A Star-Gazer named Whimbley

I started this image awhile back of a star-gazing frog named Whimbley.

I put it away for awhile because it made me miss Henrie too much.

I am ready to get back to it now and finish it off & conjure up Whimbleys tall tale

but I sure do miss looking down from my desk to see these two snuggled up next to me.

The Bird Who Carried Around A Star

A new inkling just finished.  Next is a couple of beady-eyed muskrats, a Dall sheep, a fish & more...

 

 

I am working on getting the lot of them into the shop as soon as possible...bear with me!

Lovely Stars and Abit More

So as promised yesterday, let's get straight back to some studio business. I've been busy making more of my little hand-stitched felt stars. They will be released into the shop this week because I am finally getting some good shots of them.

Here's the newest batch...

And if any of you were wondering, after yesterday's post, what a bunny does the day after a day of dancing and leaping in the yard...well I just thought I'd show you...

They are pooped and cuddle up into balls or stretch right out in their fuzzy blankets, to rest up for the next day of frolicking, ha ha.

I've also been keeping busy painting alot of household things that just need some tlc or new life. So over the next few days I'll try to take some shots of those projects. I've also been quickly painting up new things, like this cute little table that Jon made...I just white washed it with a lovely minty green paint. It has dual purpose which I love, not only is it for putting my basil and plants on etc, but the bottom is left open and hollow for the bunnies to indulge in their burrow and 'hide n' sneak' instincts.

Well, another busy day is ahead of me so with another headache, I should get to it. I've been sketching up some new illustration ideals which I am excited about but which I can't share quite yet. Seriously, if there is something your planning or excited about, just try to not tell people about it, or at least not give away all the details...it really does seem to lend that thing or ideal even more thrill and excitement, for me anyhow.

To all of my lovely readers who are kind enough and sweet enough to take the time to leave comments, I so appreciate that and I am sending you all special hugs today. Be well, and until tomorrow...Happy Creating and Being.

More Stars, Etsy Prints and New Colours, Hooray!

Well it's Wednesday and I have 'Woe'...my head hurts...again! It's been such a rainy summer and I seem to get migraines and headaches when it rains alot. I've suffered this past week, but I am glad to still be getting some work done. I woke up with a jittery feeling in the pit of my tummy and I just realized that it's because I am excited to get lots done today but it's also because I am nervous that the small headache I have now will become a full blown one and I won't get anything done at all, I really hate that feeling of impending doom! Well enough complaining!

Here are four more stars I've just finished up...

My honey suggested that I try a different stitch on some of the newer ones, a stitch that looked abit cleaner and I am so glad he pointed this out because he was right and the newer stars stitching is much cleaner which makes me happier. It'll be interesting to see how they progress over time. Already I have plans for round, heart, flower and fish shaped ones. It's alot of fun for me to once again take a break from my usual medium and play with something new.

Again...they will most likely be available in my Etsy shop starting tommorow. I still need to get some good photos of them, so if that goes well today (despite the gloomy skies and light coming through the windows) they will be up for grabs and on their way to new homes...I hope! I am sure there are lots of people out there who love pretty, little hand-made items dangling from all rooms in their homes...like me, ha ha.

This week these little beauties came in the mail. We ordered them from Etsy from Sarah Ogren and they just delight my heart and eyes. I admit to not having ALOT of other artists work in our house, my own stuff seems to take up most real estate. But there was something about these beautiful little open edition prints that made me really want to adopt them into our house. I am thinking that Sarah is a rabbit lover also.

This one is called "Side Saddle Bird Rider" and I am anxious to take it out of the the plastic and find the perfect frame. But I just couldn't wait to show you.

This one is called "Bunny Leap" and it is a silkscreen print.

Extra little touches that come with Etsy orders are always great. I always make sure to package my orders up nicely and with care and extra little stickers or ribbons or recycleable wrapping paper...and with this Etsy order besides the prints came this postcard with a nice little note on the back...I just really appreciated the extra treat which I'll happily hang on the bullentin boards in my studio...thanks Sarah, I will enjoy the prints forever I am quite sure. Oh also, Sarah has a blog too at http://www.sarahogren.blogspot.com/ .

Today, I am also appreciative of the paints that were on sale. Like I mentioned before, despite the cost of them, I really love buying supplies...so when I left the store with two heavy bags full of paint, I just had to capture atleast one photograph of some of the beautiful colours which accompanied me home earlier this week...

and Judit...thanks so much for the snailmail treat today. They may not be frequent but that just makes them extra loved when they do grace my mailbox, ha ha. Stickers of ladybugs and photos of you and me and Ed, what could be better.

Well, that's about all for today...may you have a headache/migraine free day....and may you be happy and creative...until tommorow.

A Tuesday Which Inspires and Delights

Hi Everyone, I hope this post find you all well and in good cheer. Today more than ever I am reminded that we are all responsible for finding our own cheer and delight, wherever we may be in our lives. You may be living some dream life in Paris, a lovely breeze filled existence in Greece, or perhaps your a little rabbit loving artist in a small Northern city...wherever or whatever you are, try your hardest to find delight in everyday. Well, ha ha that's my tidbit of advice for today.

Today, I was up bright and early. After watching Hazel and Jin play on their newly built deck, I had a great morning workout on my beloved treadmill. Then I proceeded to paint my new image rails for the studio so we can put them up this week. And then at lunch time I treated myself to an afternoon matinee at the theatres where I saw Mamma Mia, and I just loved it. When I was choosing which film to go see, I thought to myself "Mmmm, I really feel like I need some inspiration from moving colour" and this is exactly what this movie provided. As I walked home, cutting through the park and seeing huge storm clouds starting to surround the city, I just felt truly and blissfully happy. I love it when movies can lend to that feeling.

