Blue Monday Illustration

Fun Bridal Shower Gift

2007-08-08T11:19:00.000-04:00

I should have taken step-by-step photos but all you need for this is two bath towels, two hand towels, two wash cloths, a spool of ribbon, fake flowers and some safety pins. Looks just like a little cake, doesn't it?

More Sweet Gifts

2007-06-25T08:46:00.000-04:00

An itty bitty baby blankie and bib for a sweet friend due in July.

Shower Gifts

2007-05-22T08:29:00.000-04:00

The baby-to-be's nursery theme is "Wild Wild West" so I found this cool fabric by Michael Miller on Ebay and backed it with a lightweight baby flannel. I also used the Scotty Dog pattern from Allsorts again to make this little chenille and felt puppy. So-cute! I bought two books (one being Goodnight Moon), another blanket, and some lavender, sleepytime, massage lotion so my gift had a sleepy theme.

More Projects

2007-04-01T08:16:00.000-04:00

Here are a few bibs I made and some soft bunnies. The bibs are fun to make. I like to use funky fabrics. I'm also working to complete a few more bibs and a cotton/chenille blanket for a baby shower we're going to in a few weeks.

Gah!

2007-02-13T17:28:00.000-05:00

So today I had this brilliant idea. Then I wasted hours & materials trying to put this idea together and it wouldn't work. Not only did it not work, but the only thing I learned from this whole process was how it did not work and was a dumb idea. I hate when that happens! Does that make sense? I'm still fuming.

Kitty Kat

2007-02-09T06:49:00.000-05:00

I just finished making this for my sister. It was so much fun! I'm finally getting the hang of working with felt AND I finally figured out how to do a slipstitch. (After reviewing a dozen website with "illustrations" showing the technique, it finally clicked and I got it) This pattern is a free one I got over at Wee Wonderfuls.

Things I've been Working On

2007-02-05T17:18:00.000-05:00

Since I got a sewing machine for Christmas I've been playing around with various little projects. I have so many more I want to do....but I'm sneaking in a little at a time while my son Jamie sleeps. Here's a little pink Scotty dog with an ultra big eye (pattern courtesy of Jenny at Allsorts) and a white horse I've named Valentino. Projects in the works: funky baby bibs & purses.

Illustration Friday "Peace"

2006-12-24T09:47:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday "Smoke"

2006-11-04T12:12:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday "Wind"

2006-10-27T16:02:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween

2006-10-27T11:33:00.000-04:00

Illustration Friday "Trouble"

2006-10-12T10:37:00.001-04:00

Illustration Friday "Quiet"

2006-10-03T15:47:00.000-04:00

For those who don't have children, you won't understand the tremendous meaning behind the word quiet. Quiet as in, no more crying, quiet as in "shhh" the baby is sleeping, and quiet as in, those moments when he lays in your arms, innocent, beautiful, and angelic. This is my sleeping son.

Illustration Friday "Flavor"

2006-01-05T09:29:00.000-05:00

For some reason, when I read the subject, "Flavor" I thought of flavored lip gloss. So-I think this girlie exhibits juicy, flavorful lips. I rendered this first with Prismacolor watercolor pencils, added water, then added detail with chalk pastels. When the image was dry, I went back in with the colored pencils and chalk. I thought about cropping her, but I kind of like the way the sketchbooks fits into the composition.

Illustration Friday "Broken"

2005-10-31T21:52:00.000-05:00

This was a fun little drawing I whipped up in about an hour, hour and a half. I like all the textures and colors but dislike her really disproportionate arm. It fits in with the animated expression but it is too distorted. If I have time, I'll have to go in and try to fix it.

Illustration Friday "Cold"

2005-10-16T00:42:00.000-04:00

Not really sure where this came from or why I went in this direction. She went through many processes and levels and here she is... Out in the cold. Given the cold shoulder. Feeling cold!

Illustration Friday "Lost"

2005-10-08T01:23:00.000-04:00

For some reason when I read this weeks topic, I immediately imagined a little girl in the woods. Again, many steps and processes in Photoshop. I did include my initial pre-scan drawing.

Illustration Friday "Escape"

2005-09-16T16:13:00.000-04:00

Technique: First I drew with silver sharpie in sketchbook. The image was scanned and manipulated through layers, layers, and more layers. Sorry-too much to list all.

Random Drawing 5

2005-09-12T17:14:00.000-04:00

Here's a sample of a shirt I did for Cafepress. It was so much fun! I love these little doggies. I have other stuff there too.

