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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Inspiration Avenue - Self Portrait

The prompt this week over at Inspiration Avenue is Self Portrait.
Here is my version of my self portrait.
If I am home and in my studio,
I usually have on my pink fleece from Lilly Pulitzer, which I bought in Maine, 8 years ago
...it's my favorite sweatshirt in the whole wide world!
 I would wear it everywhere if I could!
It's bright pink!
My kids are usually glued by my side, and I always have my Starbucks cup with me!
So,  that's me!
Ok, maybe I left out a few wrinkles here and there....

Have a great day, my friends!
xo

For more inspiration avenue pop over here

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Creative Tuesdays - Spring

First signs of Spring
begin with baby faces,
tiny and small
filled with
innocence and love.
This is my entry for Creative Tuesdays.
Put a little 'spring' in your step over at Mr. Toast's blog.
 This week's theme, is all about SPRING!
See you there!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sunday Sketches - Madeline and Monet



Today is Sunday and it's time for Sunday Sketches, with Sophia over at The Blue Chair Diary. Here is a quick sketch of Madeline reading about one of her favorite artists, Claude Monet.

We were lucky to see many of Monet's works of art, yesterday when we visited The Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York City.

I would love to create a story about Madeline's Adventures at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I spent the day there with my family yesterday - and thought it would make such a great idea for a children's book...especially since Madeline loves art so much. There sure were a lot of beautiful pieces of art to see. Of course, there would be a follow up book, Madeline visits The Louvre, in Paris as well. Madeline does love France after all, oui oui.

There was so much to see at The Museum.


Have you ever been?
I can't wait to go back!
So, grab a pencil and a sketch pad and come join us at Sunday Sketches!
See you there

Friday, March 25, 2011

Paint Party Friday - Miss E. Bunny

Miss E. Bunny
7"x9"
Watercolor on paper

Hippity hop, good morning, and happy Friday.
It's time for Paint Party Friday, with Kristin and Eva. So, grab a paint brush and hop on over here.
 It's all about what you might be working on this week...in any painting medium.

 This little bunny is enjoying having her picture painted this week, but she was a little disappointed when the artist stuck her with the carrots rather than the chocolate eggs she had been hoping for....oh well.

- I hope you enjoy her!
She's now available here.
See you at the party!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

To call or not to call?

I
"I remember when I was growing up the rule was, don't call anyone after 10 p.m.
 now the rule, is don't call anyone ...EVER"
Jonathan Adler
This quote make me laugh out loud when I read it in Sunday's Style Section of the New York Times. It's taken from an article appropriately titled,  "Don't Call Me, I Won't Call You."
The gist of the story is that modern forms of communication like emailing and texting have taken over in popularity versus the good-old fashioned telephone call.
 Ring...Ring...
has been substituted with,
You've Got Mail...
The article goes on to say that actually answering a cell phone is rather annoying, too - it's like who wants to run to find the phone and what if you are scrolling or composing an email?
So I go to thinking?
How much do I use the phone?

Nothing like I used to - my ear used to hurt from all the chit chatting I did!
Now,  it's easy to send a quick email or text, and I don't feel like I am interrupting anyone. People are so busy these days.
According to the article,  rather than a phone call from a friend or co-worker,  people are much more prone to email or text first, then follow through with a phone call, that is, only if necessary.
Using the telephone is left for emergencies, talking to your parents,
telemarketing sales people and school nurses. Some people have given up their land lines all together!

that's me with the pigtails, circa 1979
"are you off the phone yet, mommy?"

remember the long phone cords from the 1970s? They were great for jump rope or wrapping yourself up in!

So tell me, do you spend a lot of time "talking" on the phone?
Do you still have a land line in your home?
Do you still call your friends and family
or do you correspond via text or email?

I think I am going to give a good friend a call today!
have a good one!
See you tomorrow for Paint Party Friday!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

It's the color Purple....

Just wanted to share with you one of the MANY things I am working on this week.
Yes, it's a mood board for my youngest daughter's new room.
She's all about purple...and not just any purple as you can see, but bright purple...as Benjamin Moore calls it, Mystical Grape....to be exact
Well, in my Children's Writing and Illustration class, we recently talked about this mystical color.
According to my teacher, storybook editors look to purple as
quiet
shy
passionate
royal
with a touch of whimsy and wealth.
Hmmm? Not sure this purple is very quiet...BUT we will see when it goes up on the walls!
I actually like purple, it always reminds me of crocus and lilacs, and springtime,
how about you?
 How do you feel about
The Color Purple?





Sunday, March 20, 2011

Sunday Sketches - Just a Peek

A little peek inside Madeline's world this morning...for my friends over at Sunday Sketches.
Madeline is my mouse character that loves art, France and cheese!
Today is the first day of Spring and where else would a little mouse want to be but France?
Enjoy your Sunday, my friends.
I can't wait to see what you all have sketched this week.  It's been a fun week here in blog world!
So let's pop over to The Blue Chair Diary, and visit Sophia and friends!


PS - Did anyone else see that beautiful full moon last night? Amazing, wasn't it?

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Etsy Love - Heather Hingst

I want to share with you an artist, that I just love.
It's Heather Hingst -  
Stacked”
© 2011 Heather Hingst
6″ x 6″ oil on canvas board


...of Painted Chic
 I adore her work so very much. I wanted to share her new Etsy shop and website with you all!

