1 year blog-iversary

Today is my 1 year blog anniversary! The time has definitely flown by, it's crazy how things become a part of your everyday routine.

I wish gummy bear balloons actually existed

 What a wonderful year its been. I wanted to have a creative outlet to share my artistic side and other stuff I'm excited about like crafting, baking, and fashion.
I really love to write about things I'm passionate about and I love seeing what all is going on in the blogosphere. But my main goal was develop my drawing style and open a shop and while I was just enjoying the creative process and make things on a regular basis. But now I need to see my goals through to completion. I finally made a list of things I want to focus on.

1. Using Spoonflower to make detailed illustrations on fabric.
I love drawing I love fabric it was only a matter of time before someone came up with tools to print your own designs. This is happening very soon!

I love floral prints

2. Do some illustrations inspired by songs. I love music, I can't work without it, it makes me happy, relaxed and focused. What could be a better inspiration than that?

3. Create my own T shirt designs. I've always been interesting in screen printing, I found a really great company and I'm coming up with a swirly, colorful explosion something awesome that I can wear to work. This is a doodle, don't take it seriously lol

I love stars and purple

4. Create and explore characters. I love to explore animals with human nuances and I love coming up with random wild monster creatures too. I'd like to see where this could go if I gave it the right amount of attention.

I am very excited to see where these projects will take me, maybe I will come up with other ideas along the way that I love even better.
I hope to focus more on my art projects but also discover and discuss more food, fashion and DIY this year. I hope you continue on this journey with me :)

clouds and birds

Things have been kind stressful and disappointing lately. One thing that cheers me up on my drive home is getting to see the sun set. I love clouds all fluffy and different colors, it reminds me how powerful God is and what a wonderful creator He is.

 He can do so much with so little. It reminds me to calm down and enjoy the view.

I think that's why I love birds so much, they are so tiny and yet resilient. They remind me to stay positive. One of my favorite Bible passages in Matthew is about birds.

 

I have had this drawing idea bouncing around in my head for quite awhile.  Here's a quick sketch, I'd like to do another version with color and tweak the details a little. Regardless this needs to go in my cube as soon as possible.

 I hope this encourages you, and you smile the next time you see a bird fly by. I've added new projects to my list but I'm trying to say focused. Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday :)

Food and Fun

I had a really great time hanging out with one of my friends Friday night, we love to go to fun places to eat and she is a fearless Dallas driver (I am not at all). So we went to the best pizza place in Dallas, Cane Rosso, the first time we went we got to sit in front of the oven and watch the delicious pizza bake which was awesome, but this time we got a regular table and separate pizzas, because I really wanted to savor the leftovers :)

The flavors are so fresh and amazing, it takes me back to my brief Italian memories. It is made according to Neapolitan standards, so you know it's good quality. They have amazing dessert pizza too, which I have never really been a fan until I tried their Bella Mena which is vanilla bean mascarpone with caramelized apples with a caramel drizzle...yep amazing.

Pizza Bliss

Then we went to my favorite pie place for dessert. To my surprise and delight they new seasonal pies for Valentine's Day, a strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb pie, a red velvet chess pie and last but not least good old key lime, which I had been craving for quite a while. My friend tried Lord of the Pies ala mode, and I had a little taste and it was freaking amazing, next time I'm getting that one :)

my friend with lord of the pies

I also went to a painting class and still need to finish my painting, a separate post on that later :)

Recently, I started thinking about baby owls, some of my friends are pregnant so I was thinking about making their kids a cute softie.

I was debating between closed or open eyes, and I went with closed eyes. I thought it would be fun to make the body and the wings contrast and I had to add a cute little bow of course.

I will have to add more stuffing and take better pictures this week :)

This weekend was jam packed with stuff I love to do: eat at awesome places, painting, and sewing. Usually only one of these things gets done so I'm glad I got to do so much and that doesn't even count the Superbowl. I've got big plans, for February and I'm going to set a calendar get focused and accomplishment some fun ideas. What have you got planned for Feb?

Jellyfish and Drawings

Last weekend, I didn't feel so well and didn't do much. The weather wasn't so great either, but I made the best of it. I got to give my friend, the cutest mug I have seen in quite a while! It is so perfect for her :)

 This is mug is part of a very cute collection of different animals and prints, see if you can find them at your Target, as they do not seem to be listed online.

