11.30.2010

great holiday color schemes & gift wrapping ideas

I love these unique "fun and festive holiday color schemes" from Better Homes and Garden. Maybe you're in the mood for a little Peacock Blue + Kelly Green + Silver or perhaps you prefer the refreshing combination of Cranberry + Teal or maybe your holiday choice is Light Blue + Chocolate or the shimmering combination of Gold + Silver + White....
check out all 17 color schemes at BHG

I also stumbled upon some excellent ideas for unique gift tags and gift wrapping!
pattern tin via My Home Ideas
bowtie pasta bows and coaster tags via Real Simple
above are a handful of my favorite's via Martha Stewart

Yay - I won!

I'm proud to say I am the winner of Luke & Loolu's latest contest. My suggestion "Dani" was chosen as the official name for their newest pattern line featuring bold flowers. Luke & Loolu specializes in "bold accessories for creative kids" and uses "non-toxic fabric, free of harmful chemicals" to make aprons, lunch bags, splat mats and more. They have tons of great items and unique patterns to choose from. Take a peak at their facebook page or their online store. These items will make great holiday gifts!

Dani Messenger Bag
Dani Apron
Dani Lunch Bag
Dani Table Mat

11.16.2010

owls are stalking me...

Ok, since my post on the 3rd (because I'm a fan of owls), I seriously think I'm being stalked by them. I'm not complaining... I love them, but now I see owls everywhere! Here are some fun ones I want to  share, and whenever I have free time (which b/w work & grad school is nonexistant at the moment), I might need to create some of my own little owl treasures. If you have any of your own owl-inspired art, please share! :o)

SO CUTE! Owl sock-mobile from etsy
learn how to make them at Moonstiches
too funny ~ Dawn Stiles said something very similar about owls being EVERYWHERE (but she wrote it in '08)

vintage inspired Wool Mr. Owl Ball by AsherJasper
this cute little guy is hanging in my little nephew Dylan's nursery
lil hoot! i love it! from etsy
via Sugar Frosted Goodness



11.15.2010

abstract tattoos?

Don't get me wrong, I think these are an awesome idea & beautifully done, but as much as I love abstract art and love tattoos, I certainly don't think I'd have the guts for such a permanent mark. Would you?
Amanda Wachob Abstract & Modern Tattoos

top viewed last week...

... thanks everyone. This one was my top viewed on Fine Art America last week ...
Framed prints, stretched canvas prints, and greeting cards are available now!
If you like a original, I'd be more than happy to do custom variations. Perhaps, just your sign?
Photography Prints

 Or, consider a piece from my "Font Art" collection. These were designed solely with fonts. 
Yes, every line, every doodle is from a font ~ pretty neat, huh?

11.12.2010

sketchbook project sign-up date extended

The new sign-up deadline is: NOV. 15th! If you haven't yet, you should sign up and join the fun.
I'll be adding snapshots of our sketchbook progress soon (our theme: this is not a sketchbook)


The Sketchbook Project: 2011

11.11.2010

oh facebook

So... I broke down and finally added a facebook page for my artwork.  Just seemed silly at first since I now have this blog and already have an artist page for sales.... but, now they're all connected! You can purchase prints, cards, framed or stretched canvas pieces direct on my facebook page now too!
And, I'm always up for new projects! With the holidays around the corner, why now consider custom artwork?

Oh, and here's an old favorite....  It's 5 feet x 5 feet, and was commissioned in 2008.  I'm kinda sad the the original was sold, but can't wait to have TIME to paint another one (for myself)!

Sell Art Online

by popular request ... CHILI

Momma's chili recipe (thanks pretty lady)! Enjoyed it tonight with some great friends, and I do believe it was a success.  ENJOY.

Recipe for 4 Servings:

1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green peppers
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 (15 oz) can of kidney beans (I use Bush's chili beans - they add flavor)
1 (14 oz) can of crushed tomatoes (you can use flavor ones too)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
salt / pepper to taste
tabasco sauce (if you want)
elbow noodles (if you want)*
cheese / sour cream (if you want)

1.  *Cook elbow noodles and drain.
2.  In a 2 quart pan, brown ground beef.  Add onion, green peppers, and garlic. Cook until the onion is soft.
3.  Stir in beans, crushed tomatoes, chili powder, and vinegar. Salt and pepper to taste (add tabasco if you want).
4.  Heat to boiling, and then reduce heat. Cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.

*Our delicious "family way" is to dish the elbow noodles first, put chili on top, then finish off with some cheese (and sour cream if you so choose)mmmmmmm.
HA ~ no this photo is not my own. I was too busy enjoying the night to photograph my chili.
But, this one is courtesy of myrecipes, where you can find 11 other chili recipes (all under 300 calories).

11.09.2010

yummy banana bread

1/2 cup softened butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 or 3 very ripe bananas
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup nuts (walnuts, almonds, etc)
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 cup raisins (I mixed raisins & craisins)
1/3 cup oatmeal, uncooked (you can use original or flavored, I used banana bread oatmeal!)

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease and flour bread pan.  In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar free of lumps (electric mixer or by hand - mix well!).  Add remaining ingredients (reserve 1 tablespoon of oatmeal and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar).  Blend until batter is smooth.  Mix in raisins and nuts. Spoon into bread pan.  Sprinkle reserved brown sugar and oatmeal on top.  Bake for 45-50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool at least 15 minutes before removing from the pan. 

TA-DA!
OH, SO GOOD!
Recipe passed down from my wonderful Momma! Thank you!

11.08.2010

new photography...

Have I mentioned that I love fall! Lots of new photos have been added. Enjoy!

Art Prints Art Prints
Sell Art Online Sell Art Online

Sara Norris Photography...

Today, I stumbled upon refreshing photos by Sara Norris on etsy. Her work is absolutely beautiful! After vising her blog, I discovered that she has also attempted the 365 Days of Photo Challenge (which I have committed to begin Jan. 1 ~ how cool!). I will certainly be adding her to my list of favorites!
all images by Sara Norris

top viewed last week...

...my 'Top Viewed' last week was....

Photography Prints

11.07.2010

Sketchbook Project

The Sketchbook Project: 2011

This is a little creative journey that my wonderful boyfriend Fiance, Andrew, and I embarked on together -- The Sketchbook Project
Our chosen sketchbook theme was: 
THIS IS NOT A SKETCHBOOK

Start Date: November 7, 2010
Deadline:  January 15, 2011 

Here are a few little preview pages for your viewing enjoyment.
- Andrew (Left) and Danielle (Right) -
The best part is... once we agreed to draw an Octopus for this coloring book page,
he drew his first, covered it up, and then I drew mine.  TA-DA!











We each started with a super-long piece of paper (32") ... Andrew picked a word, and then we both quickly wrote everything that came to mind until we reached the end of the paper. It was neat to see how different our approaches were. He wrote single words, while mine was more of flowing sentences.

 



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Hope you enjoyed browsing as much as we enjoyed creating! 
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