A plush for a friend

I like to make plush dogs for my friends, especially after a furry friend has passed. I think it's just a small fun way to remember them. I had made a little dachshund last February just for fun, and my friend mentioned how cute she thought it was. When her dog passed I knew I had to commemorate him in happy cartoon form for her.

Bucky in cartoon form

such a sweet boy

happy face

look at those paws

paw print back

I learned a lot from this project, and I have made mental notes for things I'd like to improve next go round but I do know that I love making personal projects for people I care for and that makes me happy!
What are you working on lately?

Show & Tell Week 5

I've gotten behind on my show and tell my posts!
My friend Jenn's show and tell was spur of the moment, as her 5 year old lost his first tooth! So she made him a tooth fairy pillow!

Clifford is pretty great :)

and this one has a cool tooth applique!!!

 I was working on turning drawings into a stuffed animal again.

Here's my stuffed animal version, it took me a couple tries to sketch it on the fabric like I wanted but I am pleased with how it came out.

That's what we have been up to lately, trying to get new projects done and put new stuff in our shops, it's always a work in progress :) What have you been working on or excited about lately?

I've also got a new bunny items in the shop! Happy Easter Everyone :)

New year new projects

Hi Everyone! I hope y'all had a Merry Christmas with your loved ones! I had a great time with my family and I'm so glad to have a couple days off just to rest and relax. Even though this year has been very difficult at times, I have been reminded how significant are the everyday things we sometimes take for granted, and for that I will be more mindful and forever grateful. I will happily greet 2014, a new year full of promise :)

my tiny tree :)

  I am very excited for 2014 because I have some new ideas and projects that I can't wait to work on.
 I have been wanting to get iPad for quite awhile now and I finally decided to take the plunge :)
I have started sketching and I'm really excited to start experimenting and develop new techniques.

winter bunny

 Also I have been working on some new ideas with fabric and  I'm super excited to share more about this later.

 I have been struggling trying to work out how projects would fall into place and I finally had some light bulb moments and things are finally starting to move forward :)

I feel like Gru in this awesome scene from Despicable Me.

Are you excited for 2014? Do you have any fun plans for the new year?

birthday doodles

Lots of birthdays lately so I'm decided to come up with fun drawings to celebrate.

Some people are cat people, so that makes it easy.

Sometimes it's a phrase or an idea that brings an animal to mind, like a whale shooting a cupcake out of his blowhole... not really possible but perfect for birthday card.

I've also been drawing some new animals hedgehogs are fun and hippos are my new favorite!

Happy Wednesday to you :)

Fall Projects

It has finally cooled down here in Texas, I am definitely excited about consistent cooler temperatures. Here's what I have been up to lately.

I've been planting my Fall garden full of broccoli, cauliflower and kale.....so I'm looking for new recipes.

Making birthday banners......I think they are so much more festive than just a card.

I made a fun little cupcake pattern for the background

I have been working on some new drawings both hand drawn and digital

fox friend

sweater sketches

And some new stuffed animal prototypes

I have had a creative epiphany and I'm working toward getting much accomplished the rest of the month. I hope to share more completed projects soon!

What are you doing to enjoy this Fall season?

Bunnies on the brain

Whenever I get stressed I typically go straight to bunnies, they are fluffy and happy and they make me smile.

I starting thinking about bunnies in cute little outfits for the first day of school maybe.
I haven't gotten very far, but I enjoy the process. I like to give them each their own little personality and details, it makes me want to write a story about them.

bunny leggings

I've also been toying with a patterned softie, and of course its gonna be a cuddly bunny. This is what a bunny looks like without ears, limbs and a mouth....lol

bunny in progress

I saw this floral fabric at a quilt show and it spoke to me so I had to get it to make a stuffed animal.
I hope to get more done this weekend, trying to get back into my crafty groove after being sick and super busy with work.

What projects are you working on? What always gets you inspired to create?

Special and Loved

Making people feel special and appreciated is one of my favorite things to do. Luckily, there have been some parties and birthdays so they have gotten me in the baking and drawing mood.
I made a card for my coworker, she's getting married soon and her favorite cake strawberry!

owls in love

When it comes to a cute couple in love my go to animals are owls. I am still pretty obsessed with acrylic paper and colored pencils. I love the awesome blending effect.

so happy together

And here is the strawberry cake. I decided at the last minute to top it with a fresh strawberry design.
I love a pretty garnish  to finish off the presentation. Which automatically makes me think of one of my favorite scenes from "You've Got Mail" 

 "What are you doing?! That caviar is a garnish!" lol (scene starts @ 2:15, having trouble embedding sorry )  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAQogHJ529g

party goodies

strawberry goodness

the bride to be

We had a great time celebrating with our coworker. I got her beach mats with a built in pillow. They are a cute patchwork print and come in his and hers colors. From Target of course!

