Anna Villaruel over at the chic fashionista must’ve climbed into my head or my dreams when she made the above collection. i’d probably buy the black boots and bag in bright colors…but other than that, i want to buy it all! i emailed this shopping genius to ask for sources. Yes. i am that nutty. i HATE shopping. (i love cool clothes, but the searching and trying on is my least favorite thing ever!) if someone else has done it for me….i need the deets! Thanks Anna! i hope you write me back and make my closet happy.

Imagine what you could create in a dedicated studio like this! Well, its NOT mine….but it sure is part of my inspiration for a new creative space we are working on for me here in our home : )

admittedly, i am one of those people who needs to walk the walk, fake it til i make it, dress for the job/life i WANT. soooooo, having a workspace that makes me feel inspired and in the zone is high on my wish list. that said, my husband and i have been having many conversations about how to reconfigure my workspaces in our home since i am busting at the seams lately and finding it harder with the kiddos to get enough time in my current painting studio.

the decision is made. i’ll be taking over the master bedroom!! ha!

now before you start thinking i’m kicking out the king size and making my poor, sweet husband sleep on the couch in the name of art, let me explain. our house is an old cape cod with a first floor master that we’ve never used as such. its on the far left of the house, has access to a sink (you know, for rinsing brushes!) and also a great view of the backyard. this will be useful in these warmer months when my 6 year old wants to play out back instead of twiddle his thumbs in a corner while i paint for 6 or 7 hours. the space also has the potential for us to blow out the ceiling to the roofline, leave some exposed beams, and give me some skylights and other such dreaminess. (and it will have to be dreaminess for now as the changes we have in mind will come s.l.o.w.l.y. as our budget will allow. : )) OH! and did i also mention that the walk-in closet that is a nice big square room will be a delightful place for canvas storage and packing supplies?! that is right up there with my favorite features since right now i feel like i am constantly tripping over cardboard and bubble wrap and boxes.

when we’re done, i will have more natural light and more of a feeling of being a part of the family’s comings and goings as i work. BONUS? my basement studio space will become the new playroom and my former office will become a den/homework room for the boys. seriously, its almost silly how excited i am at the plans we are making and the way it will change my daily routine.

SO now i am shopping for deals online and tearing inspiration from many decorating magazines. i’m kind of addicted to decorating magazines. i will try to be UNlike my typical self and post photos as we transform the space.

how bout all of you guys? have you found a great way to make your creative space at home work perfectly for your family?

nighty night!

______________________________

photo via willowfrank.com ~ found on cloth and patina on facebook

In addition to candy and treats, i always like to put a story book and maybe some crayola markers into my son’s Easter basket. SO here’s a nice little extra that goes perfectly with both; some coloring bookmarks for boys and girls. Just CLick the image for the FREE download and print to a piece of white cardstock. Your kids can color and cut out the bookmarks to keep or give to a friend.

Happy Easter!

i wanted to share some guest post content from a while back where i gave my thoughts on tweaking nursery and kids room decor. This one was featured on urban infant.

Do you want to create a modern baby room – something that is full of style and isn’t your typical “blue or pink?”

Here are some tips to help you create a beautiful room for your baby that also has a lot of style:

Try Pale Lilac, Instead Of Pink – I think a pale lilac is uber-feminine and fragile/dainty without being the standard requisite pink.

Grey Is An Awesome Neutral – Greys look sophisticated and “intelligent” to me. Greys are a beautifully soft, and a chic alternative to cream or tan in a modern kids room. Plus, bold colors look fantastic on a sea of grey.

Go With An Inky Blue – I think inky, violet-blue is a rich alternative to standard navy. It’s impossible for that color to look saccharine. It is serene and full of power at the same time. An inky room, with all soft pastels and frothy textures layered in, is like the baby room version of a power suit with a soft silk blouse underneath!

