A Day of Invitations

A couple of days ago, I was asked to create a simple, casual bridal shower invitation using the colors orange and green and pumpkins. These are the three options I designed for the client. (All information has been changed.)

I had so much fun doing these; I love weddings and Autumn colors! What a perfect project to do at my favorite time of year! The hostess of the party chose the last one and asked me to create another invitation for a formal Bridal Luncheon. Can' t wait to begin working on it. The colors are brown, orange, champagne, green, and plum. I am thinking something a bit more traditional with a touch of fancy. Does anyone have any ideas?

Also, today I sold my one and only invitation on my etsy shop. My poor etsy shop has shriveled up lately, not being tended to properly, but I have never had a green thumb! I think I am going to design more invitations at the moment to put on my etsy shop.

Today was a day for the invitation!

Date Night

Believe it or not, my husband and I had only our second date in a year's time. Don't get me wrong, we do get out. It's just we usually take our two girls everywhere we go. Who knew a few hours, would be so relaxing, rejuvenating, and fun. No one to make sure they're eating, no one to take several times to the restrooms, or continually trying to sit little ones down and hold their attention longer than thirty minutes. It was heaven! We ate out on the deck on one of our favorite restaurants and watched the sunset over the bay over dinner and wine. As night snuck in, the sky was covered by a blanket of stars and the draping of the strings of white lights from the restaurant. The air was filled with the sounds of a man and his guitar as he sang Carribean tunes such as the likes of Jimmy Buffett.

How relaxed I could be, and may be, just may be, the art I could produce with this kind of destressing more often. May be my husband will read this. hint, hint.

To stay creative when not knowing what to do, I will entertain myself with some good old fashioned doodling.

Inspiration is EVERYWHERE



graphic art on a BK cup

piece remaining of a sign at the Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum.



Carved wooden artpiece at a Thai Restaurant





Several things I have run into lately and just had to share it. I might be using certain aspects of these ideas in some of my future art. Inspiration is everywhere!

Picking up the paintbrush

It has been very hard for me to pick up a paintbrush or get on the computer lately. I have had a lot of ideas in my head, almost every night, but for some strange reason I haven't been able to put a pencil to paper. I have tried going to some of my old projects I have been working on, but many of you can probably relate with me that when your heart is not in it, nothing will be or can be accomplished. Right before I took my hiatis from art, I began a digitally drawn image of a girl with fireflies. I decided to create this into a painting as well. These images show the beginnings of the painting. I think I am finally getting back to myself again. Although I can't explain the standstill, I will try my best to continue on with my art. I hope to repost the finished painting soon. Thank you for understanding and helping me get over this hurdle.

What a Long Time

Sorry it has been so long since I  have last written on here! I have not given up even though for the last few weeks, I have been nonexistent to the cyberworld. Wow! It is so hard to get going again. A few weeks feels like eternity on here. I have been very busy painting a house, and not mine. 2200 sq. feet plus ceilings. Let me just say, I feel for the professional painters who do it everyday. That is definitely not for me!

My oldest Hayden, has just started preschool from 9-1 and although I thought her absence would alllow a lot of free time for working, I have found a new relationship with my one year old who wants more Mommy time since big sis is at school. I work when I can, but I don't want to miss my special time with my girls as they magically grow before me in what seems like a day. Hayden has started dance two weeks ago, and I think I will find myself being that Mommy caravan like my Mom back in the day.  Hayden loves dance and counts the days until she gets to go back.

Hayden's first day of dance with her custom dance bag made from ConCon.

As for me, I have not worked on anything creative in a couple of weeks. I find myself itching to be creative again and yet hesitant to begin. The top pic is an illustration I began for the Creative Color Challenge but didn't quite finish. I will repost again finished at a later time. Thank you for sticking with me as I wade through my journey.

I have never stated my goals here and will do so in one of the next couple of posts.  One goal now added is to maintain my presence.

The Lemonade Girls

Lemonade Girls by kmcclay with bubblesunderthemoon. Available soon on my etsy shop: www.bubblesunderthemoon.etsy.com

I just signed up for the Creative Color Challenge hosted by Louise Gale. The challenge is for the month of August to make a new piece of art each week with the given color plus white and black and shades. Last week's color was yellow. YELLOW! Not one of my favorite colors! After lingering over what to do until Wednesday, I decided to make a lemonade stand with my girls. My last post of Pinkalicious probably inspired me in this direction also. After working on this off and on, but more off than on, chasing my girls around, I created this in about 2 nights. I was pretty proud because I can put off details of a digital drawing for more than a week or so. This challenge is showing me I can create in a given time period. Also, I am expanding my thought process in my subject matter, not having to fret about what color to use. The monochromatic color scheme seems to free me in some way. Weird, huh?

This week's color is raspberry red. Right now I am thinking of creating a pattern about LOVE. How do little girls perceive love? Roses are red... or Mommy and Daddy sitting in a tree.. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. Hopefully, I will create something cool, but my motivation has slacked for the last week or so. We'll soon see.

Pinkalicious!!!!!!! by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann

I have been delaying writing in my blog lately and I am sorry for that! Sometimes those negative thoughts creep back in and tell me no one wants to read about my life, about what I think. I don't travel very often, so a travel blog is out of the question unless you consider going to the grocery store, or the doctor's very exciting; I know I don't. My house hasn't been touched in the design sense for years, unless you consider spilled juice and smashed cookie crumbs Art Noveau. So, I am very truly sorry but that's how I have been feeling lately.

I took the girls to the bookstore today because it is way too hot outside to play. Hayden found two Pinkalicious books she doesn't have yet, so we just had to get them. After getting them home,  I thought this would be something cool to share on my blog. I truly love Victoria Kann's illustration style and how she uses collage into her books.

all illustrations by Victoria Kann

I love how she uses the doily background for her dress, the handwriting for the building's texture, and the sheet music for the leaves. It is the little touches that draw me in.

If you are unfamiliar with the Pinkalicious series and like these images, I would suggest getting a peek at them at a bookstore. Although the two small books we just bought Tickled Pink and the Pink Drink are not as strong in their compositions as the original Pinkalicious, they are very similar in overall look and feel. Victoria Kann, I truly am a huge fan!

 

Sold     Squares and Circles 

I totally forgot to post the finished piece. I have been trying to work on my art this week but so far have been unsuccessful. Tonight looked like a good night for art and then our refrigerator stopped working. I am trying really hard to get going. Hopefully soon!