Houses for Dad

I have officially moved out of the "Cake" phase. Now  it is Monet & the Impressionists! Dad asked for a street scene after seeing the flowers I did for Grandma. (See last post.) Took this one right out of England where Dad was born. I am still really working on technique, but for a three hour piece, I am very happy with it. 

New Painting for Grandma's Birthday. . .

I painted this in our sunroom, that looks out into our garden. It's at full bloom and looks like a crayola box ready to burst. All the big orange poppies are out. Mingling with the delicate purple and blue iris . . heaven! Grandma's favorite color is yellow, & I wanted to paint her something that would be cheerful and happy. Once she decides, I will add her favorite Bible verse. 

(Double click to see details.)

HAppy Birthday Grandma and Aunt Wen!

Birthday Cakes, Cake Cards & NOW Fake Cakes!

I just got the chance to whip this up today. I have been wanting to tackle this "fake cake" project for a while, but the styrofoam cake rounds are not on my regular route. I can't wait to do more!! They are a quick and easy project that can actually get accomplished in the midst of children buzzing about. The best thing is that no hot glue is required! This one is for my Aunt, who needs a Birthday center piece for the guys in the family. The store only had this small size. (They had just been ransacked by a bakery school.) I wanted to go two tier, but thought Id give a little one a try first. Very reasonable $ wise to put together . . . a BIG plus.  The cool thing is that I can get another larger round to put under it if she wants to go bigger. Then she can have two options. 

I highly recommend this project!!!! Tooo fun.

New Flower Card Designs for Spring!

Could not resist adding more flower cards. It finally warmed up and dried off enough to get out to do some serious yard work. Pure bliss! The purple iris are almost all out. Color is everywhere. Many reds, blues and purples right now. Orange poppies will soon take over. They are ready to burst! My absolute favorite time of year.

New Birthday Card Designs . . .

These are such a kick to draw! I am off tomorrow to get pictures/sketches of that neat gate in out neighborhood . . . can't wait to give it a go and see how it would translate on a card. Ready to give the cakes a rest. 

Birthdays & Salmon Cake

Wanted to surprise my hubby with a salmon cake this year for his Birthday. Experimented with using fondant . . . it was a first for me and a total blast! Loved using the paste food coloring to paint the cake. Just like watercolors, but more entertaining. This whole cake obsession has gotten completely out of control. I think I need help. 

*Click on the photo to see larger image.

Long Live the Palette Knife!

Had a great time doing this for my friend Alyson. She wanted it as a Birthday gift for a friend who she sang this song with in choir/church for years and years. Photo doesn't really show the detail but gives an idea of the piece. Clean, masculine, not a landscape river, just an impression of one. Lots on the grey/blue end - gunmetal, sage, black thrown in for contrast. Got to use my palette knife a ton. Reminded me of oil painting back in college. Geez . . I miss that. Acrylics are great, but they dry too fast for me. I like to manipulate color in a lazy way. Unfortunately oils aren't family friendly. Currently, a lot of paint on the canvas . . . dripping, running, oozing all over my socks and the carpet. My 6 year old will spot it first thing in the AM and rat me out. Anyone know how to get acrylic out of carpet? Where is Martha when you need her. Bummer . . .

*click on photos for a larger view.

**Bottom photo is a detail shot of the lettering.

Cake & Gates . . .

I have got to stop watching "Ace of Cakes." Hands down, my favorite show. This must be like the slug and snowman phase. I think I must have 10-15 different cake sketches by now. I need to find a new muse and diversify a bit. ") 

I got to escape and take a walk this afternoon. Both kids have been down for two weeks with the sickies. Grandma had mercy on me. Both "shorties" are going stir crazy. While out & about I passed this really whimsical garden gate. I am sure the homeowners thought I was nutz standing there staring at it . . . but geez. Really interesting/unique iron work. I will post a sketch of it or photo at some point. It was an Alice in Wonderland type of deal. Maybe I'll start a "gate"phase next. Ta-ta!

Oodles of Doodles - Summer Art Adventure Day Camp!

What:
Summer Art Day Camp . . .
My goal is to help kids discover confidence in their own unique style of drawing,
while cementing basic art & design fundamentals. We will develop our skills sketching people, animals, things in nature & much more!

Who:
My name is Devyn Larson. I am a certified Teacher who taught for 6 years in the Beaverton School District. I am currently teaching Computers & Technology at Mary Rieke in Portland.
I have been a frantic “doodler” since 4th grade.

Where:
The Larson Home

When:
June 23-26 ★ July 14-17 ★ 9:00am - 12 Noon ★Monday - Thursday

$125 per session

Please feel free to contact me at: devyn92@msn.com with any questions.

Yep . . . It's a cake phase.

Finished 1st Grade Auction Project!

