Always be a mermaid...

 

 Well, it is a tad bit cooler than it was last week, but still way too hot for much outdoor activity unless it involves water.

The UV is 10 out of 10, and the "real feel" is a balmy 103 F.

Here are 4 of my fave little shells from my time at the beach and one of the 5 newest coloring pages available for instant download.

You can pick up the watery instant downloads in my shop, or on my Patreon page. 

And FYI, mermaids go topless, so I guess this really is adult coloring. 😆

It's also a bonus Freebie Friday for Patrons on my Patreon page, 

so head over to support my project for as little as a $1 a month and get free coloring downloads that you can print again and again. 

What do you do when it's too hot outside?

 I guess I have plenty of work to do, but I need some playtime...

🌊 Always be yourself, unless you can be a mermaid. Always be a mermaid. 🌊

A queso fountain and Freebie Friday

It's Friiiiyaaaaayyy!

I was traveling last Friday, so I am a week late getting this freebie up on the blog.

(Today's freebie is on my Patreon page!)

This week has flown by, and I'm glad it's the weekend-

but it can't compare to last weekend.

I got to visit my old home of Tybee Island, GA, and one of my oldest friends from SCAD.

A true "seeester" during my days romping around on one of prettiest, and quirkiest, places on the planet.

The affair was graciously held at the astonishing Drazek abode.

Keith & Jen are the owners of Latitude 32. My personal favorite place to shop on Tybee. Super nice people, great apparel, and the bride designed the company logo!

My friend Kelley was a gorgeous bride, and she really deserves her own post, but I'm actually happy to say that I didn't take many photos after the wedding began.

I was really enjoying myself, and I was sans phone most of the weekend.
The photographer, Travis Sayre, was doing a much better job than any of us amateurs could, anyway.

  I do wish I could have gotten pics of the flowers, though! My god, they were gorgeous! I showed up a bit early to help with any extra loose ends before the ceremony, and I got to help put the arrangements on tables. Unbelievably pretty. Two close friends of Kelley's (and also super awesome people!) are amazing floral designers and flew in to do the wedding.
Andrew Zellmer and Sarah Rheaume of Bowerbird Atelier.
The wind was seriously kicking and they still made it work. It was like a fairy tale.

The Sunday Bloody Mary bar brunch at Marlin Monroe's 
softened the blow of the open bar reception and The Wind Rose Cafe after party.
(Yes, the after party; the bride insisted.
The bar where the couple met was having its 20th anniversary.
No one refuses the bride!)

Best wedding favor in the universe!

Marlin Monroe's is where my husband and I had our wedding reception five years ago after our beach wedding,
 so it was really nice to reminisce and walk the beach before brunch.

Brunch wasn't the end of the parties, there were still more beach houses and friends to visit.
Sunday Funday may have originated on Tybee. I'm just sayin'; they were living it there well before hashtags.

Monday was a day for Husboo and I to stroll around Savannah, shop, eat, visit a couple more friends, and pick up art supplies. (I especially miss that part of living in an art college town.)

It was a fabulous trip full of friends and fun,

but you really do need to see the magic that is the queso fountain. I did shoot a quick video of that, because I knew the bride was super excited about it. I mean, yeah. 

  Check my Instagram to be mesmerized.

I'm so very happy that one of the most beautiful, fun, and unique souls I know has found a partner that appreciates and cherishes her like she deserves to be.

Ahhhhhh. I love love.

Okay- back to life. Back to reality.
Back to work.
BUT-
I love my patreon Patrons, too!

Here's a little sampling of the April rewards 

posted, so far...

Click here to get to the FREE download.

I'll be getting artwork ready for the Mayfaire show this month, 

so there won't be any more freebie downloads in April, just download rewards for Patrons only posts, and today's freebie will switch to Patron only soon.

Thanks for swinging by.

Have a great weekend, Beautiful!

I think we might just take it easy...

I love him to the Moon & Back...

Keep reading below to see what inspired this design, and why I love Husboo to the moon & back...

It's Freebie Friday again, and although this month has been chock full of 

freebies for the super awesome supporters over on my Patreon page, they still get another freebie today because V-day is pretty much here and I really like giving them free things.

                              

                        Today the Moon & Back click & print card PDF is free for all patrons,

                       and $10+ patrons received a download of a PDF file for an 8x10 print.

If you dig my art, like coloring, or just want to support me as a human being, please support! :)

Here's a little sampling of a few of the free

 printables and coloring downloads rewards they've received in the past couple weeks.

Some of these are also available in my Etsy shop, but patrons always get the first dibs and uploads.

I came up with this very simple design because I was thinking about Husboo.

(that's my husband/boo, husband is too formal and I don't like the serious tone. :/)

Every year, I paint him something and get him a card and gift.

It's nice, but it's sort of becoming routine.

I don't like routine...

I like gestures that pull heartstrings and inspire.

However, we are going to continue a tradition that I like very much and clues you in to why my Husboo is the bees knees in every way.

