My Recipe.....For a Beautiful Day....

It's quite easy to have a beautiful, meaningful day....sometimes we complicate things....But here is my way of making a day....Beautiful......

- xx

Dream Big

Do you Dream Big? I do!

 I want to be a children's book illustrator, someday! I want to see my designs on baby's blankets and on children's clothes...and as gift wrap at children's birthday parties...Oh I have got TONS of ideas!

There I said it! It's out in the open and out in the world....My dream is BIG...My dream is SUPER big...

It's totally going on my vision board! I am not giving up... because if I wasn't dreaming big....

what would I be doing?

How about you? What are your dreams?

PS come follow my dreams on Instagram

here

I'm Back.....

Hi there!

Have you been looking for me?

Well I am back! I was having a lovely time on Spring Break,

 but am happy to say I am back and ready to get back to work.

I had a great time off, and decided that friends (and family) definitely make life MORE fun!

- xx

Believe...in YOURself!

Hello - Remember the Ice Skater from the other day?

Well, here she is complete with sparkly skates and all -

I really need a sweater like this I think!

Happy Days to you....

and don't forget to B E L I E V E

Sharing a Doodle....

I am almost done with my orders that I need to finish before  4 p.m. - but had to squeeze in this little doodle - yes, even Madeline the Mouse loves her morning STARBUCKS! Sometimes, changing from watercolor brush to markers helps rev up the creative energy!

Have a great day my friends!

xo

Sunday Sketches - CAT spells CAT

It's time to go back to school for Madeline the Mouse....

Good morning, it's good to be back!

Please join me at Sunday Sketches with Sophia at The Blue Diary -

I am looking forward to catching up with my friends over there, I have missed you all!

This is a sketch that I drew, and colored with marker - to share with you today!

 I am currently painting it in watercolors for a favorite teacher!

I hope she likes it!

Have a great Sunday

Singin' in the Rain...

Singin' in the Rain

for Sunday Sketches this week...

We are right in the middle of Hurricane Irene this weekend here at my house

We've made cookies and chili and we are settling in for the storm -

We made a list of our favorite RAIN songs this afternoon

 I will share a few of mine with you all -

Laughter in the Rain

 Singin' in the Rain and

Rainy Night in Georgia....

of course my kids like

Rain, Rain, go away!

How about you?

Any favorites....?

I am posting this early for Sunday Sketches,

I hope we still have power in the morning!

Come join Sunday Sketches at The Blue Chair Diary, here....

See you there!

Happy Friday -Let's Paint!

Little Witch

watercolor on paper

8 " x10 "

available, here

Hello there,  I have missed a few Paint Party Fridays...but, I am back with a little early Halloween magic...

- just in time for the party over at Paint Party Friday...

Actually, we were in Michael's Crafts the other day...and I have to admit, the girls and I were a tad bit overwhelmed  by all of the witches, goblins and scarecrows peeking out of a few evergreen wreaths coated with candy canes....

Oh well, I

guess it's never too early to think about what costume to wear for Halloween, night, right ?
See you at the Paint Party!

I am Published! AND a Book Giveaway and Gift Card Celebration

It's time to celebrate

 YIPEEEEE!!!

I am so very excited to have my work published in the

100 Illustrations 2011 Annual Book

This is one pretty amazing book. There are 50 illustrators participating, and lucky little me is one of them!

The book is an incredible piece of art - in itself,

created by an amazing artist and blogger, Diana Evans.

 And now, You, can win a copy of

100 Illustrations 2011 Annual book.

You can enter to win by simply leaving a comment on this

blog post.

For an extra entry, become a fan of
Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen on Facebook.

One lucky winner will receive a copy of the book

 and a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble -

Yes, that's right.

The winner will be announced next Monday.

The book is also available for sale at Barnes and Noble

 if you can't wait and would like to purchase your very own!

Good Luck!

*and thank you to everyone for all of your support!

It means the world to me!

Thank you!

....I'm off to continue following my dreams.....

Madeline and Miss Kitty

Madeline kept busy on long summer days playing school and reading to her favorite stuffed animal,

Miss Kitty....

"...and the little butterfly flew away, on another magical adventure...."

The End...

"Would you like me to read you another book Miss Kitty?"

...asked Madeline...

"I brought a whole stack!"

