striped awnings

There is a certain charm to that of an awning.

Striped awnings certainly are chic.

Twin striped awnings, twin lanterns and twin topiaries.

I love the storefront of Timothy Corrigan.

So elegant, classical and welcoming.

 A flat striped awning seems so modern to me.

 I would love to have a ladies lunch on this porch.

Is it me or do striped awnings just seem cool?

Winners of the "pet command" -Springer Spaniel pve note cards are;
Debbie Carr
Kelly B.
I decided to select two.
Both ladies have Springer Spaniels.
Congrats to you both.  Contact me where to send the notes to!

vignettist

 It's true.  Call me a vignettist.  I love painting artfully created vignettes.  Little portraits that show an arrangement of a collected order.  The cards for the above are available in my etsy shop.  I have white, pale blue or hot pink envelopes to go with if you like.  If you order today, I will add a surprise to your order that will make you smile.

I painted these in gouache a few years ago when I was new to blog land and fell down the most "Absolutely Beautiful Things" blog.  I sent them to Anna to gift to her Mother.  I need to paint some of my own beautiful things arranged in vignettes.

Love Nina Jane - bracelet giveaway

Triple Wrap bracelet from Love Nina Jane

 Last Summer, I had the joy of stepping foot on the island of Nantucket and in this shop -I fell in love with a necklace that looked very much like this which of course was etched in my "want" part of my brain.  I am a believer of the "law of attraction" and what we are attracted to or desire actually plays a huge role in providing our wants and needs.

A few weeks later, as luck would have it, I won a "love Nina Jane" triple strand bracelet that I actually wear as a necklace.  I simple won it by leaving a comment on another blog "C'est si bon."

 The vintage medals mixed with the pearls makes this a go to piece, it has a "rustic casual" look and perfect for every day wear.  I can dress it up or down.

 Never be afraid of too many accessories.

 
Great for horsing around...

The medals remind me to keep the faith and the pearls stand for beauty and grace.

Jane of "Love Nina Jane" was kind enough to answer a few questions and I knew you'd love to learn more about Love Nina Jane.

• 
  
  

  How did you start your designs?
•  We grew up in the south , our mother's became great friends and their names were both Nina Jane. Their NJ was from NYC, mine from Dallas.
• We inherited their desire to be creative and are influenced by their style. Each of the Nina Janes were different in personality and style but the opposing complimented each other. Our jewelry is the same way, we combine classic, edginess, country and city. The vintage miraculous medals are beautiful and meaningful to us. We only use vintage charms because they have a special beauty we love.
  Both Nina Janes have passed away so we love that we have an extra connection to them. My Nina Jane died when I was 8 and she was 38, and I missed out on so much time not having her, it lifts me up just to be able to say the Nina Jane name on a regular basis! Ann and Jane are sisters (there are 2 Janes!).
  

  
  
  

  
  

  Do you create them?
  

  
  

  We have distilled the collections after many years. We all three contributed to the designs. We all three make our own pieces using the same "recipe".

  
  

   What inspired you to start "Love Nina Jane" and what inspires you each day?

  
  

  We all three have a need to create. We wax and wane and that is the beauty of having each other. When one waxes, the other wanes and the waxer will pick up the waner until the positions even out. Then we seem to repeat the process off and on through the years! But we are all three enthusiastic about our company. The company has become like another family for us. I love that it has given me two "sisters" as I only had 4 brothers!

  It is so wonderful to see someone around town with a Love, NIna Jane on or to have someone like you want to write about us. We are very excited about the sketch. We all three love your work, we love the energy you have.

  Thank-you Jane for this lovely give-away and for taking the time to share more about "Love Nina Jane."

  
  

  Pop over to Love Nina Jane and like Love Nina Jane on facebook.  Leave a comment here and on Monday, the winner shall be announced.  

monday motivation - doing

pve design - custom home commissioned art - house proud portrait

Monday for me is all about doing with the goal in mind of completion.
This home commission was sent and received.  Delighted to hear my client was thrilled.
Notes were also ordered to go with this order.

  I work with a lovely printer locally who is always busy "doing" and does such a great job for me.

