monday motivation - memorial

Here we are on the final day of December 2012.  Indeed it falls on a monday and once again each of us need to find our own motivation but I do hope that my artwork makes you think of certain motives to create, design and inspire an artful life.  In the midst of creating art for others, I am reminded by all the works and how they serve as a memorial to celebrate life and cherish each day and every creature.

Many works of art can serve as a memorial or a tribute to a person, place or thing.  This illustration of a particular cat named Buddy was a commission that a client gave for a holiday gift.  Memories of loved ones do deserve a memorial.

A work of art can serve as a memorial of all of the years of love spent devoted to one another.

Do you have a sacred or holy corner in your home dedicated to the memory of a person, place or thing that might motivate or inspire you?  In many cultures, a sort of shrine as you enter your home can create a respect for life and in a way give honor to your own life.  Fresh fruit, flowers or a candle to light can add so much to one's day as we connect with those that have gone before us.

Wishing each of you a splendid day this last monday of 2012.   Take time to create a memorial with photos, artwork or mementos to honor those that were a part of your life.  I will be back in the New Year to bring you more mondays full of motivation, artwork that you can create, inspiration and of course my own art which motivates me each day.

sunday sparkle

 Snowflakes have a way of inspiring sparkle.  I found this sweet snowflake added to a place card.

While skiing, I stopped to admire all the snow laden branches.  They look like lace.

This has been the scene for a few days in a row, lots of sparkly snow coming down.

Perfect for skiing and for preparing hearty cozy stews.

 

I have this hearty stew simmering on the stove to bring to the ski mountain for our Sunday lunch. All you need are onions, garlic, parsnips, chopped veggies, potatoes, water and I used some leftover roast beef.  Season, simmer, and then serve with some crusty bread.

Skiing certainly creates an appetite for warmth.

Hope everyone is enjoying a sparkly Sunday today.

snow time

A blanket of white snow during our holiday week is a blessing.

My son on the left with his buddies from when they were in preschool.  I still see them as power rangers and super heros.  Wishing you all a beautiful week surrounded by those you love and here's to making memories to savor for years to come.

skiing in the catskills

Winter time skiing in the Catskills is lots of fun.  The Catskills Winter Sampler offers a great deal on skiing the mountains in the Catskills of New York.  We have lots of fresh snow and I am off to ski!



Enjoy the day.  Are you a skiier?  Do you ski?

Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas;

We wish you a Merry Christmas;

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer

We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here

We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Peace to each of you.

All of the above artworks were created by pve design

merry and bright

May your days be merry and bright.  

We have been having lots of fun as a family skiing and "chillin" (as my college sons love to say.)

This year I was so busy creating cards for so many special clients that my own holiday card took the backseat, the paperless route.

My gift to saving a few trees and reducing a bit of Christmas card clutter.

That said, thank-you to each of you who sent me a card.  I love seeing how families have grown and all the creativity that abounds.

Blessings to each of you on Christmas day and in the coming year ahead.

UPDATE; Winner is Vivienne Strauss. Check out her blog over here and her wonderful artwork.

sunday sparkle

 My husband and I had a few laughs while we hung a strand of sparkly lights outside as a garland around the doorway.  Our dinner guests mentioned how they love the lights during the holidays.  I do believe that those sparkly lights set the tone for an all is bright and all is calm evening.

 My Sundays are now all about finding and embracing the sparkle!

I crave lights, sequins, glitter and festive touches that shine.

 Think of your self as a strand of lights suspended from above and go about your day shining brightly.

good company

 Even the most beautifully decked out holiday home needs good company.

We attended a holiday party last evening and one of the toasts given in honor of the host and hostess was just how wonderfully skilled they are at gathering such good company.

May you find joy with the good company you keep.

Enter my "give it away" - I will be back Christmas Eve to announce the winner.Winner shall be selected by random number generator.

"My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company." ~ Jane Austen

ready or not

So are you ready or not?

 image via

What are you waiting for?  Who is coming?

 Are your stockings hung with care?
In hopes of what?

Now all we have to do is wait until Christmas.
So, I ask you, what are you waiting for?
Are you ready or not?
How will you "prepare him room?"
Does this season of advent have you ready or not?

Enter my "give it away" - I will be back Christmas Eve to announce the winner.
Winner shall be selected by random number generator.

K-9 comfort

Sent off this commission and had to share this sweet paper boy with you.  Is he not the sweetest?  The entire time I was working away on this art, I could not help feel his tail thumping, his tongue panting, and his eyes sparkling on me.  The artwork will be a holiday gift for a very special man.

