Sketching in Illustrator

Just something I'm working on with my handy Wacom tablet today.  Only about half way done with the sketching right now.  I like how Illustrator recognizes the angle and pressure of the pen and makes the linework more dynamic.  Fun!

Moving

Well it's officially official.  We're moving to Connecticut!  Now, as we wait to hear about the salary part, the question is... Are we going to be living in situation A or situation B?  lol

  A

  B

Uncommon Goods Finalist

Wall Art Challenge

Final 15 Voting Now Open!

Mixed Media Selected as One Of the 'Top 15' in the Country

Vote for me please!: You guys, I'm so super excited to announce that one of my mixed media paintings has been selected as a finalist in the Uncommon Goods Wall Art Challenge.  Here's a blurb from their site...

More than 100 artists entered our first ever Wall Art Design Contest. These are the top 15 entries from around the country.

Artists used watercolors, pen and ink, acrylic, mixed media and digital software to create one of a kind work.

From now until May 9, your vote will help us choose the top 5 finalists to move on to the last round. Leave a positive comment in support of your favorite artist, and feel free to vote for as many entries as you like. If your artist wins, his or her work will be turned into a limited edition print available for sale this summer!

Our guest judges James Gulliver Hancock, Katie Giannone, and Trini Gantner will pick the winning artist from your votes on May 10. Thanks for supporting these talented artists!

Voting only lasts for the next 7 days, so please give me a big 'thumbs up' and spread the word!  This is huge exposure for my mixed media work and can only lead to good things with future projects, big and small.  Uncommon Goods is a great Indie/Handmade catalog that they curate and put out for the world to see.  Not to mention online!  I'd love to see this side (painting) of what I do gain more fans.  If you have a blog, please share.  Also feel free to put a note on Facebook, Twitter, or anywhere else you'd like!  Your good kharma will come back to you.  :)

New Resin Coated Necklaces

I am taking long breaks from blogging to try to divide what little energy I have between being pregnant, mommy to a toddler, running my business and other things.  But I just HAD to jump on here and tell you guys about what I've got coming for SPRING 2012!!!  :) 

I am busy making new things for my spot at the local stores and also for spring shows and any of my lovely online customers.  Things were feeling a little stale and I needed to shake it up.  So I have appliqued t-shirts and onesies coming in the next week or so.  But today... TODAY I have necklaces!  And they are so freaking adorable I could die. 

I found a way to make them quality and yet still really affordable.  I realize that most of my work is for children, and that spending a decent amount of money on a necklace that is nice enough for a grown-up just isn't practical in most parent's eyes. 

So, I have taken these really great lightweight wooden circles and repurposed them (I have no idea what they were for, but they had alphabet letters on one side and stickers on the other.  ?).  I print out my cute characters and stick them on, coat with generous amounts of shiny, gorgeous and durable resin, apply a loop and a nice soft piece of felt to the back, add an 18" ball chain, and VOILA!  A necklace that couldn't be more fun and easy to wear!

( Sorry for the over-use of exclamation points, by the way, but I just can't contain myself. )

I took pictures of what I have made so far, but they will all most likely be custom made when ordered, so if you don't see what you want, just hollar! 

You can find them here.  :)

Baby and Patterns

Well, I had forgotten how taxing pregnancy can be on your energy levels!  Not that babies aren't awesome, but I'm having days where taking a shower is my big event for the day.  LOL  That being said, I have some fuzzy pictures of the little one for y'all.

Ooo, and some new patterns too!  I got inspired by the spring color palette from Pantone.

I'm pretty sure the last one is my favorite, but they can change as soon as I make a new one!  I'd be interested to hear your thoughts!  :)