pApEr cLiPPiNgS oF a WaNdEriNg ArTiSt

cross-stitch portraits

2012-01-15T10:30:00.000-08:00

just wanted to share a little project i did over the holidays.

i decided to make handmade presents for our family members. inspired by martha stewart's cross-stitched portraits, i decided to create versions of my family members.

so, here they are:

below is a photo of my designs and martha stewart's templates. i find, that the most exciting part of the project is designing and creating the templates.

i'm currently working on one with the whole family, starting with mine:

the finished portrait would probably be 5 inches by 24-30 inches... i can't wait to show you! i will also create a background & custom frame it.

i hope you enjoyed them!
xo, carla

coming home embroidery

2012-01-08T22:04:00.000-08:00

megan of studio m.m.e. is one of my favorite artists. she is also one of the nicest people i know. i love the whimsical subject matter & the detail of her illustrations. when i found out that she would be creating embroidery versions of her art, i was ecstatic! i was even more excited when she started selling patterns of her embroidery work! you can get your own pattern at her shop on www.studiomme.com .

here is coming home, it is one of her works that i really admire:

as soon as i found time to work on the embroidery pattern, i jumped at the chance to finish it - quickly! it`s been hectic lately (hence, my temporary hiatus from the blog. more posts coming soon!).

here`s the finished product:

it was really fun to make and so easy! i can`t wait to get my hands on the feeding the moon embroidery kit!

xo,
carla

happenings on all hallows' eve...

2011-11-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

we celebrated solana's first halloween! she dressed as a ladybug, thanks jay and aileen!

dom was dressed as a ninja! we can't believe that this is his 4th halloween already!

also, our crew was 12 kids strong this year: dom and solana were joined by isaiah, reece, demian, riley, ashton, shayla, shandon, siana, sylus, & svea! it was a lot of fun! one of the highlights was the reaction of the home owners when they see all the kids . a lot of "wow's" and "whoa's".

the rookie & the veteran

we tried getting a photo with both kids, but dom was already running from home to home. he's apparently a trick or treating expert nowadays...

here's the lil' man in action:

here's the lil' miss in action:

... and not in action - LOL!

i am also loving cul-de-sacs, because the parents got to hangout while the kids went from one house to the next!

well, that's all folks! hope your halloween was just as fun, have a great week!
xo, carla

a doll for riley

2011-10-03T02:27:00.000-07:00

i just wanted to share this doll that i made for a cute girl named, riley. this doll is really late getting to her (when i mean late, i mean really late). on the upside, it finally got to her just in time for her birthday!

here's the doll i made using the black apple doll tutorial with some customized details.

according to riley's mom, she calls it her "special" doll - and that makes me especially happy!

have a great day!
xo, carla

giraffe love

2011-09-25T16:00:00.000-07:00

if i had to choose a favorite wild animal, the giraffe would be on the top of my list. i've been wanting to make a stuffie from this tutorial by kristina karkov (woman's day) for a while now... i knew that it would be perfect for my friend's baby boy!

i guess this would make it my 3rd sew september project! so check out what i made with my trusty needles and threads...

hello!

embroidered (raised satin stitch) - eye detail

felt heart applique

i used a 4-strand round braid for the tail

i decided to use two different fabrics to create the stuffie, and added some details to make it extra special!

xoxo,
carla

so nuts about french knots

2011-09-23T23:29:00.000-07:00

i wanted to share my 2nd sew september project. i really love embroidery, and my usual favorites are the back, split/chain, & stem stitches to draw lines. i wanted to try something different and add more dimension to the lines. so, i decided to use, the french knot! i guess you can say that i am nuts about french knots (now say that 3 times, as fast as you can - quite the tongue twister)!

i've been getting a lot of my inspiration from pinterest lately (and i'm pretty addicted to it). i've been eyeing this post from the mother lode, and decided to create my version of an embroidered family hands portrait!

i received some fabric scraps from one of my friends, and i used part of this cute ikea fabric and appliqued it to my base fabric.


the house that i used is within the blue heart (source)

to lighten the black outline within the hand prints, i applied a thin wash of white acrylic paint. i didn't want to completely lose the outline of the house.

then, i traced our hands and used different colored threads to represent each of us:
bry - navy blue
me - turquoise
dom - purple
solana - yellow

so, here's how it turned out:

i hope you are all having a wonderful week!
xo, carla

pre-school cool

2011-09-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

guess who's going to pre-school?

dominic!!! we are so proud of our lil' man. i can't believe that he's in school already!

i asked him, "how excited are you?" and he gave me this smile in the car:

action shot!

hung his back pack and greeted one of his teachers, ms. lorna.

all settled in class with a couple of his classmates, and his other teacher, ms. lenka.

after dropping him off, solana and i make our way to nonna's home...

so far, he's enjoyed every minute of it. he gets really excited going to school. often, he waits for us at the bottom of the steps in our home (it's really cute, and it makes me smile every single time)... i hope this enthusiasm lasts through college.

xoxo, carla

no heat curling method

2011-09-18T23:14:00.000-07:00

the no heat curl post by chelsey of the paper mama blog piqued my interest! the curls looked really pretty and easy enough to do. so, i wanted to give it a try! let the hair adventures begin...

chelsey also featured this video by the lipstick diaries:

i set my hair (with no product and dry), on the headband (took me less than 10 minutes)...

this is how it looked on the side and back:

i slept on it... and here's how it looked in the morning:

after i got ready, took the headband off, and finger combed my hair... voila, curls!

i really love the softness of the curls, i prefer it over the curling iron! gifted with super straight hair, humidity definitely won, and caused my curls to dissipate within a few hours. i think i would get better results with some flexible hold mousse on damp hair, then set it for the whole evening...

most of all, i love this method because it's great for anyone who does not have time to fuss with curling irons, heat curlers, etc...

i hope you get inspired making your hair extra special, everyday! next on my list: the no heat sock bun curling method. post to follow...

xoxo, carla

s'more smores please!

2011-09-16T18:05:00.000-07:00

we didn't get a chance to go camping this summer, but it doesn't mean that we miss out on having delectable treats like smores! with fall in the horizon (and wanting summer to stay sooo badly), we decided to have our very own smores, at home!

here's how we made it:

we used digestive cookies (because it isn't as sweet as the graham crackers), dark chocolate, and good old marshmallows.

stack your cookie, chocolate, and marshmallow in the microwave. cook for 20-30 seconds.

as soon as you open the microwave, squish another cookie right on top of the puffed up marshmallow.

i was going to go another level and torch the marshmallow with a brulee torch (that i left at work), but i'll settle on this ooey gooey goodness, for now:

btw, they are best while they are warm. so, make it one at a time... have a great day!
xoxo,
carla

the "a-z" of mama and dom

2011-09-14T17:25:00.000-07:00

i found this great post from katie of katie's pencil box and i could not resist doing one of dom and i! some of the questions i had to explain to him in a slightly different manner, he answered all the questions except for "h" & "o"...

here it goes:

A. Age:
(mama) 34.
(dom) gives me four fingers, 4.
B. Bed size:
(mama) queen, wishing for a king when dom decides to join us in the middle of the night. btw, he loves to kick and twist.
(dom) a bunk bed.
C. Chore that you dislike:
(mama) cleaning after arts and crafting - i enjoy my organized mess!
(dom) i like cleaning my toys (LOL, totally opposite what i asked him).
D. Dogs:
(mama) still wishing for a chocolate brown dachshund named, "stretch".
(dom) i like a big dog, he's 20 lbs. (what he wants one day...)
E. Essential start to your day:
(mama) saying good morning to my smiling babies, this includes my hubby.
(dom) i play with my toys.
F. Favorite color:
(mama) turquoise, aqua, blue-green...
(dom) purple, red is not my favorite color anymore, just purple!
G. Gold or Silver:
(mama) silver.
(dom) i like purple, i like purple-silver!
H. Height:
(mama) 5'6" .
(dom) 3'7"
I. Instruments you play:
(mama) i dabbled with piano in grade 1, did the clarinet in grade 7, my voice / choir in high school.
(dom) drums (my parents bought him a set, that stays at their home - though it's been a while since he played with it).
J. Job title:
(mama) dental lab technician; arts and crafter.
(dom) hugging and caring for my baby.
K. Kids:
(mama) 2, dom and solana.
(dom) my baby (solana).
L. Live:
(mama) in beautiful british columbia, canada!
(dom) in my house.
M. Mother’s name:
(mama) agnes
(dom) mommy carla
N. Nicknames:
(mama) kaka (yes, like caca poo poo), cacatoo, ninang cahlah - by my god daughter asia), naning - by my nephews, isaiah and reece), carla la la la la - by anna v.
(dom) dom, domy, dom dom, d-man, dr. d, dominic poot poot, dom da bomb
O. Overnight hospital stays:
(mama) twice, both c-sections for dom and solana
(dom) when he was 2 mos old
P. Pet peeves:
(mama) homophobia, uppity people, unfriendliness...
(dom) bad boy kids!
Q. Quote from a movie:
(mama)"the greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return" - moulin rouge
(dom) "cheese and sprinkles!" - rio; "flint lockwood, i got my eye on you!" - cloudy with a chance of meatballs
R. Right or left handed:
(mama) left for highly detailed applications, right for less detailed applications and sports (volleyball, basketball)
(dom) raises the right hand.
S. Siblings:
(mama) i have 2 younger brothers whom i love unconditionally.
(dom) a younger sister, solana leighton!
U. Underwear:
(mama) i would like to say victoria's secret, but in reality the more comfy the better, no granny panties for me though - that's where i draw the line (TMI).
(dom) when i was little i wear baby underwear. now i wear big boy undies, i mean big, big, BIG boy undies!
V. Vegetable you hate:
(mama) raw celery, cooked carrots, okra (though i'm starting to like them a little).
(dom) carrots, i still like brocolli.
W. What makes you run late:
(mama) my need to sleep in, diaper accidents, forgetting things...
(dom) when it's dark and i get scared.
X. X-Rays you’ve had:
(mama) at the dentist.
(dom) yaaa-no!
Y. Yummy food that you make:
(mama) i get compliments on my thai chicken curry, rack of lamb, and lemon grass chicken.
(dom) marshmallow cookies (he means smores).
Z. Zoo animal:
(mama) giraffes, jelly fish, elephants, pandas.
(max) alligators, fishies, turtles, sharks, yup, that's all!

