inspiration monday

i went out on a "retail safari" the other day and found this new grid paper pad.   i know it seems a bit kooky to get excited about a pad of paper with lots of non-repro-blue boxes on it, but i'll openly admit i absolutely love me a grid!  and once i added a new pencil to the mix, inspiration wasn't far behind…..

because before i knew it,  i was doodling fun letters and little swirlies…..

along with some whimsical little scallop banners…..

and other things straight from the heart.

but what surprised me was this little girlie.  i don't normally draw people, or pencil-shaded trees, and i don't know anyone named phoebe…..but here she is with her hair blowing in the breeze and a basket on her arm!

which just goes to show…..when you go on retail safari,  you never know where inspiration is going to lead you with all your new supplies!  

p.s.  and speaking of retail safari,
i also picked up the mar/april issue of Somerset Studio magazine…...

thank you, christen,  for the absolutely beautiful feature!!  xox
(i. am. SO. excited!!!)


{supplies:  bienfang grid paper, 6B uni pencil}

inspiration monday

i recently came across this fabulous little birdie how-to over at non dairy diary, and i was so inspired that i declared that very moment "play time"!
 start by painting some watercolor splotches on your paper......

and then outline them with a permanent marker.

add eyes, a beak, and all those other birdie things......

and you have a nice little flock of chickadees!  

but why stop there?
somewhere in those watercolor blobs there might also be some piggies.....

and mousies.....

and bunnies......oh, my!

cyberspace is jam-packed with spectacular ideas......
let inspiration and a little play help you to put your own spin on them!!
(and i figure if you're having lots of fun, you're on the right track!)

click here for non dairy diary's tutorial!

{i used these supplies to create this little barnyard:
koi watercolors, micron pens, 2B pencil, waterbrush, 
 sumi brush, strathmore 400 series w/c paper}