Category: Artsy

Hello, 2015

Back at it after a short break! First off, thank you for all of your suggestions for Christmas dinner. We borrowed a second slow cooker and made two pot roasts (using Martha’s recipe), along with smashed potatoes, veggies, and rolls. Easy and good!

Also, I was interviewed recently for the Wednesday Journal, a local paper. Neither I nor the writer had any idea that the interview would be taped until the photographer told us as he was setting up his gear. Surprise! The video and article were published on Christmas Eve.

I enjoyed the break by playing with the kids, filling up my watercolor sketch book, and reading. It was awesome. Plus Brandon and I finally got over to the MCA to see the David Bowie Is exhibit before it ended! Also awesome.

There will probably be a lot of manifestos out there today. A lot of reflecting on the year passed, with people setting new goals or recommitting to existing ones along with examining the reasons to leave some things behind. A new year always inspires this sort of introspection and I’ve done it too, but I haven’t felt compelled to do so this time around. I have goals of course — as I always do — but they’re of the ongoing and in motion sort and I’m happy with where I’m both personally and professionally right now. The baby is still taking up most of my time these days, but it’s baby number three for us and I’m well aware of how quickly this time passes. I’d rather snuggle him while he’s still a squishy smiley little lovey thing than make an arbitrary list of things to do because it happens to be the start of a new year.

Taking a short break has definitely reenergized me though. I’m feeling creative, rested, and ready for what’s to come. 2015, let’s go!

January 5, 2015
The Playroom Art Center

Sponsored by Mrs. Meyer’s

I’ve been working on the playroom on the third floor. We’ve all been feeling a little stir-crazy, waiting for spring to officially arrive (though we had a sneak-peek yesterday and today with temperatures in the fifties!), so it’s been great having a fun space inside the house setup for the kids. There are plenty of toys, plus a play kitchen on one side and an art station on the other. Lately, we’ve been going upstairs after breakfast to paint, work on arts and crafts, or color. Eleanor helps set everything up.

Why yes, we do always use a mug with a kitty and fireworks on it when we paint.

August likes to paint at the easel too, or use watercolors, but he wasn’t into it that day so he played with his cars while I helped Eleanor. After a while, he made some cupcakes in the play kitchen which we all agreed were the most delicious ever. They were made of eggs, chocolate and ketchup. Yum.

Eleanor painted a rainbow. For The Rainbow House, naturally.

I keep the tray of the easel lined with paper towels so that it doesn’t get too glopped over with paint, but I don’t stress about the kids being neat. They can do their thing, and then we clean up any errant paint spills and splatters when they’re done.

The paints are washable, so cleaning up is easy. I keep a bottle of Mrs. Meyer’s countertop spray in one of the art cubbies on the desk, and I try to enlist the kids’ help as often as I can. I spray, they wipe. I clean for real, they push a toy vacuum around. (You take the help you get, right?)

The light is so nice up there in the mornings, and the kids have such a good time. It’s one of our favorite places to be.

Sponsored by Mrs. Meyer’s

Mrs. Meyer’s is hosting a giveaway, and the Grand Prize Arts & Crafts winner will receive a custom-designed Craft Center, fully stocked with all of the art supplies and materials you need to enjoy fun, messy crafts in the comfort of your home. Once installed, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day will throw a party for your kids and up to thirty of their friends, hosted by Design Mom’s Gabrielle Blair.

Visit getmessycontest.com for more details, and to enter.

March 11, 2014
Giveaway! A Watercolor Palette and Sketchbook

I’ve been enjoying my new watercolor hobby, since posting to that time-lapse video I found so inspiring. It’s only been about a month since I started, during which I’ve probably painted four times, but I’m proud of how I’m progressing. I’ve missed making art, even if I’m just painting what amount to cute spot illustrations.

I’ve been experimenting with different paints (tubes vs. pans, student grade versus professional quality), and I’m still finding what I like. You know what turned out to be great though? The inexpensive 36-color watercolor palette I had initially picked up on a whim at Michael’s. I’ve heard from more seasoned watercolor artists that they love it too!

Want to give it a go for yourself? I went back and bought five more palettes, along with some better quality paintbrushes (don’t bother with the one it comes with) to give away to five readers. I also bought five Moleskine Watercolor Notebooks to include as part of the prize for each winner.

(I painted this illustration of the prize using only watercolors from that 36-color palette.)

This giveaway is open to everyone, worldwide. Just leave a comment below by midnight CST, Monday, January 27 to enter. After the giveaway ends, I’ll randomly draw five winners and ship off a palette, brush, and sketchbook to each. It’s a small way to share a little bit of what’s making me happy these days!

January 21, 2014
A New Year

It’s a new year, and I’ve been busy painting. Painting the bedroom. Painting with watercolors and gouache. Painting goals and plans with big, loose brush strokes. We’re in this big new house, and my dreams have been scaled to match.

I want that book deal I’m chasing. I want to make our home beautiful and personal. I want our family to grow, and along with it, the amount of love in this house. I want to grow as an artist, even if it just means drawing and painting with the kids.

I’m not one for resolutions, but I am excited for the new year, and I’m looking forward to sharing it all with you. Let’s do this, 2014!

January 1, 2014
J.Crew Fall Preview

I want this entire outfit, but my sketch may have to suffice.

You can preview the new collection at J.Crew now.

August 1, 2008