vol.25

soar with your own wings- a new print!

It felt so good to finish up a print. :) I've been focusing so much on the overlays, and it felt really freeing to be working with an 8x10 sized "canvas" again. :) This is my first print of  2010! Hopefully it can be a reminder to start your year off right! You can find it here. If sold out, dont worry its more then likely been re-listed in the shop!

 

[detail shot]

[detail shot 2]
I really enjoyed this print! This is also the first print using some sketches I created for my Valentines cards. :) Which *SHOULD* be listed sometime next week! Btw- I'm so glad everyone is excited about the Valentines overlays. I hope to have those listed in the shop next month also. :)

Ok doke... this is kind of a quick post, but I have bunches of stuff to do today... clean...shop...laundry... :) fun fun!

Happy New Year- and a new set of overlays

2010? I'm still in denial. Where did 2009 go? It disappeared quicker then the a pack of polaroid film... and that's fast! :) I'm excited for the New Year. So many hopes and plans.   

Would you like a sneek peek at the next set of overlays planned to hit the shop sometime next week?

They're Valentines Overlays! This set is looking to be geared more for studio sessions. Particularly shots using a white backdrop. A quick way to add a little love and spice to a basic photo session. :)

Here are all 9 shapes. They're still being tested. I took a few out and replaced them with shapes I hope will be more versatile. :)

Whatcha think?!

p.s. I am slowly updating the overlays blog with new content. I posted this picture over there today...

along with a couple others using the Child's Play set. :)

.... hope you have a great weekend planned!

too cute thursday- hot air balloons

Some day it really would be neat to ride in a hot air balloon.... :)

Btw- HAPPY NEW YEAR! I cannot believe that this is the last day of 2009. Really its unbelievable how fast the year went... Anyhow I'm wishing you the very best, dreamiest New Year ever! :)

interior design inspiration- shades of gray

Isnt this picture the sweetest thing you've ever seen? I LOVE it. I couldnt seem to locate the original source for this picture, if you know where its from... please share!  I am really curious to read how they did the calendar. :) It looks like they tinted some chalkboard paint in various shades of gray, and painted the squares. I'm sure some masking off was done to get the straight squares... but I think this would be cute with imperfect squares too. :) When we sell our house and move... I am soo planning to do a gray and yellow theme. This idea works perfectly, and I just might implement it! :)

Art Wall

Have you heard of Art Wall? It was recently featured on decor8, as well as Apartment Therapy. Considering the site is only a few months old... news of Art Wall is spreading quick!

You can imagine how thrilled I was when Katie from "Art Wall" contacted me. She asked if I would be interested in having my customized tree print hung in the newly illustrated family room. I jetted on over, and instantly fell in love with the website design, and the entire concept in general. :) It is soo up my alley!

I think Katie's "about" page paints a pretty clear picture of the site, and her passion;

"Art Wall Online is a virtual display space created to exhibit the artwork of independent artists. The pieces are showcased in the form of an “Art Wall,” — an arrangement of artwork placed on a virtual wall. Each one is curated by proprietor Katie Stephenson. Everything is either made by hand or is a print of handmade work and is priced between $5 and $500. Art Wall is not a shop, but a curated gallery. If you are interested in purchasing a piece, click on your selection to view the artist’s page, then click again to be directed to the artist’s own shop. Be sure to check back often, as new Art Walls are added every month."

The rooms are illustrated by Jessica Gonacha Swift and I think she did an excellent job! Each room is based on actual corners of Katie's home. Love that!

If you are planning your own art wall, then Katie has a few rooms you can hopefully pull some ideas from. :) Oh! and don't forget to check out the Art Wall blog for a steady stream of inspiration!

Valentines Cards sneek peek- and a giveaway!

Ok, so I received a boost of inspiration from somewhere.... I actually finished the Valentines cards last night and I'm now on the lookout for some some seals. So, they should definitely be listed in the shop next week! Here is a sneek peek of the cards. There are 6 designs... and this year instead of 34, there are 36 cards. They are a little smaller then last year's cards. They measure in at 2.5x5 so they are still "fun sized."  :)

For those of you wondering what you would do with them, here are some cute ideas!

Perfect for your kids' school Valentines party

Send via snail mail to cousins and friends

Add them in your sweetie's lunch box

Pass them around at your school, they are definitely not limited to grade school! :)

Stick them on an inspiration board

Attach them to Valentines Presents, as a card.

They are printed on a "laid" textured cardstock instead of last year's linen. I love the texture of the laid, and decided to switch things up a bit! The designs all have a really soft watercolor look, that I am loving them soo much that I'm already planning a new print series for the shop.
What do you think? 

Ok... so about the giveaway!

Hannah from h2photography is hosting a giveaway over on her blog for a set (your choice) of my new eye candy overlays. Jet on over and enter for your chance to win. If you miss out on this one, no worries! I have another overlay giveaway scheduled this month! I'll keep you posted!

We woke up to snow this morning! Not a bunch... but enough for me! :) I am sooo ready for Spring already.

a quote for your week chap. 19

I'll remind myself of this when I find my 5 year old arguing with me... ;) Although that absolutely *never* happens! ha hah

Happy Monday! It is the last one of 2009! Make it count for something. :)

photo credit :quote credit

interior design inspiration- architecture

I love love LOVE this room! :) Seen on desire to inspire, along with some other amazing architecture!

So did you have a nice Christmas? We did! My sister and her husband came to visit, and so did my brother and his wife. Cranky kids kept the photo shoot from happening, and I was pretty disappointed... but I was still able to get some cute pictures of the kids in they're completely natural state on Christmas. :) 

I'm feeling somewhat of a lack of inspiration right now. I think the fast blur we call December has finally caught up with me. I'm just plain "unmotivated" I have lots of ideas running through my mind, and I have even started working on them, but it is at a MUCH slower pace!

Back to Christmas: I was super excited about my Christmas gifts this year. :) Something you may not know about me is that I can definitely be a video game fanatic. Growing up we had an atari, sega genesis (does that mean I'm old?)  super nintendo, play station, and after getting married Jaydon and I bought a play station 2. Some of my favorite games were mario kart racing, zelda, and the final fantasy games... SO anyhow, last year I really wanted a wii (and the wii fit) but Jaydon wanted a play station 3. We never could agree on any one game, so we kind of forgot about it all together. :) Well, this year Jaydon and my parents bought me a wii AND the wii fit. I'm such a lucky girl. :) I'm totally loving the balance games! Jaydon also bought me mario kart racing so I'm totally re-living my child hood! Trin is really getting good at the games too. She has really quick reflexes. My reflexes according to the wii fit, "were not so good" In fact it asked me if I find myself tripping when I walk? A bit over the top I think. ;) 

SO... I was asked if I am planning to make fold and seal valentine's cards again this year? The answer is yes, I totally am! In fact, after being asked I decided I needed to get a move on. I have a few designs sketched, and progress is being made! Hopefully the first week in January I'll have them finished. That is, if I beat this unmotivated feeling and get my rear in gear.

Any New Year's resolutions? I'm really going to try and start project 365 again.. and hopefully stick with it. I think this time next year would be SOO neat to look back on all the photos. Another resolution for next year, start working on Christmas stuff in September. I had so many projects and downloads I wanted to finish for you to use, but I never had the "spare" time or motivation. I am REALLY going to try and plan better this next year!

Merry Christmas!

Hope its a Merry one!! :)

too cute thursday - Christmas edition

I have white star lamps just like the ones shown in the above picture on my Christmas list! LOVE them...

Merry Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with friends and family. :)