New Collection - Flutterby

Hello and happy September! Just wanted to jump on and share some pattern collection ideas I have been putting together. Here is one in the early stages that I am calling "Flutterby". Enjoy!

(nearly) free download - 1 week only!

This week I am offering the download of a new print, "I Am With You Always" for only $1! That's practically free everyone. One dollar.

Find it here!

i could sing of your love forever

This one took a different turn from what I intended and got all churchy. But it just seemed to make sense. Available now on Etsy!

hello monkey treasury

Hello Monkey was featured on Friday in an Etsy treasury by the same name! I would like to think it was the inspiration... if not please don't tell me and shatter my hopes.

Some day I'll make it to the front page. Some day.

the month of high expectations

(Desk calendar from Josephine Kimberling)

I write this knowing already that I am not alone... but I love/hate August. I love it because it's my birthday month. I love it because it's full of parties and picnics and time spent outside. But seriously, I hate it. I blinked and June and July happened. 

I think summer in general is full of unfulfilled expectations- for those who are home with kids, for those who are planning vacations... for those who just wanted to experience it and appreciate it and enjoy it. My depression about August already arriving probably has something to do with the fact that it is (or what seems like) a frozen tundra here where I live for about 6 MONTHS. 

But this year I'm doing something very rare for me: I'm actually taking an entire week off of work. I haven't managed to make that happen for 5 years. Five. Unless you count my luxurious and relaxing 6 week maternity leaves. Full-time job with little vacation + husband with no paid vacation + small children = my life for the last few years. But this year I gained an extra 5 days, plus ended up with a week of no sitters, so staycation it is!

I have already started the lists in my mind. "I'm going to get so much done!". I have schemes which involve painting multiple pieces of furniture as well as entire rooms, organizing paperwork (whoa, it's embarassing people), turning our bedroom into a tranquil sanctuary so my son stops asking me how come I'm allowed to leave my room so messy and he has to clean his, add 500 additional items to the Etsy shop, complete several designs for my amazing friend who is starting a business of her own, develop an entire pattern collection on Spoonflower, host a party for 30 some people, and totally have a lot of quality time relaxing with my kids. Wait, what? I can't do all of that? All stay at home moms are laughing at me right this very minute.

Have you ever walked around the house and felt completely overwhelmed by the amount of things you want to accomplish, for yourself, for your family, for your general sanity? I had this kind of morning. I only really have Saturdays and Sundays (and the wee wee hours of the night) and sometimes I let it get to me. I need to start praying now about that last week in August where I have already planned to have all of my dreams come true. Praying that I manage to remember that even if I only accomplish one of the above, it's better than sitting at my desk for 40 hours, and driving to and from work for another 6. 

I had to write myself a note on the chalk wall:

ONE PROJECT AT A TIME IS BETTER THAN NONE.

But I better get them all done. That's possible, right?

shop preview

A preview of some of the new shop prints. My goal is to relaunch with lots of fresh new designs some time in August!

ending my hiatus

In the last year I have been plugging away at my shop, filling orders but not adding much of anything new. Recently I even put it on vacation- I felt I couldn't really keep up and provide the best "service" to the customer. I think it will have to stay that way for a while, but I plan to add some new prints and give it a fresh look. You may notice that my blog has a new look too! A little hint of the direction I want to take things:

invitation season

It's June... Invitation Season! Weddings! Baby Showers! Graduation Parties! Birthdays! Here is a little taste of some of the fun invites I've worked on recently:

Happy Partying!

Etsy Treasuries!

Lately I have just been plugging along, filling orders as they come in, but not doing much of anything new in the shop. I am always doing new stuff at home, like this art for my dining room:

And its graduation/baby/birthday/wedding season, so there are invitations to be done. But a nice surprise this week was the happy fact that my prints were included in 3 different Etsy treasuries!!

The first was Sarah's "Laugh Without Fear". This color combo is awesome. Very Lilly Pulitzer!:

 The next was "Tucker's Room" by Meggie, a fun mix of art and accessories:

 And today's was "She is clothed in strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future..." by Victoria. How sweet, she said it was inspired by my print. Must be the upcoming Mother's Day holiday that this one has been so popular!

I'm off to fill some orders!

Etsy Finds

Oh, Etsy. Sometimes I visit you for work, sometimes for play. Sometimes I am looking for something specific, and sometimes I spend hours just wasting time and browsing. Next to Pinterest and Facebook, Etsy is a close third as a major internet time waster for me! Here are some recent amazing finds:

Original Hand Illustrated Lace Side Plate from YvonneEllen

I LOVE THIS PLATE. It reminds me of the doodles I used to love covering my notebooks in because my class was so boring. Only way cooler. Beautiful.

