The things that bloom

Spoonflower teamed up with Moda Fabrics to host a Botanical Sketchbook fabric design contest.  I love this idea, so I knew I just had to submit a design.  Even though our yard is tiny, we do have some lovely flora--so, I headed outside to get sketching!

This is what came of those sketches...

Here's some watercolor splashed on there...

And here is the final version I submitted for the contest! Wish me luck!

I'll have both of these designs available for purchase on my Spoonflower page soon!

Dear Oregon...I love you...and miss you

I was 2 years old when I visited Oregon for the first time.  Fast forward 27 years and I found myself once again in the Beaver State.  This past June Geoff and I spent an amazing week long adventure, visiting friends in Portland, hiking in the Columbia River Gorge (mmm yeah, that's not photoshopped!), and spending three glorious Gooney filled, history laden, cannery loving days in Astoria.

- Portland -

This is my friend, Emily.  

Illustrator extraordinaire.  

Does cool animation stuff.

This is her studio in Portland

She is amazing.

In comparison, this is currently my studio...aka coffee table/dinner table/baby toy dump.

No joke...when I showed up at my friend Randi's house her roommate was in the backyard in full on bee keeper gear.  

He looked at us and said,

"Welcome to Portlandia."

- Fort Clatsop -

Of course had to check out the fort that Lewis and Clark stayed at when they were charting a path to the Pacific Ocean.

Love the typography on the this old map hanging in the National Park visitor's center.

The fort...pretty snazzy.

Sakakawea (Sa-cog-a-way-a)...

Sold into marriage to a french Canadian dude at age 13.

Became a guide/interpreter to Lewis and Clark at age 18.

Had a baby on the trip and carried him the whole way.

A.K.A. super woman.

- The Gorge -

I can't believe this is in Portland's backyard.

It was so awesome spending time and exploring with Randi.

Yay quality time!

- Astoria- 

Like Pine Trees?

and water views?

and 80's movies?

Go to Astoria. Now.

Best pizza and beer.

Best coffee shop location EVER.

To get the best idea of the town's history do these 3 things:

1. Watch the video at the Flavel House gift shop (in the Carriage House)

2. Visit the Maritime Museum

3.  Do the audio tours (yes, BOTH of them!) that you can buy at the Astoria Chamber of Commerce...I know I sound like I'm 80-years-old right now, but seriously...do it.

Future Astronaut

New "Future Astronaut" shirt and other cool stuff in my society6 store!

I love dinosaurs and so does my daughter...

Don't get me wrong...I love flowers, but I also love the outdoors, robots, tractors, and things that go "ROOOAAAR!"  And so does my daughter.  So, it only makes sense that she should be able to have clothes options that don't only consist of flowers.

So here's a shout out to all those who need a nice dinosaur fabric to whip up some awesome girl clothes (I love the idea of a skirt).  Would look pretty cool on boys too.  Equal dinosaur love for all!

These will be available for purchase in my Spoonflower shop soon!

"Dinosaurs in the Sky" fabric on Spoonflower

"Girl Dinosaurs - Green" fabric on Spoonflower

New Designs on Spoonflower!

The proofs of my new designs came in the mail today (including this lily pad pattern)–yay!  Check them all out at my Spoonflower shop.   

To the Moon and Beyond!

Bottom line, I think there needs to be a lot more brainy (not just beauty) messaging going out to young girls.  They can do anything they put their minds to.   Here is a little doodle of girl reading a book about the moon.  She's going to be an astronaut one day.

Full disclosure I totally misspelled "astronaut" when I drew the original drawing.  How ironic.  But don't judge me.  I corrected it!

The moon is pretty awesome.  Let's read about it!

Live Long and Prosper...

Star Trek was one of those cult classic things that I was obviously aware of but hadn't experienced...I hadn't seen the movies or the show.  And then I did.  Well at least the movies and I have to say I loved them.  I didn't expect that I would enjoy them as much as I did, but I can honestly say I was converted to the trekkie side from that day forward.

So when Spoonflower did a call for a mint, coral, black, and white fabric design for this week's contest, I knew what I had to do.  Honor a guy that is just too cool for words.

Live long and prosper, Leonard.

Groundhog Decision

Not going to lie, any chance I get to use a Lincoln-esque top hat I'm going to take it.  Here's a closeup of a Spoonflower fabric contest I entered a while back for Groundhog Day.

Daily Abes Catch Up

to catch you up...

Daily Abe #7: Jan. 7, 2015

Patriotic Abe

Daily Abe #8: Jan. 8, 2015

Tiny Abe

Daily Abe #9: Jan. 9, 2015

Love That Watercolor Abe

Daily Abe #10: Jan. 10, 2015

Cheeky Abe

Daily Abe #11: Jan. 11, 2015

The Great Sun Abe

Touch of Elegance...Abe

Daily Abe: January 6, 2015

Daily Abe Doodle #6

Little Bit of Lace Abe

Pixelated (sort of)

Daily Abe: January 5, 2015

Daily Abe Doodle #5

Pixelated Abe

Quick Doodle

Probably not a good sign I'm already behind on my new year's resolution Abes.  But it still counts!

Daily Abe Doodle #4

Blue Head Abe

Tom Hanks and a Mermaid + Abe

We watched Splash...so here's your daily Abe for January 3rd.

Daily Abe Doodle #3

Splash Abe

Abe meet Aqua Pen

Got this awesome aqua pen today and experimented with my brand new watercolors from Christmas (thanks Brian!).

I am absolutely in love with this pen...allows me to do a range of thick to fine lines in watercolor, which I'm really into the look of these days.  It's a nylon brush tip and you fill the barrel with water.  Dip in the paint and presto! Just might have found a new process to explore. Can't wait!

Daily Abe Doodle #2

Pretty in Pink Abe

A new year's resolution for those who like poorly drawn presidents

This idea came to me today, so bear with me-it's a little out there 

 as far as resolutions go, and I haven't completely fleshed it out yet...

Seems simple enough, but then again days just seem to get away from me.  This will be a grand experiment. I can already tell this is going to be a challenge for me to keep up, but I'll give it my best good ol' try. The main purpose is just to have fun and to set aside at least a few minutes each day for two of my loves...art and Abe.

And here is the inaugural Abe-doodle:

January 1, 2015