happy national coloring book day!

Tomorrow is National Coloring Book Day. Who knew? I just found out by chance a couple of days ago. I celebrated a day ahead by coloring one of my Flower Nook coloring pages and then turning it into a trio of note cards.

This weekend also marks the end of our vacation (insert sad face). We stayed home this year and I took a very close to 100% internet and work sabbatical. It was a fabulously relaxing week and now I feel energized to take on the end of the summer and the start of school in a couple of weeks (ahh! too soon!).

I'd been wracking my brain to see how one the illustrations from Flower Nook could translate into a paper craft project and I just couldn't come up with anything. I want it to be a bit like what I did with the Fantasy Bloom Gift Set. The week off gave me the mental space to finally come up with an idea that I think will work. We'll see!

• • •

To celebrate National Coloring Book Day I'd like to give away 2 signed coloring books (and a few other suprise goodies) today! All you need to do is leave a comment below (include your email address or a way to contact you) by answering one little question: what do you like the most about coloring and what is your favorite coloring tool.. or just say hello!

I'll pick a random winner from the comments that are posted from now until Monday (August 3rd).

That's it. Good luck, happy Sunday and happy coloring!

cover to cover

I finished this sketchbook yesterday after working on it for a little over a month. It has been an unexpected fun routine to work on these small pieces in spurts of a few minutes here and there. Each illustration took me about 15-30 minutes to complete. As many of you know, the paper in Moleskine sketchbooks is fairly thin so the ink did bleed through the pages. I skipped a spread in between each illustration to keep from ruining my previous work.

I was inspired by many of the flowers that I saw popping up this spring. For the most part I tried to interpret them in my own way without being entirely accurate. They're my made up versions of flowers. I liked that by working that way I could draw at leisure and just go with whatever was happening — very relaxing!

I have larger sketchbooks I can jump into right now but I think I'm going to get another small one like this, to start this process again. The size is just perfect for quick ideas like these.

What I used:
- 3.5" x 5.5" Moleskine sketchbook
- A variety of black ink pens (Staedtler 0.5 and 0.7, Micron 0.5, Sharpie) - I just used whichever was closest but my favorites (for this size of a sketch) where the Staedtler and Micron 0.5.
- For shading: pencil and a gray double ended Prismacolor marker (love the brush end!)
- One day I used a red LePen that a friend of work gave me. The tip is tiny and really smooth to use.

For now I'm back to working on my coloring book which is coming along thanks to this sketchbook. I used these illustrations as ideas for that book. The opposite is true too. Some nights I'd work on something for the coloring book and it would influence a sketch the next day. It's been great to go back and forth between the two projects.

Needless to say my work with cut paper has taken a back seat right now. If only there were more hours in a day! The good news is that I have ideas for my next A Little Hut set which I think will be a lot of fun. Stay tuned!

the other side

These are just a few examples of ink illustrations that I've been posting on my Instagram feed. It's a direction that I've been headed towards for a long time. Until recently I hadn't really considered this something I wanted to pursue more seriously. But I can't seem to stop. Whenever I pick up my pen it just appears on the paper. None of these drawings are preplanned. I just start. Always in ink and no pencil.

My work has tended to be more graphic and clean, so adopting this loser style is something that has taken time to get used to. As I've grown more comfortable with it, I've had several friends tell me that I need to illustrate a coloring book. So, that's where this is all headed. I consider these the warm-ups and the illustrations for the book will be inspired by everything I've done so far.

I have several projects ready for another paper craft book but somehow they weren't coming together the way I expected. This new project on the other hand is something I can see completed in my mind — something that always happens to me when a project is really the path I should follow —I'm following my heart. Like many of you, coloring was my first introduction into art and paper and I LOVED it. I could color for ever when I was little. This makes this project feel like I'm coming full circle. Pretty cool.

So, there you have it. A coloring book is coming. Yes!

Have a great weekend everyone! I'm off to a church retreat today and will be back on Sunday. I think the time away from everything will be awesome.