i hope you enjoyed getting to know us a little bit more. it was a fun (ny) interview! i might consider doing something similar to this every year with both kids, well, as soon as solana starts to talk.

have a great week!
xo, carla (and dom)

sew september - i heart dad headband

2011-09-01T23:58:00.000-07:00

welcome to my sew september challenge project # 1! i was hoping to get this project done in time for the morning of september 1st! i guess i will settle for 3 minutes to midnight :)

without further delay, here's my "i heart dad" (aka. dad tattoo) headband:

my model was asleep, so i made "octtie " wear it...

i made a "mom tattoo" headband prior to this one, if you'd like to see it click here.

i would also like to thank city bird's nest for starting this sew september challenge. check out cb's wonderful diy project & the sew september flickr group! i heart crafty chic bikers!!!

have a great september!
xo, carla

sew september challenge

2011-08-29T21:06:00.000-07:00

i'm so happy to introduce you to one of my favorite bloggers, cb of the city bird's nest (aka. chic biker - a nickname i made for her, because she is. i love her bike oufit posts, diy's, pretty much every single thing she posts)! she is one of the sweetest people i know... so, send her some love by visiting her wonderful blog and her etsy shop!

if you are a sewing lover like me, i know you'd be interested to take on the "sew september" challenge. i don't own a machine, so my projects will be small (imagine the great things you can make with a machine!!!). it sounds like so much fun! i hope you can join us...

xo, carla

sisters

2011-08-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

growing up an only girl, i've always been fascinated with the relationships of sisters. i'm so lucky to witness snipets of this relationship through one of my best friend's girls. i love these girls as if they were my own... so, i wanted to make them something special. using the black apple doll tutorial and some acrylic paints, i made them their very own sister dolls! meet samaria and asia...

painted faces

embroidered monograms

dom wanted to give them some love before we wrapped them up...

have a great weekend!
xo, carla

paper bunting tutorial

2011-08-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

just wanted to share a tutorial on how to make a paper bunting, because they are so cute and festive!

materials:
12 x 12 inch patterned paper (one-sided)
paper cutter / scissors
twine / ribbon
glue gun with refills / craft glue

instructions:
1. take a sheet of patterned paper and fold it in 1/2.

2. cut the folded patterned in 3 equal pieces. cut at the 4 & 8 inch mark.

3. crease / mark the unfolded end of each piece as a guide to cut the tip.

4. you end up with a piece that looks like an inverted triangle. when you open it up you end up with a diamond-shaped piece.

5. take your twine, and run a bead of glue in the middle of the diamond. then, fold it close.

6. repeat this until you've reached the desired length of bunting! this one has 11 pieces...

it was so easy, i was able to get all of these done:

...with the help of these two, of course!

have fun creating them!!!
xo, carla

the dj and the sweetheart

2011-08-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

just a little photo fun...

here's the dj (because everytime he wears his cap, he says that he's a dj):

and the sweetheart (aka. "chomper" because she loves chomping on her hands):

love spending time with them! they are two of my most favorite people in the world!!!

have a lovely week.
xo, carla

creative wee hours of the morning

2011-08-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

what do you do when you can't sleep? me, i craft! it seems to be the best time to create, the kiddos are asleep, it's so quiet, and i get a surge of energy when i'm inspired!

last night was one of those nights, i just couldn't go to sleep. i tried drinking warm milk, reading a book, watching a movie - none of it worked. so, last night i decided to make a headband for solana!

i am so in love with the lou and lee on etsy! the shop makes the cutest headbands for kids. most of all, i've been smitten with this headband:

isn't it a cute headband? i love old school tattoos, so it was the perfect choice for our little lady! here are some process photos:

... and here's the finished product!

i think solana likes it (she didn't try taking it off)! i definitely have to make one that says "dad" - she is daddy's girl after all...

have a lovely week!
xo, carla

"me" time...

2011-07-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

i value the importance of spending time with myself, and i'm not afraid to say it! as much as i love being a wife and a mom, it is one of the things that i learned to indulge in from time to time to create balance in my life. it is as important as date nights with my mister, and dates with my kiddos too!

i miss painting on canvas, spending hours layering paints. unfortunately, time is often taken up by more important things (see photo above). so yesterday, i decided to do some nail art for fun! i found this tutorial from michelle of the laquer files. i don't wear animal prints, so i decided to dress my nails with it! plus the added bonus of painting, but my nails as the canvas!!! the best reason: it was quick!

so here are my leopard pattern inspired nails in turquoise, lime green, and black / dark teal:

here are the colors i used:

dark teal - ski teal we drop, OPI
turquoise - ocean love potion, sephora by OPI
lime green - gargantuan green grape, OPI
black - black onyx, OPI (no photo)

i used black polish instead of the dark teal to make the pattern pop against the lime green. you can use the dark teal for a more subtle look!

life gets quite hectic sometimes, what do you do for yourself?

have a great week!
xo, carla

the 4 year old & the 2 month old

2011-07-16T13:07:00.000-07:00

hello everyone,

it's been a long time since i posted here in the blogitty-blog... i miss all of you. i hope you are all doing well. my littles are giving me some free time at the moment to post a photo (one's napping and the other is watching a movie) - so i will! we did a photo session this morning. here's a favorite of mine among the bunch:

i found this amazing blog through pinterest called, young house love. i am absolutely in love with this blog, created by sherry petersik! she writes about her life, filled with love, and renovations too. they also featured 52 photos of their daughter, clara (one for every week of the year) - which is the inspiration for this photo. it was such an amazing idea, that i had to attempt to take one at least every month for a year of both kiddos. it was also very generous of sherry to share the process and tips of doing your own shoot! so, thank you sherry!!! maybe, this will be a new tradition every month for as long as i can do it...

hope you have an inspiring week!
xoxo,
carla

our lil' man turns four!

2011-06-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

it's amazing how time flies... i can't believe that dom is already 4 years old! he is such a great big brother to his new sister, solana. he makes us laugh everyday, and is growing up to be a wonderful lil' man. we are so proud of him, and love him wholeheartedly.

happy 4th birthday dominic!

always,
mom, dad, and solana

card love: buntings and landscape

2011-04-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

i wanted to sneak in just one more post... i wanted to share some cards that i made today. lil' man and i had a few hours of arts and crafts. we played with some play doh, he cut some paper with scissors and my tonic cutter, he also learned how to use wood mounted rubber stamps. we even sang along with the songs on the radio. basically, it was a perfect day...

here's lil' man's stamping work

here are the cards that i made today:

bunting cards

bunting card detail - i love the button brads!

landscape card (front) - inspired by a design from paper crafts magazine.

landscape card (inside)

handmade stamp and my name :)

well, i'm off to have a baby tomorrow morning...

have a great weekend!!!
xo, carla

2 more days...

2011-04-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

two more days, until solana's arrival!

i just wanted to let you know that this could possibly be one of my last posts in a while. i'll be in hiatus until our precious new cargo and i are settled at home. my c-section is on friday, 29th of april, at 9 am... i'll be in the hospital for up to 4 days. lil' man will be with my mister's parents - i'm going to miss him while we're at the hospital.

i will post a photo of our newest as soon as i get a chance and share our journey as a family of four with you - and it will be a busy and exciting journey, for sure!

i'll leave you with some cute custom portraits i found on etsy:

custom portraits from thepapermama (thanks to TART for introducing me to her work)

custom digital portrait by ohrobinwhite

custom hand embroidered family portrait by marysgranddaughter

custom portrait by nan lawson

custom carved rubber stamps by kozue

custom pop art portrait by superstudio

custom illustrated portrait by umbrellaclassics

don't you just love these portraits? if you know of any artists that sell custom portraits, leave a link on the comment box, i love discovering new works...

happy blogging and reading, i'll be back before you know it!
xo, carla

royal wedding... what royal wedding?

2011-04-20T20:31:00.000-07:00

two months ago, my OB told us the date of our cesarean section surgery, i didn't realize that it would be on the day of the royal wedding of william and kate! i'm so smitten with these two...

solana's actual due date, may 7th is also another event that's on my list - the pacquio vs. mosley fight - yes, i love boxing. it stems from my childhood memory of watching fights with my dad. it is one of my favorite memories with him.

of course, deep down whether early or on time, there's only one event that would absolutely make our lives, solana's arrival...

well, our hospital bags are packed, her bassinet and nursery prepared, the house smells like ivory snow... all we need now is our baby girl.

a whimsical monogram i painted, and some of the embroidery hoop fabric wall decor i put together for the nursery.

feels like she'll be here anytime now...

hope you have a wonderful day!
xo, carla

paper doll love

2011-04-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

i love paper dolls... i used to have all kinds from vintage to mod. i played with them so much that i couldn't keep them anymore. though, i might start collecting some for me, i mean for solana ;)

here are some amazing finds from etsy:

collar paper doll by amanda atkins

black apple paper dolls

little miss and young master by mab graves

homeward bound betty by illustrated ink

personalized paper dolls by jordan grace owens of hollandsworth

frida khalo paper doll by le lapin triste

rockabilly kitty by mcollings

retro 60s mod style paper dolls by finch and willow

dress up doll (reusable fabric wall decals) by love mae store
(i know it's not paper, but it's the same concept)

the poppy tree paper dolls

eliza and little mina paper dolls by inking cap

... not including the countless vintage paper dolls that can be purchased and downloaded. hope you love them as much as i do!