"Paper Flowers"
© 2011 Heather Hingst
5" x 7"
Oil on Canvas

I hope you enjoy her work. You can visit her here, on her blog, 
 and find more delightful oil paintings, here, at her Etsy shop, Painted Chic
Stop by and say hello to Heather!

Enjoy your Satruday!


Friday, March 18, 2011

Paint Party Friday

Paint Party Friday
5" x 5"
Heather Stillufsen
Watercolor in Arches 140 lb coldpress paper

It's Friday!
I am so very excited,
two of my blog friends have started their own weekly art co-op appropriately called
Paint Party Friday.
A fun place to gather where we can check in on weekly paintings, progress and share ideas!
Today is their Launch Day, so let's go wish them good luck!
Let's go visit and say hello!
Don't forget your paint brushes!
I have completed these two small paintings last night.


"Love"
5" x 5"
Sold
Watercolor
Heather Stillufsen
wishing good fortune to those suffering from the
devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan

I can't wait!
See you there!

"Love"
is available here

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Think Green

May your blessings out number
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing

Think Green
mmm, starting my day with Green Bagels
and a visit from the Leprechaun....
How about you?
What are you up to today?





BE GREEN
BE HAPPY
BE CREATIVE

"This is a Leprechaun"
by Saylor
age 5 1/2



"Happy St. Patrick's Day"
by Summer\
age 8 1/2

Have a Great Day!






Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Creative Tuesdays - Breakfast

What's breakfast without Toast and Butter?
Usually my breakfast consists of a Venti Skim Misto from Starbucks, but on the weekends I like to splurge with a bit of Calandra bread toasted and smothered with Cabot butter
....and lots of it.
I love butter on pretty much everything!


Breakfast is the theme over at Creative Tuesday's today. Come join the fun!
See you there!


Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sunday Sketches - Just a little daydream....


Madeline the Mouse has been day dreaming this week of a trip to France. She would love to visit Giverny, and the home of Claude Monet, and munch on a fresh baguette with goat cheese....
How perfectly delightful...
(sigh)....a girl can dream....

...She'll have to wake up sometime, I guess....

I have been working on my Madeline character this week....I guess when I drew Madeline the Mouse daydreaming, she wasn't the only one....

For more Sunday Sketches pop over to The Blue Chair Diary, here...
Come join the fun!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Hello Peeps & Reeses' Eggs

Well, it's time to take the Christmas Studio illustration off the blog (over there on the side bar), ---goodbye gingerbread cookies, HELLO PEEPS and Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs -

This little illustration also features artwork from my kids - see it's hanging behind me! They wanted to put something on my blog, and I LOVE it! How sweet. I have LOTS of their work strewn around my studio - my little budding artists.

So, when it comes to spring candy -

are you a Peeps person or Reese's Chocolate Peanut Butter Egg person?

I must say, I can't resist a Reese's Egg!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Starbucks, is that you?

So, I just got back from Starbucks, ( YAY, I love it there!)
 and look what I got...
A Venti Skim Misto with ....
something new!
Yes, that's right....A New Logo Design

To celebrate 40 years of service, Starbucks has updated their logo...
Notice anything different?

What do you think?


It's growing on me,
 maybe I should go back for one more misto....




Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Illustration Friday- Warning

"Keep Out!"
said the warning sign on the door.
"Little brothers... ugh!!!," thought Percy Peroo....

For more Illustration Friday entries, pop on over, here
Have a great day!




Sunday, March 6, 2011

Sunday Sketches- Little Miss Q






It's Sunday, and it's time for Sunday Sketches. I love seeing what all of the Sunday Sketch participants have been working on throughout the week.  Really, seeing what other artists have spent their days creating is so much fun for me!

Currently, I am working on my story for my children's book illustration and writing class.

It's a little "love" story about the letters Q and U.
and, they meet in a bowl of SOUP.

Hot, right? Hee! Hee!

We are "storyboarding" this week. Here's a rough sketch, of Miss Q!

For more Sunday Sketches please do pop over to The Blue Chair Diary, here.
I will see you there....

Friday, March 4, 2011

In the Studio - Friday


I am joining in for the first time with Jennifer, over at Studio JRU - Sneek Peak Friday. What are you working on?

Yes, this is my desk, there are lots of pencils here...hee! And of course my Starbucks cup! I am working on a new header for my blog with Madeline the Mouse. Now that it's March, hopefully we won't be seeing anymore snow, time to change the blog header! Time for wind and the first signs of spring. Come over and visit at Studio JRU - See you there!  Come join us, it's fun to peek at what other artists are working on!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Creative Tuesdays - Bedtime


One of my favorite art challenges is Creative Tuesdays with Mr. Toast over at his blog, Hot Toast and Jam. It's a bi-weekly challenge and we are given a single word prompt. This week's prompt...is bedtime! Around my house, bedtime is a time for me and my girls to snuggle up and read a few of our favorite books together. We are currently reading Charlotte's Web and bedtime wouldn't be complete without a reading of Pinkalicious!
How about you, any favorite bedtime books?

Also, Madeline is getting ready to snuggle up in her little pink slippers and nightgown, just in time for bed.
She's now available, here.

So grab your slippers and cozy pj's and come join us over at Creative Tuesdays...
See you there!