Holidays are Coming!!

I think my Holiday Craziness started early this year, way back in early September. But I’ve been able to sneak a couple hours in between my crazy-day-job to work on my artsy-job (Pen&Paperie), finally! I’ve had a hectic couple of months, though I’ve just logged my last hours for my architectural license! Woohoo. (Now…on to those exams…)

With ambitions of putting out two calendars this year, I am…half-way there. I’ve got one done! Check out my little 2011 Garden Calendar on Etsy. I’ve made the pictures tear-off note/post cards so you can use them when the month is done.

And, hey, I think some of these can count towards my 1,000,000 Leaves project too…double-duty crafts! How efficient.

Next up: zodiac calendar and Christmas cards!

Have your holiday crazies started yet??

KW, FL

Stormy Grey Etsy Treasury!

I've been neglecting my blog lately...I know... Busy, busy, busy what with work and a wonderful vacation in the Florida Keys. Inspired by some of the weather down South, check out these beautiful stormy pretties in my very first Etsy Treasury: Stormy Sea & Skies - Team FEST Such talent!! What are your favorites?

1,000,000 Leaves - 234-359

234-323 324-359

Some of these are real leaves, some of them are purely imaginary. Though with the crazy imagination Mother Nature has, I wouldn't put anything past her. I am fond of the frond that looks a bit like a peacock tail. What about you? If you have any cool photos of leaves, send them my way!! If I use your inspiration in my stationery, I'll send you a copy of the card!!

1,000,000 Leaves - 233 and Counting!

204-233! (slowly but surely) (soon to be turned into stationery)

Every Day Architecture and Imaginary Architecture

I am fully on my way towards being a registered architect. I have 90% of my hours completed and as soon as I can afford those study materials I am investing, cramming, and diving into those crazy exams. (It feels good to be getting close.)

I work on parking plans, calculate percentages of pervious surfaces, research building and zoning codes, calculate exiting capacities, determine required fire ratings, work out building programs, get caught up in the difference between the frame sizes in curtainwall versus storefront systems, respond to building permit comments, review shop drawings and answer RFIs.

The amount of time I spend actually drawing buildings takes up a surprisingly small percentage of my work day. So when I come home I like to draw imaginary buildings, or colorful houses, or fanciful gardens. It feels a little bit silly, and a little bit childish, but…then again…not really. It feels light and makes me feel a little bit fanciful myself.

I get a little break from the desk-ridden drudgery tomorrow. Early morning jobsite visit – I love buildings in the demo phase. It’s fun to see everything come apart before it comes together into a (sometimes fanciful, sometimes not so, but always very) real building.

(Cotton Candy Key West Houses)

1,000,000 Leaves - Nos. 100-203

I am not a very precise person. I have dreams of drawing those botanical illustrations that you see in thick-papered pretty coffee table books. I am thinking my hands just don't do that. But we'll see - I have 999,797 more leaves to practice!! (These I drew in my sister's garden.) -Cherry Tomatoes – Approx. 15 leaves -Blue Plumbago – 9 leaves -Roma Tomatoes – 6 leaves -Marigolds – 16 leaves -Spearmint – Approx. 48 leaves -Little Pink Weed Flower – 10 leaves