These Melancholy Days

These grey, cold, post-Christmas, pre-spring days are good for a few things---


coffee shops


lattes


deep conversations


and sketches of often melancholy characters.





We're also day dreaming...day dreaming about what big love stories to tell next.


And day dreaming about travels. Where will spring take us? Where will summer take us? What adventures are next in store?


My introverted heart doesn't mind this melancholy season at all. I feel at home here. Quite at home : )

Arian : )

Adventure Day

Daniel doesn't travel for work TOO often. But when he does, it's to some pretty awesome places. City views. Mountain views. Dolphins jumping out of clear tropic ocean views. He works hard on these trips, but still...there are dolphins. Like today he's working hard on a fun creative project in a cabin on top of a mountain somewhere. Not. Too. Shabby.




I won't lie. Sometimes I struggle with that " love does not envy" thing. I mean, who wrote that anyways? : ) But this time I decided to change the story a little bit. Instead of the "daddy leave home to go on fun adventures while we try to survive without him" story, I decided that we should go on fun adventures too! Why just survive when you can thrive!




So yesterday we packed a suitcase and set out on some impromptu adventures of our own!




And we invited family to come along.




There were slides and inflatable jump houses involved.
















Sweat. Sugar. And laughing.




And we ate more than our fair share of junk food. Daniel is not a fan of White Castles (crazy, right?!) so we took advantage of our opportunity. You're welcome sons. : )




Then we checked into a local hotel.




And got our swim on!




Looking good, Eli, looking good.




It was pretty much awesome.




Then we ordered pizza and watched cartoons in the cozy hotel beds.




And enjoyed the view of our own city. Pretty, isn't she.




We woke up bright and early to get Hudson to school. I pulled into the driveway at home, stopped, then pulled right back out. I wasn't ready for the adventure to be over. So we headed out for some breakfast. And we drew pictures of some of our favorite memories of our adventure day.
This is the giant inflatable Batman jump house and Jude riding down the slide. Nailed it.




I don't like when Daniel leaves. But from now on, when he does, we'll be sure to have fun stories of our own to share with him when he gets back.
The day inspired me. Whenever I find myself in a story I'm not too fond of, I'm going to do my best to change it.
Arian : )

Success!

 (photo courtesy of Levi Bethune)

Our Love Stories art show opening was a huge success! It was a packed house the whole night. A lot of love in one small space : )  The music was great. The coffee was delicious. The company was beautiful. The art was very well received! We couldn't have been happier about it.

My sister, btw, has a new EP out. It is awesome. And she is currently selling it to raise money for her upcoming medical missions trip to South Africa. So do yourself and South Africans a favor and download it!

The whole process was sweet -- late nights of creating art together, the lack of sleep, the abundance of coffee, the mountains of laundry that accumulated during the final week push to get ready for the show, getting to see so many good friends. It was all good. I'm very grateful.

(The happy artists! Jason, me, Daniel)

I'm working hard to fulfill print orders and get all the new art up in my Etsy shop and Society 6 shop.

Cincinnati locals can stop into Fort Thomas Coffee to see the art in person through the rest of the month!

Check back soon for more!

Arian : )

Hard at Work!

We've been spending most of our weekends and evenings creating more art for next week's show (whoa, NEXT week!)


I never mind an excuse to make lots of trips to my favorite little downtown art store


I'm having a lot of fun with the materials I've chosen for this show--masonite, acrylic, felt,


and lettering from my new label maker.





And the guys are slaving away at their Cintiqs making beautiful things with digital paints and pens.





The little boys are working on their pieces for the show too! A whole family affair!


Better get back to work!

Arian : )

In progress...

We're hard at work on our first family art show!



Sickness has tried its best to hold us down but we're pushing forward, stealing every moment we can to work on our projects!



We set up two desks in the living room for Daniel and Jason to create their digital magic.




And I've taken over the dining room table with tubes if paint and scraps of felt.








There's a LOT left to do but we are loving doing it!




If you're local or feel like making a road trip, then come on by!
Arian : )

Crocheted Collar

I've been trying to fit in a little crocheting every day. It's good for the soul.


I crocheted this pretty little collar out of sparkly grey yarn in just over a day during Christmas break.
You can find the free pattern here.



I looove crafting for other people but it's also preeeetty fun to make something for yourself once in awhile.

Arian : )

A New Year

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions but this year I have three January resolutions.


Number one is to start the day with something fun. I have a theory that all the chores will get done no matter what, I'll just be happier doing them. That, or at the end of the month our house will be a steaming pile of dirty laundry and dirty dishes. Either way, a good time will be had.


Number two is no white flour or white sugar for the month of January. We're using this time to experiment with things like brown rice pizza crust and scones made with coconut flour and honey.



Number three is no Pinterest or blog reading for the month of January. Shocking, I know.


I was starting to feel like I was suffering from sensory overload. I need to make my world a little smaller and a little quieter. If I want to be making more art, I need to clear some space in my head and my day. I need time to start putting some of those good Pinterest ideas into action!


I've only been doing this for a week, but already it's been fruitful. More patience. Better ideas. Deeper conversations.


And more art.



Another plan I came up with to make space for art was to give everyone in our household their own unique set of dishes that they wash themselves by hand. Less dirty dishes for me to wash means more time for art! This set is mine, obviously.
I hope your new year is off to a good start!