My #1.

It has been an emotional week--a roller coaster of new life and life lost. New life--our good, good friends gave birth to their first- a lovely baby girl with a full head of hair. And life lost-- a beautiful high school friend who died of heart failure just a month after giving birth to her first baby. Heart breaking. I was also really moved by this video . All this has me thinking about what I share on this blog. I share my art, my family, my favorite fashion finds...why wouldn't I share my #1, ya know? --- I love Jesus. I hope you do too. And I'm always up for chatting about it if you have thoughts or questions. You know where to find me : )

It's gonna be a crazy weekend--my first art opening in Cincinnati, a rock show, a funeral (which will also be high school reunion of sorts), I think it's also Valentine's day.....I hope your weekend is full of good.

Love (seriously),
Arian

Hopes and Dreams book

All the artists who participated in Fifth Avenue Gallery's benefit show entitled "Hopes and Dreams" were asked to create books to go along with the art work we submitted. The books were also sold to help raise money for the Genesis House. We were given small board books and the freedom to pretty much do whatever we wanted with them within the "Hopes and Dreams" theme.

So here's my book. I was working on it right after we moved from Boston to Cincinnati and I was feeling the pressures of everything that was going on with the move, the house, the new business, etc. It might be a little tricky to read this way, it's a lot easier if you're looking at the actual book. If you want to see these images more clearly, click on the pics for a bigger version. And don't try to read the cursive text behind the paint. Just read the print written in ink on every other page.

Free Valentine Card

Here's a free V-day card for ya. Click on the image to view the larger version. Then right click to save to your computer or drag it on to your desktop. I suggest printing it out onto heavy 8.5"x11" paper, cutting it into 4 postcards and writing your love messages on the back.

Have a lovely day!

Starbucksian Wisdom

My sister grabbed this cup for me from Starbucks. It made me feel better about 1. being an artist/mom and 2. the chaos that comes with it.



Enjoying some of that "chaos" this weekend.

And speaking of moms, our good friends are on their way to the hospital to become first-time parents. Go Ben and Grace!!



This is what we brought home last time WE went to the hospital and he's worked out pretty well so far ; )

Snowy Night print

Perhaps a case of art imitating life here-- the birds, trees, and snow we've been surrounded by as of late made their way into my sketchbook. The print is right here if you're interested. I've got a couple more finished pieces to show you soon, including what I ended up doing with this big old door. So I'll be back!

He & She print set

Yay, my new scanner arrived so I've been working on turning some of my sketches into their final digital forms, including these guys--the "He & She" print set. They are available in the shop now in time for Valentine's day. Or they'd make a great anniversary/wedding present.

I'm happy in love and so love to do love-y art. My "I Do" print has been my most popular by FAR and I couldn't be happier. How cool is it that my little drawing has been given as wedding/anniversary/Valentine presents all over the globe! It makes me smile.

Good Crafternoon

While hanging with my family in-law this past weekend, we pulled out the sewing books I got for Christmas and the fabric that has been waiting patiently to be used for our first "crafternoon". I'm hoping it was the first of many. Good coffee, good company, a good sewing machine, the kids entertaining each other in the playroom--it doesn't get much better than that!
I tried my hand at this tote bag pattern from Lotta Jansdotter's book, "Simple Sewing". The word "simple" appeals to me when it comes to sewing projects and it was, in fact, pretty simple. I added the flower I made awhile back for a little extra girly flair.

The free Valentine card downloads I promised will be up in a couple days. Our scanner finally kicked the electronic bucket and a new one is set to be delivered in the next day or two. So all those sketches building up in my sketchbook will finally be put to use. In the meantime, don't forget the V-day specials I've got going on in both my shops.