I woke up like this

Boo to you!

Boo to you!! Is everyone ready for the big night tomorrow? I still have a pumpkin to carve,popcorn hands to make and loot bags too for the boys' school parties.

I just did these fun and simple cards for some clients, and yes I know one of my friends will say I liked your painted ones better, but I like the simple graphic design of these as well you just cannot get when you paint. I did paint the orange background of the bats and scanned it in so there is some of that in there, but I like how the simple black bats play against the texture.

I still find myself loving to design for Halloween, how can you hate making goolish, fun designs? I am hard pressed though when it comes to Christmas these days. I feel like I have already done it all, but you just never know when I will get inspired. I was hoping to have my Etsy site up this week, but the darn new car thing just got in the way. I should be up and ready by the end of next week if it kills me! so look for it, of course I will post all about it.

Until then my friends have a wonderful Goolish Halloween and enjoy your weekend!!

Ellen

New Print

Taking a break from Halloween and discussions today to show you a little of what you saw in the last post, some new prints that go with my "Sweet Treat" collection. This would be naturally for the gals and you could use it on a variety of products like stationery, bedding, wall decor, clothing etc.

It is a mix of collage and pen and ink and then I play with the background on the computer to give a different effect. I am enjoying this new collage look and some of my clients are as well, expect to see some on products in your near future!!

Have a great weekend all!!

Ellen

Sweet tweet talk or real talk?

Okay folks here it is would you prefer me to give you just sweet talk/ tweet talk or real talk? Some might prefer the sweet the others real, but here it is for me.. the real talk!

Pull up a chair and sit awhile since this will take some real reading on your part, and I know as a person who tries to really hard to read blogs without skimming them that its hard to read it all but sometimes you have to to hear what the person is saying.

I begin this blog as a conclusion on the conversation that has been started partly by me but truly begun by Marisa. The conversation is how some of us feel that way too often bloggland has become to nicey-nice and not real. I am not saying that being nice in any way is not the correct way to be, but that far too often when I read blogs I feel that everyone is just looking for cudos and praise for their efforts and when on the rare occasion someone makes a comment that is not considered " ass kissing" its either ignored or taken off. Now I am not saying that its okay for people to be vulgar either, but there has to be some middle ground. If we want to grow as people we have to stop pushing praise just to be liked and do it only when its really warranted.

Its almost like the helicopter parents who think that every kid is a winner and no one is a loser. When you do that you set your children up for failure in the future, how will they respond when they are not liked or loose the job? Without failure you cannot build character and without criticism you cannot possibly grow as an artist or designer.
If everytime you block out those who disagree with you, you do yourself a disservice. Maybe the criticism can take your work into a different direction or give you a better idea, and it does not mean you have to be a critic or disagree all the time, but sometimes is better than none in my view. I may be considered by some by saying this that I am not a positive person and that what is wrong with spreading the love, but for me its just not real. I like anyone would love the praise and glory, but I also know not all of my work appeals to others and not all of my comments do either, but at least you know who I am and where I am coming from, if you are always "kissing up" how could we know what is real about you?

I began this journey of blogging when I saw that many of my colleagues were doing it and thought what a great idea to give my work a voice when before it did not have one.I did find it challenging in the beginning to have other bloggers comment and respond and finally after over a year I know who my peeps are who are not which is fine with me, but what bothers me are those who make it seem like they can do it all! I am sorry but I have two kids and a house, work and in no way can I do it all without help, and I challenge those who make it seem they can. Their photos show a clean house and all the ducks in a row, but I am skeptical on the reality, if I could have a clean house, the kids fed, work completed and I can craft on the side well just call me "Superwoman!"

It would be nicey-nice if we were truthful and supported each other and gave the commenter helpful hints on how they work it out, rather than make it seem they can do it all. I often get questions on how I license my work and how to go about it and most of the time I refer my friend Carol so I do not have to answer them. Also I quite frankly spent 10 years building my business and I am not going to give my tricks away that keep my job afloat, would Coca-Cola give out their formula? So there it is folks I am in a nice way saying I will not give out my secrets but I will refer you to an agent or friend who can, which I think is a win-win situation.

