OMG

Okay, I admit that I am not the best at blogging on a regular basis but...seriously, Halloween?? Ok it is almost the new year and i missed a whole holiday....thanksgiving! I promise I will be better now. And that is because I now have my very own iPad. So excited!! Santa bought it for me because I was a very good girl of course! So after I spent the last few days trying to recover my password so I can blog (of course, I could of walked down a flight of stairs to my regular computer and look it up, that seemed unthinkable because why not just use the iPad and guess 20,000 times. But I gave in tonight and started up my regular computer, and who knew... Here I am blogging! So here is to a happy new year and a lot more blogs!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween to everyone! This is one of my illustrations I did last year but I think these little guys are so cute so I wanted to share them again. Sorry I haven't published any blogs for a while. My life has been oh-so-busy! I have been working on illustrating for two books and keeping busy with my family. I PROMISE to blog more often... soon. Really!

Late for Mother's Day

I started this illustration 2 days before Mother's Day. It has been a while. My baby was sick tonight and I got emotional only as a mother could. I needed to finish this piece. For all my babies. I love you.

My oldest is the big girl. Thank you Kayla for taking care of Haley!

More flowers!

Sunny days. Ah, the memories. Everyday lately has been a sunny day. I love that!

Field of Love

I just can't believe of beautiful this weather has been lately. It is just amazing. I drew this picture because it reminded me of early spring. Childhood memories of running in open fields (it could of been a dream but I SWEAR I recall this!). Gee, maybe it was even on a commercial on tv?! But in any case... it makes me happy! Here's to sunshine and innocence!

Yeah! It is Spring!

I don't know about you but I sure am happy that spring is finally here. I have been working on some more illustrations and couldn't be more excited. All I need is 5 more hours in my day, then I will be set! Here is a sneak preview of my Bubbles Girl.I still have quite of bit work to do but I wanted to post her anyway.

Eden Creative Studio (A GREAT Graphic Design and Marketing Studio!)

I had the pleasure of connecting with a great graphic designer that I met while cruizing on Etsy! Her designs are awesome and I was delighted to interview her! Read below on Eden and her business!

1. Tell me about yourself.
I was always into fine art growing up, and even considered art school, but ultimately got a degree in business with a major in marketing. During my 15 year career in marketing, I picked up graphic design. My employers were thrilled to not pay an outside graphic designer for brochures, etc., and I really enjoyed the work. I became interested in invitation design specifically, after designing items for my own wedding in May 2008. My last job was Director of Marketing & Communications for a medium-sized civil engineering firm. I was laid off in May 2009 after six years in that position. Troubling as it was, being jobless allowed me to consider the possibility of opening my own design firm and doing graphic design full time. From there, Eden Creative Studio was born. In addition to my Etsy shop, I provide graphic design and marketing services for local and national corporate clients.

Outside of Eden Creative Studio, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our cats. I have recently started taking classes to learn American Sign Language. I also volunteer for my local animal shelter, am a vegetarian and regularly practice yoga.

2. What inspires you the most?
I think artists find inspiration all over. You almost can’t hide from it, nor can you turn it off. When I see something beautiful, something just clicks. I might see a logo on a grocery bag or a local farm landscape and find inspiration from that. I’m also a pop culture junkie and am often inspired by trends.

3. How do you find time to do it all?
I work on my Etsy and graphic design businesses full time (often more than full time) and it seems fairly easy to manage my time. I enjoy it so much it doesn’t feel like work, so I have a harder time making myself stop working than anything else!

4. What is your typical day like?
I wake up, feed the cats and go into my home office where I fill orders, answer convos, and work on orders in progress. I usually go to the post office every day before it closes. They know me very well there! At night I go to yoga or my ASL (American Sign Language) class. Before bed, I often work on my little Acer netbook answering convos and reading the Etsy forums. I love to read so I usually indulge in a few pages of a book before I fall asleep.

