.Lost In Reverie.

2011-10-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

I found you sitting in a coffee shop. You were at a table, tucked in the corner of the room. There you were surrounded by sheets and sheets of paper all covered in the most elegant script. Your coffee and dip-pen in either hand. Time to reflect, time to cherish and record each memory.

I don't know who you are, for we have never met. You will have no memory of me, but I shall never forget the memory I have of you sitting here. You have taught me to treasure the small things in life. You have shown me the value of slowing down to reflect, remember, and grow.

We need these quite moments for our souls so that we can listen.

.Extinction.

2010-09-13T17:49:00.000-07:00

"Don't Let Your Ideas Become Extinct"

this is the cover of my sketchbook...an idea I had that if I don't create the ideas inside this book, then they are dead, "extinct" if you will.

so, to motivate myself, I have made this my new motto. I have always loved dinosaurs since I was a little girl but surprisingly, this is the first one I have ever painted! the paper was purchased at Archivers. I found it and fell in love instantly! such cute little stylized dinosaurs!

I hope this inspires you to not let your ideas become extinct!

xoxo

Mrs Lovett

2010-07-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

The inspiration: Mrs Lovett...a peculiar soul. It takes a unique personality to maintain that sparkle and zest for life, while knowing that the man you are in love with is slashing throats left and right! even though life dealt her a tough hand, she kept a positive attitude. she was a survivor, though, she didn't survive...

after watching Sweeny Todd in my basement...alone...at night, (a really poor decision!) I was incredibly full of the heebie-geebies and incredibly...inspiration! I sketched out this little portrait of Mrs Lovett using an image from one of my photoshoots. I then applied pen and ink, and some purple eyeliner that I was going to throw away. I really loved it, and couldn't help but dream up an enamel version of this painting!

so it begins...I sketched out a more detailed version of her face and tested out a few possibility colors.

my lovely paintbrushes! these large, flat paintbrushes are only $5 at Hobby Lobby...pretty cheap quality, but for my enamel portraits they are perfect for laying india ink washes and creating individual strands of hair. these cheap brushes tend to fray and separate...perfect for defining hair!

the first layer of watercolor...blocking out the main shapes.

the painting after enameling!

I first spay fixed her face so when I removed the friskit (that I applied after the spray fix dried) it wouldn't smudge and lose the details of her face.

anyways...I was a little over anxious to get on with this painting. And so, I didn't stop and think before I slapped my painting into the enamel. as you can see in the image above...the enamel completely overpowered everything!! I liked how it left only her eyes...that was interesting, but I had another vision for this piece!

by the way....try to wear gloves when you are enameling...you don't want your hands to look like mine! it stays under your fingernails FOREVER!!!!

I quickly wiped off as much enamel as I could and used nail polish remover to help me take off as much as the paper would release. this generally isn't very much, but hopefully enough for you to continue with the painting.

I use a cake pan for my enameling, and fill it with an inch of water or so.

luckily, I had put friskit onto her face, and all the areas that I wanted to leave white...so those parts of the painting were saved!

I started adding layers and details to the painting until.....

it was complete!!

"Watercolor: from the beginning"

2010-07-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

My relationship with watercolors began in high school. I remember hovering over my art teacher during her demonstrations, not wanting to miss a thing! Like her paintbrush, I too couldn't get enough watercolor!!!

my very first watercolor painting!!

My passion for this medium may have been instant, but I can't say the same for the technique! it took some time and a lot of practice before watercolor "clicked" for me.

Specifically, there were two concepts I learned to help me become more familiar with this medium...

1. The paint brush is similar to a sponge in that, when it is wet, it can put water on, when the brush is dry, it takes water away (and therefore color)

~ A seemingly simple concept to grasp. but, an extremely important one!!! why? without this familiarity, watercolor will remain quite intimidating and frustrating. Understanding your brushes and the consistency of the paint/water ratio will provide you with confidence and (a limited but reasonable amount of) control.

2. "Water seeks it's own."

~SO TRUE!! this goes into technique (wet into wet) etc. I saved this test scrap because it was a revelation for me! I allowed the colors to dance together, essentially letting the water seek it's own. this is when I truly began a friendly conversation with this medium. I felt as though the paint had shared with me a personal secret and I understood! My art teacher said that artists generally lean more in the direction of either oils or watercolors. I have always felt special in the fact that watercolor choose me to be it's translator!

.Style.

I was extremely frustrated by the style of watercolor. Searching through many books on this medium, all I could find were lightly painted abstract landscapes, most of which had a boat somewhere in the composition. Incredibly dull, in my own opinion!

I began to listen to what seemed natural, what was welling up inside of me to be expressed. I ambitiously took my paints home one school day, and searched through my photos for something to paint. I came across an image I had recently taken of my eyes. I sketched them out and began to paint, leaving as much white space as possible! EUREKA!!

I was exhilarated! I was in love!

During this time in my life, I was deep in a Sarah Brightman craze! I found a lot of inspiration from her albums. I loved how each of her CD’s had a separate theme…a new world to discover! I especially loved the photography, and I am sure this is where my themed photo shoot passion was derived from as well! On the cover of her Classics album, her hair was white, creating this marvelous shape around her head and figure. I just had to paint it!

Continuing with the white spaces, I began to work on this zebra…quite possibly one of the quickest paintings I have ever created! I remember how excited I was with the results…I solved a lot of problems in this painting, and learned some very important skills!! This painting is hanging in my bedroom. I have never ever thought about selling it, I don’t think I could bring myself to do it! It is very dear to me!

I don’t have a strong opinion about watercolor paper as of yet. Most all of my paintings have been created on cold press, 300 lb. I am quite fond of Twinrocker, if we are going to talk brands. A don’t like too gritty of a surface, it doesn’t work very well with my painting style.

I have tried to paint on paper…I love it, but it ripples the paper terribly!

I have even painted on wood.

I may try more of this, it was exciting and different.

This is a portrait of Mary Pickford. I love the way the flowers turned out in her hair!! Looking back, I can’t understand why I didn’t leave the background white?? Hmmm.

2005…can you believe it?? Where has the time gone?

Reflections in the water…. I was in a colorful mood the day I painted this!

this painting was interesting to create. I drew the face once on ceran wrap and taped it onto a picture frame. When I held this up under our chandelier, It projected multiple shadows of the image onto my paper….so I just moved it around till the faces made a shape I enjoyed. Choosing the color combination was also enjoyable!

initially, I thought this would be a short but personal blog post....as I began gathering my watercolor images and memories I quickly realized that this must be a two part blog post!

To be continued…

.The Bergamot.

2010-06-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

On June 26th, The Bergamot rocked the river at IPFW!!!

here they are rockin' out!

if you are curious about their sound, head on over to their website and give them a listen!

I'm sure they will become a new favorite of yours! The Bergamot is perfect for the summer and road trips!!!

www.thebergamot.com

as well as this loverly band..there was also....

shade.

flowers

balloons

sleepy kiddos

bikes

shiny objects

fairys

a little wind

laughter...

...and friends!!!

later we went to Old Crown for coffee, dinner, and more music!

I loved this photo because of the coordinating colors!!! feels French no? It reminded us of this painting....

~xoxo~

2010-06-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

Yay!!! I have officially moved into this beautiful blessing!!!

I wanted to share some images of the house with you, so you can see where all future creative magic will be happening!!!

first, I want you to be aware that my blogging will be few for a while now that I am without internet! I haven't forgotten about you!! I have just been super busy graduating, moving, and preparing for an art show!

