Santa and friends:)

One of my new gift-cards for Target this year:)!

good to be back...

It snowed the day before the big move... and it has been snowing (and occasionally raining) almost every day since. It's a true winter scene outside my window right now.

The move was long and hard. I'm grateful for the tremendous help from friends and family:) Without them it would have taken another two weeks. I've pulled every muscle in my body - but it was totally worth it. The new place is silent, solid and all mine! And - there's no dangerous black mould in the walls! What a nasty surprise that turned out to be when I've moved the furniture in my ex-bedroom:( No wonder we were feeling slightly off lately... Here's to a healthier winter!

There's still lots of little things to be done (a few more boxes to unpack, a few more things to hang and clean) but It's all small potatoes compared to what went down in the past few weeks:)

+ I can't wait to fill the walls with artwork:)!

Oh... and here's my new wintery pattern inspired by the weather and the anticipation of the impending holidays:)

It's good to be back in the land of blogging and working.

sweet escape...

Half my house is in boxes... and the other half I'm putting into boxes. To procrastinate packing I draw girls feeding berries to friendly bear among fantastical flowers. It takes the boxes out of my mind and puts the stress ball into the garbage bin at the curb. That's better!

I'll see you in early December... from my new office:)

elfing around...

Next time you are in Walgreens getting stocking stuffers... or whatever... check out my elf girl and deer boy characters - making it festive and cheery!

There's no Walgreens where I live... but I'm sure it looks great:)

there's no place like home...

I did not expect myself to ever do anything so adult... so heavy and rooting... but I did it - I bought a house! and am moving all this month - thus - serious lack of time and excess of stress. No picnic... but it's worth it:)

To celebrate this grand move - I've made a new print! There's no place like home... there's no place like home...

new mara mi...

It was such a pleasant surprise today to receive the samples of mara mi stationery - featuring my designs:) I love the 'click & roll' mouse pad and it's proving to be pretty useful:)

top of the Monday:)

I'm trying to start this week with a healthy doze of bright shiny optimism and a pinch of denial about the mountain of work that awaits me. Here's to a productive week! Hope to see you on the other side of the mountain:)

bunny love...

With this pattern I wanted to take your eyes away from Christmas for a minute... and towards spring... since that's my happy thought all through the winter.

Where I am in the world - it has already snowed a few times... and the cold air and naked trees tell me that fall is done.

78 & 56...

Thank you all so very much for participating in my little giveaway! It was great fun reading all of your comments and finding out all sorts of new silly ways to have a hot beverage:)

Once again - there were more comments than my little bingo machine can handle.... and so I had to use an online random number generator....

Oh... and since there were so many comments I decided to give away 2 mugs!

and the lucky winning numbers are:

#78 - Melissa Saylor & #56 Moira Millman

S0... Dear Melissa and Moira - please e-mail me your addresses so I can sand you your insulated BlueQ coffee mug!

(dardik at sympatico dot ca)

berry foxy...

Have you stashed enough nuts and berries away for the winter?:) If not... hurry into your nearby forrest. Our friendly forrest representative (a.k.a. Mr. Foxy) will show you the very best nature has to offer!

This message has been brought to you by my latest pattern:)

wake up!

It's been a while since I've done a giveaway... and I feel it is time:)

Time to give away an insulated BlueQ coffee mug (design by yours truly) - to a deserving coffee or tea lover! Just leave me a note:) Maybe... about your favourite type of coffee or tea:) and I'll pick a winner on Monday morning... with the help of an old school bingo ball:)

age is an illusion...

I've illustrated a few quotes for Papyrus cards this year. Here's one that should be on stands right now:) The yellow part is gold foil (and it has made it virtually impossible for me to photograph it - thus I've used my vector file).

poppies...

Everything is coming up poppies:)

sweet birthday plans...

Time has come again to invite Margo's little friends to her birthday party... only this time - ta da! - it's going to be a tea party:) We've got an Alice outfit and I'm planning on some serious baking:) It's going to be a sweet party!

the warm side of October...

Here's something to keep your mind warm this October:)

keeping it warm...

Ta Da! Just in time for the cold weather my insulated Wake Up mugs are available at BlueQ!

sweet and wild...

Just had to drop by this weekend and show you my new sweet and wild animal pattern. I think it has future in someones childhood... sleepware? baby gear?... can't wait to see:)

This Monday is Canadian ThanksGiving... Happy and delicious time to all my Canadian friends!

And to all of you: I'm thankful for your visits and unbelievable support!

THANK YOU!

rain...

So far this fall has been the rainiest one I can remember. Feels like this endless waterwall has washed all of the sumer away and is now scabbing off all the warm feelings I have for the walks outside. I'm trying to find a good side of the rain. Making a virtual rainbow in my mind:)

*Margo posing under the umbrella.

grow little print... grow...

I've been working away... away from my beloved blog... But now I've got something bright to show you... a new print!