Zoe and her Red Ryder

Zoe got a big girl bike for her second birthday but she still loves to ride on this one. My parents bought this for Sloan when she was a little over a year old. I know eventually Aris will ride on the Red Ryder. These bikes are built to last.

Here she is, Ella Elephant

Quite a few people have been asking to see how I actually make my illustrations. So I tried to take a photo of every step of the artistic process. Here is the final product and the steps are below.

I almost always start with a sketch.

I start with the main part of the body, and add an under paper that coordinates with the top paper. I was going to make Ella pink, you know "pink elephant's" but I just couldn't get it to look right so I went back to the scrapbook store and got some more papers in the grey family. They worked perfectly. I try to always use papers with a pattern or texture. It just adds that extra element to give each illustration a little more dimension.

Then I cut out the remaining body parts.

I make sure everything is in proportion, and that it all fits well together. If not I start over again. This part can sometimes take two or more times before I get it right.

I add the mouth and the cheek to make sure the face looks the way I want it to. To me this is a very important step. If the face isn't looking the way I want it to, it is early in the process and I can make the changes needed before I have to backtrack too much.

I take a nail and with a little tap from the hammer, I make the holes for the embroidery thread.

I take the thread and needle and sew the eyes.

This is what it looks like once I am done with punching all the holes.

I start to add the pink thread for the knees and the trunk.

I held this up to the light so you could see the holes a little better. I have two different embroidery thread. The first kind I bought as a packet, all different colors, not bad in quality, medium grade. The other is the kind you buy individually and it is much nicer and a little more in price. I like using both to achieve different textures. One gives a little more rough appearance than the other that has a silkier look and feel.

Time to make the blanket for Ella. I used a patterned paper for the base, ribbon that I stick on with double sided tape to add dimension on the blanket.

I added tassels that I made by bunching up the embroidery thread and tying it off, and stitching it on to the blanket.

I kind of make a mess.

This is what the back looks like, with all the stitching.

I added the "e" for Ella, the little bows made from the same ribbon for the tail and ears. I also added the toe nails in the same light pink as her cheeks to tie everything together. I dropped her off for the auction this morning along with the other donations that people had given me. I will be starting on the whale tonight. I will be posting some photos of the girls later tonight.

Finished

I finished "Ella Elephant" and will post some pictures tomorrow. I also have some great pictures of the girls that I will post too. I am so tired at the moment and I am going to bed. Hopefully everyone will let me sleep tonight. If not I am fearful of turning into zombie mommie tomorrow. Goodnight for now.

My new stroller!!!!!!!!!

I wanted this........................

but I got this, and I couldn't be happier!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night Dean surprised me by ordering this lovely brand new stroller for me. It was half the cost of the other one. It just made sense to buy this one instead of waiting and saving for the other one. I want to start exercising now, not two months from now when I could finally afford the other one. I am still sticking to my new healthier diet and the pounds are falling away slowly but surely. I am so excited to start jogging and training for my first half marathon in the fall. Thank you my sweet love for helping me to follow my dreams! I can't wait to get the stroller next week and take Aris and Zoe for their first jog around the Marina next week. I will be sure to post lots of pictures. Need to get back to work, I will post the work in progress pictures tonight.

Newest "Links I Like"

These are the only shots of the store I could find. I am sad because if you could see all the paper they carry, it seriously makes me drool.

I had a chance to run to one of my favorite scrapbooking store yesterday. The pink for "Ella" elephant just wasn't working for the illustration. I thought grey would work a little better and I needed to go and get some more paper. Scrapbooks Atelier is the most amazing store. They have the best selection of scrapbook paper here in Reno and ton's of embellishments for all your scrapbooking needs. The owners Silvia and her husband, and staff are super friendly. Silvia is not only a talented published scrapbook artist, business owner and mother of two darling girls, but a Dr. on top of all of the other amazing things she can do. It is a reminder to me that you can never dream too big. In her blog you can find layout ideas for all her amazing scrapbooking ideas. The layout's are set up so even the most inexperienced scrapbooker will find the ideas easy to use. I am linking you to her blog, you can link to the store website from her blog. Silvia was kind enough to look at my blog last night and left a super kind comment under yesterdays post. Thanks Silvia for your words of kindness and your creative spirit, you are truly an inspiration to us all!

(All photos of layouts are by Silvia, taken from her gallery of past layouts.)