I Love You More

I have many different projects on my plate these days, but one that is very close to my heart is a children's book by a friend of mine from high school. Well, actually, I didn't really know her in high school, but through the magic of Facebook, we have become friends. I Love You More is a beautiful and touching book for children that is a prayer from a parent and highlights the beauty of the South Carolina lowcountry. The illustrations are just getting going (and with some work will be finished hopefully soon!) They each lovingly capture a feeling of lowcountry life that those of us from there will cherish for ourselves as well as our children. Keep reading in the future, I am sure you will see more about this project as it unfolds!

Sometimes you just have to scrawl

Inspired by Artful Blogging, I started a notebook dedicated to sketches that were just for creativity's sake. No agenda. No product in mind. Just a place to create without judgment. This little doggie is one of my entries from last year. I found a photo of a dog in an ad and really wanted to use it as reference material for a sketch. That is my real handwriting. I even have a hard time reading it most days. Really, ask my husband... he thinks it is quite funny! The words are from some of my favorite songs. I am very inspired by music, but  probably don't listen to it enough. The first song is Fearless by Pink Floyd. It is very inspirational to me, about the struggle we all face when facing our dreams. The other is a CSN song, Daylight Again. The line "Daylight again, following me to bed," resonates with me for all the sleepless nights I have spent (but don't that much any more.)


I hope you reach for your dreams fearlessly today.

Art Rules!

Need I say more?? My new product line for this week is one I have been mulling around in my head for a while (I tend to do that) and finally was brought to life this weekend. My Art Rules pendants are individual pieces of art created on a little piece of wooden yardstick and then made into a pendant for art fans. A few pieces are mixed media and are individually drawn on before a coating of resin protect the art, some are hand burnished (love that wood burning smell) and then painted for a rustic and graphic look. Many more designs are on the drawing table...do you have any ideas for themes? I would love to hear from you! Do you like the painted one better than the mixed media, or are they both cool? Let me know your thoughts. I am thinking about dogs, and lemons, springy themes like beach chairs!
Hope this Tuesday is a good one for you and remember....Art Rules!

Hearts for Haiti

Everyone has been touched by the widespread devastation in Haiti. The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon was quoted yesterday as saying that the situation in Haiti is "one of the worst humanitarian crises in decades." As usual, I am in awe of the work people around the world do for each other, as many people join together to raise money or work in Haiti to help people get back on their feet. In particular, looting and crime has made the situation dangerous as well as the desperate lack of clean water.

I am proud to say that through two small grassroots efforts, I am hopefully helping those in need. I want to introduce you to one of them today... HeartsforHaiti an Etsy shop helping to make a difference.

This comes from their shop announcement and will tell you a little bit more...

This is an Etsy collective of donated items from hundreds of Etsy shops to raise money to rebuild Haiti. 100% of the proceeds from this shop (minus Etsy fees and Paypal fees) go directly to DoctorsWithoutBorders (http://doctorswithoutborders.org ) in bi-monthly increments. This shop has permission to use the DoctorsWithoutBorders name and a separate bank account and Paypal account have been opened to maintain the integrity of this shop.

Items have been donated from many individual shops; each shop has included their particulars ( country, shipping time) in each listing. All items include seller-donated free shipping (most worldwide, see individual listing) because the need is SO great, we want you to buy and help support Etsians helping Haiti. The theme for the next few weeks is on heart items but we have more than just that. Know that your purchase in this shop not only gets you a great Etsy item but it also helps alleviate the needs in Haiti through donations to DoctorsWithoutBorders (MedicinesSansFrontiers ).



Please visit the shop today and help make a difference to those in need in Haiti.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeartsforHaiti

Just When You Thought it was Safe to go in My Head...

So, all cutesy little puppies and kitties and stuff in there? Those of you who know me well will not be surprised that I have a weird and wicked sense of humor and sometimes it sneaks out. So, the last prompt word for Andie Illustr8tes was Love, and I chose the suggestion to go with it as Bites. I have actually come up with two solutions for this challenge, one cute, one not so much. You can decide which this is. I have no idea why this came to me, but I went with it. So far, my son has said, "Are you putting that in your Etsy shop mom? I mean, why would anyone want that?" and my husband has said, "I love it, but that eye. I mean, it just creeps me out." I would love to know what you think of the first installment of Love Bites. I'm thinking it will make a nice Valentine's Day something... what do you think? Part Two will be unveiled tomorrow!