Category: Art

Anne of Green Gables Custom Fabric Work

Posted on Posted in Art, fabric

I received an email last summer from Helen, who had just visited PEI. She had seen my paintings in a shop and was wondering if I had ever done anything with Anne. She was disappointed there wasn’t anything more cute and fresh of her here. She asked me if I could make some fabric pieces for her.

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I’ve been so busy with other things I wasn’t able to get to these until now. I’m so glad I carved out sometime because I had so much fun working on them!  I love the Anne stories and  LM Montgomery. Her Emily of New Moon series especially. The way she describes the wind through trees or the beauty of a meadow …  that is what I’m always striving to achieve with my work. It’s pure magic.

Coaxing Spring

Posted on Posted in Art, Barnfaces

Maybe Spring doesn’t want to come to PEI, but that doesn’t mean I can’t paint it! I spent this weekend painting barns and flowers, and I’m hoping it might coax Spring to arrive.

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These paintings will be available to purchase at Cottage Industry in Charlottetown or through me.

New Alphabet Poster!

Posted on Posted in Art, Illustration

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I’ve been working a lot with a most reluctant Ila on learning how to read. I wanted to try something a little different to make it fun for her. We worked on this together (she is most proud of the I), and  I loved the result so much I decided to get some printed. They are printed on heavy card stock, 11″X17″ and signed.  I will be selling them for $35. They are up for sale in my Etsy shop. If you are in Charlottetown, please contact me directly. 

(The amazing banner is by Kim Roach Design)

New Poster sized PEI maps.

Posted on Posted in Art, P.E.I

I’ve made a poster sized version of my PEI map! It’ s 13″x19″ and I’m selling them for $39. Each one is printed on glossy paper and signed.

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They are available in my Etsy shop right now and will be in some stores around Charlottetown in the coming months.

G! magazine interview

Posted on Posted in Art, books, Illustration, Life, P.E.I1 Comment

 

I was interviewed by the PEIWBA in this month’s G! magazine. You can read it online here.

 

Stay True

Posted on Posted in Art, happiness, homeschool, Kids, Life5 Comments

 

This keychain arrived in my mailbox last September. A thoughtful and timely gift from my dear friend Mia.

There have been some big changes around here. Changes I would never would have expected. I’m not someone who is particularly good with changes… but these 2 words have kept me going. Stay True.

This gift arrived just as we were taking Ila out of school. We couldn’t ignore anymore that it was not a place for her. She was anxious, angry, and just an all around mess. The whole family was a mess. It felt like we were falling apart trying to keep her together.

My head wanted her to stay in school. What would people think? How would I get my work done? Why is my child so different than all the rest? My heart told me something all together different. It told me to go get her and take her home… and keep her home. It told me to believe in her. I chose to listen to my heart.

Nearly 6 months later she has blossomed like I would have never imagined. Her little true happy self is shining through. A day does not pass that I don’t believe 100% that we did the right thing.

The thing that has surprised me the most is that I’m happier too. Happier than I’ve ever been. Yes, it’s a crazy amount of work.  I’m exhausted, but my heart sings every day.  I go to my studio to work every night, and I also work on weekends. I feel like I’m getting even more work done now. This may be because when I do have time to work, I can focus clearly. I’m not always torn… worrying about her.

In January Sosi decided to start homeschooling too. I think she saw how happy Ila and I were and wanted to join in.  So, here we are homeschooling both kids. If you would have told me this last year I would have have thought you were crazy. It feels right though, like this is the life we were always meant to be living.

I feel incredibly lucky to have a flexible job that can work around this. Life and work feel like one thing now, not separate things pulling me in two different directions.

So, I guess we’re officially out of the homeschool closet.

Stay true (it feels great!).

 

 

Goodnight Book

Posted on Posted in Art, books, Illustration

The Goodnight Book is out!  Published by the fine Simply Read Books. I was so happy to see it in my favourite local bookstore last week.

I’m planning a fun book launch at the Confederation Center Library… we are thinking a PJ party reading would be most suitable. I will post more here when I know more.

 

 

summertime self portrait

Posted on Posted in Art, Kids, Life

 

I just finished this self portrait for the upcoming “I, Defined” Peake St Group show. This is pretty much how I feel all summer. We are one little unit. If I did a self portrait any other time of the year, I probably wouldn’t have my children growing out of my neck.

New Map!

