Yarn Wrapped Wreaths

By now most of my Christmas gifts have been delivered so now it is safe to share what I have been up to.  I love pinterest but it just enables my crazy Martha Stewart tendencies that come out around the holidays. I have been a big fan of yarn wrapped wreaths but they always looked like a lot of work until I saw this post on Pinterest to crochet thick yarn instead of wrapping. Each stage of the project was easy and quick and something I could do in front of the tv with the cat on my lap BUT when you make 19 the work really adds up. It was totally worth all the work. It was so much fun to play with all the different color combinations of yarn and felt.

Lewis Ginter Lights

Pictures from Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Festival of Lights. So Much fun. Giant light up peacock, glowing veggie gardens, TWO rooms full of trains and lots of beautiful Christmas trees! Hope you have a wonderful holiday.

Tomato Cage Christmas Tree

I have been getting lots of festive holiday crafting inspiration from Pinterest. It is fun to add a little something new each year and I really wanted to have some lights outside. Light up decorations can be really expensive so when I saw this idea for light up trees using upside down tomato cages as the base I thought that is something I can actually pull off! So I grabbed a few cages from the back yard and picked up a string of led lights for each tree. I used wire based garlands to swirl around the cages. They were very quick and easy to set up. You can just use the branches like a twist tie to anchor it to the cage in a few spots. Then just string the lights through the garland and fluff out the branches. I also learned the hard way to weight them down with a brick. We had a crazy storm front come through the other day and actually ripped the lights right out of the socket.

Vintage Indigo

On my trip to NYC last month I had the chance to visit Sri Threads and pick out a few vintage indigo fabrics. It was an amazing opportunity to visit the gallery and rifle through so many gorgeous fabrics. Almost as good as a trip to Japan.

I'm Back!

After a very very long hiatus I have reopened the etsy store with huge markdowns. Each piece has been lowered by 10.00$. Get them while you can I will not be printing more. I have big plans to change things up in the coming year. Follow along on the blog to see what I am up to. I promise not to leave poor Orinui so neglected. Thanks so much for following the blog again. You are the best!

This is it! The last week to get that Riki Zarris Print that you have had your eye on. At the end of the month I will be cleaning out my Etsy shop. The images above are going to be printed giclee and sold to fancy stores with fancy prices. Don't forget to use the coupon code MOD15 to get 15% off in the Etsy Store!!

If you are local you still have the chance to purchace them in person. Come visit me at Spring Bada Bing on Sunday April 17th.

Oh Happy Day

Wow what an exciting day. My Alma Mater VCU just beat Kansas for a spot in the Final Four. Go Rams! I was so nervous watching the game I had to do some internet shopping. I can't believe it I actually found the orinui dress from Calypso that I have been talking about since last October! The last time I was on their site it was missing from the final sale section but somehow mysteriously it reappeared today. Maybe I need to go out and buy a lottery ticket?

Help Japan

This and That From Japan

Sea Breeze Studio

A worst thing couldn't happen to a better people. Japan has been in our thoughts and our hearts these last few weeks. There are many many ways to donate to the people of Japan.  I wanted to mention a few Etsy sellers in Japan who are donating some of their profits. I just ordered some presents for myself and friends from Sea Breeze Studio. I have been lusting over this store for more than a year so now is the perfect time to shop. No one has better patterned fabric than in Japan.

Grey Day

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Feeling grey today. But it's not all bad at least grey is my favorite color. 

Buttons

#5 button from Pink Kiss. Adding this to my Buttons Board on Pinterest.

Clearance Sale Extended

Did you miss out on the Clearance Sale? It was supposed to end today but circumstances have changed and I won't be taking prints out of the shop until the end of the month. So through March all you need to do is enter MOD15 into the coupon code section of the Etsy checkout and you can get your favorite Riki Zarris Print ON Sale! 

Indigo Dress

My new indigo print dress obsession from Plümo. I get my heart set on these dresses but never seem to make the commitment to actually buying them. I had almost talked m self into the Orinui Calypso dress but didn't get it in time before it sold out.

New Prints!

It has been so hard to get myself motivated to get some new paintings done. I am so close to finishing this set of Crochet Garland Prints. But as you can see things just seem to get in the way around here. Sometimes it's a furry creature sometimes a beautiful early spring day. I promise they will be up for sale in the Etsy shop by next week end. Promise.

Where have I been?

Where have I been? Under a rock? How did I not know about this amazing blog Pattern Observer? Most of it is patterns in fashion but other stuff too. Some really great eye candy like this Gaultier number.  

The Grass Is Always Greener

Why doesn't my desk look as alluring as this? Even though I basically have the same job this designer from Lilly Pulitzer via Lonny Mag I still envy her. The Lonny article pointed out that all the design work is done in house and how unusual that is these days. I wonder how she feels about designing for a company versus designing her own work? I am very very thankful to have a job in this economy but I still yearn to have control over my own work. I would love to hear your opinion. Would you rather create for a company or work for yourself?
So have you missed me? I have been in a little funk lately. Sorry i have not been posting much. I think I am going to be rethinking this whole blog thing. I was on a good schedule of posting 3 times a week but I think for now I am going to use the blog more for promoting the business. If you want to see what fun things I have discovered on the internet you can always check out my Pinterest boards. Just click on the handy buttons to your right.

Treating myself

Oh lookie what I got. A beautiful mixed media pomegranate painting from Found Studio. This one is mine mine mine but there is another pomegranate in her shop plus lots of other lovely paintings that I think you should buy for yourself for absolutely no good reason whatsoever. You deserve it.

Clearance Sale!

Have you noticed the new ad on Modish? Very exciting! And to celebrate I am offering 15% off with the coupon code MOD15 in the Etsy shop. It will be good through February.  Get em while you can. I am going to emptying out half the shop at the end of the month. I am licencing out a bunch of my images. So this is your chance to get them at rock bottom prices. Before you know it they will be in big fancy stores with big fancy price tags. This clean out means I need to get started on some great new artwork. Great way to start the new year with  lots of new prints! 

My Wish

Is 2011 the year I finally get a tattoo? I have had a print out of this one from Amanda Johnson posted on the wall at work as inspiration. I have wanted a shoulder tattoo similar to this since I was a teenager. The problem is I am such a procrastinator. I just need to sit down and start drawing it. Of course if I had the figure to pull it off I would kill for this corset tattoo. Gorgeous!

Inspiration

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It's a new year and now is the time to get some new artwork done. These patterns are definitely getting me excited to get back to painting.