Xmas Time

I'm pretty much sure all my friends got their cards so this is safe to post now!
Happy Holidays to those of you who stumble upon my blog!
:)

Tea Time!

I totally forgot I illustrated this awhile back. I didn't realize it was done. So now it is and I'm sharing it with everyone!

Total Cuteness!

So we all know how much I love Japan and their absolutely cute packaging! Can they make anything not cute!! I found these in a local Asian market looking for some Filipino treats with my mom. I saw these and had to buy them but it never occurred to me where they were made. To surprise they were made in Japan of course! Sooo cute and they're bunnies!!

IF: Entangled

Birthday Mix cd!

Ok this is really bad. Lisa's b-day was back in July! Better late then never I suppose! Hope she likes it-I put even more thought into the playlist just because sooo many months have gone by!
All papers used for this cute little cd are from this paper pad called Cherry Hill by October Afternoon. They have such cute patterns! Love it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ringo!

This little guy is much cuter in person!!! I love this little dog..shhh don't tell my my dogs, fish or hamsters that!! This little ball of cuteness belongs to my friends Melissa and Jay... and I love him to pieces!

Apple + Pear

Here's a sketch of my idea for some new toys after I get this big order done I am working on for christmas!

IF: Skinny

I'm sure she could be skinnier...I know two days from now I will come up with a much more creative approach to this topic! Oh well this will just have to do.

Happy Halloweenie!

I doodled this one up yesterday while hours of monster watching on tv and running to get the door every 20 mins or less for all the trick or treaters. I love Halloween. It's totally one of my favorite holidays but I swear if I ever have kids and they want to go trick or treating there is no way they are leaving my house in a lame costume! I could even settle with a bedsheet draped over them then not putting a costume on at all! I should have been a tough ass about giving out candy but I really needed to get rid of it before I would ingest all of it..
yumm reeses peanut butter cups....

Owl

This is my latest creation to my Lizlings line!

IF: Fast

This definitely doesn't scream fast. I mean look at it..it's a vespa!! None the less I would really love to own a vintage vespa and live somewhere were I won't die driving it! Let's face facts here, there's no way I'll get to work driving on 80 with that thing. Sigh...
This should really be about how FAST I scrapped this illustration together...Oh well...

IF: Frozen

With the exception of today, it's too soon for such brrr weather in the middle of October here in Jersey. I guess the cold air inspired my latest Illustration Friday topic. Hope you guys like it.
:)

Beeeeep Bot

She's my cute new girlie robot. Not that you can tell she's a girl other than the pink!
I heart her a little. Another creation for a friend! Don't think I'm handing these out for free tho! My finger tips worked hard and bled for these. They need some cash to buy band-aids.
:)

Lizlings!

I wish I had more pictures of some my past creations but I usually make them and get rid of em quick! Well now I actually try to take pictures of my latest works or force the person who gets it to take one for me. The two robots were made for my friend Kelly. She wanted to give them as presents to an expecting mother/friend. The squid who is definitely one of my favorites. It was a birthday present for Del. Both my friends kindly took these pictures for me so it's about time I posted them!

IF: Infinite

Ok so this illustration was inspired by my recent trip to Vermont. We only spent a few days there but we really tried to make the most of it. I totally love Vermont and it was first time there. I am not exactly sure what I love about it. The country farm roads, the old timey-ness, the scenery, the outdoorsy-ness and so much more. We stayed in Burlington which is pretty neat little college town. I really enjoyed it there. Kerry and I had a list of things we totally wanted to do. I wanted to make use of the bike trail along Lake Champlain, a ghost tour, Ben and Jerry's, Magic Hat Brewery and whatever randomness we could stumble upon. Actually we both wanted to do the same things which made this trip very easy to do. We did everything I mentioned and visited Shelburnes Farms and Musuem which was pretty interesting, fun and pretty. One random idea Kerry really wanted to do was go to a drive-in movie. We both never been to one before so we figured why not see one in Vermont. It definitely was quite experience however we watched a terrible movie! Anyway all of this leads up to before the movie starts and Kerry leaves the car to use the bathroom one last time before the movie begins. It's all dark outside from the lights being turned off awaiting for the movie to turn on and Kerry taps on my side of the window telling me to come outside. Right away I knew what she was going to say since I just caught notice of how visible every single star in the sky was...Insert favorite curse word here! It was amazing! You couldn't even count them. Everytime you looked you would see billions more. Too me the sky seemed endless, space seemed endless...there was an infinite amount of stars.
It was one of my favorite moments there.