xo, carla

a spring in my step

2011-04-10T19:03:00.000-07:00

it is less than one week before i go on maternity leave, and it's putting a spring into my step! by the 15th of april, i am officially off! don't get me wrong, i love work, but i'm super excited to finally be able to focus on what's about to happen, and spend some extra quality time with the lil' man too. of course, to give the grandparents a break from babystitting! i'm going to be on leave for almost a year - i feel privileged to have this time to take care of our lil' man and our newest lil' miss.

photo: vermishel photography

i know that having two will be a new challenge for the mister and i, but we are really anticipating the moment we meet solana! i've heard from some, that it'll be an easier transition, that we'll be getting busier, some even told me how hard it is, but i'm trying to be positive and make this experience our own (i'm embracing both the good and the bad - doesn't matter which comes first).

our first time around, i didn't realize how a baby can literally turn your life, home, and emotions upside down. even change the dynamics of the relationships you have with family and friends. i also experienced post-partum depression, which was quite intense for the first two weeks after lil' man's birth (those hormones are potent!). the mister left for work one morning and i remember seeing the home so messy, my c-section incision hurting, and looking down at this crying newborn, and had no idea what to do or which one to deal with first... i never felt so lost in my life (no kidding) a couple of things i learned through this experience are, that all the hard parts pass, and as soon as the extra hormones leave, it's quite enjoyable too.

i was also unprepared to breastfeed the first time around... i saw a lactation consultant last march (i thank my friend, rachel, for introducing me to renee - she's been doing this for 38 years, and is such a breastfeeding advocate - i love her!) and was surprised to find out that some info that were given to us in the beginning (with dom) were not true at all... for example, did you know that the baby's stomach is only the size of a chick pea, not a walnut??? HUGE difference when you are trying to feed the baby at least an ounce of colostrum or milk the first or second day of breastfeeding, besides your milk doesn't even come in until the fourth day. i'm terrified because some of the old feelings of being unable to breastfeed are creeping back in, yet at the same time i'm excited to push through those fears and focus on doing what's best for baby and i... also, if you have any advice, i'd love to hear about it!

one thing we are also looking forward to is the use of cloth diapers. they are so much better than what they used to be. when someone mentioned cloth diapers, back before dom's birth, i nearly cringe at the thought of washing those by myself. the last time i was near a cloth diaper, it was a rectangular piece of cotton fabric, folded several times and was pinned with safety pins (that shows you how long it's been since i've seen one). well, all those feelings changed when i was introduced to the happy nappy diaper service!

not only do they do the washing for you, the diapers are so similar to disposables. after talking to my happy nappy consultant, and reading reviews about the service like amber's on the momma stuff blog, i'm convinced that cloth is the way to go! the inner eco-warrior in me is dying to get out and put a dent on my family's carbon footprint. plus the fact that it works out to be cheaper than buying disposables is a definite plus!

i'm just hoping that our lil'miss stays until the 21st of april to give me a good week of preparation, until we're ready to greet her... i didn't have much of a time "off" the last time LOL.

xo,
carla

nesting

2011-04-02T22:56:00.000-07:00

hello everyone! i didn't realize that i've been gone since mid-march. i've been on a personal hiatus, aka. nesting LOL. my family of three is preparing for the arrival of our lil' miss, solana. i am currently 35 weeks pregnant, and am scheduled for a c-section on the 29th of april (my actual due date is on may 7th)... i can't believe that so much time has passed, and i only have less than a month to go before our girl makes her appearance.

also, i've been spending some quality time with our lil' man, dom, and also prepping him for solana's arrival. a good friend of ours, nichole, gave me this great advice among others (thank you!):

give lil' man a sense of ownership - that he is a part of this pregnancy as much as mom and dad. this is so great because it really helps with the transition. he really is excited to meet his sister, and he refers to her as "his" baby! i really see a sense of pride when he talks about her. he is also very protective and nurturing towards her. he makes sure that he kisses and hugs "his" baby when he sees me or when i leave to go somewhere.

another thing i found helpful: when he accidentally bumps into my belly, i always refer to it as mommy's belly, never the baby. i do this to prevent any resentment, if there would be any...

going back to nesting, just the other night, i woke up at 4:30 am, and was non-stop cleaning and organizing anything and everything i could get my hands on. i think i managed to sneak in a 45 min nap sometime in the late afternoon - and was up until 11:30 pm. in the past 2 weeks, mister, lil' man (yes, he is quite the helper), and i managed to get solana's room prepared, and finished our spring cleaning! i never experienced this when i was pregnant with lil' man - so this nesting instinct is all new to me. my mister finds it very comical - here i am, very pregnant and attempting to do all these chores.

so, in light of my nesting nature, here are some wonderful finds:


matryoshka / nesting dolls by mandy tsung

"nestrest" by pouzet and frety, featured on re-nest

"nesting instinct" by jennet jones - a spoonflower fabric

"allegory of the four elements" by mark ryden

bird's nest cookies (with recipe!) by art of dessert

"nest - drawing in thread" by KLT works / kristin loffer theiss

"dreamers awake" by kelli murray

bird nest bed by eitan and zahr, featured on w ooh om

i hope you enjoyed these finds... i'll update you on my pregnancy in a week's time. have a lovely day!

xo,
carla

pretty girl rock

2011-03-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

just wanting to start the week off... this keri hilson video is so adorable. definitely, one of my favorites!

i love that this video features women who exude confidence and beauty inside and out... the women here could easily be replaced by some amazing women i know. so, to all the pretty girls (you know who you are), do the pretty girl rock, rock, rock!!!

xo,
carla

what's in a name?

2011-03-09T18:44:00.000-08:00

so, the mister and i have decided to name our newest addition, solana leighton...

lil' man had a part in it too... we asked him if he liked solana or leighton as the first name, he said, "solana!".

i came across the name, "solana" almost three years ago. the name has a spanish & latin origin. it means sunlight / sunshine... when broken down, "sol" - (hebrew origin) means prayed for; peace; "ana / anna" - (hebrew origin) "God has favored me"

we also liked the name "leighton" because we really like names that are not gender specific. the fact that i absolutely love leighton meester didn't hurt either...

leighton meester (source)

we are so happy to be able to call her by her name...

hope you are having a wonderful week.
xo, carla

tickle me tuesdays - part 3

2011-03-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

if you missed my last post, we just found out that our baby is a lil' miss. i couldn't help but choose a bunch of girly things for the 3rd edition of tickle me tuesdays! go to yes teacher's blog to check out some amazing bloggers who are participating in this link up!

here it goes:

"ultimate set of paper doll blocks" by tiny giraffe shop

peacock fascinator by gorgeous and company

"girl head pillows" by vintage jane

spitfire boy girl tattoo dolls
i saw this at sometimes sweet and tart's blogs

"gypsy baby dress" by vintage lucys

pleated a-line dress (made with spoonflower fabric) by zesti

i know i'm only supposed to have up to five items... but i couldn't help but add one more...

happy women's international day!!!
xo, carla

baby is a lil' lady!

2011-03-04T18:56:00.000-08:00

some mom-to-be's have dreams about the gender of their baby, some have gut feelings... i wasn't so lucky in this department. so, finding out that our newest addition is a girl, came as a surprise!

everyone was telling me that i was going to have a girl based on the chinese calendar, a "psychic" patient at the hospital that a family member spoke to (btw, she also predicted dom's gender back in 2006), my cravings, my mood, & even my appearance. although this pregnancy is obviously different from my previous one, i almost thought that we might have a boy because a friend of mine had two girls, but both pregnancies were so different. honestly, i just wanted the baby to be as healthy as possible, so i didn't have a preference whether baby was going to be a boy / a girl...

lil' lady (gestation period - 31 weeks

just like we did with lil' man, we had a 3D/4D ultrasound done. my hubby and i are such type A personalities that a surprise at the time of birth was just not in our plans. we also wanted to get a glimpse of our baby's face before he / she was born. finding out about the gender helped us prepare for baby's arrival, name him / her, and enjoy calling them by their name when we talk to the "belly". now, it's time for mister and i to brainstorm girl names (which is happening as you are reading this)!

our time at the ultrasound clinic was extra special, because dom was there with us. he anticipated seeing lil' lady's face as much as we were. he was so happy, and excited to see her for the first time (though, he still insists that she is a BOY)!

(source)

"pink on cream" by millylillyrose (source)

"the pink shoes" by rmrr21 (source)

(source)

"future" by domi the geeeee (source)

(source)

we feel very blessed to already have a boy, and having a girl is just the cherry on top!

hope you have a very lovely weekend!
xo, carla

i heart adele

2011-03-02T09:36:00.000-08:00

i just love her soulful voice... sigh. her album a definite must have.

xo,
carla

the defintion of handsome

2011-02-27T15:54:00.000-08:00

hand·some / ˈhan(d)səm / adjective

1. (of a man) good-looking.
2. (of a woman) striking and imposing in good looks rather than conventionally pretty.

once in a while, i get little surprises from our son...

"mom, you are a handsome girl." he really knows how to make me smile, and i'll take it from this lil' man anytime...

xo,
carla

facts of life

2011-02-24T14:53:00.000-08:00

my mister and lil' man went over to my in-laws. my hubby explained to him that he used to live at grandma and papa's house before he got married. then began the conversation about a fact of life:

D (dom): why did you get married?
B (bryan): because mom and i love each other.
D: how did i become a baby?
B: your mom and i's love for each other was so strong, that you were born out of that love.
D: ohhh! i'm gonna get married too, and i will have a little dominic.

it amazes me how lil' man comes up with these questions and realizations. i just hope we can keep up... talk about growing up - fast!

