Happy Site Friday: Creative Thursday

Hello! Have a seat! Tea? Hot cocoa? So glad you came by today cause I have a special friend with us today. Marisa is joining us for a little while, and I can't wait for you to meet her. If you haven't yet, then well, you are in for a treat. Plan on making a new friend today!

When I was first figuring out how to get my art into the world, I began doing research and came across this lovely lady's site. She is just full of passion, color, creativity and life and she loves to share it. Her studio? Creative Thursday came about when she was working 9-5 in an office and needed to set aside time to be her true artistic self, which just happened to be on Thursdays. She made a note to herself: Must do this more! She started a daily painting exercise, began blogging, posting on ETSY, and well, the rest is history. She has made quite the career for herself and has been able to quit her 'day job' and do what she truly loves. And just to give you a sense of her approach to things, she found her artist title in quite the circuitous way before finding her true life's calling. From acting to interior design to marketing...she has learned to not be scared to do what you TRULY love. And in her graceful, sharing way, she shares lessons and advice from her experiences for other artists and creative minds. Some artists are very closed about how they find success in their art. Marisa is completely different. She sees the need for artists to support each other. She has found her own journey, recognizes everyone else has their own journey, and is passionate about helping other's along the way. She is truly a generous and good person!

Marisa has put together a very wonderful site full yummy pictures, podcasts, blog posts, and even scheduled workshops, so I won't try and duplicate that here. But I will say, she has invited you over to visit and have a look around. She truly is fearless and so passionate and loving. Though I haven't met her yet, I plan on making a visit the next time I am in L.A. If you are an artist, have creative aspirations, Marisa's journey will inspire you. She does a little of everything:

From this:

To This:

To this:

To this:

A message from Marisa:

"When you visit this site I hope you feel inspired to be more creative in your own life, and to surround yourself with color as you can't help but feel happy and alive in its presence. Just remember there is no limit to what we can do when we live to be FREE, Happy and TRUE and be CREATIVE every day, especially THURSDAYS!"

She loves what she does and believes that 'starving artist' is a phrase of the past. You CAN make a living doing what you love. Thank you Marisa! We hope to stay a while!

For more yummy creative thursday, visit:

Her ETSY shop
OOpsy Daisy
Urban Outfitters
Her blog

architectural stationary for the sentimental heart.

One of those nights where I start drawing to just draw. (This is so important for me...I have some 'projects' I am working on and I have to keep tricking my hands that they aren't working). Started as Dollhouses. Morphed into Houses. Morphed into Pattern. Morphed into greeting card. Morphed into a 'goodbye' card for my next-door neighbor of 3 years moving on Saturday. The inside of the card says "Come over sometime."

Then I wished I lived in one of these houses.

Only bigger.

Well, maybe just people size.

I'd keep the pink roof. But then I'd paint it so my husband would want to live with me.

Wanna trade me?

Ok. In my next life I am going to be a seamstress. I especially wish I had this talent because my little Addie, is well, little. Her waist and bum is the size of an 18 month old, but she is tall, so she is a size 3 in length. Problem? Shorts just fall off her. Solution? Handmade skirts and summer dresses. I have made a few, and it is all she wears.

Here is my proposition: I need one more summer dress before our family takes a 2 week long trip to Hawaii in June. I KNOW that many of you are great seamstresses...I read your blogs!I am looking for a pillowcase dress in exchange for some prints. The only catch is I would need it in 2 weeks. I have had this beautiful Amy Butler fabric and am happy to mail it to you. So, if you are interested in a really fun trade, email me (my email is on my profile page). I feel kinda silly, but the truth is, Addie mostly sports around in her underwear unless she is wearing a skirt or slip on dress! Any takers??


Don't you love Amy Butler's new line? Me too.

Here is an example of what I didn't get around to making:

(photo from molly coddle)

Thanks yo guys! You are the best!

June.

It is interesting...these calender prints. Some of them come so fast, and some take me forever to figure out. June was a 'forever to figure out' print. Really, it was the color scheme that took me the longest. You may have noticed that every season has it's own color scheme, and June/July/August is my last theme to choose. But, I decided: Summer Whites (with splashes of watermelon and orange). But now that I have decided...I can't wait for July and August!

This little moment is inspired by Addie who helped me see that all the dandelions are nearly all 'white poofs' and must be blown away in the wind. She is flower lover (what little girl isn't?) and June is full of gorgeous blooms, but also these pesky weeds that children love.

This print is more still that I would have liked for a warmer month like June, but there is something about the stillness that is childlike. Children can run and climb and be ALL over the place, but they are also capable for caring about each one of those seeds that are disappearing in the wind. Amazing.

Happy June every one!

