fresh picked whimsy

Tricks and treats from our house

Goblins gutting and carving.  This is serious business.

 

The annual simulation of pumpkin vomit.  He's all-boy:

 

Mark spends a lot of time every year meticulously pulling the slippery seeds out of the pulp so that we can season and toast them.  Yummy!

 

Ready for their close-up:

 

We are so excited because it's going to be a beautiful FRIDAY night for trick-or-treating!

 

This is the most stressful night of the year for our old gal, Kismet.  The doorbell ringing non-stop, the costumes, the masks...if i was one of those people who dressed their pets up for Halloween, she'd be dressed as a big scardey cat.  Poor, Kizzy.

 

Is there anything more fun than wax lips?  Plus it's an inexpensive way to decide whether or not to invest in having your lips plumped with collagen. 

 

Trick or treat at our house and you can pick your flavor...our ring pops trump your tootsie rolls any day...

 

G is going to be Slash {from Guns n Roses...thank you, Guitar Hero}...i had to buy him the big black hair wig and the top hat.  They have been sitting on my dining room table all week and every time i walk past the room, it looks like Slash's decapitated head in resting on my table.  Ewww.

 

Happy Halloween, everyone!  Have a wonderful, ghoulish night...be safe and have fun!

Illustration Friday: repair

 

It's been a while since i participated in IF, but when i read this week's topic was 'repair', i immediately thought about our country and how it is desperately in need of repair.  I don't, for one minute, assume to know how to repair it, but I love my country and long to see it strong and healthy once again.  God bless the USA.

What's in a name?

The recent celebrity baby boom has produced some very interesting baby names.  It seems they are trying to top one another with unusual names.  There's also a trend of bringing back some very old names that haven't been seen activity for a century or so.  Some examples:

• Cate Blanchett named her son Ignatius

• Amy Poehler just recently named her son Archie

• Gillian Anderson named her son Felix(she also has a son named Oscar...hello?...Felix and Oscar?...The Odd Couple...why would you do that???...she claims she had no idea...yeah, right)

I'm not saying these are bad names, just different.  It got me to thinking about my own name and how when i was little, i thought they were singing about me in church every Sunday.  You know..."Lori, Lori, halelujah..."  "Lori be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit"...i really did think they were saying that until I learned how to read and was greatly disappointed.

 

It also got me to thinking about a game we used to play with the kids all the time.  When we would go on vacation, or on a day trip somewhere...we would all get to pick a new name.  And then we would have to call that person by that name all day (or all week if on vacay).  K would inevitably pick a name like Brittany or Christina (back in their bubblegum days...not their scary days), R would always pick "Brian or Jake" (not really sure why) and G would be Elmo or Thomas or some other character name.  Mark and I would always go with ethnic names like (Chico & Juanita or Jean Luc & Chantal) just because it would crack us up to hear our kids calling us by those names!  Nobody around us knew they weren't our real names and the kids would giggle like crazy every time we called them by their "new" names.  It was our own little private family joke.  Now, 2 of them are teenagers (ok, one teenager and one almost teen) and too cool to play this game in public, but we have been known to play it in the car on a long road trip or on a holiday at home.  So, the next time your looking for some family giggles, give it try. 

...By the way, i also used to think those beautiful blue climbing vine flowers were "morning Lori's" not morning glories.  sigh

Sweet stamps

I want to share my excitement about an upcoming new venture for whimsy studios!  I've just inked my very first art licensing contract!  I've licensed some of my illustrations to a company that manufactures and sells stamps for scrapbooking and crafting.  Remember these guys?

 

They are just a few of my original illustrations that will be offered.  They will be sold at www.pinkpaperystudios.com and will also be available in my etsy store.  They will be clear stamps, not rubber.  Many stamp manufacturers are only producing clear stamps now, because they are easier to store and it makes it easier to see where you are stamping.  (I've been educating myself on all things stamping...can you tell?!)  Amy of www.pinkpaperystudios.com has been a wealth of information for me. 

The will be available soon and i will let you know as soon as they arrive...definitely in time for holiday shopping and crafting! :-) 

My happy place

My apologies for being gone so long, but i was so busy preparing for my magazine interview and photo shoot!  I can't even believe I just typed that!  I'm still in shock that it even happened!  So, everything's sparkly and pretty and put in it's place.  I must fess up and admit that it's not usually this tidy.  There's usually papers and sketches and paints all over the place.  So, before the messy artist gets back to work, let me show you around...

The table used to be in my grandparent's kitchen.  Many happy occasions were celbrated around this table and it's yellow and i love it.  The lamps are from IKEA and they make me happy.

 

This wall is like a candy store for me.  Come on over and paint with me!