(photo taken - 2007)

(photo taken - 2009)

photo taken - 2011

the "loves" of my life...

xoxo,
carla

tickle me tuesdays - part 2

2011-02-21T20:51:00.000-08:00

linking up with yes teacher for tickle me tuesdays...

here are some of the things that tickle my fancy from anthropologie:

new dimensions bag

antiquity reigning cuff

golden moment ring

chrysanthemum door knob

megan miller nail polish in caribbean

have a lovely tuesday!
xo, carla

kokeshi love

2011-02-20T07:25:00.000-08:00

i found melly and me's kokeshi stuffie tutorial through google almost two years ago. the moment i saw it, i was in love. i wasn't sure when i would get the chance to make it and for whom.

recently, we found out that one of our friends' daughter got sick. she's the same age as our lil' man. i knew right there and then, that i just found the perfect thing to give her. i've also been saving this amazing "yui kokeshi" fabric from alexander henry for something special.

kokeshi dolls originate from japan. they are given to kids on special occasions, as a remembrance, or as a sign of luck.

everytime i see kokeshi figurines or artwork, it never fails to make me smile. so, here's the kokeshi doll i made using melly and me's tutorial. i altered the design a little bit. instead of the flowers, i changed it to a rainbow motif. i also enlarged the template so she could use it as a pillow, or just to make it more huggable...

here are some work in progress shots:

after embroidery

ready to be flipped right side out

front view

back view of the cutest alexander henry fabric

detail of the hair embellishment

detail of the obi (sash)

detail of the face

finished stuffie from the side

a kokeshi stuffie, ready to be loved...

thanks melly and me for a wonderful tutorial!

the kokeshi in her new home - a lovely girl`s arms...

hope you are having a great week!
xo, carla

card love: turquoise and red

2011-02-16T18:52:00.000-08:00

i just wanted to share some cards i made this past weekend...

supplies

i'm in love with the combination of light turquoise and red.

here's the logo at the back of the cards:

have a great week!
xoxo,
carla

nursery love and other cute spaces for kiddos

2011-02-04T07:24:00.000-08:00

as each day draws our due date closer than ever, i've been really inspired by the cutest blogs/websites: house of turquoise (for obvious reasons, it's my favorite color), ohdeedoh (aka. apartment therapy - perfect for small spaces), and little moth! i love every single space featured in all three. like ideas for nurseries, bunk beds, and all spaces catered to lil' ones.

here are some of the spaces that i adore:

by: elizabeth sullivan designs (source), featured at little moth
i'm smitten with the book wall and the striped ceiling!

by: lykeebo, featured at house of turquoise
i love the gray and turquoise combination

kenzie's nursery, featured on ohdeedoh

bunk beds by: eve robinson associates, inc.
featured on little moth
a definite space saver and a fun place to hang out!

aqua and coral nursery by lay baby lay, featured on house of turquoise
i love the wall decor and color combo!


H is for harper room, featured on ohdeedoh

by: walsh design group, featured on house of turquoise
it's so turquoise and so girly, i couldn't help but fall in love with this.

no gray skies for malory gray, featured on ohdeedoh
wall papered ceiling, genius!

(source), featured on little moth
wouldn't this be perfect for a sleep over?

taryn's nursery, featured on ohdeedoh

nursery by megan carty, featured on house of turquoise
love the pop of yellow, and the embroidery hoop wall feature.

trio of hanging beds by the bumper crop, featured on ohdeedoh

i'm getting some great ideas from these websites, i hope you do too!!!

xoxo,
carla

tickle me tuesdays

2011-02-01T12:25:00.000-08:00

i owe this post to the wonderful sarah, of yes teacher!!! she's the wonderful creator of "tickle me tuesdays"!

since i have baby on my mind, here are some "baby" related things that tickle my fancy:

puj bath tub

bum genius one-size cloth diapers

miss james (of bleu bird vintage)'s gemma

i'm so in love with her blue eyes...

dwell studio for babies

dress up dolls by lovemaestore

hope you enjoyed my version of tickle me tuesday!!!

happy february to you!
xoxo,
carla

playing cupid in january...

2011-01-25T00:21:00.000-08:00

it's been way too long since my last post. nope, i didn't go into hiatus. just have a lot of things going on... we also found out when our lil' babe will be arriving - april 29, 2011!!!

it's been quite a tumultous month so far. yet, there are so many things to celebrate also... i have so many things to share with you (in due time). some of the projects i'm working on are a surprise for a well-deserving person. i'll give you a hint:

read about it, here!

this project stemmed from a hasty life's ashley hasty, and blossomed into this wonderful act of kindness by some amazing bloggers that have become instant friends of mine. i'm so glad to be a part of it.

"be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" - plato

if i am to think of a resolution that i would like to keep for this year, this quote is it. i've met so many wonderful people recently, and it really reminds me how much i miss being a part of something greater than what is going on in my life. what i strive for is to bring happiness to all those i meet. a small gesture means a lot.

have a great week,
carla xoxo

blog crawl: it's in the bag!

2011-01-14T07:43:00.000-08:00

hello everyone! i 'm participating in a blog crawl, hosted by ashley hasty of a hasty life. thanks ashley!!!

i enjoy being a part of this, because i get to meet so many amazing bloggers. i am in group 7, there are 12 groups in total! there are 11 other participants who are posting today, so feel free to visit the blog crawl directory to see what's in their bag!

my purse: tokidoki PIRATA by le sport sac - because i love simone legno's art. i'm a huge fan of pop art, pop-surrealism, and graffiti. i also love all things kawaii and pirates too...

here's what's inside:

pouch (retro rascals fabric by michael miller) - sewn at the spool of thread sewing class. i'm really in love with this pouch because it's the first thing i've ever sewn with a machine (btw, i still don't own a machine - so it's still in my wish list - note for my mister)
tweezers - brow maintenance, splinter removal - both a must for me and lil' man.
nail cutter - just in case for lil' man, we don't want any bent nail beds. lil' man snagged one of his nails while playing in the playground before - not fun.
MAC lipstick - for days when i feel like i want a little extra oomph.
philosophy lip balm / gloss - my everyday must have.
cake hand cream - in "snow woman". it's a rich and velvety smooth hand cream that i can't live without. plus, it smells sooo good!
lush cuticle cream - "lemony butter cuticle butter" - most nail bloggers swear by the wonders of this cream. i absolutely love it because i have to constantly wash my hands at home and at work, and it keeps my cuticles super moisturized!
wide tooth comb - for the long locks.
MAC lipliner - accompanies my lipstick
michael miller fabric wicker pouch - made at the same sewing class at spool of thread. i'm attached to both of them...
USB adaptor - for my camera's memory card
sony cybershot camera - a must for an avid blogger
camera battery charger - for days when video recording is at its optimum
matt & natt wallet - given to me by a friend who loves ladybugs! it's my favorite one!
blackberry phone - this is where all my tweeting during the day happens. i also blog via tumbler with this baby, e-mail, use it as a note pad, etc...
clean and go wipes - occasionally in my purse for lil' man, okay - for me too! did you know wipes are the best for removing scuff marks on white or light colored kicks?
purell hand sanitizer - for clean hands on the go...
kleenex tissue - for allergies, colds, etc...
uniball signo 207 pen (photo by google) - this is my favorite pen, it is water and smudge proof when dry and also prevents fraud - best for signing those visa slips. did i mention it's also great for drawing and card crafting?

make sure to check out the blogger who posted before me, aspiring kennedy, and one who is posting after me, dance to the radio!

i also participated in something similar before, check out my other bag!

have a great time blog crawling!!!
xo, carla

water, color, paint...

2011-01-05T16:56:00.000-08:00

"water, color, paint..." was what dom was chanting as he used watercolors for the first time... he really enjoys expressing himself creatively - and my mister and i really enjoy every minute of it!

dom has been asking us if he could paint, so i headed over to the nearest dollar store and picked up a "dick and jane" (used to read the books back in kindergarten) coloring book with watercolor paints, and a brush!

this is how it went...

the best part was this:


"a family portrait" by dom (annotation by me - as described by the artist)

have a great day!
xo, carla

and we're off to a perfect start...

2011-01-03T09:57:00.000-08:00

we were so lucky to have such a sunny day on jan 1, 2011. it was a perfect day to start the year! armed with what felt like a few hours of sleep, we decided to go for a walk on the beach/pier of white rock. we soaked up the sun, inhaled the fresh air, and welcomed the new year with open arms. after enjoying lunch, we decided to walk it off on the dock.

a lot of people decided to take advantage of the wonderful weather too!

dom loves seaweed, so he was so happy to actually see some sea kelp floating in the water... though uprooted, he was fascinated to see where one of his favorite foods came from.

the mister and lil' man

dom and mommy

lil' man with my sunglasses because, "the sun was hurting his eyes" - LOL.

have a lovely week!!!
xo, carla

artist feature: sarah hickey

2011-01-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

self-portrait (background: "a bird on the wrist is worth two in the bush")

i met sarah, through our love for angelique houtkamp's art, and so many other things. she is a really beautiful woman inside and out, and a great friend. i saw her art through meeting her on my blog, and i fell in love with her work. it exudes female empowerment and celebrates femininity. i adore her choice of texture and stencils to enhance the beauty of her work.

let's get to know the lady behind the art:

CD: could you share some information about yourself?
SH: my name is sarah hickey, and i am a brisbane, australia based artist. it's only been in the last three years that ive been seriously producing art again after a long hiatus. i love the journey of it all, although i often want to jump ahead of myself all the time. it's during those times that i need to remind myself why i do it in the first place - because it makes me happy.

CD: what is your background in art?
SH: i studied fine art at queensland college of art immediately, after graduating from high school. it seemed like a natural progression at the time, as i'd always been identified as being "arty" throughout my schooling years.

i found these years of study quite tumultuous in many ways. upon relfection and with the benefit of hindsight, i think i was too young for the degree. you need to have an inner strenght and knowledge of self to get the most out of it. i used to marvel at how the more mature aged students handled the course. the critiquing process can be quite devastating to someone so young and inexperienced. however, it was a period of intense growth for me and i wouldn't play it any other way. the unique experience and the subsequent years of not practising art have fired a determination and body of work that seems to keep flowing. so it's all good.