Now that things are becoming less chaotic, I hope to be updating weekly again!

for the moment, this is my studio space...it is pretty messy right now because my roommate, Carita, and I have an art sale next month!

more of the studio...

art everywhere!!!! but these are organized piles of work for the show.

my poor flamingo is straining under the weight of all of my scarves!!!

studio again...

Yay! my sewing/craft making space...located in the very cool basement!

our kitchen...we have fallen in love with our canisters!

I found the four of them at an antique shop for only $5 a piece!!!

that poor tea pot never gets a break!!

I found a complete set of corelle dishes at an antique store for only $20!!!

My Great Grandma used to have this green flower pattern set too.

our curtains...just because I thought these pictures were pretty.

Carita made this stained glass lamp shade, and the coasters...amazing!

these sad plants are starting to fade...but, every morning I'll give them a little kiss to perk them up a bit! trying to encourage them not do die!!

my "pop-tart" mug...always full of tea or coffee!!

I bought this mug from my high school art teacher. it was a bit pricey, but you can't put a price on love!!

I hope you enjoyed touring our little purple house!!!

coming soon..."Watercolor: from the beginning" I have been reflecting on my signature medium and wanted to share with you what I have learned and how my art came to be what it is today!

check back again soon to read a part of my creative history!!!

directory advertisement

2010-05-20T23:10:00.000-07:00

I am looking through my photographs for some black and white natural images that can be used for Mid West Dental's directory advertisement. here are a few that I thought were pretty...what do you think? which ones capture your eye?

things have been crazy with moving and all...when I come back I will share some pictures of my new home!

DIY: jellyfish pin

2010-05-11T18:38:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to introduce you to Julie the jellyfish! I hope she brightens up your day!

she was a cute way to use up some craft materials I had lying around my studio!

here we go!

STEP 1: I drew her shape onto cardboard and then cut it out.

STEP 2: I sewed the pin onto fabric that will be Julies backside.

STEP 3: I place the cardboard body onto the fabric and cut all around the shape, leaving half an inch of fabric. (repeat this step with the fabric for the front)

STEP 4: I began to sew around the body, using clamps and double stick tape to help me hold the folded fabric in place while I sewed.

STEP 5: I added lace, and the tassel string around the bottom of her body for embellishment. then I added one cotton ball on the inside to give her some plushiness!

~the sewing around her body is complete, she's looking great! but, she isn't quite done yet....

STEP 6: to give Julie her own personality, I added a cute little bow and some funky eyes!

here she is, dancing and swimming around!

xoxo

hello iPad, you make my heart sing!

2010-05-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

I have been packing all week, getting ready to move into the purple house with Carita!! yay! i'll be sure to share photos later!! I am so excited for this new season of life to begin!

i'm sorry I have been absent recently ~ my poor computer has been freezing up, then my screen goes black and I have to wait for it to restart itself! this makes me nervous because it is my third lung! I should probably take it in for repairs soon!!

for graduation, my dad got me an iPad!! woohoo! it is so amazing, and is helping me to get organized!!! normally I have hundreds of tiny little sheets of paper from all of my random thoughts and lists, goals etc.

now, I have them all in one place!

WINNER.WINNER.WINNER.WINNER.WINNER!!!!!

i'm going to announce the winner from my 100th post and 24th birthday post!!

I want to thank everyone who took the time to enter the contest, and celebrate these two milestones with me! it was a lot of fun to share with you!!

I put all of your names in a bowl and had an unbiased hand draw one out...good luck!

the winner of this original watercolor is...

Wow!! Congratulations Robert!!!

odds were against you being the only male in the group of contestants, I guess luck was in your favor!!

please email your shipping information to me at: heidi.lostinreverie@gmail.com

weekend of celebration!!!

2010-05-06T22:16:00.000-07:00

This weekend I am going with my family to West Virginia for my sisters graduation!

it is going to be a long drive, so I plan on bringing my journal to write out a lot of ideas and dreams!!

can't wait to share them with you!!!

I also plan on celebrating my dads birthday, yay!!!!

and Mother's Day, woot!!!

I'm looking forward to this weekend with my family! I'll be sure to take lots of photos!

ATTENTION~GIVEAWAY~ATTENTION~GIVEAWAY

I will be extending the deadline for the giveaway until Monday (May 10th)

if you haven't signed up ~ be sure to do so!! it is a few posts down...

hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

giveaway reminder...

2010-05-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

I had me a little photo shoot fun last night!

I bet you can easily guess where my inspiration came from!!

the 100th post/24th birthday GIVEAWAY is open till may 6th ~ you still have time to sign up!!

from artist to artist

2010-05-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling quite loved, at the moment...

this birthday package came in the mail today from my dear friend Mandie!!!

inside was a fantastic book, of which I instantly devoured!!

and a magical card...that sent my imagination to a very beautiful place!

I enjoy receiving letters and packages in the mail from the ones I love!!!

nothing makes me feel more nostalgic or special!!

xoxo

Yay!!!

2010-04-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

when I woke up today, I found a beautiful card from my grandma!

she is so sweet, and I love her!!

this is me at age 2!

I'm probably smiling at some creepy dude behind the camera who is squeezing a squeaky toy...that's how they did things at Wal-Mart!

In honor of this 100th post ~ allow me to share with you a little history of Lost In Reverie...

.LOST IN REVERIE.

a more simple way of saying it: lost in a dream. when I would ask people what they thought of my work and how it made them feel, the word of choice that always crept up was: Dreamy. I absolutely loved that they caught that from my work! it captures my interests perfectly...things that are dreamy to me, are beautiful, strange, romantic, full of wonder...since I was a little girl I have been infatuated with things that were dreamy, like Lewis Carrol, The Odyssey, mermaids, etc...the design of my thematic (see here)(and here) was to get my audience caught up in a dream-like world. that is why my canvas was 3x26 feet!!! I wanted it to surround you and capture you into a mini magical world!

Dictionary.com...one of my favorite places to be, translates reverie in a more magical way...

a state of dreamy meditation or fanciful musing

it is also the title of a song by one of my favorite composers, Debussy.

which you can listen to here

~click me~

here are some of my older banners...

way back when...

~this is what my blog name used to be~

then it was Whimsicality.
but I didn't receive good responses from either of those names, and they weren't as personal to me.
so I threw the ideas out!

1. author a book

2. participate in the Chicago Renegade Fair

3. recreate Sargent's painting "Madame X"

4. gather all the classic Christmas songs, and create the ultimate holiday playlist!
5. start an Etsy shop!!
6. paint, paint, paint!!!! xoxo

7. design fish tank backgrounds

8. paint at the zoo :)

9. move into the purple house with Carita
10. design more pop can creatures
11. new photo shoots, new faces, new ideas...
12. see Sleeping At Last in concert

13. make orange/pecan biscotti
14. Submit to Artful Blogging
15. show work in Carmel/Indy galleries
16. blog all of my dreams and creative endeavors with you!!
17. visit the Theatre of Dreams

18. seeing Josh Garrels in concert...again!!
19. quilt
20. learn to enjoy drawing
21. read Eat, Pray, Love
22. fix my bike tire
23. simplify my life
24. be free...be me!

here is your chance to win a Heidi original!! this isn't just any old watercolor painting. it is the original 8x10 painting that I used for my previous banner!!

to win, leave your name and some goals you have this year in the comments page.

I will pick a winner on May 6th!!!

thanks for celebrating today with me, it was a fantastic birthday!

xoxo

and...

only once...

2010-04-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

...to my 100th post and 24th birthday!!!!

On April 29th, I will be posting my 100th blog post!!! what perfect timing, since it is my birthday too!!!

my 8th birthday!

my 9th birthday!!

