Hi hi hi! How is it already July?! We spent some time swimming in a river over the weekend with friends, and I feel like this is just a quintessential summer photo, you know? Sun! Water! Swimming! Happy kids! I also feel like it's a photo that reminds me of how easy it is to see someone else's photo and construct an entire story around it from the little slice of info we've got – just one photo. My kids had a great time at the river, and I did, too... sort-of. What you can't see in this photo...
9 days ago • 3 min read
Hi hi hi! How is it already July?! We spent some time swimming in a river over the weekend with friends, and I feel like this is just a quintessential summer photo, you know? Sun! Water! Swimming! Happy kids! I also feel like it's a photo that reminds me of how easy it is to see someone else's photo and construct an entire story around it from the little slice of info we've got – just one photo. My kids had a great time at the river, and I did, too... sort-of. What you can't see in this photo...
9 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Ever have one of those weeks where you feel like you're moving through molasses? You know spending some time being creative would help, but it feels like your inner artist just... wandered off without saying goodbye? Yep. Same here. I know I’ve been sharing quite a few offerings lately — and if your inbox is feeling full, I get it. But this one is really special, and I’d be so happy to have you join me. The Making Zen Online Retreat kicks off on May 26th, and it’s basically a big,...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I returned home on Sunday from teaching at my friend Carrie Schmitt's Art Is Love retreat, and I've been easing my way back into my regular rhythm the past couple of days, trying to go slow even though my mind is starting to churn with all the familiar chatter about all the things I need to do or haven't done or aren't doing right and on and on. Hello, busy mind! According to Carrie, your mind can't think thoughts when you're humming, so maybe I'll try humming more...? I don't know...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Happy Tuesday! How are you? Things here are full and busy, with work stuff and life stuff and kid stuff and all the things. I wrapped up Pattern Camp this past weekend (it was so fun!), the Variety Show with my friend Sarah the week before that, and next week I'm headed to St. Helens, OR to teach at my friend Carrie Schmitt's Art Is Love retreat. And this week I have some awesome new free events that I was invited to teach in that I get to start telling you about. So many good...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader! I'm so excited to share that the next session of Pattern Camp is coming up next weekend, April 12-13th, and registration is now officially open! 🎉 Not only is registration open, but there's a special $247 earlybird registration price today and tomorrow. Yeehaw! The price will increase to $347 on Saturday, April 5th. Get all the course details right here! I fell in love with Adobe Illustrator nearly 2 decades ago, and it's my absolute favorite design program. Faaaaaavorite! I've...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, It's Spring Break for my kids this week, and we're staying put in Portland this year since we're going on a big adventure to England this summer (my little family of three's first international trip!). which means I'm doing the ultimate juggling act right now, trying to work with 2 kids here 24/7 and also make time for fun stuff so they're not just sitting around in front of screens. Basically I'm bouncing between things like zoom meetings to going to the pool to hosting live...
4 months ago • 5 min read
I turned the drawing I shared in my email last week into a repeating pattern! Hey Reader, Happy Tuesday! Today I've got pattern design on the brain, and it's always a good day when I get to focus on patterns because making them is pretty much my favorite creative thing ever. :) I'm working on designing a new fabric collection right now, which has been super fun but I've also felt a bit rusty. I don't like feeling rusty, but I know by now after being a working artist for so many years that the...
4 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, When I was in college, I remember learning that to be a successful artist in the world, you have to find your niche and your signature style, and then make work like that forever, never straying very far from your chosen medium or recognizable look. (Maybe that's not what they were actually teaching us, but that's apparently what I absorbed and what I remember!) I remember thinking then that it would be so BORING to just make the same kind of thing over and over for years on end,...
5 months ago • 4 min read