Leafscape

Yesterday I was asked if a companion print to leafscape, would ever make its way to etsy. Because I loved working with leafscape, I decided to do just that. So, here it is. It still does not feel completely finished to me. I am going to take a break from it, and come back later. Maybe then I will know just what it is missing.

I am also working on another illustration inspired by shannon. It will feature a cat and a bird in love... "opposites attract" :) Thanks for the great idea shannon!

Also, preparing (cleaning) my house today. Tomorrow, my sister, brother-in-law and niece will be visiting from California. Also, my brother and fiancee (I cant believe I forgot to post about their recent engagement!) will be here for the three day weekend. She will be staying with us for the weekend, along with my sister and her family. This should be fun, and a little interesting! Our house is just under 1,000 sq. ft. So, we will all be very warm and cozy! :)

I am planning to take Roman and Shaela's engagement pictures. I have been brainstorming a TON of ideas, and I cant wait to try them all out on the two of them. I will be sure and post a collection of my favorites on here! :)

Fall is on its way...

The above picture is the "after" pleeease keep in mind, that this was no way near what it looked like before I organized! I filled two garbage bags with clothes to be donated. So, please do not think I am a super organized freak. :)

I think my urge to declutter has been brought on by the chillier evenings. Fall is coming, and with that the new fall fashions. I need to make room for all those new spiffy styles! Besides, when it comes to the point that I dread getting completely get caught up on my laundry, because I have no empty hangers, or lack of hanging space... its time to do something about it!

So, today I am going to get caught up on my laundry! :) Fortunately we still have a very small family, so keeping up with the laundry is somewhat of an easy task. I also have a little girl that hates to get dirty, and that definitly helps me out some!

Speaking of fall fashions... I can't help but wonder what colors will be in. I did a little digging, and found this on EZINE:

"The summer colors tended toward fun and bright turquoises, pinks, and greens. We are going to warm things up and tone down a bit with the fall selection. No matter what color names the designers give them, the trend this year is very much in the gold tones. Burgandy, rust, wine, camel, and dark chocolate brown.

However the two hot colors for fall are purple and green. The green is a continuation of the summer, but warmed up a bit with burnt olives, celeries, and a darker celadon. We expect green to be around for another season or so. The trend color of the season is purple and the warmer the purple the better."

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I love green, and purple and green together sounds like an interesting color combo. One I wouldnt think to put together! But, am now excited to try. I think it has inspired me to try the colors on a new illustration. :)

A weeks worth of photos!

So, tomorrow will be my first week into project 365. It has not always been easy to take a picture for each day. But it is soo rewarding to stick with it. :) The above picture is my favorite for the week. My parents are putting their house up for sale. So, I finally had to go and take down all 43+ packs of stars. It was a BIG job, I also had about a 1,000 small sticker stars on the ceiling and slightly down the walls. Trin helped us pick them off the floor, and put them in this copper colored basket like thing. :)

It looked awesome at night, and was really nifty to get to see a falling star while lying in bed. But, I suppose all good things must come to an end? I still have them all, but it may take me a few months to forget how much of a pain it was to take them down. Maybe by then, I will decide to hang them in Trin's room. However, we do have 9.6' tall ceilings... it may take me a year to be stupid enough to decide to attempt hanging them! :)

-Oh and for the record, should you find yourself in my situation... a stiff plastic spatula works really well in taking the stars down! :)

{5 days left}

A week from today, "chirp away" will be in the mail and on its way to grace one lucky winner's wall. There is only 5 days left to get in on the August drawing. Any purchase made after 5 o clock my time, will automatically get bumped into the September drawing. To keep it fair, and simpler I wont be able to make any exceptions. :)

If your wondering what this is all about... you can see the original post here. :)

Currently we have 7 names in the cup. Oh, and as I mentioned in the first post, each print you buy will increase your odds.

Good luck to all! :)

mail=goodies

So, I had a great mail day today! I had a couple of things from etsy come in the mail, and I couldnt be more thrilled with them. I knew I just had to share with all of you!


First... these super adorable "dragon feet" from justkiddn of etsy. The feet are for Shandi. When Tamara was pregnant she had a dream that she had given birth to a dragon. It was a pretty cute joke, and when I seen these, I knew Shandi needed a pair. They are meant to be frog feet, but hey... they work as a dragon feet, right? :) This is actually my third purchase from justkiddn. I bought my niece Jenna a pair of the oasobi booties, and Ashton a pair of the duck feet. They are very reasonably priced at 10.00. The feet are a little more at 12.00. An exclellent price for something handmade with attention to detail, and super quick shipping. She happens to also be here in Washington, which is an added bonus! :) Definitly a shop worth checking out. I recommend her very highly. You can find justkiddn's shop here:





My second thing... this vintage/modern pencil case from Elliotspigeons all the way in Australia. I was thrilled to have found this store while browsing the treasury on etsy. I loved the choice of fabrics, (although it made choosing ONE hard!) and was excited to have the honor of being this shops first sale. :) I am sure I am the first of many more to come. I have been needing a new way to carry my drawing pencils. You can see my "before" and understand what I mean. It was working... but how stylish is that?


