ETSY ARTIST FINDS...

I love colorful, simple, naive-style, artwork, so this Etsy shop TWOEMS definitely fits that description. I also really like the geometric quality that San Francisco based artist Melanie Mikecz achieves in some of her designs. When I redo my kitchen I'm buying something from this shop for sure-remember that pop of color thing I was talking about? Perfect! She says that her work is a digital mixed media technique (this is how I describe my artwork as well). What does that mean? She describes it this way-

"... it involves sketching, painting, drawing, scanning, Photoshopping (is that a word?), more painting, possibly some scribbling, more scanning, washing paint out of my hair, and then finally printing on my Epson printer."

Ha-sounds familiar!

Check out Melanie's shop-TWOEMS on Etsy...


her website- http://www.mm-illustration.com/

her Facebook page--http://www.facebook.com/pages/Twoems/165682406802831?v=wall


Have a look...

Like this? Check out similiar styles from other Etsy artists I've featured...

A FEW THINGS I LIKE....

I'm back! Camping last weekend stretched into the middle of the week so I just went with it and took the remainder of the week off as well! My boys had a blast getting tons of fresh air and dirt in every place possible! I had fun too, walking the beaches in search of snail shells, biking and playing all day long! It finally felt like summertime! Ahhhh, back to reality and hot shower.

 I have been super busy around the house too. When my husband is away I have extra chores like grass cutting and such. I actually don't mind it all that much, it's just an additional thing though. I am happy to report that I am nearly finished with my staircase project! For those of you who don't know about this catch up here. Well, I'm actually finished painting them-hooray-I did use my time away from the blog wisely-I still need a runner though and I'm pretty sure I've settled on one-I'll post some things this week regarding that. I've also begun painting the trim and doors in our house-a pretty BM Atrium white gloss. The wood is old pine and beat down. I'm loving it so far.

Our kitchen however is in the most need of some love. It will be the next big project around here and ~hopefully~ will begin in the fall. I've been looking around at lots of kitchens and kitchen things getting ideas. I'm gravitating toward an all white kitchen that is simple and slightly modern, with natural elements like wooden slabs for cutting and potted moss. I also like shades of gray and cream for wall colors and plan to get pops of color from artwork.

Today I decided I'd post some kitchen things I love right now from West Elm....

Hope you like...

1. Bird oil and Vinegar set $19
2. Modernist Mugs $10
3. Bird Bottle Opener $8.50
4. Field Study dessert plates 4 for $32
5. Modernist Bowls $8
6. Acacia Slabs $24-$36
7. Kitchen timers $12.95
8. Wooden measuring spoons $9

MASCULINE STYLE....

Men get the backseat when it comes to home decorating right? Well, mostly! We try to keep them in mind when we do our planning but when it comes down to it-they don't really care what we do- well, mostly! As long as they have a garage domain and a basement man cave outfitted with a bar and a Playstation 3 they stay pretty happy! haha All joking aside-I like to consider my man when making home decor decisions (in the major rooms) No pink walls in our house-yet! Here's a couple of masculine spaces that a woman could get used to as well!

Have a lovely Father's Day weekend! We are doing a very man-thing-camping! It's going to be a blast!!!

SEE YOU SOON!

Brad Ford-Dwellers without Decorators

Brad Ford Dwellers without Decorators

MATERIALS GIRL BLOG

LONNY MAGAZINE

MATERIALS GIRL BLOG

ART ADDITIONS....GUY STUFF

One of the reasons I even blog in the first place is to be inspired. Blogging focuses my inspiration and gives my creative concoctions purpose-a reason to be created. The things I find always inspire what I do (artistically speaking) during that week. I almost always learn something new and take that with me to the next project.

 Anyway-the Fido series from John W. Golden really inspired my dog art this week. I was surprised there wasn't a boxer in the mix-They are a great breed-our family favorite. Since Father's Day is coming I thought I'd create an artful rendering of our beloved breed in honor of Wendell who is no longer with us. Other pics this week include a Grove crane-I took the pic last year with my phone on a construction site in Northern Indiana. There is also 2 jeep pics-one is our old Jeep and the other is an awesome Jeep Willy's from a photo my husband likes-I just digitally enhanced those as well.

Man like dog, Man like Jeep-lol-

Hope you like...

Wendell P Boxer Boy-Illustration with digital color and editing

Emm's old jeep

40 ton Grove Crane

JEEP Willy's

MAN'S BEST FRIEND...

I've talked about this artist before but he's so awesome I'll mention him again! John W. Golden is an accomplished graphic artist whose wonderful prints make me smile. His designs are popping up all over in places like Land of Nod and Target! Loving his dog collection, appropriately called the Fido series. See more of his work on his website-www.johnwgolden.com

Fido series by John W. Golden on Etsy

WEEKLY INSPIRATION....MASCULINE THINGS

With Father's Day fast approaching I thought I'd turn my focus to some man things. Normally my blog radar is tuned toward all things women and children, so finding man stuff is a challenge for me. I did manage to find some cool man things over at Urban Outfitters that fit the bill though! I love the library staircase-I have absolutely no need for this what-so-ever, but it's still cool!

