Love, grow, bloom - little terrariums

I really loved the challenges of Lilla Rogers bootcamp, and was so sad to see it end, so I couldn't resist the opportunity to get one more assignment from Lilla - this one as part of her Global Talent Search.  Although I didn't hold out any hope of being in the top 50 (out of 999!) I really enjoyed the assignment - to create wall art with the theme "little terrariums", and to incorporate at least 1word.

My little terrariums are designed using linocuts, line drawings, and lots of editing in Photoshop. I decided to build my little terrariums in canning jars - there are sweet little plants layered with pebbles, tags with block printed words, all tied up with hand drawn baker's twine.  Lately I've been having fun doodling doilies, and had to include a few here. Oh, and my fav little bird tops it off.

You can see the top 50 entries, and all 999 interpretations of the "little terrariums" theme here.

(And I am adding my little terrariums to my Society6 shop - available as art prints, cards, cell cases and more...)

Beverages, and the end to MATS bootcamp...

I'm so sad that MATS bootcamp is coming to an end!  Our last mini was to draw beverages, and our big assignment was to create art that we would hang on our own wall or give to a friend.  Unlike other assignments, we were asked not to share images of our work with the group until after the class gallery went live, and I really missed seeing everyone's work as it progressed... always such an inspiration!

I had a few ideas percolating (excuse the pun!) and decided to go with a design for my own kitchen.

A few weeks ago, I created a couple of prints with stacks of teacups, and I have a small print of the blue and white version hanging in my kitchen.  I wanted to create a companion piece for this assignment.  I included block printed flowers, cups and a little birdie... as well as hand drawn lace doilies.

I've uploaded this print to my Society6 shop, where it's available as prints, cards, cell cases, pillows and more.

I have also been working on a few other ideas (inspired by adult beverages...) that I plan to complete, so stay tuned for more beverage prints!

Tea Time!

I love vintage blue and white china and I took that as my inspiration when I started working on these teacup prints...but of course, I had to try a little girly color also, in anticipation of the lovely colors of spring.  Which do you like better?  (I'm leaning toward the classic blue and white, but think the one with pink and green is awfully sweet for spring and summer.)

Well, since I couldn't decide, I've added both to my Society6 shop...and they're available as prints, note cards, cell cases, tote bags and more!  

I think I may need a to buy myself blue chintz and daisy mugs for my tea! 

sweet wiggly jello!

Jello!  That was this month's topic for Lilla Rogers MATs bootcamp.  I have to say, I'm not a big fan of jello, unless it's in the form of a jello shot.  But the stuff with canned fruit? Blech. I really struggled with this subject matter. I spent a lot of time working on a view from above, but my designs really looked like flowers, not so much like jello or jello molds.  So I went back to the drawing board, and started with the fruity stuff.

My original impulse was to go quite bright, and I was heading toward a hot pink and orange color palette, when Lilla gave us a new palette to try - nougat! Dusty pinks, gray, lavender, muted blues, etc. I went a tad brighter than the palette Lilla suggested, but did use several of the colors.

I used hand carved blocks for the jello, fruit, flowers and cake stands and scanned in several of my sketches that I used to create blocks to create the white line work.  I've wanted to play with adding in hand drawn line work to my patterns, and this was the perfect opportunity to experiment... I think it worked quite well!  And on the bottom, you'll find my jello mold / flower garden.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, yes, there will be jello on my 2015 calendar!!

Hello Cuckoo!

Well, my creative journey has taken a bit of a detour over the past several months.  I've been struggling, not feeling particularly creative, and not finding the time to make art (which, by the way, makes me so happy...) and I needed a bit of a kickstart.  So when I heard of Lilla Rogers Make Art That Sells Assignment bootcamp, I knew it was for me.  It's a six month program, with an assignment each month.  This month we explored cuckoo clocks.  We spent our first week sketching (it was fabulous to pick up pencil and paper and draw pages of cuckoos, and other elements that could be used in cuckoos). Here are some of my early sketches.  

