Sleepytime Gal

No Favorite Things Friday today, friends. I've worked myself into a stupor this week - staying up too late, getting up too early, keeping up too busy in between the getting up and going to bed.

My grandpa always feel asleep listening to a huge stack of records. The guest room was right next door to his room so when I stayed over, I feel asleep listening to stuff like the song above. No wonder I have such a soft spot for music like this.

I guess I do have a favorite thing to share today...  a nap, which I am going to take right after I press the 'publish post' button at the bottom of this page. See you next week!

From my desk

As promised, here is a little peek at some new stuff I am working on at the moment. I've been playing around with pencils and patterns and just trying to let the wackiness flow a bit more. I've been longing for those days in my past (again) when I just made stuff just 'because'. Without thinking 'will someone buy this' or 'would someone hang this in their kitchen'? Etc. 

It is hard to explain but going to art school, and then design school, and then doing freelance design/illustration can at times suck all those core creative urges right on out of me.  Inasmuch as I am thankful for all that I have learned and been able to practice - I always come back to that need to just make art.

That's what I'm hoping you'll see here over the summer. No thinking - just doing. 

I think.

Etsy Wall Wednesday #9:

Music To My Ears  $40 18" x 12"  
{ High Quality Digital Print by Pam Wishbow }

Photographic Memory $20 8.2" x 11" 
{ Digital Print on archival paper by Zara Picken }

 

Matchbox Cars Case $20 8.5" x 11"

{ Print of original gouache painting by Amanda Kindregan } 

Beer $15  11.25 x 17 { Original Silk Screen Poster by Fred DiMeglio }

Happy Wall Wednesday one and all. I'm pretty much in love with all of these images found this week on Etsy. No real theme this week, maybe subliminally just things that make me happy: music, taking photos, playing with toys, and beer.

Take a hop over to these talented folks' Etsy shops or say hello on their blogs - what a super amazing bunch!

Back tomorrow with a sneak peek from my drawing table. Until then, hope your day includes one of the above.

July Giveaway Time!

I haven't done a giveaway in months! Sorry folks - my bad. In honor of summer (I'm still debating weather or not it really is summer in my corner of the world) I'm giving away a copy of Shine from my "Friendly Little Reminders" series. No matter where you live, this sunny little number is guaranteed to brighten up an otherwise sunless corner in anybody's home or office.

Shine is a  8 x 10 inch giclee (pronounced zhee-klay) print. Professionally printed in the US of A, on Legion Entrada Rag Bright 290 (a fine art, 100% cotton paper) and with Vivera Archival Inks, giving it an archival rating of 150 years. It will slide easily into any 8 x 10 inch frame (not included), leaving no excuses for blank boring walls. Shown here in the Room Essentials 8 x 10 frame available at Target for $17.00.

I'll be drawing a name from my newsletter subscriber list on Friday, July 15. Get your name on the list HERE! Volume 2 goes out Thursday!

Thrifty Treasures Party

Last week I ran across the fun blog Southern Hospitality and learned of their feature called "Thrifty Treasures Party" - bloggers from all over post photos of their recent thrifty finds. It is so much fun to see all the stuff people find and how it differs region to region. I had to join the party!

Here are my most recent treasures, some from a jumbo junk shop in Eastern Washington and some from the local Value Village. 

King and Queen salt and pepper shakers (above). They were marked as being from Japan in the 40s, and are HUGE. The King stands about 8" tall. He caught my eye first, with his wispy mustache and shiny crown. I had to rummage around to find his queen. She was on a completely different shelf. Reunited, and it feels so good. $12.

Russell Wright Creamer & Sugar Bowl with wooden lid. I had never seen this set with a wooden lid, most are ceramic. After doing some research I'm pretty sure it was added by someone else but I really love the wood and pink combo. $15 for the set

Russel Wright Pink cup and saucer. I love love love this cup. My morning cappuccino looks even better in it. $10

More men's shirts for my Year of Handmade challenge. Let's just say I had to go back to the drawing board on my project - thank goodness there are lots of men's shirts out there. These are very heavyweight 100% cotton Abercrombie shirts. Nice and boxy which means plenty of fabric. $6 / each

T-shirts for re-purposing. I have been loving Dana Willard's blog, Made. Dana is genius, and her ideas have been keeping me up late at night. She uses tee shirts and etc. to make adorable clothes for her kids. Her site is full of easy to follow tutorials for both boy and girl clothes. Since my kid has a wardrobe that would make SJP jealous, I am going to make some t-s for me. My seam ripper and I have been taking apart some of my favorite old shirts and making patterns. Exciting! $2-6 / each

That's it! This week promises to be another good one. Coming up: The Monthly Giveaway, A sneak peek at my next new print, Wall Wednesday, and other goodness. Thanks for stopping by.

Favorite Things Friday!

It is that time of the week again, folks! Time to recap some of my favorite stuff from this rather busy, fulfilling week.

1. Friends. I got to catch up with some of dearest pals this week and it was beyond lovely. I also witnessed my kiddo play with a preschool pal at the park this week. It was a huge milestone for her and so sweet to watch them talk and play together. Thank you miss Abby! Here's to friends old and new! These  adorable friends for your wine bottles by Sarah Neuburger of The Small Object caught my eye this week as well.  I have been a fan of Sarah's for years - all of her stuff is just plain awesome. Such an inspiration.  

2. Sewing. I've go so many projects going through my head after yesterday's Year of Handmade post, I had a hard time sleeping last night.

3.  Dining al fresco. I got to eat outside a lot this week and it is hands down one of my favorite things to do.

4. Penny pinching. Yep. you read that one right. After our budgetary meeting this week I was forced to think on a budget since we are saving up for some big ticket items (new car, new roof, and a studio) I have been shocked and plain grateful for all the creative ideas I am having as I (begin) embracing living on less dinero. I may be short on change, but not on ideas! Woot!

5. Popsicles. My big daily treat this week. Mine came from the store in a moment of desperation but you can find lots of DIY popsicle recipes here.

6. The Library. For having air conditioning and so very many ways to daydream an afternoon away.

What made you happy this week?

A Year of Handmade begins!

Yep. I was serious about those resolutions. This morning I dusted off my birthday calendar to address Mid-Year Resolution # 2 (send cards to family and friends) and realized that I have a few birthdays coming up for friends who I love giving gifts to. As I sat there I thinking about Resoultion #3 (give only handmade gifts) I thought, "why not start now?" Delayed gratification has never been my thing. 

So, off to the local  St.Vincent de Paul for a few men's cotton dress shirts. What will they become? I'll show you next week. They mark my official beginning of a Year of Handmade Gifts.

The dreaded "budget talk" happened last night and while it wasn't as bad as I anticipated I think this Year of Handmade Gifts challenge makes monetary cents (haha) along with just feeling a heck of a lot more meaningful. My brain is going nuts with possibilities, and I think I'm going to become better friends with my serger and sewing machine. Whoo-hoo!

For those of you who tune in for my art stuff - I realize it has been lacking in the past weeks. I'm very busy with freelance projects at the moment (theater poster mania!) - so you'll be seeing a bit more of this kind of stuff for a bit. Think of it as the stuff that keeps my creative juices flowing when I can't spend hours behind the computer. Stay tuned though - I will be adding new stuff to my shop - that is all just taking a bit longer right now. 

I hope you'll enjoy reading about this handmade challenge as the year goes on!