Happy Friday, my friends! I did it! I did it! I completed my rough art for the next book that's coming out in 2018. Normally, I create digital rough art using only Photoshop brushes like these and these, but I wanted to try a little something different. For this next book's rough art, I used only black watercolor and I enjoyed it so much! It's a different kind of challenge to paint with a single color to create various shades. Surprisingly, it took less time to hand paint than it does to do ... Read more
Happy Friday + Making Magazine DOTS + GIVEAWAY [CLOSED]
Happy Friday! Just popping in to sing praises for the latest issue of Making Magazine: DOTS! It's been so fun contributing to this gorgeous, gorgeous publication, and Carrie and her team at Making are top notch. My project for the DOTS issue is a diminutive Sashiko-embroidered pin cushion inspired by a meditation pillow. Form, function and Ommmmm -- doesn't get better than that, right? I sewed several iterations to get the project to match up with my mental picture, so my little ... Read more
Happy Friday + Randomness
Happy Friday! We're not into fancy trips. Or long ones. Last weekend, we went on one of our typical low-budget micro-vacations in Central Washington, and it fully reinforced how much we enjoy these. We stayed in a town called Roslyn made famous via Northern Exposure, a cult TV classic from the 90s. Whenever we go to Roslyn, we avoid the Suncadia resort and stay at the Huckleberry House. We actually thought that the Huckleberry House had closed its doors to business, but I recently got an ... Read more
Happy Friday + Little K Turns TWO
Happy Friday, my friends! It's Thursday afternoon as I type this and it's hailing. Massive amounts of raindrops are thrashing against our window panes that don't seem up to the task and thunder and lightning and sunshine are adding to the confusing yet exciting mix. By the time you read this (if it's Friday), I will be headed out of town with M and K for a little weekend getaway in Roslyn. Let's hope the weather gets better. So! May 5th is not only Children's Day but Little Kunoichi's 2nd ... Read more
Happy Friday + Randomness
Happy Friday! I picked up these fetching ranunculus blooms at Trader Joe's yesterday, and it really is about the small things that brighten our days, isn't it? Pink flowers in general uplift me, but these delicately layered petals are mood-boosters on steroids. It was fun to play around with my camera and photo editing...I haven't been doing much of that. Instead, I've been spring cleaning like a fiend now that I've completed a couple of deadlines -- the dining room table's been looking ... Read more