How about you?

What are you up to today?

Sunday Sketches - Believe in Yourself

I saw this wonderful quote written in the blog world this week - and loved it on so many levels.
Growing up I was always told to believe in yourself...That anything was possible....Think positve, and good things will come...To, " Follow your dreams. You can be whatever you want...."

But, as you reach adulthood sometimes it's easy to lose sight of what you want, of what you believe you can do....There are so many other factors and events surrounding us in our lives- There are so many things being thrown in our direction from all different angles, that it's easy to stop believing. ...It's easy to lose sight of our dreams...
But, we can't.

We must always  keep believing in ourselves, for if we don't who will?....

So, I have made my little reminder...with this quote for today

....and Yes - I have pinned this to my inspiration board!

I am sharing it with my friends over at Sunday Sketches, so grab a pencil and meet me there!

Weekend Reads

Happy Friday, my friends.

I am enjoying an old favorite

book with my kids this weekend -

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume -

do you remember it?

and I am almost through with 

 ROOM

by Emma Donoghue -

anyone else read it?

I finished The Help

and have enjoyed listening to the soundtrack this past week in my studio -

 ( thanks to my girls for buying it for me!)

...these two girls above are the same drawing - painted with different mediums -

just playing around while I listen...

Have a great weekend!

Sunday Sketches - Proud as a Peacock

Good Morning, my friends

This week my little Saylor finished her art camp....

She was so very proud of each and every project that came home.( and so was I)

I love seeing kids explore art...they have no hesitation, no fear....

just plain old-fashioned imagination...

Don't you just love that?

 I was inspired by her to create this sketch for Sunday Sketches.... 

she was so excited by all of the different mediums she got to use,

but her favorite was the oil pastels...and her prize project....

The Indian Peacock in Oil Pastels.

( my version isn't as good...)

We have over 15 pieces of beautiful artwork now! 

Hey, I want to go to Art Camp!

Do they have camp for adults?

hmmmm????

 So, come join the fun over at The Blue Chair Diary for another week of Sunday Sketches!

See you there!

 

Illustration Friday - Remedy

The remedy for a bad day?

Sea kayaking with your best friend, of course!

this is a quickie sketch I did this past weekend while watching my kids take

 their first kayaking trip.

They sure did love it!

Even I get out in the kayak!

Creative Tuesdays - Summer Break

Mmmm, to me summer break means sharing good times with friends and family....

one of our favorite things to do is make s'mores....YUMMY!

how about you? how do you spend your summer break?

The theme this week over at Creative Tuesday's is Summer Break...
Can't wait to see what Summer Break means to you!
Come join in, here, at Creative Tuesday's -

Happy Weekend

Hope you all have a great

weekend!

currently reading:

The Trumpet of the Swan

E.B. White

for the red, white and blue days

For the RED, WHITE and BLUE 

I've been working on a few little character sketches this week - and I am using only red, white and blue! Just in time for the 4th of July Holiday weekend approaching! One of  my favorite pens that I use in almost all of my drawings, is  little red sharpie in the middle...don't you just love Sharpies?  

So my friends, what are your Fourth of July Plans?

Paint Party Friday - In the Studio

It's Friday and it's been quite a busy week here.

The last week of school is always JAM packed full of events for our family....

Wow, we haven't stopped!

So, today, we are home...doing

NOTHING...

YAY, and the best part?

It's Friday,

time for Paint Party Friday and Sneak Peek Friday.

Here is a little something I am working on...

you may recognize Wilbur and Charlotte from one of my favorite book's,

Charlotte's Web.

I am hoping to finish this today!

I can't wait to see what you are all up to!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Illustration Friday - Launch

It was graduation day for Saylor.  

She was ready to launch herself right into first grade, after a little bit of summer fun, of course!

* Lots of good things are happening around my home this week,

one of them being my little girl graduating from Kindergarten!

YIPPPPEEEE Saylor,

 You did it!

This week's prompt over at Illustration Friday is Launch -

See you there!

Sunday Sketches - Smile

Smile...!

 It's Sunday and it's time for Sunday Sketches - over at The Blue Chair Diary.

 I am sharing a just a small sketch of a project I am working on for a client.

How fun!

Don't forget to brush your teeth!

See you at Sunday Sketches!