Make A Statement- I always like to choose one truly spectacular centerpiece for a space. That could be a great textile, a pillow, a family heirloom or toy. Its your “wow” moment. Every room can benefit from a “wow” moment and it has to be something you and your child LOVE.

Add Some Artwork – Adding a piece of artwork is a very simple and easy way to transform a room. Choose the biggest piece you can afford for the scale of the room, and you won’t have to do much else, as far as decorating goes.

Finish With A Personal Touch – Your finishing touch should be something personal. Add a family photo or a piece with your child’s name or initials.

Make a card, make an iron-on, make an easter decoration with your kids. This little freebie graphic will download for you when you click on it. Happy Happy!! xo, s

i was a latecomer to instagram, now i couldn’t bear to live without it. the quickest and super cutest way to share vignettes of my sketches on the fly….here’s a peek inside my sketchbook of late.

…..yeeeahhhhhh…..i haven’t decided which filters are my faves yet : )

This past weekend, we celebrated my little baby’s 1st birthday. That’s right. He’s my little baby. Do not call him a big kid. i will have to hurt you.

We had a brunch at the same greenhouse café where i had been given a little shower by my family and close girlfriends before G was born. There is a 5 year gap between my boys, so i think they figured i needed a few new things that hadn’t expired or been recalled!

Party day was sunny and bright. i made the desserts, and favors, and table decorations based on the very garden-y look of the book, Grandpa Green, by Lane Smith. The illustrations in the book are super lovely and the story is poignant and sweet.

i LOVE you my precious little guy. Can’t wait to see how you grow this next year.

CYNTHIA HANNA!!!

Cynthia, you’ve won a signed copy of my book, Creative Doodling and Beyond!! Please use my contact page here on my site to send me your mailing address so i can send out your book!. i loved your doodle memory too. What a beautiful idea!

Happy Monday!!!

xo,

s

i am such a lucky girl!

i got an email a few weeks back from an accomplished author, teacher, artist, doodler named Traci Bautista. You may know Traci from her book, Collage Unleashed or her line of Collage Pauge products by Aleene’s. She also travels a lot, speaks to groups, teaches her craft, offers tons of online workshops,  and generally rocks it in the creative community. And she’s just adorable too, isn’t she!?

Anyway, Traci’s new book, Doodles Unleashed just released and she’s touring the blogosphere sharing the love and doing lots of giveaways with artist friends and colleagues. i get to be one of them! Traci thought my book, Creative Doodling and Beyond would be fast BFFs with her book if they met each other on the street. i’d have to agree….don’t they look cozy together? They’re on the way to the craft store for some new micron pens. Good times. : )

So follow the book tour! She’s got a slew of stops already posted on her blog here. Tons of fun. I highly recommend.

Aaaaanyway……for our post, Traci asked me to create a Tag-Team art piece with her! A cross-country collaboration of doodly goodness. i was given the task of beginning our project by laying down a whole lotta my signature color and texture. Here’s a little peek….

i used  textile dyes to paint on watercolor paper. The intense colors just make me sooooo happy! i snapped photos and sent her my part. Then SHE worked her magic to make a completed artwork. When you are done reading here, you should pop over to her blog and see a whole bunch of  juicy, vibrant still photos she has of just HER part! They are super cool. But here’s a little hint at how she approached the collaboration to pique your curiosity!

Are you intrigued!?

We also videotaped our process. And Traci edited it into a fun time lapse movie because she is WAY better at that than me so far! Wanna watch?

To finish off this little stop on the “tour,” we’re also both offering signed copies of our books to some lucky commenters. We each came up with a burning-hot doodle question for ya to answer. Here on my blog, i want to know your fondest doodling memory. Did you have the best Trapper Keeper in the 8th grade? Did you doodle your high school sweetie’s name all over your composition notebook and then go on to marry that sweetheart? Did your kiddo give you a doodle-rific birthday card last year? i want to hear! Comment below to enter and i’ll use a random number generator to choose a winner. Then hop on over to Traci’s blog for another chance to comment, win, AND see more of those photos i told you about taken during HER part of the artwork collaboration! The giveaway closes on Saturday, March 10 at 12:00am. Good luck!

