In 2011...

... I resolve to do the following... (I am not a big fan of the word resolution. Goal also sounds dorky. How about I plan to focus on the following...)



ORGANIZATION!

This kind of shelving is what I need. Via Etsy Open Studios.

Goodness I am by no means a slob and all my things look tidy-ish but I just have so much that I don't know I have. Moving 6 times in 3 years also hasn't improved matters. I have boxes full with things I've forgotten, tons of clothes that most likely don't fit since I lost tons of weight since moving from America, and art supplies in all forms scattered about. I can't wait to move my life from cardboard boxes into a new apartment onto gorgeous shelves and into closets where they can stay for a while instead of just a few months. (Can we please just skip January so it can be February already!!!!)

I need not only organize my stuff but my business as well. I need a better system than my pink post-it system for my Etsy orders, and I should probably start doing inventory of my supplies. Exciting!

(via Gunseli Sepici)

Seriously the cutest thing ever. Can't wait to make more plans so I can write them in the sweetest Agenda ever!

For emmakisstina I got BIG PLANS! (I may even have a few up my sleeves that I am just dying to share...hint hint)

More works! More details! Interiors, new compositions, new colors, new formats, originals, paintings, and lots of pet portraits and custom projects!

I also would like to do Daily Drawings which I could show off here. Wouldn't that be nice? I need to draw more more more.

LOVE...

SimplyBloom styled shoot, originally uploaded by vania_b (www.simplybloomphotography.com).

Is Sweet...

Productivity...Not...

So I was going to get a head start today. I was going to be super productive instead of having a mini holiday vacation like I allowed myself. (I have noted that my Etsy store won't be in motion till after New Year...) but today I decided to take the train out to my studio to fix after Christmas orders which have been trickling in. But but but... I can't print out any of them since I have only two sheets of gorgeous photo paper left! What on earth! Why did I not write a note to self about the low paper situation! My time traveling an hour to the studio is not completely wasted. Instead of just turning around and returning home grumpy that I have lacking organizational skills... I'm Gonna Paint!!!

What you ask? OH I have been craving picking up a paintbrush and just mucking around. Feels so good and free compared to my strict, simple illustrations. So I have classic Rock 'n' Roll blasting from the stereo and am down on hand and knees (in my new sweater dress...whatever I'm an artist, haha) dripping, mixing, and mucking about in whites, pinks, blues, and yellows. Sound nice?

I looked at a few classic painters for inspiration before I got really started. I adore De Kooning, don't you?

So this is the look I'm going for, but not sure I'll get.

I may share my painting adventures with you later, if I'm pleased. Artists are so self critical, poo.

My new phone!

As a Christmas present to myself I bought a new phone! It's an android with touch and all those fun features. It can do more than just call people, isn't that exciting!!! hehe I thought I had been a very good girl this year and was deserving of some new technology. Feels like I finally made it to 2010, and just barely.

Anyhow, this new gadgit of mine of course needs some accessories. A case perhaps! Some Etsy shopping perhaps?! But gosh there are seriously a gagillion to choose from.... but I think I like this one best. Now to choose a color... help me!

From Lova Revolutionary on Etsy. So many gorgeously colored felt goodies.

I adore the Felt Owl Phone case... help me choose a color!

I think it's between 4  11  15  and 21. But they are all so cute and funny. 

Which do you like best?

A VERY White Christmas...

Welcome to Torö, a gorgeous island 1 hour south of Stockholm

I'm a goof...but BF's rent's home is gorgeous

the mini playhouse

A Pheasant

It must have been -15c. Thank goodness for faux fur, goofy hats, and lots of warm BF hugs.

A neighbor's cute summer cottage

Another neighbor's cottage.

Our wintery Christmas walk had to be cut short due to frozen noses, fingertips, and toes... into the welcoming warmth of an open fire at home and a delicious Chrismas dinner.

Jennifer Davis Art

Jennifer Davis how I adore your imagination, technique, and color palette.

She has a WEBSITE a BLOG  and of course an ETSY

How do you do these? They are just too gorgeous!

Tor!

I just must share a custom pet portrait I drew for owner Lisa, a Christmas present to herself! Isn't he darling?! I mean manly! He is named after Thor the God of Thunder, ooooo!

Fur was definitely a challenge. I have never painted digitally so I learned a lot of new techniques while finishing this project. Thanks BF for teaching me lots of new computery things too.