2.26.2009

Bunnies Find a Home

Truth be told, it was never a dog house. Pookie (the dog) was anxious to model it and I was anxious to share - before the bunnies were created.

A friend asked me if I had any sort of pattern for the house. I am happy to say "no". I am the architect, builder, interior designer and creator of little creatures. I even knitted the blanket on super small knitting needles. This is what I lay awake in bed at night and think about. I am planning on improving the process with the next little playhouse.


2.23.2009

Dog House


5"x4"x4" Matt Board and craft paper.

2.20.2009

Instinct - Illustration Friday

Instinct.
Very different from my cute little girls dancing, reading, chasing balloons and eating cupcakes. I don't feel versatile. I feel like a split personality. I'd like to illustrate cute, sweet, happy, fun, children's pictures. I'd like to avoid this mysterious weirdness that spills out of me. It flows so easily that it doesn't feel valid, but at the same time feels like it's supposed to be.

2.19.2009

Celebrate - Illustration Friday


I suppose I could call this post "Make It Sweet Part III". If you've read my blog before, you might realize I tend to celebrate with sugary sweets that I love to bake myself. Yes, I made that cupcake with creamy topping and ganache. I am in the process of making a double batch for the Daddy Daughter Girl Scout Dance. Yesterday it was brownies for the Science Fair. I think I need to either open a bakery or a rehab center for people who share my sugar addiction.

2.14.2009

Make it Sweet! Part II

One of my favorite things to do to celebrate Valentine's Day–strawberries dipped in chocolate. Mmmmmmmmm.

2.12.2009

Make It Sweet!


For Valentine's Day, Ellie wanted to take our famous rolled butter cookies to her class and include the recipe.  Just about everyone I know has requested this recipe after having tasted the cookies. So here it is for your enjoyment.

Rolled Butter Cookies
1/2 lb. butter (room temperature)
1 cup powdered sugar
2-1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon milk

Cream butter thoroughly. Gradually add sugar and mix well. Slowly add flour. Add vanilla and milk when flour is almost all added. Roll dough 1/4 - 1/2 inch thickness. Cut and bake at 325˚ for 12-15 minutes. Decorate with icing. 

So simple and delicious. 

Take the handmade pledge. I hear more references each year about Valentine's Day being a Hallmark holiday and people feeling pressured to buy stuff. Go against mainstream thinking and do what you want to do, not what you feel like you are supposed to do. Whether is a day of romance or friends or classmates, make it special in your own special way!

See this post and this post of last year's handmade cards. While linking, I see I made pretty much the same statement last year, as well as the same cookies.

peace [and love] 

2.11.2009

Wee Little Creature

This Wee Little Creature is about the size of my little pinky finger. I was going to go to bed early last night. I was actually in bed with a sketchbook at 9:30. After having done a couple of little doodles of how might sew a felt fairy, I got out of bed to sew. It was about midnight when I finally crawled back in bed.

2.05.2009

Thanks, Sharpie!


I was thrilled to have received a comment from the PR manager of Sharpie last week when I posted the photo of my impulsive drawing on my hand. Thanks, Sharpie! I also want to thank Sharpie Susan for noting that Sharpies are not tested for the use on skin and so it is not encouraged. I used the new Sharpie Pen, which I do love. It doesn't seem quite as toxic as the permanent markers, but I really don't think it's a good idea to write on yourself with any writing utensil. Although, a couple of times I have drawn a little temporary doodle on myself with an eyeliner pencil. I'm sure that would be okay. (See: What the Bleep Do We Know?) The Sharpie Fun I have resorted to is drawing mehndi on magazine hands. I did black out a tooth and draw a mustache, goatee and glasses on a beautiful fashion model, but that seemed both too crude and trite to post. The article on Intuition was from an October 2006 issue of Family Circle. It was a lovely reminder to trust yourself. In a nutshell – your subconscious mind holds plenty of useful information so don't over-analyze everything. Quiet your mind. Feel your gut. Listen to your heart.



2.02.2009

Winter Paintings

8x10 - mixed media
It would take more than a thousands words to try and describe this new body of work. I've already spent too much time editing my rambling about these new paintings. I suppose I could just say I am exploring materials and techniques and leave it at that. While I edit my words, I would like to post every painting because oftentimes my work feel strange and uncomfortable to me, but other people respond to it differently than I would expect.