Leo season is in full bloom!

 

 

 

Sending out a ROAR, to all my fellow Leo's!

We might be a bit much but... that's part of our charm. 🌞 🌞 🌞

Chugging away...

 

One puff at a time!  My schedule for the next 6 months is BUSY which is such peace of mind & really exciting.  In the same breath it's also overwhelming.  My motto as I climb up this hill/ mountain is to focus & enjoy each day knowing that sooner or later I'll round over this steep climb with new a bunch of new books I'm proud of!  

This is a wall art piece I made for Oopsy Daisy Fine Art for Kids years ago but, perfectly fits my current mind set. (and maybe yours too)

National Ice Cream Day

 

It’s National Ice Cream Day!

A few fun facts:

-June is the month the most ice cream is produced.

 

-Chocolate syrup is the world’s most popular ice cream topping.

 

“Brain Freeze” can occur when ice cream touches the roof of your mouth or back of your throat, dramatically changing the temperature. (OUCH!)

Here’s a matching game I designed for Gibby & Libby that fits today's theme.

Order Up!

 

Last year I worked with Little Sleepies.  (a cool company that makes eco-friendly bamboo pajamas)

My food truck fun print is now available in an array of styles & sizes.  Might even inspire a bedtime snack or at the least help plan out your lunch tomorrow!

Setting the bar

 

And if you reach the sky... shoot for the stars!  

(wall art available at Oopsy Daisy Fine Art for Kids)

Sketchbook hodge podge

 

I have a sketchbook practice that I've kept for many years now.  I tried a quick mesh up of two pages & added a few things to round it out.  I'm not sure it was a success but it was a fun, quick exercise.  Bon Appetit might not have been the right sentiment?  My son thought it seemed like I was suggesting to eat the animals! (not what I had in mind)  On a happier note, I thought this would make a fun kitchen towel.

True to YOU

 

This is a new wall art print available at Oopsy Daisy Fine Art for Kids.  I wanted to make something for girls with a gentle nudge to save space for themselves.  I've noticed in my life & being a mom myself that we often ask girls to be concerned with how everyone else around them feels without the same concern or permission to check in on how they feel.  Girls don't fit into a box. (no one does)  Creating a space or at least an awareness that:

-feminine isn't necessary

-your body is perfect just the way it is

-girls also take risk and are bold, brave & LOUD

-you can be good & kind even when you say no

-bossy is just fine -you know what you want (and that's a good life skill)

-your needs are important & there's nothing wrong with meeting them- however they look 

Happy 4th of JULY

 

I always liked the 4th of July.  Feels like a celebration of all the best thing summer has to offer.  Swimming, grilling, fresh produce, picnics & outdoor fun!  Not a huge fan of the fireworks but, I guess we all have our thing. 

I am relieved that it's safer to be around family & friends this year.  I keep telling my son he's living through a historic time.  On so many different fronts!

P.S. I think pink should be introduced into the flag! 

Here's another piece I made with pen - it also has a patriotic vibe.

Stars, wavy stripes & a bird. (not quite an eagle & there's that pink again)

* * * * * * * * *

Warm skies, long days

 

 

Yesterday was the summer solstice- the longest sunlit day of the year.  I used the extra sunshine to create a playful spread in my sketchbook.  I'm calling this one Entrance To Summer.... who knows what you will find! (summer is my favorite season)

 

Father's Day

 

Hooray for positive male role models!  Maybe it's not a dad, but an uncle, older brother, coach or teacher.  There's real power from learning how to be soft and strong.  Hope you have someone in your life that can share this with you. (and someday you'll pass that along)

Loss

 I recently lost my dear friend Gina.  And I should say WE because she meant so much to so many different people. (it's never a singular loss)  She had a long battle with cancer.  She was brave, vulnerable & slowly had to deal with compromising one bit of her independence after another until there was little left.

I felt lost, wanted to give her space to navigate her new unchosen world but, also wanted her to know I was still there.  So many transitions were packed into the last couple uncomfortable years.  I'm relieved that she no longer has to keep accepting & being so damn strong. (no one required that it was just how she decided to handle this)  

Working on my own for almost 20 years now you lose the connection of coworkers. (the good and the bad) You become your own little independent island & find ways to process things you use to do in a group.

I made this tribute for her the day she died.  My eyes filled with tears as I frantically drew.  (art helps me process my feelings although some things can only be felt & never really understood)

This is a poem by Shel Silverstein I heard as child & felt the raw truth in.

