love lives here

in my search to add a new twist to my artwork,
i decided to begin a new series that includes only the things i love to do.
i definitely love to draw, so i did lots of drawing....

and i love to paint, so i added some happy painting.

and i love to stitch, too, so why not add some stitching....on paper!
(it's not just for fabric anymore.... :))

and the result is a fun piece of artwork that includes all the
things that are near and dear to my heart!


here are some other pieces in this new series....

if you're looking for a way to add some creative zing to
your journal pages or art canvas,
think about the things you really love to do, and then add it to
your artwork.  you never know what you might discover!

xox


you can also see other artwork on instagram and FB!

{supplies:  strathmore 500 series 140 lb. CP paper,mechanical pencil,
daniel smith watercolors, DMC embroidery floss, needle}

inktober #24

inktober day twenty-four,  prompt:  "one dozen"

i must admit that when i first saw today's prompt,  i thought, "really?!".

but once i started thinking about it,

 everything kind of fell into place, one heart at a time.

because these hearts appear in my artwork today 

for some very special reasons:

first.....unfortunately, this will be my last inktober post this month,

but you know it would take a really good reason for me to bow out 

of the challenge early, and i've got the best reason in the world....

our daughter is marrying the love of her life on saturday,

and it's go-time!  i've got to get ready for this celebration of big love!

second.....while this artwork contains twelve hearts,

it was created to hold the power of a lot more than that,

and it was created with all of you in mind.

each one of these hearts holds about a gazillion

little hearts, and each one of those gazillion hearts holds 

my gratitude and appreciation for all your visits to my 

blog, instagram, and Facebook, as well as

 your sweet, supportive, and encouraging comments.

thank you from the top, middle and bottom of each one

of my heart of hearts!!!

third.....you know i love any reason to draw a little heart 

here and there.  add some chocolate, and things really start 

getting crazy..... :))

thanks again for coming on this inktober ride with me....

i'll be back in cyberspace very soon!  

xoxox

click here for more info about inktober!

{supplies:  canson moulin du roy w/c paper,  micron pens

pentel color brush pens, white gelly roll pen,  copic marker}

inktober #15

inktober day fifteen,  prompt:  "relax"

hope your weekend involves a lot of 

putting your feet up!  enjoy!  xox

click here for more info about inktober!

{supplies:  canson moulin du roy w/c paper,  pentel color brush,

ranger distress marker, copic marker, white gelly roll pen}

happy hearts

happy valentine's day!

i'm wishing you all the happiness 

your heart can hold!!

xox

{this was created in my moleskine watercolor journal

using winsor newton watercolor, micron pens, 

white gelly roll pen, 8B pencil}

heart-links

when i saw this week's DLP challenge to add a face to your page,

i began to panic a little, and quite frankly, i had a fleeting moment

of trying to figure out how i could "get around it".  :))

of course, the whole point of a challenge is to, well, 

challenge yourself to do the things you're not comfortable doing

(and many times to do the things you think you can't do)…..

so, i went to my stand-by method of resolving these issues:

eat half a bar of chocolate, turn on some really good music,

dig deep down in my heart, and just start drawing……

with no editing.

{well, okay, maybe a little editing.}

and the amazing thing is that while i was getting lost in the music, 

my heart kind of took over and led the way….

and before i knew it, i was able to eat the 

other half of the chocolate bar as a big reward!  

woo hoo!  xox

{supplies:  for the DLP week 35 challenge:

 moleskine planner, fabriano artistico 140 lb. HP paper,

derwent inktense pencils, pitt pens, 2B & 5B pencils, washi tape}

heart shower

the DLP prompt this week is to fill your page with hearts….

and that makes this journal girl pretty happy….

because what could be more cheerful than a 

red-orange-and-pink-heart shower!

