Illustration Friday - Perennial

For Daisy, flowers were a perennial favorite...

For more illustration fun, hop over to Illustration Friday

Sunday Sketches - Custom Stickers

Good Morning

- just some faces for today's Sunday Sketches....I have been busy creating custom children's birthday stickers for a few clients....these are just a sample of some of the sketches I have done so far...And of course, I did some for my kids...they are perfect for all of the birthday parties....

they work great on all sorts of presents!

Just stick - and go!

See you over at The Blue Chair Diary

Have a great Sunday!

Sunday Sketches - ...It's Time for a Picnic

It's a beautiful June day here, and we've got plans to sit

outside under our willow tree and have a picnic

...just like Madeline the Mouse...

What are you up to on this gorgeous June day?

It's also time for Sunday Sketches! This is a sketch of something I am working on...

I plan on adding a friend for Madeline and some more goodies....

Come join the fun over at The Blue Chair Diary with Sophia and the gang, grab a pencil and a sketchbook and I will meet you there!

Paint Party Friday -Bookmarks

It's Memorial Day Weekend, and it's time to snuggle up in a

cozy chair, hammock, or pool float and read a good book!

Here is a bookmark for you to print and share!

You can use these bookmarks in all of your favorite books,

So what books are you reading?

It's also Paint Party Friday....I painted the butterflies with watercolors and then used my 'paint' program to make these cute bookmarks!

You can also cut these bookmarks out and paste in your journal...I did!

Have a great day!

Chip's Favorite 7 Layer Dip

It's Cinco de Mayo 

Time for 7 Layer Dip and Chips

This is one of my favorite appetizers. My friend Cindi brings this to all of our get togethers and it's always the first appetizer to go! It's quick and easy to make. We will be making this tonight with our tacos!

Chip's Favorite 7 Layer Dip

1 Can refried beans

                                                        1 Cup Guacamole ( small container)

1 Cup Sour Cream

1 Cup Mayonnaise

1 Package of Taco Seasoning

2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 Jar black olives

In large glass dish, layer in this order,  one can of refried beans. Then guacamole. Next,  mix 1 cup of sour cream and 1/2 cup mayonnaise together and add in the taco seasoning. Spread that on top of the guacamole. For the next layer chop 2 tomatoes, and place on top of sour cream mixture. Finally add the cheddar cheese - top with  black olives, if desired.

Serve with your favorite brand of chips! I like Tostitos Scoops!

And the winner is..........

Congratulations Julia

of

Serendipity - A Mother's Tale

The winner was chosen at random, by my daughter Summer.

She typed up the names and then picked from a giant bowl.

She was so excited so be choosing the winner!

A very important job, I must say!

Thank you ALL so very much for entering and your nice comments!!

You are ALL winners to me! I wish I could give everyone a prize!

Thank you all for entering and reading my blog, and following my journey! I am so very thankful for each and everyone of you! I feel so blessed to have such an inspiring group of people to visit with everyday.

Really, thank you again. I will have to have another giveaway, soon! It was a lot of fun!

Have a great day -

Congratulations Julia!!!!!

I'm off to the drawing board!

Sunday Sketches - The Red Balloon

Happy Easter Everyone!

It's time for Sunday Sketches - with Sophia and the gang over at The Blue Chair Diary.

This is just a sketch of an idea that came to me earlier this week...

I created a "book cover" for the story of Madeline and The Red Balloon

(just a made up story I have in my head...there's lots of those up in my brain)

Madeline stumbles upon a bright red balloon caught in the tree in the field.

She tugs

she pulls

and the next thing you know,

she's off on her first adventure....

with her bright red balloon.... 

Imagine grabbing hold of a balloon and flying all over the world?

Who would you meet on your trip?

Where would you want to go?

What would you see....

Enjoy your day!

See you at Sunday Sketches!

PS

Today is the last day to enter my giveaway.

To enter, go here

We will be picking the winner tonight!

Good Luck!

Paint Party Friday - Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet

Sat on a tuffet,

Eating her curds and whey;

Along came a spider,

Who sat down beside her

And frightened Miss Muffet away.

Well, this week sure flew by! It's time for Paint Party Friday. Come join the party!

