frivolous friday

every friday I'm going to post something fun + frivolous...and this is certainly both. yep. that's all of us as barbie cakes...hope the girlfriends won't be upset with me for sharing......lynne + I laughed so much while creating these.

mesmerize

how do these things happen?  I'm sitting here working away on the stuff that pays and I get side-tracked by a few random color chips scattered on my desk...next thing ya know, I'm mesmerized by swirls + curls and now I'm an hour behind schedule...

alphabet

I finished illustrating the alphabet...but this is the only other letter I will show.  you'll just have to wait and see the rest at retail...hopefully.  fingers crossed.  this whale has an overbite!

zodiac

my zodiac sign is right on the cusp of virgo + leo.  well right now I'm feeling every bit the leo...mrawhhhh

silly handmades

both of these handmades of mine were contracted + produced by Design Design.  they did a great job with the finished product.  for some reason I have not been able to get into this space of fun + frivolity while creating handmades for a long time. these 2 still make me laugh...and they're still out there selling.

cool

ok. maybe it's not that cool but it was fun to do ...

jewelry designers

two of my very very very favorite jewelry designers are going to be at the Geauga Humane Society for a special event this saturday (7/25) from 10-6.  proceeds will benefit the Rescue Village.  please please please stop by and support the artists and the shelter.  a win-win if there ever was one. (clearly I don't need any more jewelry but ... I will be there for sure)

cool blog

the photo of the guy in the pants came from this cool blog (here)that someone sent me yesterday...the pattern on the left is something I did about a year ago and eventually sold.  what's my point? I don't have one...other than yellow, black + white is a great palette! 

sorbet

this is a MUST TRY!  click here for more flavors...I've only tried the coconut but that was enough to sell me.  they come in these silly little coconut shells (or pineapple boats) which totally add to the festive fun! am I a bad mom for letting these be dinner?

happy

I'll confess.  I'm not the most inquisitive when it comes to learning all of the tricks + options in illustrator. I recently discovered "inner glow" and now I want to inner glow EVERYthing even tho nate says it's so two months ago...but it sure doesn't translate very well as a lo res jpg.  hmmm... 

decorative

I just want to stay here in my studio and be all decorative today...but that's not an option. other projects, other work...but first... a long walk to clear my head.

grilled tomato soup cheese

the other day we were having a gourmet grilled cheese and tomato basil soup party...well, nate was in charge of the grilled cheese.  he was trying to manage two skillets at the same time which didn't work out so well.  as he tried a quick flip to keep one from burning, it accidently landed in the pot of soup.  his rescue operation landed it back on the other skillet.  and ... voila! ... it tasted great!!!!  a double grilled cheese with a layer of tomato basil soup topped off with a sprig of basil.  crunchy + zesty + very tasty. 

what?

huh? how can it be july 18th already?  I miss those long summers that seemed to meander all over the place moving from one hot + humid day to the next...

Louie awards!

yay for me.  I've had 5 of my designs nominated for Louie awards over the years (ya know, the oscars of greeting cards at the nyc stationary show) + 3 have actually won. when Paper Magic sent me this photo of my card with the big hunk-of-glass award, I have to say I felt pretty darn pleased. ok.....thrilled!!! ELATED!!!!!!!

the boutique card was produced by Paper Magic + the pet sympathy was Great Arrow Graphics. thanks to both of those companies for being so great to work with and for taking the cards all the way to a Louie.

still more ann arbor

we can't resist  jenny mendes ceramics and eric silva jewelry...

more ann arbor art fair

lynne was loving everything tangerine at the show...especially in the nancy gardner booth.

Ann arbor art fair

One of our favs...nancy gardner.

easter ideas

done thinking easter, now back to winter holiday...

handmades

I've finally determined that the source of my reoccurring neck pain is from making these crazy handmade cards.  this stuff is teeny tiny to cut out and glitter up and glue down. but who doesn't love a mini tub of beer on ice...

going for a giggle

I'm hoping these silly critters make you smile today...

facebook

we'll see how long I keep up with "that".  and not to worry, I'll be bored with kraft paper soon enough.  and eventually I'll get a reputable piece of design work here...I am determined.

holiday kraft

eh.  not thrilled with this ... but it has not been a very fulfilling day in the studio overall.  I am, however, still loving kraft paper!  tomorrow is all about noodled out paisleys...

zen desk

have you ever been to this site?  zendesk/buddha machine wall...click + visit.  it's genius.  you can set each and every one of the machines to a different sound and it creates an endless and always different loop of music.  I can work really well + stay focused when this music is playing. click here for a review from the new yorker.

summer snow

it's not easy working on holiday designs when it's 78 + sunny outside...

a.m.

oh my.  what a beautiful day.  big blue sky + the best cup of coffee out on the back patio.

studio pic

another favorite corner in my studio...the photo is by a friend of mine who is also one of my favorite musicians and a very wonderful photographer. c. spheeris.

triple sss word of the day

honestly.  I have a stack of work a mile high but here I am posting.  it is total silliness...

july 4

hey everyone...enjoy the   l  o  n  g   weekend!  cleveland actually has perfect weather in the forecast...

poodle

I don't usually post things I'm working on for clients...but...this lady is part of a big series and she made me laugh when I dressed her in her houndstooth flared coat...

another great book

amazon got me AGAIN!  when I ordered the book "naive" they said I would love this book also...and I do!  I do! I spent an hour this a.m. deciding which pages to scan and post.  darn that amazon, they are so smart...who can work when there are so many great books to look through.