If the Barbie shoe fits

I honestly thought this would be easier. About a year ago I started looking for little Barbie-size pumps to use in altered art stuff. I have scoured Goodwill/Salvation Army/Vintage-ish stores, asked friends with daughters and even looked at Toy R "We... NO SHOES. Where the hell are the shoes? I find little parts of playmobile and lego everywhere in my house. I assumed it would be the same with Barbie shoes. Little things. They end up under beds, dressers, piles of laundry. But no.

I have finally ordered shoes from the Philippines. The seller has many, many, many, Barbie shoes. I don't need to check to know that there is a Mattel factory in the Philippines.

Playing with dolls

I've been making these dolls to send to art directors. Just click on one to see it larger. They all have some method of hanging, mainly at the back and I'll attach bead chain, ribbon or something that coordinates with the theme. I'm not so sure about the ones with no arms. They look like, hmmmm, like they're missing something. I'm also in a few doll swaps with my mail art buds. Hope you like them. Have a favourite?

Contagious

Click on the pic - there are 3 MORE kids!

My friend's son just had a bad case of chicken pox and it's one of those illnesses that rips through the school. Luckily mine have had them previously so they were safe.

This was drawn by hand and coloured digitally. I may add more in terms of shading and details but I really like it with just the three colours and their tones.

Hierarchy

Slipping in at the last minute for this week's Illustration Friday topic. I didn't have time for a new piece but I thought that this coat/leash/whip (!?) hook was perfect for the topic! This one has sold but lots more goodies at my etsy shop - just click on the link over there -------->

These were so much fun to make. They are for a small swap at a super-duper secret trading site. In my perfect world I would just be allowed to make stuff ALL day and get paid. I'm not greedy (well, yeah, I am) but just enough $$ to remain in the style to which I have become accustomed! And a wee bit more. 

Instinct?

The theme at Illustration Friday this week is "instinct". I think most of us have a certain amount of empathy and compassion - so more than others - and I also think that we instinctively want to help others if we see that they are in need. Also happening this week (and continuing ...) is a special etsy shop set up by compassionate artists to raise money to help people who lost their homes and so much more in the Aussie bush fires. Please visit the store here. All proceeds go to the Australian Red Cross. To date they have raised $15,000! All art is donated and all shipping costs paid by the donating artists so please check it out. An etsy team that I belong to - metsy, mixed media etsy artists - are donating houses that we decorate each in our own unique style. 

The front is above. This is the back:

And this is a close-up:

C e l e b r a t e !!!

I celebrate the fact that I get to do a lot of mostly fun stuff for my work. I work at home. I make my own schedule for the most part. Lucky me! Certain people can't understand that and just think that drawing and networking is playing. Hmphh!

Two weeks in a row, yikes!!!

Okay, I need to build up my stock images so I've come back to Illustration Friday because having the topic every week helps me focus a bit better. So this week's theme is "time". Hope you like it!

I'm still here!

I haven't participated in Illustration Friday in ages. Too busy doing stuff for Etsy and shows and of course my gripping addiction to ATCs and mail art!

This is for IF topic "Flawed". A flawed cupcake tastes just as good as a perfect cupcake!

Busy busy busy!

So in addition to it being summer and kids at home I've been making stuff for a table we took at our Saturday morning Farmer's Market. I'm selling journal/notebooks that I make and journals that I make out of old hardcover books - I like Hardy Boys and Donna Parker books the best because I use the illustrations from the book and bind them in with the blank pages. 

Also selling funky hooks and Lego earrings. Terry is selling our screen printed Ts as well as some thermal-print Ts with old B movie poster images etc. It's going well so far. Won't retire on it by any stretch!

Oh baby

I finally am posting for Illustration Friday. It has been months. This week's keyword is "baby". The first pics were for a baby shower invite and the second is a "chunky 4" x 4" book page" for a mail art swap at ATCs for All. I am totally addicted to these trades! You can see all my pages in my flickr gallery. Hope they make you smile!

Leaping lizards!