"queen amazon and her avian entourage"

CD: what is your approach when it comes to composition?
SH: i usually like to do a bit of a "mock up" of the composition on an A4 scale before i transfer it onto canvas. i used to "freestyle" it, and would have to work very hard (often with poor results) to try and make the image "work". if it works on the smaller scale, it generally works on the larger scale.

sarah hickey's studio

CD: could you give us a detailed overview or steps when it comes to creating your wonderful art?
SH: i generally create an A4 collage of collected images of women and animals gathered from a variety of sources - magazines, vintage photography books, printouts of animals from the web, etc... i prepare the canvas by layering on printed materials/fabrics. i then, transfer the collaged image onto the canvas, and start to work with acrylics over the top. i then get spray paint to stencil patterns / designs on the outskirts of the image. then, the final step is to use thickly applied oils to separate the subject matter of the painting from the backround image.

"betty the tiger tamer can jump through hoops"

CD: who are the most influencial artists who you look up to? and what drew you into their work?
SH: like many people, i like klimt. i loved the way he used patterning, structure, and shapes in his work. he was unabashedly focused on the beauty of the aesthetic in his art. i love the visual decadence, embellishment, and richness of the art deco period. i love the fact that art seemed to have a clear purpose too, to enrich and beautify people's daily lives - lofty ideas.

"the kiss" - gustav klimt (source)

i like andy warhol for his business savvy and ability to produce ideas that continue to connect with people today. when we recently had an exhibition of his work here in brisbane, there were record crowds to the show. i think it's because people feel his work is somehow accessible. he used everyday objects or easily identifiable images of people/celebrity that the general public found that they could connect with. i love that he was once shunned by the art establishment, and then became its ultimate darling.

"turquoise marilyn" - andy warhol (source)

i love a wide range of contemporary illustrators and street artists. they both seem to have a freshness and vitality about them that is generally represented by new ideas and young blood.

CD: how do you like the viewers of your work to feel?
SH: i really want people to trust their gut when it comes to art. i think the art world has brainwashed people into believing that they "don't know much about art", and that it would be wrong for them to judge. we are made of a wide variety of people from differnt backgrounds and contexts, and people should have the right to have different responses to different artists. that means that some people will like my work and connect with it, others will hate it - everyone has a right to their opinion. i'm not going to write a five page conceptual paper about why you should look at the work a second time and respect it if your initial response has been a guttural "nope, that's not for me". okay... off soapbox now...

"girl with owls - candied blond with tattoos"

CD: do you have a favorite piece, out of the works you've created?
SH: in every batch or collection of work (i usually work on a group at once), i always have a couple that really stand out. these are usually the ones that i could sell four times over. then, there are the images that you need to produce in order to get to those stronger ones.

i always prefer the most recent images. sometimes, i look back on my earlier work, and i'm embarrassed to say they're mine. my poor earlier work - i'm a flippant mistress!

"sally's circus: band leader and icon with red orchids"

CD: do you enjoy creating a series or a theme?
SH: absolutely. everything is stronger in repetition... i think it naturally happens this way. sometimes i think painting (or any artmaking activity) is like a conversation with the spirit. there seems to be a gust of that energy that sweeps you up in a momentum where you produce several pieces in a small amount of time, then you have a little rest waiting for the next creative wave.

CD: can you give us 5 words to describe yourself?
SH: happy, colorful, heartfelt, inspired, and optimistic.

"jane and her coconut macaroons"

CD: do you have a most inspirational place? if so, where is it and why?
SH: anywhere near the water, or an arty bookshop.

CD: can you share some of your future plans, for example, the direction of your most recent work?
SH: horns seem to be making their way into my work. there seems to be a group of female illustrators at the moment who are particularly attracted by that connection between animal and woman, beauty and mythology. i love these themes. i love religious iconography. chinese propaganda posters and advertising visuals of the 1950's - all the same thing really. i love the ideal. we shouldn't be scared of the ideal. i like to embrace all that is supremely beautiful and unabashedly focused on the aesthetic. i think my work will continue to focus on these things. i think the women in my work are maturing, i feel that they are becoming stronger - more fierce in a contained, dignified way.

"she who wears the horns"

CD: what keeps you motivated?
SH: people's support of what i'm doing, and my own sense of happiness that comes from being a painting hermit for a while. an exhibition, through exhausting, really spurs you on. it's lovely to get that immediate feedback. people handing over their hard earned dollars, because they've seen a piece and connected with it.

"an eye on the horizon an owl on my wrist"

CD: do you have any advice to give aspiring artists?
SH: go for it!

have a small group of one or two people that love you, and want to encourage you on your journey. they will be your applause when you most need it.

although you'll be impatient for success, take your time and pat yourself on the back for making progressive babysteps towards where you want to be.

leave the peanut gallery out of it - nobody truly knows where you want to go like you do. even those supportive family, friends, and loved ones!

follow your gut at all times, and spoil yourself often.

you get better at this (i strangely left that out of the equation when i first got started).

dream big (cliched but so true)... belief is just a thought you keep thinking. start to believe that artists are worthy and capable of producing great wealth and abundance. don't buy into the myth that art = poverty. although in saying this, having another skill up your sleeve helps in the initial stages.

keep going, keep believing, keep producing. wonderful things are possible and likely to happen.

"vampira sets her sights on another conquest"

i hope you enjoyed learning more about sarah hickey. if you would like view or get the latest updates on her work, click on the links below:

website:
http://www.sarahhickey.com.au/
facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Hickey/28840197955
twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/sarahhickey5

all images used in this post is courtesy of, and used with the permission of sarah hickey. please contact her at info@sarahhickey.com.au, if you wish to re-post any images on your blog, or any photo sharing websites. thank you.

have a great week!
xo, carla

2 0 1 1

2010-12-31T11:52:00.000-08:00

there are lots to be thankful for in 2010, but it's time to say goodbye. we are extremely excited for 2011 to arrive, another year to start off fresh...

(source)

so, here's to a very happy 2011 to all of you. may it be better than last year!!!
xo, carla

she belongs to a "madeline" too...

2010-12-26T21:55:00.000-08:00

i say this, because i previously made one for a girl named, madeline. this doll is for my neighbor's daughter. she is a very sweet girl with blond hair and blue eyes.

here's the doll i made her, using the black apple tutorial for the basic pattern, and customizing the other details to make it unique. i added a scarf and sleeves to this doll - it is winter, afterall.

a detailed shot of her eye (i modified it to add an iris and highlights)

a detailed shot of her flower hair clip (inspired by a friend of mine)

a detailed shot of the embroidered monogram

i hope you liked it. now, i'm off to make one for another girl whose favorite pastel colors are: blue, pink, and purple...
xo, carla

all things merry and bright

2010-12-23T23:59:00.000-08:00

my family and i would like to wish you, a very merry Christmas! this season is extra special because our "bun in the oven" is 20 weeks old, and doing well.

i couldn't find a "we're expecting" ornament. so, here's a felt one that i made for him/her...

i would like to share lil' man's santa photo too. he was so excited to see santa, it seemed like the only thing he wanted for Christmas. he was asking us to see santa for weeks. when he finally got his chance to sit on old saint nick's lap, he didn't want to talk to him, or smile for the camera. so, santa ended up tickling him to conjure up a smile. dom is stifling his laughter, and kicking his feet in this photo (notice his hands? that's all him - LOL).

i was so inspired by the beautiful Christmas trees i saw while browsing around. so, here are some of my favorites:


(source)

(source - image at weheartit.com)

(source)


by buro north (source)

(source)


(source)

here are some of my favorite ornaments:


"green ornament" by kira shaimanova

"the tiniest deer" by skunkboy creatures (this is a birthday gift, but it would make a great ornament, wouldn't it?!)

aren't those ornaments cute? also, check out more unique trees here!

enjoy this wonderful time with the people that are closest to your heart.
xo, carla

warm hands = warm heart

2010-12-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

first and foremost, i would like to thank ilene and sandy for creating this wonderful swap, and for giving us all an opportunity to meet fellow bloggers and gain new friends too!

i was lucky enough to be partnered with a wonderful and creative lady, emily smolak of "sassy smolak".

i'm so happy to meet her because she is so lovely! as i was reading her blog, i came across her wedding photos. i was so inspired by her favorite colors (also her wedding colors). so, i visited a few stores, but still couldn't find the perfect gloves for her... finally, i decided to visit one of my favorite online stores, etsy, and i came across love driven's shop! the moment i saw the smittens, i knew i found the perfect pair. heather (of love driven), customized a pair with two of emily's favorite colors, purple and orange!

these are the goodies that emily sent me:

i received tuquoise gloves by mossimo, cards by the craft pantry, and a beautiful wood garland! thank you so much emily!!! i absolutely love all of them!

hope your week is as wonderful as mine (or even better)!
xo, carla

the sweetest thing

2010-11-07T15:39:00.000-08:00

it started out as a really funny discussion...

dom: mommy, i want you to have a tiny belly.
me: well, we are going to have to wait because baby is inside. so mommy's belly needs to get bigger first, because the baby is growing. just like you did!
dom: but i like you to have a tiny belly mommy.
me: okay, i will, after the baby is born.
dom: so, after the baby comes out, you are going to have a tiny belly?
me: yes, i promise.
dom: okay, so the baby will be my best friend and your belly will be tiny.
me: *tear* you want the baby to be your best friend?
dom: yes, my bestest friend.

"best friends" - sketch by tina burke

... and ending as the sweetest thing the lil' man has said... even better than, "i love you".

xoxo,
carla

hear ye! hear ye! read all about it!!!