 Pretty envelopes in sky blue, paper bag brown, gray and of course classic white were included.

Monday is all about "doing" and checking off my to do list.

Hope you are feeling motivated to just keep doing and working towards crossing the finish line.

Here is what my client said, 

"I got them!!! Just so in love with the note cards and the matted artwork is wonderful.  I could not be happier."

Gives me motivation to just keep "doing."

gentleman's room

 Show and tell has always motivated me to do what I do.

Happy to show this lovely gentleman's room which was designed for the Adamsleigh show house.

 If you love a show house, then I am here to tell you to visit Adamsleigh.  Thank-you to Lisa Mende and Traci Zeller for asking me to create this illustration of the Gentleman's room.   The timing for me came at a crazy time since my youngest child was in the hospital and then home so all of my attention was focused on getting her well and support her with necessary tutors but Lisa and Traci were super supportive and enthusiastic about the final work of art.

Contact me if you need original and unique artwork for your next project.  

articulate

pve design - artwork created for Pound Ridge Plume

We have a nightly ritual and I love tucking my 13 year old daughter in to bed at night.  One is never too old to be tucked in and kissed good-night.  It is a time where we can speak quietly one-on-one and I asked her if she could put my artwork into words, what would she say?  She said, It's "articulate, eloquent, elegant, neat" and all of those words made me smile.  If you had to use one word to describe my artwork, what would you say?

good manners

pve design- illustration for Sheridan Road Magazine

My children know that their father and I take great pride in instilling good manners, especially at the table.  Over the years we have had many young guests join us at our table and I am often surprised at how some youngsters do not know how to properly hold a fork and knife.  I take pleasure in educating them about the finer things and how in past cultures that your upbringing was not only a sign of your education but also a sign of good social behavior.

Trying new cuisine is also something we highly encourage in a society that seems to cater to children with a limited menu of chicken nuggets and mac n cheese.  Tasting new foods, trying new things instills a sense of confidence as well as adventure.  Our children love Mussels, Lobster, Escargot, and realize how fortunate they are to have such delicacies.

We do have a few rules in our home such as no hats indoors and no cell phones during meal time. (unless an emergency requires a pick up!)  Do you abide by any rules to reinforce good manners in your home and do you feel the need to influence others with proper etiquette?  It is after all an art of fine living.  Having good manners is after all being open to share one's best behaviors, is it not?  Do you reward good behavior?

One gal who is all about Gracious Living and the art of living with good etiquette is Mindy Lockard.
I have had the pleasure of meeting Mindy and she even came to our local school for a morning of good manners and tips for good behavior.

my creative outlet

Let's face it, everyone needs to have a creative outlet.  For as long as I was a little girl, I have been drawing, painting and creating.  Many people always comment that they cannot even draw a straight line.  I laugh and tell them "that's what rulers are for!"

Here is the advertisement in the New York times Metropolitan section with my illustrations for J.McLaughlin for the new outlet opened in Woodbury Centre Mall.  So for those of you that love to shop and also love saving, pop in to the new outlet shop.  The drawings have gotten great mileage and have certainly helped me to grow my creative business too.

I have another advertisement to share from my teenage days that was in a local paper for a shop.  Do you have a creative outlet that is just elementary or natural to who you are?

monday motivation - sunny side up

Everyone needs a little motivation to bring a bit of sunshine inside to find the sunny side up of life.
No matter whatever has been tossed your way, try to toss a little sunshine at it and see how much brighter things look.  For the past few weeks, I must admit to being a bit down about our daughter and the emergency hospital stay and now the home recover phase.  This will be week three and between the nurse, the tutors and everything else on my plate, I intend to keep it sunny around here.

On a pleasant note a dear friend texted me to tell me my illustrations were in the New York Times Metro section for a client which made me smile.  I shall scan the advertisement and share that this week with you all.

So, tell me, how do you infuse your life with a sunny side up attitude.  What motivates you to keep looking up and finding the cheerful side of life?

be doers

Certainly you have attended an event with the movers and shakers and the doers of the world, have you not?

Are you a doer?  

My sister told me last month when I shared all I had going on in my world and she said, "I am not surprised, you are a doer of the world."

