Saturday, July 24, 2010

Calm Before the Storm

Found
-Little treasures found on today's walk with Turbo.
Seaweed Stamp
-Hand carved rubber stamps inspired by old seaweed pressings that I made today.
Coral Stamp
This is the calm before the storm...
We will be moving into our new house next weekend!
This might be the last creative project I'll be able to squeeze in until we're all settled.
I'll be taking a long break from my web life (blog, facebook, flickr, etsy...)
but I will be back mid August with lots of new photos to share with you!
I will be checking my email occasionally from a nice café.
Can't believe we're packing again...Au revoir...for a little while :)

Friday, July 23, 2010

Kids Draw & Cook

Five a Day for Better Health :p
My son Daniel's entry called "Five a Day for Better Health"
for Nate Padavick's awesome new blog Kids Draw and Cook,
a companion to the super cool They Draw and Cook blog.
Daniel (age 12) made these cool little guys with watercolor & ink on paper.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Etsy Treasury!

My First Etsy Treasury
Made my very first treasury at Etsy, you can check it out by clicking here.

The Birds Made Me Do It
And this bird themed Treasury is my second! Playing "curator" is so much fun!

The Sketchbook Project: 2011

The Sketchbook Project: 2011
Last month my lovely reader Lisa from Australia sent me the link to this wonderful project thinking I might like to participate...and I did! Thanks Lisa!
Read more about the project here and think about joining too!
The Sketchbook Project: 2011
The blank Moleskine arrived at my door this week!
I had some time yesterday to personalize the cover before I break it in.
Blank Moleskine
I glued these pretty marbleized end papers and a butterfly bookplate
that my friend Sofia sent me from New Zealand.
Marbleized end papers
I chose "In Flight" from a long list of available themes to work with...obviously ;)
I have to send back my completed sketchbook by January 2011
and I'll be sharing the process with you. I hope you decide to participate too!
Sketchbook
The completeted sketchbook will be living at the Brooklyn Art Gallery where it will be barcoded & available for the public to view. So if you live in NY you be able to check out my Sketchbook and take it home to view for a few days :)
And the cool thing is that I'll be able to know who checks out the sketchbook!
Fun, fun, fun!

*Molly Amanda: So funny you mentioned it this morning!
I was writing this post when I read your blog comment.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Drawing Lab Book Giveaway Winners

Drawing Lab giveaway winners
Carla was so impressed with the unbelievably great turnout that she offered to giveaway
two more books! So we have three winners today! Mr. Random.org chose:
Ludid, Elvia and Indy! Congratulations!
Thank you so much for all the encouraging comments.
You guys are THE best!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Painted Bird Tee

Hand painted t-shirt by Ann
My lovely blog reader Ann from Russia sent this beautiful photo of the t-shirt she painted using my free bird embroidery design and white fabric paint.
Painted embroidery design
Isn't it great? She did a fantastic job! Thank you for sharing it with us Ann :)
Don't forget to participate in the "Drawing Lab" book giveaway.
Hope you have a beautiful Monday!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Drawing Lab book giveaway

Drawing Lab book
I'm featured in a really cool book written by Carla Sonheim.
My pages
"Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists" Published by Quarry Books.
The book was launched this month. You can learn more about it here.
Inside
My friend Gustavo Aimar is also featured in the book.
Gustavo's work
Carla has generously offered to giveaway a signed copy
& some "drawing" goodies from her studio to one of you guys!
Gustavo Aimar
Please leave a comment in this post with your contact info and
Back cover
I will choose a random winner next Wednesday morning!
Good luck!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

In Ma Bag

In Ma Bag
Bag: Original 1955 British Army First Aid bag from an Etsy shop called SevenBC.
Contents:
-Moo cards
-Tiny note pad
-Cardboard pen that I decorated with markers
-Favorite lip balm I've been using for years: Hawaiian Tropic Aloe Vera. I love it because it smells like the beach :)
-Keys: When not in use the keys go into this pretty pouch my sister gave me that also serves as a key chain.
-Gotta have my tiny Swiss Army knife at all times...
you never know when you're going to need it.
-Camera: I keep my point & shoot in a pretty wallet by Bookhou.
-1st Generation iPod Touch in another wallet by Bookhou.
-Nokia phone to speak with Manolo when I'm out and about.
It has a little NICI kitty charm.
-My beloved prescription sunglasses in a zippered pouch by Bookhou.
-Old Timberland fabric wallet.
What's in your bag?

