Your name will be entered to win one of two prizes-

1) One digital file for personal use of Swell Papel's 2014 Digital Calendar*.

2) One 2014 Swell Papel Calendar, printed in fine art paper with archival inks and shipped wherever you want.

*By commenting on the giveaway post, you agree to the following terms-

1) This file is for personal use ONLY. You cannot redistribute it in any way (printed, digitally, etc).
2) You may not share, alter, sell, or re-sell this file. 
3) Electronic transmission to third parties is strictly prohibited.
4) Purchase does not transfer copyright to the buyer. You may not distribute, copy, or sell in any way.

A Little Bite of Love

Today I woke up with a craving for a dish that's been a favorite of mine forever, one that my mom used to make (and still does when she can)- pay de atún. 

And so after an early morning trip to the market, and in between baby's naps and other events of the day I began the different tasks- mixing, kneading, chopping, dicing, simmering, reducing, baking... And finally by dinner time, I had made a pretty darn good pay de atún. 

All throughout the day I thought of my mom, and how SHE carefully planned and flawlessly executed this recipe many times before me. I felt happy like I did way back when I came home from school and saw this dish on the table. There were many meals my parents and I shared and even though those days seem so far away, their memory is very near my heart.

So tonight I made pay de atún for my family in hopes that they can perhaps make memories like I once made. I hope that when they're older and perhaps have families of their own, that they strive to carry this on with the same warmth and love that I feel now because of my parents, those shared meals, and this recipe. 

PAY DE ATÚN

Preheat oven to 350. 

Crust

3 cups flour

2 bars of butter, room temperature

1 Philadelphia cheese block, room temperature

Mix ingredients with a fork and then with the hands. Knead until well mixed. Separate into 2, cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge for 1 hour. 

Roll out one of the parts for bottom crust, and the other for the top. 

---

Stuffing

1 tomato, no seeds, diced

2 cans tuna in water, drained

1 potato, diced and boiled 4 minutes

1 carrot, diced and boiled 4 minutes 

2 tbsp green bell pepper

2 tbsp pimento stuffed green olives

3/4 cup evaporated milk

Lightly cook the tomato in a bit of oil. Add tuna and stir for a bit. Then add the potato, carrot, pepper, and olives. Mix well and add the evaporated milk. Let reduce so that its not too liquid. Once reduced, let cool. 

Spoon the stuffing over the bottom crust, cover with top crust and seal the edges. Poke the top with a fork and bake for however long it takes for the crust to turn golden. 

Swell Papel Coupon

Well, hello there!

I just wanted to let you know that I'm running a promotion in the shop this week.  Enter coupon code HAPPYPRINTS1 when you check out and you'll receive 10% off your order of $32 or more! Coupon is valid only until August 5, 2013!

Also, I finally have a whopping 13" x 10" version of my best-selling Mountain Range No. 1 for sale!  I've always said I'm open to creating my prints in custom sizes, but I never actually thought that having this print in a larger size would actually make it more convenient for my customers.  Better late than never, huh?

Anyway, just look at the print... doesn't it look lovely?

Of Star Nurseries and A New Print

One of my favorite things to do to unwind before bed is watching science and nature documentaries.  One of my favorites is The Universe.  The Husband and I love learning about the Big Bang, pulsars, quasars, supernovae, and in general, what is going on out there... in big bad outer space.  It just blows my mind of how tiny we are in comparison to everything else that surrounds us.  

My new print, Nebula is a geometric reinterpretation of the clouds of space dust and gas in outer space that are the nurseries for new little baby stars.  My new mommy mode has made a sweet spot for all things baby and so, those huge patches of gas and light were a natural inspiration for my newest work.

Make sure to visit the shop and check out Nebula!

Open for Business

The shop is open again! Hurray!

I've decided to just go ahead and open since there have been endless delays with the addition we're building on our house (which includes my studio).  There's no sense in waiting any longer just because the built in desks aren't ready and most of my art supplies are in storage still.  

I'm not sure when I'll be able to make new work... I was so busy creating a HUMAN BEING for most of 2012 that all my creative.. ahem... juices... were used up.  But now that The Baby has been outta my body for 9 weeks, I think I can get back to creating new work in whatever time I can manage to spare. 

Ha.

Haha.

Spare time? I'm typing this entire post with one hand and while simultaneously nursing The Baby.

Clearly I must be delusional.

Here's a picture of what the studio looks looks like now-->

I'll be sure to post a picture once I set it up!

Little Update

I have been meaning to post forever. And after procrastinating for 18 months (18! Yikes!) I've decided that perhaps I should try to post more often... Ya think?!

Life is happening, dreams of years ago made to come true. Family, love, friendship, and growth. All of that sums up the past 18 months. We have a new bundle of joy who for 8 weeks has brought so much love to our lives. The boys, now 9 and 7 couldn't love him more or be more doting. I am just head over heels over this little boy who's changed my life in the best way possible. Things are good.

The shop is closed for now, but it'll open eventually. I am working on setting up a new studio and so that needs to be done before Swell Papel gears up for 2013.

Swell Papel is Out There

Hiya Internet!

I have had the good fortune and pleasure of being interviewed by Danielle from scribe & maker and the post is up today!

Please check out the interview here.

I will be back to posting regularly soon... promise!