 

 I have always loved reading nursery rhymes to my kids

...and this is one of my favorites.

Little Miss Muffet is all dressed up, this pretty kitty is not too frightened, yet!

...hopefully Mr. Spider....won't stay too long!

She's now available in my Etsy shop

Have a Great Weekend 

and don't forget there is still time to enter my giveaway. Just pop over here, to enter

Thank You - and a gift card

"Joy is the simplest form of gratitude"

Karl Barth

Dear Bloggy Friends,

Thank you so very much for all the continued support
and encouragement here on my blog.

I am so VERY appreciative.

I enjoy reading each and everyone of  your comments, thoughts, ideas, and words.
They mean so very much to this little artist bursting inside of me!

I love having a place to come and visit and share my illustrations and sketches.

I love being able to connect with you all -

It's a great feeling being able to have friends like you out there....

So, I am dedicating this post to you all!

A HUGE Thank you to YOU

Thank you for reading and thank you for
following me on my journey towards my dream!

As a personal thank you to my followers,

when you leave a comment on this post, your name will automatically

be entered to win a $100

gift card from me!

That's right, spend it on Starbucks,

art supplies, computer paper, lunch with a friend, your kids,

whatever, it's my way of saying thank you!

So let's be clear,

leave a (nice) comment on this post

and you will be automatically entered in my first giveaway

The winner will be chosen randomly out of a hat,
one week from today!

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues."

Good Luck and THANK YOU
from the
very bottom of my ♥!!!!!

Sunday Sketches - A Sketch of Summer

Summer
pen and ink

It's Sunday, and time for Sunday Sketches with Sophia and friends,

over at the Blue Chair Diary.

Grab a pencil and a sketch pad, and come join the fun!

This is a sketch I did this week of my daughter, Summer.

This sketch, is from one of my favorite pictures I have of her,

and it just appeared on my desk this week...

so I took the hint, and decided to sketch it

This is how I started to color it from the sketch pad.

I used pencil and my favorite Prisma colored pencils - Rose Madder and Pink

and then I went in with my Copic (L♥VE them) pens and ink...

to finish it...

I can't wait to give it to her!

What types of medium do you like to work in?

My Favorites...

Copics, Pens, Ink

and Watercolor

Have a great day!

See you at Sunday Sketches!

Sunday Sketches - and My Winner (s)

It's Sunday...and I am back from my trip.

And, Sunday = Sunday Sketches,

over at Sophia's blog, The Blue Chair Diary.

So today, I am sharing a quick drawing from my sketchbook...  

That's me...

clinging to the chair upon take-off in the airplane yesterday!

I really don't like flying one bit. Can you tell?

I remember as a kid, and even through my late 20s,

 if I didn't sit by a window, I was so upset. I always made sure, I sat by the window.

 I really loved flying, taking off and just staring out the window....

BUT, now, I will do anything to avoid the window seat...

Instead, I am hanging on for dear life during take-off and landing...

holding my breath and

thinking

GET ME OFF THIS PLANE!

How about you, how do you feel about flying?

Is it just me?

SO...a HUGE thank you all for the WONDERFUL birthday wishes, my friends.

I enjoyed reading all of your sweet messages.

AND now for The WINNER(s) of my

Where in the World is Heather give-away....

Sophia

and Eva

They both were the first to guess Breckenridge, Colorado

I think the Starbucks clue gave it away, hee! hee!

Yes, I was in Breckenridge, Colorado, on top of the world!

What an amazing place!

Gorgeous views, weather and ski conditions made for a great week!

Thank you ALL for playing along!

So, girls, just send me your email and I will contact you about your special prize!

YAY for you!

Hello 38!

heather 1981 

Yes, It's My Birthday, today!

and  that's me 30 years ago!

But wait, ...38???

How can that be?

Where has the time gone?

Well, like any Aries I am off to enjoy MYSELF, today!

I love my birthday,

and I sure am going to treat myself right!

Lots of Starbucks and cupcakes!

So....

See you at the bottom of the hill

(that's Clue #3...)

Yes, I am on a HUGE hill 

mountain somewhere ....

hmmmm????