So what have I been busy with you may ask? Well aside from hanging out with my sweetie Jonathan, and our 4 bunnies, gardening and painting and shopping for door window inserts! I finished up "Stick In There"....

And I've been busy making these little beauties...

I've been making these felt and hand stitched stars for years now...usually around xmas time which I bundle up and give to a couple select friends every year. But I felt like making them again and not just for xmas this year. They are lovingly made by yours truly and can be purchased through my Etsy shop. I have about 18 made and I am excited to share them with you and hear what you think of them. I can promise that each one is unique and filled with good energy.

When I got back from the movies, I brought Ella Luna and Roo to play outside and I also brought these two stars to finish stitching up...I went inside to get a tea and when I cam back out I found this beautiful little guy crawling all over them...

So I stitched my afternoon blissfully away...surrounded by silly little caterpillars, chickadees begging for more sunflower seeds and tons of dragonflies like this guy...

How can one not be inspired or in a good mood when surrounded by bunnies and wondrous little beings. Until tomorrow everyone, have an excellent night and be well.

New Image & Adventures in Huntsville

Here is a new illustration, just a tiny little guy measuring 6"x6" done in coloured pencil.

It's funny and lovely how our techniques grow and change. Just last year I would have said 'no way' to using any kind of black outlining for my work, if I needed black in any area of my pictures I would mix it using browns, blues and reds. Now, without really knowing where I veered off from my 'no black' policy, I find that a nice even black outline on some of my newer imagery really helps them pop and I love the effect. It just goes to show you that even when we think our creative minds are closed to an ideal, they may not be closed tight, ha ha.

So last Friday, on our way home from Toronto, we decided to take a break and spend a few hours in Huntsville. It was a perfect, sunny day and though I've been to Huntsville before, I just fell in love with the place during this short visit. We strolled up and down the main street, went into amazing furniture stores, one of my favourites was 'Saturday Afternoons". We ventured into an adorable local bookstore, had a wonderful lunch at "Aroma" and topped it off with an ice cream cone before hopping back into the truck and continuing the rest of the way home. I could just envision myself moving to this idyllic town and opening up my very own "Bijou's Whimsy" Gallery. It had a wonderful mix of quaintness, dense surrounding forest, and near by water making me feel very at home and cozy. One of my favourite places that day was the amazing 'Shutterbug Gallery', owned by Kelly Holinshead, a local and very talented photographer. This gallery also featured work from some other local people and I was enchanted with the needle-felt work by Sherry Peddie, after seeing her creations I know I will soon have to try my hand at this new artform/craft. Not only did the artwork in this gallery win me over completely but also the building itself, it was so inspiring to see how some one so perfectly turned an old building into a creative gallery space.

Another thing that struck me with this adorable little town was the Group of Seven inspired public murals scattered throughout the main street area...here are some of my favourites.

I hope these mural photos inspire you as much as they inspired me. Until Monday, Take Care and Be Kind to One Another.

New Illustration "Bodhi The Elephant"

To buy the original please click here.

To buy a print please click here.

Today, as promised I have a brand new illustration to show you. This is a coloured pencil, 9"x12" and is called "Bodhi the Elephant". It feels really good to get back to my style and just to do an image for love of the subject, I mean who doesn't love elephants, they are such incredible creatures and this image is meant to celebrate them. May the enjoyment I had making it be passed onto you. Have a wonderful day everyone and until tomorrow Happy Creating.

On another note, Wendy Baylis over at Dharma Designs Blog has written an article about me and my work over at my Etsy Shop, thanks so much Wendy.

"Everything's Going to be Okay"

Good Tuesday Everyone,

Here is a new image...a whimsical and unearthly blue bird flying amongst the stars. This illustration was done to be inspirational but also at the same time it is meant to be grounding, as I am hoping the bird looks and gives the viewer a feeling of relaxation...that everything will be 'okay'.

To buy the original please click here.

To buy a print please click here.

I love this piece because 'everything is going to be okay' was exactly the mantra I had to repeat to myself the days after I finished it. Here's a question, I don't want answered but that I still want to throw out into the void...can art actually sometimes foretell the future? Anyhow, here's what happened; I was having a wonderful time in Toronto at Judit & Ed's place. I was suppose to be home on a Tuesday but things happened causing my ride to be unable to come pick me up on the scheduled day, so we all decided that I would stay another week on top of the initial week. I finished this illustration on a Tuesday and Wednesday at 6am, I got a call from home saying Ella Luna was very sick and it was strongly suggested that I get home as soon as I could. The bus and train weren't an option because they took 6-8 hours to arrive at home and neither left till at least 9:30am. So I did what I originally thought was the unthinkable..I rented a car and drove myself, ha ha. Now I know this doesn't sound like a big deal to most people, but for me, it was a massive thing....a big fear overcome and conquered. Despite the fact that I lived in Toronto for 5 years and drive quite alot....I've never had the nerve to drive in Toronto on my own. I always needed that expert beside me telling me which lane to get into, and which exit to take etc etc. But when push came to shove, I had to get home to my Ella Luna and I just did it, in 3 hours I must add, ha ha. The whole time...being terrified of being in the car in the middle of Toronto and the expressway all on my own...being terrified that Ella wouldn't be able to hold on till I got home...I kept telling myself 'Everything is going to be okay"...and it was:D I got home safe and sound with renewed confidence in my strength and abilities and our beautiful Ella Luna has fully recovered.

Life is just so much more fulfilling and amazing when we can move freely through it...and when you reach that fear that is blocking your way, if you really must bust through it, have the belief in yourself that you will. I think that most of us are alot stronger than we give ourselves credit for. I love the saying "A woman is like a tea bag, she never knows how strong she is, till she's put in hot water".

Till tomorrow, be well everyone and happy creating.