This has been a serious amount of fun, people. Thanks so much, Traci!

….and Happy Doodling!

In 5 days, a group of women, most of whom have never met each other OR Ashley Swenson Hackshaw, (of the now officially famous – since someone asked for her autograph yesterday!!) blog, Lil Blue Boo, will be posting their best creations on an online auction website. The goal is to help sweet Ashley defray mounting medical expenses that are inevitable when one fights like heck to beat cancer. Ashley is a designer, a writer, a mother, a wife, a daughter, sister, friend. I highly encourage everyone to read her blog. You will laugh a LOT, you will cry a little, and you will come away feeling crafty, inspired and empowered.

You can read about the auction here. And keep up with general auction updates and happenings on our friend, Amy’s blog over at Evy’s Tree.

Ashley didn’t ask us to do this. She would never. She is likely hugely uncomfortable (though grateful!) at the thought of so much love, prayer and attention being funneled her way. But that’s how it often is with those people we want most to help. They are humble, and giving, and lack even an ounce of self-centeredness.

Team Ashley, as we have come to call ourselves, is a motley crew. We are scattered all across the country (and CANADA!). We are crafters, business people, moms, friends, tellers of bad jokes(ha!)  and sayers of prayers. So many prayers.

We hope that many will join us, and the 200+ generous-beyond-words-contributors to this auction which runs from February 27 thru 29th. Wait til you see the selections! Each contribution has been eliciting oohs and ahhs as photos have been coming in. Its like Christmas! You can actually SEE the love in each item, the care that has been taken in its creation. Folks have pulled out all the stops and sent us the most beautiful things. You won’t want to miss it!

For me, i wanted to create a painting that summarized my admiration for Ash, this person i have come to know as we’ve done projects together over the past year or so. Knowing how she loves to document HER experiences, i went ahead and videotaped the creation of the CHOOSE JOY painting shown above. CHOOSE JOY might be all you see in the finished piece, but the underlying meaning?….yeah…..its hidden in the paint. Its what i really feel when i think of my friend. She is outwardly so unassuming and easygoing, but its so clear her heart is full, and her compassion and generosity fuel her from within. i picked a song that seems so beautifully appropriate to her. i’m absolutely positive God pointed me to it online as i was sifting thru a sea of possible soundtracks. i’m sharing it here and hope you will enjoy….and maybe bid? i would surely appreciate it.

Choose Joy from Stephanie Corfee on Vimeo.

To all of my friends, family, followers who are reading this; the other items i’m offering in the auction are shown below. If you think any of them would appeal to you or your loved ones, i’d be so grateful if you would share the info for the auction. Or, if auctions aren’t your thing, there is a secure DONATE link in the right sidebar here. Did i mention THANK YOU? in advance?

Have a wonderful day everyone! Choose to be joyful!

xo,s

DECORATOR SET – a pillow featuring my original artwork, a print with a quotation from Ann of Green Gables, and a3.5″ diameter decoupaged trinket bowl with one of my illustrations, JOYFUL

DOODLE SET – a wood-mounted print of my artwork, “Doodle Sky”, a signed copy of my book, Creative Doodling and Beyond, and a 3.5″ diameter trinket bowl decoupaged with my artwork, “JOEY”

BLUESY – an original 12×12 acrylic painting on canvas inspired by Lil BLUE Boo

CANDY NECKLACES – a 20×24 original acrylic on canvas

A CUSTOM ILLUSTRATION OF YOUR CHILD – a “Lil Fashionista” sketch in the style shown above (the above is an actual custom i did in the past for a client). This auction listing will be completed by my own little hands, but was purchased by my dear friend and repeat customer, Kristina, for DONATION into the auction. She asked me as soon as plans were underway if she could buy a custom slot from me as her contribution to the auction. Is she the sweetest ever? or what?