Little Lina’s Lovelies Home

I had a wonderfully simple birthday this year, It pretty much involved great food, playing with the new kittens, and relaxing. I got a bouquet of beautiful wildflowers with coffee first thing, thanks honey, you’re the best!

Then we sat down and fed the kittens for a bit, and played with them.

“meow meow meow!”

Then came some relaxation, watching my garden grow.

I planted Dill (pictured here) and Cilantro in my window box, they are coming up, I’m so excited. Normally I don’t have much luck with plants.

My container garden, Tommy Toe Tomatoes, I think I see about 6 little green tomatoes so far, and some buds starting. And the little red guy was a present, so cute isn’t he!

Then we went and had a wonderful breakfast, did a little shopping, and fed the kittens again. I think over all the kittens had a great day too!

Dinner was fabulous, cupcakes with home-made frosting abound, more kitten feeding, then I passed right out.

~A Wonderful day~

I found out the next day I’d lost my grandmother.
Love you Grandma, sleep peacefully.

I created this piece for the arrival of my nephew. I hand carved his baby picture, his name and his birth information. I think it came out wonderfully.

I also attached, on the back, an envelope with a certificate of authenticity, signed by me. I hope to make more of these for people new arrivals, graduations, anniversaries, and weddings. Lovely Little Moments of life.

If you would be interested in this gift for someone special, feel free to email me here for more information.

This is my illo for illustrationfriday.com, the theme is “cracked”.

I actually did her entire face, then added the black on the sides so you have the impression she is looking out at you from behind a cracked open door. I’ll post the entire face next week, her full face is very pretty.

He saw her eyes,
before she was lost in the crowd.
Now he lives in His Confetti Dream.

This is my illustration for illustrationfriday.com. The theme was Parade, and I’ll admit, I had trouble getting into the theme. I just couldn’t picture doing parade girls. So I asked myself, what do I remember liking about parades? The cotton candy, and the confetti. So, there ya go, no big bang behind this one, but I have to say, I think this one came out beautifully. And I even did a little poem for ya! ~ Enjoy ~

When this week’s illustration friday theme came around, I instantly knew what I wanted to do, an illustration of a Queen Mother and her Princess Daughter. Perfect for Mother’s Day. So here it is:

To all you mothers out there, or mom’s-to-be, I hope that on Mother’s Day you feel like a Queen!

And to my own Mother, Love you Always and Forever, you are a wonderful person, a fantastic friend, and I could never thank you enough for being my fan. Muah!

- A little about this watercolor illustration. It’s an aceo card. What is an ACEO? ACEO stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. Many artists are doing these now-a-days, they are a wonderful way of having a little piece of art by an artist you really love. I am getting into them now, so check back in my boutique every so often and you might see some you like!

I don’t paint often, but when I do it’s usually motivated by something that has touched my heart.

This is an acrylic painting, a birthday present for a great friend. Maybe if she was nice she’ll give me a picture of where she hangs this in her house!

This is also what’s kept me from doing my last couple illustrationfridays, my bad.

I also have another secret project I am working on now, full of watercolors. I’ll post that for ya next week!

Originally I had thought of this week’s illustrationfriday.com theme like dreams are fleeting. They pass swiftly away once we wake up, vanishing quickly as the sun comes up and we go about our day.

But now looking at this, I realize deep down I thought of fleeting as in hours or moments passing me by.

I’m very interested, what does this illustration make you think?

“The Seeker”

Should you lose something, or need something desperately, hire The Seeker. She travels the dark road for you, protected by her talisman. The Seeker will find your inner most desires, bring them to you, and you shall want no more.

Talisman: An object marked with magic signs and believed to confer on its bearer supernatural powers or protection.

This is my IF submission for Talisman. As soon as I read this theme my mind raced with ideas. Finally, I drew this in my sketchbook, scanned and painted it in photoshop. I love how this one came out and look forward to painting it with acrylics. I will definitely share the results with you.

Poise: a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; composure; self-possession
(This week’s theme for illustrationfriday.com - quick sketch in sketchbook, scanned and painted with photoshop with a new technique to make it look more like it was painted)

Are you one of those people who envision themselves as being able to kick some serious ass? Like Beatrix in Kill Bill, one person vs a mob, with only a sword and your skill!

Mmm, maybe it’s just me. I’m a chick, and I like the action flicks.

Ok maybe it’s not you vs an angry mob where the end result is a bloodbath and you still standing over a pile of bodies. Maybe it’s you doing a presentation in front of a group of your bosses in the big board room, trying to impress them. Or maybe it’s you throwing a birthday party for your child and it’s only you vs a room full of 5 year olds all hopped up on birthday cake sugar. Or maybe it’s you who offered dog walking and now daily gets dragged down the street by a pack of dogs.

No matter the odds, remember poise.

“How The West Was One”

A humorous illustration for the illustrationfriday.com theme of Subtract.

Women can conquer, the wild west wasn’t always fought over by men. Ladies can and have kicked ass.

I sketched this concept out in my sketchbook, which is filling out beautifully by the way, and scanned it in on my brand new/bought on craigslist.org, Epson Perfection 2480 PHOTO scanner. I then colored the entire thing in Photoshop. I kept the original sketch lines to add to the feeling of the piece. Now, I’d like to mention I am not a gun expert, so those of you who know your stuff, I do know that it’s not exactly right but give a girl some room eh? Thank you!

Hope the illustrationfriday audience likes this one. My sorta stupid, sorta silly, mostly sarcastic sense of humor comes through on this one like it did on Breezy, course that might not be a good thing, JK! (just kidding)