See you on the other side! :)

while in bed

When other people are probably doing something like reading in bed, this is what I've been doing. It isn't exactly a nightly thing but it's getting close to it. I thought about making this a 365-day challenge but I don't want to put that limitation on it. It's just for fun (and therapy on the weary days) and it's great practice.

I'm using...
- Pencil
- Eraser (I love this one but I really want to get a chunky one to cover more surface easily)
- Faber-Castell Pitt artist pen - the tip is flexible similar to a brush and it glides so smoothly on the paper. I think it's too thick for smaller illustrations but it's perfect for this format I'm using. This pen came in a set that has other thinner pens but this is the only one I've used so far.
- Strathmore Sketch 11 x 14 spiral bound pad - I love that the ink doesn't bleed onto the next page. Not even on the back of the page I've drawn on. It takes the ink really well.

I've been posting some of these on Instagram, where you can tell they are taken in my poorly lit room. I'm keeping it real there—on my bed and all.

I think I'm subconsciously using this series as a warm up for the Lilla Rogers class that I signed up for. I cannot wait to get started in March! I know that class is going to take me out of my comfort zone but that's precisely why I want to take it. It's just like these drawings. They aren't what I typically do
but I'm enjoying the newness of it all.

Here's to trying new things!

while in bed

When other people are probably doing something like reading in bed, this is what I've been doing. It isn't exactly a nightly thing but it's getting close to it. I thought about making this a 365-day challenge but I don't want to put that limitation on it. It's just for fun (and therapy on the weary days) and it's great practice.

I'm using...
- Pencil
- Eraser (I love this one but I really want to get a chunky one to cover more surface easily)
- Faber-Castell Pitt artist pen - the tip is flexible similar to a brush and it glides so smoothly on the paper. I think it's too thick for smaller illustrations but it's perfect for this format I'm using. This pen came in a set that has other thinner pens but this is the only one I've used so far.
- Strathmore Sketch 11 x 14 spiral bound pad - I love that the ink doesn't bleed onto the next page. Not even on the back of the page I've drawn on. It takes the ink really well.

I've been posting some of these on Instagram, where you can tell they are taken in my poorly lit room. I'm keeping it real there—on my bed and all.

I think I'm subconsciously using this series as a warm up for the Lilla Rogers class that I signed up for. I cannot wait to get started in March! I know that class is going to take me out of my comfort zone but that's precisely why I want to take it. It's just like these drawings. They aren't what I typically do
but I'm enjoying the newness of it all.

Here's to trying new things!

homemade wrapping paper

So the summer has officially started in this household. The kids finished school last week and today we tackled our first small project for the summer. We decorated butcher paper that I had on hand and turned it into wrapping paper. It was an extremely easy project and it didn't take that long to do at all.



I spread the roll over our kitchen island, letting it hang down the sides. It was a great surface for all of us to work on, because we weren't in each others way and we could walk around the table as needed. My little C just needed a small chair to be at a comfortable height.

I love how crayons strokes look. They seem so sincere and authentic, if that makes sense.



My original plan was to use only orange and/or yellow, but the kids wanted to add more colors. They wanted to use green right off the bat but I explained a little about thinking out of the box, so we started with yellow. Once we got going, I had them take turns deciding what color we should work with. I drew, they colored and we love the results, although my favorite (as I predicted) are the orange/yellow leaves. How about the look for wallpaper?

• • •

Thank you so much for sharing all your accomplishments in my giveaway post. I'm amazed by all that you have done. I was struck by the thought that too often we admire what others have done and don't realize that we need to acknowledge our own hard work too. So hats off to all of us!

The winner of the framed flower is: Jeff
The winners of the printables are: Stitchinscience, Heather and Busy Vee.
Congratulations to all the winners. Please contact me at info at alittlehut dot com so I can send you your goodies.

one a day

I took a card out of my sketch box, fiddled around with some paper and here is the result. This gave me the idea to develop a series of cut paper pieces that will only be created with my scraps. I plan on creating one a day and each will be small and really simple.

So, here's No. 1.