2010-11-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

my family and i would like to officially announce that we are expecting! our family of three will be "four" by may 2011. i guess there was a reason for this post... LOL.

our first ultrasound happened last month, and i saw our baby's heart pumping as he/she slept in my womb! i would provide the ultrasound photo, but it's so blurry - so, i'll wait for our next one to post his/her photo. we are so happy, i can't wait to see him/her again!

it's been a pretty tough first three months... feeling extremely exhausted (napping every single chance i get), and deathly nauseous. when i was pregnant with dom, i knew exactly what i wanted to eat: beef teriyaki, kimchi, burgers, and salads. and what not to eat: anything chicken - that's it!

this time around, my food aversion varies from day to day and the list is growing daily. mostly, i detest garlic (this is my all-time favorite, which makes me extremely sad. because i can't have anything with a trace of it), beef, the smell of any cooking (if i don't smell it in the cooking stage, i'll most likely eat it - this is a major problem when going to restaurants), oranges, coconuts, and strong smells. i also can't have any canned food or ramen - i can actually taste the preservatives from it. though, i do love salads, ambrosia apples, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken dishes, and plain oatmeal with mashed bananas.

despite the uncomfortable moments, i find myself on cloud nine, and feeling so beautiful. it's a great time in our lives right now. dom kisses my belly every morning, saying, "good morning baby" - he's going to be such a great big brother.

i would also like to say "congratulations" to those who are expecting, i know of a few!!! i'm so happy for all of you!

for now, have a great weekend!
xoxo, carla

(i promise to be back on a regular blogging schedule as soon as my symptoms ease - lol)

cold hands, warm hearts...

2010-11-04T08:01:00.000-07:00

hello everyone!

i just joined a swap and it's perfect for winter!!! it's called the "cold hands, warm hearts swap"!

this is my second swap (here's what i did for my first one) and i'm really excited for it because it is hosted by these two lovely ladies: sandy a la mode and much love illy!

for more information on this swap, click here. hope you are 1 of the 100 who will be exchanging lovely packages. we could all use a little heart warming, right?

thanks sandy and ilene!!!

xoxo, carla

all hallow's eve

2010-10-31T09:51:00.000-07:00

hello everyone! just wanted to wish you all a very happy halloween. it is my favorite holiday of the year. it's fun, creative, full of laughs, and scares!

(source)

our son, is looking forward to this day too! he's been asking us to "go to halloween" everytime he sees a jack o'lantern or a pumpkin. he's sooo excited to be buzz lightyear, and is looking forward to receiving candies "from ghosts and monsters" - his exact words.

have a spooky one!

xo, carla

artist feature: pretty little thieves

2010-10-20T22:51:00.000-07:00

i discovered pretty little thieves through a beautiful mess, and i've been following nancy mungcal's work ever since... not only is this selft-taught artist, talented, but she is also a philanthropist. i was lucky enough to own a couple of her original works through etsy (which were for a good cause too).

"the community"

get to know the talent behind pretty little thieves, nancy mungcal:

"self-portrait"

CD (me): could you share a little bit about yourself?

NM (nancy mungcal): i wear glasses and currently live in california. i am inspired by my family and friends, music, books, art, photography, design, and travel. i love animals especially pugs and wolves. i wish i could play the guitar. i feel lucky to get to share my work.

"bird like"

CD: what is your approach when it comes to composition?

NM: i constantly fill notebooks and sketchbooks so i often refer to the things i've drawn or jotted down to inform my work. at other times, the work comes together in the process

"support group"

CD: who are the most influential artist that you look up to? and what drew you into their work.

NM: i find music and books to be transforming. i find myself insfluenced and inspired by the work of my favorite musicians and writers. i am drawn to the emotions and stories told.

"her outlook was different"

CD: your work, in my opinion, sends a beautiful yet melancholic emotion. is this intentional?

NM: thank you for the wonderful compliment. it is unintentional but tends to show up naturally.

"your black heart"

CD: how do you like the viewers of your work to feel?

NM: the really amazing thing about art is that the viewer connects to the work in their own way. to me, the biggest compliments about my work i have received have been the ones where my work has reminded the viewer of herself, or a friend, or a sister.

"two heads are better than one"

CD: do you have a favorite piece, out of the works you've created?

NM: i don't have a favorite piece but i tend to have some pieces that i can't let go of.

"crazy talk"

CD: some artists, create a series of their work. do you like doing this? does it influence you to create works based on a theme?

NM: there seems to be prevalent themes in my work like loss, heartache, friendship, duality, sisterhood, and sadness. these seems inherent and are constantly influencing my work.

"a real mess"

CD: do you have an inspirational place? if so, where is it and why?

NM: i'm a fan of road trips and finding or discovering new places to be real inspiring. i also find the woods to be amazing magical places

"the things we share"

CD: a lot of us were affected by or moved by the gulf oil crisis... what are your views on it? what inspired the creation of "for your friends"?

NM: i found the gulf oil crisis devastating. the images of the animals covered in oil were especially difficult to see. "for your friends" was actually a painting my five year old niece asked me to paint.

"for your friends"

CD: can you share some of your future plans, fund-raising causes you participate in, or the direction of your most recent work?

NM: to continue to put my work out there, to find new avenues for my work, and to help when i can to raise funds for causes that i believe in.

collage of earlier works for the drawing for a cure project

CD: what keeps you motivated to do what you do?

NM: a love and a fierce (stubborn) determination for the creative process.

"what matters to us"

CD: do you have any advice to give aspiring artists?

NM: i'll share the advice i've been given, which are: don't wait, keep putting your work out there, don't give up, and always be brave. i remind myself of these constantly.

"friends with glasses"

website:
http://prettylittlethieves.com/home.html

blog:
http://prettylittlethieves.blogspot.com/

shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/prettylittlethieves
i hope you enjoyed pretty little thieves!

xo,
carla

happy thanksgiving!

2010-10-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

to my fellow canadians,

(source)

wishing you all a wonderful thanksgiving!!!

xo, carla

dom-isms: reading between the lines

2010-10-07T19:20:00.000-07:00

my brother in law (dom's godfather) is an avid collector of mint condition transformer action figures... everytime my son gets a glimpse of his collection, it tempts him to touch or play with them...

(source)

so, after we all got together for dinner, dom asked his godfather, "ninong, can i play with your toys?"

ninong replied, "if you do, i'll cut off your fingers!" - in a joking manner, of course.

dom looks back at us and nonchalantly says, "i guess he said no."

happy thursday everyone!
xo, carla

burlesque

2010-09-26T21:43:00.000-07:00

another random fact about me, i'm a huge sucker for musicals or anything slightly resembling a musical... i cannot wait to see this: "burlesque"!!! it's out on november 24.

i can't help but be drawn to it... cher, chrisitina aguilera - need i say more?

here is a list of my favorite musicals of all time (box office and broadway - in no particular order, some less musical than others):

west side story
cry baby
sound of music
wizard of oz
moulin rouge
chicago
mary poppins
big fish
annie
the king and i
cabaret
grease
beauty and the beast
miss saigon
phantom of the opera
les miserables
aladdin
dumbo
oliver
fiddler on the roof
sweeney todd
hair
jesus christ superstar
rocky horror pictureshow
across the universe

i could go on forever, i'm sure i missed a bunch more (specially the disney ones). what's your all time favorite musical?

have a great week everyone!
xo, carla

sweetheart plush

2010-09-25T00:47:00.000-07:00

i've been eyeing this cute tutorial by johanna monte of one red robin, for quite a while now... i've always loved her work, specially this cute fawn found at her etsy shop:

"fiorella the fawn"

a few months ago, i finally got the chance to make the "sweetheart" plush! i love the easy to follow instructions too. here's how it turned out:

one red robin has quite a list of free tutorials you can try! so, when you get a chance, hop on over to johanna's blog and be inspired...

happy weekend everyone!
xo, carla

she belongs to beautiful madeline...

2010-09-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

here's another one of the dolls i made, using the black apple, and chez beeper bebe tutorials. here's the original inspiration for this doll, i found it while searching for black apple doll images on google.

(source)

i was able to find the blue retro space fabric by michael miller (in etsy), and i got the striped fabric from a local fabric store.

i made this for madeline, who lives all the way in detroit.

the "madeline" doll

detail of the lacing on her boots/shoes

detail of her face and the peter pan collar

detail of her capelet and the pocket

though i haven't met madeline (i've only seen her in photos), i'm already deeply in love with this little girl. she is the daughter of one of my best friends! i can't wait to see them soon.

have great week everyone!
xo, carla

it all started with a popsicle...

2010-09-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

here's another one to add to dom's sayings (aka. dom-isms)... it happened a few weeks ago.

(source)

my dad ("babba") gave lil' man a popsicle when we were over. dom says, while hugging him, "thank you for my popsicle babba. i love you very, very, very, very, very, belly, belly button!"

what will he come up with next? i'll keep you posted...

have a wonderful week!
xo, carla

dom-isms

2010-09-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

dom is growing up so fast, and i don't want to miss a thing... i just wanted to capture and document some of his sayings here, aka. dom-isms.

we are lucky enough to have both sets of parents to babysit the lil'man when bry and i are off to work... it's definitely time away from him, but we're at ease because he is left with people who love him as much as we do.

when i dropped him off yesterday at my in-laws', dom said, "mommy, i want a hug and lots of kisses!" so, i gave them to him. then he says, "ok, that's enough!"

LOL, he's such a funny guy, just like daddy! can you blame me though? i can't get enough of hugging and kissing him!

hope your day is wonderful!
xo, carla

for the love of quilts...

2010-09-05T07:20:00.000-07:00

i still am dreaming to make a quilt one day... i've always been fascinated with the process and detail. if i were to make one, it would be similar to this:

by lara cameron of kirin notebook

i just love the color combinations and the textile designs!

here are some amazing quilt work that blew me away:

m-eye perspective by maria shell


"amelie under the big top" by luke haynes


"warmth" by mitsuko murakami, photo by be*mused

"towers of babble" by pam rubert


"south bay" by linda gass

do you know of other amazing quilt artists? if you do, please send me a link. thanks!

happy sunday!
xoxo, carla

it's our anniversary!

2010-09-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

dearest bry,

happy anniversary! we've known each other since high school, been together for almost 14 years, and married for 6!

cherishing the best, enduring the tough, and living & loving everything in-between - i could not ask for a better life partner.

i love you always,
carla

ohhh babies...