It is going to be a massive post!!!!

I will be sharing a little of the history behind Lost In Reverie...24 goals for my 24th birthday....a GIVEAWAY...and much, MUCH, more!!!

I hope to see you there!!!

xoxo

Here it comes again!

2010-04-25T19:23:00.000-07:00

today it rained on our honeysuckle...

"drip, drip, drop, little April showers...what can compare to your beautiful sound?"

later tonight i'll be posting details on my 100th post and 24th birthday!!!

xoxo

absent, 100th post, and my birthday!! ...

2010-04-12T23:54:00.000-07:00

I will not be posting for a little while (a week or two) Things are getting pretty crazy around here!! I am preparing to graduate, taking care of commissions, planning for my 100th post (this is the 99th) planning for the Renegade Craft Fair, and will be having a birthday on the 29th!!!

I thought I would let you know that, and leave you with a bit of eye candy!!!

isn't Spring lovely??

tis the season for Tulip trees! can you believe how vibrant these colors are?

I didn't enhance the photo in any way, and look at those greens!!

in high school I painted a zebra in watercolor...this is a cropping of that painting.

I especially loved the colors in this area!

saw this tree at the park and thought it looked like a Dr. Seuss character...what do you think?

I was at the park taking photos of Miss Kosciusko! She is running for Miss Indiana!!

I wanted to get away from the models face and show that feet are just as expressive! the way they stand, the ground they are standing on, everything says so much more with less! I love how awkward they are and the fact that you can create your own story about the person, whereas, if it were a picture of their face, what you see is what you get...no mystery, no involvement, just another pretty picture.

another painting...I was fighting the assignment and being really stubborn!!!

I didn't want to create a sports illustration, so I illustrated my not wanting to illustrate a sport illustration..haha!!

when I come back, I will have LOTS to share with you for my 100th post, and then some!!

...perhaps a few giveaways??!!!

till then...xoxo

.Beautiful Happenings.

2010-04-09T17:31:00.000-07:00

PEACE CONCERT with The Bergamot!!! And.....

For a shy artist like me, this was a big deal!! I only allow/trust a select few to take part in my process of creating. Even then, that means an audience of 1. tonight there were about 100!!! eeep!

we had our feet painted...

and ate peaceful fruit!

my roommate-to-be, Carita!!

we missed a T-Rex sighting!!! He was the reason for all the construction around campus!

Carita, getting excited!

here we go!!!

I was pretty nervous, but this was an experience I didn't want to miss!

here you can see more of the audience and the band playing.

I drew in a mini crowd ~ they were precious!

these kids were such a blessing, and stayed with me for most of the performance!

They would gasp with surprise and admiration every time I would do something like, turn the canvas upside down, or when I added the blue...it really helped boost my confidence! it was awesome because this is the reason I do what I do! if I can inspire and delight even these little guys ~ my efforts are worth it!

LOOK AT HER FACE!!!! I wish my hand wasn't in the way...still, this warms my heart so much!!!

I wonder if you can see the spots of paint on my face...haha, I had it EVERYWHERE!!!

the final piece! oh yeah!!!

I have never seen my work go in this direction before...

the large audience, unique environment, limited supplies, and different set up changed my style a bit.

pretty neat!

detailed shot, so you can see the gold!!! gotta have me some metallics!!

Thank you so much everyone for this perfect day and these beautiful happenings!!

Thank you especially to Jenessah for documenting this experience for me!!

and The Bergamot for hosting the event and allowing me to share my gifts along with yours!!

xoxo

.Ruby Feathers.

2010-04-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

I was greatly inspired by Jill's blog interview with Ruby Feathers.

So much so, that I had to make my own feather earrings!!!

they made a creative mess!

picked up these inks for a performance painting I will be doing tomorrow. I am a wee bit nervous about it! normally I work alone, with no audience ~ not this time! there will be A LOT of people around and I will be on stage with the band! eeep!!!

I thought perhaps these earrings will give me a creative and confidence boost!!

I didn't end up using any peacock feathers...they seemed too trite.

but, I couldn't help but capture these colors!

TA-DA!!! can you hear the angels singing?!

they were a fun challenge!

I found these cute little bells at an antique store and wanted to use them someday for something!

I love brass bells!!

and I chose purple feathers ~ for some reason I can't get enough plum/fuchsia purples!

see the heart?? it is because I love you!!

Spring!!

2010-04-05T17:36:00.000-07:00

Need I say more?? The lovely sunshine and fresh Spring breeze called me out to take some photos!

This bird was out enjoying the weather too!

xoxo

off with her head!!!

2010-04-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

I was kindly told that my banner looks like my head is being served on a platter! haha, thank you fresh eyes, I never would have seen it that way! isn't it amazing how we all see and interpret things differently?

~ so fascinating! ~

I have been wanting to update my blog banner for a while. the color scheme is good, but something just doesn't feel right about it...perhaps it is the fact that my head is dinner!!! well, I have made a few new options...please VOTE!!!! your fresh eyes and opinions mean a lot to me!!

~ this is the original banner ~

~ here I just changed the color scheme a little...~

still the plate problem ~ not an option

.Option 1.

~ with a marbleized background ~

.Option 2.

~ this has another one of my paintings as a background~

.Option 3.

~ a cooler color scheme ~

La Lune

.Option 4.

~giraffe, thought I would change the painting up a bit~

.Option 5.

~ more painting options~

.Option 6.

~simple and clean~

suggestions are welcome! the possibilities are endless!!!

xoxo

.Happy Easter.

2010-04-02T17:42:00.000-07:00

Today, Carita and I met up for lunch at Pizza King. this stained glass window is the highlight of the building ~ so beautiful!

chicken ranch ~ very good!

we then went to a used book store and I found....

AHHH!! I was so excited to find this treasure! these older Disney film 'art of' books are no longer in print, so if you find one in good condition, don't hesitate to snatch it up!! they are truly inspiring!!

there were many *STUNNING* book covers ~ we dreamed about altering them into lovely journals!

this book belonged in to library at Rivendell! haha

I love this picture of Carita!! so adorable!

hope you had a wonderful Easter!!

xoxo

.an etsy discovery.

2010-03-31T12:10:00.000-07:00

I came across Armour sans Anguish on Etsy.com today, and thought that I would share her work with you!

her style is a mix of vintage, ballerina, fairy, and Victorian grandma's couch!

haha, but it is whimsical and so much fun!

I love this photo!!! so beautiful ~ and makes me want to have a photo shoot!!

this is my favorite dress of hers!

if I could dress like this everyday...LOVE IT!!

and next time I am home, I am going to travel to my favorite antique store and get myself some of these!! recently I have been loving fabric buttons ~ they make really cute earrings too!

my productive day...

2010-03-29T22:16:00.000-07:00

welcome to the new layout of my blog!! ~ since I am growing my hair out and am not allowing myself to cut it, my blog has become the venue for my compulsive need to change something!

~ today was a very productive day! LOVE those! I prepared 4 journals to be bound...

~ took this amazing photo of my cat, Zeke! how epic is this shot?? like the James Bond of cats!

~In college, one of my favorite paintings I had done was not even for an art class! it was for World Literature. my group and I had to put on a performance for Dante's Inferno.

I was one of the talking heads trapped in ice, haha.

creating a backdrop of our environment was my other job..

I created this mural entirely by hand on paper! {aside from the splatters and india ink 'graffiti'}

the mediums I used were: acrylic, india ink, gesso, gold/copper enamel, and charcoal

today, I took it off of my wall and am attempting to archive it with many coats of a protective spray.