Decemberists at the Wellmont 9-21-09

(pictures by Vanessa and Dianne)

Eeeeee! It's so late already but I have to document this! I really didn't want to write a random blog on here about my Monday night ya know and have no art to show but tomorrow is another day and I will aim to have to have something special to put up then. In the meantime I must declare how every time I see the Decemberists they never disappoint. I have never been to a bad show by them. In fact they get better every time! I was a little reluctant to see them this time around, being that it is probably my 5th or 6th time seeing them. I don't even remember and I am sure there are die hard fans that have seen them 30 times or more already.
My friends from work were interested in seeing them since they would be playing locally at the Wellmont in Montclair. Wellmont really happens to be a nice venue and really convenient to go to right after work. I had just spent the last 4 days in Vermont and the Decemberists played at an old, supposedly haunted venue called the Flynn in Burlington last night. I really wanted to see them since we were in Burlington but unfortunatly we were setting forth to be home Sunday evening so it made me finally super duper excited to see them tonight. I had a good feeling about this show!
When we finally walked in there were seats sets up which I was not expecting but we were able to sit in the first row off to the side of the stage. I was soooo excited that I was going to be just a few feet away from Colin Meloy and the rest of the band! It felt heavenly!! The opening act played...(insert name later when I remember) They were really good and I enjoyed them but as soon as they were finished groups of young kids started to move in on our space and grouped along the stage. I questioned a security guard if this was allowed being that there were seats set up and that this was not fair but he said the band will probably let them stay. Too make my story a little shorter..this situation basically pissed me off. Crowds of young teenagers started to invade our space. It caused us to stand by our seats when the band finally came out and eventually we started to inch closer to the stage. I got a little "fresh" with some taller individuals but I wasn't about to let them ruin my time and I needed to defend my space and height!
The Decemberists played two sets. The first one was the entire Hazards of Love album which all I can say in one word is Fantastical. My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden has the most amazing voice. She was just so out standing along with Lavender Diamond's Becky Stark. Greatness filled the air. I was so ready for the second set and to hear the usual Decemberists songs so I could stand around, dance and try to sing my little heart out some more. By this point after a few shifts in the crowd I had wormed my way to the front along with Dianne and Vanessa. I have never been anywhere near the stage for any Decemberists show! I felt like 18 year old Liz all over again. Standing as close at I could get in a sea of young kids who kept acting like they new everything about the band...and maybe they did. I was sooo incredibly happy. Ok maybe that's slightly exaggerated but I was pretty ecstatic. The best thing was going to happen though and I was so ill prepared for it even though I kept thinking over and over what if he comes close to me....what do I do??? What does Liz do...she freaks out...She totally stares at the guy open mouth, heart beating out of chest, Dianne and Vanessa holding me up and pushing me foward. I reached out to touch him but he shuffled around with his guitar like he was going to grab for hands and instead plops a squat right smack infront of us. I could swear there was eye contact as I just stood there wide eyed in front of Colin Meloy. I felt an arm reached over my shoulder to touch his shoe that was directly resting on the wall right in front of my face. I could have touched his shoe too!! However I just stood there and he crookedly grinned at the boy who touched his shoe in a no-no kind of way...What would he have done if it were me?? Oh well I probably would have had something embarrassing happen to me. It was enough that he acknowledged me standing awkwardly infront of him right then and there. It might hold me over to say that tonight might be one of my most favorite moments of my 29th year a of living! If anything definitely one of the most memorable Decemberists shows to date. I can only hope the next time I go see him maybe I can actually meet the band and have them sign a poster or my arm if it keeps getting this much better....
Ok I am done and Goodnight!

A Friendly Attack.

So this illustration is redone from one from one of my first blog entries. I thought this looked much better in this style however the first entry was really only a sketch with some color. Got more illustrations and stuff to post. Coming sooon..like real soon.

Zombie Girl!

Bunny vs. Fox vs. Bear.

Sundays are for blogging.

I had a doodling explosion last week and did an illustration just about every day! But I think it's time to get serious on making marshmalloweather happen already! This has been a pretty productive summer as far as art making goes. Although I think my summer ended around July...or maybe it's starting late in August. Whatever it may be, it has been the most disjointed summer ever. All I know is I have been busy making little things here and there, being with friends and family and stuck in the routine of driving day in and day out to work all summer long.
I'm starting to get anxious for my favorite time of year! It's too soon!! However I am looking foward to harvest season filled with apple picking, apple wine, pumpkin ale, pumpkin bread and the changing of leaves, scarves and pumpkin picking. Somehow it will feel different this year then usual but I'll try to make the most of it. On top of that I got a mini road trip to Vermont in the process of getting planned with Miss Kerry. That's going to be awesome I just know it.

I finally took some pictures of some of the projects I have been working on the past few months. The pictures don't do the art justice at all. I am not really a photographer nor do I have the patience to really sit there and take a perfect picture. Hopefully these don't look too terrible. They were fun to work on.

P.s. Just wanted to note that the papers used in the whale painting are from Basic Grey "Urban Prairie" collection which is ridiculously cool. The paper in the Tweeet painting is actually designed by me!!

Friends.

Tattoo!

This is a sketch of that tattoo that I say I'm going to be getting in month! I do have a color version which has a just a tad bit more detail however the color version I plan to post in the future will be the one on my arm.

