Weekend Delight

Good Morning! It's the weekend, and the weather couldn't be finer.

On the agenda for today:

- Coffee and quality couch time with my girl Stella

- Patiently awaiting the mailman to arrive with the first print I sold in my shop, which I will happily package and send out on Monday!

- Homemade pizza for the Mr. and I

- A nice drive to see this movie, with a bit of shopping mixed in

- Fresh sea scallops, sweet corn and rice pilaf for dinner at home

It's going to be a lovely day, indeed.

Why I am REALLY here is to share with you a discovery I made last weekend. Behold the most delicious scone you will ever eat!

Whenever I am in the mood to try a new recipe, I always head straight to Smitten Kitchen because I am never disappointed. I tried these out last Saturday, and they were absolutely wonderful! I suggest you run, not walk, to her site and give these a try for yourself. The recipe is very simple, and the results are pure bliss!

I substituted dried cranberries for currants, and used half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Make these. I promise you will not regret it!

Enjoy your Saturday!

Incarnations

I finished this piece tonight, and just listed it in the shop. I really love origami birds, and this is my attempt capture their unique structure in two dimensions. It was fun to play with patterns as if I were folding these myself out of pretty paper pieces.

I hope you like it!

A ... Spoon?

A few nights ago I asked my boy what he would like me to draw for him. I thought that it would be sweet to create something just for him, without the intention of eventually offering it in the shop. He pondered the question for a few minutes, and his answer really surprised me; "I would like you to draw me a spoon"..

A spoon? Yes, a spoon. To be honest, I wasn't super excited about the idea. But, the other night I did doodle a fancy little spoon for him and I have to say that I kind of like it! We mounted this little guy on red paper and he now hangs proudly in the kitchen.

I'm thinking I will have to ask for his ideas more often! Maybe some of them will end up here, where I made my first sale today!

Happy Monday all!

Introductions: Pretty Ingrid

I am really excited/nervous to share this big news with my lovely blog friends. However, I have put a lot of thought into it and I feel as though now is the right time.

Over the past few months I have shared much of my recent artwork here on this humble blog. And you, being the wonderful and considerate readers you are, have given me a lot of positive feedback. I thank you so much for this! It is your kind words that have given me the confidence to take a big chance creatively.

I am now in the process of opening my very own Etsy boutique, Pretty Ingrid! At least to begin, I will be offering a collection of fine art prints from my original pieces, many of which were shared here first! I am working on getting everything listed, and I hope to have the shop open by August 1.

It has been a lot of fun working on the shop and getting my little business started. In this moment, I am the happiest I have been in recent memory. This step really feels right, and I am really proud of myself for having the courage to take this chance!

You can find a collection of the works I plan to have listed in the coming weeks here. I will be sharing more as things begin to come together!

Thank you all for your support!

Etsy Find: Suili

How wonderful are these artful little blooms from Suili? I would love a few clusters to scatter around my home in dainty glass bud vases. The best part is that these little lovelies will always look fresh; they are crocheted, after all!

Princess Buttercup

This dreamy photo shoot from a recent issue of N.E.E.T. Magazine directly inspired this little piece. She reminds me of Princess Buttercup, which I adore. Honestly, who doesn't love The Princess Bride?

I think this would be really sweet in a little girl's room.

I hope you are all enjoying your week so far!

Little Pretties from Elephantine

I adore the simple, elegant designs from Elephantine. How cute would these be with a simple white tee?

Bouquet

I have been working on this piece for quite some time. I forced myself to sit down and finish it tonight. I find oil pastels to be so frustrating, but I do love the vibrancy of the results!

It has been so hot the past few days! We are breaking temperature records up here in Maine. Not only is it hot, but the humidity is outrageous! My body feels so heavy I just want to lie in my bed and sleep all day (I am sure my wonderful summer cold isn't helping matters much).

On a completely unrelated note, how cute is this mouse pad I purchased the other day for my new office? I love artist Ashley G., and I can't wait to get my hands on my latest Etsy purchase!

Adventures in the City That Never Sleeps

I spent this past weekend on a mother-daughter trip to New York City. We had a fantastic time roaming the city, eating, shopping and frequenting the theatre (three shows in three days!). I had never been to a city larger than Boston, so this was so much fun! 

Being a Maine native, the sheer size of the city blew my mind. In three days we couldn't even begin to scratch the surface of all the city has to offer. I can't wait to go back with my boy sometime soon. 

NYC was amazing, but I must admit I was relieved to land back in Portland on Sunday. Being in a place so different really made me appreciate what makes Maine a wonderful place to live. I love the fashion, food and culture that is so unique to a metropolitan area, but I adore the beauty and quiet of New England, too.

Tell me, are you always happy to return after a trip? What makes a place feel like home to you?

I hope everyone had a relaxing, safe fourth!