{hand painted cards}

happy monday lovelies! i just wanted to say, “hello”- that’s all! did you have a good weekend?  we’ve been out of town for the last few days, so it feels really good to get back home and in my ‘usual’ spot.  this week i have my work cut out for me.  actually, it’s not ‘cut’ out yet (i still have to do that part), but i’m making a bunch (and i mean a bunch) of new aprons in preparation for the indie craft parade in september!  i don’t do many craft shows, so making all this inventory is new to me, but i’m trying to get a head start!

mary kate mcdevitt’s work shows some of the most pretty hand lettering and illustration i’ve come across.  her feel good sayings make her shop a happy place to visit and turns mundane tasks like writing to-do’s and thank you cards into a time to look forward to.  with a wide array of mini goal chalkboards you’ll feel inspired to start checking off tasks in no time!

mary kate mcdevitt elsewhere :: {shop} {blog} {flickr}

wrap up: {art} {cards} {chalkboards} {clocks} {hand} {illustration} {lettering} {mary kate mcdevitt} {typography}

today i am so very excited to share with you my all time favorite artist, katie daisy.  did i just say that?  yes. she’s my favorite- ever.  talk about being filled with joy, this watercolor illustration makes me a happier person just by looking at it, doesn’t it you?

with feel good sayings, cheerful colors and meaningful quotes, katie’s work goes straight to the heart.  her obvious inspirations of gardening, taking care of the earth and living a simpler life speak straight to me.  from vegetables to yoga and hiking to stargazing, she has artwork to fit just about each of my passions and i’ve never found an artist whose work has more personal meaning to it than the wheatfield’s.  you can browse more of her illustrations, typography and pattern work on her website, where she’ll inspire you to live each day a little deeper.

i’ve been debating (literally) for months over which piece i want to share in my home.  what are your favorites?

katie daisy :: {etsy} {website} {flickr}

wrap up: {art} {earth} {garden} {handmade} {illustration} {katie daisy} {the wheatfield} {typography} {watercolor}

hillary bird is one of the most darling shops i’ve come across in a long time!  her illustrations show her passions for nature and the arts, and her new moth prints are so pretty and unique.  she mixes color and pattern in a way that is so unexpected and fun, i can’t visit her shop without a smile breaking across my face.

wrap up: {art} {craft} {decor} {illustration} {nature} {whimsical}

hello from the beach everyone!  we finally made it and are settled in for the week!  i’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, you can see my first glance of the ocean here!  it feels so nice to have nothing else to do other than write and relax- ahhhhh.

oving on, have you heard of jessica hishche’s daily drop cap project? the daily drop cap is an ongoing project where jessica posts a new hand-crafted decorative letter every day!  you can use the beautiful typography she provides for your personal enjoyment and beautification of your blog (not for branding or logos, read usage limitations here).  going far beyond type, jessica also illustrates and writes a wonderful blog, both of which will surely inspire you!

wrap up: {blog} {drop cap} {illustration} {letters} {typography}

since my recent travels to boston, i thought it only fitting to share with you one of my favorite artists who lives there, jhill design!

i’ve been rather captivated by her amazing design work, and wanted to make sure i gave you the chance to do the same!  jennifer hill’s latest collection is called ‘places i have never been’ where she draws the places she dreams of going.  each pattern is influenced by the natural settings of the place and she includes information such as the city, language and how many miles it would take her to get there.  i’ve been waiting for her to illustrate north carolina (i guess she’s been here!) but lucky for me, she hopes to expand the series by eventually including pieces that chronicle places that she’s already visited as well.

her blog is full of inspiration as well, and i especially love her latest post where she features this picture of boston’s public transportation system by netta kies.  the trains, buses, subways and shuttle are all too fresh in my mind!

wrap up: {boston} {draw} {illustration} {travel}

polar opposites

i found hisss illustrator a few weeks ago, and have kept in my browser ever since.  i love the subtle colors, softness and depth of each of them.  from the raccoon costume to the mirrorcats to the chip off the ‘ol block, the visual commentary keeps be so intrigued!

elsewhere :: {shop} {flickr}

wrap up: {animals} {hisss} {illustration} {illustrator} {nature} {prints} {woodsy}

clockwise :: tree notebook :: take us home tote :: bicycle girl ::  correspondence card set :: undo button

this shop makes me happy!  i can’t help but smile as i browse through her creations and get her clever innuendos.  furthermore- it represents more inspiration for 2010!  one of my goals is to start keeping a journal for thoughts and ideas that i get but can never remember later.  and, who doesn’t have a bundle of reusable bags in their kitchen or car? another goal is to remember them- always.  finally, working on saving a tree- whether it’s by riding my bike or foregoing the paper- is always something i try to keep fresh in my mind.  if you need a smile, head over to bang bang you’re thread and browse around!

elsewhere :: {etsy shop} {blog} {site} {illustration site} {comic site}

wrap up: {2010} {cards} {comics} {illustration} {reusable bags} {smile}

vegetable and fruit print noteblocks

clockwise :: sweet brown hen :: volcan arenal :: carrots letterpress card set :: wild mustard flower greeting cards ::

rigel stuhmiller is a bay area artist working in printmaking, illustration, design, and storyboarding.  there’s just something about simple vegetables that gets me excited- not sure if it’s because i love to eat them, or because i love to plant them- but either way rigel’s prints are right up my alley!

elsewhere :: {etsy} {site}

wrap up: {cards} {chicken} {farm girl} {illustration} {printmaking} {vegetables}