5. Which is your favorite product you sell on Etsy and why?
My favorite item changes daily and it’s usually the latest item I have designed. I recently entered the world of wedding invitation design and I am particularly enamored with these:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41637540

6. Do you have a blog, twitter, website or Facebook?
I do not blog right now but I do have/participate in the following. (I love Twitter!):
Website: http://www.edencreativestudio.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/edencre8ivstdio
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/edencreativestudio

Illustration Friday - Perspective

Hi, this is what I have posted for Illustration Friday. I was really missing doing my illustrations for that (ok, I really only did a few in the past but I just have been so busy lately!) My super, duper, uper late New Year's Resolution is going to be: to do an Illustration Friday each week! Okay, you heard it here... on my blog, every Friday, for the rest of the year.... Illustration Friday!

The topic was perspective. I was focused on what success means to a child. From a child's perspective, success is hanging from a tree without falling. Ta Dah!!!! This so makes me smile:)

The Best Illustrators on Etsy That You’ve Probably Never Seen: Part 2

IndieSmiles.com
posted Part II of the Power of the Pen and Pencil

The Best Illustrators on Etsy That You’ve Probably Never Seen: Part 2
By contributing columnist Michelle AKA: Little Toad

This is what Michelle had to say: "I had the pleasure of getting to ask these talented artist questions about their work and where they hope their work takes them. Please not only read this article but visit their shops I promise you will be transported to a different world and look at ours in a new way. These are undiscovered talents that I know will become your new favorites."

Thanks Michelle for posting my work! I was drooling over the great art she had posted. Go take a look at it yourself. Truly inspiring!!

The Power of the Pen/Pencil

Swing over to LittleToad's blog and check out her fabulous article in her blog for "The Power of the Pen/Pencil". I will be featured in the part 2 and let you know when I am.

Since Michelle said it the best, here is what she has to say about each of the illustrators!

"The Best Illustrators on Etsy That You’ve Probably Never Seen: Part 1

I had the pleasure of asking these talented artists questions about their work and where they hope their work takes them. Please not only read this article but visit their shops I promise you will be transported to a different world and look at ours in a new way. These are undiscovered talents that I know will become your new favorites."

It is almost spring... maybe

Well, yesterday I was convinced that it was almost springtime. I went on a long run and I saw... GRASS! I can't quite tell you how much that excites me but it does. I love spring. I love new beginnings. I love it all. It motivates me like you can't believe in all areas of my life. I am ignoring my husband's roll of the eyes... "you do this every year" he says. "You get all excited, then a snow storm hits and you start with the... 'I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE'". Oh silly husband of mine. Maybe, just maybe the snow is done for the winter. Yes, it is only mid-Feburary.. but a gal can have dreams, can't she?

Twisted Love

So, here is my latest creation. It is called Twisted Love. I so much love hand sketching my illustrations. Something about using your hands is so rewarding. So, this is in honor of Valentine's Day with those that have a twisted kind of love! NOT saying that I do of course!!! My husband gave me the BEST BEST BEST present ever... a coffee table book on the history of the IRONMAN. Seriously, forget the roses, forget the 3-carrot diamonds (not really, but until that happens...), forget the chocolates.... this was the BEST present ever. My hubby... knows exactly what I like!

Sneak Peek

I have a bunch more illustrations to upload and some new cards but have been super sick the last two days. So this weekend, I promise to get them all uploaded AND I will also be featuring this awesome graphic designer I ran across in Etsy. Here are some images of my new illustrations. Hope you like them!

These are some of the last of my alphabet animals. Can't believe I am done with them. About a month behind BUT that is how it is. The N is a Newt, the Q is for Quail, the U is for Unicorn... what else are you questioning? Yes, there were saved for last because I had to actually research for my drawings and animals. Who knew!!!

Newest illustration

I just finished this but haven't posted it to my etsy shop yet. Isn't he cute?

Journals

I have been creating a few journals that are on my Etsy shop. I wonder if people love notebooks and journals as much as I do. I use them for everything and something about having a new journal in hand, is like a brand new start. Okay, call me crazy... it is just paper BUT it is like starting a new year, a new diet, a new beginning. Just like when I was in high school and college, I would write my class notes in a notebook but THEN have to transfer it to "my notebook". Best handwriting was saved for this! Anyways, here are some of my journals I have created!

Inspired!

It has been awhile since I have last blogged. I really don't know why because I am on the computer 24/7. And I do have alot to say. Let's just say I have been very busy creating lately. Check out my Etsy shop and you will see a bunch more items for sale in my shop. Today I got my cards in the mail. i am super excited! Here they are...