Friday, July 16, 2010

Wall Color

Wall color
Everlasting Gray
White interiors
After hours of friendly debate Manolo & I agreed on a beautiful steel blue for the exterior walls of the new house. It complements the bare concrete really well and makes all the woodwork stand out. Can't wait to show you more photos.
Even the name of the color is beautiful: Everlasting Gray (or Grace as I like to call it)
We're moving in in two weeks from tomorrow!

Birdie's Approval

Birdie's approval
Maren from Flying Fox Studio sent me this photo of Burgess, her pet bird, checking out my blog and I thought it was way too cute not to share :)

Thursday, July 15, 2010

For Karyn

Dogwood vignette
Well, I finally finished it! It took me longer than usual because the paper
was really difficult to work with. It was too absorbent and it needed a LOT
of paint & patience, but I'm really happy with how it turned out.
Dogwood finished
I hope my little sister Kiki likes it, because I made it for her :)
Detail
She lived in Mexico for many, many years and I think she'll love the fact
that the beautiful paper was handmade here. She lives in the Canary Islands now.
♥ Te quiero hermanita, ojalá te guste mucho en persona.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Dogwood progress II

Dogwood progress 2
Just two more birdies to go...whew!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Bits of Flora

Bits of flora
Little set of stamps I carved this morning.
With the usual: Staedtler MasterCarve rubber stamp carving block,
Speedball linoleum cutter and my favorite ink pads.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Dogwood progress

WIP Dogwood
Tomorrow I'll tackle the stems and the birds...I'll show you when I'm finished.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Dogwood drawing

Dogwood drawing
I finished it yesterday and I've been painting some blooms today. So far so good.

Friday, July 09, 2010

Dogwood

Dogwood
I'm working on a 16' x 24' watercolor on a sheet of beautiful handmade paper
I fell in love with at the new art supply store in town.
New dogwood painting
The biggest size I usually work with is 10' x 14' so this is huge in comparison.
Lets see how it turns out...
Drawing

Iron-On

Iron-on Elephant
When I bought the iron-on transfer paper to make the fabric bird banner I also bought a package of iron-on transfer paper for dark fabrics and tried it out this week with my flowery elephant on a dark green tee. The pretty triangle pattern linen bag is from Bookhou and the dark teal gossamer scarf is from Uniform Natural.

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Print Update

Print Update
@ my Etsy shop!

Dark & Lovely

Orchids
Butterflies
Found these photos while rearranging some of the picture folders in my iMac.
I took the second photo at the Butterfly Center of the
Houston Museum of Natural Science a few years ago. Oh, how I love that place!
They look really nice together, don't they?

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Drawing with Daniel

More marker fun
More marker fun!
The beautiful yellow billed kingfisher was made by my 12 yr.old son Daniel.

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

McDoodle

Doodle
Something I doodled this morning with the new markers & white ink.
A future quilt perhaps? That would be cool...although I broke my sewing machine a couple of weeks ago and Manolo hasn't been able to put it back together again :P

Monday, July 05, 2010

Passiflora incarnata

Passiflora Incarnata
Daniel & I recently bought ourselves a set of Chartpak Ad markers.
Markers
The last time I used these was in college while studying graphic design
and I had forgotten how great they were.
Out of focus
I know Daniel's going to love using them. I painted the white details with a thin round brush and my beloved white FW acrylic ink

Sunday, July 04, 2010

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!
Image from The New York Public Library archives.
Toks
This is what usually happens when I take a pen to the local diner
and they take a little too long to bring out my breakfast :)
My chilaquiles verdes were perfect though, so it was well worth the wait.
Happy 4th of July!!!

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Agapanthus pages

Agapanthus pages
From my botanical journal.
This time I reproduced my agapanthus pressed flowers
as a faux sun print painted with white acrylic ink
on a piece of very cyan handmade Amate paper.

Friday, July 02, 2010

Knotless Netting

Knotless net covered rock
The first time I saw a stone covered in knotless netting
was at Nancy Bauch's beautiful White Forest Pottery shop a cuple of years ago.
I was very intrigued about that weaving technique.
A couple of days ago I 'googled' the term and found
a couple of good how to's and a great video.
After a bit of practice I was able to cover my first stone!
I loved the fact that all I needed was the rock, some waxed linen and
my hands...no other tools necessary.
It is resting on my red screen printed linen tote by
the very talented Arounna of Bookhou

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Botanical Observations

Botanical Observations
Acacia Farneciana
Hizache pods
New sketchbook/journal
Next pages
A new sketchbook/journal project I'm starting
where I'll be drawing my pressed plant specimens.
I bought the handmade recycled paper journal at the grocery store where I buy organic produce & goodies here in Queretaro. It's made in Mexico.

Happy Canada Day to all my lovely Canadian friends!!! :)