I've got some birthdays coming up and I'm dreaming up the perfect things to make some of my favorite people feel special and loved! What are you up to lately?

Shoe Love

I know most girls can relate to "love at first sight" when it comes to shoes. It doesn't happen to me very often but when does I get a little obsessed and start planning outfits around the shoes. This latest shoe crush is truly a wearable work of art.

Yes, I drew a fun little doodle

I think what I really love about these shoes is the mix of materials: the suede, the watercolor print, and the cork. The elements play off each other and compliment one another in an unexpected way. What can I say, I'm a sucker for water color prints, Impressionism is my favorite genre of painting and I'm often wearing Vera Wang's watercolor prints. I also love the tiny curve around the front opening it's so adorably retro.


This lovely shoe is by Tracy Reese and available (at where else) Anthropologie. What's even better it comes in two very different colorways. A playful weekend one, and a little more serious work appropriate one. Bright colors are my favorite so I'm pretty sure if I had to pick only one pair it would be the bright ones, but I really like the blush/gray combo too. But alas I am not coordinated enough for 3.5" heels and I'm already 5.9" tall so I'm pretty sure I would feel ridiculous towering over everyone.

On to the outfits:

These shoes have so much wonderfulness going on it's best to let them take the focal point of the outfit. I think a simple black dress is a safe option, the contrast would really make them stand out.

from asos

I also like a nice cobalt blue mixing with the green suede of the shoe.

from gap

 

The other colorway, the gray and blush could dressed up or down.

from anthro

This next dress is probably a little to matchy, but I love it anyway, Supyana has been one of my favorite designer for quite a while and her prints and her attention to detail are awesome.

from Supyana

Which color do you like better? Got your eye on a cute pair of shoes? Happy Wednesday!

New Year New Goals

I am taking advice from A Beautiful Mess, and making simple, achievable goals so I can implement new practices easier and be less likely to fail because they aren't complicated and lofty.

1. Eat 1 serving of fruit and veggies a day. A couple years ago, as I have said before, I went on a plant based diet kick, no processed foods, and no meat. I really enjoyed the flavors of food more and I had energy and felt better and lost weight. Since then I haven't really been planning meals or interested in cooking. I am hoping to change that in 2013. One serving of fruit is easy, I cut up an apple to eat at work later, it's filling and good for you. Then my one veggie at dinner will mean I have to start planning better for meals. We are thinking about what we are going to have in our garden so I am excited, it's always more fun to eat fresh produce that you have grown yourself. I know this will impact my life in a huge way because I have been successful before. I will eat less drive thru, and unhealthy stuff which will beneficial to my wallet and my waistline.

I like to add cute personality to everything :)

2. Set aside time to draw twice a week. I have noticed lately, even though I have been busier at work and distracted with the holidays, I have not been setting aside time for  myself to draw and just be creative. I am most creative in my sewing room, I just rock out to my ipod, there is no tv, so less distraction. I always feel creative when I am in my spot. Lately though I have been watching tv and trying to draw at the same time, it doesn't work as well. I know I feel better when I make myself separate and go to my special spot with no distractions, and my end result is better because I am focusing only on that. I know if I do it at least twice a week, it will be more of a habit and maybe I will get even more done.

Scribbly owl

3. Do more sewing. I got kind of burned out with sewing lately, mostly softie wise. But lately, I have been thinking more and more about different clothing alterations I want to do, or embellishments.
I have not wanted to sew clothes in a really long time,( even though I majored in fashion design lol)
so I am going to take advantage of that. Make my own version of things I see at Anthropologie for example: appliqued tops or embellished jeans.

sequined V neck and star printed jeans from Gap

Lace inset pullover

metallic star pullover

4. Plan for the future and enjoy the present. I really want to go on vacation, possibly to Europe this is going to take a lot of planning and a lot of saving, but I'm excited to have something I'm actively working towards. I haven't really been on a vacation since I was in school, I went to England for spring break. Life gets busy and often I don't take advantage of opportunities, so I'm going to try to start doing that more, hanging out with friends and doing crafts or having a theme party.  Just making more of a deliberate effort to enjoy every day.

I really love Dior and British cabs, I took this at Buckingham Palace

me (I'm on the far left) and some friends on a lion in Trafalgar Square

Find Joy in the small things concept sketch

two friends hanging out on a swing set, a concept I started working on last spring

5. Decorate and appreciate my space. I don't really decorate, I've been just kind of lazy and not really interested. I have done my share of DIY revamping and painting and I never really thought it was worth the effort until recently. I finally framed some prints I bought on etsy, and I'm excited to do more with my room, maybe even paint an accent wall! I have quite a few new prints from Christmas, and I'm slowly adding elements that I think will add to my happiness and inspiration. I'm also working on organization on my terms this is a slow but steady process lol.

I love Tim's Sally expressive use of color

What are some of your goals for 2013? Happy New Year Everyone!