Impression of Life

Over the last month there has been this one solitary commercial that has not left my mind. It wasn't about Christmas, it wasn't about spending money or a super savings deal. It was about life. It brought me to tears and made my heart swell with love and pride.

I decided I had to share it, just in case you haven't seen it.

(a few of) My Favorite Things!

Julie Andrews aka Mary Poppins aka Maria has invaded my head this month with the song "My Favorite Things" – it mentions snowflakes and packages so that must be why it's been deemed a Christmas song.

I started to draw the items from the song, but how do you draw "schnitzel with noodles" and it actually look good? I gave that up pretty quickly. Instead I began a list of some of my favorite things.

That was much easier.

Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy my list and find at least a thing or two on there that is your favorite too. I mean really, who doesn't love Girl Scout Cookies?!

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(September and) October Memories

So I drew these images for September, but didn't make a calendar (sorry folks!). I think I have heart-lag instead of jet-lag. I'm missing Ireland terribly and as any artist knows, your emotions effect your work. Therefore no September calendar...but here's the artwork used for the October calendar instead :)

I was really interested in trying this watercolor idea, and only used Illustrator to execute the idea. Why? Because I wanted to :) That's all the reason we really need isn't it? 

The quote this month is actually some of my own rambling thoughts. Autumn doesn't really arrive in Florida until October or November, but my memories of Fall are from when I was a little girl in New York State. Sadly, the beauty of the leaves would cause me to be late to school – often! Ahhh, the heart of a young artist.

First choice: Darker text for screens with lighter colorization.

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Second choice: Lighter text for screens with darker colorization.

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I Love au-GUS-t!

August. It's becoming a love/hate relationship :)

I celebrate my birthday during August (love!) - but the years are passing by TOO fast! (hate!) But for the most part I do love my month of August. Made even better by the cool weather in Wales. Ahhhhhh.

I did have a problem choosing the quote for this month...so I decided to let you choose which one would grace your desktop wallpaper! Have fun!

First choice: "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." - Sam Keen

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Second choice: "People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy" - Anton Chekhov

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MOST computers allow you to choose an option like "Set as Desktop Background" which makes the whole process so much easier! Just make sure you open the large image first. Otherwise: Click on the desired image above, then right-click on the image, and choose either save image as/save target as/save as.

In Honor and Love

This month's calendar is for my brother. It's for my grandfather. It's for every member of my family and yours who have served our country.

Every national holiday in American that celebrates our freedom makes me a sappy-little-mess-of-tears-with-a-bursting-heart-of-gratefulness. That didn't sound like a good idea for a calendar - so I am honoring you with my own rendition of medals. Along with a quote from Benjamin Franklin that seems to sum up this holiday and my feelings very well.

With love and honor, especially for you Matthew.

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Do you love Mary Poppins?

June. I brainstormed for the month of June and umbrellas ended up on my list. Why? Because of the afternoon thunderstorms that we Floridians are so familiar with during the summer months...AND...because I'm in Ireland where an umbrella can be very handy...any time of the day! :)

Umbrellas. Rain. Creative link? Mary Poppins!

Hope you love it!

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NYC MTA: Flip Book Gone Wild!

View more videos at: http://www.nbcnewyork.com.

Thanks to my friend (a recent NYC resident) for passing along this very large scale idea of a flip-book. How I do love interactive design...sigh.

A little more story here.

May Colors Are Poppin' Fresh!

I feel like the colors this Spring are especially wonderful - not just outdoors, but in advertising and fashion too. I'm loving it! The saturated color schemes, the brightness they bring to a design. Makes me so happy.

For this month I am using a drawing that I literally did...on the stereotypical napkin...:) Yep, we creatives, tend to draw on anything we can get our hands on. This was from a hospital cafeteria nonetheless. Me + Hospitals = Waiting Undefined Number of Hours Bored Out of My Mind!

The results, are now the May calendar. Good use of time :)

So, I hope the result of all those April showers is that you now get to have an abundance of May colors popping up everywhere in your life - outdoors and indoors. Have a wonderful month!

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April Showers: A Tearful Rainbow

I love summer storms in Florida.

I know, it's not summer yet - but that doesn't stop Florida weather from acting like it during April. I woke up to thunder and lighting a couple nights ago and it just made me smile.

The calendar this month is actually from a drawing I did last year. I love the idea of tears and rain mixing together to water something...ideas, creativity, healing, just to name a few. Then I found this quote and knew it was meant to be...ahhhh...makes my heart smile :)

That's it for this month - not much musing - just enjoying. Ooooo and don't ya just love the black background?!

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Click on the desired image above, then right-click on the image, and choose either save image as/save target as/save as. MOST computers allow you to choose an option like "Set as Desktop Background" which makes the whole process so much easier! Just make sure you open the large image first.

Feeling Lucky?

March. What do I think of? Hello! St. Patrick's Day of course :)

I honestly am not very excited about this calendar. I feel it is incomplete. So, there may be an update to it this month - yipppeee! Two calendars in one month!

I read this passage from Third John this morning and thought is was perfect for a month that is all about "luck". See, I don't believe in luck. I believe in God. And with God all things are possible ;) I also believe that you will have to work hard for what you want to achieve. No luck about it.

That being said. I LOVE IRELAND and all the folklore and mysteries about her. I enjoy the idea of fairies in the glen and leprechauns sneaking about playing mischief. It's just fun to pretend sometimes - just like we did when we were children.

Enjoy this version of the calendar this month - and pretend to see little people in the mist of the shamrocks on your desktop.

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My Abstract Version of a Valentine

I'm not really a hearts and flowers kind of girl. So typical Valentine's Day imagery wasn't about to make an appearance on my calendar. Instead I did what I usually do, I waited for a moment of inspiration to hit me and rolled with it! Love those moments :)

I got a little nostalgic this month. My drawing reminded me of Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" – and even today, on the shelf in my office there sits one of his books. I believe I first read "Where the Sidewalks Ends" while sitting on the floor of the library, surrounded by shelves of books I just had to be in close proximity to so I could read them on the spot. Shel Silverstein drew me into his work – written and visual – and a whole new perspective to creativity flooded my brain.

So, why "The Giving Tree"? Simple. It is in itself a story of unconditional love. I most love the beginning and the end. The middle gives me pains in my heart. But love is not all hearts and flowers is it? That would be too easy.

Okay – that's it! Enough philosophizing ;) Happy Valentine's Day and I hope you get a handmade Valentine like the ones you use to make in Kindergarten. Wouldn't that be sweet?

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Click on the desired image above, then right-click on the image, and choose either save image as/save target as/save as. Some computers may allow you to choose an option like "Set as Desktop Background" which makes the whole process so much easier! Just make sure you open the large image first.