Photoshoots.

One of the 'projects' I have been filling my time with is getting more interesting product photography for my shop. Oh boy. I love taking pictures, but this is something I am not an expert in! I am hoping that I have had some happy accidents!

The color of my walls (we are renting) doesn't work with my art and products very well. So, my sister and I went shopping for yards of interesting fabric. We didn't have a lot of time, but what we came up with worked pretty well! I rented some big studio lights from a local photography shop to help enhance the natural morning light in my home, and we did the best we could! I would have liked to get a fancy camera in addition to it all, but we did the best we could!

I have used a 50 mm lens (the only lens I have that allows the most light!) and went at it. Oh, I wish i had all the time in the world to learn all the things I want to about photography! Hopefully these will do for now!

I hoping to get a website up and running by the time this baby comes, and so this is all in efforts to get one going soon.

And of course, this was all done in my family room, with my darlings running about. Most projects are done this way around here. And they of course wanted some camera time too. They are my best products really. The only thing is, they are not for sale! Sorry.

Make your own gallery: templates

Ok! Due to popular demand, you can now make your OWN art gallery. All you need to do is click on the links (don't click on the picture: too small), download the image and follow the instructions! Horray! Have so much fun...there are so many others you can make, but for those of you who prefer tracing, this should be a lot of fun!

Sparrow Template

Seal Template

Elephant Template

**EDIT: And yes, I am VERY aware that the bird template is a swallow, not a sparrow. This only goes to show the state of mind a mother can be in when she has her 2 toddlers crawling on her while doing art projects! I could go in and change this posted picture, but instead, let it stand as proof that I am mother and often make silly mistakes at the expense of just getting projects finished in time to please excited little ones!

My First Book!

I have kept a little secret for a bit here. I have been doing a lot of illustrating...but instead of for the shop, it has been for my first book! I just got word yesterday that it has been sent to the printers, so it is official!

Here it is!

Full of Life: Mom-to-Mom tips I wish someone had told me when I was pregnant

Written by Nancy O'Dell

illustrated by Sarah Jane Wright

Published by Simon & Schuster

On shelves April 09, 2009

I have goosebumps all over. I haven't been able to say anything for so long, and it feels so great to finally get this out in the open! Nancy Singer contacted me a while back about working on a pregnancy book, and by December it was official. Nancy O'Dell, the ever popular celebrity icon of Access Hollywood had her first baby over a year ago, and decided to write a book about pregnancy including all the bits no one seems to be writing about. Mom-to-Mom tips she calls it. She has done a great job!

I was committed to illustrating this book long before I knew the author. And then to find out that the author was a huge celebrity...and that I needed to make the illustrations look like her...I knew I was in for a fun adventure. The editors needed black and white chapter headings with a few icons along the way and I had a great time working together with them on the project. I will say, that illustrating a REAL person forced me out of my own personal style a bit (no generic vintage faces here!) But I am glad. I learned a lot a long the way!

I am sold on the author/illustration business. I love designing new products, but book illustration is so amazing...especially when working with a fantastic group of people...all passionate about what they do. I can't tell you how invigorating it was to get emails first thing in the morning from NYC with tips and corrections that would steer the ultimate vision for the layout. Soon I hope to get more into illustrating children's books, but until then, I feel really grateful to put my name on a fantastic publication. Thank you Simon and Schuster for giving me my first chance in the industry!

I feel a huge sense of relief that this is all over with. It was a fantastic experience to be illustrating this pregnant woman while I myself was feeling my own baby kick in side me. I had a huge connection to the material which was so magical! (although, depressing at times to think that there are people in the world that DO look that beautiful when 9 months pregnant!)

It sure wasn't easy, but it was a wonderful challenge! Note to self: DO NOT...and I repeat...DO NOT illustrate a book while throwing up and pregnant, packing up and moving your home, catching walking-pneumonia, taking care of sick children, moving into a new home or over the Christmas holiday. Oh boy. I think I will try and avoid that next time! In this case, miracles happened and now a life long dream of mine has come true....

I am a published illustrator!

(You can see the book online here.)

choosy.

OK. I realize my posts as of late are a bit on the family side of things. Life is mostly family around these parts. But amidst the unpacking and moving and getting over winter colds...oh and makin' a baby, there has been a bit o' art. And because we are family here too...I am taking opinions. Kinda like, "High-heels or flats with the dress?" Although, it's not shoes we're trying on. Maybe both don't work, but one has to be better than the other.

Thoughts?

EDIT:

(Added later)

Best of both worlds?

do share.

Interior decorating.

via ohdeedoh

via www.rebeccafromtheheart.blogspot.com

I have been getting some images from my customers of how they have framed and hung the prints they bought. It is so fun to get these! I wanted to share a couple...don't you love how these are displayed? So different from each other...but so unique. I love it. I would love it if any of you have any photos of my prints framed and up in a room, that you email them to me! It would be so fun to make a customer collection! Not only that, but I am a sucker for looking at how people decorate...I find it so inspiring! Thus my addiction to design blogs! (Oh...to get past the boxes so I can decorate my own space!)

Happy thursday folks! I am feeling the weekend love already:)

Three sets a charm.

OK, here they are! February shop update! New valentines designs and a new postcard to cheer up the coldest of us! I plan on shipping a bit more than usual to make sure everyone gets their valentines in time! Come on over this afternoon for the big shop update!

But first, head over to DESIGN MOM'S Valentine Giveaway. My cards are included in a FAB gift set that could be yours if you comment! But don't wait too long...valentines is ONLY 10 days away:)

Thanks for all the nice comments on the new designs! You guys are the best! Happy Valentines!

Sugar and spice.

Thrilled to be drawing again. Here is what I came up with for Addie and Ian's party invites. They are 12 months apart and a few days, and so this year we are sporting a combined party complete with lollipops and sweets of all kinds. I can't wait to see what we come up with...a Hansel and Gretel theme is coming to mind! Now to start the baking...

Romance, Romance.

The month of the romantics is coming soon, and I guess the most romantic issue of Romantic Homes couldn't wait...since the February issue is already out on the shelves. I was THRILLED to see that they included my "This Much" card as a valentine favorite! I have been so excited to wrap up these cards and send them to new places and to new customers. No worries though...I have plenty! This is the first time any of my products have been featured in a magazine, and I couldn't be more tickled! As much as I handle and see my work everyday, there is something about seeing it in a magazine that makes me tilt my head to the side and say, "Did I create that?" It is something like a double-take or deja-vous. Kinda surreal.

But thank you Romantic Homes for your generous feature! February is coming fast, and Valentine's Day is just around the corner. I have grand intentions of getting some more sweet valentines into the shop...let's hope this week fares better than last (our house has been quite the sick house!!). My hand is itching with new ideas....

Cheers!