The response (although I really didn't expect one) was lovely & universal- something I tend to forget. (no one likes to think about death)

We all go through this painful loss of sooner or later having a person we love severed from our everyday reality.  We are human & this is part of our experience.  I'm grateful for the kind words & some people even offered links to podcasts or places that had helped them find some peace with grief.

This was so beautiful & appreciated & necessary.  When we hurt our light dims, when others see us hurting they offer a light back to help guide us to a brighter spot.  There is something to be learnt in everything- even death.

 

 

 

Gina was a graphic designer & had a whimsical/ wonderful style.  She loved all things vintage, liked to embroider in her spare time & played the accordion.  You can see the blog she kept for many years:

 http://doecdoe.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

Signs of SUMMER

 

 

This first sign of summer is real fun & you can hear it coming down the street.  Nothing beats seeing an ice cream truck on your block!

 

Equally as sweet but with a whole lot less sugar– fresh strawberries.

YUMMM!

Last but not least, a parade of pretty blooms around every corner.  Summer makes me happy!

Especially June when the heat hasn't wilted me yet & everything feels alive again.

OCEANS

 

 

It's World Oceans Day! About 71% of Earth is covered in oceans and it is home to some of the tiniest sea animals (zooplankton) to the largest sea mammal, the blue whale. Much of the ocean has not been explored so... there's still so much to discover! (art from HELLO, WORLD! Ocean Life board book/ Doubleday Books)  What is your favorite thing about the ocean?  Mine is how it can change color from deep dark blues to crystal clear aqua with shades of blue & green in-between. (it reminds me of a mood ring)

Garden

 

 

 

We decided to try and grow a small garden this summer.

My husband and son built a rectangular box in early spring- to contain it some.

We fenced it off because our neighborhood is bunny central.

A family trip to the plant nursery provided a chance to select our favorite vegetables, fruit and some herbs.

 

I'm excited to document the process this summer.

We're not avid gardeners but, we're willing to try!

 

 

 

Looking forward to seeing the different shapes, colors & flavors that appear!

 

 

DOGS!

 

I love the playful nature of dogs.  I think it brings out the best in us. Which one would you like to go on a walk with? 

Here's a few more just in case you couldn't make up your mind. (which can be hard... they're all fun)

Up ahead...

 

warmer skies.  I got married 16 years ago today.  Memorial Day weekend feels like the start of summer  (which I look forward to each year) & holds a special place in my heart.

Gomie- that's what I call him also holds a big piece of my heart.

I feel lucky to have this good human by my side.  Together we're a stronger.

SUNDAY

🌞  🌞  🌞 

Fully Vaccinated!

 

Thank goodness for smart scientist– so very grateful!  Looks are nice but, intelligence is where it's at. (that doesn't fade)  Guess it's time for this introvert to head back out into the wild.  My first stop will be the plant nursery- I skipped the whole deal last spring & have been looking forward to filling my car with an array of colorful things I'll probably end up killing over the course of the summer. (pretty sure I over water)

What's the buzz?

 

Brood X cicadas are making a buzz again! Millions of them come up from below ground every 17 years. (and it's that time again) They crawl out, head to the tree tops & buzz loudly. (that’s their mating call) The female legs eggs and as the eggs hatch the adult males and females die. The young insects (called nymphs) fall to the ground and dig down to reemerge as an adult to start the cycle all over again in 17 years. It's all very dramatic!

Bonus: They are well mannered & don’t sting or bite. (always a plus)

SHELL-O

 

Sharing some tiny treasure found on the beach. 

Flourish

 

I love this time of year... Feels like everything is in BLOOM!

Midweek–

 

 

 

 Green tea!  Forever a fan of bright, bold color.

(and an afternoon cup of tea)

Doing my....

 

happy dance– it's international dance day!

Go ahead & shake your worries away.

Daydream Safari

 

 

 

Longing for a little adventure?  Me too!  This is a new wall art piece I have available at Oopsy Daisy.

EARTH DAY

 

 

 

 Happy 51st Earth Day!

We get to call this beautiful planet home.  Let's treat it with kindness & care for the people & creatures that live here today & the ones who will tomorrow.

Being Earthlings is one thing we ALL have in common.

We're lucky to have so much beauty & diversity packed into one planet.

Here's just a couple of my favorite habitats.

 

 

 

 

Images from my HELLO, WORLD!  PLANET EARTH book.

 

Another way

 

 

 

to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  I think sign language is beautiful to watch.  Because I'm such a visual learner I think I'd catch on to it much quicker than a spoken language.

Just for you...

 

 

In case you need this today!

Check in...

 

 

A quick HELLO from RAINBOWVILLE! 

Hope you're doing well.

Bunny Love

 Realizing I really like to paint, cut, or craft bunnies!