inspiration monday

this past weekend i did something that i've wanted to do for a really long time.....
i took a screenprinting workshop!  and boy, did i ever luck out, because instead of having only one instructor, this class was taught by silkscreening dynamic duo dana fehsenfeld and kreh mellick at barbara zaretsky's fabulous cloth-fiber workshop studio!
we got things started by looking for some design inspiration (i chose these little tick-marks from my journal).....

and then we used waterproof markers and drew onto a large piece of acetate.

there are lots of different ways the screen design can be set up.....
i decided to draw two different designs,  which gives me the option of taping off one side and printing one design at a time if i want (kind of like having two different screens, but it's all on one).

then the design was burned into the screen.....
dana had already prepared our screen with the pink photo emulsion, and then we placed it with our design acetate on top onto a UV screen exposure light box.  after only a couple of minutes, we quickly washed out our screen and watched our design come to life!
then we let the screen dry outside.

then came the fun part.....the printing!
i decided to print the leaf design, so i taped off the other side.  then a nice dollop of blue paint went at the top, and i squeegueed it down through the screen onto my white fabric.....

and presto,  lots and lots of blue leaves all in a row!

then it was time to hang it on the line outside.....

and while one fabric was drying, i printed some more!
this time, blue tick marks onto khaki fabric.....

and white onto denim!

before i knew it, i had a nice little stash of screenprinted fabrics started.....
and i can't wait to add some more!

many thanks and big hugs to dana, kreh, and barbara for a truly fabulous weekend!
i loved every minute of it!!

{click here to see more about the screenprinting process!}

biltmore gardens

this past weekend my little-dutch-sweetie-boy treated me to another getaway to biltmore house.  for so many reasons, it's one of my most favorite places ever (the estate is gorgeous, i love the story of george and edith, and it's hard not to think of downton abbey as you're soaking up the splendor of it all....).  and as fabulous as the house is, the gardens are equally spectacular.....you could probably spend an entire week strolling through the lush flora and fauna and still not see it all.....  

  

so i tried to capture some of mother nature's marvels in my journal.....
to remind me of a perfect weekend spent with my perfectly wonderful guy!

thank you, dutch-sweetie....
you make all my days happily-ever-after days!!  xox


{this biltmore artwork was created in my moleskine journal using koi watercolor,
derwent inktense pencils, pitt pens, and a 6B graphite pencil}

inspiration monday

i have always been inspired by carla sonheim's artwork.  as the queen-of-silly, she has the most wonderful ability to find whimsical little creatures hidden just about anywhere, even in sidewalk cracks!  but if you're like me and don't have too many sidewalks in your area, i've come up with another way you can go about creating an "inspiration splotch" with some watercolor paper, watercolor, paintbrushes, waxed paper, your favorite pens and markers, pencils, and a jug of water.
(i'm using some turquoise watercolor and a yellow watercolor crayon in my moleskine journal)

first,  lay down some clean water onto your paper and then add your watercolor.....
you want your color(s) to be fairly wet.

now lay a piece of waxed paper on top of your watercolor.....
rub your hand across it to smoosh the color around.

lift the waxed paper to reveal the splotch underneath.  if you have any droplets of watercolor left on the waxed paper, you can tap them back onto your watercolor splotch for some added texture!

now take a good look at your watercolor splotch.
see anything hidden in there?

if you don't see much the first time,  you might have more luck
by turning your paper around another way.

once you've spied something, start adding some details using your favorite markers....
(i've used pitt artist pens)

once you get started, it's hard to stop......

but before you know it, you've revealed your very own
imaginary inspiration monster!  have fun!


{this creature-from-the-art-lagoon was created in my moleskine journal using cotman watercolor, lyra watercolor crayon, paintbrush, pitt artist pens, uniball signo white gel pen, waxed paper, 3B and 8B pencils}

morning walk

i really look forward to my morning walks here in the mountains because it's fun to discover plants like these tall, wispy, spikey-stemmed weeds.

and being able to look around while i'm walking up and down these crazy hills helps to serve as a great distraction to that non-stop burning in my choco-thighs-and-hips!  heeheehee

inspiration monday

when i first began my downton diary,  i must admit that i was quite mesmerized by the thought of drawing all the architectural ins-and-outs of the house.....nothing makes me happier than getting caught up in all of those yummy details!

and while i would love to have a journal filled with the details of highclere castle ,  my inspiration for this project comes from my addiction fascination of the actual downton story......

and the central focus of the downton story is the family that lives there,
not the actual house they live in.

 

and, inspiration or not,  i find the idea of drawing people completely intimidating.  mainly because i know myself well enough that i'm going to fuss and become totally frustrated if they don't look exactly the way they look when i turn on my tv.
(hello, hints of perfectionism!) 

i will openly confess that the idea of drawing these characters is so far out of my comfort zone i feel like i need a passport to get back home.....

but as i was finishing this page spread,  i was thinking that's a huge part of what inspiration is all about.....to stretch us in all kinds of different directions, take us to new places, and to grow us by leaps and bounds.

so, thank you, inspiration, for bending, stretching, twisting and shaping me........
i think.  :))


{this artwork was created in my downton diary using derwent inktense pencils,
waterbrush, pitt pens, uniball signo white gel pen, 5B graphite pencil}

duck chuckle

i recently stopped by the duck pond
and found my little friends......

                      

practicing their synchronized swimming!

{i get such a kick out of these crazy ducks! 

have a wonderfully whimsical weekend!! :)) }

inspiration monday

i know i say this a lot,
(so i hope you don't mind if i say it one more time).....

but when you follow your heart,
great things start to happen....

and inspiration will be right there to make sure they do!
xox


{this was created in my moleskine journal using koi watercolors,
a waterbrush, pitt pens, uniball signo white gel pen, and a 6B graphite pencil} 

one nation evermore

✰✰✰✰✰

"America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea."

✰✰✰✰✰


{today is Independence Day!
happy birthday to our land of liberty.....
happy birthday to our America!!}

inspiration monday

no matter how long you sit and practice.....

the time will come when inspiration will give you a little nudge.....

(along with some great advice from a very positive thinker)

to take the next step and make good use of all that practice time.

because when your heart tells you to go for whatever's inspiring you,
(and believe me,  it's amazing how inspiration always knows what's on your heart!)
don't wait for "just the right time".....do it today!


{created in my moleskine journal using koi watercolors, derwent inktense pencils,
waterbrush, uniball signo white gel pen, pitt pens, 6B graphite pencil}