I believe the size is 3 x 18 ft??? it is a very large painting ~ it spans the length of my bedroom!

I sewed curtains for camp, and aprons for the lab!

also, I felt like it was time for a new facebook profile picture, and this is what I came up with ~

hope you all had a very productive day too!

if you are reading this from facebook, please hop on over to my blog to see the new layout!!

www.heidibeaver.blogspot.com

playlist please!

2010-03-27T22:51:00.000-07:00

hear that? you are listening to "Dents" by, The Acorn.

I discovered this song on Michelle's blog, and have not stopped listening to it since!!

here they are with a dinosaur...yep, they are FOR SURE my new favorite band!!!!

I absolutely LOVE when my fellow bloggers post a playlist!! probably because I really enjoy new music!! You (general) open my ears to new artists that I may never have found otherwise! so, post a playlist, and leave a link to your blog in the comments section!

I am curious and eager to hear the music that inspires your creative life!

for a free download from The Acorn ~ click here

featured in...

2010-03-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

Jill, from Lune Vintage has featured my blue vintage nightgown on her blog!

Every Thursday she shares thrifted treasures ~ she has one of the best vintage blogs out there! love her style!!

.Pocahontas.

2010-03-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

One of my FAVORITE storyboarding assignments, was to pick an animated character

and draw him/her in multiple mediums.

I chose Pocahontas...

I dug deep into her world... I listened to the soundtrack endlessly, watched the movie and all the bonus features, I studied the illustrator Glen Keane, (he is the best!) I read the book, The Art of Pocahontas, and just absorbed my brain with everything I could find that related to this animated character! it was epic, and inspiring!

here she is in watercolor!! ~ can you paint with all the colors of the wind???

~ ink ~

~ charcoal ~

~ figure study ~

~ pencil ~

~ colored pencil ~

~ charcoal ~

this makes her look more oriental, more memoirs of a geisha...

after Glen Keane (as are most of these)

~colored pencil ~

many times while drawing Pocahontas, I would think 'Angelina Jolie' ~ they share a lot of similar characteristics.

After drawing Pocahontas so many times, I learned her "pattern" ~ an interesting thing about Disney characters, is they have specific (some subtle, some obvious) characteristic that help define the character and make them recognizable. We watch these movies and take for granted how much attention and detail goes into them!! I grew even more appreciation for the animators who put all of their time and passion into these films! ~ so inspiring!!

how does she do it?!!

2010-03-20T22:45:00.000-07:00

An easy concept to grasp, but one of the trickiest techniques out there!!!

I don' have a picture for each step, but we'll be fine!

I first experimented with this technique in my Storyboarding class. The assignment was to illustrate our face going from one expression to another. At the time, I had A LOT on my plate, so I wanted a technique that was fresh, exciting, and quick! what I didn't realize until later was that this technique, although fresh and exciting, was high-maintenance! You'll see what I mean...

I first chose a black and white photo of my face...a close up of my expression suited the project. I then photocopied the image onto regular copy paper.

Next, I covered the top of the image, entirely, with clear packing tape. (one layer ~ no overlapping)

Think of this step like self-laminating your photo ~ but, you are covering one side only!

I will then place the image in water and let it soak. (not too long or your image will come right off of the tape!) you want it wet enough so that when you rub your finger on the back of the paper, the fibers are loose and can be removed easily. (The paper will turn slightly gray in color) also, the paper will dry quickly, so it will help to keep a spray bottle handy to re-wet the areas where you are working.

Have you ever put glue on your hand and let it dry, just so you can peel that skin-like layer off?? removing the first layer of paper on the back of the image is a similar concept! What you will see is the image on front will start to show through clearly on the back...

to help you get a better visual...you can see how the printed image shows through. what is happening is, the printer ink dots that make up your image will stick to the tape. when you rub the layer of paper off the back, you reveal the printed image. if you notice the yellow and how it looks raised. that is the paper pulp buildup from when I was rubbing the first skin layer off. I decided to leave the residue because it gave the painting more texture and appeal!

ok...I decided to do a larger picture to show you the details. In reality this image is really small ~ about 1x2 in.

Finally, to pop out specific details, I had to wait for the paper to dry. (I could have painted it while the image was still wet but I was working with watercolor and I didn't want my colors to bleed...especially in the face where the finer details needed to be.)

There you have it! An edgy portrait!

if you have any questions about this project, feel free to leave them in the comments section of this post!

oh my!!

2010-03-15T21:49:00.000-07:00

what? my last post was 4 days ago?!?! I feel terrible for leaving you all hangin' that long!! time just slipped away from me this weekend! While I was away, I went to WV!!

I kept wondering if I was passing the homes of my fellow Indie Business buddies!

~it rained a lot during our trip~

we LOVED this painting!!! it was so stunning ~ I wish I knew who painted it!!

~morning coffee~

mom

~morning fish feeding and tank cleaning~

sister: Heather

~my grandma's favorite flower~

on our way through Ohio, we passed an OLD family name graveyard ~ we didn't stay long though, it was really cold and windy!!!!

my souvenir for the trip was this book for only $3!!!

by: Adam Rex

Fantastic book!

I'll be back soon with more Finish It March projects!!!!

Finish It March!

2010-03-11T16:22:00.000-08:00

there are a lot of projects going on at once in my creative world. I have dubbed this month, Finish It March to inspire me to finish up my old projects before I am allowed to start new ones! for a while there, my to-do list was getting longer and longer...now I am working on making it shorter and shorter!!

today I am going to finish sewing curtains for camp, tomorrow I will finish sewing aprons for Mid-West.

I must be off ~ more projects await completion!

oh yeah!!!

2010-03-09T22:41:00.000-08:00

I had a revelation today! while cleaning I came across this hair clip and nearly threw it away...then it hit me ~ I could glue one of my pop can flowers onto this clip and make a really cool hair piece!!! So I did, and it is pretty cool if you ask me!

I also had me a mini photo shoot!!

mainly of this beautiful plant I picked from the fields around our house.

something about me ~ I sometimes think dead flowers are more beautiful than when they were alive. I feel they have so much more intrigue/personality to them!

see for yourself....

this necklace is actually my moms ~ I fell in love with it, borrowed it, then never gave it back!

.in progress.

2010-03-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

close to finish...I am illustrating some of my favorite books for fun ~ this is an illustration for Alice In Wonderland, when she is in the forest of flowers. I still need to add little Alice and certain details, such as a rocking horse fly etc. :)

Alice: "If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. you see?"

this is kim ~ I love how epic and futuristic this feels...it would make a great book cover, I think!

depending on the direction this piece takes me, I'll know more of what the story is about.

so much to do!!! I have decided that this month will be..."Finish It March!"

so keep checking in, i'll be posting my progress!

.What I've learned from Dan's Horns.

2010-03-06T20:24:00.000-08:00

"Dan's Horns"

14'' x 21''

(Watercolor, Pastel, Charcoal)

By: David Christiana

David Christiana is one of my favorite illustrators!

Generally he works in watercolors ~ which, as you know, I love!

I stumbled across a sketchbook from a few years ago that I kept for an illustration class. inside I found this beauty and my own attempt to recreate it. Art may seem easy, but it's NOT! a ton of thought, effort, concentration etc. goes into it...the mark of a good artist is when they make it look simple ~ in reality it is the complete opposite!

.STEP 1.

I roughed out a really quick sketch/study of the painting ~ just to get a feel for the proportions and loosen up ~ become more familiar/comfortable with the mediums.

with watercolor, it is hard to tell what was painted first ~ so in this stage I was trying to think backwards on how this painting was possibly made.... My guess was that he laid down a wash of blue and pink with watercolor, sketched the figure with charcoal and then used pastel for the details.

