watercolors and patterns

Lately, I've been inspired by the work of Alisa Burke.  She is an artist that utilizes watercolors, markers, fabric, pencils, pattern, and graffiti to create stunning works of art.  She is listed under my blog roll if you want to see any of her work.  With her inspiration in mind, I created this during the moments I needed to stop packing!  It's called "in the garden."

I think with some digital editing this watercolor could create a unique piece of fabric for quilting.  What do you think?

Watercolor carrying case

The dilemma!!  Haha!  I'm packing to move and will soon be taking a 7-10 day road trip across the US.  We will stop at many beautiful places so I wanted a way to carry some extra paints with me.

The inspiration -- my old watercolor carrying case (with not enough colors available)

I've been reading lots of tutorials all over the web about converting Altoid boxes into miniature paint carrying cases. If you want to read about other carrying cases, just google "Altoid box watercolor carrying case."

Some of the colors I would like to have with me, but I don't want to carry a palette and this whole box.  Space is a premium in our little car with four people and a dog!!

All done!!  6 more colors -- Yay!!  I just pushed Sculpey clay  into the bottom and made miniature indentations into the clay with back of a pen.  I baked it at 275 degrees for 15 minutes.  When the box was cool, I added my new colors.

As you may or may not know, we live on the outskirts of Philadelphia (well for the next 12 days we do).

During a recent trip to the Philadelphia Zoo, I spotted these doors.  I want to make these for my dream home someday -- check out the handles.  

A perfectly bonsai'd Moutain Laurel in Wissahickon Valley Park

A beautiful old home in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.

My backyard Eden is a website that allows people to post all their handmade projects.  If you want to check out all kinds of neat new DIY projects, click on the link below.

new and old

 A new quilt -- the perfect size for a picnic.  This quilt was an attempt to use up most of my fabric.  I am moving in two weeks, and would rather move the fabric as a quilt, than in boxes.  I didn't buy any fabric for this quilt.

The back of the quilt

A new sketchbook page -- playing around with watercolor washes, markers, gouache, and yarn.

An oil painting from when I was 18.

 Stained glass stars I made two years ago.

A painting for my friend's birthday.  I actually painted two, but the second picture was too dark.

I made my sister five owls for her birthday.  This is the picture she sent me of them hanging in her room.

design seeds: leafy hues

Design seeds is an amazing blog for choosing color schemes. Check it out if your looking for some inspiration!

design seeds: leafy hues:

new sketchbook pages

the lighting for these pictures wasn't too great -- another cloudy day!

Is there a theme here?

 A new friend I  made at the thrift store.  He was marked down to 50 cents because he has a little chip on his ear.  It was a very sad story.

 My most favorite pencil holder.  Another 50 cent find

 My sister wanted owls for her birthday -- unfortunately, he didn't have his beak when this picture was taken. I guess he's speechless

I don't have anything to say about this

I was watching the show Portlandia last week.  They did this one skit called "put a bird on it."  Basically, everything the two actors came across they stuck a little paper cut out of birds on. It was really funny and so true for the modern crafters -- believe me as you can tell from above, I am completely guilty of this.  Maybe I need to 'put a fish on it', or a hedgehog or a cucumber or something.  

Some new elephants -- the elephants across the bottom row are starting to move towards a henna theme.  I think that they work much better.

Elephants, elephants everywhere I look