2010-08-31T05:14:00.000-07:00

firstly, i want to wish my brother, rudy, a very happy birthday (we love you very, very, very much) - who was also a very cute baby boy! did you know that i gave him his nickname? i was learning phonics at the age of 2 and as i was reciting, "a - apple, b- boy!" i pointed at my lil' bro and the name stuck! ever since, we've called him "biboy". and it doesn't matter how old we get, i'll always see him as the little boy who loved burgers and ice cream as much as i did...

i also made this post as a tribute to my friends who just had some new wee ones... their babies are so cute that i just can't get enough of them. whenever i get a chance to see them, i fall in love over and over again...

let's start with some cuties with glasses:

"big glasses" (source) - this reminds me of darla from the little rascals

photo by jose luis pelaez

photo by tamara p.

"4-eyed babe" - by the sweetestnest

some mini music lovers:

photo by kristian d'amato

... yes, that's a diaper on his head!
(source)

(source)

some with funny faces:

(source)

(source)

some taking on a persona:

i just love this one for the most obvious reasons - tattoo love ;)
(source)

as ziggy stardust (aka. david bowie), the jean genie
(source)

batman!
(source)

some with sunglasses:

"camille" by priscilla estrela

"the cutest girl" by Nazza3a

(source)

(source)

some sleeping babes:

"book worm" by adele enersen, the creator of mila's daydreams (one of the cutest blogs out there...)

"sleepy sisters" by nikkicolleen

i think this is the cutest sleeping photo "max" has ever had...
(source)

of course this post won't be complete without adding one of my favorite photos of dom as a baby:

at 4 mos... taken at harrison, b.c. (we were there to watch the "harrisand - sand sculpting competition)

i hope this post made you smile...
happy tuesday!
xo, carla

artist feature: angelique houtkamp

2010-08-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

i've always been a fan of old school tattoos. so, it was so natural for me to be drawn to angelique houtkamp's art! angelique hails from netherlands and is a painter and a tattoo artist! she currently works at admiraal tattoo in amsterdam.

(source)

i love that her paintings exude the beauty of the ladies in the 1920's and 1930's. they are playful and funny too... she currently has two books out: tattoo darling (2007), and tattoo mystique (2009).

i'm eagerly waiting for her third book: black and white linedrawings - perfect for tattoo artists (as flash, or templates) perhaps, or for a fan, like me!

here are some of angelique's work that i absolutely adore:

"augusta"

"camille"

"damita"

"fabienne"

"lina"

"love hate"

"magda"

"marie"

"petronella"

"piaf"

"pookie ann"

"sailor's sweetheart"

"vertamae"

i hope you enjoyed her as much as i do... if you would like to follow angelique's work, check out the following links:

website:
http://www.salonserpent.com
facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Angelique-Houtkamp-Art
shop:
http://www.admiraaltattoo.com/home.html
all images in this post are courtesy and with the permission of angelique houtkamp. if you wish to re-blog or publish this photo at any photo sharing websites, please contact her at angelique@salonserpent.com. thank you!

before i go, i just wanted to add this to the post: amazing make up artistry and a self-portrait by josephine love, using houtkamp's "augusta" as an inspiration...

(source)

happy monday!
xoxo, carla

just B-cause...

2010-08-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

i love beyonce... i absolutely love the vintage esthetic of the video, and i can't get enough of her blue nail polish too!

who are your favorite singers? what music videos do you like or love?

happy friday!
xo, carla

sketchbook project 2011

2010-08-10T21:53:00.000-07:00

i read about the sketchbook project last month. it's such a wonderful way to view art from all over the world!

through blogging, tweeting, and tumblring, i met so many wonderfully creative people! so, i wanted to spread the word to those of you who might be interested, it's a challenge to fill a moleskin sketchbook (the number of pages can be altered), based on a theme. selected sketchbooks will then be exhibited at select galleries all over the united states starting on march 2011, and will reside at the brooklyn art gallery when the tour ends.

read more about the sketchbook project here!

if you want to participate, the deadline to sign up is on october 31, 2010. the sketchbook needs to be completed and received by january 15, 2010.

happy tuesday!
xo, carla

because i always wished i had hair like her...

2010-08-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

sorry that i've been gone for what feels like forever! i've been so busy, with so many things... we just came back from one of the best long weekend getaways, we potty trained our boy, etc...

i was just browsing through my drafts and realized that i forgot to publish this - i wrote it back in march 2010! so, while i'm working on other things, i hope this entertains you.

i have very fine hair, so most of the time it's long, straight, parted either sideways or in the middle - nothing too exciting. even when i was younger, i longed for thick, wavy, or curly hair. back in the early 90's i attempted to style my hair with the little flip in the front - which always ended up looking like a flat pancake stuck on top of my forehead (the photo below is what it was supposed to look like). so, ever since, i've decided to get someone else to do my hair - a well-thought out solution indeed!

(source: flickr)

i'm no expert hair stylist, but i've always been a fan of rockabilly / pin-up / 50's hairstyles. the are so intricate and well, coiffed! here are some of those hairstyles: some modern, inspired, and original...

i love gwen stefani!

(source: askmen.com)

(source: about.com)

(source: weheartit.com)

i can't forget about bettie page:

(source: google.ca)

...and some inpired by bettie's look:

beyonce on video phone (source: google.ca)

(source: weheartit.com)

the tokyo rockabilly craze (aka. tokyobilly). check out the pompadour hair that the men are rockin'! truly inspired by elvis!

(source: littlenipon.blogspot.com)

(source: weheartit.com)

here are some rockabilly inspired finds - hair, tattoos, 50's love:

art by jordan clarke at redbubble.com

you might recognize the girl in the middle, it's kat von d. i love her - she is too cute!

"the unappreciated gift" by sunnybuick

rockabilly / tattoo pumps at hipsterchic.com

art by adam isaac jackson

tattooed lady posable paper doll by illustratedink

fan of feathers rockabilly girl print by debStore

tattooed lady print by missbrigette

pearl dress by fablesbybarrie

american hellbillies (spoof of american gothic painting) by nikscarlett

vintage boxer sings a rainbow print by pinkytoast

one of the reasons why i love rockabilly style, hair, tattoos, and the 50's??? this cult classic that i am sooo in love with...

do you have any favorite rockabilly inspired things, likes, etc?

happy wednesday!
xo, carla

make your own mustache cookie cutter

2010-07-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

i was searching for a mustache cookie cutter for dom's 3rd birthday and i couldn't come across one that i really liked, so after googling a bunch of cookie cutter websites, i decided that maybe i can search for cookie cutter tutorials instead. i saw a bunch of tutorials, from step by step instructions to videos. the tutorial that i chose to follow was from juggling frogs - "make your own cookie cutter from clip art and a foil pan".

so here's my version:

"make your own mustache cookie cutter":

first you're going to need the following:

food grade aluminum ( i used oven liners or protectors, because they have less creases and steps - they have a smoother surface, and they are easier to cut) - can also be found at your local hardware store.
scissors
ruler (preferrably longer than 12 inches)
pliers (i got mine from the dollar store - it's a long nose with a wire cutter)
a drawing or a clip art of a mustache
thread
safety gloves
safety goggles/glasses

here's a photo of some of my supplies:

first, i cut two strips approximately 1" inch thick (because the oven protector is thinner, these strips are used for extra support / strength - if you use a thicker piece of aluminum, you might not need these extra strips). then, i cut one strip approximately under 3 inches (this strip is used, so that the extra edges can be folded over one another)

place the two strips directly in the middle of the thicker (3 in) strip. lightly score and fold over the extra edges over one another, using the ruler as a guide.

if you have an image that you'd like to replicate, use a simple string, twine, or thread to measure around the silhouette - this will give you an approximate length. use the string to measure how long your strip will be (remember to leave the strip about 1 to 2 inches longer than the string).

when you are done folding and measuring the lenght of the strip, attach both ends together - let them overlap. cut one of the ends in a triangular shape and slide it inside the other folded end.

gently fold the aluminum in the middle of the overlapped section to secure the ends. (you can also use permanent double-sided tape to secure the ends - but this must be clamped and will need to set for a few days)

use the first folded section as one end of the mustache, then fold the opposite end. (be careful not to crease the aluminum too much or it could tear, besides you don't need these areas to be really crisp, because the dough changes in shape slightly after it's cooked)

here's the order of the folds to make your very own simple mustache (i found it easier to do it free-handed but feel free to use an image as a guide):

shape the rest of the sheet to resemble a mustache, lips, heart or even a mask!

here's dominic having a little fun with the finished cookie cutter...

and here are the cookies my friend and i made:

the cookies (above) are made with a slightly smaller cookie cutter (i think the 8 inch cookie might've been to ambitious for a first time sugar icing decorator (aka. moi). besides, i don't think the parents would appreciate the sugar content of that behemoth either - lol!

thanks delio for helping me make the shortbread dough and piping the icing while i texturized it (specially for giving me the idea to texturize it), and thanks kat for sending me the link for the sugar icing recipe!

i hope you found this useful! thanks to juggling frogs for the inspiration - i'm so happy with the result! here's another tutorial that i found helpful by peggy weaver;: "cookie and gumpaste cutter" - this one uses copper instead of aluminum.

happy tuesday!
xo, carla

artist feature: kira shaimanova

2010-07-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

i was introduced to kira's work through one of my friends. i fell in love with this:

"sweet talk"

i started following kira's blog and was inspired by her passion and patience in creating these wonderful 3d illustrations. she is a very talented canadian, whose hands create the most unique and beautifully haunting pieces of art!

let's learn more about kira shaimanova!

CD (me): where are you from, and what made you love what you do?

KS (kira shaimanova): i'm a toronto illustrator, but i originated from russia. i'm practically canadian, since i moved here at the young age of five. i always knew i wanted to be an artist of some sort, and had an interest in sculpture way back in high school. i had the hardest time trying to find my own unique style. i was going back and forth between different mediums like acrylic and oil paint, to ink pen, and mix media pieces for years on end. while in university, i took a class outside of school during the summer - simply for fun. it was a doll making class that lasted for about a month. as i started making the head of my doll, i thought, "oh my God! this is it, this is what i'm going to do". i fell in love instantly. i found a way to incorporate these doll characters into sets and photograph them into an illustration form.

"big hero"

CD: what drew you into the world of art? do you have any childhood memories about it?