OH, and please notice to the left I have a running poll right now. I am wanting to make some FREE downloads available on my blog, and want to know what would be of most interest to you! I am constantly looking for free paper dolls and coloring pages for my kids, and decided to make my own and want to share! So, you can vote for more than one thing, but vote! I want to know what you would like.

xoxo
Sarah Jane

Happy Site Friday: Magnolia Square

Today I travel to Melbourne, Australia. Get your plane ticket ready and take a weekend shopping trip! I don't know about you, but I need a weekend with the girls, and this one is going to be great! Wanna come?



Ok, Ok. The travel time alone would take all weekend, so let's just click over to here. Magnolia Square is a shoppers paradise with over 150 unique artisan retailers all in one central location. I found their blog and was instantly wishing I lived on the other side of the world. 7 months ago (Pre-Sarah Jane ETSY shop) I really had no desire to visit the land down under. But since over half of my international customers are from Australia, I have made some wonderful friends....all who I am sure would love to go shopping with me this weekend in Melbourne. Australia is so supportive of all things handmade, and I may just be taking a trip soon!

(click on the image to see the website)

Back to Magnolia square. Aren't these images just tempting? Thankfully (for all of us who can't afford a 16 hour plane ride) Magnolia square has a blog where they feature their favorite finds...most of whom have websites! Horray for virtual shopping!





Enjoy! And if any of you manage to find cheap airfair, let me know!

A welcomed friend.

There is quite the combination of tasks and obligations that come with owning a business. My art is what I love to do, and what I love to sell. But I am starting to find that unless I keep things fresh and new, I will never find growth as an artist or as a business. There are projects I am working on, and art that I want to see in my shop. But when I get artists block I have to create for the sake of creating. Even if it doesn't go with my shop, or even if I have specific projects to work on. If I don't, I get stuck and can't think. It is all part of being a creative personality. So, you may be seeing more of these from my gut type illustrations that may or may not make their way into the shop. But they reflect what is on my mind now and in my vision now.

For instance, this little piece (brought to you by Thursday Naptime). I am having a little obsession with toadstools lately. And I just love red and pink together. But this little girl came from my Addie this month. She will find the most random thing and say, "Mommy, this matches me!" Like a diaper wipe and her white shirt. Or the brown leaf to her brown pants. She is also making friends with inanimate living things, like trees and grass. So, this is for her. But this time, the toadstools want to be friends with what they think matches them. It is a happy day for a toadstool when friends come a long. And today, I have made friends with my pen again.

He has a really cool party hat.

Experiments. Addie and Ian are still asleep. (Late night last night so thank goodness). It's raining. I love this quiet time to do what ever comes. I have projects up the whazoo. But it sure feels nice to just create from my head as it comes. Note to self: must do that more! Must have kids sleep in more. We'll see where this goes. Inspired from this line.

Send a card.

It's about time these cards hit the shelves! I just adore these chair cards. They can be used for just about anything....Father's day, birthday, just because, etc. etc. etc.

I am also selling the giraffe print card separately in honor of Father's day coming up. My own father instilled in me a love for cards and stationary. It has been said that he has a secret filing cabinet somewhere FILLED with just the right card for just the right person (but the location still remains unknown). My dad worked in his father's print shop when he was younger, and fell in love with all things paper. Maybe that is where I get it. My dad has given me two cards that I can remember that he had actually bought for me 4-5 years before, and saved it for just the right moment. That is my dad. Why do I mention this? I guess it is my quest to create some cards that make for just the right moment, at just the right time. Anyways...enjoy! they are up in the shop!

ETSY FIND: Peek-a-boo Prints

I am constantly amazed at the talent I find on ETSY. Mom's just like me and dreamers just like me trying their talent out in a thriving market. I want to start highlighting the yummy people and products that are out there.

To start, I bring to you Peek-a-boo-Prints by Jenny. She just happens to be my best friend in the whole world , but ever since those college roommate days, I have been so impressed with her artistic abilities (which span far and wide folks!) She 'gets' childhood and motherhood, and she has started to draw and sell her artwork! Horray!!! ETSY is the place for artists right now, and I am so glad that she is tapping in on all that ETSY has to offer. Jenny's work is sweet and honest, and comes straight from her own experience as a mom. Just lovely!

Here are some of my favorites:

Don't you love this 'sign' series?

I love this black and white sketch as well...so simple and fresh.
And how darling for a boy's room!

Jenny also has a true-to-life-hilarious blog. She has 3 wild and darling boys and with it lots of stories that will make you roll over. Check out her shop and her blog. You are in for a treat!

Favorites.

Just a few random favorites of mine that are inspiring a monday morning. Monday's need inspiration. Here are a few of mine.

New favorite toy company
moulin roty courtesy of A little Sussy.