I condensed the pencils down to my essentials. My 2b pencils, an eraser, and my pens. It is so much better on the eyes, and I can proudly whip it out whenever inspiration hits. I have to admit, this pencil case is inspiring me to draw now as I write this. What an amazing friend, packs my "tools" around for me, and even inspires me at the same time? Life is good. :) You can see Elliotspigeons here...

Well, I suppose I have a little house cleaning I need to get to! :) I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Nice Matters Award! :)

Mary was super sweet and presented me with this little award. It was very touching. :) Thanks Mary.

I hear this award represents someone who tries to spread nice, inspirational posts throughout the blogging world.

So, I have prepared a speech... :)

*clears throat and nervously stands up straighter*

"First off I would like to thank Mary for choosing me to receive this award. I feel they're are plenty of other people who deserve this award more so then me. Second, my parents for raising me to have a soft heart. My sister who constantly tried my "niceness" and made me the super nice person I am today. I also couldnt possibly forget that geeky boy I "dated" in 5th grade. He taught me a valuable lesson... dont go out with a boy just because you dont want to hurt his feelings. You always end up being the opposite of "nice" when you break up anyway. :D"

Really though, thanks mary! It was uber sweet of you to think of me. So, now I am supposed to pass the torch so to speek. I am off to award a couple ladies myself.

Tara Her blogging posts, have really been an inspiration to me. She reminds me of the small things in life that truly do matter. :)

Shannon Since she joined etsy a short time after me, we have helped each other learn the ropes. I have enjoyed her blog, and it has helped keep the distance between us from seeming... well... far away. :)

Dont forget to post the award on your blog ladies. :)

Sweet zZzs

I started on this illustration a week ago, and have only now finished it up. I suppose I took my time on it, a little more so then normal. I tried a couple different variations, before finally becoming thrilled with how this one turned out.

I have wanted to work with cherry blossoms for awhile now, and loved incorporating a japanese/asian inspired birdcage. I think I will probably be doing another one sometime soon! :)

Today I am going to be getting a few prints ready to mail out to projectgrabbag. She will be selling my prints/pocket mirrors at an artists co-op (along side her softies) in IL. She is super sweet for volunteering to do so! Well, I told her they would be ready to go out tomorrow morning, so I best get to printing! :) Have a great Thursday everyone!!

For baby Shandi

This is what I have been busy with lately. I am working on this little book for baby Shandi. The book will be a counting book. It will only go to 6... and these white birds will represent each number. Now... I know she is too little to count, but mainly I wanted to give her a super sweet gift that Tamara can save for her. :)

Each page will have the addition of one bird (the last page is shown) and the clouds will also move ever so slightly to the right, as if to show the passing of time. I hope it turns out. I will be sure and post some pictures when I get a little further with it. :)

project 365

project365- One photo a day for an entire year.

I seen this flickr group yesterday, and was so excited to follow along. :) I enlisted the help of shannon, and hopefully we will keep each other motivated to stick with it. It would be so neat at the end of the year to print out 365 thumbnail sized pictures representing each day of my life. Of course, I am sure I will have days where the last thing I want to do is take a picture... I guess we will see. My hopes is that by posting about here, you can help me stick with it as well! :) I plan to blog about my favorite photo/day of the week, every week... on monday. So, you should know if I am slacking.... ;)

I have been a big fan of the 365 group where you take a self portait of you for every day of the year... but there is no way I could do that. :) So, when I seen this group... it seemed perfect!

This picture is day 1 August 20th 2007.

I have been tagged....

Mary was ever so kind and tagged me to play along with the newest game.... Thanks so much Mary!! ;) I am fortunate... I only have 4 letters in my middle name! :)

Here are the rules:1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.3. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.

L- "LOVING" I like to *think* I am a loving person. :) I am a loving mother, daughter, wife, and sister.

