summer pond . . .

July. If there was a rewind button on this summer... I would start over. I worked all the way through my favourite month (and, sadly, not on anything I can show and tell about).
I'll try to be more present in August... and I'll start by showing you my new print. In love with the greens and the yellows at the moment.

my magic kitchen . . .

Hello! It's been such a long time since I had a chance to visit. I wish I could tell you I've been summer adventuring or doing something exiting, but, the truth is... I've been working. Just working hard...in my air-conditioned studio...looking out onto steamy summer fun outside.
Today, though, I've got a kitchen design to share with you. I promised myself not to draw any apples, and I kept that promise. It's almost like an herb kitchen. I hope you'll find these colours - delicious!

grow over, grow under . . .

Building this organic abstract was like piling colourful rocks one on top of the other. Very much like play time.
Notice... not a single face in the abstract pattern. Now... that's self control! Of course, I followed up with a nursery illustration, where I've relaxed and added a few faces:).

watching fireworks . . .

These people are watching fireworks. Everybody loves fireworks! Exiting stuff:).

childhood walls . . .

It turned out to be one of these 'more is more' patterns. I would have loved to have something like this as a wallpaper in my room when I was a child. It would be fun to look at and make up stories about all the characters (during that "I'm not sleepy and I will not go to bed" period). The wallpaper in my room was rather boring, but I still remember it. I wonder if I can somehow sneak into someones childhood with my little characters:).

vector gardener . . .

I am a vector gardener. It is less messy and the flowers grow faster and weirder:).

Anaïs is turning 7 . . .

My youngest girl, Anaïs, is turning 7 next Thursday. Exiting stuff!
Little friends, little cakes, little presents. Last batch of little. How fast they grow...

A little taste of what life is like with Anaïs:

Last night. Sitting on a couch watching tv... 

A: Mom, you are going to be a 'gramma' to my children.
Me: Yep:). Planning on having many children?
A: Not children...ORPHANS! This way....... no pain in the hospital:)

Studio OH! Planners . . .

It is always so exiting to spot product in making of which I had a part:). I noticed these planners on my way out of Chapters (Indigo, Canada)... and it was such a nice surprise! These are by 'Studio Oh!'. They are very well put together and are so pleasant to hold. I'm super pleased:).
Pssssst.... I think you might be able to find these in Barnes & Nobles in the near future...:)

Fiona & Her Magic Garden . . .

Such little time have I had to do any personal work lately. Many projects have been finished and many are in progress... but I can't 'show & tell' just yet. I must wait until all is published..., but I can show my new print. How do you like Fiona & her magic garden. I started this thinking of how good bright colours would look like painted on cardboard... and ended up with this elvish princess and her rooster:).

Super!

Just a reminder:).

June Colours . . .

These are my favourite colours today. Warm. Creamy. Not too soft and not too sharp. Just right. 

Goldberry & the Master of the Forest . . .

It's 'make up you own fairy tale' time!
Once upon a time, in the country far far away... deep in the forest... Goldberry met the most impressive Master Bear...
and, you take it from there. 
I have been under the weather and swamped with work. These two things tend to come together... As I dig my way out - time shrinks... and free time evaporates all together.
But I still wanted to stop by and share a fairy tale:).

a lovely day . . .

This pattern is how much I love summer! The neighbourhood is alive with children. My driveway is a chalk painting:). My peonies are about to bloom. The herb garden... the fresh air... the sunlight... I'm going to try and not miss it in front of a glowing screen.

back from NY . . .

Surtex flashed in front of my eyes. It felt as if the trip there and back was longer than the show itself. I blinked... and the trip to New York was all done and over with. I already miss the awesomeness of all the talent I met. The 'usual suspects' from the LR studio (2nd pic: Lilla Rogers, Jenn Ski, me, Carolyn Gavin, Jillian Phillips, Macrina Busato & Alison Cole)... 

I was very lucky to meet and get to know a little one of my new favourite artists - Sarah Watts (who had one of the best booths in show).

Also, it was fun to finally put some faces to the names of the people I work with. I got the sweetest clients!

Already starting to look forward to next year:). Same time. Same place.

See you at Surtex . . . booth 317 . . . :)

Leaving in the morning... little road trip to New York with my husband Mike and middle daughter Margo. I will be at Surtex (at Jarvits Center) - 19th-21st. Maybe I'll see you there:)

hanging out . . .

We've all been under the weather over here for most of the last and some of this week. It's no fun... but we got to hang out:). Anais did some watercoloring in my studio. I did some sketching (as a break from clicking).