I am not very familiar with charcoal, it is one of my least favorite mediums ~ so messy! this was going to be a major problem on this painting! David somehow kept his colors clean, but the overall 'look' of the piece was a bit grungy. (see what I mean...it looks easy but isn't)

.STEP 2.

I created the painting again, this time paying less attention to the form and more attention to the technique.

Mistake #1: I had originally thought that he painted a wash of blue AND pink with watercolor for the background, but now I am most positive that he painted a wash of pink only. The blue was actually a layer of pastel on top, which he added later! he kept it so simple ~ oh why do I try to complicate things?!

Mistake #2: looking back, I can see how stiff and hesitant I was about this painting ~ I think this is why my version looks more like a cartoon. I didn't allow myself to be free and have fun playing/exploring this piece and it's magical notion of Dan's Horns. What about them there horns? I needed to let go and express the story, and not just copy a beautiful painting!

today I feel.....NERDY!!

2010-03-05T14:37:00.000-08:00

I have SOOO many projects going at once, but I don't feel overwhelmed! instead, I am really excited and can hardly wait to share them with you!!! I have paint on my hands and my eyes are a little glazed over from being SO focused on my projects that I forget to blink! I'm staying up later and later, and getting more and more excited about the little things in life ~ such as waking up to find a new follower to my blog, or printing my indie business workbook...you may as well stamp ART NERD across my forehead!!

by the way....I want to formally welcome my new followers ~ I am so glad to have you here!! xoxo

...look what I found!

2010-03-02T20:59:00.000-08:00

just a few 'treasures' I found, and wanted to share with you...

.Alice in Wonderland.

oh yes!!! just look at that BEAUTIFUL price!!! $2.50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

in great condition, and I can't find an edition on it anywhere...does this mean it is a first???

ahhh! this purse was fate!!! I found it in Beaver town, WV. (my last name is Beaver)

The Story: On vacation with my family, I only had $4. 75...I stumbled on this purse in one of the booths in the back of the antique mall, and fell in love with it right away! the painting is original and not a print. ~mainly why I loved it! I thought, this is worth SO much I'm sure, but I checked the price tag anyway. I remember standing there just staring at the price in disbelief! it cost $4.75!!! alright, this bag had to be mine!! with the help of my family paying the tax, I gave up every penny I had for what is still my favorite bag!!

I like to come up with stories about the previous owner of this purse...probably a woman, who may have traveled to this place that captured her heart. I feel it might have been the end of her journey, she is sitting at a little cafe absorbing the atmosphere that is surrounding her, wishing that she could remember this moment, this day, this place, forever. So what better way than to paint plein air on a purse so that she can take this 'moment' with her everywhere she goes??? ~ that may seem silly to you, but it is magical to me!!

xoxo

.Seahorse pin DIY.

2010-02-27T18:45:00.000-08:00

Today I made a Seahorse pin...I have been planning on making him for about a week and finally just sat down an went to work!! I did't realize, going into the project, just how involved and time consuming it would be ~ it took me nearly half the day just to make this one little guy! in the end, all the hard work paid off...enough for me to say that he may be my favorite creation!!

you are just going to LOVE this!!!

I started out with an idea and sketched it out in my journal...I wanted to make something to go on my indie business journal ~ a pin, like the RVA pin I had on my day planner last year...my first thought was to make it out of a pop can (which I still might do) but that didn't seem practical. rumor has it that I may be getting a sewing machine for my birthday, so I was a little antsy to use fabric!

I knew it needed to have some support, so I tore off the backside cover of one of my journals that I was no longer using. a sturdy card board or illustration board would work well too. I drew out my design and then cut it out.

here it is...ready to go!!! are you ready? lets do this!

I marked where I wanted the pin to go...and used the awe (that pointy needle tool for book binding) to puncture holes into the thick board where I would be sewing on the pin.

once the pin was sewed on, I could begin fitting the fabric around the shape and sewing it together. this is what took FOREVER!!!! sewing around the tail and the mouth was brutal!! I used some clips to help me keep the fabric in place. I also had to use a lot of double stick tape to hold the fabric down that way it wouldn't bunch out as I sewed. (for all of you professional sewers out there, you are probably thinking of all the ways to do this that is easier ~ tips would be nice!!)

oh my woodgrain clips!!! how you have helped me so!!!

I sewed the stomach on first.

the lace on the head I just bunched up so that it made a wave affect and sewed it between the layers of fabric.

for the eye, I cut out a round circle of pink fabric and chose an interesting button I found at an antique store and...

TA DA!!!! ISN'T HE GREAT!!!???

I am so proud of this little guy! I wish that he wasn't so difficult and time consuming!! otherwise I would be making hundreds of these for the Renegade fair...however, if you are interested in purchasing one, I will be doing special orders...send me an email at: heidi.lostinreverie@gmail.com

secretly...my quirks buried within

2010-02-27T01:14:00.000-08:00

secrets, secrets, are no fun!! allow me to share a few of mine with you!

I see faces in my food ALL THE TIME!!! at least they are always smiling! :)

do you see it too????

When I was younger, I used to breed Japanese Fighting fish (beta)...I learned a lot from this experience, it was so interesting and simply amazing! however, I was not a very successful mother of 300!!

sometimes I paint portraits with my feet ~ yes, and here is the proof! I have received more praise from my foot portraits than I have for any other art piece I have ever created...I don't get it...

happy owners of a heidi original foot portrait!!

growing up, my favorite spot on earth was the mulberry tree in our backyard...I would climb that tree everyday and dream. now, I have a special "spot on the road"...in the summer at night, I will go to this spot and allow the stars, lightning bugs, and soft breeze surround me, whisper their secrets, and refresh my mind...it is where I am happiest!

secretly, I really miss my mohawk!!!

This is my favorite overlay...I use it in a lot of my manipulated photos!! the secret though, is that this is a picture I took of mold growing on a white tank in our back yard...who knew something so gross can make so many somethings so beautiful???

behold...the beautiful result of mold!

This post was inspired by this post, that was inspired by this post!

hope you have a lovely weekend!!

rest my anxious butterflies, patience my precious dreams!

2010-02-26T21:55:00.000-08:00

1. I want to apply to Renegade Chicago Sept 11-12/10 eeeeek!!! this puts butterflies in my stomach!! This would be my first 'major' investment into my dream of being an indie business owner. (a baby step)

I am not afraid of the risk, or the money...but, I am worried that I don't fully believe in my dream yet ~ crucial to my survival as an artist! My first thought was, 'of all the thousands of applicants, how would I stand out and be considered unique and quality?'

I know I am not the only artist who struggles with seeing their value. blogging has been a tremendous help in boosting my confidence as an artist, and especially as a person. being able to share with you my art and who I am has made a huge difference in my life! I don't know who all is out there reading this, but I appreciate you taking the time to read what I have to share, for dreaming with me, and getting excited over the simple things in life! it is such an encouragement to know that I am not alone and that I am able to share every step of my journey with you...because if it isn't for you, then what am I working for? my dream is to bring beauty, hope and inspiration into your life through the products that I create!

even if I don't apply, or do (but don't get accepted) I plan on going ~ rumor has it, my role model and teacher (Elsie) is going to be there and I want to meet her! Currently, I am taking an online indie business class with her and the lovely Leigh-Ann and Jill. (another baby step)

in the meantime, I have a list of things that I want to share with you!! so keep checking in, there will be some really cute DIY projects and giveaways! plus, a few personal and fun posts about the evolution of my hair and my first children's book, Antwon!!!

oh watercolor dear? you have stolen my heart...again!