New Birthday Card Designs - CAke!

I Love 2 Sk8!

Just finished these personalized invites for one of my daughter's friends. Embellished them with lots of glitz . . . gotta have glitz for a skate party!

Fairy Houses & Auction Projects

Yee-haw! We have finished up my 1st grader's class auction project. Her class was shown the painting, and they were asked to write what they imagined was happening. What the kids said was then transposed, using graphite paper to preserve their handwriting, onto the painting and outlined in brown paint pen. It turned out really well. This photo is of the layout process...while trying to get all the sayings arranged. I will upload a photo of the finished project as soon as I get it back. Great job . . . Mrs. Walters class! ")

Due to our recent run of sunny days, my girls have been out romping all over the back yard, & I finally got most of my weeding done! We decided to take a break and spent 3 hours constructing fairy houses under our apple tree. I forgot how much fun it is to play in the dirt! ") Later, we had a slew of other kids over who wanted to get in on the action. We now have a fairy village complete with moat and pond. Too cute!

New Designs for 2008!

Just a few to start . . . the first of many!
The catalogue will be updated ASAP.
Click on images to see detail.
Enjoy!

Rain & Roses . . .

My husband spent his time off, over Christmas, replacing the windows in our sun room. Number one, he is amazing! Number two . . . now that I can actually see out of our windows to the garden, I have a TON of yard work to do!

Akkkk . . . it is a mess out there. I'm chomping at the bit to get to it!

One of my favorite flowers is a rose. When we moved into this house a few years ago, I found about 20 old variety bushes, swamped by an unforgiving mass of blackberries. (I have the scars to prove it.) It turns out they were planted about 50 years ago, by a dear lady named Florence. We also found her square-dancing dresses in the attic! (Luckily, we were able to return them to her family.) Love old houses! You never know what will pop up next.

Thanks to the rain, the garden will have to wait. Gardening in the rain with two small little kidos is not very productive on my end. It is a blast seeing them splash in the puddles and picking up every creepy crawly known to man. But I get nothing done. Too much fun watching them discover the backyard.

So, I sit and doodle waiting for the rain to let up . . . enjoying my new windows!

Merry Christmas, and pass the glue gun!

Julie Andrew's Christmas album is on full blast . . .

Coffee...I've downed at least a pot or two today . . .

I am nursing several blistered fingertips thanks to my "fabulous" glue gun & new craft addiction . . .

I am not only a doodling addict, I am a MAJOR craft addict. Once hooked into a new craft, it will be an obsession for as long as it takes me to get hooked on something else. My best friend & crafty partner in crime, showed me how to construct these beautiful flower hair clips.
The problem I had, was during construction. I had to add the flower petals in layers, with hot glue, pressing down on each till flat, so a rhinestone would fit in the center. I was too anxious to wait for the glue to cool, result . . . burned fingers. I added my own twists and ended up making them as gifts for every darling, little dress wearing imp, within 50 sq miles. (Love you girls!)
A new craft addiction is the last thing I need this time of year. ") Oh well . . . it's been a blast!

At present both girls are down for naps and I am savoring the last minutes of holiday peace we will have for a while. (With a cup of coffee of course!) Nice to have a bit of time to reflect on the year and our darling girls. We have been so blessed.

I am thrilled to finally have the blog going & catalogue. It will be fun to see where the doodles adventure to in 2008. I am planning on putting in some serious time writing and illustrating a children's book I've had on the back burner. There is a painting series, based on the poem - All Creatures Great and Small that I hope to continue. Other than that I am open to where inspiration leads.

I pray you and your family will have a fun, safe and restful holiday!

May the Lord direct your heart into God's love
& Christ's perseverance. 2 Thes 3:5

All Things Bright and Beautiful . . .

My husband gave me a easel as an early Christmas present.

It has been such a lifesaver! I had forgotten how much I loved to paint!

I will not forsake my Prismacolor pens, but wow...splashing paint on a canvas is great "mommy therapy" for me. The best part is that my oldest is completely into it...we fight for easel time. ")

I am currently working on a series that goes with the poem.. "All things bright and beautiful...all creatures great and small..."

There are some fantastic verses to it that I had never heard...great for illustrating.

Here is a photo of my first brainstorm...not quite finished yet.

I need to get a bigger canvas to fit all the words in . . . working on an 16x16 right now.

Greeting Card Catalogue . . . Now online!

After much technical wrangling,

I am thrilled to announce

that you can now view

my greeting card catalogue online!

Ordering information is on the site.

www.dldcatalogue.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

Extra...Extra...Snowman Cards at Maggie Elizabeth!

Maggie Elizabeth, a fun monogram boutique in Lake Oswego,
is now selling a select assortment of my snowman cards.
Stop by and check them out! The rest of the shops in the area are definately worth a look.
It's a cute area. Happy shopping!