 I remember years ago being so inspired by another artist and friend whose work is prolific, I made a remark to her, "How do you create all this?"  She replied, "This is what I do." I shall never forget those words.

So, if you happen to be here for the first time, this is what I do and have done.

I illustrate storefronts.

I create personalized monograms.

I absolutely adore spaces, interiors as well as exteriors.

 I lost track of how many homes I have illustrated for clients and friends.

 Don't even get me started on my love for capturing canines.  If you own a pet, then you know all about the things we do for our creatures and the unconditional love they bequeath.

I do love the color green too.

                

 I do love Park Avenue in New York, especially in the Springtime when the esplanade is all in bloom.

 I also do oils and want to do more oils because they slow me down.

Many of my works are created to be used for custom notecards.  

I do love to write notes, send letters.

Well, like I said, I guess this sums up a bit of what I do, what I create as an artist.

This year, I look forward to doing more, more artwork, more inspiration and more design.

Tell me, are you a doer, what do you do?

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.

Sunny Sunday

Today, we welcome a Sunny Sunday and a new sunny J.McLaughlin shoppe in Ocean Reef, Florida.
After the stormy weather, I plan to take some time to soak up the sun and start making my list for the week ahead.  Hope your Sunday is a sunny one too.

pretty packages

I love satin ribbon and tying up pretty pve packages and as we head on our way towards the holidays, I am stocking up on pretty ribbons for boxes of notes that I send to clients and often use as gifts.

The above notes were printed for "For the Love of a House"

Today, I am busy wrapping up some other boxes and packages to send.

Wishing each of you a wonderful weekend full of pretty packages.
There is still time to order from my etsy pve shop but orders for custom work are closed.
I will be accepting new orders in January 2013.

all ears

I have been working on loosening up and learning to let go and well "listen."  Part of trying to work in silence is to listen to be able to hear my inner guidance.  I am calling it my "all ears" phase.

Often inquiries come to me and never materialize into a "sale" and I now realize that not everything is about a sale or being perfect.  I enjoy what I do and there will always be work for me.  That said, this realization feels like such a treat for me to free up space to try new techniques and to let my own ears and eyes guide me.  I think my very own dog does just the same, especially when there is a treat involved.

It is friday and I do hope that you will allow yourself time to listen and reward yourself with a special treat.

jaunty plume

 I had the pleasure of creating these illustrations for a fine lady with a jaunty plume.

Please welcome Pound Ridge Plume.

In the early evening, she carefully crafted and hosted readings from her salon with raspberry red walls.

The next day she took a moment to admire her secretary and personal affects.

The window was open and the birds were chirping quite a cacophony which she found one part pleasant and the other annoying.

She closed the window to listen to her own thoughts and rearranged the objects while she tidied up.

She knew that it was time to write and to work.

 

The words poured out from her fingers onto the screen.

Then she decided after several hours had lapsed from staring at the screen of her lap top to call it a day.

She knew that it was time to prepare a meal for her family and to give thanks for another splendid day.

Her jaunty plume would anxiously await her return.

at sea

 The lure of the sea, waves, saltwater and weekends full of fun sails or boat excursions seem just right for this time of year.

 Although there might be some pretty hot dog days of summer, one just might need to pack a sweater or a nautical pea jacket for breezy nights by the shore.

What's not to love about a sail boat.

Even if you prefer to stay on land....you can still have a little of the "at sea" look with this tote

  (sold in my etsy pve shop)  

Any plans to set sail or drop anchor?
May your weekend be full of good times.

in the works

I thought I would share an illustration and shop that is "in the works" - as you can see, I have not yet applied water color to the building since I needed information as to the colors of the awning and the door.  Often I like to do a loose rendering to get the perspective working and from left to right.  I will be back after this one is completed and show you the final artwork.

Happy Mother's day

A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles. Washington Irving (1783 - 1859)

Happy Mother's day to all Mothers.

My Mother has a kind heart and a positive attitude.

She reminds me to smile and to be a fountain of gladness.

Leave a kind hearted comment and I shall randomly select a winner to receive 8 note cards

of The Bethesda Fountain notes.