Elsa Joy

Welcome to the world our sweet girl!!!! 

You were due March 23rd, mama had a C-section scheduled for March 18th + you made a very unexpected (yet so welcomed) appearance on February 22nd, 2014.  You were 4 weeks + 1 day early. To say I was surprised when my water broke early that Saturday morning would be putting it mildly.  On paper, we were not ready for you, but in our hearts we couldn't have been more excited to meet you.  As the medical team rushed about to get you out via an emergency C-section your father leaned over to ask me if I could feel all the joy in the room.  I could.  And so my beautiful Elsa, that is how you got your middle name, by bringing immeasurable joy to us that cold, winter, February morning.

We love you so much + look forward to everyday spent with you. 

Elsa's Nursery Art

Lately, I have been getting ready for Elsa's arrival which is SIX weeks from today!!!  This is also the reason I have been pretty non-existent from the blog-o-sphere.  What I have been up to however, is making Elsa some new artwork for her nursery, which I will call a huge accomplishment!  I would love for you to see what I have designing.  I hope you enjoy my work & feel free to comment.  You can also follow on Instagram, where I post a lot more often! Thanks for stopping by.

Available for purchase on Society6

Available for purchase on Etsy



Oh Darling, Let's Be Adventurers

We happened to catch a perfect fall day yesterday.  The sun was shining brightly, the trees were still holding on to bits of color + the temperatures were tolerable enough to frolic in outside.  After taking a drive through the country + fueling up on some Intelligentsia coffee it was inevitable that my camera would find its way to my hands.  We went for a hike in a great southern Wisconsin park where I immediately starting taking pictures.  We unintentionally matched the scenery + also unintentionally matched each other. I wait all year for this season to return + 2013 did not disappoint me. 

When the bleak of winter starts to wear on me I will have to find these pictures + revel in them to remind myself that color will once again reign as king.  The forest was full of vivid shades of yellow-orange leaves, back lit with endless sunshine glowing through the trees upon which they were resting. It was breathtaking. 

Eugene had so much fun playing in the crunchy leaves + then attempting to eat them when we weren't looking.  I am quite certain he would have stayed all day if we would have let him.  

I hope you have gotten the chance to be out in nature to enjoy this lovely season.  I am going to try to hold on to autumn as long as I can.  The holidays will be upon us shortly, we will find ourselves ringing in the new year + before long there will be another baby joining this little family. There is so much to be grateful for!

DIY Ombré Woven Flower Pot

 Good morning, all!  I hope you had an enjoyable, warm, festive 4th of July. We headed to Lake Michigan as soon as Josh got done with work to watch the waves & let Eugene play in the sand.  We had a quiet night of grilling out, baths & watching Justified. Today I am sharing a very easy, inexpensive DIY with you:

 

A colorful ombré flower pot for less than $10. 

 

Supplies:

 

-Woven basket (mine was $2.00 at a thrift store)

-White & blue acrylic paint (or any color you like)

-Paint brush

-Potted plant

 

1. Start by cleaning the basket to rid it of dust/dirt. 

2. Then apply 2 coats of white paint, letting the first coat dry completely.  I used Martha Stewart Acrylic Satin paint which cost about $2.00 per bottle.  I got the paint at Michaels, but most craft stores carry it.  I have found this paint to work the best & last the longest.  

3. While the last coat of white is drying, start painting the bottom of the pot with the colored paint. 

4. Next, start working your way up the bottom half of the pot with the colored paint. Add more pigment at the base of the bottom & less as you go toward the top to create the ombré effect. I used a dark blue color which you can see turned a nice light blue as the white & blue blended.  You can get as creative as you want.  You can also simple paint the woven pot one color.  I like how the paint brings out the detail of the weaving.

5. Put up in your place & enjoy! Or give it away as a housewarming gift!

 









Quiet Afternoons

Good afternoon.  Hoping this finds you all well! This is what happens when we have a busy month of visiting friends & family, our sweet baby Eugene slept for 13 hours last night & most of today! Happy 7 months, little champ.  Thanks for letting your mama make art today.



Xoxo,

Heather

Quirky Art

 

 

This is what I have been up to today while baby Eugene naps.  I have always thought animals in clothes were whimsical, hence the new creations.  I hope they brighten up your day!  And to see more creations, please click here.  I hope your weekend was grand!  Until next time, friends.

 

Xoxo,

Heather

 



Customizable Teepee Art For Your Nursery

 

Hello!  This is a whimsical teepee print that I made for my son Eugene's nursery.  I thought you might also like to have this artwork for your baby's nursery or to give away as a fun baby shower gift.  You can visit my Etsy shop to have the teepee customized to any name. 

