the etsy storque must like me! my print has been featured!

So I went to check out the Mother's Day Vote going on over at etsy, only to be SHOCKED with delight to find my print "Those Darling Buds of May" to be the main image for the voting! Go check it out! 

Although my print did not make it into the items to actually be voted on, I am so honored to be featured in this capacity.

Alright, that is it for my lunch break update!

Thanks again for stopping by!

Stacie

it is giveaway time, x2!

Howdy (especially to everyone stopping by from Prudent Baby or Smile and Wave!

How is everyone doing on this gorgeous spring day?

I have a confession to make: I went to my first Razorback sporting event last night........ conformist... I know.

It is just so darn hard to make any friends here unless you can speak the proverbial Razorback vernacular....

giveaway #1 at Prudent Baby

Moving along to the giveaways! Please head on over to Prudent Baby for your chance to win 2 prints by me! Prudent Baby and I have partnered to offer a special Mother's Day Giveaway! For the momma, you could win my new "Those Darling Buds of May" print. For the kiddos in your life, enter to win an "Owl Alphabet Poster".

 giveaway #2 at Smile and Wave

 giveaway #2 at Smile and Wave

Also, PLEASE visit Smile and Wave and enter for a chance to win your very own "Turquoise Owl Alphabet" poster by yours truly!

I did not realize that both blogs would be hosting the giveaways on the same day until, like NOW, but it is really kinda fun to meet all of these incredible people stopping by from both websites!

Thanks so much for all of the support! The shop sales have really been picking up! It really warms my little heart to share my doodles with you all, and to think that some people are purchasing them.... it makes me want to never stop smiling!

Oh, and I like Kate Nash's song "Mouthwash". You should listen to it! It makes me feel upbeat! (Ignore the ad at the beginning, I could not find a video of it without the ad....)

Kate Nash - Mouthwash

Uploaded by chloegc. - Click for more funny videos.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Stacie

my personal mother's day picks

Alrighty, folks. 

Mother's Day is right around the corner. And, seeing as how I am a mother now, I suppose I will share with you my personal picks for Mother's Day gifts!

Nathan, I hope you are reading this....

Amazing Camera Bag via Jo Totes

All Seasons Shirtdress from Anthropologie

This Poster (hmmm I've only featured it like 3 times on my blog... time to invest?)

Glee Soundtrack (How many times can I watch this on hulu?)

That's it! I really don't know what to expect from my 17th month old... hopefully she gets me something good... (I kid).

It is such a joy being a mom. Violet said the words "turkey" and "milk" for the first time this morning. I am so proud of my little munchkin. She truly is the light of my life! 

-Stacie

Darling Buds of May

"Darling Buds of May" 8x10 Print. Find it here.

i got my hair did and blog layout update!

I did a home dye job. It doesn't look all that bad. I had a traumatic experience recently at a salon where they refused to lighten my hair because they said I look like a "low maintenance woman" and blond hair requires upkeep......

So, I am throuroughly happy with the current state of my hair. YAY ME!

I do want to go lighter, as a part of my "List of 25 Things I Want to Accomplish Before I am 25".

Oh, and in case you missed it, I have revamped my blog! New background and banner and links and a button for you to put on your own blog! Let me know if you use the button!

<center><a href="http://www.gingibersnap.com"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4549304618_1cc0ed5bb7_o.gif" /></a></center>

I also made a new banner for my Gingiber Etsy shop to fit in with my "re-branding". I like it! It is more cohesive, and recently I have been feeling like simpler is better. What do you think?
 

I am spending my day with my family. Violet has become very territorial recently, only wanting to spend time with her momma. That's just fine with me!

How are you spending your Sunday?

-Stacie

cosas minimas by blanca gomez

This is just a mini post. I wanted to share with you the completely inspiring illustrative work of Blanca Gomez! Check out more of it here.

Have a lovely rainy day!

-Stacie

finally found violet's birthday pictures!

So I lost the cord to our old camera that contained all of Violet's 1st Birthday Pictures. Fortunately, I found the cord tonight. So, please humor me in enjoying some moment's from Violet's first birthday party! 

*Also, it should be noted that my "thought bubble" was absolutely inspired by Rachel Denbow's absolutely AWESOME chalkboard thought bubbles... mine was a really quick version made from cardboard and black paint*

Thanks for celebrating with me, even if it is 6 months late!

-Stacie

tuesday inspiration

Sometimes, all I want to do is look at pretty things. I want to surround myself with lovely pictures and art and furnishings... somehow it makes me feel alive inside.... does that sound crazy? Then call me crazy.

Here are some absolutely INSPIRING images to help you through your day!

sources: weheartit & livingetc

Have a great evening!

-Stacie

dog vomit on a monday night? you don't say!

Alright.

I was planning to put together a loverly post for your reading pleasure. Instead, we are gonna get to the nitty gritty of being a pet owner.

Wallace

Schroeder

You see these two faces? Well, they almost died tonight.... HOW you ask? Well, Miss Violet has begun a new nurturing phase of her life. She puts blankets on her stuffed animals so that they feel cozy. She brings me a pillow if I am laying down. And, she feeds the dogs.

Did you know that raisins, even if eaten in small quantities, are TOXIC & DEADLY to dogs? I did not know either! Nathan and I sat and watched Violet sweetly feed both Wallace and Schroeder raisins one by one. We thought it was so precious. Nathan was enamored at our gentle, loving little girl.

Then, my sister called to see how my day was. I mentioned Violet, the dogs, and the raisins. She alerted me to the danger that raisins pose to pups. Even 4-5 raisins can cause a dog's kidney's to shut down.

My dogs ate about 30.

Raisins.

EACH.