.oh it is love.

2010-02-24T13:43:00.000-08:00

today was so beautiful with the light snow falling...a perfect day to stay indoors, cook something warm and great like potato soup, make some tea or cocoa and read a good book. but I found myself being called out of doors to go on a little photo adventure and was quite pleased by the treasure that I found!

Then I came home from my photo adventure and found this sleepy guy!

He had the right idea about a day like today!

I hope you are enjoying this Wednesday! May it be filled with all the things that make you cozy and warm!

"happy days Hawkins, happy days!" ~Winner~

2010-02-23T17:07:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Martha Sayers for answering the quote correctly...the answer was: The Man Who Knew Too Little, with Bill Murray. Please email me at heidi.lostinreverie@gmail.com with your shipping info!!

.Heidi Loves.

2010-02-21T16:30:00.000-08:00

I perused Etsy.com for all handmade jellyfish items and this is what I found...

~Jellyfish Jacket~

so great!

~cold rain on warm skin~

~Savage Masquerade the Jellyfish~

love the umbrella idea!

~art print~

I want this as inspiration for a 50's style kitchen!!!

~Necklace~

awwww...lazy/sleepy jellyfish!

~The Ascension~

I don't this this is a jellyfish but it is cool anyways!

~Medusa aquamarine, moonstone and amethyst earrings~

wow! these are pretty epic earrings!! I vant, I vant!!!

~Jelly in sepia~

this really shows the graceful quality of jellyfish!

~Joel Bloomberg~

OH THEY ARE ALL SO AMAZING!!!!
now, where can I find $1100+ so that I can get myself one of these???

~nouveau jellyfish~

nice

~hand printed~

love it!

~Jellyfish pendant~

~scarf~
I really want to make one of these!!!

~Beaded Jellyfish Parade~

haha...kind of tacky, but still fun!

~laptop decal~

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~wall decal~

what I love about this is it can go anywhere!

YAY JELLYFISH!!!

"happy days Hawkins, happy days!"

2010-02-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

If you know what movie the quote in my title is from, leave me a comment (your comment won't show up ~ so no one can cheat off of your answer!) and I will put your name in a drawing. The winner will receive a recycled can flower pin ~ see below!!

The scrapbooking weekend is a huge success! We are all having a great time gettin' crafty and sharing ideas!!

I love to see everyones personal work stations!! there is something quite inspiring about experiencing and sharing in their process...it is beautiful.

I LOVE these colors together! usually, I complain about pastels...

but as of late I am finding a new passion for them.

Oh yeah!!!!

my whole slew of tools I use while making anything out of pop cans.

these flower broaches are extremely light weight!!! they can clip onto headbands for an embellishment...on a t-shirt, hat, coat, bags...I put mine on the visor of my car...the possibilities are endless!!!

~pink and brown~

the lighting in the dining hall was not supportive of taking photos...I will take better ones for the DIY post so you can see how super cute they are!

I hope you are having an inspired weekend!!!

.Imagine, Dream, Discover.

2010-02-18T15:23:00.000-08:00

.In the Studio.

I have been designing some new bound journals for the stamp/scrap weekend at Camp Crosley!!! I am really excited about it!! hopefully I can take lots of photos to share with you!

I also have plans to make some recycled can flower pins!!!

and I'm thinking about posting a DIY so you can make them too!

I love the way this one came out! that bird was the perfect touch!

for sale if you want him!

I had bought this pin from one of my very talented friends, Sara Wilson, and wanted to find the perfect place for it...this is what I came up with! LOVE

whipped up a little magic just for you!!!

.outtakes.

hope you are having an inspired Thursday!!!

.Marlies.

2010-02-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

I have been editing a photo shoot that I took this past summer....I hope you like them!

if you want to see more

~click here~

.Shark.

2010-02-17T20:59:00.000-08:00

~the design for the shark is coming along swimmingly!~

also, Joanna Newsom has new CD coming out on Feb. 23rd!!

a lot of people complain about her voice, but if you take time to really listen and appreciate her songs

they are quite magical. she is a very talented artist in my opinion!

I listen to her all the time when I am working on anything creative.

somehow I feel extra crafty and motivated when I am listening to her music.

do you have an artist that you listen to when you work???

.Inspire Me Tuesday.

2010-02-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

here we are celebrating another inspiring Tuesday!

on this Tuesday, as with most, I am finding inspiration from the team at PAPAYA!

everything they make is so beautiful, whimsical, and inspiring!!!

I have always been impressed with their professional quality, and their unique style that is truly PAPAYA!

they have some amazing gift ideas!!!

~beautiful cards~

~lovely wrapping~

they are also in cahoots with Sabrina Ward Harrison A sincere artist...I purchased two of her books this summer. Spilling Open: The Art of Becoming Yourself, and The True and The Questions: A Journal. Both of which are fantastic! Full of honest expression, these are books that you will easily connect with!

.A Handmade Life.

.Imagine.

.Choose Your Own Adventure.

.Collect Your Life.

I would love to have one of her journals someday, and fill it with inspiring thoughts and drawings....oh the possibilities!!

I check in regularly to Anahata's Blog. She never fails to amaze me with the work that she creates! Anahata was the first artist to catch my eye and receive the title of an 'artistic hero' in my book.

I also keep a close eye on the PAPAYA blog. They have some incredible ideas to share over there!

so check them out!!!

I promise you won't step away from your computer without feeling inspired!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

2010-02-14T09:49:00.000-08:00

I dedicate this post to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!

I don't particularly 'love' this holiday... at least, it is not on the top of my list.

Here are a few things that I do love or that make me feel loved.

~This makes me feel loved~

A good friend of mine drew this dinosaur for me and I have cherished it ever since!

I have loved this picture since I was a little girl...it has had quite a beating over the years. *note the tape*

this is my heaven! how hopeful, calm, inspiring, and inviting is this place??

I love ALL drawing of Mr. Don Quixote!!

~Picasso~

~Gustave Dore~

~William Pryde~

~Salvador Dali~

don't you just love these? something about his character and the way he is depicted just tickles me!

I edited this old photo to celebrate Valentines Day. I love black and white photos...especially of the older movie stars! For TONS more photos, like this one...

~click here~

~Family~

they are the greatest! I am so blessed to have such an amazing family!!

it's true...I do love you!!!

I hope your Valentines Day is full of all the things you love, and make you feel loved!!!

.something pretty for you to enjoy.

2010-02-13T19:32:00.000-08:00

"surprising things can happen to anyone who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into ones mind, just has the sense to remember in time, and push it out by putting in an agreeable determinedly courageous one. two things cannot be in one place."
- A Secret Garden

.it's all in the details.

2010-02-13T17:24:00.000-08:00

An idea for a photo shoot sent me on a creative trail down the road and into the land of jewelry. inspired by the snow, and a vintage blue dress, I whipped together this little beauty.

~the charm says: Music~

the aqua beads, with all the rusted metal, really pop!

.Images from the photo shoot.

~the lovely blue dress...vintage lingerie. (shhhh...don't tell!)

Did I hear you say that this necklace is awesome??

That's what I thought!!

.Strapless.

2010-02-11T21:10:00.000-08:00

"I've always had the most enormous curiosity about the legendary subject of Sargent's most famous and certainly most scandalous painting. Now Deborah Davis tells Madame X's extraordinary personal history, both before and after the notoriety that changed her life. I was fascinated." ~ Dominick Dunne

I have goosebumps...do you??