 



 



It was so fun to make & I feel inspired to make more art for Eugene's room.  I hope the sun is shining brightly in your corner of the world.

 

Xoxo,

Heather

Our DIY Wood Headboard

 

I want to share with you a very simple, DIY headboard project that my husband & I did together to celebrate the warm weather & sunshine. 

 

 

We started by gathering a total of 6 pieces of wood from Home Depot.  We used 5 longer boards for the actual visible part of the headboard that each measured 8' x 1&3/4".  Our bed is a king & measures 76" in length.  We realized that the headboard would be about 10" longer than the bed on each side, but wanted this grand, over-scaled look.  The hope is to one day put lighting or hang plants on each side of the bed, utilizing the extra length & space of the headboard.  We also purchased a 108" thicker piece of wood that we cut in half to use as the support/legs of the headboard.

 

Next we cleaned & stained all the wood using a Polyurethane stain in Espresso.  We gave the wood 2 coats of stain & 2 coats of a clear Polyurethane finish, letting each coat dry for at least 2 hours in a well ventilated area (outside).  With the finished sides facing down we put the 5 boards together vertically on a clean surface & measured in 24" from both ends.  We then positioned the legs horizontally on the back of the headboard at the 24" mark.  Each leg, which acted as a brace, got 5 long wood screws screwed in directly over the center of each of the vertical boards. That was it.  We let the piece dry outside overnight & then excitedly put it behind our bed. The final look is rustic chic & we love it.  I painted a whimsical field of flowers on a large canvas & hung that above the bed.  

 

 

To complete the look I threw a variety of fun, colorful pillows on the bed. 

 

 

 

Everyone in the McDonald house seems to be enjoying the new space!  It was such a fun, simple project which has inspired us to try making a coffee table next.  Stay tuned...

 

Xoxo,

Heather



Patterns A Plenty

Howdy friends!  I hope this day finds you well & warm, wherever you may be. This is what I have been up to as of late. Creating, designing & launching my artwork on Etsy & Society6.  I am sure you know about at least one of these sites, if not you must check them out! You can find these note cards shown below here for purchase, if you'd like. 

And if you want to see these designs as pillows, iphone cases & more, swing on over here!

From my heart to yours, have a lovely day friends.

Xoxo,

Heather

A Whimsical New Art Series

Here is my latest work that is largely inspired by my new son!  I am having so much fun creating lately.  I will be selling these prints on Etsy very soon.

Xoxo,

Heather

A Babe's Arrival

My husband & I are excitedly awaiting the arrival of our first child.  We recently found out we are having a BOY!!!  I was convinced it was a girl, but to my surprise, it will indeed be our little man.  Yesterday, as the rains fell & the temperatures stayed under 70 (for once) I felt inspired to make some new art for baby Eugene's room.  I thought a woodland creature theme seemed adorable.  Let me share with you the results of yesterday in my art studio.

Xoxo,

Heather



Life's Novella

I have been feeling very inspired as of late.  We found out we're expecting our first child, due in the beginning of December.  I would bet this may have something to do with the heart being all a flutter.  I wanted to share with you some of my lastest artwork, inspired by sweet baby McDonald. 

I hope you enjoy!

Xoxo,

Heather



Sweet June

I don't have too much to "say" this quiet June afternoon, so I give you some photos of life lately. 

I do hope you enjoy!

Xoxo,

Heather



A Smiling Heart

It is a dreary day outside here in Silver Lake, WI where we live, so I am going to add some brightness to this day via pictures on my blog.  They make my heart smile & I hope they make yours smile, too dear readers.

This is my art installation, These Emerald Wings, which is a result of my year long research on sacred space/sanctuary in relation to life, art & art therapy.

Happy Spring!!

xoxo,

Heather



Springtime in Wisconsin!

Sharing some of my latest blooms & beauties with you all today.  May it be a wonder-filled season for you all dear ones.

xoxo,

Heather

Onward!

January is an interesting month, a time of vast renewal and deep contemplation.  It is in the depths of winter, sometimes brutal, sometimes calm.  There seems to be a lingering juxtaposition every year at this time.  We soldier on reminding ourselves that although Spring comes but once a year, it does eventually come.  I am blessed to be living in a warmer climate, though I miss snow daily, allowing for bits of outdoors & sunshine.  So, as you meander through this time dear friend, I hope these shots I have been taking lately bring a smile to your rosy-cheeked, brave face.