with love...

These are my Fathers day and Mothers day cards this year. Different from what's out there, but just my cup of coffee.

a real treat:)

Delicious and hilarious! Check out this unique bakery EUGENE AND LOUISE. The marzipan characters are too cute for words and the wrapping on the chocolate bars is worth saving!

New sketchbooks!

Got the beautiful biodegradeable Ecojot sketchbooks yesterday from Carolyn Gavin (ecojot designer)! Yay! I always carry my sketchbook in my purse wherever I go. These are the perfect size for it. I love the owl and butterfly designs best! The owls look a bit like delicious cupcakes. Very fun!

Lola's first:)

The mama in me couldn't not mention this: Lola painted her first canvas yesterday! I gave her acrylic instead of oil (since it dries so much faster) and gated off the kitchen (least attractive space in the house and it's easier to clean art messes from linoleum). It was fun!

pretty colours:)

A couple of things from Etsy that caught my eye simply because of the beautiful colour combinations. I just LOVE the brown, red, pink and yellow together!

• Zipper pouches from Cotton & Cloud

• Coasters from Inkjet

apple mania:)

Have you noticed that we are in the middle of apple-mania? I see them everywhere! That must be the most popular shape since the circle! Is it their biblical PR or their crisp juiciness? Who knows, but I went apple picking:

1. Beach towel from Vespa Shopping

2. Apple oven mitts from Urban Outfitters

3. Apple Of My Eye Sterling Pendant from Ash Hilton on Etsy

4. Apple pillow from Johathan Adler

5. notNeutral - Apple Pillows found at *2modern

6. Apple Pickin' skirt on Made with love by Hannah

7. Baby Cuff - Happy Apples - Joey and Aleethea on Etsy

8. Apple Pickin Necklace found on ModCloth

9. Apple Orchard Purse found on ModCloth

10. Apple of My Eye Ponytail Holders from Button Boutique on Etsy

spanish posters:)

I was looking for inspiration and found these (and many more) neat mid century spanish posters on the great Fickr. Love the simple lines and colours. 

my cards at ink2

Little announcement: my cards are available at ink2 galleries (Lilla Rogers Studio Card Shop). Since many have asked about it I've been thinking of making the 'look at the bright side' artwork into a poster and making it available on Etsy. What do you think?

April 1st:)

Happy April fools day! Pencil in some jokes and laughter into your busy day! Be on the lookout for pranks!

The universe has already tricked me today. All three girls are at home with pink eye. Not that funny:( At least the weather is getting better and soon the snow will be no more. Above is my Audrey Hepburn portrait in bright flowers. Can't wait to see some spring flowers!

apples and pears

This pattern I did just for fun. I think it would make such cute fabric for kids. Who doesn't like apples and pears?

the awesome Takashi Iwasaki

I came across this unique art by Takashi Iwasaki while looking for some interesting samples of embroidery. He really takes it to a whole new level for me! I can't wait to try some freeform embroidery!

easy pizzie!

Here's my little do it yourself project. I got this very inexpensive IKEA paper lampshade and I painted fun flowers all over it with gouache paint! Fun, fast, cheap and nobody has one. I might get kids to do one next time. Even if it doesn't work out - I'm out a cleaning job and a few dollars. No big deal for this much fun!

new pattern:)

Yes, I'm still thinking about wallpaper designs. Trying to work within two colors (it really makes a difference to the cost of printing). There are still so many possibilities out there. This pattern is all about the 'home', the 'nest' , the place to be comfortable at. I think this wallpaper could make a cave feel cozy. I like the porcupine a lot:)

mama likes:)

Check out these delicious patterned infant and toddler dresses from April Scott (on Etsy)! These would make such great shower presents. I wish they came in my size.

paintings by Jeffrey Harrison

Thanks to artist Carolyn Gavin (www.ecojot.com) and her fantabulous studio featured on Poppy Talk yesterday I discovered wonderful work of Jeffrey Harrison. I'm in love with these happy paintings! 

make yourself comfortable...

It's been an incredibly busy day! Thanks to Print & Pattern that has featured my work yesterday I had a lot of great e-mails to answer and the embroidery kit is keeping me stitching. Time to wind down. Relax. Lean back. I'd like to share with you some fun pillow designs I came accross recently:

(I am very disappointed that Alexander Girard pillows are no longer available on modern seed. If you know where I could find them please let me know:)

1. cussion choco donkey from mijnes.com

2. pear pillow from Jonathan Adler

3. TOMTOM pillow from Blabla kids

4. orange flower power cushion from karen hilton designs on Etsy

5. various pillows from Bonjour Mon Coussin

new patterns:)

Knock Knock. Who's there. New patterns. New patterns who. New patterns that must be shared! So much surface to cover, so little time. 

chirp!

