A wannabe who may be...

It's a glorious Saturday, but let's be honest,it's going to be better than usual for the next 22 days. I'm on sabbatical (WHAT!?) for a short time and since the odds of it happening again match the lottery winning cadence, I'm going to revel....and be aware. 

I can't just be on sabbatical without a plan so I'm taking this course. Once and for all, I'm going to devote the next 22 days to making art. 

My selfie and for right now, logo of rebekaha designs

(And if I get nothing else out of this, I'll have at least learned something, right?)

So my "ahas" for the week:

-I hate the word "deserve". There is nothing in life we deserve. Everything is a choice. 

-In order to G.E.T., we must A.S.K. (I've been talking about sabbaticals for a few years, but never thought to ask for one. Duh...)

 

-Believe in yourself. Be scared. Just do.

-Sometimes, just finishing something, can set you free. I felt so much pressure to finish week 1's assignment that I declared myself done yesterday. I was so tired of trying to make it "good" and stay within the rules that I forgot to have fun.

-Sometimes experimenting can lead to a happy accident. 

-"Step" size in Photoshop= polka dots!

Week One's assignment was to design a bolt fabric using fruit and casserole dishes in a vintage-y kitchen theme. Meh. None of it was inspiring to me but I reminded myself that illustration clients don't care if you're inspired, they just want finished and fabulous. 

I started doodling....and had no idea what would come out of this. I had no idea how to design these doodles AND keep my style, my preference for clean graphic fabric, and the subject matter within the rules. 

(Note, none of the above doodles made the cut.) My assignment was done! Loved it; boldly graphic, was very much me, and had a message-SUCCESS! 

Until Friday, when I watched Lilla's video to our class. I heard 2 things in that 19 minute video; "your talent is not finite" AND "I don't want to see polka dots. Any in-house graphic team can create a polka dot. Use your icons, make it special." Yep, I'm a polka dot offender. BUT, I did finish and frankly, I love those damn dots. 

Since I was done, there wasn't any pressure to create something new. So, I sat down with my coffee this morning and messed around with my design. 

I started a new polka dot pattern and filled a layer with a pattern instead of filled a new layer (sorry, photoshop geek talking) and what happened was a bold graphic vintage-y pattern. I went with it and I'll be damned--love this one more. 

So, that's week 1, I had NO idea this was in me last week. Life is short. Lick the damn bowl.

Soul Sisters

This is a 2-part post on soul sisters; I have at least 4 of them, one hasn't a clue I exist but we'll get to that later. 

Anyone who really knows me, especially one of these 3, knows that all they have to do is whisper a doodle task and I'll drop the dusting, the laundry, and the need for nourishment. Hell, I'm nourishing my soul--who needs to eat?

The conversation happens something like this:

SS: "I know you're really busy but I kinda volunteered you to make our button this year. Hope you don't mind and you can say "No"."

Me: "Are you freakin' kidding? You know don't even have to ask."

The funny thing is sometimes these doodles end up resembling her & I. I don't try to do that and I never realize it until after the fact. 

Once again, here we are. (Immortalized on this small town swag.) 

Which gets me to the soul sister who has no idea who I am. 

It's "nesting season" here--cold, snowy, ish. For me, I hate it all except that it gives me an excuse to stay in and create. Sometimes, creating with someone else's art is better than my own. 

Her drawings inspire me, are much like my own, and are so damn cute. (Plus, not having to wait for an etsy purchase is right up my instant gratification alley.)

She hasn't a clue, but embroidering her design was just what I needed yesterday. 

Thank you, Soul Sister Lilipopo.

She calls it "Catching Wishes". I call it love.

You can get your very own instant pattern here..

Which got me thinking (surprise, surprise) that you might need a brain break.

So here's a B&W copy of the "Girls on Escape"--Print it out. Color It. Embroider it. Frame it. Whatever you want to do--just don't sell it. (Karma, remember?) 

Get it here.

Call your soul sister. Tell her Thank you. Make something.

Nesting

I've got a case of the "post-holiday, post winter vacation, mid-winter darkness, almost 40, need a change but haven't a clue" blues. Well, that's a mouthful.

Big thinker, not so great on the execution front. So instead of launching (ie doing something about it), I retreat. How's that for keyboard courage?

