reaffirmation

I was challenged by Nikita Prokhorov (who is brilliant with ambigrams) to "Post Your Art" for five days. These are the photos I included in the challenge (the brown cards that I posted a few days ago was my first image).

I knew it would be a fun exercise to look back and select what I wanted to highlight. The unexpected was how this reaffirmed just how much I love working with paper and coming up with new designs.



I continue to expand my horizons by using my designs for other applications but the reality is that paper is my first love. Whether it's a two-dimension or three-dimensional design the work is the same. I use an initial sketch as an inspiration and the rest just flows—if it's meant to be. I do run across some ideas that simply don't take off. I've learned to let them go at quicker pace now. Three-dimensional projects like mobiles, boxes or decorative items rank highly in the fun department.



Now my that my work has become a bit more illustrative you may see more work like my latest Spring Embrace — and it seems many of you don't mind that at all. I have to say that the success of that set (based on the sales from this past weekend) really took me by surprise. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to all of you that support my work! You have no idea how happy it makes me to imagine some of my spring scenes popping up in your homes.



I realize that for those of you that follow me on Instagram and FB, these images are all repetitious. I apologize for that but I wanted to add these additional thoughts. Now I'm off to continue dreaming up new projects. It's like riding a new wave without knowing how it will end. But the fun is the ride, right?

Happy Monday!

spring paper quilt

I really don't have any right to complain (no snow here but a lot of rainy/gray days) but I'm so over the cold and ready for Spring. A little designing and paper quilt making got me distracted for a few days.

Believe it or not one of the hardest parts of this project was picking the colors. These designs can go in so many directions—pinks and greens, blues and lime greens, neutrals (like taupe and brown or even black—not very spring-like but very appropriate for a sophisticated feel). I had all sorts of color trios in my hands until I finally decided to go with this turquoise and red combination. I think it may have been inspired by a flower I made a few weeks back (posted on Instagram).

Just as my other Paper Quilts these boxes can be used individually or as a group. I hope you have a lot fun with them!

You can order this Spring Paper Quilt for free with purchase until March 6th.
The coupon information for this project is on the A Little Hut home page.


Have a great weekend everyone!

spring paper quilt

I really don't have any right to complain (no snow here but a lot of rainy/gray days) but I'm so over the cold and ready for Spring. A little designing and paper quilt making got me distracted for a few days.

Believe it or not one of the hardest parts of this project was picking the colors. These designs can go in so many directions—pinks and greens, blues and lime greens, neutrals (like taupe and brown or even black—not very spring-like but very appropriate for a sophisticated feel). I had all sorts of color trios in my hands until I finally decided to go with this turquoise and red combination. I think it may have been inspired by a flower I made a few weeks back (posted on Instagram).

Just as my other Paper Quilts these boxes can be used individually or as a group. I hope you have a lot fun with them!

You can order this Spring Paper Quilt for free with purchase until March 6th.
The coupon information for this project is on the A Little Hut home page.


Have a great weekend everyone!

just checking in

Have you ever had several books on your night table and you tackle all of them bits at a time? That's where I'm at with some of my projects. My work space is a complete disaster zone.

I've been chipping away at getting files together for different collections and sketching and experimenting with other styles and ideas. I started another Instagram account solely for my sketching (@pzexplorations) and the boxes above are the result of an idea that came to fruition while watching the Grammy's (which weren't completely holding my attention anyway). I'm still waiting for sample from Spoonflower so there's that too. So you see, I've been quiet but not altogether sitting still. 

While I come back with something completed here are a few of my favorite Instagram feeds that you may find interesting:
- Rachel Ryle - If you find animation and illustration interesting at all you should really check out this artist's Instagram feed. Her work is amazing and so fun.
- Kelly Ventura - The way she works with watercolor is wonderful. Her style is free and vibrant.
- Crystal Wagner - I met this amazing paper artist when I was in Connecticut last year for a paper show. She is equally vibrant in person as her work appears in her photos. So much talent!

Have a great week!

just checking in

Have you ever had several books on your night table and you tackle all of them bits at a time? That's where I'm at with some of my projects. My work space is a complete disaster zone.

I've been chipping away at getting files together for different collections and sketching and experimenting with other styles and ideas. I started another Instagram account solely for my sketching (@pzexplorations) and the boxes above are the result of an idea that came to fruition while watching the Grammy's (which weren't completely holding my attention anyway). I'm still waiting for sample from Spoonflower so there's that too. So you see, I've been quiet but not altogether sitting still. 

While I come back with something completed here are a few of my favorite Instagram feeds that you may find interesting:
- Rachel Ryle - If you find animation and illustration interesting at all you should really check out this artist's Instagram feed. Her work is amazing and so fun.
- Kelly Ventura - The way she works with watercolor is wonderful. Her style is free and vibrant.
- Crystal Wagner - I met this amazing paper artist when I was in Connecticut last year for a paper show. She is equally vibrant in person as her work appears in her photos. So much talent!

