New prints in the shop

Happy Memorial Day! I just wanted to pop in and let you know that I have listed these 3 new prints in the shop. I am quite pleased with how they came out :)

I include the pictured white acid-free mat with each print. I promise I will be back soon with a new painting, I have one all sketched out and ready for me to paint tomorrow :) I hope you are enjoying the day, I'll see you soon!

My first Sunday Sketch and a little gardening

Happy Sunday! I have decided to begin participating in Blue Chair Diary's Sunday Sketches, so here is my first one! I figure it is a good way for me to keep coming up with ideas on a regular basis. I have been busy with this and that this week and have not had much time to paint, so I'm glad I have something to show :) I may make her into a painting soon too!

I also wanted to show you the humble little container garden that my boyfriend and I have started on our porch. We planted purple sage, apple mint, zucchini, parsley, lavender, strawberries, basil and cherry tomatoes. We have only had them for a couple of days but I am already so excited to see them grow a tiny bit at a time! And if you look closely you can see a mischievous little friend hiding amongst the parsley...

I found all of the little decorations in the dollar spot at Target last year :)

We also have some hanging baskets with flowers and little solar lights. Here is an overall picture of the porch:

We have been enjoying sitting out there and eating breakfast in the mornings before it gets too hot. Well I hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday and I will see you soon! :)

In the Sunflower Garden

Hi everyone! I wanted to show you my newest painting, "In the Sunflower Garden." For this one I went for a bit of a softer look than I have in the past. I am obsessed with Pre-Raphaelite artists and I am reading a book about John William Waterhouse right now, so I think that's influenced me a bit :)

I enjoyed really taking my time with this one and doing lots of different layers of color to get more depth. I have also been experimenting with using different colors in my girls' faces than I usually do. She is available in my shop.

On another note, I wanted to share my favorite pasta recipe with you! It is very easy, and if you like fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, you will love it! My boyfriend and I love Caprese, and this is sort of a pasta version. I got it out of my Good Housekeeping Vegetarian Meals cookbook.

Pasta with No-Cook Tomato and Bocconcini Sauce

Ingredients:
-2 pints cherry tomatoes, each cut in half

-1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped

-1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

-1/4 cup olive oil

-1 teaspoon salt

-1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

-1 garlic clove, crushed with garlic press

-1 package (16 ounces) penne or corkscrew pasta

-12 ounces small mozzarella balls (bocconcini), each cut in half. (I actually just buy a big ball of fresh mozzarella and cut it into pieces, since it is cheaper at my grocery store :)

1. In large serving bowl, stir cherry tomatoes, parsley, basil, oil, salt, papper, and garlic.Let stand at room temperature at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours to blend flavors.

2. In large saucepot, cook pasta as label directs. Drain well.

3. Add pasta to tomato mixture; toss with mozzarella.

Super-easy, and the only thing you actually have to cook on the stove is the pasta! Well, I hope that you are having a great week and I will see you soon! :)

The Little Mermaid

Sometimes it gets lonely out at sea, and you just want to hear someone's voice...

Here is my newest painting, "The Little Mermaid." I painted it in acrylics on an 8"x10" stretched canvas, and it is available in my shop. Surprisingly this is the first mermaid I have put in my shop. Usually if I paint them I end up giving them to my sister, who loves mermaids.

But I decided it was time to add her to the other little fairytale girls. I will paint another mermaid for you soon Michelle, I promise! ;)

I hope that you have a fun Friday and a wonderful weekend! :)

A Little Bit of Magic (and some awards:)

Here is my latest acrylic painting, "A Little Bit of Magic," on a 5"x7" stretched canvas.
She won't say what she is brewing up...a love potion perhaps? :) She is availbale in my shop.

And in other news...I was so excited to receive this little blog award from the lovely faerwillow! Thank you so much! :)

She gave me some questions to answer upon my receipt of this award. Here goes:

1. If you had one chance...would you go back in time for the day or into the future?

I think I would prefer to go into the future, although it might be a little scary to see what my life is like then (but hopefully not!) If things are bad then I could work on changing them now, and if things are good then I can stop worrying so much! :)

2. What is a favorite childhood memory?

I have a lot of lovely memories from childhood, but some of my favorites are of my sister and I hanging out at our best friends' house (they are sisters too). We would play dress-up, tag, hide-and-seek, make up magical lands in their beautiflu backyard and put on song-and-dance shows for our parents. Just lovely, simple times :)

3. Do you have a special collection of things you adore?

I treasure vintage and antique items, so I have built up quite a collection which I love. I particularly love collecting old books. There is just something so comforting and wonderful about them. I also love the fact that people really used to treasure books, since they were more difficult to come by. I hope that they would like to know that I treasure them just as much!

4. What is one of your favorite songs and why?

One of my favorites is "All I Need" by Radiohead, because it reminds me of when my boyfriend and I fell madly in love with each other over two years ago.

5. What did you want to be when you grew up and did that dream become your reality?

I have always loved art and history, and I did pursue those in college. I studied Classics (ancient Greek and Roman history and culture) with a minor in Art History. Although these did not turn out to be very practical job-wise, I feel like a richer person for studying them and I don't regret it. My goal now is to make a living as an artist, and I hope and dream that it will become my reality!

6. What is the most spontaneous thing you've ever done?

Quitting my job a few months ago to try to make a meager living off of my art! There is plenty of fear and uncertainty, but overall I am happier and more at peace than i have ever been in my life.

7. Do you sing in the car when you drive or sit in silence?

Sing, definitely! Especially since my stereo was stolen over a year ago. My boyfriend and I make up our own songs to sing in the car :)

8. Why did you start blogging?

My mom has looked at art blogs for a long time and first got me to look at them too. It just seemed to be such a warm, friendly, supportive community and a great way to meet and get inspiration from other artists. I am happy to say that it has met all of those expectations and then some!