"Pick me!, pick me!" 

   

My wall of inspiration...some of it is mine and some of it is just things that inspire me.  Bits of magazine clippings, photos, fun quotes and art.

 

Yup, that's a Christmas tree you see on my table.  I needed some inspiration while working on some holiday ideas.  I even had Christmas carols playing in the studio!  My kids thought i was nuts when they came home from school and heard them.  I agree, it is a little odd having the tree right next to the witch in my window.  :-)

This is a "laundry line" that Mark hung for me, so that i can lay out the pages to the book side by side.  Sometimes it's helpful to see the layout of the book and how it flows.  I've been laying it out on the floor, but then it has to be picked up before everyone gets home from school and it's just a hassle.  Yes, that's right...it's a little sneaky peeky of the book!

Things are percolating

  

Isn't 'percolating' a great word?  That's the perfect way to describe things in the studio right now.  There is so much to share with you over the next few weeks.  Everything with the book is so exciting.  We are close to printing time and have met with a lawyer to file our trademarks and copyrights.  I should be able to give you some sneak peaks really soon!  We've already begun to work on some events surrounding the launch of the book, too!

I am being interviewed by a local magazine about my art and my studio this week.  My sisters have been helping me get my studio organized and pretty for the photographer that they are sending from the magazine!  So much fun! 

It seems that my blog has had quite a jump in activity this week thanks to my blog being featured on www.tipjunkie.blogspot.com and www.sugardoodle.net .  Welcome to all the new visitors!  Leave me a comment or just say hi, if you feel like it.  I love making new blog friends!

Have a great day, everyone!

Color perfection

 

 

 

  

  

  

    

I took these photos a couple days ago at the park where G was having his soccer practice.  It was just before sunset and i was in awe of the colors.  The leaves have only just begun to change color here in my region of the country.  I couldn't wait to get my paints out.  Look out your window and be inspired today.  Better yet, go for a walk and soak it all in. 

Ten Things I'm loving right now

1.  These funky vintage dry cleaning hooks that my sister, Susan found for me at the Midland Antique Mall here in Carmel.  

2.  This ring from Stoopidgirl's etsy shop.  It is SO me.  Oh, how I hope that Santa Claus reads my blog.

3.  The song, "I'd Rather Be With You" from Joshua Radin.  He is amazing and i just love that he didn't like how the big music companies wanted him to compromise his music for the almighty buck so he decided to put his album out himself.  It's getting rave reviews and great sales.  I love it when the underdog wins!!!!  I am completely inspired by all kinds of music and always have my Ipod playing in my studio. 

4.  This retro coffee mug from Anthropologie that my sister, Kim gave me.  Hello, yellow.

5.  Dirt and diggers...is there a more perfect way to spend a sunny fall day when you are an 8 year old boy?

6.  This sweet and cozy needlefelted ring that i bought for my sister for her birthday from The Funky Felter's etsy shop.  She sent me a darling bonus hair clip in the package, too!

7.  The Nut Wizard!  We have several walnut trees on our property and they drop hundreds of these tennis ball size walnuts all over our yard and driveway that have to be picked up before we mow.  We think the Nut Wizard is just about the coolest invention ever!  What was once the most dreaded chore for my kids is now the chore everyone wants to do!

 

8.  "Makes Me Happy Fridays" on my friend, Jen's blog at Jen Bowles Design.  What a fun way to kickoff the weekend.  It's the inspiration behind this blog entry.

9.  Chili, soups, crockpot casseroles and anything with pumpkin in it.  YUM!

10.  Making s'mores on a chilly autumn night around the firepit in the backyard...or the "bombfire" as G calls it.

Are you off your nut?

"Frank's friends always suspected this might happen.  And, today it did...Frank finally flipped his lid."  {just having a little fun with the Wacom}

My father-in-law spent hours picking these little guys up in his yard this weekend.  When I heard, i asked him if i could please have some.  I suspect he thought i may have flipped my lid when i asked him for them.  But, being the sweet Duz that he is, he rescuted these cuties from his garbage dumpster for me.  Thanks, Duz!

Our blessed dog

They had a blessing of the pets today at our church.  It was short, simple and casual.  We brought Kismet because we thought the old gal could use a little blessing.  Don't get me wrong, she's as perfect as dogs come, but sometimes her halo is a little crooked.  She has been known to disobey her parents from time to time and really isn't very Christian-like when she chases the neighbor's cat.  And, being the good Catholic dog that she is, a little holy water couldn't hurt.  

There were probably 20 dogs there {and 2 cats}.  By the grace of God, there was NO barking, fighting or "accidents".  Kismet {on the right} even made a few new friends. 

May your furry companions be blessed today, too!