Promo Postcard 2013

The Surtex show is around the corner (May 19-21)!  So, if the occasion arises that I would want to promote myself as an illustrator, here is the promotional postcard that I will have in my back pocket.  I will be at Surtex to help and assist my mom, Betsey Cavallo, who is a very successful freelance licencing artist.  She will be showing at booth 733, www.betseycavallo.com.  I believe this will be our 9th year setting up and breaking down at Surtex.  I look forward to this time spent when she drives down from MA and we stay in NYC to 'do the show'.  See you at the Javits! 

Got these puppies (do not excuse the pun) printed on Overnightprints.com.  The prices are really good and the product is always quality.  www.overnightprints.com

D is for

My friends, Rachel and Mike, were expecting their second boy and wanted some art for their firetruck themed nursery.  So, this is for them and brand new baby, Casey Aaron, born April 13th.  Congratulations Rachel and Mike!

Above: Framed art hanging in Casey's nursery. 

I had a great time visiting their new home outside of Chicago.  It was fun helping with nursery decorating and hanging out with friends and kids.

For this week's  Illustration Friday word "train";  This dalmatian Fire Department dog is highly trained to help in an emergency.  

NOINOPIA- illustrations

I illustrated for a video that, videographer, Brian Leary put together.  It is for a new non-profit that empowers people get on their feet financially and working again.  The name of the organization is 'NOINOPIA' which combines “no” and the Latin word for poverty, "inopia".  There are already 5 people currently participating in the program.  They are attending seminars, learning how to manage money and more.  I was so fortunate to be able to use my gifts to contribute to this organization.   Here are 2  examples of the illustrations that I drew for the video and also the final video.

NOINOPIA - Our Story from NOINOPIA on Vimeo.

Find out more here!  http://www.noinopia.org/our-story/

In a Hot Air Balloon

It was such a pleasure to make this nursery art for a close friend of my sisters, April, who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Saturday February 9th.  

April has this energetic-positive-artistic spirit meets love of nature and the outdoors.  Channeling her vibe, I came up with this composition with the rabbits freely rising over the great outdoors in a hot air balloon (I also really like hot air balloons right now too).  April is one of the best photographers I know. You can check out her website here http://www.aprilkphoto.com/

Congratulations April!

EYE LOVE YOU

Happy February!  My amazing and creative friend & coworker, Pegah, hosted another of her signature 'knit and eat' parties for February. Since I have not given my 'all' in learning and practicing the craft of knitting, I decided to turn to pinterest in search of a 'craft' to do while the others were knitting. 

Pegah prepared all of the delicious breakfast food for us- her granola is amazing.  She is also the potter/painter of the mugs and bowls seen above.  See more of her work on her blog  http://baftani.blogspot.com/2012/12/tea-time.html

I was incredibly inspired when I came upon this googly eye valentine pin by Parents magazine in which I immediately posted "I am so making these!' http://pinterest.com/pin/14918242487815683/

I told the girls about the google eye valentine idea, and they all wanted in. Instead of knitting, the craft turned to valentine's day-silly-card-making.  I collected the supplies for everyone to make their own valentines.  At Michael's craft store, I found the Martha Stewart 1 inch circle punch and large 25mm googly eyes (.98 inches) (which makes a perfect fit!). 

Supplies included; Martha heart punch and Martha 1" circle punch, googly eyes, elmers glue, 5.5x4.25 folded cards, printouts with patterns and solid colors, scissors, markers/colored pencils ...

         After eating a delicious brunch we went to work making valentines . . .

Above: Pegah's super cute daughter, Nava,  participates in the card making with Colleen and Katie.

Here are a few of our finished cards.

 I doodled an octopus, some birds, and monsters inside my cards and they have been sent off to my close friends and family. Thanks to Pegah for hosting another successful craft party!
Happy Valentines Day!

Pine Cone Garland

This year I got a small potted pine tree at Home Depot for the kitchen.  Without really knowing what I would do with them, I also picked up a box of Martha gold pine cones.  I ended up stringing the pine cones together by tightly wrapping yarn a few times through the nooks and crannies of the pine cones. I intertwined the pine cone garland with the lights over the window.  

Merry Christmas!

I've been especially into fox illustrations lately.  They are just so darn cute!  Those 'woodland' animals get me every time.  I am really inspired by vintage 50's Christmas art too.  

I love this scripture from Luke because of the overwhelming imagery of a great host of angels appearing in the night praising God together telling the shepherds about Jesus' birth.

I got some business card size 'peel & stick' magnets from Staples.  I wanted to illustrate something cute and give a set out to co-workers this year.  I like magnets because they are practical, and I always like a nicely designed magnet to put stuff up on my fridge.  I hate using the ugly magnets that I get in the mail from my dentist, doctor or friendly allstate agent. 