I also had the best cinnamon rolls for dessert because they are just that good, yes they are from a can.

I have been working on my drawing, my goal for the month and here are few of them. I am working on some new ideas, that I'm pretty excited about and I think I might be in the mood to sew some creatures again soon.

peg leg pirate squirrel

happy little toucan

pretty in punk

31 days of drawing are almost up, and I'll admit I'm behind and trying to catch up. It has still be a fun process though. Hope your week is going well! Happy Tuesday!!

Earring wishlist

I am pretty low maintenance when it comes to a beauty routine, I rarely wear make up. But I do like to accessorize with a pretty pair of earrings, it really does brighten up an outfit, and give you that extra little pop without much effort.

I like drop earrings better than stud, I have a few favorite pairs. These red/pink ones were given to me on whim by a coworker a few years ago. I love them. Especially with anything purple.

These blue ones, I found at my favorite art museum gift shop, I had to decide between the blue, purple and light pink, I should have purchased all three, but live and learn. ;)

Here's my earring wishlist.

I have been looking at these for awhile. I also like the other pretty pale colors they come in.


These are bright, fun and flashy and hand cut leather.

I also like these cascading studs because they are colorful and flat so they won't make a clanking sound when you are on your cell phone :)

I think I like the yellow/orange/pink version the best. These two are both from the same shop, which also has fun necklaces.

This is a new shop I found, I really like that uses found objects from the sea. She makes pretty stuff.

As you might know, my favorite color is purple. These are pretty and a little dramatic. They are from athread.

These appeal to my cutesy vintage side. They are sweet and colorful and available here.

What do you think about my picks? What's your favorite type of jewelry. I also love necklaces but that is a separate post ;)

Pretty in Punk

I've always liked cute clothes with punk influences, and I was quite smitten with this long sleeve tee, I saw at Target recently. Skulls have grown on me the past few seasons, especially when they are presented in a new fresh way. Also the ombre effect is cute, not to mention it's pink. I couldn't find a link online but's the LOL Vintage brand.

It definitely got me inspired. I really love flowers and want to get better at drawing them, so I think I'm going to work on that :)

Floral skull sketch

What did you think about the First Lady's wardrobe on Monday? I thought the coat was interesting by Thom Browne, the print was said to be inspired by a man's tie, accented with a J.Crew belt. I have never been a huge fan of jacquard, but I like that she makes interesting with the belt and pop color gloves.

 I got the first lady fashion pictures from here.

 I think her bangs are awesome and her red dress was pretty (again by Jason Wu)
I think I like the red dress better, the subtle print is fashion forward and elegant. Which is your  favorite?

Left 2012                  Right 2008

 I did a bunch of cleaning and organizing this weekend, and work is crazy busy. Needless to say I am brain dead, but I hope to have some more posts and new sketches this week. Happy Tuesday!

Lately

I have been doing pretty good, on my New Year's goals. I baked my Grandmother's cookies, I have been trying to make them correctly for a couple of years now, unsuccessfully I might add. And now I finally know why! I was leaving out a cup of flour, I copied the recipe down wrong from the original but this time they turned out fluffy and happy. They are a chocolate cookie, subtly sweet with nuts, vanilla frosting and rainbow sprinkles: rainbow sprinkles are a must. Getting these cookies right finally......makes me really happy, and seeing them look like they should reminds me of all those Christmases with my Grandma and her amazing cookies.

you can't eat just one :)

I even starting a sewing project, I need to buy some gray thread though, why is it whenever you start a project you never have that particular color of thread. I'm so glad I got Joann's gift card for Christmas now I can get whatever color thread I want, baking stuff, paint stuff and FABRIC!!
I am very happy girl.

I hope it turns out like I want :)

I've also been painting, I started with the background, and then got nervous about messing up the face so I scanned it to have a back up and then I thought about experimenting with an actual paint and then computer drawing on top of that; kind of a digital mixed media. I used paint brush tools to draw the details of her outline too.
I am pretty happy with how it turned out, for a new experiment anyway. I want to do more stuff like this see what I can come up with.

I made her skin pale so the brushstrokes would show through

I want a little happy bird on my shoulder :)

 This year, I really want to make a point to challenge myself illustration wise.
 Her blue hair is inspired by Kate Winslet's charater Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

one of my favorite movies ever!

What's new with you. Are you busy with new projects?