My friend, Carita, introduced me to a lovely thing called, Half Price Books!!!

I was very excited when I found Deborah Davis's book, Strapless there for only $4 ~ yeah!

After receiving multiple suggestions that I resemble the model in this painting, I became increasingly curious about the piece. I never imagined that there could be a biography with a strict focus on the artist/model and the one painting that caused so much controversy. hardly able to wait, I began reading right away, and was instantly captured by the first sentence...

"The story of this book, like that of the painting Madame X, begins with a stunning black dress."

yes...what about that stunning black dress? I really hope to rein act this painting, and am on the hunt for a similar dress. If any of you come across one, or know where one could be found, please let me know!

Today Carita and I had a mini photo shoot...it was mini because it was so cold outside! we nearly froze and could only get a few images before giving in. There may be a few good shots in there, once I edit them I will share them with you loverly readers!

.Inspire Me Tuesday.

2010-02-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

Recently I have been in the mood for a photo shoot!

Even though most of you are probably praying that it stops snowing soon, I am crossing my fingers for the blizzard-like weather to continue until I can get the photos I am imagining. I hope to see this idea turn into reality! I am not going to share with you any details. If I am lucky enough to get the shots I am after, then you will be the first to know and to see the final images! yay! wish me luck!!!

in the meantime, let me share with you a photographer I stumbled across on Flickr...she has some amazing

self-portraits! Miss Lulu & The Teaspoon Shortage does a great job taking ideas and stories and capturing them in a single image. Her pictures have a mysterious and magical feel to them ~ which I love!

this Native American headpiece reminds me of something else that has been inspiring me...

The Plumed Serpent creates one of a kind headpieces that are so magical I could cry! If only I could wear these everyday and not be considered a complete nut ~ I would not hesitate! Her elven face pulls the headdresses off well I think!

~Amazingly Inspiring!~

.Heidi Loves.

2010-02-08T00:03:00.000-08:00

.Ice Cream.

(now here is something to scream and shout about!)

oh what a beautiful thing! forget cookies, cake and pie...I can easily live without those, but ice cream....

I can never have enough! and I am not choosy, I enjoy every flavor...

but I especially love ice cream with salty nuts!!!

Meet Jeni...she is an artist when it comes to ice cream! creating some of the most unique flavors such as, Wildberry Lavender, Thai Chili, Smoked Chocolate, Brown Butter Almond Brittle and more! Be sure to check out her blog, and if you are ever lucky enough for the opportunity to try her ice cream, TAKE IT!!!

I mixed a scoop of Wildberry Lavender with a scoop of Dark Chocolate...Amazing!!!

I'm sure you are familiar with these faces!

Ben and Jerry's is always a good choice! my favorite flavors are, Pistachio Pistachio, Cherry Garcia, Creme Brulee, and my favorite...CHUNKY MONKEY!!!

yeah!

just recently I came across this delicious flavor!!! honey is another favorite of mine! I was a little skeptical to try this at first...it is hard to trust products that use honey because you can hardly taste it. Haagen-Dazs however, has done an amazing job of creating a true honey flavored ice cream.
way to go Haagen-Dazs!!!!

.Love.Love.Love.

2010-02-05T19:50:00.000-08:00

In honor of the month of Love...I have doodled around this precious heart.

I made it special, just for you!

here are a few more...

This particular doodle was a collaborative piece that I did with my friend, Mandie, while I visited her in Florida.

And this is the cover of my journal that I take with me every Sunday to church to jot down notes...or doodle.

.Shark.

2010-02-02T16:06:00.000-08:00

Today I started working on a template for the great white shark...

It is great because it is recycled art...

...and it's white because it is made with a Jones cream soda can!

As soon as I am finished, you will be the first to know! I can hardly wait to see how this turns out!! It is pretty exciting to be adding a new design to my recycled creature collection! In the future, you will also be seeing...sting rays, dolphins, and starfish...is there something you want to see? It doesn't have to be fish related. feel free to leave a comment with any suggestions, they are always welcome!

.Inspire Me Tuesday.

2010-02-02T10:08:00.001-08:00

WOW!!! these tree pendants are so amazing! I came across this fused dichroic glass jeweler on Etsy, and I am completely inspired!

My favorite color of blue.

I love the rainbow in the back! This may be my favorite one.

Reminds me of Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh.

oooooh...nice!

How could you choose?

.Heidi Loves.

2010-01-31T09:00:00.000-08:00

.Organization.

Who doesn't enjoy a little organization in their life? It is so much easier to focus when your space is nice and clean!

I love, love, love to clean and organize, so it is no surprise that I love The Container Store! I have posted just a few goodies that are found at this lovely store!

woodgrain!!! another favorite of mine!

how great are these?

.lovely.

yes please!!!

FUN! I want to play in this room!! I am looking for one of those mannequins...

does anyone know where I can find one?

These organized rooms remind me of something else that I love...

Clean House!!!

I love this show!!! They are living my dream job, it's true! If you haven't seen it, you should...it will change your life and fill you with inspiration!

.painting and gift wrapping.

2010-01-29T14:41:00.000-08:00

Today I had a blast wrapping this wedding present! it was really easy to do...for the flower I simply rolled up some of the wrapping paper and cut it into half inch strips, pinched the sides and then glued them into this flower design ~ I think the vintage buttons helped add balance.

I also started a new painting....here is a sneak peak!

I always do the eyes first...yeah, it is like eating dessert before the whole meal!

my mom bought me these metallic watercolors! I don't know what I would do without them! Ever since I started working in watercolors, I have used metallic paint...my favorite!

Welcome back!

2010-01-27T19:53:00.000-08:00

As promised, I am here again to share with you what is in store this year for Lost In Reverie!

~ To start off with, I will be posting "Heidi Loves" every (that's right) EVERY Sunday!

~ Also, every (yep) EVERY Tuesday I will be posting, "Inspire Me Tuesday!" ~ I will be sharing (what else?) things that are inspiring me that week....artists, blogs, music, recipes, movies, books, anything!

~ There will be GIVEAWAYS!!!!! ~ yeah! I have a special giveaway that I am working on right now! check back in again later for more details.

~ Want to be the first to see what I am working on? this is where you will come, since I will be posting my newest work here when it is done...I may even post "in process" work that I need advice on...that means, I need YOUR expert advice!

~ I will be posting DIY projects ~

~ And occasionally, "Thrifted Treasures" ~

I hope you are as excited as I am about this year!!!

see you soon!

welcome to a new year!

2010-01-27T12:53:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of exciting things planned for you this year~ I am excited to have you with me as I embark on another year of adventure! come back tomorrow for a sneak peak of what is to come!

.'twas a weekend of creativity.

2009-10-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

the moment when you return to creating art after a period of struggle is one of the most supreme moments in the creative process. It has been weeks since I have been able to work on anything creative, but this weekend was full of art! in addition to this lady, I worked on a collaborative painting, and my friend Sara Butler showed me how to make dinosaurs with gourds, wire, and clay!

"I love painting, but I always feel a little guilty. like it's a huge chocolate sundae that I get to enjoy while everyone else is eating ruffage. there is something delicious about painting. it feels slow and relaxing and indulgent to me."

~Anahata Katkin~

.Theatre of Dreams.

2009-09-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

I first heard about the Theatre of Dreams on one of my favorite artists blogs, Anahata Katkin. Her friend Pam Garrison had visited this magical place and posted about it on her blog. these photos are credited to their adventure.

the Theatre of Dreams was created by a woman named Wendy Addison. personally I feel 'Wendy' is the perfect name for someone with this creative outlet. it adds additional mystery to the place, and causes me to wonder if it is in fact Peters Wendy, and this is her way of paying tribute to Never-Never Land, and never growing up! Do you see how old the building looks? the town (Port Costa) is a small community of only 200 and is an old ghost town!