Retreat isn't always wrong but a healthier balance could be better.

During this retreating phase, I keep myself doing what makes me feel like me. What makes me stop thinking about the future and keeps me in the NOW.

(It's all about rewards. One could ask themself, "Why are you treating yourself with a reward of allowing  yourself to be yourself?"

Well, that, right there, is dysfunction at it's finest.) 

Anyways, this illustration probably says it all. 

Doodling & reading. A doodling bibliophile. Amen. 

You can buy this print @ my Society 6 shop--along with some other goodies. 

Go doodle something..I'm off to my happy place.

An Homage to the Woosa Work

I'm officially on Art Journal #8 but the truth is, I think I've been cutting out paper and saving it in one way, shape, or form for my whole life.

As 2013 ends, I was paging through these books filled with glue and paint and took photos of my favorite pages. 
You've seen some of these if you follow me on instagram. 
But...here's an "homage" to my woosa work for the year. 

A link to the video if you can't see anything; HERE.

**Credits** 

Flipagram App--it's free! And super easy to use.

Music by "Commes Des Enfants", Couer de Pirate

Wishing most days were "pumpkin patch" kinda days..

There's something about Fall that I love (that I've always loved, really).

The Fall where the sun is warm, but the air is cool.

 

And all seems right in the world some way.

 

October should be when we celebrate the new year, the leaves show us that they even need a change.

 

Here's to a perfect pumpkin patch day. Where the doodles are free, blue hair is more than just ok, the spiders can roam, and the perfect outfit only requires a pair of boots and some printed tights.

 

I went to London: Custom Cards

I judge a really cute outfit by how badly I want to doodle it. The doodability factor also applies to purses, haircuts, shoes, inanimate objects-whatever strikes the old inspiration chord. 

 A co-worker of mine just returned from London. She went to the Cath Kidston store while traveling abroad {be still my heart--I cannot imagine how pretty this place is!} and came back with this.

You can have one too-they ship to the US!

 

She modeled her bag for us, shared her tales, and my "inspired chord" was struck.

She was my doodle subject for the evening.

 

She's mentioned more than once that she'd like a copy of her doodle so I got to work.

 

I turned her doodle into a little gift.

 

A few little note cards packaged in a clever envelope made just for greeting cards--I'm sharing, don't you worry.

 

The "envelope" tutorial is right here. Thank you, Nicole!

 

And just in case you don't have any time to doodle, I've created a download for Meg's card that you can just print on cardstock and cut.

 

 

{Download Here}

 

{You may use for personal use only...Art karma. It's really a bitch.}

 

I hear Cath's website calling my name.

Deep breaths

 

Thought for today via the artjournal--when you don't have the time to roadtrip but your soul is screaming, "Get me outta here."

 

4 syllables for you today: Sab-bat-tic-al.

 

Whatcha' Been Doin'?

I was reminded today, since the high is only 68 degrees, that summer doesn't last forever around here. I've been trying to stay outside and enjoy the sun. Trying to remind myself that there is more than enough "studio time" when the air turns frigid and the skies dark.

 

But if something is in our nature, it's hard to go against it.

 

Taking this class , so after the bike rides, coffee on the patio, sunny activities, etc., (PLUS a 50 hour big girl work week) are done for the day, I paint patterns.

 

 

Sketchy Sunday

It's been a long few weeks over here so today was my day.

Spent a few hours filling up pages in my journal--thought I'd share.

Coloring is good for the soul...

Not all people find peace in art, but some of us do. This reminded me that I used to spend hours coloring away.

(Source)

And I still do. Every night (that's the goal anyway..) I try to doodle one page in the art journal. Most recent is this one....

Chic, Rhymes with Geek

The Doodles

A free Saturday is like winning the lottery over here. I choose to use mine with a sharpened pencil, some pinterest inspiration and a blank piece of paper.

I've been OBSESSED (yes, all capitals are necessary) doodling really cute outfits since I took a skillshare class. (We've talked about this class before-but seriously for $20 you get to learn from some of the best!! Go search or sign up--not kidding.)

I just have to say...

Attention Winter:

 

I've had it up to here with you.

Doodle by me. 4.9.13

Love,

ME