Catching up

Hey gang! Between guest posting on Scoutie Girl, custom commissions, replying to a record number of design inquiries, and the day job, i’ve been neglecting my own blog! Here’s a review in pictures of what’s been happening recently.

Since the Valentine’s Day Freebie posts (see below), i’ve gotten to:

Vintage-ify and distress this beautiful art quote  created by Ashley at Lil Blue Boo. So lucky to work with these gals occasionally….go visit the shop here!

i was also honored to design a screen print for part of their fabulous new spring line and it is super-cute! But its still a tightly held secret right now. You can bet i’ll share LBB’s links once they roll out the photos!

On the baby news front, i finally selected an armchair, glider/recliner for our room so i’ll have a soft place to spend countless hours with our family’s newest little addition due in only 7 more weeks! (chair purchases are big news, i know. try to contain your enthusiasm everyone! haha) i spent so much time shopping for this piece online b/c it will live in our master bedroom for a long-long time after the new baby is walking and running. It’s a Jennifer Delonge piece and i get to finally have a yellow chair!! My favorite color : )

And since the online shopping was well in-hand, i moved on to my growing stack of commissioned illustration and put the new Intuos tablet to work! It is increasing my productivity so, so much!! Great purchase. Naturally i’m kicking myself for not having gotten one sooner. i knew that would happen! Here is the very first Custom sketch done entirely on the tablet…

and here’s the finalized ink drawing that resulted…

Since i was on a roll….i moved on to my first Custom Children’s Fantasy Illustration in the tradition of the Lil Fashionista style above…..but with a fantastic and imaginative twist! This particular little girl dreams of being a mermaid and illustration makes it all possible!! This one was so much fun, i can’t wait to continue with these! i imagine creating superheroes and fairies and rock stars and astronauts!

In the midst of all this drawing and cheerfulness…..the mail arrived one day…..bearing my very first bona fide CHECK from my publishing company for my very first book, Fashion Design Workshop, through Walter Foster Publishing. It was a surreal day and i was probably much more excited than i should’ve been. But it marked a milestone for me. Check one item off the bucket list! i am also working on a second book with WF, also due out later this year that is all about creations you can make with doodles. It is going to be so “me.”

i just realized how much more i have to share! But the to-do list is calling, and i hate to disappoint folks waiting patiently for proofs! So CATCH-UP – PART II will have to wait til tomorrow!! So far, 2011 is shaping up to be a fantastic year!!