So, it's a set of 2 magnets.  His body is one magnet and his hat is another magnet.  Maybe I could make a few other hats that he could interchange?

Merry Christmas!

My Sister's Wedding

It's been a fun year (or two).  I gained a brother-in-law this year.  :)   I had such an amazing time planning and designing the shower and then coordinating with my sister to design the elements for her wedding reception.  I love coming up with concepts and themes and planning parties to reflect the personal style of the individual(s).  It's especially fun to design parties for the people I love.  Looking back, I am really happy with how it all came out.

First, the 'Save-the-date'.  Lisa knew that she wanted to do 'Nautical Nantucket' themed wedding with blues and muted reds.  Using the amazing photographs that April K took over the Summer in Nantucket, I designed this, which got printed on 4.25" x 6.25" magnets.  See April's post of their engagement shoot here;  http://www.aprilkphoto.com/nantucket-engagement-shoot-matt-lisa/

Bridal Shower!  I was so excited (as maid-of-honor) to plan and design a shower for my sis.  Mom came up with 'Something Blue' theme.  I went with the idea of mixing white and varying shades of blue with patterns (dot, chevron, stripes . . ).  Tableware, from Party City, were polka-dot Carribean blue and Patrotic blue mixed with blue solids.  Chevron table runners, food and drink signs and a banner were handmade to pull together all of the different patterns and shades of blue.

Wedding Invitation!  The wedding was going to be in York, Maine.  Lisa and Matt both love the beach and New England. 'Nantucket Red' and 'Nautical Blue' were the decided colors for the New England Coast themed wedding.  My sister gave me full reign with designing this invitation. I illustrated a lighthouse card to stick over the ribbon belt and custom made a direction card map illustrating the specific landmarks of their wedding day in York. 

The Reception.  Hydrangeas, Lighthouses, Seersucker fabric and Framed Signs. Lisa had neck ties made with seersucker fabric for the groom/groomsmen and then, with the extra fabric, had table squares made for the centerpieces.  We ordered lighthouse tea light candle holders, which fit perfectly into the theme. The Florist provided blue Hyrdrageas mixed with red berries set in low square vases.  I designed a sticker for the favor boxes, which Lisa and Matt filled with York,ME Goldenrod taffy. 

Plastic Favor Boxes : www.Papermart.com  

Lighthouse tea-light holders: Grasslands Road Inc.

Favor box stickers : www.Uprinting.com 

Photography: April K  www.aprilkphoto.com

Lisa loves quotes and framed signs.  I designed a bunch of signs and quotes that we framed and were placed around the reception room.

Flip Flop Baskets & Lighthouse Tea light holders : Grasslands Road Inc.

Photography: April K  www.aprilkphoto.com

The Bridal Party took a York Trolley bus to and from the church to the reception.  Before the reception, we took photos together at the Nubble lighthouse. 

Photography: April K  www.aprilkphoto.com

See her blog post of LIsa and Matt's wedding here; 

http://www.aprilkphoto.com/lisa-matty-wedding-at-union-bluff-meeting-house-york-me/

Rain Clouds and Onesies

I'm in love with clouds with rain drops in design right now.  They are trendy and sweet- just like my friend Ashley, who is expecting a girl in Decmeber. I was so excited to design an invitation, make decorations and help organize a shower for her.  Since it was going to be a small group (8-10pp), I thought it would be fun to try to do a creative activity instead of shower games.  Inspired by hellobee blog, pinterest and others, I put together a onesie decorating craft activity for the shower.
  http://www.hellobee.com/2012/07/25/baby-shower-onesie-party/

Above right:  Ashley and the clouds rain drops decoration- made from white tissue puffs, paper fans, and honeycomb balls (partycity.com) rain garland made with cut paper and clear string.  Above left: Me with my hot air balloon onesie, ready to hand-stitch.  Middle:  Tree onesie- made with a tree stamp, and a pencil eraser for the dots--Hot Air balloon made with cut fabric/ iron-on heatbond with Martha Stewart satin craft paint/freezer paper stencil.  Bottom:  Before and After the onesie display

 Baby Girl Banner I designed and (below) displayed above her crib.

BIG Ol' ARK

Noah's Ark baby art customized for the Witman sisters. :)  

Sara's Baby Shower

Shower banner

Shower Invite and favor tag for
my BFF Sara's 'Bright Picnic' Shower

OWLS

Day and Night Owl Art to match Sara's brightly colored nursery

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011

ARK

The dove was the messenger of good news.  
Genesis 8:11
When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.

HOW to

Whale

April Showers

Spring time illustraion

 No bicycling today, just an outdoor walk in the rain.