It has been a while since I've done an Illustration Friday. Too much fun on the trading cards and rolos these days. And work of course (HELLO, if you're a client). I don't really do frogs or lizards so I went with leaping girl instead. Hope you like it.

Little Pink Riding Hood

I think it was time for Red to have a makeover.

Drastic times call for drastic measures!

Who needs willpower when you can just sew your mouth closed?!

Well I posted this at Illo Friday for "Stitch" but or some reason my thumbnail didn't upload so no one will come see it :-(

Altered art

A use for old CDs! These are some ornaments I've made out of CDs that would have gone in the garbage. Cool eh?

Excess

Wow, I've been away from here forever. Too busy with work, life and ATCs. Yes, ATCs. Artist Trading Cards. I'm having a blast over here and making loads of new artist cyber buddies.

So, "excess" for Illustration Friday. Holiday time is full of excess isn't it? What could be more excessive than drinking like a fish whilst wearing yellow tights and having purple hair?

Open

I have been so absent from Illustration Friday. This week's topic is Open and all I could think of was open mouthes. I'd like to take this further and make a vertical illo with this at the bottom and McDonald's fries and other crap being offered from above... of course that would violate oodles of laws and would be for my viewing pleasure only so...

Hope you like it so far.

Alphabets

My first Artist Trading Card! Because I need more things to do lol. I decided to combine the theme for Illo Friday (alphabets) with my first ATC swap "Witches". I've been wanting to do the swaps for a while now and I'm hoping to have lots of fun with it.

Here's another one

Visitors

When I was little my parents entertained a lot. It was always so much fun to see them and their friends all dressed up and they'd serve fancy food and drinks. My sisters and I would dance to entertain them. Picture a 4-year-old with pink cat-eye glasses and Shirley Temple ringlets in a flannel nightie dancing on a big round orange nagahide footstool that twisted - good times! I'd kill for that footstool now.

I'm calling the couple on the left the Wallace-Scotts. I haven't decided on the right side couple... maybe they are on their first date - she's a divorcee and they are trying to fix the two of them up... what do you think?

GOSH

I haven't posted in ages. So busy with work and all the summer kid stuff.

I honestly have no idea what the heck I was thinking here. I am a great cook. I'm obsessive about food a lot of the time but I am not a baker. I like to freestyle and create and baking is pretty rigid - leave out an ingredient and you end up with a flat cake etc. So yeah, that's what I was thinking. A new superhero to help those of us who don't bake cakes but who cringe at the thought of those grocery store birthday cakes!

Faster than a whisk, more powerful than a Kitchen Aid...

Really this was just an intentional escape from a lot of work that is dragging me down. Thanks for stopping by.

Freaky geek

When I saw the IF topic for this week the first thing I thought of was circus geeks. In the old days the guys that would bite heads off live animals, hammer nails in their heads, swallow stuff. Ah, the good old days!

Twist?

I think I mixed up my idioms. My first thought was "up the twist" meaning pregnant. But then I started to wonder, is it "up the spout" and "in a twist"? Oh well, her dog is all twisted around her and her shirt pattern is lemons and you can twist those. Oh and a snail is kind of twisted. Whew.

Camouflage

I could really use that right now - a good book and a comfy couch. But alas, lots of work to do and the last week of school is always stuffed with activities and running around and all the crap they cart home that I have to sift through! This was a fun illustration to do so I hope you enjoy it.

And my book cover is finito and has been uploaded to the publisher - yippee!

Suit

I haven't done an Illo Friday for a few weeks - too much else going on. So this is a quickie for this week's "Suit". Hope it makes you smile!

Sign

And then - one day - she knew just what to do!

When in doubt, ask a bartender

So I didn't know what to do for this week's Illustration Friday. The weather has been soooooo nice I didn't want to jinx it by doing something about cold climate. So I checked in with the bartender and sure enough, there is a Polar Bear cocktail!

3 oz Vodka
1/2 - 1 oz Blue Curacao
7-Up or Sprite

Mixing instructions:

Just blend with ice in a highball glass.

Sweet.