Toward the end of the week I went back to my favorite medium, and started working on block prints.  I honed my design, and with the help and generous critiques of the fabulous community of artists on facebook who are also taking this bootcamp, I headed down the path toward my final design.  

At the beginning of the second week, we learned that we were to use our designs on cell phone cases. I explored a few options - adding different design elements from my collection of block prints and different colorways. I tweaked, and played, and thoroughly enjoyed the process!  I used a template and tutorial from a fellow bootcamper to mock up iphone cases, which helped in my decision process. Here are a few of the options I considered for my final submission to the gallery.

I ended up deciding on the dark blue, mocked it up with a few other designs and patterns... and hit the upload button! I can't wait for the gallery of submissions to go live, and see my design among those of the many talented artist taking this course. (Oh, and I can't wait for my new cuckoo case to arrive from Zazzle!)

Now we get the last week of February off, and I'm sure I'll spend it anxiously waiting for the next assignment!

happy....

birthday to me!

Operation Write Home

Last week I discovered Operation Write Home through a post from Stationery Trends Magazine on facebook. Operation Write Home's mission is to support our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards for them to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them. They've sent hundreds of thousands of cards to the heroes who are serving our country.

Well, I just think this is fabulous, so of course, Artful Sentiments will be participating! I am looking forward to sending a bundle of my hand block printed cards, and proud that I am able to support our troops in this little way.

Sneak peek....

.... at one of my favorite projects each year - Artful Sentiments calendar! I love the challenge of creating a design for each month of the year, with a cohesive feel and color story. I actually designed the 2011 calendar back in January and February, but I thought I'd wait until the first half of the year was over to give you a peek at what I came up with.

The 2011 calendar will be in the shop in September, and is currently available for my lovely wholesale customers (e-mail for wholesale information).

(Now, it's time to get inspired to design some new Valentines - I know, crazy schedule!)

Happy Independence Day!

Celebrate and Enjoy!

Welcome Summer!

Ah, the first day of summer! The arrival brings back so many fabulous memories - simpler times when every day was filled with bike rides and lemonade and beaches.

I spent summers at the beach when I was a child - those days were the best of simple living. I get nostalgic for those joyous summers every year when the weather warms. I cherish my memories of those days, when my bicycle was my main form of transportation - my bicycle with only one speed, a bell and a basket to fill with little treasures, like flowers or shells, collected in my travels. I rode my bike to the beach almost every day, on adventures with my cousins, to movie night with all the kids. And I rode, well, just for the fun of it, with no destination in mind.

Since I don't have a bike any more, I think I'll take a walk today, and celebrate this first day of summer. A walk, just for the fun of it, with no destination in mind. And I may bring a basket along to fill with treasures I find along the way.

Happy Father's Day....

... to all the wonderful dads out there!

(me and my dad, when I was about 6 months old)

Family time.

I'm so excited that in a couple weeks we'll be getting the family together for a reunion (on my maternal grandfather's side of the family). For quite some time we had reunions every few years, but it's been ages since we were all together and I'm really looking forward to it.

When I was growing up, my grandfather's family was centered around the family farm, which was about a mile from my home. I have early memories of playing at the farm, cows, and driving into the corn fields to pick sacks of fresh corn for our dinner. The farm is no longer there, but the family and memories are strong.

Like all families, ours has gone through a lot of changes in the last several years, new additions will help to make the day joyous, and remembering those we've lost will make it bittersweet. I do know we will have loads of fun, water balloons, delicious food and much valued time together.

Berry love.

The last few day's I've been obsessed - impatiently waiting for the arrival of the perfect summer strawberries to the fields and farm stands in my area. And at long last, I'm able to indulge.

Now, I'm moving on to obsessing about corn on the cob, native tomatoes and peaches. It's gonna be a long month or so.

The {unofficial} start of summer....

Ah, summer. Although it's not officially here for a few more weeks, it has been feeling like summer already, and I must say, I'm loving it! I've been a bit to busy to indulge myself with a beach day (or lounge around for an afternoon drinking icy margaritas), but I have been taking advantage of the warm days with some simple pleasures - early morning walks, having my morning coffee and afternoon iced tea outside on the deck, wearing sandals every day. And I get so much joy from these little things!