KS: my mother was an artist way before me, so i guess you can say i have the artist gene in my family. although my mother didn't continue her art career and stopped in her early 20's, i was motivated to make this career happen. my parents got to see my art flourish throughout the years, like early on in elementary school, teachers would approach my mom and tell her i have a talent for art. they would compare my drawings to other students in the class.

"helping hand"

CD: how did your studies influence you and your work?

KS: school definitely helped my development as an artist. i got to learn all types of mediums and find out what it is i loved to draw. i am also a big fan of art history classes. i've taken them all throughout high school and university. it is a great benefit to learn about past artists and how various types of art and genres came to be.

"freshly cut bouquet"

CD: what is your approach to designing and creating your artwork?

KS: for me, starting a piece of artwork is all about a great concept and a visually intriguing image. once i have my idea, way before my sketch even comes along, i like to get a rough picture in my mind of lighting and the mood of the piece. the mood is quite important to me, because people react to colors and how bright and vibrant a piece is versus a mysterious take on an image. then, i can figure out my composition, and try many variations of the same sketch until i come along something that's visually intriguing. i try not to do too many sketches of the characters because i love experimenting with their expressions when i start the sculpting process.

"save the prey"

CD: what is/are your favorite medium/s to work with?

KS: my favorite, believe it or not, is working with acrylic paint and getting to paint the dolls. the sculpting process is my second favorite, but actually seeing the little people come to life is amazing. i never really know what color eyes or hair they'll have in the end. i just go with the flow, and get a vibe of what details each character needs.

CD: can you describe your process in creating a 3D illustration and the final photo?

KS:

concept and sketch
sculpt or make the heads first (a few layers of clay)
create the bodies while the heads dry
hands and feet are last, they are added after the body is dry
the dolls are all sanded down to get the smooth skin
they get painted, and details are added: hair, eye lashes, etc.
the clothing is sewn or glued together
the background and set gets created with practically anything (shoe boxes, cardboard, wood, etc.)
then i need to figure out the lighting i pictured in my mind
i shoot the piece about 2-3 different times, with different lighting approaches until i am happy with the result

kira's creative space:

work in progress, sculpting the head of ella for "cooking with heart":

details added after the head is dry:

the finished product:

"cooking with heart"

CD: aside form the project being part of your thesis at school, what drove you to create the "chivalry is dead" series? what was your inspiration?

KS: for the thesis, we had to come up with 3 different concept ideas to propose to the professors at the beginning of the 4th year. in the summer time, i had an idea of doing something with chivalry - how everyone claims chivalry is dead in today's day and age. i couldn't think of a unique twist on the concept, so i dropped the idea. after submitting about 7 different ideas, over a 2 week period, my professor, jody hewgill, a well known illustrator, had rejected everything claiming it wasn't strong enough, or it's been done before. on the last day of proposing ideas, it just came to me and the end of class to mix chivalry with zombies. so in the end, my concept from the summer time finally clicked in my mind.

"portrait of a lady with fox" by jody hewgill

(source)

CD: do you have a favorite among your sculptural illustrations? which one is it? what's the story behind it?

KS: i love the second piece i did in series, called " be my umbrella". this piece is showing chivalry to animals, birds in this case, versus only showing acts of kindness towards others. normally, the scenario would be a gentleman holding an umbrella over his lover to protect her from the rain. in this case, the zombie's coat is the shelter, and the ribs are in a form of a cage, a safe haven for the birds.

"be my umbrella"

CD: are there any artists that inspire you to create? if so, who are they? and why?

KS: oh, i have plenty of artist that inspire me. i do wish that one day to reach the success that chris sickels has, or liz lomax - both sculpture illustrators. i found out about them, after i started my sculpture illustration venture. it's nice to see different approaches to sculpture illustration. although, we all use similar mediums, the styles are all so distinctive. sickel's and lomax's characters and settings are all so unique, and wonderful to look at (versus 2D art). i think it's definitely time for the world to see new forms of illustration. sickels and lomax are pretty much the foremost founders of this new style of art.

"the seeder" by chris sickels

(source)

"the tooth fairy" by liz lomax

(source)

CD: could you give us five words to describe yourself?

KS: driven, friendly, punctual, easy-going, and goofy.

CD: can you tell us something funny that happened to you recently?

KS: druing my graduation, i was supposed to walk over to shake hands with the dean of OCAD university, and two other honorary doctorates on stage, but as soon as they called my name and got on stage, i turned to anita kunz, who was also on stage, and waved to her instead. i was so happy she came to my graduation, and i got to talk to her after the ceremony, such a sweet lady and a brilliant artist.

"the puppet master" by anita kunz

(source)

CD: what is your favorite or most inspirational place?

KS: i don't have a specific place, but it's anywhere, around creative people. i get really inspired being around other artists, and seeing what projects they're working on. it makes you more driven. it's totally different socializing with people outside the creative field. people in the arts think alike, and bond easily, we all see the world in a different light, it's a very beautiful thing.

detail of frames from "mop head"

CD: what keeps you motivated and what made you realize that this was your calling?

KS: i like to get to know working artists/illustrators in the field. seeing what they've gone through when they've started out, and how they were able to reach their goals. it's motivating to know that if your follow their lead, you can make it too.

i realized art was my calling around the time i was in high school. i had been doing art all of my life, but on the side, i did modelling for 3 years, dance classes for 5 years, and competitive figure skating for 10 years. i slowly dropped out of everything, because i knew i wasn't passionate about dance and skating, as i was passionate about art. i didn't exactly know where i was going to go with it, but i knew i needed to continue, and only focus on art.

"mop head"

CD: could you share some of your goals with us? future projects, etc.?

KS: i just want to be a successful illustrator, and artist. i want to inspire other to follow their artistic dreams. i have the most respect for people who chose an artistic career, over a 9-5 job they hate for the rest of their lives. if you love it, and it makes you so happy, why not create, for life.

"lady gaga superstar"

as for future projects, a group of illustrators and i are planning a group show for the late 2010, or early 2011. it will be a themed show that's in the works.

"friday night poker"

CD: do you have any advice for all aspiring artists?

KS: think of your career as a marriage, a life-long commitment. there will always be ups and downs, but in the end if you really love it, it is worth working hard for, and you end up learning something new each day. i still haven't made it to the top, but i will do anything to get there. you just need to keep creating non-stop, and learn from the people who are already in the position you wish to be in, one day. everyone has an e-mail address, don't be afraid to ask for advice.

to see more of kira's work and stay updated on her new creations visit the following links:

website:
http://www.kirashaimanova.com/index.html

blog:
http://kirasillustration.blogspot.com/

facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kira-Shaimanova-Sculpture-Illustration/108813239153471

i hope you enjoyed this interview. happy sunday everyone!
xo, carla

all images in this post are courtesy and with the permission of kira shaimanova. if you wish to re-blog or publish this photo at any photo sharing websites, please contact her at kira@kirashaimanova.com. thank you!

dom's photo shoot

2010-07-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

so happy that one of our friends, lemai, wanted to do a photo shoot with dom. she is one of the most talented and gifted people i know; and the owner of the cutest bunnies in the whole world!!!

on the day of the shoot, we met her at evergreen cultural center in coquitlam, went for a walk around the man-made lake, it was a lot of fun!

here are some of my favorite photos of the day:

at the playground,

fun with bubbles and leaves,

i absolutely love the candids!

i hope you enjoyed these, there are more amazing photos at lemai's blog: http://lemaiphoto.com/

happy weekend!
xo, carla

blood-thirsty nail art

2010-07-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

sorry, i've been out of the loop for a while, it was quite a busy for a bit there... i'm finishing up an artist feature and it will be up soon. in the meantime, here's another nail art post. hope you like it!

this nail art was inspired by an image by yaptus that i saw a couple of months ago.

i just had to recreate it one day... halloween is too far away, so i decided to wear it when i go see a horror film of some sort (i know... i'm a goof). i love horror movies, specially vampire flicks!

almost two weeks ago, i went to see eclipse with my hubby, and of course i had to rock these:

i used my trusty base coat, then "320 rapid ruby" by rimmel on the tips, and topped it off with the seche vite top coat!

hope you are having a fun week! happy tuesday!
xo, carla

"D"

2010-07-12T00:05:00.000-07:00

my alphabet walk assignment was for "d"...

so, i did a walk-through at work and found some that i hope you'll like:

my original idea for "d", would be a million photos of our son, dominic, but i figured it might be a little too much. so, here's one of my favorite photos instead:

"dom and the dandelion"

this photo was taken during one of our walks on a cool early summer evening, we stopped to play at the playground nearby. dom and i saw some dandelions, and the fun began!

dandelions remind me of a conversation my husband and i had, when i was still pregnant with dominic. my hubby joked that we should name our son, daniel or dan. as in "DAN DE LEON"! it would've been a funny antonym, but i'm glad that we didn't (hubby is such a goof)... LOL!

i hope you are enjoying the alphabet blog hop! thanks again piper (one sydney road) for making this happen and helping us all meet new friends!

xoxo,
carla

alphabet walk update

2010-07-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

hello everyone!

i just wanted to remind you of the "alphabet walk blog hop" hosted by piper of one sydney road. please click on the photo to take you to the blogs that are participating...

it starts on monday, july 12, and i am one of the participating blogs that day. so, i hope you stop by for a visit. i am so excited to visit new blogs and meet new friends.

happy saturday!
xo, carla

sketchbook diary entry # 6

2010-07-08T21:48:00.000-07:00

my inspiration for this sketch is one of my favorite photos of dom... i love the way his lips get so full when he's sleeping.

see what i mean?

so, here's my quick version of it:

hope your thursday is lovely!
xo, carla

card love... the latest

2010-07-07T13:49:00.000-07:00

i just wanted to share some of the cards i made for some special people:

"birds"

"oh happy day"

"a little bird told me..."

"butterflies"

"8"

i hope you are enjoying the sun (wherever you are). it's finally summer in my neck of the woods!!!

happy wednesday!
xo, carla