holiday sale and new stuff

There's a few new things over at MBS that I'm really excited about. I've worked with Dylan Goodman, (my son!) to create some Christmas DIY Craft Kits!

The idea for these kits came to life while reminiscing about all the Christmas ornaments my kids and I made when they were young. Felt, glitter, popcorn, cranberries and lots of laughter where just a few of our ingredients. These are cherished memories and it inspired me to make something that could be a starting point for others to create their own memories during the holidays.

One kit makes Christmas tree ornaments and the other makes paper chains. Each has hand painted watercolor designs (painted by me) and diagrams and step by step instructions (created and designed by Dylan). There's even a recipe for our favorite hot chocolate to get you started!

Each kit has beautifully designed packaging, making them great for an inexpensive gift. So much thought and effort went into these little kits and I'm so happy with how they came out!

Even cooler is that the kits are available as an instant download too! I thought they might be an awesome, last minute diversion for little ones, anxiously awaiting Santa! I have another Christmas clip art download, shown in the above photo, that can be made into a banner or gift tags or anything you can imagine. I plan to keep adding to this new section in my shop. I'll keep you updated!

Even cooler than all that is the sale going on right now at MBS. Use code JOLLY10 now through Monday, Nov. 28th, for 10% off. While you're there, you can also sign up for my email list for special sales and freebies, if you like.

I hope, to those who celebrated, that you had a Thanksgiving filled with family and friends, love, laughter and plenty of leftovers! Going to heat mine up right now!

xo

work

I found these sweet paper dolls and clothes at an auction and just had to have them. Nostalgia of course. I can remember playing with my own paper dolls as a kid. They seem like such a thing of the past now. I can't imagine, with all the things available to kids, that they would hold much allure anymore.

But they have inspired some new work.

each one has embroidered stitches!

I wanted to keep the silhouette from each of the originals that I'm working with, leaving out the details - making it more about the shape and patterns. I'm also playing with background colors, wanting lots of contrast. The orange canvas in the middle has at least 5 layers underneath and I'm not happy with it yet, so there will be even more. Nothing has been attached yet and I'm thinking of adding some stitches of my own.

As I cut out my paper doll clothes I think about the little girl who cut out her doll clothes. Thinking about her little hands adding those careful stitches and feeling her excitement. I'm so enjoying this work.

My dear friend gave me bunches of mock orange. Enough to have our very own small bush. Inside. The scent - amazing! Up there with lilacs and lily of the valley.

xx,
Lisa

new work

spent part of the day taking photos of some prints for my etsy shop and thought i'd share a behind the scenes photo.

really, i just want to show you the chair i found while thrifting yesterday. it's all chippy and cracked paint, great texture. it's just what i'm trying to reproduce in my mixed media paintings without having to wait for time and use to work its magic.

a while back, i made a locket like these for my daughter with some dried flowers and bits and pieces i've saved over the years. things that are meaningful to her.

i had a lot of fun with it so i decided to make some for my shop. these have vintage maps and little starry watercolor paintings in them.

i've had this heart shaped pincushion made with an old quilt for a long time. it gave me an idea for a photograph - something raw and a bit gritty looking. painful.

there are prints and other assorted goodies at redbubble and society6 if you'd like to take a peek.

here

and finally, we have bunches of mint muscling in on the lilacs and delphiniums. to do our part and save the flower bed from a complete takeover we are having to drink mojitos...

it's a wonderful life.



xo

happy summer

just a little bit of what i've been up to since i last checked in :)

it's strawberry season here! the daffodils have passed, we're spending time under the pergola in the moonlight and little twinkly lights, working, ripping up rugs and uncovering beautiful wood floors in our living room, more work and then there's ginger the wonder dog always making us smile.

oh, and now you can find me over on instagram @ messybedstudio if you want to follow along. and i've got some more art prints and photographs over at society6

tomorrow is the first day of summer. i hope you have a wonderful, sunshine filled one.

xo

love notes for valentine's day

you're my shelter from the storm

under your skin feels like home

each love note painting comes gift wrapped in hand painted paper with a hand stamped tag

a moleskine, with a favorite lino cut print, for writing your love notes

did i find you or you find me?

i love making these little intimate paintings. the process of layering and texturing is very meditative. then comes the tricky part, for the black ones. while the paint is still wet, i scratch the words into the canvas in, to my eye,  a very imperfectly perfect way. it feels like a secret message to the one you love.

i was asked to make a custom one for a couple who just got engaged. i was so honored and thrilled to be asked. i'm so excited for them!

there's a few more in the shop.


xo

last minute sale

i have a few prints over at society 6 and i just realized everything's on sale plus free shipping over there so i thought i'd let you know

this one is a print taken from this year's fortune cookie wisdom calendar

and everyone needs a pink cactus, right?


the sale ends midnight tonight!



xo

update

 just thought i'd give you all an update on my crochet project.

well, at least i've chosen the yarn and the pattern. that's gotta count for something, right?

anyone else working or thinking about working on a knitting or crochet project?



also just listed this personalized family recipe book in the shop.

with rose gold metallic polka dots!

chinese takeout

hope gangloff

oh the sacrifices i make just to illustrate a calendar.

some sacrifice. roast pork lo mein, steamed dumplings, lemon chicken, fortune cookies...


yes, it's almost here! the 4th annual humble hand drawn fortune cookie calendar is in the works and heading to the shop!

lauren pretorius

michael naples

this week

love a small town memorial day parade!

some moleskines ready to mail out for graduation day

the view from my studio

pennyroyal planted in thrifted bowls. i've heard that this herb helps keep bugs away. we shall see.  certainly doesn't keep the birds away as you can see! the table has since been cleaned and painted :)

morning thoughts with milky tea.

ginger's morning thoughts

making thank you tags for orders

hope you're having an amazing week! my youngest comes home from college today so i will have both my boys home for the summer - i'm one happy mama!

work

working on some notebooks

best ideas ever

best dad ever

the lilacs are blooming, the bittersweet will run riot if i let it and the bridal veil spirea bush needs planting. so happy spring is here!

weeds

even though the temperatures are still pretty cool for spring and we had a threat of a frost last night, the grass already needs to be cut. but this is what is growing in between all those blades of grass - these lovely violets.

i think some people might consider them weeds, after all they are growing just like dandelions. makes me wonder what makes a weed a weed?

oh the grass can wait a little...

some new work

love notes - mixed media painting

glorious creatures - found text collage on paper