I panicked. Nathan read somewhere that giving dogs hydrogen peroxide can induce vomiting. So we spent a good solid hour forcing the gross liquid down our poor puppy's throats.

I am happy to report that we did recover about 99% of the raisins.

I understand if you stop reading my blog due to the graphic nature of this post..... but please do come back!

I will have a much less disgusting post tomorrow, pinky promise!

love,

Stacie, Wallace, and Schroeder.

strike a pose

We went to Branson this weekend. We went for a walk on the most beautiful day that I can remember in recent history. Violet tried to eat a dandelion...wouldn't it be much easier if everyone just decided that dandelions were no long weeds, but super cool flowers? Yard work would be sooo much easier! Nathan and I went to dinner while my mom watched Miss Violet. Later, Violet went for a ride in a laundry basket (see picture above). The flowers were in bloom, my kiddo was healthy, and I think that we all were pretty happy!

How was your weekend?

Have a happy Sunday!

-Stacie

Amy Blackwell Artist Interview!

Hello! It is my privilege to introduce you to one of my favorite artists and fellow doodler, Amy Blackwell. I first discovered Amy around the holidays via a decor8 "Take Five Tuesday". Boy am I glad that I found her!

 

Amy's work embodies all of the things that I love: an identifiable personal style, rich, crisp color schemes, and a quirky narrative (who doesn't love shifty eyed badgers and animals who wear top hats?)

As an added plus, the prints of her illustrations (found here at her  "blackoutwell" etsy shop) are very reasonably priced! Some of her lovely prints will be used during Violet's room redecoration!

Amy was so kind as to participate in an artist interview for my little blog! 

Artsy Questions:

Tell me a bit about your background with doodling. How did you get started? 

I think it was as simple as picking up a pen. I took a big chunk of time off making anything art related after my degree and then one day it felt like the right time to start a new project, so I went out and purchased a sketchbook and some lovely muji pens. It’s always nice to have an excuse to go nuts in the muji stationary section... so many colours... so shiny...

"Just Resting"

Do you doodle full time or is it a side job?

Doodling is something I do on the side. By day I doodle and by night I show films in a Cinema. And when I’m not doodling or showing films or both then I’m probably sat drinking a cup of tea talking nonsense at someone. That pretty much sums up my average day. 

 Describe your workspace.
Currently my workspace is a printer, a box of envelopes (varying in size), some card making materials, pens, big colourful sticky tape, paper, an empty stapler and some digital scales all neatly piled up in the living room waiting for me to either trip over them or put them to good use. Sometimes both. I’m in-between work spaces at the minute so my stuff it slowly taking over the living room - this will change though VERY soon. I hope. Fingers crossed.

Amy's Current Workspace

Where do you get your inspiration for your art?

From all over the place. I don’t think there’s a set place I find it. I like to listen to stories and plays on the radio while I work. It helps me focus and inspires me because while I’m drawing my mind gets filled with pictures performing what I’m listening to. They might not be relevant to what I’m trying to doodle but sometimes you need completely unrelated visuals to provoke new ideas or thought patterns. And sometimes you just need to hear a good ‘Whodunnit’. That would certainly explain why a lot of my animals look shifty or cunning.

  "April Showers"

Who are your favorite artists?

To name a few: Oliver Jeffers, Caitlin Shearer, Camilla Engman, Lizzy Stewart... I could go on and on and on... these 4 are probably my current obsessions.

What do you find to be the most difficult aspect of being an independent artist?

Keeping the momentum going. Sometimes it can feel like a chore and you feel like you should be creating new things constantly, which just isn’t realistic. I’m a bit fickle so I get really enthusiastic about projects and then change my mind over the next few days. It’s really hard to develop ideas when you don’t get the ball rolling in the first place.

Dear You Home Sweet Home 

Now for some random fun questions!

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Derby. I moved to Nottingham when I was 19 for educational purposes and I’ve been here ever since. I still go back to Derby though, I like Derby. But Nottingham is where I live work and play pretty much.

 "1 Spring Card"

What is your favorite movie?

I used to say Braveheart just to see the look of disgust on peoples faces and watch them think twice about talking to me. I do really enjoy that film - I understand historically it’s flawed and it’s super sappy, but c’mon the music’s great! In truth I have many favourite films and working in a cinema means they always swap and change. I love Koyaanisqatsi. I think I first saw it when I was 2 - my folks used to put it on and I’d just be glued to the TV screen. Two hours later they would rewind it and start again. Amazing music, amazing visuals. That’s probably always going to be my number one film but I’ll give you a recent top 5 for luck (in no specific order); Unmade Beds, A Serious Man, The Beat That My Heart Skipped, I’m a Cyborg, Hackers. 

 "Little Black Bear"

What kind of music do you listen to?

I listen to all sorts. My roots are in rock but recently I’m enjoying more bleepy electro stuff. I like a lot of classical too especially miserable film scores. I collect those. A lot of the ‘new’ music I’ve recently purchased was discovered on adverts, trailers and soundtracks. That says I probably need to go out and play more.

"The Singing Blue Bird" 

What is your biggest pet peeve?

One thing that annoys me most is when you’re comfortably walking along listening to a great song on your headphones and then you accidentally catch the cable and yank the headphones out of your ears/off your head. That makes me very very very grumpy - I can’t explain why it makes me so grumpy. Just thinking about it makes me grumpy... ah! Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.

What advice do you have for fellow doodlers?

Keep on doodling! and treat yourself to a gingerbread latte once in a while. It’s nice to have a bit of that Christmas feel scattered throughout the year, sigh I love gingerbread...

 Miss Amy Blackwell

There you have it! I hope that everyone takes a moment to browse Amy's etsy and personal website amyblackwell.co.uk!

Thanks so much, Amy, for being such an inspiring artist!