So there you have it folks the "straight talk" or Sweet/tweet talk from me and if it bothers you well so be it, if I makes you think than great and if I helps you to become your more authentic self then FABULOUS!!!

Oh and by the way if you want some more insight in my life you will know that I love to watch Bill Maher, Entourage, The Biggest Loser, Project Runway, Top Chef and CNN! My favorite books are biographies I love to cook and drink wine, I love to hangout with my close friends and would rather spend money on a night out with them than a great pair of shoes. I love Italy and hope to live their one day, I hate absolutely HATE liars, and have lost friends because of it, and I am not talking about your little white lie, I mean the ones that are hurtful! I cannot tolerate stupidity, ignorance and racism! I sometimes feel like I am going to burst and then well a glass of wine always helps!

Lastly I am looking forward to November 4th when I cast my vote for Barack Obama!! Someone has to finally get rid of the worst gov't in the history of America and someone has to wake up Americans to learn to not live like Kings and think that "spreading the wealth" is not a bad thing!!!

So there is the long and the short of why I feel that "not ready to make nice" is sometimes warranted and needed these days in blogland!

Say it and mean it!

Ellen

Halloween Party!!

Ahh here at last is the party to all parties courtesy of our hostess with the super mostess! Miss Vanessa!

Yes my pretties I hope you are ready for your yearly sugar boost and some fun spooky times! First I would like you to meet our chefs for the evening....

They are not the happy chefs but rather ones with a snare and snarkle and you better watch out for their creations... it might be full of unpleasantness and a little poison!

You see how he carefully puts his magic to use, and makes a treat worthy of a king, or maybe a goblin or two.

Here your chefs have created a one of a kind treat for you to eat, you better hurry up before Joe gets them, he may be skinny but he can eat a treat faster than you can say "yumm!"

Yummm just look at all those goodies and oh whats this? Look out the spider is trying to come down and grab all of the angry chefs creations, you better shoo Mr. Spider just go back to where you came from.

Ahhhh it looks like Joe has spotted the treats.. oh no we better grab ours fast or that skinny Joe will eat them all!!

Hey who is that over there I see?... Why its the Famous Spongebob and his friend Skully..Boy do they look like they are having fun!

"Hello everyone, its nice to see you I just love Halloween and look at those treats, yumm, almost better than a crabby patty!" said Spongebob. I must grab these goodies now and my favorite is that eyeball one!

Yummmmm....

"Hey Skully, it looks like Mickey is here to join us too!!, wow now it really is a party!"

It looks like Joe eat too much as usual and now is resting. Boy that skinny guy sure can eat up! I am amazed at how much, where does it all go?

" Hey did you hear the one about the Pumpkin?"

"No what was it?"

"I don't know I am asking you!"

The evening was upon us and the goblins were coming out to play, I could hear the howling outside even the patch was scared.

They love to see the children but always fear the goblins and witches!! What was that?

The ghosts have arrived and a bit late but no sooner did they come when...

I heard the man in the cage start up again, why does he cry so? I just cannot take it...

The howling ghost cannot even take his cries... He has to get out quickly or he will go crazy. I think I see him headed back to his house.

Ahh there he goes and look his house is full of other howling friends.

Well the party was a great success but I think its time for the angry chefs to get to bed, so I hope you had fun and please come back again, but make sure you grab your treats early next time so Joe does not get them!!

Until next year!!

Happy Halloween!!!

x.o Ellen

when children create...

Great things can happen! Here are a few designs that my two boys have created for Halloween. This one is done my oldest and as you can plainly see he has quite the imagination. I have promised him that soon we will put up an Etsy site for his wonderful creations in order for him to make and save some money. He already has sold many greeting cards and clay creations in order to buy Legos, the drug of choice!

Here are some more of his wonderful creations. He was watching me do some collages so naturally he had to get in on the act and create one of his own. I love that he used this orange paisley design for the sun! You just never know what they will do when given the tools.

Once Colby, my youngest saw his big brother's creations, well he just had to get in on it as well. I love his writing the most, since he is still in pre-school and has only a capacity to write the big letters. Naturally I will have to save these precious gems for years to come.

I am hoping to do some more fun Halloween creations with the boys at the end of the week and post it during my blog Halloween Party Sat.since I will be participating with others on Vanessa's Blog!