Posted on Posted in Art, P.E.I

 

A couple of inquires was all the encouragement I needed… and bam, here it is!

It’s an 8″x10″ limited edition print of my Charlottetown map. Available to purchase in my etsy store, at Cottage Industry in Charlottetown and at the Girl from Away in North Milton and in her online shop.

*each print is signed and numbered and printed on 100% recycled paper.

 

new custom pieces

Posted on Posted in Art, fabric, happiness, Illustration

 

I’ve been super busy lately, but I find it really hard to turn down requests for custom portraits. I feel very lucky people want me to do portraits of their loved ones. Each one is so special. Here are a few I squeezed in between bigger projects lately.

Speaking of projects… I’m working on some really fun ones right now. I can’t wait to share them with you. One is with these wonderful ladies, who I have to say might be the most lovely people to work with. 🙂 (yes, I did the backgrounds for those videos too!)

 

Summer show

Posted on Posted in Art, fabric, P.E.I1 Comment

 

Catherine, my studio mate,  Norma Jean Maclean  and I submitted a show proposal the to the Guild late last year. We just found out it was accepted and we will have a month long show this summer. We are all so excited!

I’ve been working away on these pieces for it. You may recognize the linens from our great fabric find last year. They are incredibly beautiful, it was so fun to work with them and give them new life. It’s been such a treat to do something completely creative. Now back to work, I have a very fun project waiting for me.

 

Valentine’s Day Stickers!

Posted on Posted in Art, Ilustration, Kids1 Comment

 

This is was a dream job for me. I love hearts, they are my favourite. Designing 2 pages of heart stickers….. my new favourite!

You can find them in the current issue of American Girl magazine.

P.S Click here to see a super cute ecard made with these drawings (just press play).

December Brain

Posted on Posted in Art, knitting, Life2 Comments

 

Sorry for the epic silence here… December sort of ate me up!

First we had a certain special someone turn 5! I have to say, 5 is suiting her very finely. She will always be my fire-y girl, but she’s definitely turned a corner.

We’ve had many storms… and so much snow. It’s been kind of crazy.

Then I started thinking about Christmas…

We wanted to try and make this a homemade Christmas. We made a very strong effort to not buy things, but rather make things. It felt so good. I find it so easy to get caught up in all the craziness… slowing it down and making things made it so much more enjoyable, for all of us.

This year  I decided to knit everyone thrum mittens for Christmas… I probably should have started this much sooner.

I made newborn thrums,

toddler thrums,

thrums for 8 year olds… and many many more. I didn’t get them all done sadly. Next year I will plan better… don’t we all say that every year?

 

I was busy with sneaky presents for friends from said friend’s husbands.

I got an email from Sosi’s teacher saying she saw the larger version of this painting in a shop. She told me it immediately made her think of a teacher holding her students. I loved that description so much I thought she needed to have a copy. So I made prints for all the teachers. This will be my teacher gift from now on. 🙂

I made this fabric piece for my very sweet husband. I thought it was a great gift until I got his present. He made a video of all my family and friends telling me what they love about me. It was the most beautiful gift I’ve ever received.

Christmas was lovely…

and as always it’s all over too soon. I’m so  looking  forward to getting back to work and starting the New Year. Before that tho, we have a few more holidays days together. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, full of rest and much love. xo

 

 

 

coming soonish…

Posted on Posted in Art, Illustration4 Comments

I’m so excited to finally share this with you! This project has been in the works for the last couple of years. It’s a little Goodnight book that explores how mamas and papas in Far-Away lands say good night to their babies. It’s called the Goodnight Book and it will be published by Simply Read books in May of 2014! It can be preordered here.

recent custom pieces

Posted on Posted in Art

I’ve got lots of exciting things I’m working on right now, but can’t show you just yet. What I can show you are these super cute people I got to do portraits of recently. I feel pretty lucky I get asked to do these. So fun!

 

Studiotime in the Summertime

Posted on Posted in Art, fabric, Life

 

Nothing perks us up in the summertime like a visit down to my studio. It’s just the change of pace we need some days. It’s a quick 10 minute walk from home and we’re there.

I feel so lucky that my kids love going here as much as I do.  Ila is really into painting lately and when I’m feeling especially kind I will even let her use my grown up paints.

These visits give me little bits of time to work on things I have going. Like these paintings I just finished that are up at Youngfolk on Water St now.

… and this portrait I just finished for some of my favourite people (they are actually even cuter in person).