100 Days Project

Image from The Great Discontent

About a month or so ago a friend showed me the 100 Day Challenge and asked a bunch of us if we would like to be involved. I was so hesitant at first, I mean what could I do for a hundred days that wouldn't seem daunting or at the same time underwhelming? As a creative type I knew that I wanted to do something with art, but more specifically with something off of the computer. After debating (with myself of course) for a while between drawing and some type of lettering and I remembered a doodle series I developed back a few years ago.

Meet Myrtle. Born out of a whimsical and slightly skewed sense of humor, Myrtle will be going on adventures for the next 100 days. If you would like to follow along with me you can find the drawings here #myrtlesadventures - I know I can't wait to see where she'll be going next!
 It has already been a little challenging to make sure the picture goes up each day and we are only three days in! I love the time I have put into sketching out thoughts and then completing the frame. Though it seems like another thing on my list of "to do's", it's been relaxing to get back to a sketchbook and drawing for my own pleasure.

I also have loved seeing what friends have committed to working on and exploring what others are doing through the #100dayproject and #the100dayproject

Want to join the challenge? It's not too late - here is how to join:

Links to Love: November, Vol. 6

I haven't shared some of my favorite things I have been finding and seeing from other artists and bloggers in a while. This is one is going to be a November and first part of December round up...so here we go!

- I always love reading about others beauty routines. I loved when this article popped up on A Beautiful Mess back in early November. The Neutrogena makeup remover wipes have always been a staple for me, I was happy to see them among the bunch. I can't wait to try out the Revlon color bust balms. Just look how vibrant the tube is!

- Beautiful fall and winter mood board by Making It Lovely . I think I love it so much because they are a toned down version of my wedding colors. (I will never let go of loving orange and pink, regardless the shades they are in. )

- It is always great to read a little slice of advice from artist you admire. Here they have rounded up 100 different designers who are all asked the same 5 questions and have great tips and advice to share. They are only on #72, so you can still catch up : )

- I occasionally look at wedding posts still (there are so many beautiful ideas and wedding out there!) This wedding at the Parker just took my breath away. Did you see her flower crown/veil combo? Or those orange doors? Wow!

- Gift Swaps, White Elephant, Christmas Exchange, Secret Santa, Secret Jesus...whatever you call it, it is always fun to participate in giving. This year I signed up to be apart of a international and national gift swap, Goody Goody Gift Swap curated by Jenna Cantagallo. I received my "swapee" this week and am so excited to make her something special as a gift!  Check out gifts being sent this year, and from previous years with the #goodgoodygiftswap

- The Christmas season is dictated by music galore - so many decades of musicians and versions of old and new favorites. I am often bouncing from Bing Crosby, to Sufjan Stevens, to Mannheim Steamroller. A favorite group of mine, Sleeping at Last, has released an album of their Christmas music. I particularly love their rendition of "Silver Bells".

- Last but not least, check out the 24 Merry Days. A sweet 24 day give away put on by 24 different bloggers. Each day a new blogger has a new prize you can win, and entering is so easy! Plus there are so many great blogs to look through too! (Don't worry you can still enter the past ones, hooray!)

Any links you absolutely loved this past month?

The Essentials : The Airport

Images by Caroline Hutchison for Linalulu Paperie

Vacations and traveling can be really fun. Going to the airport, on the other hand, can be not so fun. I have had the opportunity to travel more this year and have found a few essential things I now can’t travel without:

(Clockwise)

Slip-on Shoes: Getting through security can be a breeze if you set yourself up for it. Waiting on a cold tile floor as I push my belongings through the x-ray can be, well, gross. I wear simple flats so just right before my turn to walk through I can slip them off to toss in the bin and easily slip them back on once through.

Lite Reading: I usually bring a short book and a magazine with me. Having either to switch back and forth is great when you're not sure how long your wait is or to pass time on the plane. For even lighter reading, download Audible or OverDrive app and listen to your book.

Sketchbook & Pens : The airport is incredible people watching, and usually has great art pieces decorating the terminals. I have a sketchbook with me to capture all the funny moments and when inspiration strikes.

Chap stick: ...and a lot of it. The plane is dry and you can never have enough chap stick.

Jacket or Sweater: Jackets are nice in case of a cold airport or airplane. Plus they can double as a good blanket or pillow if need be.

Snacks: The airport food court always seems tempting to just grab food, but with higher prices and strategically placed Starbucks kiosks, I opt to bring food like granola bars or fruit snacks to tide me over. Plus it helps with the travel fatigue and meltdowns.

Water bottle: Just like carrying chap stick, having a water bottle is always smart to keep you hydrated and ready for anything that comes your way.