Miss Fortune

I don't buy many lottery tickets but when I do I love thinking about what I'd do if I won... where I'd go, etc. So that is what Miss Fortune here is doing... that and letting me relive my punk days of the 80s!

It's not easy

It's gym time; I've been working out like crazy...results are there but not stupendous - maybe I need some greens.

I spy

So I did this version and then I added a little ditty...



It certainly has more resale value without. God knows that there must be legions of art directors out there searching in vain for flying pig images. I think I have found my niche.

Finally!

I haven't posted in so long!!!!!!!!!!!! I live in a major summer theatre town so this time of year is INSANE with work. But I had to do this week's Illo Friday because:

a) I haven't done IF in a month and as creative (lucky me) as I get to be in my work; it is still work.
b) I need to share my amazing hot-off-the-presses news...

I'm illustrating a book cover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not sure how much I can tell darnit - contract hasn't been received yet but it came right out of the blue. From here folks. Someone visited my blog and voila - book cover job. Needless to say I AM THRILLED.

Happy, happy, happy.
Busy, busy, busy.

Stuff

Apparently I have been tagged by my longtime illo buddy Maggie. I need to state 6 weird things about myself. Should be easy.

1. For at least 3 years now at some point in the day I look at the clock at 11:11 or 1:11. AM or PM. Doesn't matter. It always takes me by surprise. If I look at the clock and it's 11:10 I will not look again and just like that I either look by accident at 1:11 or the next 11:11. One day I missed and the next I was replying to an email that came the previous day at - you guessed it - 11:11.

2. I have 18 clocks in my house. Not counting watches. I don't wear a watch. I do have 2 in my bag/purse tho.

3. I have watched Coronation Street since I was a kid - that means for over 30 years. Not weird I think, but I do watch every weeknight at 7 if possible and then again on Sunday at 7:30am all over again in case I missed something. Really just an excuse to lounge in bed with mags and sketchbook every Sunday morning.

4. I like to sit in the shower. If it's morning with a coffee. At night, a glass of wine.

5. I collect toys. I don't let my kids play with them.

Okay the last wasn't that weird. So now I'm tagging:

another Julie

Diane

Michelle

Pickledog

Jennifer

Claudine

Okeedokee. So you have to answer the same questions and respond with your answers and send to six more, you know the drill. This was WAAAYYYYY easier that that 100 question one that went around!

Crud...

I really wanted to finish this...I really wanted to post something the past two weeks...I hate pressure and boy am I under it lately. I want to add snowflakes to this at the top and decorative graphic stuff at the bottom...so it's here, it's kind of red, there are more important things in the world but I didn't finish, but it's good...right - darned stress.

The girls had a good buzz on at the costume party

A bit of a quickie this week. I am soooooooo swamped in the next few weeks it's going to be crazy. And I was asked - heck everyone on SFG probably was - but I'm still flattered to do an interview on this blog. And first real silkscreening jobs are coming in... and the autism boy's therapy is stepping up... who needs sleep!

Fast Food

For the Sugar Frosted Goodness "fast Food" challenge. I think all the nitrates are making hot dog go rabid.

Cheers!

Glen Campbell

Ah yes, good ole Glen. You can never forget (believe me, I've tried!) Rhinestone Cowboy as well as the little ditty above. Happy New Year everyone!

Peace and happiness

This week's Illustration Friday topic is peace. I've missed the past 2 or 3 as it has been anything BUT peaceful around here! One of the few places I can escape is in the shower. For someone who hates swimming and getting wet in public, I LOVE a long hot shower. I take my coffee in there with me. If I could I'd have a little chair - seriously! I know someone who just lays down in the tub and lets the shower go... it's soothing. And in my house, the only place I can go and lock the door and be alone. Although my kids have been known to hang around outside the door talking, begging for things, fighting etc! I'm thinking I'll get a stereo system and a TV in there as well as the chair. Or just start wearing the ipod in there - do they make a waterproof ipod yet? Hope everyone is having the happiest of holidays.