Y- "YOUNG" Alright.... to everyone snarling at me, honestly I couldnt think of anything else to go with y!! :) While I am getting up there at 25, I suppose I am still young. :)

N- "NICE" I am a nice person. I try to think of others, and always be "nice" no matter the situation. Although I try... I regret to say I do not always suceed :)

N- "NOLEGABLE" hahahaaa.... ok this may be cheating, but I cant think of another N! :) Well, other then naughty... and I dont suppose that fits me. :) Oh- and I really am nolegable. I mean, that is a hard word to spell, and I nailed it! :)

ok, so I am off to tag these four people: Should they choose to play along, here are links to their blogs. :)

Shannon
Mom
Tara
Becky Kay

Welcome baby Shandi!

Last night I got a new niece, and became a cousin at the same time. :) It is pretty funny, because my first cousin... ended up marrying my brother in law. So I am double related! My new little niece, "Shandi" is adorable. Weighing in at 6 lbs 2 oz, and 19" long. Brandon and Tamara are living in California, so I haven't got to meet her yet. We are planning a trip that way in October, so we will have to wait to see her till then. I am sure my aunt will keep us stocked up with new recent pictures. :)

I took 2,000 digital pictures of our little girl within her first year of life. With the next one, I am sure I will double that... since I am sporting a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) instead of a little point and shoot. :) Seeing the pictures of Shandi is giving me the new baby bug...

On that note... Trin is *almost* potty trained. It is the absolute weirdest thing, I thought after we were all through with this cold flu junk, I would crack down on her... and dedicate "myself" to potty training her. Well, her second day being sick she came and told me she needed to go 6 times that day!? I felt so bad for her, but she was inisisting! :) I think because she wasnt playing like she normally does, she was alot more aware of it. PLUS, she seen the pictures of Haylie going potty on Mary's blog... and that definitly sparked a chord with her. :) So, thank you Mary!!

Well, I am still coughing and feeling lowsy. I cant believe how long this stuff hangs on.... I think I am going to crawl back into bed. It sounds really goooood. :)

Welcome to the world baby Shandi! :)

Green

{click picure to view larger}

After being cooped up inside these past few days... It felt so nice to walk out to the garden this morning. Very re-juvenating. :) The re-juvenation feeling quickly left when I realized just how much I have let things go out there! My pumpkins are completely taking over. I planted them with a trellis, like last year. They are pie pumpkins, but are getting so big! I have yet to see one break off the vine. It amazes me just how strong those vines can be. :) Last year I used panty hose and tied them up. I missed one, and was surpised to see it didnt need the support. I am most definitly going to make my fences further apart next year.

...and my tomatoes? Where do I begin, I planted them waaay to close together, they are huge, and growing really nice. But, I cant seem to find my pepper plants anymore. They were planted in the same box right along with the tomatoes. Another "no no" for next year. Oh well, I learn something new each year. Now I understand the term a "seasoned gardener" :)

I also finished an orchid illustration. Two more to go! :)

Mixed Plate feature

Hope everyone had a great weekend, AND monday. :) We have been sick these past few days, so our weekend could have certainly been a little better... but I think everyone is on the tail end of the "bug" so I am thankful for that!

I wanted to give a special thanks for Liana of Mixed Plate. She was kind enough to feature "Chocolate Chip Mint" on her blog this last Friday. I was thrilled, and definitly aprpeciated the recognition. :) Thanks Liana.

Well, being sick these past few days has given me plenty of time to sit around the house with my clipboard and paper. I have three new drawings ready to be transferred to the computer. All three of them are orchids, so I am excited to get started on them. However, being sick has caused me to become behind on a few things. So, I really doubt I will get much done today. Look here for an update tomorrow. :)

"Wishful"

I really enjoyed working on this illustration, it brought back a TON of memories from childhood. I can still remember being excited to see a dandelion waiting to be picked. Working on this reminded me of how much joy the simple pleasures of life can bring you. Toddler to adult, regardless of age. I think we just need to reminded a little more as adults. I know I do. :)

I also began work on this new series yesterday, I havent decided what to call it yet... I have my first illustration in the series just about finished though, so I better decide quick! :)

chic and classy portraits

divine classy ladies

Any suggestions?? Surely any would be better then what I just suggested! :D

I love T.J. Maxx

I love Ross and T.J. Maxx. It is almost impossible to not find at least one steal of a deal when you visit.... which actually may not be a good thing. :)

Today mom and I made our bi-weekly grocery trip to Tri-Cities. Of course, you cant drive all the way to Tri-Cities and come back with "only" groceries!

So, a quick (yeah right) trip into T.J. Maxx resulted in this purchase. I LOVE the woodgrain modern look of the frame, and loved that It had been marked down not once, but twice! :) I think it will look great in my living room, with my ever growing collection of art. When I get it up, I will be sure and post a picture. :)

Finished!

