art is my compass

My Sketchbook is now on its way to the Brooklyn Art Library.

These are the words I will carry with me in the coming year. May you also find your center of happiness in 2011.

the ornaments that inspired it all + etsy shop sale

These hand-stitched bear ornaments hung on my Christmas tree this year. I've cherished them ever since I was a little girl when my mom fashioned them out of an old coat lining. They also served as the inspiration for my eco-friendly wreath ornaments. Now that the holidays are over, I'm offering all remaining ornaments and balsam sachets in the shop at 50% off. Cheers and happy 2011!

my sketchbook - final entry

My final sketch is now complete...and just in time as the deadline is fast approaching. The next time I see it in person will be June 2011 at the Form/Space Atelier gallery here in Seattle. There it can be viewed alongside 28,832 other Art House sketchbooks on tour.

This sketch pretty much sums up why I chose to participate. It's forced me to practice my craft, and in doing so, has reminded me just how much happier and hopeful I am when I'm creating art. Yes, most images are simple black and white doodles, but a gal has to start somewhere, right? Thank you dear Rikkianne for inspiring me to join you in this journey. xo!

In the coming days I look forward to continuing work on my first-in-a-very-long-time series of oil paintings. Cheers!

my sketchbook - no. 8

My youngest daughter attends a Japanese-immersion school. Lucky for us, we are exposed to the beauty of Japanese culture and traditions.

Quite often I find my oldest daughter curled up with a book or two or three. My sketchbook project wouldn't be complete without a nod to her obsession.

weekend paper garland

Spent the morning with my girls cutting and stringing snowflakes made from the pages of a Chinese booklet I scored at Goodwill. Time well spent.

you sentimental idiot by Rikkianne Van Kirk

Have you seen these incredible sketches + prints yet from the artist extraordinaire Rikkianne Van Kirk? You may know her from her highly successful eco-artisan shop of soft furnishings and accessories Chakra Pennywhistle that she now runs with her best friend Ursula Arnold.

Well, Rikkianne has hit yet another one out of the ballpark, this time with a new shop, You Sentimental Idiot, and 8x10 prints of her stunning sketches on antique diary pages. I've been following her sketchbook journal project for the past few months and I want a print of everything in her collection -- they are phenomenal!



"you sentimental idiot" in Rikkianne's own words:

You Sentimental Idiot is a project inspired by found materials that have a past. Antique diaries are the main medium. I hope to make the aged pages and forgotten words current with my illustrations. Some drawings are inspired by direct quotes from the diaries while others are what I imagine the writer would have seen. I create the works by drawing directly on top of the diary page with a Sharpie.

Do yourself a favor and head over to Rikkianne's print shop today. I'm confident you'll find something to gift to a friend, loved one, or even yourself. Cheers!

my sketchbook - no. 7

A sketch of one of my all-time favorite photos of my daughters. They were definitely cookin' up some cheer (and a little trouble) in our kitchen on the prairies back in 2005.

Way too many computers occupy our home office....some of them don't even work!

I absolutely love participating in this sketchbook project.