Illustration friday, "giant"

{my frame can't constrain my giant, happy heart} See other entries here...

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy {belated} New Year!!! It has been entirely too long since I have posted. I have been traveling constantly, having house guests, making Christmas presents, making next year's holiday decorations for all of America, working late, seeing family and friends, attending my own wedding shower, sending out my Save The Dates, and pretty much running at high speed constantly!

This year will hold some amazing things for me:

*holy matrimony and a destination wedding in Savannah, GA!

*planning and creating this dream wedding {less than 6 months!}

*a trip to India and China for work {less than 2 months!}

*who knows what else...I can't wait to find out!!!

I hope to start posting again on a regular{ish} basis, but be warned that most posting my revolve around WEDDINGS!!! specifically mine!

I wish nothing but the best for everyone in the year to come...2010! Wow!

{pictured above, a paper cut that I made for my Mom for Christmas}

Illustration friday, "frozen" {birdsicles}

The Illustration Friday topic this week is "frozen" so I drew some frosty, frozen birdsicles. Here in Minnesota, we would call them "birds on a stick".

If you don't get that joke, consider yourself lucky. Check out other entries here.

illustration friday, "pattern"

This one's easy. My entire life revolves around patterns.....check out others here.

{oops- realized that I had categorized it as 'silkscreen', which it is most definitely not! It is watercolor and ink}

custom recipe illustration etsy shop

I did it! I have started a new etsy shop that specializes in custom recipe illustrations...everyone has a treasured family recipe~ holiday cookies, tomato sauce, soup, macaroni and cheese, thanksgiving turkey?! Meet "cook❤love❤draw". I love to cook and I absolutely love to draw...please let me create a family heirloom-worthy piece of artwork for your kitchen! Only 35$ for a custom made, ready to be framed, original illustration for you or your family.

I am also thinking that it would be a great wedding favor~ a mini print of a recipe illustration for cookies or candy, tied in a cute package with a few cookies/candies?! I am working on pricing for that... check it all out here.

IF- "infinite"

She knew that outside of her cage were infinite possiblities...
Late for this week's illustration friday, but better than not at all.
For Ellie.

cherry heirloom tomatoes

The farmer's market was overflowing with beautiful heirloom tomatoes this past weekend, and I was taken with the cherry tomatoes in shades of purple, red, yellow, and green. I roasted them and made some amazing pasta salad {see illustrated recipe above}. The next morning, I used the rest of the roasted tomatoes in a quiche with feta and basil. ..quiche for one?

{haha...nope.}

Getting the plans together for the custom illustrated recipe etsy shop....

zucchini enchiladas

You must try these delicious vegetarian enchiladas with homemade enchilada sauce {best part}. This amazing recipe was found on fresh365, a great vegetarian cooking blog that uses seasonal ingredients written by a talented lady named Erin! See her original post here, and for the love of all that's holy, please make these for dinner tonight! Then, check her blog to see what to make for dinner tomorrow! 

PS: thinking about a new etsy shop illustrating people's family recipes as a gift- I have gotten some positive responses to the above and the pickled bean recipe that I illustrated before...could be fun and everyone has favorite family recipes! {would be cute framed, hanging in a kitchen}

{note} tragically, I dropped my computer and killed it- hence the long hiatus. I am trying to get back on schedule!

Illustration Friday- "impatient"

...impatiently, she waited to fly.   

Definitely inspired by this vintage photo , seen at the constant gatherer.

fat bird, six ways...

I found an adorable image of a puffy fat bird and drew a six versions of him...

bud vase drawing

Today was a day that I needed to draw something happy...I saw this beautiful image on a flickr pool called "pastel and dreamy" and loved this image by Shana Rae {florabella} , which inspired my doodle :)

Please go check out the glorious images in this pool if you ever need a trip to your happy place.

watercolor wedding birdies+ gone so long

I haven't posted in forever, I know!!! But I have been busy....I painted these birds as an element of the cards that I made for my bridesmaids. The "cards" turned into small books really, and taught me to keep my invitations simple! I didn't photograph a finished one...but I hope that all of my girls were happy to receive them in the mail!

That's not all that I have been working on...

*I created a shirt design for the girls on team, "high heels for hope" . Each of the teammates are raising $2300 for breast cancer research at the three days for the cure walk. I will post the design soon :) I hope the best for the team and their fundraising!!!

*I donated a necklace/earring set to my mother-in-law-to-be's charity silent auction for the Children's Miracle Network

*I attended a really beautiful wedding and made my friend Christina, the beautiful bride, a super sparkly jewelry set {alright, they didn't register for it...I probably won't get a single thing that I registered for in return! top photo} 

* I am working on some equally sparkly commissioned earrings for my friend Lauren to wear in her wedding- lots of pressure to create something that someone will wear on her most special day! I will share them when they are finished and have the bride's approval!

*jeez....I went to work too.

xoxoxo

Illustration Friday- Adapt

My Illustration Friday submit for this week's topic, "adapt" It's hard to be a girl in love with a bird...she chose to "adapt" by eating birdseed and wearing a yellow beak {the rest came later}
:)

IF- contagious (not finished)

Illustration Friday- Contagious! My happiness is contagious...
Not finished- planning to watercolor- will share once finished:)
xoxo

Illustration Friday- "parade"

Let's get dressed up and put on a parade! Check out other entries here!

My illustrations on Jess Gonacha's Pecannoot!

Above is my FAVORITE print by artist Jess Gonacha {which you can feel free to purchase for my birthday right here...hint hint} Jess has been one of my favorite illustrators for awhile and she has very kindly posted a few of my illustrations {"celebrate" and "intricate"} on her blog, Pecannoot! Pecannoot is all about remembering the abundance of happiness that we can experience through art and pictures when real life gets you down. Check out the post here! Thanks so much Jess! 

Illustration Friday- "poise"

My illustration friday submission for this week's topic, "poise"... lovely lady in her boudoir. I used prismacolor pencils for this week's illustration and remember why I love markers and watercolor SO much better! Check out the other submissions here!

Illustration Friday- "legendary"

"Her feathers were legendary, but she preferred to hide amongst the leaves...."

Prismacolor+opaque markers. Check out the other "Legendary" illustration friday submissions here! 

Illustration Friday! Breezy

This week's topic is Breezy! I was thinking about how delightful a warm, sunny, flower scented breeze would be...
See the other illustrations here!

Chickens!

I drew these chickens yesterday...I guess they are practicing their balancing act, you know...just in case. On another note, I listed a few new things in the etsy shop here:

and also opened a new flickr account here! Check it out and have a great weekend!!!