Finished! "Freedom" in 11x14
Originally uploaded by jessilynn

I *just* completed this illustration. It feels so nice to see it finished. Hopefully this should be available in my etsy store today. I still need to print it, and photograph it printed, and unfortunately... I need to wait until my lovely husband to come home. He makes for such a nice model. :)

This print will be printed on 13x19 sized glossy canon photo paper. The image itself is sized at 11x14. I do plan to offer it an 8x10. I may have that listed before the larger size. :)

Also working on the pocket mirrors!! I just finished up a photoshoot with all of them. Still need to complete the listing, but they should be available today as well! :)

"Perched Love"

I just finished this illustration, and listed it my etsy store. I am so thrilled with how it turned out. I think it just may be a new favorite. :)

Doing the background on this, was very time consuming. I used multiple layers, and finally achieved what you see. :)

Well, I have a few things to get caught up on... but I wanted to show you the end result first! :)

A new one on the works...

I have been so inspired lately to work with peacock feathers. I have absolutely no idea where the craving came from, but its no wonder why. Peacock feathers are gorgeous... well this is where my inspiration and craving led me. The curliness just seemed right, but hardly peacock-ish. Which actually turns out better for me... because I am really anxious to incorporate a few other peacock elements into a new illustration. I may try to incorporate words into the tail somehow. But, before i start on another illustration I need to finish up "Freedom" and this one. :)

I had an inquiry to include "Freedom" in a non-profit youth diary featuring art from various artists. I was flattered, and will probably accept. I will an update on that later!

Speaking of words... I think people are missing the word "love" in the bark. I cant decide if I should try to make it a little more prominent? Or if it is better to have it be somewhat hidden...

We went to the Washington coast for the weekend, had a great time. Although it was overcast the WHOLE time! I took over 200 pictures, and I am too lazy to wait for them to download to my computer. I will try and get some pictures up tomorrow. :)

Hope you had a great weekend! It was hard leaving this print unfinished, I am just itching to finish it, so you know what I am off to do. :)

"Freedom"

Just added this to my etsy store today! I loved the purple with the ttvf effect. It made it look so timeless. I have a few of these square formatted ttvf prints framed. I will try and get a good picture to list. I am sure it is hard to really picture just how it will look framed with the black border.

I have a few variations of this illustration in the works. I have spent hours over the past few days working on this illustration in an 11x14 poster size. I will go ahead and give everyone a sneek peek...

Super New- Monthly Win a Print-August

Super New!

Beginning with the month of August I will be giving away a FREE print. This month's print is "Chirp Away" 8x10 sized on canvas, a palm sized 20 page matching shopping list, and a coloring page. I will even pay your shipping. All this valued at $28.00

--Eligibility Requirements: (How to get your name in the drawing)

You must purchase any one Illustration from my store.

--How long does the drawing run for? (When do I find out if I have won!?)

The month of August's drawing begins today August 1st and will end August 31st.

--How will the winner be chosen? (Pick Me, Pick Me!)

On Friday August 31st, my husband will draw 1 name from a bowl, cup, mug etc. (will be sure and keep you posted ;)

--How will I know if I have won? (I mean, other then convoing, and e-mailing you every day for the next month)

The winner will be announced here in my blog the following saturday, and in the etsy forums under promotions and critiques section. I will also send you a conversation via etsy letting you know.

--What if I already have the print your giving away? (I really dont need two)

If you have already purchased the print that is being offered, you may switch it out for any other print in my store of equal or lesser value.

--What are my chances of winning? ( I mean honestly)

This will vary from month to month. You can always find out by looking through my sold prints on etsy. You can also increase your odds. *see below*

--Does each additional print purchase increase my odds? (hmmm?)

You bet! Your name will be put in for each print you buy. But two prints, your name goes in twice. Pretty simple eh?

--What are my odds currently?

Currently 8/23 there are 7 names in the drawing.

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I think that about sums it up, if I forgot to add something, or answer a question let me know!!

New Illustration and an update...

Here is my newest Illustration, "Bound to You." I only recently considered that this illustration could be perceived and viewed two ways. One that these two are willingly and lovingly committed and bout to each other. Or two... they are bound by obligation, and things of the past that seem to weigh them down.

When I created the illustration it was with the idea that they were lovingly bound to each other. At first I thought I should change the title to "Lovingly Bound to You" But the more I think about it, I suppose Art is in the eye of the beholder. Should I leave it "generic" in hopes that you can relate to it personally? I would love to hear your thoughts on this. :)

Now for the update... Remember my entry awhile back about our litter of kittens. The three we were GOING to give away? Well, yep you guessed it we kept him. He is growing so fast, and is very beautiful. Thought you would enjoy a newer picture of him.