Brunette

Red.

Ok...these current illustrations don't do this artist justice but I have been inspired by Alphonse Mucha which whom I got to see a really cool exhibit in Prague last year. I got a book on his art this past christmas and it really is inspiring as I finally get to look thru it. I love his style and technique. However these differ terribly so but it's been getting me to use some paper, pencil and a pen..what are those! I got one more to go in this grouping and then it's back to the computer for good ol'vector art.

Lost in your hair.

Ice Cream!

Perfect for days like today.

IF: Tango

Hmm. I hope this rolls with the topic. I'm not particularly good at drawing people dancing. Nor am I that interested in drawing the tango... party pooper...oh well.

IF: Hollow

Ok Ok..This seems like a typical drawing solution for such a topic from me. Oh well what can I say. It's those little bits and pieces we lose along the way that add up to a lot but somehow often leaving us feeling a little empty...
That's what candy is for...
:)

IF: Shaky

Ok....this might be a stretch because there is nothing in this illustration that defines shaky however...take my word, as confident as she may look, Lillah- light as a feather does have some shaky moments up there balancing on the tightrope.
Although this didn't quite turn out the way I first envisioned it, it was kind of fun to sit and research some old circus posters. They're so cool!! Makes me kind of want to go to one but not current one. I feel as though the ones from way back in the day, I guess early 1900's would be really interesting and strange and probably offensive! So maybe I will just settle for a cool poster.
Hope everyone had a lovely 4th of July weekend if your from these parts and if not I hope everyone just had a lovely weekend anyway!!
Enjoy!
:)

Happy Sunday and Sunshine!

I wanted to share how much I love color! There really are sooo many colors out there it's so hard to really pick one that I love the most! So I will share some random and not the best photos from my weekend displaying how much color rules!

Ok. I just wanted to say how happy I am about the sunshine. Today is such perfect weather. Blue skies and breezy. It is just the best thing after weeks of on and off rain. So in the meantime through out all this rain, I have been in creative full force the past month or so. Eventually I will post my tiny little paintings I have been working on. They are a little bit more mixed media then just a painted picture. Word out there is I really want to get a bunch of my super awesome friends to get in on a gig and show off our art somewhere but we have yet to research into it. Need to find a place. I think it would be so much fun and definitely make all this time I spend working on stuff worth it.

IF: Worn

This is my illustration for this weeks topic. I was kind of thinking about those good old jeans you love sooo much you can't stop wearing 'em until you got holes in your knees... I'm not totally sure if this works but hell why not...
enjoy
:)

IF: Drifting

As paper boats and hearts drift away...

Card Crafting Evening!

I thought I would share my accomplishments for the night. I'm pretty proud of them and I wish I could make decent cards when I HAVE to make them at work. I guess I just have a tendency to work better at home when not pressed for time when it comes to this particular designing. Awful to say that I am not using any of the papers I designed at work. Awful awful awful! I do have two pretty cute lines tho-so maybe one of these days I'll craft something and post it on here.
I really love my card for my dad! It should go nicely with the homemade brownies I am going to have to bake at the end of the week for Father's Day. I really think I need to start making more cards for everyone just to use up all this stuff I have here plus most importantly being creative!
Double Yay!

IF: Craving

I know it's been awhile! I haven't really post anything since I have been home from my vacation. I've been busy drawing, painting and thinking up a tattoo design! I will share when it's done. However I am going to try my damn hardest to keep up with blogging. I'd also like to share that my etsy store is being worked on...more like the stuff I plan on selling is being worked on. I need a name for stuffed toys! Hmmm..well in the meantime here's my newest illustration. Enjoy!

Japan-ness!

Twas the night before Friday...

Unfortunately this week I will not have a posting for Illustration Friday! It's been weeks since I posted an illustration. I should post more stuff on here but I never remember too! I feel like time is going by way to quick! It's been two weeks since my really awesome vacation in Japan. I really had a great time there. There is just way too much to see and too much to cram into literally 7 days! I would definitely like to go back sometime in the future and see more of it but for now I would like to visit places in the US since there really is a lot here to see and do. However I think the next country I want to go to is Australia and my cousin lives there so that will be a good reason to go there. I can't wait. I am excited to see more of this world we live in!

Sooo once again I have found another hobby to tap into. I picked up this really cute book called Doodle stitching which is all hand done embroidery and its looks so cute. It's basically drawing with thread. I have been putting it off because I need to pay off my expenses from my trip but eventually I want to head over to a art supply store and get materials for that.

My main reason for blabbing away tonight is because I can't get out of my mind how badly I want my next new toy!!! I really want a Gocco. It's basically like a hmmmm small silk screen kit kind of thing. I don't really know but it orginates from Japan and I just think its an awesome way to make art and prints. I got to check out my funds and maybe crack open the piggy bank and I really mean break it open!! That's some hard earned cash that could get used on this thing. It would be well worth every cent!