Hope you like....  

1.  Lulu chair in tweed $429

2. Metal Accordion style table $64

3. Globetrotter Pouf  $149

4. Bear-Deer shirt $24

5. Folding Library Bookshelf  $279

PRETTY PALETTE

I didn't post any of my art yesterday as I usually do, so I'm doing a little something today to cure my guilt;)

My piece was a mixed media project with fabric, paper, some digital editing and a little help from my friend--here's a look at the process...

final product-Jen's Beach Cruiser-mixed media digital edit

Leaving you this week with a pretty palette to inspire your interior spaces...

Have a happy weekend...

ETSY ARTIST FINDS...BIKE WEEK

I can say with complete certainty that this is the closest I'll ever get to bike week! Just kidding-I actually like dirtbikes and watching the races, but that is an entirely different subject matter. Today is just a bunch cool bicycle stuff from the Etsy universe!BTW-there is ALOT more bike stuff on Etsy-if you're so inclined...


Check it out!

1-Cyanide stitches   2-Funky Chicken designs   3- Dark Cycle Clothing   4-Graphique  5.-Idillard   6-Lenny Mudd   7- Word Garden   8-Livy Lou Designs   9- Mod Diva    10- Neuvo Designs   10-Oh Little Rabbit   11-Olliff Studios  12-Sweetnature Designs  13. Dark Cycle clothing   14-Tiny Cottage Treasures  15-Vital   16-Vohandmade

BICYCLE ART & OTHER STUFF...

Today some cool bike art from Poster Caberet and bicycle themed kids stuff for you to check out! Also have a look at the Poster Cabaret's 2011 Bike show gallery!


Hope you like...

"BICYCLE" ELEANOR GROSCH

"FREEWHEELING" BIANCA GOMEZ



JASON MUNN




NOR CAL DESIGNED BY DON CLARK OF INVISBLE CREATURE




"PEDAL PUNK" RYAN CLARK




"RENE HERSE" BY DIANA SUDYKA



ROBERT LEE FROM METHANE STUDIOS

ROBERT LEE FROM METHANE STUDIOS

BIANCA GOMEZ

"BEEP BEEP" TAD CARPENTER OF VAHALLA STUDIOS

BIANCA GOMEZ

"OVERGROWN" BRIAN TURNER

Check out these cool bicycle inspired products for the tots from online shop Rosenberry Rooms...

WEEKLY INSPIRATIONS................CYCLE STYLE

I've been feeling the need to simplify a bit so I'm doing things a little different today. I'm featuring a little shop called Cycle Style. It's  a mod little Australian cycle accessories store. I've picked a few things I think are super and I'm sharing them with you! I'm loving Australian things right now-blogs, shops, art-everything seems so colorful in Sydney!!! Now that it's finally nice outside, it's time to dust off my cruiser, get her shined up and put some accessories on the ol' girl!


Hope you like....

1. Wicker Bakers Basket-$159.00
2. I love my Bike bell-$14.90
3. Chartreuse Poppy Classic Rack Tote-$119.00
4. Claude Navy Waterproof Trench- $169.00
5. NutCase Helmets variety of mod patterns-$89


HERE'S A PIC OF MY LITTLE CRUISER.. an ELECTRA TOWNIE

MY MOM CIRCA 1971...

                                      

HAPPY TRAILS!

JEN'S ART ADDITIONS...

This week I worked on lots of artful things. I found the topic very inspiring indeed! In case you missed earlier posts, it's all about Scandinavian influences!

 I really like the use of bold colors and simple designs. I kept reading different artists saying that they had a "naive" style. I had not heard it put quite that way before but it makes sense. A formal explanation of a naive style in the case of artwork dictates that the work is primitive: of or created by one without formal training; simple. Primitive art such as that by Grandma Moses is often colorful and striking.

 Yes! This describes me too! I am without formal training, gravitate toward simple designs and colorful things. I had fun anyway and I hope you like the things I've created. I'm sure not all of the things I'm posting this week would be considered a "Scandinavian" style- but hey, I'm from Michigan not Denmark right? :)

I started the week out sampling some simple watercolor designs and incorporated those into some other pieces. Most of my artwork ends up being a blend of illustrations, paintings and digital editing and color. I'm also adding some new things that made it into my Etsy Shop this week!As always-please don't copy my work or use it without permission! Thanks!

Hope you like...





 


MODERN HELLO CHAIR



ONE HORSE SEWDISH TOWN




SWEDISH FIELDS



SWEDISH FIELDS WITH BUTTERFLIES

 



 




pink brushstrokes-acrylic on paper






"Triangles" original drawing layered with paintings and other drawings





 

"Little Bus"custom nursery print-from an original acrylic painting

another example with different colors and fonts

"Little Bus"custom nursery print-from an original acrylic painting-different colors available coming soon to my shop!

"Pink Owl" customizable nursery art print available now in my ETSY shop

"pink owl and polka dots" ABC poster print 11 x 14 $15-available in my ETSY shop!

        HAVE A LOVELY DAY!