There is beauty in simplicity



Musical Seahorse
Ink and pencil

It's time for another Wicked Wednesday challenge!  This week's theme: Black and White


My inspiration this week comes from music.  It is both spiritual and physical therapy for me.  My guitar instructor, Sal provides great support and motivation as I continue to maintain strength and agility.  Diana, my flute and piano instructor, is also a great source of motivation for me.  THANKS GUYS!!!!

For those who are not familiar with music theory, my seahorse is built with bass clefs and one treble clef for its body.  A whole note gives it sight. 
I hope you like this piece just as much as I enjoyed creating it.  Thanks for stopping by!

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

P.S. inserting shameless promotion here: check out Sal's music over at Mazzard Effect

'Tis the season for...books?

Hello there!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I spent mine with tranquil creativity.  I wrote some music, finished crocheting a scarf AND hat, and last but not least, I finished my atc for this week's Wicked Wednesday challenge.  The theme: Books!

At first, I was stumped.  My muse went on a mini vacation.  Did I want to create an ATC of my favorite character?  But, I have so many, which one to choose?  I was toying with the idea of actually making a mini book...then it hit me.  I am going to pay homage to my favorite genre!  Ever since I could remember, I absolutely adored POP UP books!!!  It's a rare find nowadays to find a really good one.

So now I have an idea...the execution is another thing.  Can we say I went through A LOT of templates until I got it right?  haha.  Well, here it is.  I hope you like it just as much as I enjoyed making it...kind of...sort of.  Nah, I did enjoy it :)

Front cover of Hoppy Holidays mini book
ink and pencil
Looks like Happy Bunny has a treat for you!

Back cover of mini book
my Happy Bunny logo !

And now the moment we have been waiting for.....drum roll please.....

Pop up Christmas tree
Ink and pencil

Here's another view to showcase the pop up effect

Lilly Bunny is going to decorate the tree...now if only Bobby Bunny can put that candy cane down and help!

I took two blank ATC cards and glued them to a red cardstock I cut to 3.5" by 5"; I drew the tree template on white cardstock with the same dimensions.  The front cover is a separate ATC.  Then it was just coloring and gluing.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Update!!!

I placed in the TOP 3 for this week's challenge! YAY!!!! Stay tuned for next week's creation.  The theme: Black and White.



It's Turkey Day!

Hey everyone!  I cannot believe how quickly time is passing, the year is almost over.  But we get to look forward to another year of making memories.  Have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving and be grateful for all that is good in your lives.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

10 Things I am Thankful For:

1. my health
2. Art and being able to afford to do it for fun
3. Music and being able to pursue it again.  I LOVE MY IBANEZ.  Just wish I could devote more time to it
4. my awesome friends
5. Dunkin Donuts french vanilla coffee
6. being able to help and heal others through my work
7. pumpkin pie....pumpkin anything actually
8. Cozymel's Cozy on the Beach - best drink I ever had
9. children's laughter
10. and last but not least...Hugh Laurie.  He is a renaissance man in my mind.  That man is so talented!

Results are in!!!!

Hey there!
Can you believe it's been six weeks already since the start of Wicked Wednesday challenges?!  It just seemed like yesterday.  It's been a grueling two weeks, altogether physically, emotionally and spiritually challenging.  But, I made it through!  I started off today in THE MOST positive way.  I found out I was top three this week.  I still can't thank everyone enough for all their positive input.  Then, I had a totally awesome guitar lesson tonight.  I have a really cool and supportive teacher.  This is just the absolute perfect boost I needed.  But all this could not be possible if not for the wonderful people in my life.  Thank you.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Flower power!

Happy Bunny flower fairy
pencil, ink

Hey there!
Firstly, thank you to everybody for the positive reinforcement.  It really feels nice to join such a fun challenge :)
Wow, I thought I wasn't going to have anything to submit for this week's Wicked Wednesday challenge!  Things have been so crazy this week I literally did not have a moment to myself.  So, this is a last minute submission.  I did this during my lunch break at work. 
This week's theme is flowers.  Oh, how I miss springtime.  The skies darken so early now and it has been nothing but dreary, rainy weather here on Long Island.

Well, here she is.  Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Alphabet soup: C

One of my favorite dishes to eat on a chilly day is carrot ginger soup infused with a little bit of cashew butter.  Couple that with a thick slice of italian bread: Perfection.

Eat your carrots, they're good for you!

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Congratulations to Diana and Matt!

Hey there Diana!

Congratulations to you both.  I wish you love and happiness.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

New friends at work

Matilda

Gertrude

The gossiping turkeys

So, here they are.  Aren't they cute?  I spent Sunday afternoon creating this pair of gobblers.  I made my own pattern for the turkey.  They are constructed of Bazzil cardstock.  The embellishments are from K Company and the paper flowers are from my stash.  I used foam adhesive to give the birds some dimension.

These turkeys will be gracing my office door for now.  Let's see what I come up with for Christmas!  Until then, stay well.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

It's a beautiful Sunday....to make turkey?

Hey there!
Hope everyone remembered to set their clocks back an hour.  What a beautiful Sunday!  There is  a chill in the air, but the sun is out and shining bright.  That totally gets my creativity flowing.  Today I thought I'd give you a glimpse into my little creative corner.

Everything has its place...I got mad organizational skills!

I am currently assembling turkeys.  Yes.  Turkeys.  I am revisiting my paper piecing skills.  We are looking for a dimensional door sign for my office door.  Nothing like a burst of color to lighten things up at work.

In this picture you can see my under the sea mural and pictures of my favorite places I've visited. (in order from left to right)
1.  Sunset in San Diego (awesome trip with Betty)
2.  Golden Gate Bridge (awesome trip with Carol)
3. Church in New Orleans (threw a dart on the map and it landed in Louisiana.  So I went to the  Big Easy.  Yup. My travel plans are very well planned out..... :)  I like the total randomness of it all!  This was my first trip there.  I subsequently returned back on a different occasion for a conference.  I was truly blessed to have been able to enjoy the city pre-Katrina.

I heart my Sharpies!

Making the turkeys

There will be minimal drawing on this project.  Almost everything will be pieced together and layered for a dimensional effect.  Well, that's it for now.  Gonna go and make some more coffee and get back to work.  Thanks for stopping by!!!!
Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

More bunnies in wonderland!

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum want to share their treats with you!
Ink, pencil, lollipop embellishment

Here's the second ATC for Wicked Wednesday!  I love Alice in Wonderland so much, I couldn't just create one ATC.

Enjoy!

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Alice in Bunny Wonderland???

Hey everyone!
It's time for another ATC challenge over at Wicked Wednesdays!
This week's theme is out of this world!  Literally.  We are going to visit Alice in Wonderland.  I absolutely adore this theme because it is one of my favorite Disney films (it's up there with Finding Nemo).  However, I've never followed the conventional pathway.  Here's my twist on the theme: BUNNIES, BUNNIES, BUNNIES!!!!  I loved this challenge sooo much, I couldn't just make one.  I hope that you like them as much as I enjoyed creating them.
Peace and love,
Mary xoxo
P.S. Darnit, I want a cupcake now....

It's Madhatter Bunny Teatime!!!
Pencil, ink, teacup embellishment

Alphabet Soup: B

It's time for alphabet soup again!  I hope that little monkey plans on sharing that banana :)

Have a great weekend,

Peace and love,

Mary xoxo