I hope you can join us for the fun!!

Until then get your Halloween creative groove on!!

Ellen

black and white

If you haven't noticed these days there is allot of black and white Halloween products out there, and that is because it falls on a Friday this year. What does that have to do with it you ask? Well since its on a Friday more adults will have parties...therefore the creepy upscale black and white prevail.

Creepy webs....

creepy pumpkins..

and more creepy skulls!! I have been taking some of my old designs and giving them new life by translating them into black and white, and its fun to see the change. I often have clients who take my work and re-design it by re-coloring it and you would be amazed at how different it looks. I know some designers who refuse to let this happen to their work, but I find that more often than not it works to my benefit. Its as though you have another pair of eyes seeing your design for the first time and the outcome generally is great.

This year we are canceling our Halloween party and Christmas party, which is unfortunate but necessary for buckling down on spending. With the market so unsure we decided to cut back on allot of useless spending and conserve. I am going to unplug almost everything I can in my house to save energy, clip coupons, and make Christmas presents instead of buying them this year.

How are you doing during this fallout, and are you being conservative about your spending?

This country is in dire need of change and come Nov. 4th I will be there in line to vote for it!!! Now its not that I come from a very Democratic state I will be a Democratic voter, its just that 8 more years is wayyyyyy to much for the Republican gov't and lord help us if Palin was VP!! I think I would have to move out of the country at that point!
Also I do not want to discriminate against age but 72! yes 72 is way too old to run a country in dire need of change, at that age you cannot possibly be someone who has allot of change in him!!

okay enough ranting for one day, back to work... must make more snowmen, santas, and Christmas goodies!!

Ellen

13 years ago today.....

13 years ago today...

We walked down that asile, took our vows and began our journey.

Its hard to believe that its been that long and boy I do we look young there!
I still remember that rainy day in October and how impossible it was to get around since the Pope Jon Paul II gave mass that day in Central Park. I remember going on the subway form my hairdresser with my sister because the cab could not go past 34th street and we needed to get to Central Park South.

I remember how I was calm but sweating the whole time, and I remember some great music and lots of dancing. I was looking at the pictures today and remembering my best friend Paul who is no longer here with us(I miss him) and how he along with my sister and cousin painted my cousin Robby's face when he passed out in our suite!
It was such a great day and one I will treasure forever!

Today we look a little different and well that just comes with the territory of having
two kids and all of our job changes, and priorities. I used to think I would be traveling all over the globe right now, but I guess that will have to wait. We are looking forward to moving to another country one day, maybe when the kids are off to college, and start our second adventure, but for now its right here at home.

Here we are today, yes that is blonde in my hair!! However I just recently dyed it back to a lighter brown. This photo was taken at my husbands 50th bday party last year in Cape Cod and he still looks great, not one grey hair!

Happy Anniversary! Love ya babe!

Ellen

I scream for Halloween!!

Ahh its that time of year when you get out your ghosts, goblins, bats and witches and of course pumpkins! We spent the first half of the weekend decorating for Halloween and were hoping to go apple picking yesterday but atlas it was a cold and crummy day. So instead we got the boys costumes had some cocoa and made a fire in our fireplace.

I have been trying to think up the perfect costume for our friends party this Friday, but I am not inspired for anything in particular. First I wanted to be Sarah Palin, but thought that the kids would think it was too boring, then maybe Princess Leia, but naa, so I am back to the drawing board on that.

These are some fun designs I did awhile ago and this one in particular was part of a big collection for Boston Warehouse and Design Design. They made soo many great things out of it like ceramic plates, treat jars, stirrers, spreaders, bowls and paperplates, napkins, invitations etc. I still get people asking me where they can find the plates, even today I received such an email, but these days you could only find it on Ebay.

I am in the mist of creating all kinds of new and fun Halloween patterns and products for clients and cannot wait to see the final outcome of those. Halloween is the most exciting category for me to design for. Its not everyday you dress up in crazy costumes and parade down the street, so naturally its the most fun.

Naturally living in the state where they would hang supposed witches, Halloween rules and many houses are fully decorated with all their skeletons and pumpkins and other creepy delights. I will post our full decorated house soon, so look for that, but until then Happy Haunting!!

Ellen