I woke up like this

Get out the sketchbook

I am working on creating more sketches these days for new and improved ideas and just thought I would show a few of them. I have many sketchbooks for over about 2 decades that are just chalk full of ideas and designs. When I am in a pinch of trying to do something new I often refer to the sketchbooks for new
inspiration. You never know what you will find when you revisit something you passed on.

I am in the process of digitally putting some of these crazy flowers into a design. I am quite the novice at digital art eventhough when I designed children's wear back in the early 90's I was quite good at it. However since I stopped using computers and mostly painted I lost all that knowledge so I fear I must take a class, possibly at Mass Art. Or maybe I will get a tudor, if you know of any good ones in the Boston area let me know!!

So now I am getting ready for my oldest son's First Communion this weekend and he was fighting me yesterday trying on the white suit. He was exclaiming " I hate the color white" to which I exclaimed white is the absence of color so technically it's not a color. He was not buying it!! I have to tell you that white was my
favorite "color"as a kid until my artist dad told me it was not a color!! Thanks dad! Bummer. Anyway he will
be wearing the suit kicking and screaming but he will look so handsome in it. We are not having a big party since most of my husbands family is out of the state and some of mine as well. Its going to be about 10 of us which suits me fine after we just had his bday party last weekend!

Okay enough floundering off to do something fabulous! Like order a tasty cake and buy and outfit!

Ellen

Another Birthday!

Yes there is another birthday coming up in the house and its my oldest boy Hayden's! He will be turning 8 on Monday and we are getting ready for his big Lego party on Sunday. The party will be filled with Lego games and a moonwalk of course. We are hoping there is no rain, although they are saying there might be some in the morning. As long as its gone by the party I am fine. I just can't have 13 boys running around the house or I will go crazy.

This week has been crazy with the boys home for school break, I haven't had a chance to sit down at my desk and I need to desperately!! I am looking forward to school on Monday but then we have to get ready for Hayden's First Communion on next Sunday! It seems like its just one thing after another to do these days and I am trying hard to get all my plants in on the deck early and clean up the gardens too. Yesterday I planted some veggies and herbs as well as some pots on the deck. We are getting ready for the summer early and I am happy about that.

Okay so now I have to try and get some work done before I take Hayden out to get things for the party, and then plant the rest of the pansies and petunias I have on my deck!!

Have a great weekend all!!

Ellen

I scream you scream we all scream for......

ICE CREAM!!!! Oh yeah now that the weather has finally become warm and sunny it's good ol' Ice cream time. Last night we took the boys out for some much needed ice cream treat, I myself had to restrain because I am trying hard to get some pounds off, but I enjoyed watching them eat to their hearts content.

We were talking about our favorite flavors and mine as a child and still are Black Raspberry and Pastachio! Oh yum. My dad always like Rum Raisin and my little guy is a true Vanilla fan. Hayden my oldest loves Chocolate and Coffee! What is your favorite flavor? As always I had to have chocolate sprinkes on it or as we call it here in Massachusetts Jimmies!! Ever since I went to Italy though my taste for ice cream has changed and if I can get that fabo Gelato like they have in Whole Foods I would rather have that. The Italians just know how to make anything taste good period!

So get out and get your ice cream groove on!

Ellen

New Pattern

Do you like the new "mushroom" print with or without the background? I am not sure, I like the clean lines of the white background but another part of me likes the craziness of the polkadots. I am working on a number of
new designs these days and all sorts of other projects for an upcoming show I will be doing here in Plymouth, MA in June. I will keep you posted on that in a bit when I have my info together.

Until then I am just working on more new things as I see the beautiful sun shinning out my office window and hear the birds all around. Ahh how I love the Spring!

Ellen

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!! Yes today is the day and the sun is shinning and the birds are out! I can't say that I am happy to be getting older but I do love to have cake and presents!! I went and had a facial earlier and it was great ! I wish I had more time for Spa day but I had to get my big boy from the bus stop. I will finish my pampering over the weekend with a mani-pedi!! Okay that's it for now, must go relax!!!

xo Ellen

IF- Save

Save me a piece of Cake!!! Yumm Yumm! Just a few days away before I get older and I am not sure if I will save any cake! I did this illustration for a greeting card and I just love to paint little bugs.

Funny but I feel with today's economy its almost like we are told to eat cake instead of trying to get rid of this war and pay attention to the home front. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer! I cannot wait to cast my vote on this upcoming election and get rid of this horrible President!!!

Ellen

The countdown begins!!!

The birthday countdown now begins!! In 6 more days I will be another year older but not sure if another year wiser!! Here are a few fun birthday designs I have done awhile ago that I really enjoyed doing. I am still waiting to see if someone wants to take them for something. Who knows why certain designs get picked and others do not, I guess it all depends on the buyer.

I love the crazy stripe, it reminds me of all my crazy birthdays, some have been nice some have been horrible. I have so many expectations on that day that I get myself in trouble and I really need to learn to let go.

Last year for my big 40 I we rented a big ski house in Stratton, VT and had a bunch of friends for the weekend with their kiddies. My friend Tim who is an amazing cook made the dinner and my fabo friends
Ron and Hank brought a cake from the fabulous Cupcake Cafe in NYC! Ron's studio is right around the corner from the bakery so it was the perfect choice. The cake looked like the Sunflower painting by Van Gough, and the taste was to die for. I wish I had some amazing photos of it but I guess we were drinking too much Brunello!! Also yum! If you like red wine you have to try a Brunello from the Tuscany region of Italy. I went there on my honeymoon and Ron goes often since he lived in Italyand speaks Italian. I am of course waiting until the kids are out of the house and moving there asap!!

So I am not sure yet what I am going to do this year, I was going to gather friends again and do something but not sure what just yet. I am having a hard time deciding to either go out or stay home. In any event I will have to do something which involves my favorite drink of choice Champagne!! I could bathe in the stuff and others just hate it, very funny!!

Well enough about me and my getting a year older, I just wish it was sunny out today, I know that April showers bring May flowers but I have had enough of this winter and its weather and want to be outside all the time. Let's go Spring I need my heat fix now!!

Have a great weekend all!!!

xo Ellen

Welcome April, happy April fools!!

Break out the fun jokes and pranks because it's April fools day!! Oh how we love to play those silly games and
lets face it we all love it. I have my oldest boy pulling a prank on my hubby in the morning let's hope he can pull it off! Here are some fun bright prints to brighten up your day if you have lots of rain as we do here in the northeast.

These prints would make great scrap papers and giftwrap and possibly even bedding. I love the fun bright colors and playful flowers.

I hope you are all having fun today!! I am looking forward to this month eventhough I will be another year older next week. Last year when I turned 40 I was okay but now that its going over that number I am not liking it one bit. I know age is just a number but I wish mine was 30!! Ahh to be young and slim again!!
My oldest guy has his birthday around the end of the month and we are planning a Lego party since he is a fanatic about Legos.

Okay gotta run now talk to you later.

Ellen