Maggie Elizabeth
436 First Street Lake Oswego, OR 97034
503.636.6767

http://www.maggieelizabeth.com/

My First Bazaar Experience!

Well . . . I survived my first bazaar experience! Yee-HAw! The massive downpour that day was an interesting touch. ")
It was fantastic getting to meet all the vendors and other families at West Hills.
The most important thing I learned, was to keep everything simple...and invest in a rolly cart!
I was not prepared for how long it would take to set up, and how many trips back and forth to the car I would have to make. A good first run though...nice feed back. It was a very relaxing evening after all the scurring to set up.
A personal "thank you" to the folks selling hot cider! With all the rain, it totally hit the spot!

Bazaar Adventures . . .

While drawing, painting, glittering, and printing my fingers to the bone these last few weeks, I've learned some valuable lessons.
1. Drill pilot holes before trying to screw the hinges on your card display. . . or else you burn your fingers on the drill and you end up wanting to chuck the whole project out the window.
2. Drinking coffee while painting, is a health hazard.
On more than one occasion, I dumped my paint brush in my coffee ... then, while not paying attention..I accidentally took a swig of the brush water...brilliant eh?
note to self...stop using coffee cups for paint water...
3. Don't hammer on card display while your husband is watching "Heroes" - He gets grumpy.
4. Rhinestones and glitter have the power to convert tomboys to the pink side of bling.
5. Friends who like show and tell are a major blessing.
6. Selling something...enlist MOM! I have had to restock my card inventory quite a few times due to her superb sales ability.
7. Spelling "anointed" is cause for much dissagreement...Spell check your paintings... there are not 2 n's in anointed! OK so for the first time in history, Mom...you were wrong...only one n.
8. Hooded sweatshirts are my friend...they hide the uncombed hair and acrylic paint spatters while maneuvering through the carpool line.
9. Don't try to give up coffee right before a bazaar...especially while little people are teething, thus not sleeping thru the nite. It makes for a very unproductive day.
10. Whoever thought of putting the Bible, and concordances online has a HUGE thank you from me. THANK YOU!!! Major time saved.
11. Thank your husband and kids daily, for putting up with the creative monster that has taken over the house.
12. When sewing on canvas, use a big needle.
13. Chicken wire may seem like a cool thing to hang cards on, but for sanity's sake, avoid it at all costs.

No Coffee . . . Day 1

Ok..well hubby had pity and did make decaf this am. (But it was like drinking water..uggg..)
It would be the morning my first grader had to take her VIP paper and pictures in. I really should have gotten it together yesterday, but had a massive headache. Our little ankle biter discovered she can scream...all day. Quite the set of pipes on that one. Charming....
6:30am - woke up panicked, feeling like the worst mom in the universe ... madly trying to print off pictures, clean the house-a friend was coming at 9, fix sack lunch and breakfast, get the VIP form filled out, dishes...then I realized, horrified, that I hadn't showered. Uggg...went through the school drop off line really fast and with head down. ") PAthetic...
I was good last night and only doodled till 11ish. Actually got sleep. BAby woke up, but fussed and went back down. Now if we can just get through the screaming bit. I wonder if eBay sells earmuffs. (thus the inspiration for the earmuffs on my snowmen) Ha!
Off to color, shower and cause trouble! Ta-ta! ")

Color Matching Wars & Glitter

The dreaded color matching war between computer and printer is driving me nutz! The ol' HP C6180, up till now, has been brilliant. Ugggg....I recently scanned new snow people designs and the blue highlights vanished. Either I am quite the magician, or my computer is on a very creative "strike." Bummer.... Luckily the doodling is going well.
Due to the run of ideas, I've been up pulling all nighters a few times this week. I'll work till 1 or 2am, then baby wakes up and can't get back to sleep. I think she's teething. On top of that good ol' Hubby wants me to dump the coffee habbit cause we are trying for baby #3. HA! I'm doomed.
I have gone to the glitter side. It is amazing what a touch of glitter can do to your average greeting card. WOW! The only problem is the glitter/glue combo runs the ink on the card. Acrylic with sparkles, glue and dry glitter separately, pray hard and cross my fingers . . . I'm attempting to remedy the problem.
On the paper search . . . thought I'd be "cool" and find a more glossy, glitzy paper to print my cards on. Tried glossy and matte coated papers that were more slick than the card stock I've used. Unfortunately lots of ink bleeding EVERYWHERE! I hate to waste paper. I think I got the wrong type for the printer or it just doesn't like me. Well fine then...I resorted back to the good old reliable card stock (80lb). Not fancy but prints great. Guess I'm just not a glossy girl.

Attack of the Snowpeople

cake