9. What was the worst advice you've ever taken?

Luckily I think I have been able to ignore bad advice for the most part. I can't think of anything big. My family and boyfriend have always given me great advice, with my happiness as their first consideration. And luckily they are the only ones I go to for real advice :)

10. Do you miss anyone?

I miss my grandpa, who we lost a few years ago.

Now

I will bestow this award onto 4 other wonderful bloggers:

1. Amalia K. at Translucent Blue

2. Julie at the art and life of the ruby nest

3. Christina Silverio at Hoyden Designs

4. Juliette at Juliette Crane Art

Here are my 10 questions for you 4!:

1. What is one thing you wish to achieve this year?

2. What is your favorite animal?

3. What is your favorite book and why?

4. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

5. What do you do to relax?

6. What inspires you the most?

7. If you could live in a different era, when would it be?

8. What is your favorite thing about blogging?

9. What is your favorite food/meal?

10.Do you have a special collection of things you adore?

This also reminded me that I also received a Sunshine award a little while back form Jac-Ber Creations (Thank you! :) When I started this blog I did not even think anyone would read it, let alone give me an award! I am so happy and honored to receive these.

I am passing the Sunshine award on to 12 blogs that let the sunshine in:

1. Art by Sascalia
2.Cooking with the Schnarrs
3.Hot Tamale Art Studio
4. Julie's Art Life
5. Nicola Toms Designs
6. Paint Myself Pretty
7. The Fairies' Nest-Cloth Dolls and Fiber Fantasies
8. The Secret Hermit Art and Illustration
9. mypinkturtle
10. Pilgrim of the Moon
11. Heavenleighart
12. Edera Jewelry

As I understand them, the rules for this award are as follows:
1. Place the logo within your blog post
2. Pass the award on to 12 bloggers
3. Link the nominees within the post
4. Let the nominees know they have received the award by commenting on their blogs
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award

If I left anyone out, please don't be offended. There are so many wonderful blogs that I read that it was hard to choose!

Phew, that was quite an awards ceremony! :) I hope that you are having a lovely weekend, and I'll see you soon!

Art swap with Cameron

I was so excited to receive the goodies from my art trade with Cameron from Paint Myself Pretty! I got these two gorgeous journals which she embellished with her beautiful prints, ribbons, and other lovely things.

I just love these two images, aren't they stunning? I love how she circles certain words in the book text to make a new message.

She was also sweet enough to throw in two cards and 3 handmade tags! So generous, thank you Cameron!! You should check out her boutique here, her artwork is truly amazing!

I also wanted to show you my first attempt at drawing with ink. I got an artists' pen a little while back but have been a little intimidated to use it. But I was looking through one of my fairytale books and came across some of the incredibly ornate illustrations of Harry Clarke, and was inspired to give it a try!

It took a while to fill in all the detail, but it was fun :) I will try to do another one soon. I may put this one into my shop tomorrow.

I hope you are having a wonderful day, and I'll see you soon! Thank you again Cameron for the fabulous trade!! :)

A new painting, my first trade and other fun things! :)

There sure has been a lot of excitement going on around here! But first, here is my new painting, "The Windy Day." Daphne knew that it was windy out but she didn't care: she was going to wear her finest floral headpiece with pride! :) I painted her in acrylics on a 5"x7" stretched canvas and she is available in my shop.

And on to the excitement...my first trade!! I was approached by the very nice Susy of

The Enchanted Pumpkin to trade one of my paintings for some of the goodies in her shop. I was so excited when they arrived today! I had to contain my excitement in order to snap a photo of all of my lovely candy-colored little presents before I opened them...

And look at all of the lovely treats inside! Cream lace, vintage metallic jaquard vestment trim, a lace sachet, pink vintage craft ribbon, gold trim, a vintage napkin, pink bias tape, and more...

Yummy yummy! I will save these for extra-special projects :)

And the icing on the cake is this gorgeous vintage pink satin bed jacket with lace trim...how lucky am I!! Check out her shop, she has lots of fun and adorable things! Thank you so much Susy for making my first trade such a fun and enjoyable experience! :)

As if that weren't enough excitement in one day, I also got a second package in the mail! My dear friend Kate sent me a beautiful vintage tin because she knows I have started collecting them. Kate and my sister have been the best of friends since they were little, and I have been the best of friends with Kate's sister Beth since we were about 2!

I think the tin looks just lovely with my other ones :) Thank you Kate, I will cherish it!!

Check out Kate's adorable etsy shop GiveAGoodDay where she sells hand-painted onesies for that special baby in your life :)

I am also in the midst of another trade with the lovely Cameron from Paint Myself Pretty. She is sending me two lovely art journals which I will show you soon! Check out her breathtaking work here.

I probably won't do any more trades for a little while while I focus on getting my inventory stocked up, but I have had so much fun and was so lucky with these two and look forward to doing more in the future! It is so much fun meeting other wonderful artists. I hope you are having a wonderful day, and I will see you soon! :)

Prints!

I now have these 7 prints in my shop! They are 5"x7" and are printed on high-quality matte photo paper and include the pictured white acid-free mats and backing boards so that you can pop them into any 8x10 frame. They are fun little prints for only $8 each :) Available is : A Springtime Stroll (above), Glinda the Good Witch:

The Little Dancer:

Snow White Singing With the Birds:

The Spring Bouquet:

The Queen of Hearts:

and The Little Woodland Fairy:

Just click on the pictures to go to the individual listings, or check them all out in the Prints section of my shop :) I am so excited to be able to offer these, I will try to add more soon :)

I hope you are having a wonderful day!