Have a great week!

joy collection - svgs and printables

The first collection of the year is called Joy. It includes SVG cutting files and printables in two colorways — yellow and red.

I wanted to create a group of patterns and shapes that would coordinate all the way through different product lines. This collection is included in my Society6 products as I showed you the other day and will be coming soon in the manner of fabric and gift wrap on Spoonflower (still waiting for samples).

My ideas for the printables (8 letter-sized sheets of each pattern):
- To wrap small gifts
- Make envelope liners
- To make cards and hangtags
- To decorate scrapbooking layouts (including pocket scrapbooking like Project Life)
- Anything else you can come up with!

I'm pretty proud of this collection and if truth be told it does make me joyful when I look at it.
I hope you enjoy it too!

---

The Joy Collection is free from now until 1/11 with the purchase of $5.98 and above.
Code: thankyou
Important: Make sure to add the code to the GRAY Shopping Cart link at the top of the website home page.

joy collection - svgs and printables

The first collection of the year is called Joy. It includes SVG cutting files and printables in two colorways — yellow and red.

I wanted to create a group of patterns and shapes that would coordinate all the way through different product lines. This collection is included in my Society6 products as I showed you the other day and will be coming soon in the manner of fabric and gift wrap on Spoonflower (still waiting for samples).

My ideas for the printables (8 letter-sized sheets of each pattern):
- To wrap small gifts
- Make envelope liners
- To make cards and hangtags
- To decorate scrapbooking layouts (including pocket scrapbooking like Project Life)
- Anything else you can come up with!

I'm pretty proud of this collection and if truth be told it does make me joyful when I look at it.
I hope you enjoy it too!

---

The Joy Collection is free from now until 1/11 with the purchase of $5.98 and above.
Code: thankyou
Important: Make sure to add the code to the GRAY Shopping Cart link at the top of the website home page.

fall paper quilt

I haven't made a paper quilt in quite a long time so I corrected that this week. I confess that this had a lot to do with the fact that I was so sick and tired of the framed piece we have on our mantle. It had been there forever and I needed something new — a paper quilt came to mind. Since it's fall themed it'll force me to make something new for the holiday season too (kind of like 'tricking' myself into doing something - ha!).

And you know I have to show you an all white version. For those of you that know me long enough know that working with white paper is one of my favorite things to do. Picture your wall color showing through each design (a bit brighter though since our gray weather gave me some darkish photos).

Which do you prefer — color or all white? 

I'm always surprised how some of my sketches (messy ones—which is basically why I rarely show them) end up being exactly what I had in mind and others change completely. I never know what I'm going to end up with and that's part of the fun. I like these types of projects because of the challenges — the illustrations need to be simple, can still stand on their own or work with the other images around them.

How do use this set?
- Use it for gift boxes. Some designs can make it past fall and Thanksgiving—like the apples, flower, acorn and leaves.
- Change it up—what about dark frames?
- Frame it! — use the artwork in drop shadow box (I really like the Ikea Ribba frames) or cut out the designs and use as flat designs.
- Make cards and gift tags with the artwork.

You can buy the Fall Paper Quilt in the shop here.
It will be FREE (a super deal since it's a $9.99 value!) until Saturday, Sept. 20th with a $9.98 or higher order (coupon code: thankyou).

Have a great start to the week!

fall paper quilt

I haven't made a paper quilt in quite a long time so I corrected that this week. I confess that this had a lot to do with the fact that I was so sick and tired of the framed piece we have on our mantle. It had been there forever and I needed something new — a paper quilt came to mind. Since it's fall themed it'll force me to make something new for the holiday season too (kind of like 'tricking' myself into doing something - ha!).

And you know I have to show you an all white version. For those of you that know me long enough know that working with white paper is one of my favorite things to do. Picture your wall color showing through each design (a bit brighter though since our gray weather gave me some darkish photos).

Which do you prefer — color or all white? 

I'm always surprised how some of my sketches (messy ones—which is basically why I rarely show them) end up being exactly what I had in mind and others change completely. I never know what I'm going to end up with and that's part of the fun. I like these types of projects because of the challenges — the illustrations need to be simple, can still stand on their own or work with the other images around them.

How do use this set?
- Use it for gift boxes. Some designs can make it past fall and Thanksgiving—like the apples, flower, acorn and leaves.
- Change it up—what about dark frames?
- Frame it! — use the artwork in drop shadow box (I really like the Ikea Ribba frames) or cut out the designs and use as flat designs.
- Make cards and gift tags with the artwork.

You can buy the Fall Paper Quilt in the shop here.
It will be FREE (a super deal since it's a $9.99 value!) until Saturday, Sept. 20th with a $9.98 or higher order (coupon code: thankyou).

Have a great start to the week!