Kokanee Creek Park

These are from last week, I hung out up the lake with a friend of mine. We went to the park and did some serious food shopping in Nelson. Great day.

For Jen

Jackalope by VampyNeo

Alice Inspiration

A while ago when I was working on my Alice in Wonderland illustration I was looking for inspiration and stumbled across these photos. Apparently from an old Vogue shoot. Vogue does the coolest photo shoots! (via team sugar)

Portrait

This was for a girl who won my Kiriban on deviantart. The deal with the Kiriban is that the artist picks an upcoming number on their hit counter. The person to be that visitor has to take a screencap of the page as proof, and then they get a free gift. Usually art. Does that even make sense? Or you can just read about it on wiki.

Anyway, I had two people land on 55,555 at the same time, and this is the first one.

Logolicious

Check out the new logo I whipped up for my Etsy Shop. Because really...it was time. Thoughts?

Hey look...

I bought art today!

Truth is that even though I post art on here all the time...the rare times I buy it it's a usually a split second decision. My brain goes "Pretty!....and I can afford it!" and then I click buy now.


So now this is on it's way to me. It's tiny...and wonderful...and I have not idea where it will live. But we will be very happy together.

By The Brilliant Magpie. Her whole gallery is love.

Syringa

We went hiking at Syringa Provincial Park a couple days ago. It's one of our favourite short hikes.

Yellow-pine chipmunk:


Tiger lilies are my favourite!:


Aligator lizard. He just sat around and posed for me :)


I wanted to take a picture through the hole...so Craig got me up on his shoulder so i could reach. And I hit him on the head with the camera for his troubles. Good times.

Cuteness Rules on Etsy

Here are some of my favourite cutie things:

My Imaginary Friends Sticker Set by The Tiny Fig


Edward the Elephant by Strawberry Moonbeam


Kitty Egg Molded Crayons by Kitty Baby Love



CraftPudding Fat Quarter Fabric by Craft Pudding (so cute!)



Yeti by Zoogu

Evening Walk

Went for a walk a couple days ago, just before the sun went down. The birds were singing like crazy. Apparently it's year 7 in the 7 year tent caterpillar cycle, which must make the birds happy. And I have to tell you, one caterpillar is cute...swarming masses of them? Not so much.

Tree House!

Finished! I'm glad to have another boy print! It's available in my shop here: 5x7, 8x10

Summer Movies

Can you tell I saw Up last night?


So the long winter of crappy movies is behind us (well, except the new Bond...and Benjamin Button...but that was moooonths ago) and summer movie fun has come, I thought I'd give you a quick review of what we've seen so far. Because you care, remember?


Star Trek
Alright, this movie was good fun for everyone, trekkie or otherwise. It had the unfortunate side effect in my house of Craig finding out that I know more about Star Trek than anticipated. Yes, yes my inner nerd showed up again. Anyway it's a fun action movie that takes place when Kirk and Spock and all those guys were young. You can spot the nerds in the crowd because while everyone else is saying "wow, who know Star Trek could be fun?" we are going "aaah, they used the time travel to make a new dimension so that these movies can be different from the canon!". Yeah.

The kid who plays Kirk? Excellent. Very like you would think a young Kirk would be like...without seeming to be pretending to be William Shatner. Not an easy task as he has to be one of the most spoofed characters of all time.

Kinda seemed strange that all the crew members would join the Enterprise in a matter of days though...(quiet, inner nerd!)

Oh oh, and the retro vibe was amusing, although it all seemed a bit too...shiny. But the mini skirts, go go boots and afros made me giggle a lot.

Also I kept expecting Spock to kill people and eat their brains for power. Turns out that didn't happen.


Terminator Salvation
Yet another nerd moment. As it happens I love the Terminator movies. Don't know why. So I was pretty pumped to go. As we were waiting in line I said "so this will be cool because we'll get to meet John Connor's father before he sends him back in time to protect his mother!" And Craig gave me that look again. Then we went in and I saw that there were many guys there by themselves. Yes, I dragged my husband (well dragged is a bit strong...but it was all my idea) to a movie that guys go see alone...
Anyway, the reviews weren't fantastic but it gets much love from me. The effects were fantastic...aaaand it has Christian Bale! As well as this guy, who is also hot. The plot wasn't crazily deep or twisty, but it's an action movie people! What do you expect. I loved the little biker terminators that come off the big fat terminator.

I do not love the little eel terminators that lurk in water...eeeew. No love for them!


Up
Oh Pixar, how do you keep making such great movies? Also, who thinks them up? Seriously. This movie is about a crotchety old man who is sad and lonely because his wife has died, then a fat little kid starts annoying him. Then he decides to fly his house to South Africa. Also there are talking dogs. And an epic battle between two very elderly men.

Seriously, how do you pitch that movie?

It was sooo good. Very emotional at times. Very hilarious. And very very magical. I mean, the house flies...with balloons! Balloons!

On another note every time I see a new Pixar movie I am amazed at the leaps they have taken in animation. They manage to keep the best things about old school animation (interesting character design and stylizations) and mix in the best strengths of CG (amaaazing textures for one). Every detail in this movie is perfect and interesting. Especially the house and all it's furniture and nic nacs.

Mom and Dad, make sure you see it when it comes into town, you will looove the talking dogs.



So there you have it. Now you know all my dark nerdy secrets, and the shameful fact that I really get bored by most "artistic" movies. I missed the new X-men movie, tragically, and am eagerly awaiting Transformers 2 and the newest Harry Potter later this summer.

How bout you guys? Got any recommendations for me? What are you looking forwards to this summer?

Sunfest Ahoy

This is one of those...how did I get myself into this moments...


Somehow I aggreed to paint life sized versions of the Olympic Mascots onto plywood for the parade float this weekend. It took me probably 15 hours. Mostly while I was working. Ah well it was more fun than mopping floors (which is my usual glamourous off deck activity) and I am super happy with how they turned out.


Then I also somehow ended up agreeing to walk in the parade. But I do need to enjoy the float I practically created I guess. Maybe it will be fun? Last time I was in a parade I was also in Castlegar. And 13. I was a clarinet player in the marching band. Yep, pretty cool.


So there you have it. This is what I was working on at the end of May that kept me from doodling at work and sharing with you.

I have to go walk to the parade now. Hey, at least I'll get a good workout.

Linky Love!

Since I started using Bloglines, I've been saving lots of stuff into my clippings folder. And hoarding it apparently because I keep forgeting to share! But here's some linky love for you all today :)

5 DIY inspirations for the crafty among us. Mostly from Design Sponge it would seem...I love that blog.

1) Before and After of an amazingly cute table. I love this idea. Maybe because I still can never remember where how to set a table properly.



2)Amaaazing play garden by Ikat Bag (who makes the coolest toys ever for her kids, the whole blog is fun)


3)The Green Space Travel Case. Okay so I wouldn't make this...but it made me laugh.


4)Thrift Store Artwork. I'm so doing this. This weekend. I've been eyeing a painting in the thrift store for a while but hated the frame....It will be excellent.



5) Custom Etched Jars. I'm doing this at some point too. Because it's cute, and I like jars. Also etching is fun.