Carry-On Bag: One of the most important things to make sure you have, man or woman, is a sturdy, versatile carry-on bag. A bag with reachable pockets for your phone and wallet, a zipper closure to make sure nothing falls out when you slip it under your seat, and both short and long shoulder straps that can carry heavier items like a laptop with out strain or snapping.

Other travel essentials for me:
Ear buds, Phone Charger, Cash, and Comb & Toothbrush - You never know when you will need to freshen up.

What are your travel essentials?

Sketches: Spring Flowers

When I was at the grocery store earlier this week I was immediately met by the friendly faces of these beautiful tulips. I had to purchase them; I had to take them home.

It's funny how a quick trip to the market for butter can spark such an unexpected inspirational find.

Aren't they lovely! So full of beautiful color!

(Left) A simple Sketch of the flowers  |  (Right) Water color and Ink

Portfolio: Lindsay's Baby Shower

To celebrate my sister-in-law, mommy to be Lindsay and baby, my mother-in-law hosted an adorable baby shower in their honor! I was so excited to add my calligraphy to the (already) wonderful decor and joyous celebration.

Beth out did herself with her theme "She's about to Pop!"  by including all things "pop" worthy including cake pops, blow pop champagne "poppers", poppyseed muffins and so many other delicious treats!

Creative Quotes

With a new year comes new beginnings and new perspective. Here is to continuing to work hard, and produce great things. I'm looking forward to what you have to offer 2014!

Advent: Love

The shortest week in Christmas is the fourth week, which symbolizes love. This candle signifiesy the love of God that surrounds and fills us at all times, but  we recognize it in a special way in the Christmas story. There is no greater power than love. We love, because God loves us.

Life Lately in Pictures

I haven't had my iPhone long, but it has become a necessary tool in my daily design work. It is fun to to go back through and see the small fragments of memories captured in everyday pictures

With Christmas and the New Year approaching quickly, there has been a lot of gift wrapping, snow shoveling, and ever increasing more work on projects for my Etsy shop (coming 2014!) I'm thankful for these small blinks of life captured, and they make me excited to share with you what is to come

Creative Quotes

Advent: Joy

In the third week of advent, the theme is "Rejoice" or "Joy" . The spirit of joy  comes from the words of Paul, “The Lord is near.”  This joyful spirit is marked by the third candle of our Advent wreath, which is typically rose colored.  One moves through this week feeling a part of the waiting world that rejoices because our longing has prepared us to believe the reign of God is close and reminds us that Christmas is only a week away

Advent: Peace

"It is through remembering that we again look for signs of Christ’s coming in Advent. In hope, courage, and faith dare to speak with the psalmist: 'Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.' ” Rev. Anna Fulmer

Calligraphy Sketches

I loved getting to practice my calligraphy at work today for a project with a fellow designer, Mark Lane. What a beautiful reminder to pen this time of year!

Advent : Hope

With December coming so rapidly upon us, we leave Thanksgiving behind for the season of Advent. Advent derives its meaning from the Latin meaning word for "coming". In the weeks before Christmas we prepare, we wait, we long for the coming of the new born Christ

Sketches and Suprises: Coming Soon

Over the last few days I have been inspired, but I am not quite ready to reveal the whole of my thoughts. I was just too excited not to capture a rough glimpse of what is to come!

Sketches and Suprises: With All My Heart

Earlier this year, I created this sketch entitled "With All My Heart, Love"  and found it recently  among my piles of sketches. Look out for an updated version of this little guy soon!

Sketches and Suprises: B is for Beauty

I have the amazing privileged to work along side a talented group of designers at my full time job. They constantly are introducing trends, smarter design solutions, pushing one another to create stunning design solutions.  

One of those instances is what the team calls Infused Inspiration Fridays: Challenges.

Started by a small pool of our design team, about a handful of us on the team gather and execute a predetermined design challenge once a month on Friday afternoon. Someone on the team creates a "challenge", in which we are given a set of guide lines, and a set time limit. The challenges have ranged so far from creating a pattern inspired by fall decor to creating a music album cover with only a set of words and images.

This past week our challenge was to use one image and the word "beauty" to create something that we believed represented beauty.

My interpretation of our teams Infused Inspiration Friday Challenge - read below to see the guidelines!

Here is an example of the rules: 

 1. Download assets. Link sent in email.
2. Create your interpretation of “beauty” only using:
—the word “beauty”   — this image
3. You have the one image and one word. In addition you can use any color, any font, any size, any medium (on or off the computer), and anything you can create using the word “beauty” and this image.
4. You CANNOT add any other images or textures. 
5. Your final piece must use this image and have the word “beauty” written somewhere on it.
6. You have 25 minutes to design and print your piece.
7. Present your piece to the team at the round table.
8. Have fun! 

Each time it is incredible to see not only what myself and my teammates produced in a short time, but how wide of a range of thoughts and talents are represented in this fun exercise.