If one day my dream of owning my own boutique comes true, I may have to steal this incredible idea! Wendy runs her own printing press and has created the most adorable map to her studio/store.

I have secretly always wanted one of these vintage clothing mannequins...

this is Wendy behind the register in her store/studio...look at that amazing shadow puppet in the back! now if that doesn't make you think of Peter Pan and Tinker Bell then perhaps you should take a second look (it's in a book...try reading rainbow) sorry, couldn't help myself!

winter wish!!! CUTE!!! I love these large cutout letters that she embellishes with german glass glitter!!!!

an excerpt from her journal!

I really want to see this place in person! I am thinking that it would be an incredible group trip...anyone want to go with me?

.sleeping at last.

2009-09-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

Is this not the most amazing watercolor you have ever seen? the woodgrain in the branch, the colors, and the adorable owl were smartly painted! I have been listening to this band every day for the past two weeks, they are just wonderful! you can listen to their entire new album, "storyboards" here. go ahead and give them a listen, you will not be disappointed!

"when we were young

our words were innocent -

whiter than snow,

awkward and slow.

now when we speak,

we risk an avalanche.

but that's not enough now

to reroute our plans.

i believe that we've got it wrong, got it wrong.

we'll realize when it's said and done, said and done,

that in our words we've lost so much more

than we've ever won. "

(partial lyrics from: Unmade)

This painting is now my desktop background! it has a mastodon...truly this band is after my own heart! I wish that I knew who was the artist behind the album covers, they are so inspiring! if you get the chance, visit their website and check out the awesome layout, more watercolors, band information, music, lyrics, photos, and all sorts of fun things!

.The Diaries of Tchaikovsky.

2009-09-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

I found the most amazing book in the library called, "The Diaries of Tchaikovsky" it is so fantastic! you would just love him! for instance, when he was traveling to Trsebinia, he wrote: "what is more boring than a train trip and intrusive passengers?" or my favorite so far: "...surrounded by these majestically beautiful views, and feeling all the impressions of a traveler, I still long for Russia with all my soul and my heart sinks as I imagine its plains, meadows, and woods. oh, my beloved country, you are a hundred times more striking and charming than these beautiful colossal mountains that are really nothing more than nature's petrified convulsions. in my country, you are calmly magnificent! but then - distance lends enchantment!" isn't his writing delicious?! like a juicy pear!

* inspired *

2009-08-08T13:12:00.001-07:00

this photo I took of Ann reminded me of Audrey Kawasaki's art on wood grain.

specifically in the way she paints eyes.

~ 2 in 1 ~

2009-08-08T12:59:00.001-07:00

my passion for photography has officially gone from a hobby to a super-hobby!!

just messing around...

this photo has a twisted, Alice in wonderland feel doesn't it?

.Tanya.

.Anya.

Although they are twins, I think this photo shoot brought out their separate personalities. this b&w photo is my favorite!

I love garage sales!

2009-08-03T19:53:00.000-07:00

for this reason...

I bought these shoes...

for only fifty cents!!!!

Sewing, Scraping, Summer time fun!

2009-07-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

this is the cover I designed for the Camp Crosley memory book. I had so much fun creating the wood grain paper! wood grain is my new obsession!

I have been designing and sewing my own clothes recently...another new obsession. partly because I am too picky when it comes to shopping for clothes, partly for a new challenge!

I took an old sweater and sewed a scarf around the collar. then I pinned on an antique bird broach.

finally, I sewed little sequins and beads by the bird to add balance and whimsy! so easy! I LOVE LOVE LOVE to repurpose all things!

~*NEW*~

today the lovely Anne was kind enough to be my model for this ethereal photo shoot! It was a great time to experiment and play with my new camera!

I feel so refreshed after the weekend! this week is going to be busy busy busy. Friday I am going to purchase a new lens for my camera, I cannot wait! I have an engagement photo shoot coming up and a couple weddings!!!!!!!

I hope your weekend was wonderful, inspiring, relaxing, and full of all your favorite things!

.XOXO.

~Update~

2009-07-26T09:17:00.001-07:00

I am collecting pop cans again.

I do not have any immediate plans on making more fish, but sometime in the future (and after designing new templates) I will create with these cans again.

Isn't this a beautiful dress? I picked this up at a thrift store for only $14! it is very sheer and romantic, it flows like a ballerina, and the butterfly lace detail creates a delicate ethereal feel...I JUST LOVE IT!!!

.Some other things I am currently working on.

. I am designing the cover for the Camp Crosley staff memory book

. I picked up a commission for one of my friends to design a comic book cover and himself as a superhero! I will share with you this project as it is in production.

.so much more! but I will save those little goodies for another post!

~.see you soon.~

.Hair Ribbon.

2009-07-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

I am so pleased with how this hair ribbon came out!!!! it is sooooo adorable! Rachel and I are going to be making some more of these headbands!

.Hair Ribbon...in progress.

2009-07-05T19:36:00.001-07:00

I purchased some antique lace real cheap at a thrift store, and am going to sew these flowers onto the lace to create a headband....as soon as it is finished I will post more photos of the finished product!!!

but I just cannot help myself!

.new designs.

2009-06-21T19:53:00.001-07:00

.dreams and butterflies.

2009-06-18T15:39:00.000-07:00

"You flutter once again...

Another dream has taken flight.

You cannot keep me on the ground,

Because I prefer the sky.

Rest, my anxious butterflies.

Patience, my precious dreams."

.Lost In Reverie.

.Extinction.

Mrs Lovett

"Watercolor: from the beginning"

.The Bergamot.

directory advertisement

DIY: jellyfish pin

hello iPad, you make my heart sing!

weekend of celebration!!!

giveaway reminder...

from artist to artist

Yay!!!

only once...

Here it comes again!

absent, 100th post, and my birthday!! ...

.Beautiful Happenings.

.Ruby Feathers.

Spring!!

off with her head!!!

.Happy Easter.

.an etsy discovery.

my productive day...

playlist please!

featured in...

.Pocahontas.

how does she do it?!!

oh my!!

Finish It March!

oh yeah!!!

.in progress.

.What I've learned from Dan's Horns.

today I feel.....NERDY!!

...look what I found!

.Seahorse pin DIY.

secretly...my quirks buried within

rest my anxious butterflies, patience my precious dreams!

.oh it is love.

"happy days Hawkins, happy days!" ~Winner~

.Heidi Loves.

wow! these are pretty epic earrings!! I vant, I vant!!!

"happy days Hawkins, happy days!"

.Imagine, Dream, Discover.

.Marlies.

.Shark.

.Inspire Me Tuesday.

Happy Valentines Day!!!

.something pretty for you to enjoy.

.it's all in the details.

.Strapless.

.Inspire Me Tuesday.

.Heidi Loves.

.Love.Love.Love.

.Shark.

.Inspire Me Tuesday.

.Heidi Loves.

.painting and gift wrapping.

Welcome back!

welcome to a new year!

.'twas a weekend of creativity.

.Theatre of Dreams.

.sleeping at last.

.The Diaries of Tchaikovsky.

* inspired *

~ 2 in 1 ~

I love garage sales!

Sewing, Scraping, Summer time fun!

~*Update*~

.Hair Ribbon.

.Hair Ribbon...in progress.

.new designs.

.dreams and butterflies.

~Update~