Author Archives: TRISTA

November flew by in a blur, and now December has arrived in a burst of frosty colors here in Portland. December is also an interesting month for me. As I wrap up the year–literally wrap up orders, and figuratively wrap up ideas and projects–I’m already a few steps into new projects for 2025. It feelsContinue reading “shop your own shelves: secondhand gifts are the best”

I’ve been busy printing towels. Every towel is different because each shape is hand printed. So, nothing is placed exactly the same from towel to towel. Also, I mix my own paint colors, so each roll of paint shifts the color slightly as more white is picked up or more yellow is rolled into theContinue reading “print, print, print: then ship”

I did it! The shelves of my Etsy shop are fully stocked. Check out Carrot Condo on Etsy!!! Phew! My shop went from two available items to forty-one!! To organize things, I created categories. So you can either scroll through and explore the whole shop, or you can choose a category like “stickers,” or “originalContinue reading “from 2 items to 41: my online shop is stocked!”

Saturday, September 7th is International Vulture Awareness Day, which I would have NEVER known until I worked on Judy and Little Bear. Turkey Vultures play a key role in our story, as they do for Judy at her cabin, as well as for the ecosystem of the Metolius River area. These imposingly huge, beastly, hunchbackedContinue reading “you don’t have to know what you’re doing: turkey vultures, vivid paintings, & tasks”

A few weeks ago, I went to Bend, Oregon for a work retreat. I stayed with my friends LK and L. They gave me L’s home office as my bedroom and their dining room table as my work space. Their chihuahua Benny, however, was not on board with this. When I arrived Friday afternoon, heContinue reading “hidden landscapes: a dog, a quilt, a dining room table”

Shelly emailed me to say she wanted to talk with me about a project. Shelly had been an administrator at the college where I used to teach. Both out of habit as a faculty member approached by administration and out of admiration for her, I agreed to meet. Would I be interested in illustrating aContinue reading “thinking no: saying yes”

I have two jade plants. One keeps having yellow leaves that wither and fall off. Every morning, I sit near these jade plants and admire them while I drink a cup of coffee. But the yellow leaves worry me. It’s been happening for a couple of months. Last week, a friend stopped by and complimentedContinue reading “yellow leaves: new growth”

In January, I made a resolution to commit 15 hours a week to creative work for all of 2024. For the first three months, I managed 8-10 hours a week, but never 15. Plus, it took nearly an hour looking at the calendar to schedule. I convinced myself I had a strict boss and thatContinue reading “committing time & going digital”

You are invited to the 9th Annual CSA Share Fair on Sunday, March 3rd at The Redd in SE Portland. I will have a table there from 10am-1pm with brand-new creations. My new work illustrates some of the amazing food our farmers grow and raise, as well the home-cook’s power to transform ingredients into nourishing,Continue reading “new art, fresh food, & cardamom chai chicken??”

To our absolute delight, the Oregon Historical Society has invited us to be part of their Holiday Cheer event on Sunday, December 3, 2023 from 12PM – 4PM. This warm and welcoming event showcases Oregon authors and their most recent books in the beautiful lobby of the museum. Shelly and I will be there withContinue reading “holiday cheer event & madeleine marketplace”