fresh picked whimsy

Looking back

I've been busy, busy, busy working on the book illustrations, so i thought i would break out the old portfolio and post a few pictures of some murals i've done in the past.  I apologize for the poor photo quality on some of them.  Some of these were done a few years ago, before I had a fantastic digital camera.

This vineyard scene was painted inside one of those newer homes builder's niches that nobody knows what to do with.   

A jungle in a child's playroom

This window is painted in my own laundry room.  It's a tiny little room with no window, so I made one myself!

   

Yellow Monday, Week 11

What to do with those stale Peeps?...make s'mores!  Mark built a backyard fire on Saturday night for the kids to roast peeps.  The sugar carmelizes on the outside and the marshmallow gets gooey on the inside.

Oooooooh.....Ahhhhhhhh

Going through blog withdrawl

Where have I been?????

Well, far away from my computer, and definitely very far away from my creative life.  That's for sure.  In your wildest dreams, i bet you'd never guess.  I've been working for the last 3 days downtown Indy for the Indiana Dental Association at their convention.  I do it each year with my girlfriend and my sister.  We always have fun and it's easy work for fat cash.  But, it does turn my family life upside down for those 3 days and leaves no time for creativity.  Nope...molars, cavities and floss do not inspire me.  So, i'm glad my stint with the tooth docs is over for the year.   

When not at the convention, here is how i spent my time over the last few days:

Cheering R on...

Cheering G on...

and finding these mostly-abandoned homes in the garden...

I'm exhausted and need to recharge my batteries.  I promise to jump back in and meet you back here tomorrow!  Time for a snooze...

K took this picture of Kismet and i just love it. 

Illustration Friday: Primitive

Primitive 1980's style

Debbie didn't really need to make a call.  She just wanted the girls to see her talking on her new cell phone.  "They will be soooooooo jealous", she thought to herself! 

As a parent of a teen and a tween, i am constantly being schooled in the latest technology and trends.  So, when i read that primitive was the IF subject this week, i instantly thought of how my kids think that growing up in the 80's was primitive.

Original painted in watercolor.

Happy Earth Day!

This is an original watercolor inspired by Earth Day.  Wishing you and yours a very green day!

Yellow Monday, Week 10

...tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff...

He was my first love.  He has been with me from the beginning.  Him and a sweet stuffed cow named Elsie (who has since disintegrated and is currently, sadly, in a plastic bag).  This Pooh was my childhood bedtime companion.  He went away with me to college and has been loved on by all three of my babies.  I think he is the reason why I am drawn to softies/plushies.  Good ol' Pooh.

This is the latest WIP (work in progress - in blogland lingo). 

I drew up these patterns for sea creatures softies.  My mom is sewing them.  We are a beach-loving family...every last one of us.  It was Mom's awesome idea to make them in the first place.  We love all things nautical.  Another fun mother-daughter joint venture!  Stay tuned for the finished product! 

I listed some of my watercolor "ocean of feelings" ACEOs in my etsy shop last night.  I've got a few more to load in this morning.  I've got so many ideas in my head and not enough hours in the day!  Have a great Monday!

Go call your Nana!

Today would have been my Nana's 94th birthday.  (That's her in the photo above) She passed away 4 years ago.  My parents shared with me recently that they believe she would be so unbelievably proud of me and my artistic accomplishments.  She was an artist.  An amazing artist.  My grandfather's house is filled wall-to-wall with her paintings.  I feel so incredibly blessed to have been given her artistic gift.  I have a box of art supplies that were hers which I keep in my studio for inspiration.  Inside, among the trowels and paintbrushes, are her handwritten notes from painting classes which she took when she was younger.  I cherish them. 

She was my little Italian grandmother who loved me unconditionally.  And, yes, i do believe she is with me here in this studio.  If you are lucky enough to still have your grandmother(s), go call her right now.  I wish I could. 

Now...i don't want to end this entry on a sad note.  So, I'm going to leave it with this photo of Nana and I taken many years ago.  It's one of my absolute favorites! :-) 

A whole lotta shakin' going on!

I don't know if you heard, but we had an earthquake this morning.  This is a doodle of my 3 kids, the dog and I on my bed as it's happening.  Of course, my husband was out of town on business.  It lasted about 45 seconds and the kids came running in one by one.  Here in this neck of the woods (the midwest), this almost never happens.  We do have a major faultline running under our state, but it's quite inactive.  Although, we have been warned that "the big one" will come one day.  This earthquake woke us up at 5:39 a.m. and completely wigged us out!  I'm sure anyone who lives in California thinks we are the biggest bunch of wimps...making a big deal out of this.  But, for us, it was a major event.  Indiana is buzzing about this quake.  It registered 5.4 on the richter scale.  Thankfully, there was no damage, just a wild and crazy wake up call!

Illustration Friday: FAIL

"You go first"..."No, you go first"

This is my very first submission for Illustration Friday.  It is a website that is a weekly illustration challenge.  Every Friday a topic is posted (which is selected from participant's e-mail suggestions) and then participants have all week to come up with their own interpretation using any type of medium they choose. It's a great exercise to get your creative juices flowing.  I'm going to challenge myself to participate weekly and i'll post my submissions here.  This weeks topic is FAIL.  If you go to www.illustrationfriday.com you can see other's submissions, too. 

How do you feel today?

I painted these watercolors last night.  They are ACEOs/art cards...2.5 x 3.5 inches each.  I plan to add to the series, but ran out of steam around 11:30 p.m.  Which one are you today?