:))

{supplies:  moleskine planner, fabriano artistico 140 lb. HP paper, 

pitt pens, PanPastel, derwent inktense pencils, 

uniball signo broad white pen, 6B graphite pencil, washi tape}

so very grateful

this week, the documented life project challenge is to
practice gratitude…..

so i thought about the things that are always on my heart….

but i quickly discovered there wasn't
 nearly enough space to journal on the page,
because i have SO much to be grateful for…..

and that definitely includes YOU!

your sweet blog visits, comments, and e-mails continue to
touch my heart, and i truly appreciate each and
every one of you so, so much!

 thank you, precious bloggy friends!   xox


{supplies:  moleskine planner, fabriano artistico 140 lb. HP paper,
derwent inktense pencils, pitt pens, PanPastel, 6B graphite pencil,
washi tape}

*******

i'm a firm believer that "practice makes perfect", 
so, i'm going to spend some time this summer practicing 
what i love to do most…..lettering.
and since i'll also be doing some travel, i've decided to give my 
"inspiration monday" series a bit of a break for a while,
but i'll be continuing on with the weekly DLP challenges.
 see you next week with a new journal page!
happy weekend to you!

valentine's heart

happy hearts day, dear sweet bloggy valentine!
xox


{supplies:  moleskine journal, koi watercolor, derwent inktense pencils,
pitt pens, 6B graphite pencil}

choco-hearts

t

images via lori at pinterest


valentine's day is getting close.....
spoil your sweetie (and yourself!) with some homemade
super-chocolately treats, courtesy of martha stewart!
recipes are here!

{images from my pinterest boards}

inspiration monday......{elvie-encore-post #7}

i am often asked if there's a story that goes along with my heart-in-hand avatar, and i'm reminded of a day trip i took about 20 years ago.  we lived in the midwest at the time, and a friend and i decided to head out to a quilt show that was being held in a nearby town.  we ended up driving through amish country, and while i had known about their lifestyle, i had never actually experienced it up-close and personal.  it's hard not to notice their complete devotion to such a simple lifestyle, but what struck me even more was how they were able to convey this same simplicity into their artwork.  some of the most beautiful quilts i've ever seen were seen that day...the patterns were uncomplicated, the colors were true and rich, and the workmanship was exquisite.  and just as we were leaving, a small pillow caught my eye, decorated with a heart-in-hand, and with the words "hands to work, hearts to God".  i fell in love with it then, and twenty years later i'm still loving it...and i'm still inspired!  

inspired by heart-in-hand, i created this small quilt almost 15 years ago.  

i've used this image as inspiration for many pieces of artwork over these past years.  

{i'm currently on a little bloggy break......

this is an encore presentation of an inspiration monday post originally 

featured on april 26, 2009}

have a heart

just wanted to give you a peek at what i've been working on today.  i love taking a shape (hearts are my favorite) and playing with different patterns.  i think that this carved trio looks really cute in my little stamp journal!  

i hope you have a great weekend!  i've got some celebrating planned for monday...maybe even a give-away?!  more details coming on monday!  see you then!

p.s.  members of the Bookbinding Etsy Street Team have the honor of being interviewed as a way of getting to know each other better.  i'm a relatively new member, and you can read my interview here on the BEST blog!

hello pink

  when i have a chance to play in my studio, i will usually end up picking up my calligraphy nib, mixing up a batch of lamp black gouache and just having some fun.  i'd like to eventually have journals...many journals...filled with stuff like this.  i've realized recently that i'm not having nearly enough fun in my studio...and times, well, they are           a-changin'!

p.s. in the Barbie world of valentine's cards, here's what i'm wondering...is it pink enough?!  :)

three in a row....

tic-tac-toe, three in a row!  continuing on from yesterday's post, here is another piece of canvas that has been treated with gesso and then a light wash of watercolor.  the grid was created using a running stitch and black cotton floss.  each element has been created by hand, including the "tic-tac-toe buttons" in the center of each heart, which were made by taking a wooden disc, stamping a letter on with staz-on ink and then punching the holes with my crop-a-dile.  i really love doing these mixed media projects, and i've especially enjoyed all of the hand stitching.  which reminds me, my husband's shirts have been patiently waiting for new buttons, so i'd better do that today...

p.s.  who won the game, the x's or the o's? (click on image for larger view)

in progress...

hmmm...looks like a good game of tic-tac-toe is getting started.  tune in tomorrow for more details...