This is a major reason that I love this man to the moon and back, and then on to Venus and back.

It's the tradition of taking my very special single sister out for dinner 

on V-Day.

My sister is special needs, and is usually single on Valentine's Day. 

Being a single adult is not something that she's overly preoccupied with, but couples' holidays have a tendency to rub a bit of salt in her wounds.

I think it's nice for her to hang out with us as a couple,

 because she is treated like a normal adult

 and we don't make an issue of her not having kids or a significant other-

 we are childless, too!

She also loves to team up with my husband and tease 

or "troll" me about whatever they are finding particularly hilarious at the moment. 

It's nice to be the butt of joke if it's making them laugh.

Our Valentine's Day won't be spent over a romantic candlelit dinner and wine.

Chances are, we'll be testing out the color-changing rotating stars light I got for my sister as her Valentine gift, and maybe watching Star Wars. 

Husboo thinks it's more important for her to have a good day 

and some happiness than it is for us to have another night by ourselves. 

It was his idea. It always is.

Isn't he the best?! <3 <3 <3

Support me on Patreon to get the free printable PDF.

Well, that's it for today!

I've got a few things to gather for my moon and stars, if you know what I mean. ;-)

What are your plans?

Have a fantastic weekend and a Happy Valentine's Day!

XOXO,

A Halloween Tribute to the Florida Black Bears

So, okay, I procrastinated a bit this year. 

(It's been a little crazy this month.)

 We had to go to a couple of different stores to find a pumpkin. When we got home,

it rolled out and hit the driveway when we opened the gate to the truck, and it split! BUT I tried to make it work, and I wanted to honor our Florida black bears. 

I will not go into why (right now), but the science behind the "FWC" (the board of which was appointed by Governor Scott and is comprised not of biologist but of business men and woman) black bear cull was extremely bad, and basically sold over 3,000 hunting permits to kill an allotted 320 bears when there were only 3,000 bears in the state of FL at the last count. A state of almost 20 million humans. The fact that bear bile sells for half the price of gold... I'll save that for a later post, and hopefully you'll do some research on bears for yourself and see that many perpetuated myths just aren't true. 

My Cubs-O-Lantern

It was a challenge to carve around the split, and I do wish I had time to work on another. I think I'd probably carve a homage to our florida bats; another important species that humans are encroaching upon their habitat. 

Happy (almost!) Halloween, friends. Here's to remembering those that have gone, and to living peacefully with ALL those we still walk amongst. Man or "beast".

Here's the bear-o-lantern from all sides. 

Oh, and I almost forgot!

If you want a free coloring sheet download, just swing by my Facebook page and comment with your favorite Halloween candy.

Then, head over to my Patreon for the free download. 
What kind of jack-o-lantern are you carving?
Let me know in the comments. :)

Black Cats & #FreebieFriday

It's finally Friyaaaay!!!

Last night I was up late working in the studio. Before finally calling it a night and going to bed, I wrote my husband a note. I do this most nights. I like to stick a post it or other piece of paper where he will see it upon waking, since he wakes up at such an ungodly hour and I'm still sleeping. 

(I'm a total night owl, shocker right?) 

Just a quick, "I love you, have an awesome day, etc.," or other silly thing if the mood strikes me. I recently acquired a cute little note pad with a bunch of simple, stylized cats.

Sometimes, I write thought bubbles above their heads. 

It's fun.

Last night, I realized there wasn't a black cat. I understand why for logical design purposes, but really, I mean, how could they?!

So, I fixed it.

I then wrote the note.

I got a sweet return note from my Husboo, so I was still thinking about black cats, and cats in general upon waking. Then I started thinking about my Gran's cat, and Siamese cats.

"Baby; Gran's Hateful Cat"

One thing led to the next, and I began doodling. It led to today's Freebie Friday coloring page. 

Click this link to get today's free pdf download. 

This page is free for everyone today.

Settings will change to Patreon patrons only soon, so get over there and print it out.  

Or sign up as a Patron for as little as $1 a month & get free downloads, discounts, and other perks.

Find me on social media to show me how you colored these kitties.

(Brownie points for les chats noirs!)

Have a purrfect weekend loves,

Freebie Friday Coloring Page

It's #FreebieFriday !!!!!

 I have a free coloring page instant download on my Patreon site for anyone that would like to print it at home. :D 

Click here to visit my Patreon page  and get your printable pdf. Easy peasy! 

You can visit my website  or Etsy shop to see my other currently available digital downloads.

(And being a Patreon supporter gets you discounts as well as freebies every month! ;) )

Have a fantastic weekend!

Freebie Friday; Coloring Page Download

Patron Reward Download

Here's another Patreon supporter reward!

This one is pretty intricate. Here's an example of the scale next to prismacolor pencils.

Patron reward free download.

Click here to learn more about my Patreon page  and the rewards.

You can visit my website  or Etsy shop to see my currently available digital downloads.

(And being a Patreon supporter gets you discounts! ;) )

Have a fantastic weekend!