Lorajean's Big Give-away

Lorajean's Big Give-away!

So here is the deal, to celebrate my 150th post today I am going to have a huge give away!
The winner gets...

A whole set of 4 lovely illustrations! Thats right only one of you gets all four 8.5 x 11 prints.(Printed on high quality Epson heavy weight matte paper.)

EDIT: My stupid printer just broke, and I am not sure I'll be able to print anything by the 10th, so,
I am changing the prise to:

A set of Five 8.5 x 11 in. illustrations matted in white 9x12 mats.
(The printed images measure about 5x7in. )

I chose these illustrations in this size because they are already printed, matted and ready to go! Please forgive me for having to change it!
I feel so silly to have to do this in the first place so that is why I am offering 5 matted prints instead of 4.

Or if you wish you can receive a 45$ gift certificate toward another item(or two) in my shoppe!

I thought I would shake things up a bit so Here are some rules!

1. If you post a comment on this post, to share a thought or just say hi, you are automatically entered in the drawing! (Be sure I have a means to contact you when you win)
2. If you blog about this give-away on your blog, type the url to your blog post in your comment, and I'll put your name in the drawing twice!
3. If you've followed a link here through someone else's post about this giveaway, type the url of who's blog you came here through, and your name's in twice!
4. If any one enters the contest through your blog post your name's in three times!

Be sure and comment on this post before 12:00 noon on Tuesday June 10th!
I'll draw the names at 1:00 pm Tuesday June 10th and post the winner!

GOOD luck and happy commenting!

Freebies from other bloggers.

This is actually my 149th post because I skipped a day last week. :) oh well! I have been wanting a blog break lately because my mind wont get into it. Every time I sit at the computer I wish I were doing something else, so I'll make this short. I just wanted to share a few freebies from other bloggers that I have enjoyed.

1. A print a day, free lacy labels
   
2. Creature Comforts, free soap wrapping printables
   
3. Du-Bah-Du Designs, give away!
   
4. Allie Hoopes, free hand written font downloads

Click the images to download the freebies!

Edmund Dulac illustrations

I am greatly inspired by these paintings by Edmund Dulac.

They remind me a bit of the paintings by Warwick Goble I blogged about a little while ago. I really love the color schemes and lovely intricate backgrounds in these paintings. When I look at these I start to think that my paintings need a little more work in the design and background aspects. My portraits are becoming mundane to me and I need to open my mind and imagination to the design of the painting as a whole and not just the quality of the girl in the painting. I don't mean to say my portraits are badly painted I am just saying my future paintings could be improved by using good design and spending more time on the background. I get so excited every time I find a artist that inspires me! I hope these images inspire you too.

In my garden

Good morning!

Here are some photos of the pretties that are showing up in my yard as of late.

We have a pretty pink flowering crab apple in the front; I love it when it blooms. :)

Here is an angled view of our window box with brand newly planted annuals! This is something I look forward to every spring!

This is one of many many blossoms in our strawberry patch. Look! Can you see a few tiny green strawberries growing? Yippee! We have the ever bearing variety and I love eating fresh strawberries all summer!

Our myrtle ground cover is coming in so lush this year!

I love smelling the grape-y flavor these irises emit. From what I've heard from the previous owners they used to be all colors and varieties, but cross pollinated and eventually turned white.

Here are some of my favorites in the yard! Hosta! I can't wait till these beauties grow up and produce the big leaves and tall stalks of dainty blossoms.

I am unsure what variety this tree is because the city planted it in our parking strip by the road, but it blooms the prettiest little white clusters and smells lovely!

Even the weeds in my yard are beautiful! :) These weren't really in my yard; they were in the neighboring lot.

What loveliness is peeking out in your yard this spring?

Happy Wednesday!

Goals, and a nearing 150th!

Lately I have been looking at this!

a slight likeness to my teenage self
(click image to see source site)
and these
(click images to see source site)
































And I have come to a decision!

1. I need to get one of these swim suits.
   

And,

2. I need to get my reflection looking at least a little more like my teenage likeness!

How shall I do this you say?
Well, I have made a few goals for my weak little self and I plan to really follow them! :)
Here they are:

• If boredom hits get crafting or go for a walk. (I tend to munch when I'm bored.)
• Save the ice cream for holidays and special occasions. (And you know, they will end up feeling more special that way.)
• DRINK a ton of water! (It always helps everything)
• Go for a nice walk every day! (Bonus the kids love that too!)
  
• If I need to munch do it on the veggies and rice cakes! (I really do like to eat these anyway.)
• Chew sugar free gum after every meal. (My downfall is that I have to end every meal with a sweet taste in my mouth so I tend to go for the sweets...Not any more! he he. )
  

These are small goals but they will get me on the right track!
What are some of your goals for this spring/summer?
Are you planning on getting into that gorgeous swimsuit or pushing yourself to walk one more block? Please feel free to offer tips and share your own goals!
I am also super excited today, guess why! Ok ok I'll tell you! A week from today will be my 150th post on this blog!! I'll have to get some secret surprises put together to celebrate! Hooray! Thanks a bunch and have a great Monday!!

Little Lola's Shop Update

Happy Saturday everyone! With all of the work putting all the new things in the Little Lola's shop on Etsy yesterday I totally forgot to put the update on here too. So here it is a day late. :) Have fun! Here is the surprise I promised!
SURPRISE! You didn't know I was working on these did you? Ta da! With all the robot happenings in print form I couldn't help myself! I had to bring them to life in papier mache and paperclay.

Here is one robot with his trusty triangular dog. It was fun getting creative to make a doggy friend for this little guy.

I really love how this one turned out too! Especially the outlet in his back he he!

Here are the happy little flag waving robots! Hooray these four guys are finally available!

Here is Alice sitting upon a mushroom. It was so fun sharing her as I made her. He he! She was such a joy to make and I am sad to see her go. (Can you believe it? She's sold already!!)


And last are a brand new design, Little Lola baby dolls! I love the wrapped up in a blanket look. I also love that because of the fleece hair they are machine washable! !

Thanks for sharing this fun update with me! Have a great night! :)

I am so excited for the Little Lola's shop update! There will be many sweet creations and new prints available for your buying pleasure!

This girl is so excited to attend her coming out party he he!

New dolls be in the update as well as the robot prints and some secret surprises he he!!
Be there or be square! Happy Thursday! :)

Commission dolly

I just finished this dolly as a commission for a friend of mine. She asked me to use yellow and blue as the main colors and I think the it turned out quite nice! In fact I love how the face turned out. I had embroidered some doll faces a while ago and somehow decided that button eyes were the only way to go. But now I'm feeling the winds of change and I'm sure to be embroidering faces a lot more. I will probably end up doing both.

What are your thoughts on the matter? I love feedback! Please share, do you like one better than the other?

Button eyes & felt mouth, or, fully embroidered face?

Check out my dolly flicker set to compare faces.

Well I'm off to the art studio/craft room to take advantage of the nappy happenings around here. I will be working hard and playing much! Happy Tuesday!

A pampered day

I got a pretty pink cake and a lovely new book!! :) :) We just finished the second Fablehaven book this afternoon so the timing couldn't have been more perfect! I also got two big hugs from my kids, a lovely chat with my mom and mom in law as well as my brother in Brazil, not to mention a gourmet breakfast made by my husband when I woke up! Thank you! :) A very special day indeed!

What more could a mommy ask for!

P.S. What was your "mum's day" like? Did you do something special for your mom? Did your kids create a special day? Please share! :)