Day 57 - Japanese Kamon

I've long been fascinated with the kamon, or, Japanese family 'crest'. Such simple shapes with such a powerful meaning. You can find out more here.This is my own take on those wonderful shapes.

Day 56 - Cascading Leaves

There's a lot more that I'd like to do with this, but I'm feeling myself falling asleep at my desk. Perhaps another day....

Day 55 - Violets

It appears I'm a day behind... 

Day 54 - Rework

Thought I'd rework some previous patterns in new colors.

Day 53 - Sweet Branches

Sweet Branches #1

Sweet Branches #2

Sweet Branches #3

Day 52 - Indiana Homestead

A few notes I learned about my adopted home state tonight: 
Nickname: The Hoosier State (I've lived here five years and still don't understand what a Hoosier is...)
State Song: 'On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away', by Paul Dresser
State Flower: Peony (one of my faves!)
State Bird: Cardinal (hmmmm, the same as Kentucky)
State Stone: Limestone (yes, we have a 'state stone' - it's been used in the construction of the Empire State Building and the Pentagon)

For the record, I still find it amusing that I live in New Albany , and yet, I live closer to downtown Louisville than my parents do, who actually live in Louisville.

Indiana Homestead

Day 51 - At Home in the Bluegrass

I was raised in Louisville, Kentucky - my favorite city - a city that's northern enough to be liberal in its values, but southern enough to have manners and tea. Lots and lots of tea. 

My ode to my home state:

At Home in the Bluegrass

Day 50 - Simple Forest, Take 3

One of my favorite motifs, in a coordinating pattern/ color way (aka - a super long and mind-numbing day.) See also - Day 28, Day 32, Day 33 + Day 35.

Simple Forest #3

Day 49 - Sea Leaves

Trying to shake up the color palette a bit, but staying with my 'comfortable' blues and greens. 

Sea Leaves

Day 48 - Simple Shapes

Day 47 - Leaves

Yesterday, while we were watching the Indiana vs. Purdue game at our local pub, I sketched. (For the record, it wasn't much of a game (Go IU!) and I NEVER leave home without my sketchbook.) 

One of the themes I worked on was a series of lines/ leaves. Here's a bit of a simple pattern I worked out, choosing the color palate first. 

(Truth? The small lines are the happy accident of the spiral from my sketchbook scanning along with my drawings, repeated several times.)

Leaves

Day 46

 Exploring kuler.com.

Floating Petals #1

Floating Petals #2

Floating Petals #3

Floating Petals #4

Floating Petals #5

Floating Petals #6

Floating Petals #7

Sketch a Day - Day 45

Short and simple. 

Simple Tree

Sketch a Day - Day 44

Here's something a little Valentine-y, without being too much.

Heart Bits #1

Heart Bits #2

Heart Bits #3

Sketch a Day - Day 43

Example of what a simple line drawing of a branch with dots can morph into...

Branch Beatles

Sketch a Day - Day 42

This pattern brought to you by coffee and Daft Punk. Seriously. The right muzak can make for some great pattern'ing.

Coffe House in Color

Coffee House in Color #2

Sketch a Day - Day 41

Clocks

Sketch a Day - Day 40

A new take on an previous sketch.

Lollipop Floral #2

Sketch a Day - Day 39

Diamonds in the Sky

Sketch a Day - Day 38

I can picture this as a little girl's sundress, while she plays on the beach with the sun setting in the background... 

Fallen Wings

Sketch a Day - Day 37

Tonight my husband surprised me with a trip to the 'brand new' old Big Four Bridge that crosses the Ohio River from my hometown of Louisville, to where we live now in Southern Indiana. The Waterfront Development Corp opened the newly rehabbed walking bridge today, converting it from an old railroad bridge that hadn't been traveled upon since 1969. Lucky for us we were there at the exact right time for Mother Nature to create some amazing sunset pictures. Lucky indeed. And the bridge was pretty nifty, as well. 

The Louisville Entrance - Big Four Bridge

I decided to use one of the photos we captured tonight as inspiration and I'd love to say this is exactly what I envisioned when I sat down with my sketchbook. This one took on a life of its own, though I like the result. Thoughts? 

Tangerine Slices

Sketch a Day - Day 36

Some simple shape action.

Three's Company

Sketch a Day - Day 35

Super simple - continuing the theme of Day 32 - 

Snow Covered

Sketch a Day - Day 34

In honor of Charles Lindbergh's birthday today, a little pattern full of propellers. It didn't come out exactly as I'd planned, but this is a learning experience, right?

Propellers in the Clouds

Sketch a Day - Day 34

I'm finding that my style often involves lots of white space... perhaps  the simplicity is to counteract the crazy schedule I have?? : )

Lavender in Periwinkle and Mint

Sketch a Day - Day 33

A little something to go with yesterday's forest motif.

Make a Wish

First Swatch!!

Big day. I received my first ever swatch of a fabric I designed from Spoonflower. I couldn't get the package open fast enough... :)

Alien Floral

Sketch a Day - Day 32

I took the trees I originally sketched on day 28 and turned them into a pattern. 

Curtains for a kid's room? Or, as a crib set?  Perhaps a sweet journal. Very cute, I think.

A Simple Forest