Mid century poster print, CATHERINEHOLM KITCHEN, A3 (11 x 17 in) giclee print

From Visual Philosophy. This print should really find a home in my kitchen. In fact, it inspired me to think, "I'm going to be one of those cool people who collects Catherine Holm enamelware", which prompted a trip to Ebay, where I quickly discovered this stuff is no joke and quite pricey. Maybe some day.

City Map Art Prints - Choose your City & Color - 8x10

 by Jenna Sue Maps

I am a little obsessed with maps (evidenced by this). I was super excited to see that this shop had a map of my home town. So simple and graphic, you may not even notice that it's a map at first.

WARNING: SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION

Paisley 5x7 Printable Birth Announcement by C and Me Designs

Who am I kidding, that's what this blog is all about. This is double shameless, as I used a photo of my own little munchkin in this invite from about a year ago. Where does the time go (tears)? In honor of Ashley reviewing C and Me designs and she {hearts} it hosting a giveaway, I added an invitation and a birth announcement to the shop this week.

Have a good weekend all!

Giveaway on she {hearts} it!

She {hearts} it is hosting a review/ giveaway today for C and Me Designs! I am lucky enough to have a lovely friend, Ashley, who has ordered a few prints for her daughter's room and shared her experience. Enter to win some free stuff!

My Song - New Prints in the Shop

I have added a new print in a few different colors. I have always liked this verse... It makes worship more colorful.




There is also a Spring sale on! Please use the coupon code Spring20 to receive 20% off!

First Spoonflower Fabric

Back many months ago, I posted that a my design "Elephant Love" would be available on Spoonflower. Well, now it is! I hope to add to the collection over time.

Print and Pattern Feature!

Print & Pattern was gracious enough to feature some of my work this week! I am an avid visitor of this blog and receive inspiration from all of the fun stuff I find here almost on a daily basis. I am honored to be included! The author, Bowie Style, compiles the best of the best of all my favorite stuff on her blog and has also written two books about (what else) all things print and pattern. Please check out the posting here.

December Print Sale

Visit the shop and buy one get one free print this month! Sweet.

On the Minus Side, on the Plus Side...

Minus: I have 'deactivated' the Christmas card listings on Etsy. I'm thinking I will concentrate on the wall art with a few announcements/invites thrown in the mix for now. I have a lot of Christmas card work to do and just not enough time to make a statement. Next year! But still let me know if you are at all interested in a card design.

Plus: I have added a few new designs. Check them out! There are a few colorways of each.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas Cards

Check out the shop (click here) for some Christmas card designs. I hope to add a few a day!

Mod Floral Shower Invitations

I have added my first set of invites to the shop. Check them out! Here is a peek:

Little Dante Mirror

A mirror for a baby not yet arrived. Hope he likes it!

Finally! Etsy Shop!

C and Me Designs has arrived on Etsy! Click here!

It seems weird to be launching this in the middle of the night, but such is my life. I was just playing around on the computer tonight and felt the need to be productive. I started in on a few minor changes to the blog, but started to get discouraged during my internet surfing. Who can keep up with all of the ridiculous talent out there? The more I read, the more I feel like I need to step it up. Should my blog be about my family and kids too? Should I share thoughtful, meaningful and personal insights? Should it look amazing and all be designed by me? After all, I am a professional artist (believe it or not)! How can I compare myself to those who make their blog their job? I cannot. After all, I do have a full time gig that keeps me out of the house from morning till night. And two very small children. And a husband who works and is in school. But still, the drive is there...

That being said, after a two hour hiatus spent consoling and giving in to the stubborness of a sick and oddly hungry baby from 9-11 pm, I decided to take the plunge and finally slap together the Etsy shop I have been very slowly but surely working on for a few months. The prints you see today are all I can possibly manange to post tonight. I plan to gradually add more as I can; I have a lot more prints waiting for a few more hours of time to dedicate to posting.

I also have a bunch of invitation designs ready to go. Unfortunately I started this work in the summer, so bridal and baby showers were on the brain. Not Christmas cards. I hope to squeeze out a few while Christmas is still relevant? Small window, I know. Probably not. Again, such is my life. As time goes by, hopefully it will get easier and quicker.

Enjoy, tell your friends, and know that I am willing to do anything custom. More to come, sooner rather than later hopefully.