Sunday Sketches - It's S'wonderful to Guest Host

This week I am honored to host Sunday Sketches, for my good friend,
Sophia over at The Blue Chair Diary.
Sophia's father's health has taken a turn for the worse. Her family needs her right now, and she didn't want to miss one week of her Sunday Sketch group...So, she has asked me to host it here, for you all.

I am truly honored to have the chance to guest host such a wonderful, inspiring group of artists. I look forward to visiting with you all this week.

My Sunday Sketch is inspired by a wonderful actress...Miss Audrey Hepburn, in Funny Face who may love Paris, just as much as Madeline the Mouse... Oui, oui! it's S'wonderful isn't it?

( yes, this is one of my all time favorite songs!)

I look forward to visiting each of you!

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 - Ahoy

Hello

just a page from the sketchbook for the weekend,

and for my friends over at  for Sunday Sketches,

as I am traveling and away from my studio.

I hope everyone is staying cool - 

and enjoying the weekend.

I will be visiting you all when I get back -

I can't wait to see what you have been up to!

Happy Weekend!

Illustration Friday - Stay

Madeline was content to stay in Paris forever.....

Yes, the adventures of Madeline and her red balloon continue with a short stay over Paris for this week's Illustration Friday prompt.

Paint Party Friday - Paint Pins

So, I had an idea to take air modeling clay and shape into some of my little character's faces.

I attached a small pin to the back of them while they were drying.

It took about 4 days for the clay to dry.

I painted the faces of Madeline and Miss Kitty with

acrylics...

 then attached it to my daughter's back pack....

She loved it!

 They were fun to make, but I definitely need to work on creating these clay pins. The clay didn't dry as smooth as I thought....

 They were fun though. So this morning my kids and I molded some more shapes, we will post those in the future.

For more Paint Party Fun pop on over here, to Kristin and Eva's blog! There is so much great art to see.

See you there

Cat and Mouse Games

Just a peek at my work desk this week.

We have been busy making moveable paper dolls here in the studio,

thanks Brian,

and what do you know?...

It's true...cats really do love chasing mice!

Look what I found on my studio desk this morning....YES, that's my cat, Olive saying HI to Madeline.

Moveable paper dolls, available here, in my Etsy shop,

Olive the Cat...not available for sale...YET!

What are you up to today, my friends?

It's Madeline...In Real Life

We have a new friend hanging around the Studio, here...

Can you guess who it is?

It's Madeline the Mouse
and she's all dressed and ready for her first ballet class!

Pink tutu and all!

We are very excited.

Isn't she the cutest?

And guess what?

She's now available for sale, here on my Etsy shop.

 My girls love Madeline the Mouse and my illustrations of her so much, I thought it would be fun to have the gang over at Hazel Village bring Madeline to life. 

How fun?

She's 14 inches long and comes with beautiful soft pink silk duponi filled ears. Her tail is pink, too!

Her removable pink tutu has an elastic waist, perfect for plies and arabesque's...

she's made from brown organic cotton jersey- which makes her extra soft and snuggly

Her eyes and nose are handstiched with cotton thread

She's happy to have arrived here in the studio - she's constantly practicing her dance steps -

it's hard to keep up with her....

So please, visit her here at my Etsy shop...

Have a great Saturday my friends

See you at Sweet Saturdays over here....

( glad to be back in the blog world, after the Blog-Out - I missed you all! )

OOPS, seems I am still having trouble leaving comments on certain blogs...hmmm? hope all of these issues are repaired quickly!!!!

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!

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 ♥!!!!!

Madeline Book Plates

Good Morning, friends.

 I have had several requests for children's bookplates, over the past few weeks.

Here is my first new design that is now available, here, in my Etsy shop.

My kids have always enjoyed putting their personalized "stamp" in their favorite books. We have been making our own personalized plates, for some time now, and are now offering them, here!

They are perfect for adults, too!

Enjoy!

Madeline loves reading books, ...

What book are you currently reading?

We are reading Silverlicious by Victoria Kann

PS - and Madeline's bookplates have just been featured in this treasury

Thanks!
here

Sunday Sketches - From the Sketch Pad

Good Morning!

It's Sunday and it's time for Sunday Sketches. There will not be an official SS today, Sophia's father is ill.

 But do pop over to Sophia's blog, at The Blue Chair Diary to send your thoughts to Sophia and her family.

This week I am sharing a page from my sketchbook....lots of little ideas here.

I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend.

Heather

Illustration Friday - Reverse

Madeline wasn't sure if she should put it in reverse...and run....

she had some unexpected guests at her little cottage this evening....

For more reverse themed art, pop over here, to Illustration Friday

Illustration Friday - Phenomenon

The first snow was always a phenomenon to Madeline, the mouse

Piece on Earth

Here's the finished version of Piece on Earth,

a holiday gift card that I illustrated for a client.  

The original sketch and idea is here.

Have you done your holiday cards yet?

 

Creative Tuesdays - Art

"C'est une œuvre d'art, oui," Madeline? asked Gustav

"It's a work of art, yes?"  Gustav asked Madeline....

Madeline wasn't sure if he meant his artwork or their love....

Madeline is my little mouse character

...she loves the ARTS and Gustav.

....this is my work of ART entry for

Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday.

Come play along, it's so much fun

see you there....

Illustration Friday - Beneath

Madeline and her friends gathered beneath the full moon.

It was time for the Halloween Parade.

This painting is available for sale, here, in my Etsy shop.

Sunday Sketches- The Halloween Parade

Here comes the parade...

Here's just a little something I have been working on this week.

Madeline and all of her friends are getting ready for the Halloween parade at school.

This is my entry for Sunday Sketches, you can find more of my wonderful artist friends, here,

at The Blue Chair Diary...parade on over!

Why not join us today? I know you have

something to share from your sketchbook!

Illustration Friday - Atmosphere

Madeline wasn't sure if it was the cheese

or the atmosphère in Paris,

but she was inspired to paint many great things 

while on her recent trip there....

Illustration Friday - Stargazing

Stargazing....Hollywood Style

Sunday Sketches - Having a Ball

I'm working on a few watercolor pieces for Christmas....

and this little guy is ready for the ride....

Visit my friend Sophia, over at The Blue Chair Diary,

a great blog where you can meet  lots of other great artists....

come on and join in the fun!

Heather