Once the birds start singing outside my window, I know spring is officially here! The snow is finally starting to melt away and soon I will store away the winter wardrobe! To celebrate this positive turn of events I've gathered a few neat bird prints from Etsy. Art prints are so affordable on Etsy, there's no excuse for white empty walls:)

1. Orange Perch from Monkey Powered

2. Rilo Kiley screenprinted gigposter from strawberry luna

3. The Decemberists Silkscreen Poster from Hero Design Studio

4. Plaid Perch from Monkey Powered

5. No wings poster from spare organ

6. Small giclee bird print from Jenn Ski

7. lush life cat with bird print from matte art

new pattern:)

This time I wanted to do something without recognizable objects. Something abstract. Here is what came out. I think that it could make beautiful heavy cotton curtains or upholstery fabric. I'd like to keep the circles large. What do you envision for this pattern?

green ducks from pink chicken...

Being very much into fabric patterns at the moment and having a small army of girls - I couldn't resist sharing these pretty dresses with you (from pink chicken). I don't know what I like most - the gorgeous fabrics used or the beautiful girlie shapes. I like everything about these cuties! The green ducks dress is something else:)

fun etsy finds:)

It's been a busy long weekend. I had my hands full with the kids and work and time just flew by me. One thing about the kids -  they never stop wanting new toys. This year I've decide to try and not buy any plastic toys and stick to wood and plush of mostly homemade variety.  Not only that hand made toys are less toxic, but they also reflect love and unique character of the people that make them. Thankfully, I don't have to do much convincing since the girls love plushies as much as I do. Here are some of our favorite Etsy finds:

1. Retro Swedish Fabric Dachshund Toy Sausage Dog by Aliceapple

2. Little yellow felting bear with scarf from pesapoco

3. Railroad Bill and Jill by ten finger workshop

4. Little People school pictures greeting cards by superfay

5. Retro Japanese Fabric Elephant Toy by Aliceapple

6. Puddle Jumpers by ten finger workshop

7. Classmates by ten finger workshop

8. Mother and Dad - Little People from superfay

9. Giggly face dolls from Zoomy

10. Little Sukie from picklejarspoon

11. Needle felted monkey from amanocraftsUK

12. Little Ninj and Donut Man plush dolls form SavvyHarper

party in the garden:)

I am still very much into the wallpaper patterns! I don't know if I'll ever get tired of this. I'm trying to limit my palette to two colours and see where that takes me. In this case - it's a party in the garden. It looks like fun, doesn't it?

I heart ceramics:)

I am always on the lookout for beautiful ceramics, and if they happen to be fun as well - that's a bonus! Here are a few that just have to be shared:

1. Silly Saver  Hungry Horse Money Bank from Peanut Gallery Gifts

2. Oops-A-Daisy!  daisy chip and dip server found at uncommon goods

3. Tea pot from Shinzi Katoh Design

4. Children's Rice Bowls - set of 4 found at uncommon goods

5. Children's plate set by Shinzi Katoh found on Arthur's Circus

6. Red Poppy Bowl from Whitney Smith on Etsy

7. Chick ceramic tiles 6"x6" found at sprout home

8. Giraffe Mug by Shinzi Katoh found on Three Potato Four

P.S.: I can't get enough of Shinzi Katoh designs:)

scrapbook this!

Good news! Four of the scrapbook collections that I've designed for Creative Imaginations are now available! So, if scrapbooking is your cup of tea, please, take a sip! I've got something for baby girls, baby boys & summer fun.

Happy Easter!

new pattern:)

New fun pattern to show you today. The wolf and the fox are looking for the rabbit in the woods. It looks like the rabbit is safe for now. 

I think it could make a good wallpaper , or curtains or bed spread.

art with heart

Just finished this coloring book page for the art with heart. They are a nonprofit organization that empowers youth who are facing trauma, illness or other crises through therapeutic books and artistic healing programs. I know first hand that art has healing powers!

easter fun:)

I don't know what it is this year (maybe it's 5 feet of snow on the ground) it just seems like Easter is coming too early. Last year I didn't organize an egg hunt for the girls and I got into big trouble with them (tears and threats were involved). This year I'm on it! Chocolate - check, eggs - check, prizes - check, fun - check...

This is my easter card for this year. This is what happens to bunnies when they eat too much chocolate!

fun plush find:)

I had to share these adorable plush creations (just in case someone hasn't seen these on decor8 today). They could be found on Etsy in Simpli Jessi store.

needle work:)

I'm working right now on an embroidery kit for girls (for Walter Fosters). Here are some of the samples that won't make it into the kit - so I can share them with you. It's fun, but it makes me 'far too extremely busy' to do patterns. So, I'm going to take a little break from making patterns and do some needle work for the rest of this week.