Friday FunDay: Creativity to Reinvigorate Your Spirit

Hi everybody! Getting to my Friday Funday blog post a bit later this morning, as I’ve been outside playing in the plants, snipping off the buds of finished daffodils and tulips, and preparing to build willow-branch teepees for sweet peas. While I’m enjoying every minute outside, I do look so forward to getting back to my drawing table and creating images for you all to color. Soon, soon, friends, I promise. The ideas that have been welling up inside me are unstoppable and must be released!

This week I had an impromptu visit from a dear old friend who is also a talented photographer, Heidi Drexler. She shoots portraits, editorial and advertising, lifestyle, you name it, Heidi is awesome. So, what a treat to see my garden captured through her lens. If you’d be interested in seeing more photos from my garden, please visit Heidi’s blog HERE.

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So... I don’t know if you’ve been picking up on the fact that I keep referring to our design teams, the Bloom Brigade and the Instant Gardeners, as a “powerhouse”. I like this term so much, and think that it sums up their collective and individual strengths as card artists and designers. So much so, we’re going to officially change the name and combine our teams into: the Powerhouse.

Official announcement, new graphics, photos and re-introductions of everyone — all 20 of them!! — arriving forthwith. I thank my lucky stars every day that these women join me in working with my illustrations and lettering designs, and I know they inspire you just as much as they do me! Here are a few creations for this week compliments of the Powerhouse. I love each and every one!

Allison Cope | Gifts from the Sea digital

Broni Holcombe | Cuppa Cupcake digital

Leslie Miller | Wash Your Hands digital

Lisa Johansen | Springtime Love Roundel digital

Christine Okken | Peonies digital

Stacy Morgan | Follow Your Heart digital

Gloria Stengel | Well, Hello Dahlia digital

Jenny Colacicco | Saucer Magnolia digital

AND: Did you see Nancy Sheads’ tutorial this week? Filled with inspo and tips!

AND: Did you see Julie Koerber’s sketch challenge this week? You still have time to enter and maybe win $25 to spend at Power Poppy.

I feel completely invigorated seeing these cards created with true craftsmanship, care, and love. In the midst of the upheaval and fear in our world, a pocket of beauty created by beautiful, brave, kind and compassionate women. Bravo.

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THIS SATURDAY April 25, Amy Shulke is offering an awesome online livestream to help us bring my Tree Peony class to a level of sunshine-y stardom! DID YOU SEE Amy’s brilliant Artist’s Notebook/Inspire Me Monday post on this topic? LOADS of information, you guys. Like, seriously good stuff.

Learn more about our collaboration with Vanilla Arts here.

I’m also working with Alyce Keegan of Kit and Clowder for another new class very soon, so start sharpening those colored pencils and fill up those Copics... 

Be well, friends. XOXO