Katygirl Designs { i heart art }

This week I'd like y'all to meet Katy of Katygirl Designs.

I have several of Katy's prints, and she's the one who designed our 2012 Christmas Card. Katy = a great designer and a great friend :)

I love you more than coffee by Katygirl Designs 

1. When did you first begin designing?

I started designing in 2010, but I started creating art prints in August of 2012. And it is a journey because I am always pushing myself to learn new things.

Come fly with me by Katygirl Designs

The Sunshine by Katygirl Designs

2. What is your favorite/most sentimental creation you have made? Why?

My most favorite print is the "Great Things" print. I’m not sure why. There is not anything magical or special with it. I think the quote has really spoken to me and sometimes that's really all it takes. I really believe the quote. I live my life by it a lot. A lot of times simplicity speaks volumes and I believe that is the case with this print.

Great Things by Katygirl Designs

3. Is there a project you've always dreamed of creating? What would it be?

You know, I have always dreamed of creating wedding invites. It has always seemed so far out of my league. I did just get the opportunity to create my first one and while I was sick to my stomach with nerves the whole time (it is someone’s wedding invite!), I believe it stretched me to a whole new level of creating and designing. A dream of mine would be to design wedding invites for a company, but I feel like that is sort of far-fetched. :)

Every Season Combo by Katygirl Designs

---> Be sure to check out Katy's shop and she's offering 15% off with the code HEARTART so go find something pretty to add to your walls!

You can connect with Katy:

BLOG: http://www.scottyboyandkatygirl.com/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/katykristin

INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/katykristin

Katy, thanks for sharing with us today!

a few things on Friday 5.10.13

1. How adorable is this? I've purchased a few of her things as sweet gifts, and I love her style.

2. Mother's Day will be 2 months since we lost Baby #3. I've just had mamas on my heart this week and those who want to become mamas. I hope you will take time to send love to your mother/step mother/foster mother/grandmother/aunt/mother-in-law/mother figure in your life. 

I'm pretty sure this is the toughest job on the planet.

made by Kelly 

3. Week 2 of c25k is done. Still not so much fun.

And someone asked on my last blog post about my jogging stroller. We use this one. And though I am having to push two growing little boys I'm so glad I have something to hang on to so I don't fall flat on my face :)

4. If you a part of the handmade community I think this post is good. You may not agree with everything, but I think it's something we need to keep in the front of our minds when we create.

5. Have you been watching this show? I really, really, really enjoy it. 

6. Do you have photos of Pen & Paint artwork on your blog or just anywhere? I'd love to see them and feature them! Let me know :)

7. I've got artists lined up to feature in the upcoming weeks for this series. I'm looking forward to introducing you to some new people! The winner of the Uncommon Goods gift certificate from this week's post is Megan Bruch.

Hooray! I'll email you today. 

Happy Friday.

Artwork at Uncommon Goods & a GIVEAWAY { i heart art }

The I Heart Art series is back!

I am so excited to share Art Prints & Wall art from the Uncommon Goods art gallery with y'all this week.

Uncommon Goods carries a variety of wall art including 

one of my favorite artists Jessica Swift.

Lately I have been admiring floral artwork like these by 

Zlatka Paneva & Kate Lewis. These make me want to pull out my paints and paint a pretty bouquet of flowers. This beautiful piece by Yao Cheng makes me want to try my watercolors again.

And I'm really enjoying to the work of  Valerie Galloway. The "hello gorgeous" reminds me of some of my favorite drawings in my own sketchbook.

To welcome back my I Heart Art series I'm offering y'all a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Uncommon Goods! 

Enter through the rafflecopter below and let me know what is one of your favorites in the Uncommon Goods Artists Prints Collection.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a few things on Friday 5.3.13

1. I am excited to bring back this series. I'm switching it to Mondays for now and this upcoming feature will include something fun from this awesome site.

2. I have started doing this again. Last summer I got 3/4 of the way through the program and never finished it. I made the excuse that I just didn't have time to keep me from going. It's been terribly difficult to start again - mentally, emotionally, physically. I am faking it til I make it. That's my new motto ;) and I'll just take one run day at a time. Are you doing anything to challenge yourself?

3. Need teacher gift ideas? Or graduation gift ideas? Or you just need something cute? I LOVE these.

See, I have some. And I use them every day at least twice a day. 

You can just buy the lid and straw (BPA free) or you can buy the set. They even have these, which I think is fantastic b/c I really don't like condensation on a cup. Really.

4. "Every single day do something that makes your heart sing."  -Marcia Wieder. Think about those things and DO them.