I've been busy printing, making magnets, mirrors and bottle openers, and sending goodies to some lovely retailers in coastal communities - yes, loads of lobsters, whales, mermaids and sea shells!

It's all putting me right in the mood for a little summer excursion. Time to make a plan, I think!

What about you? Any plans for a trip to the beach this summer?

What's the BIG idea?

Hello Friends!

The last few months have been an exciting time at Artful Sentiments... I've been busy with loads of wholesale orders since the Boston Gift Show - lots of lovely shops to send goodies to before the New England summer season gets underway. I'm printing, assembling, packing and shipping every day!

And in my spare time? I'm so excited to be participating in A Fresh Bunch and the launch of the BIG Idea.

What's the BIG idea? The BIG idea is an innovate print in store program, which you can read all about here, or if you're a stationery retailer, you can find out more at the National Stationery Show - booth 2042, and booths 2806-10. A Fresh Bunch members (including me!) will be there to explain and demo the print in store program, show you catalogs and samples, hand out info and product samples from our participating members.

The print in store program has been a bit of a challenge for me - adapting some of my existing block print designs has required me to learn some new tools, but, oh, I'm having so much fun! I love that my designs will be available, through the program, as invitations, personalized flat notes, address labels and more...

I hope to get a chance to meet you if you'll be at the show - I'll be there Sunday afternoon through Tuesday morning - and I'll be the one wearing the BIG idea badge!

Spreading a little sunshine....

Happy Friday! Thought I'd take a moment today to spread a little sunshine to all of you who are buried in snow or bailing your basements after all the rain in recent days.

I'm looking forward to the arrival of spring (soon, I hope!) and all the loveliness that it brings. I love seeing the first flowers peek out from the frozen ground, and when the sun warms your face on a morning walk. I love seeing the dirty snowbanks disappear, and the birds reappear in the trees. I love shedding the winter coat in favor of a denim jacket, and not having to wear socks. I love opening all the windows and letting the warm breeze in.

What about you? What do you love about spring?

I love: Mittens...

... especially beautiful hand knit mittens! My grandmother knit mittens for me (and all the other kids in the family) every year when I was a growing up, always with a little pattern on them, and always with the long string that you would thread through the sleeves of your jacket, so you'd never lose one of the prized mittens!

Although these days gloves seem so much more practical than mittens, I do still find mittens so charming - they remind me fondly of my childhood and the joys of snow days, sledding, and snowmen.

Me, my little brother John, and cousin Sarah in the snow.

Do you love mittens too? Well, here's your chance to win an amazing pair of mittens from the Vancouver Olympics, from the lovely and talented Fiona of Cartolina and Cafe Cartolina.

(Thanks for a great giveaway, Fiona... and I really, really hope I win!)

Happy Happy!

Happy Valentines Day and Happy Chinese New Year!

I love: conversation hearts...

... such a sweet Valentine's Day tradition! It's hard to resist the charming messages on the little pastel hearts.

If you're more inclined to indulge in a heart shaped box filled with gooey chocolates or a pink m&m on Valentine's Day, you can still take part in the conversation heart tradition with a calorie-free version - create your own virtual candy hearts, perhaps to send to your special Valentine in a sweet email!

Inspired: Scherenschnitte (papercutting)

I am completely fascinated by beautiful, intricate scherenschnitte, and am so pleased that it's made a comeback in recent years, both in traditional patterns and more modern form. One amazing artist that I adore is Rob Ryan, who has completely captured the vintage charm of this art form, while giving it a bit of a current twist.

I tried my hand at papercutting several years ago - making some lovely framed pieces and sweet ornaments... I loved the process as well as the final outcome, but especially enjoy the design process - working with symmetry, silhouettes and the use positive and negative space, as I also do in so many of my prints.

The papercut above is from Rob Ryan's book, This Is for You (which would make a very sweet Valentine's day gift, by the way...).