This is a scan so that's why it looks rather flat. All I used was white and brown paper and a black thin marker for the hand drawn lines. Very easy. Just the way I want it. I don't want this to become a burden to keep up with.

There's a new interview on Crafty Synergy! Check it out here.

would you say anything?

I asked D to draw five things to print a fabric design with his illustrations (just as I asked little C). He chose a space theme. I'm surprised that I didn't get a bunch of lightsabers and Star Wars characters—which he loves. I'm debating what to do about the flag. I think it's cute and I would have no problem in leaving it as is. But part of me thinks that he'll get on my case if I don't give him a chance to revise and tell him something now. What to do.



If all of our problems where this complicated we'd all have it made, right?

done

I finally completed the SFG Blankbook project. It was awesome to have a book full of spreads created by other artists in my hands. Everyone did such a wonderful job. As soon as I got the book I sat on the couch, with the kids on either side of me, looking at everyone's piece. I was surprised to see they enjoyed it as much as I did. Part of the project was taking a photo of myself with the case in a landmark of my home town. I chose one of the newest areas of our community. You can read more about the project and see a small sneak peek of my spread here.

By the way, seeing my hair like this is a rare thing. It's naturally very curly.



Well... the summer break is over for us. The kids go back to school tomorrow and I will resume what I hope is a more relaxed schedule. However, I can already feel that I'm going to miss my babies. The house is going to feel so very quiet. I hate the annual emotional tug of war I go through. I obviously want them to go to school but I also feel like I'm missing out by not being with them. Sigh.

This is one of my favorite shots of the summer. They were quiet, just looking at the ocean and completely unaware that I was right behind them. Love it.



One last thing. I've posted a new interview on Crafty Synergy. This time we get to hear a little bit about Elizabeth Soule and her work. I was very taken by her photography the first time I saw it. Enjoy!

pen + paper + ink

I'm going to start a series of daily doodles that take me no more than 20 min. to work on. They'll only be in black ink and I'm going to keep whatever comes out first. I've completely abandoned drawing and I miss it. I think this will help me further develop my small but growing pattern collection. Don't worry, my blog won't become doodle central. So just for today, here's doodle 001 with a little quote to go along with it.



The strongest principle of growth lies in the human choice.
- George Eliot

And on a completely different subject... Woohoo! The Olympics are finally here! I'm not the type to really sit for hours watching televised sports but the Olympics are the big exception. I'll definitely be watching. Don't ask me why (because I don't even know the answer) but my 'secret' pie-in-the-sky dream would be to participate in... archery!

Friday Tidbit
The Design Alphabet: You’ll be here forever! So much to look at and such dedication to find everything for each letter. (via Elle Deco)

Enjoy the weekend!

five

I can't believe my baby is five! Where has the time gone? She's been waiting for this day forever. Since January to be precise, when she got upset because it was her brother's birthday and not her own. No amount of explanations could convince her that her birthday would come soon enough.

This little drawing is a self portrait she drew yesterday. She's standing next to our dog - a miniature schnauzer. I love it.

And here she is running away from me to avoid getting her picture taken before going to school this morning. Can you tell she's not much of a morning person? I know she'll be all smiles and posing like crazy when I go at lunch time. Happy birthday my little C! :)



EDIT - I went to visit little C at school during lunch time. As predicted, she was very bubbly and posed for every single picture I wanted to take. She was thoroughly enjoying being the center of attention. I know my girl oh too well. ;)

Thank you for all your sweet comments and have a wonderful weekend!

cartagena

I'm killing time and here are the results. I do a lot not to go bed early. I've always been that way - a late owl at heart.

Today I found this drawing and the photo that inspired it in an old pad of drawing paper. I took the photo in Cartagena, Colombia in 2001 when we went to a friend's wedding. I think the drawing came a month or two after that. Cartagena is an AMAZING place. It's just so full of history and lots and lots of color and art. The old part of Cartagena has been preserved and it's gorgeous. I remember feeling visually bombarded everywhere we went.

All I did today was work on color. I've had the drawing thing on my mind for several days. I really need to do more of it.