Did you hear about these K-9 dogs delivering calm?  I know my dog calms me and always gives me comfort every day.

If you have not entered my give it away - please do so by leaving a comment over here as to what would bring you comfort and joy from my etsy pve shop.  I really do love etsy and in the New Year, I will be filling it up with some brand new work.

give it away

I love this season.

It is truly all about giving.

Are you ready to give it away?

Simply select something from my etsy shop, and I will announce the winner Christmas eve.
Pick anything and I will give-it-away.
The more we give, the more we receive.

Winner announced 12-24 Vivienne Strauss, pop in to see her blog here and her wonderful artwork!

pve design - etsy - pve shop

keep the faith

Cardinals can bring color and vitality into our lives.

• As the cardinal red color is symbolic of faith, so it can remind us to "keep the faith" though circumstances might look bleak, dark and hopeless.

Their crimson color can remind us of the importance of ourselves as individuals in the 

circle of life.

I am having this watercolor done by Ellen Hopkins Fountain printed for Holiday cards for her as a gift.
If you are interested in purchasing them please let me know.
The cards are 5 x 7.  Envelopes are red or white.

Ellen has inspired me in many ways and recently had some surgery which required a lengthy recovery and I witnessed her faith and strength carry her.

The charming red bird house provides a beacon of hope snuggled amidst the wintry branches.
Have you spotted a cardinal?
It does capture my attention, take time to see a cardinal and feel the vitality of the crimson cloak.
Keep the faith.

monday motivation - holiday spirit

 Everyone needs a bit of holiday spirit.

 Pop over to Matthew Mead's holiday blog, and pop-up shop.

 There is a wonderful give-away for some very sweet jam jars.  How darling are they with these bulbs and clear glass pebbles!

I just ordered this wonderful linen table runner that will add a holiday spirit to my table all year long.

Are you in the holiday spirit?

sunday sparkle

Grinch got your glitter?

 I felt dull and lifeless after the tragic happening last friday and my heart aches but it surely does not mean that my right to shine and sparkle needs to be darkened.  

Each of us need to feel motivated to shine, to radiate joy and to find our inner gift to light our day.

Everyone deserves to sparkle.
A little glitter, a sequin, some star dust....

 That joy, that thing that makes us glitter is for life and not just for Christmas.

Just like the Grinch who tried to take away every bit of joy, he soon realized that he could not squash the spirit or sparkle of Christmas.

 Even the simplest brown paper package wrapped with a glitter ribbon takes on new meaning.

 An sparkly snowflake on top of an all white sweet cupcake suddenly sparkles.

 A glittery sparkly top can help to get ones shine on.

How do you add a sparkle to your day and to those around you when Grinch seems to be working hard to take it all away?

broken hearted

 We are broken hearted for the innocent victims of todays news.  

Our hearts go out to those in the Sandy Hook Elementary school district and community of Newtown, CT.

 The news hit me hard and I have had an emotional day just thinking of the families who must say goodbye to their children and to the adults.

The tears of angels weep.

As a nation, we must join together and find peace and somehow surrender such random acts of violence.

I persuade each of you to hug a child, spend time telling those you love just how much they mean to you.

I will be back next week but for now I must admit, I am broken hearted.

Christmas capes

Does this ever happen to you.  You see something and then see it again and again.

Yesterday, all signs kept telling me that I needed a Christmas cape.

The drawings of Ingres I found full of allure and charm.

How marvelously modern and timeless is a cape.  Most days, I go from my home, to my car and dash in an out of spots so a cape is the perfect foil for any sort of weather.

Spotted this one in a lovely taupe with black trim over here.

Great worn with a slim trouser or velvet jean.

These lovely ladies all dressed to an outing dressed in linens, lace and a velvet cloak or cape.  Do you have a holiday cape?  I spotted another cape at Victorinox, the Swiss Army shop in a quilted down but was not able to get an image to accompany this post.

good tidings

Good tidings are something everyone can relate to this time of year and trying to capture the family photo for the annual holiday card.

It never fails that when I illustrate people, they always ask me to make them taller, slimmer and richer.  As an artist, my sweet reward is to do just that.  However, this lovely family needs no tweaking as they are darn perfect perched on this metal farm gate.  I saved this image from last year and decided to paint it to add to my portfolio of people.  Perhaps a "pve" illustrated family photo will be on your list next year.