OK, last hint  - 

It's home to the highest chairlift in North America...

remember the winner will receive a special gift from me!

Good Luck!

Make a Wish...

and have a great day!

xo

And... YES, they have a Starbucks - Clue #2

Hello My Friends!

Here it is....

Clue #2

I am in luck -

There is a Starbucks here.

And, I was 12,000 feet above sea level today - I am actually

feeling a little bit lightheaded as we speak! :)

So, there you have Clue #2.

Starbucks -

12,000 feet above sea level...

anyone recognize this place?

hmmmm? Where in the world could I be?

Some of you are very close to guessing my locale....

BUT, if you can get the exact location, you will receive a special gift!
I will have one more clue, by the end of the week...in case you are still wondering!

How are all of you?
What are you up to this week?

Sunday Sketches - Every Now and Then & Clue #1

It's Sunday and it's time for Sunday Sketches with Sophia and the gang, over here at
The Blue Chair Diary. Grab a pencil and your sketchbook, and come draw with us!

Well, I am not in Paris with Madeline,

but I am enjoying the view from here where I stand...

hmmm, I wonder, is there a Starbucks around here???

Well, as you can see,

I will be traveling for the next week -

 I am not sure how often I will get to visit you my friends, but I will try!

 I will miss ALL of  you and your daily posts, thoughts, paintings, poems and drawings -

Enjoy your week!

XO

PS - Throughout the week I will try to give clues as to my locale...

and if you want to try and guess the exact locale,
the winner will receive a

a special prize!

The first clue...

(trumpets)

When we got off the plane, here,  it was 80 degrees

...but, it's snowing now...

 

Creative Tuesdays - Spring

First signs of Spring

begin with baby faces,

tiny and small

filled with

innocence and love.

This is my entry for Creative Tuesdays.

Put a little 'spring' in your step over at Mr. Toast's blog.

 This week's theme, is all about SPRING!
See you there!

Etsy Love - Heather Hingst

I want to share with you an artist, that I just love.

It's Heather Hingst -  

Stacked”

© 2011 Heather Hingst

6″ x 6″ oil on canvas board

...of Painted Chic
 I adore her work so very much. I wanted to share her new Etsy shop and website with you all!

"Paper Flowers"

© 2011 Heather Hingst

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas

I hope you enjoy her work. You can visit her here, on her blog, 

 and find more delightful oil paintings, here, at her Etsy shop, Painted Chic

Stop by and say hello to Heather!

Enjoy your Satruday!

Paint Party Friday

Paint Party Friday

5" x 5"

Heather Stillufsen

Watercolor in Arches 140 lb coldpress paper

It's Friday!

I am so very excited,

two of my blog friends have started their own weekly art co-op appropriately called

Paint Party Friday.
A fun place to gather where we can check in on weekly paintings, progress and share ideas!

Kristin and Eva, congratulations!

Today is their Launch Day, so let's go wish them good luck!
Let's go visit and say hello!

Don't forget your paint brushes!
I have completed these two small paintings last night.


"Love"

5" x 5"
Sold

Watercolor

Heather Stillufsen

wishing good fortune to those suffering from the

devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan

I can't wait!

See you there!

"Love"

is available here

Illustration Friday - Stir

Stir!

Miss Kitty is stirring up a little love -  for this week's Illustration Friday

Sunday Sketches - Just a little daydream....

Madeline the Mouse has been day dreaming this week of a trip to France. She would love to visit Giverny, and the home of Claude Monet, and munch on a fresh baguette with goat cheese....

How perfectly delightful...

(sigh)....a girl can dream....

...She'll have to wake up sometime, I guess....

I have been working on my Madeline character this week....I guess when I drew Madeline the Mouse daydreaming, she wasn't the only one....

For more Sunday Sketches pop over to The Blue Chair Diary, here...

Come join the fun!

Starbucks, is that you?

So, I just got back from Starbucks, ( YAY, I love it there!)

 and look what I got...

A Venti Skim Misto with ....

something new!

Yes, that's right....A New Logo Design

To celebrate 40 years of service, Starbucks has updated their logo...

Notice anything different?

What do you think?

Like or dislike the new logo

It's growing on me,

 maybe I should go back for one more misto....