Technique: I drew image with pencil and outlined with sharpie. I scanned into Photoshop and added color

Illustration Friday "Depth"

2005-09-11T13:45:00.000-04:00

Technique: This is simply the manipulation of 2 photos in Photoshop. I couldn't get the idea in my head onto paper with drawing. I think I like the results even though I feel like I cheated (the larger view is more impresssive than this view) Photo-illustration?

Aren't the eyes the window to your soul?
I quote Peter Gabriel: (In Your Eyes)
in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat
in your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
the heat I see in your eyes

Random Drawing 4

2005-09-08T18:31:00.000-04:00

Koi coming up for a feeding.

Technique: First I drew a single fish with a pencil and then outlined with a fine point sharpie marker. I scanned the image into Photoshop and added color. I duplicated the fish & changed colors. I added a background and bubbles with Photoshop. I duplicated layers and played with opacity. I worked with the following filters: noise, blur and radial blur.

Illustration Friday "Roots"

2005-09-06T17:52:00.000-04:00

Compositionally, I think this is the weakest Illustration Friday drawing I've done! But I do like how vibrant the colors came out.

Technique: I drew the image with pencil and then outline with sharpie marker. I colored the image with prisma color watercolor pencils. I added water with a fine brush and drew in some final details with wet pencils. I scanned and voila!

It's raining....

2005-08-31T11:32:00.000-04:00

What a great day to lounge around and nap.

Technique: Just a digital photo of my dog Teddy.

Illustration Friday "Dreams"

2005-08-26T18:23:00.000-04:00

I suppose my friday drawing is two-fold again. For one, it illustrates a baby sleeping, probably dreaming. Do babies have the ability to dream? Second, it depicts one of my dreams. Being newly married, my husband and I want to eventually have a baby.

Techniques: This was a long process. I began by drawing the bunny and baby in Photoshop. I used layers to add the clouds, moon, and text. I played with opacity, gaussian blur and the smudge tool. I did so many things and reworked so many of the layers, there is no way I could list all here. While the drawing itself seems simple-the creation was a bit more complex. Sorry. I am still a bit rusty with the tools as well. You can see some rough edges and uneven lines. I'm learning though!

Random Drawing 3

2005-08-22T10:04:00.000-04:00

This is an attempt to add shading and dimension with Photoshop. I sketched this image during a seminar I was listening to.

Technique: I sketched in pencil first, then outlined in sharpie. I scanned the image into Photoshop and adjusted the levels. Then, I used the paint bucket, paint brush, and smudge tools to add color.

Illustration Friday "Reflection"

2005-08-22T09:26:00.000-04:00

As a woman is trying to get pregnant, or when she is pregnant, I imagine she goes through many periods of reflection. Is she healthy enough? Can she get pregnant? Is the baby okay? Will she be a good mother? Will she be prepared?

Technique: Drawn in pencil. Colored with prismacolor water color pencils, then used a brush to add water. Added detail with black sharpie marker and then toned with prismacolor colored pencils. Added a few more details with marker.

Random Drawing 2

2005-08-18T19:01:00.000-04:00

I've always had a fascination with koi. In college I had two and I swear, those fish were so affectionate towards each other. Sadly they died when I replaced the gravel in my fish tank. Later, I had a silvery white one that grew to be about 12 inches in length! He/she got so big that I had to give him/her away to someone with a pond.

Technique: First I drew with silver sharpie in sketchbook. Brought image into Photoshop and added color, then played with noise and pattern. I like the look of it...although the composition is a bit weak. I think the pattern helps strengthen/balance it.

Random Drawing

2005-08-17T13:48:00.000-04:00

My cousin's daughter will be starting Kindergarten this fall. Thought I'd try to render a cartoon version of her, maybe on the first day of school.

Techniques: Drawn first with a mechanical pencil. Light wash with watercolor paint. Drawn over with prismacolor pencils, sharpie fine tip marker, then final wash of watercolor. Details refined with Photoshop.

Trying to get into the habit of drawing daily.

Illustration Friday "Wisdom"

2005-08-15T13:40:00.000-04:00

This is my first, "Illustration Friday" post. You'll have to excuse the quality, I'm still out of practice! I am hoping to strengthen my drawing skills by participating in these weekly drawing exercises.

Techniques: The "Wise Owl" drawn by hand using a mechanical pencil. Colored with "Pastello" chalk pastels. Scanned and touched up with Adobe Photoshop.