Image 25 Book Of Blessings....

We're recovering from a drive to Chicago up and back to get our daughter from school and a whirlwind trip to NYC for the Surtex and Stationary shows all in 5 days....I'm going to "copycat" this cat and take a minute to smell the flowers! 

Image 24 Book Of Blessings

A week from now I'll be at Surtex! I can't wait to meet my agents. It's been 2 years since I've signed with Lilla Rogers and I STILL have yet to meet Lilla and Susan. I'm also excited to meet new team members Joanne and Reine and some of the other fellow artists the studio represents. I've never been to this crazy hyped up event in NYC and it's a bit intimidating. The nerves are starting in and that "what am I gonna wear?!" voice is starting to buzz in my ear. I hope to get some new clients out of this experience but you just never know with these things. So my ultimate goal is to have a super positive experience. Having fun with my boo, meeting new people and having that good energy exchange is all I can really hope for!

Image 23 / Book of Blessings

I've been slacking on these...life's been getting in the way of "my blog on". But I promise to be more diligent about posting the rest of these. 7 more to go! oh how I miss the sea....

My little Surtex ad for the inter webs

This past month has been CRAY to the ZAY folks. I mean like crazy town crazy. How does life get that jam packed????? Half of the action was due to Surtex prep and creating this little christmas collection of mine. I just love animals and magical little houses and the woods...Here is another little snippet of it. I posted my actual banner design a few posts before. Because I'm brain dead from creating all of it I have no gas left to give it a creative and clever name....but that's ok. Maybe it will speak for itself. Maybe this chubby gnome has a clever idea...

Sunny days ahead

Image 20/Book Of Blessings by Runing Press. If you're having a not so great day sometimes a walk and just being outside on a sunny day can change your mood instantly!

My Surtex Banner!!!!!

I am beyond pumped about this years Surtex show. This year my new work focuses on an animal and gnome inhabited forest town. I've been missing the forest and wildlife lately and totally envy anyone within walking distance to woodlands and dense nature so I tried to channel that. It's greeting card and gift wrap based but the images could lend themselves to many other different formats. The crazy exciting news is that my hubs and I are actually going this year!!! I'd love to meet you in person if you are at the show Monday and Tuesday. I'll be at booth 517 sharing the space with some amazing artists and the incredible Lilla Rogers Studio crew. Hope to see you there!

When everything feels like too much...

I'll be honest, life feels a bit intense right now. So many worries and concerns...life stuff, work stuff, money stuff...as an adult we all have those feelings of being overwhelmed. During our day we may pass a stranger here and there on an errand or at work...etc...Most of the time we'll never know what kind of struggles they may be dealing with. Those of us lucky enough to have friends and family to lean on during those tough times are just that...really lucky. I feel grateful for my peeps today...for being there for my struggles and for whatever their struggles or conquests are? I'm thinking good thoughts for them as well. Image 19/Book of Blessings-SW

Cheese and wineszzzz

Image 18 of Running Press's Book of Blessings. So I might have had too much of all this last night. And the night before...but it was fun :)-SW

Spring really is here

I hope it doesn't snow aneeeeeee more. But some folks don't plant things til Mother's Day. I guess that's the super safe zone. I don't know if I can wait that long. Representing spring in full force here's image 16/Book of Blessings by running Press, illustrated by yours truly-SW

Image 15, Book Of Blessings

I really miss the farmer's market and can't wait to bring our little guy there to try all the fresh and healthy foods. This page in the book was definitely inspired by that.

Cookie Thief

Image 14 Book of Blessings. Sweet treats as a late night snack. Y U M

Quaint Cottage

Image 13/Book Of Blessings by Running Press. I want to go to there....right now.....One of the coolest things about drawing is that it can transport you to another place. I dream of one day living near the woods so we can go on long walks....

Tiny Mouse

Image 12/Book of Blessings by Running Press Miniature editions. This little mouse is harvesting is little wheat crop! He could eat off that one germ of wheat for a week!

Work hard, play hard

Image 11/Book of Blessings. Good food, good wine, and most importantly good company. Hope your weekend was filled with at least one of the three if not all! ~SW

Oh Happy Day

Image 10/Book Of Blessings. A picnic for little ones, juice box's and all. Although a tad chilly it's a beautiful day to be in Kanas City. 

Collage Flower

Image 9/Book of Blessings. a paper collage flower symbolizing spring. I love using craft paper, newspaper and gouache together.

Queen For a Day

Image 8/Book of Blessings. Crowns are really fun to draw. YOu get the basic shape and the rest is up for interpretation. Same with musical instruments. The trumpet is tooting because it's Friday!

Spring Time Eskimos

Image 6/ Book Of Blessings
The snows gotta melt sooner or later. This is for my east coast homies. Spring is coming! Hang in there guys. This is one of my favorite pages because Alaska and the eskimo culture is so interesting to me. The furs are so beautiful and the people have this rugged yet gentle beauty about them.

Farm life

Image 7/ Book of Blessings
My Dad has a little farm in Connecticut and I grew up visiting him in the summertime. He had cows and chickens and even a milk cow named Betty. I would feed her the molasses oat blend from a barrel with a big scoop. I still love that smell to this day. Thanks for that pleasant memory Dad :)

Comfy Cozy

image 5/Book of Blessings. I'm pooped today so this scene is right where I want to be. nap time!