being 8 is great!...

My Lola is turning eight next week. Feels like I showed you the last invitation I designed for her... yesterday, but it's been a year (already). I'll turn around... and she wouldn't need these any more. Eight! I just like saying it to myself. Half way to sixteen. Boy... it's all so fast...

me & mara mi...

So sweet to come across this MARA ME product (with my designs on) on the wonderful Print&Pattern blog this morning. I could never get tired of seeing my 'babies' working and assuming life in forms of  bags and paper cubes:) Aaaahhh...

don't forget...

I'm super pleased to be back... after four long days without internet (thanks to one very fried modem and one very slow delivery company). I might need to go to internet rehab if I ever decide to quit it all together. Hope that day will never come:)

In any case, I'm here now, and I have a new print to show you:)

after midnight...

After midnight ... I work better. I get my second creative wind. I get the owl eye and the much needed focus. The power of evil procrastination loosens its grip...

I love working after midnight. Now... if only I could convince the world to switch to my schedule:)

deco tape dreams...

I've always wanted to create a design for a deco tape... but the opportunity just didn't come up... So... I've decided, that if the opportunity doesn't want to visit me, I'll go searching for opportunity.

So... Dear manufacturers of packaging goods and deco tape - make a girls dream come true! 

Above: Wouldn't that make an interesting deco tape?

back from Toronto...

Hey!...  I've missed you!

I've been in Toronto. Just needed to get out. Needed to see where I am from a different perspective.... and needed to see old friends again. 

Above: 

• The wonderful Carolyn Gavin of the Ecojot - with whom I had the pleasure of having tea and conversation at her bright and fun spirited house (last Sunday).

• Madonna pillow by Alexander Girard from Urban Outfitters (best purchase ever).

eat local...

This is my third, (and my favorite) dishtowel design for BlueQ. It's hard to eat local during the winter months... but the bear has a tree growing out of his head... so, everything is possible!

find your happy thought...

Just a little sneak peek of a new print. 

foxy pattern...

Here's something to keep your mind off the winter - a nice new pattern! I even changed all the white to cream. That's right - take that ...snow! Spring will come, and there's nothing you can do about it. Only 2 more months to go. Ok, maybe 4 more... but it's coming:)

monkey business...

One day the time would come when I feel too old for toys. It isn't here yet... and I hope that day is held up at the customs (somewhere on the border of childhood and absurdity) because it doesn't have the 'helen passport' ready.

In the mean time, meet my new friends ... Mr. & Mrs. Monkey Business...:)

pink & brown at BlueQ...

I've got a pink and brown post for you today... all about the new shoulder tote from BlueQ. 



This was one of my favorite projects last year and it's great to see it taking form.

*****

Lets start the new year with a little card-o-rama. I did these for cardMIX (a UK company). They were fun to work on and there's more to show you soon. I love doing cards

happy new year!!!

Wow... did this year ever fly by. Am I getting older, or is time speeding up? Maybe a bit of both...

It was a tough year, but a good year. I've done a lot and learned a lot. Some dreams came true and some I'm carrying into the shiny new 2010:) One always needs something to look forward to.

To all of you, my kind and wonderful friends, I wish a HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

I thank you  for all the positive energy and support in 2009:)!

xo

Wishing you all Happy Holidays! Drink up and be merry! 

Above: my little ceramic nativity by Alessi. Looks like they all started drinking early:) What are you waiting for?:)

I'm going to be a fox...

Wanted to show you the face that cracks me up every day:)

oh charley...

How could I resist? Being a huge fan of  Charley Harper, it was hard to pass it by... so I got it:)... an early Christmas present to myself - CHARLEY HARPER (An Illustrated Life).   420 beautiful pages to 'oooh' and 'aaaah' over.

What a body of work! I'm so impressed and inspired.

ghost of the christmas cards past...

Knock.. knock... (who's there)... a ghost... a ghost of the Christmas cards past...

I haven't had much time to spare this week. Running against the clock trying to finish pre-holiday deadlines. Almost there... I see the light at the end of the work tunnel. Have lots to blog about soon...:)...

in the meantime - HAPPY WHATEVER!

don't forget to make today AWESOME...

Have you done six impossible things before breakfast?... well, why not round it up with this pattern?! - Don't forget to make today AWESOME! 

Seriously... my life is pre-holiday zoo, and it is starting to show in the patterns:) 

ecojot sketchbooks...

A dream come true for me - my designs on the covers of Ecojot sketchbooks! Me and my girls can't wait to get out hands on these... so we could brag about it to our friends (ha ha:) and fill the inside pages!

A little interview on the Designer Jots blog today too... 

editorial... show&tell...

For the show&tell today I've got an editorial illustration I did for Dec/Jan issue of 'Family Fun' magazine (p.31).

The article is about development of gratitude attitude in your kids.