5. I shared this through IG & Facebook, but it can be said again here:

Four years ago as a new stay-at-home mama I started painting and selling my work on Etsy. One of my first customers coincidentally ended up being from my town. Tonight I met with that same customer who has asked me to do the artwork for the business she is about to open. I am so grateful for the chance to create my art and share it with people all over the world. I am even more grateful for the chance to create artwork that will be displayed in a small business in my little town.

6. Aren't these cute? I'm using them on my inspiration board in my "office".

7. I want a studio. Some day I hope to have a real studio to create in. For now it is my kitchen and my little office (computer desk in a large hallway). 

That's about it. How was your week?

Shop Talk {new prints + discount code}

I have added three new prints to the shop! 

Lots of April showers brought on sunshine and May flowers :)

This cheerful print is now in the shop.

I adore this Audrey Hepburn quote so I created a print in 

pink & purple and also in blue & yellow.

And lastly this quote has been on my mind for a month now. I love the idea of making sure every day doing something that brings you joy... from playing with your children to working towards a goal to creating something with your hands. Since I could decide on just one color combination I made it in these colors too.

As you know by now when I add new things to the shop I like to offer a discount code so please take 20% off your order 5/1-5/2 with the code NEW20.

Happy first day of May!

Pen & Paint iPhone case winners!

Congratulations ladies!

I will email you today so I can send you a new Pen & Paint iPhone case by Uncommon.

All the Pen & Paint iPhone cases are for sale HERE at getuncommon.com in the "Ready Made" case section.

And all designs are available in 4/4s or 5 sizes.

Thank you for all who entered and shared about the new Pen & Paint cases and a HUGE thanks to all of you who have purchased one! Y'all are the best.

CLOSED - GIVEAWAY - Win a Pen & Paint Uncommon iPhone case!

This week I received samples of the new Pen & Paint iPhone cases by Uncommon.
Now it's time to give some of them away. I have a three cases for the 4/4s and two for the 5 so there are two separate rafflecopters below. Be sure to enter for the correct size! Also the mandatory entry will be to leave a blog post comment for which design you want to win.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a joyful life...

I welcomed saying goodbye to March. 

It was a bittersweet month filled with loss and celebration.

Now April is almost over, and I feel I am just catching my breath. 

There is so much going on.

I have been asked how I am doing a lot (and that's okay, I don't mind at all). My answer is, "I'm okay." I opened up to one friend and told her some specific things I felt. I told her parts of me were confused about why I feel the way I do about our miscarriage. Her reply was the best thing I could hear: You are supposed to feel exactly how you feel. It allowed me to accept my emotions, and be okay with however I feel each day.

I admit the distraction of the daily life with my family and Pen & Paint has been a good thing for me. There are times I wonder what I am supposed to be feeling. There are days with tears. I am so thankful for the season of Spring. The sunshine and flowers and dirt have been good for me. Okay, not the dirt, but the boys love it.

All that said, I have some happy things to share:

1. The other week I pulled out this print and put it up in my studio. I made it for The Joyful Shop last year. I just needed to look at it. I needed to be reminded to live a life of joy and thankfulness.

2. There is always time for tea (for me).

3. I am working on a few new prints. With flowers blooming all around be prepared for lots of pretty flowers. I'm also working to get more camera canvases in the shop so if you missed the ones I listed last week don't worry more are on the way :)

4. Stamps. How do you feel about rubber stamps with Pen & Paint illustrations on them? I can't wait to share more!

5. A couple of weekends ago I got to meet up with these ladies. I met each of them through blogging and instagram. I'm so thankful for url friend turned real life friends.

6. And in case you missed THESE are now for sale! I am so excited and honored to be working with Get Uncommon, and I hope you'll get some Pen & Paint for your iPhone ;) Which one is your favorite? ***there is a sale right now and the cases are BOGO with the code MOMSDAY 4/22-4/24***

Happy Tuesday y'all!

Birthday Week Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations ladies!

Thank you to everyone who entered and for those who

participated in the big birthday sale.

Y'all made this an awesome birthday week!

Thank you for all the birthday wishes.

I hope those of you celebrating Easter tomorrow have a

wonderful time with friends and family.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Winners I'll be in touch via email.

CLOSED - Birthday Giveaway #3 - a YEAR of Pen & Paint

I saved the best for last!

I am giving away a year of Pen & Paint. That's 12 prints and 12 sets of note cards for one lucky winner each month from April 2013 - March 2014. 

Follow the Rafflecopter below to enter, and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CLOSED. Thanks everyone who entered!