Sadly

...Cilla realized it might be time to diet. A quick and simple Illo Friday this week as I am swamped with Christmas and birthday prep...I had 5 people cleaning my house today while I sat here and worked-I simply can't keep up anymore and N's service model (he's autistic) allows for cleaning in addition to therapy so I thought I'd use it. It was weird. It smells ike a chemical dump. Next time they must use eco-friendly stuff.

Thank you for stopping by and commenting - I try to comment back to all.

Great Canadian Inventions

Just a few great Canadian inventions in this illo - instant mashed potatoes (a guilty pleasure of mine!), five-pin bowling, the zipper, electric range, the Wonderbra (she's wearing one, I drew it, really)...what you can't see is her pacemaker, the insulin she takes, the paint roller off to the side - that wallpaper has got to go!

Want more Great Canadian inventions? Check this out.

Hmmmmm

I can't decide between using them for ornaments or necklaces...

Remember that dream?

The one where you were at school and realized you were either still in your PJs or worse yet just your underwear? And even worse still for this poor girl - what if it was Thursday??????

Stuff

I'm making some jewellery



And these hooks



And I bought the coolest cowboy Santa

Ahhhh yes

They always tasted better if you were sneaking them didn't they? Just like now - I'm sneaking time away from a job for an extremely evil client to do my Illustration Friday in order to retain my sanity!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for all the comments last week.

Wind!

I have been SO, SO, SO busy the past few weeks that I have had no time for Illustration Friday. I really missed not having that let-loose-because-it's-not-for-a-client feeling of yummy goodness that today I said, "Shag it, I'm going to take time out to do this week!" I still want to add a house blowing by in the upper-left corner but now I have to go make healthy food for sugar-hyped children.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween.

Smitten

This one is pushing my limits of "cuteness" but kids and kittens are cute darn it! We got a kitten on the weekend; his name is Dude. I did not choose the name. Anyway, the kids are 'smitten" with him so this is my illo for Friday.

Welcome Dude

The newest edition to the family - Dude. So far his likes are sleeping, eating and exploring. He's a great little kitty. Thanks Mindy!

Trouble

Sure, Mary had a bit of trouble with the vino, but she had nooooo trouble creating magnificent molds - or is that moulds? - or both? - in her spiffy new gas-powered kitchen!

I had wanted to do something with pop-o-matic Trouble cos I LOVE that game - pop a six and you move twice - and that bubble with the dice - nothing like it since...ahhhh, I am stuck in my childhood. But thank gawd my mom never made these scary meat mold things or if she did it will come out in therapy. Hey, maybe that's why I collect old cookbooks, hmmmm.

Quiet

I remember my mom saying "children should be seen and not heard". While I accepted the premise behind that I still thought it was funny. And of course, my sisters and my brother and I WERE heard. And in reading Amy Vanderbilt's rules (in the background of this illo) I see that we were darned well behaved children - something I knew anyway after seeing the crap my friends got away with - I do my best to have my children be the same - autism is a blessing in this case - rules are meant to be followed - so quite often my autistic son is the best mannered child at gatherings because he knows how to follow rules. Last night I attended a focus group for parents of older children with autism with regards to future programming - the meeting was great, the bed at the hotel they booked me was AMAZING and talk about - quiet OMG!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, this "button-your-lip" illo is for Illustration Friday "Quiet".

Thanks to all who stop by and comment - much appreciated.

Phobia

I combined my phobias for this week's Illustration Friday - mice and heights. I have a fear of wallpaper too but I left that out! Right now my 9 year-old is petrified of birds. He hates walking down the path to school because they fly in and out of the hedges that line it. So we're trying all sorts of things to make him tolerant and so he doesn't freak out when a seagull is casing the grocery store parking lot looking for goodies. Any suggestions are welcome!

Talk about a change

Two days ago relaxing in the sun with a 3 euro litre and a half bottle of Greek wine and now shivering away back home with a mug of coffee! Our vacation in Greece was FANTASTIC and it is quite a change to return to the old routine. I'm having a heck of a time getting back into working... hopefully doing this little illo will jumpstart me.

The good ol days

My brother had a matchbook collection. It was an old suitcase full. I used to love going through them. The coolest ones were from cocktail lounges. I must ask him if he still has them.