New favorite online kids store
Coming Kids

New Favorite Children's book
Went to a children's writer/illustrator conference and was introduced to this:

New favorite fabric
Ginger blossom

Happy Site Friday: the prolific artist.

Today my very thoughts and interests were answered by a blog post. Crazy, isn't it? I was thinking deep thoughts about my role as an artist, and voila...I read this just yesterday morning. What is a prolific artist? What about my daily life and life views define who I want to be?

This article doesn't spell out HOW to be an amazing artist. But what it does do, is reveal 7 Common Characteristics of Prolific People.

I find this very interesting as I seek inside myself which parts of me need to work better to get what I want. It took me a while to say that I was an 'artist.' I didn't major in art, or study under a great mentor...art is just the way that I think and see the world. Now that I have a 'shop' it is easier to say. But do you need to sell your art to be an 'artist?' NO! There is real power in telling people, "I am an artist." Just as easy as that. This article outlines some great commonalities in prolific artists, and I think I will be putting this up on my bulletin board. Enjoy!

PS: Thanks for all your comments and sympathy on Wed's post about our strep-house. Unfortunately, strep has mutated into the croup, and I think today's article should have been: How to get a full night's sleep in an hour. Any one want to write that one?

Strep.

They are gone now to their little beds, but for the past 3 days we have made this of Mommy's sheets. Hot little bodies, achy muscles, soar throats and lots and lots of lots of snuggles. Babies with strep throat is never welcome, but I sure don't mind the extra loving. Even at 3 am. Even with pink medicine stains on my shirts. Even with a shop that is a little behind with shipping. Even when laundry is piling. I would rather have snuggles and hugs with my feverish babies than a perfect house any day. I can't always say that, but something about having sick little ones reminds me that my house isn't going to grow up and get too big for my lap someday. So dishes in the sink...quit your whining. These little divas come first.

Called to serve.

My baby brother (ok, ok...he is 19) has chosen to go on a mission for our church. He will be gone for 2 years serving and teaching. He just received his mission call in the mail yesterday (missionaries do not choose where they serve, they are assigned) and he will be in...dun dun dun...
Geneva, Switzerland speaking French!!! For the next two years, he will be serving the Swiss people, strengthening families, teaching the scriptures and serving in the communities there. He will also travel to Belgium, Luxenburg and Eastern France. We are so proud of you Christopher!

Best day.

Thanks for the finger painting
The clean kitchen
The folded laundry
The spring flowers
The cards
The kisses
The wonderful dinner
The new blender (no "Father of the bride" moments here:)
The scheduled hair appt (Yes...Kenneth called the salon all on his own)
The new apron
The snuggles and hugs
The first time hearing Ian say "hop-py Mama Day"
And for being my biggest fan club.

I love being a mom, but I love you guys more.
Degeega.

Our newest additions to the family.

Well I finished the shows...sold a bit, traveled a bit, didn't sleep a bit...but traded a bit! I love trades, and I think I may have just landed on my BEST trade ever.

Let me give you some back story:

Santa brought Addie and Ian Bla Bla dolls for Christmas. I LOVE these dolls, and didn't know how Addie and Ian would respond to them (no batteries, blinking lights or frills here!) and was SO pleased when on Christmas morning they became adopted as their new best friends. They named their dolls "Sheesha" and "Monkey Friend." Sheesha and Monkey Friend have been nearly adoptive children in our family ever since. Addie and Ian do everything with them. But, selfishness gets the best of all of us, and more often than not Addie and Ian would fight over who got to play with both of them at the same time. Addie insisted that Sheesha needed a dance partner and best friend. Ian doesn't take rejection well.

Well, my problem was solved last night when at the Beehive Bazaar I ran into Susan from Persimmon and Pink who makes these INCREDIBLE stuffed animals. I was so excited when she wanted to trade 2 prints for two dolls...and let me tell you. These are AMAZING!! The fabric is to die for and the quality...just great.

These two cats have now been with us for 12 hours, and now instead of 2 adopted children, we have 4. They came to church with us, had breakfast with us, laid out in the sun with us, read stories with us, and even came close to getting in the bath. Mostly the kids are just excited that Sheesha and Monkey Friend aren't friendless any more. We immediately asked what their names were, and they came up with "Happy" and "Flower". Let me just say it is the cutest thing in the world to see your two year old son prancing around the room with his Japanese fabric cat rhythmically chanting "Happy Happy Happy Happy!"

Welcome to the family! Left to Right: Flower and Sheesha, Monkey Friend and Happy.

And Susan, if you are reading this...Please oh Please open an ETSY shop soon. Her shop Persimmon and Pink is just getting started, but you can see more darling stuff here on her blog. But I hope other kids will be making new friends like these this summer!

Stay tuned for more Sheesha and Flower, Happy and Monkey Friend adventures...