tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33989882914174275422024-03-14T12:14:30.247-05:00Good NaturedDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.comBlogger307125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-44746851814368748512017-01-24T16:35:00.000-06:002017-01-24T16:35:12.338-06:00I Have a New Website!Friends! Head over to www.daniives.com to visit my fancy, new site! All the info you'll ever need (well, maybe not ALL of it) will be there, and soon this site will disappear. Like magic. xoxo
Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-30765001265951958072017-01-02T06:30:00.000-06:002017-01-02T06:30:35.068-06:00Sketchbook Project - Week 52 and Final ReflectionsThis week I wanted to created some "best of" pages. For example, I love painting food, so obviously a piece of fruit was necessary. I like surprising patterns, so I painted creek bed rocks full of color inspired by a hike the previous day. I wanted an animal in the mix, and I saw a kingfisher on a Christmas day drive, so I really wanted to add that to my sketchbook. The last page is Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-12665091112709134952017-01-01T23:46:00.000-06:002017-01-01T23:46:01.150-06:00Sketchbook Project - Week 51I rediscovered my tubes of watercolor paints this week, so I set aside my travel set of paints and waterbrush and played with more saturated colors and fancy brushes. I'm not sure why I didn't use them for my sketchbooks before this--probably just the idea of having to use a larger palette was a bit off-putting. But I had fun regardless, and the tube watercolors will be staying close-at-hand fromDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-25635695023096112862016-12-19T14:31:00.000-06:002016-12-19T14:31:29.019-06:00Sketchbook Project - Week 50WEEK FIFTY!! I can't believe the end of this project is right around the corner. I'm excited to reflect about the benefits and challenges of a project like this, but I'll save that until the very end.
This week, greens dominated my palette again. The sunset was stunning in person and this painting does it no justice at all. I had fun with bleeding watercolors in the fungus Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-87591220261465515502016-12-19T12:22:00.000-06:002016-12-19T12:22:01.813-06:00Sketchbook Project - Week 49Running a little behind on blogging, but not on sketching! Check out these pages from week 49. Plenty of color and pattern experimenting. Plus, I saw some sheep and just HAD to add them! Enjoy!
Watercolor
Left: Watercolor + Gouache Right: Colored Pencil
Gouache
Watercolor
Both: Watercolor
See all Sketchbook Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-52202094267149987942016-12-05T12:54:00.000-06:002016-12-06T09:10:08.744-06:00Needle Felted Holiday Gift Pouch DIYHey friends! I've got a quick and easy tutorial today to help you personalize your gifting this holiday season. You can use this technique to add any design--I chose a snowflake for mine.
Here's what you'll need:
-Cotton drawstring bag
-Felting needle
-Small foam pad (make sure it fits inside your pouch)
-Small amount of wool (I've chosen the brightest blue shown for my snowflake)
-Pencil
Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-90146038608648813842016-12-05T06:30:00.000-06:002016-12-05T06:30:00.161-06:00Sketchbook Project - Week 48This week felt like a complete creative rut for me. I spent so much energy during the last month or so prepping for craft shows, I think my creative juices went on vacation! I wish I could go, too. But alas, two more shows over the next two weekends will keep my fingers busy. Hopefully some creativity decides to visit me soon!
See previous weeks here.
Acrylic
Watercolor
Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-31172076709650691922016-11-28T21:03:00.000-06:002016-11-28T21:03:28.242-06:00Sketchbook Project - Week 47Just some quick notes today: I LOVE the color of persimmons. I enjoy the contrast of black on creamy pastels. Pink makes me happy, and I make a mark using every sketchbook medium. I created quite a few pizza hoops, so I also made some very simplified pizzas in watercolor. Blue swirls to kill time. Cookie cutter houses with a twist. I ate (and bought) a lot of popcorn over Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-424783204219658272016-11-21T07:53:00.000-06:002016-11-21T07:53:19.942-06:00Sketchbook Project - Week 46My pages this week included more color play and ideas for future wool paintings. The toucan will definitely be turned into a felted piece this week--I've been wanting to felt this bird for a long time, and what better time than craft show season? The purple to sienna brown vertical column was an attempt to capture the color of the sunset and auburn leaves from that night. I was Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-7698726715766325962016-11-14T08:16:00.000-06:002016-11-14T08:16:15.263-06:00Sketchbook Project - Week 45I started my 7th sketchbook in this project, tried out gold leaf, literally just scribbled on a page, and took a few cues from nature this week. Enjoy!
Catch up here.
Left: Acrylic & Gold Leaf Right: Gel Pen
Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-79260259196986586332016-11-09T10:42:00.000-06:002016-11-09T10:42:19.084-06:00Upcoming Events!I'm preparing for another workshop and a couple of seasonal craft shows, so here's a quick update on upcoming events. I'm taking Good Natured Art to St. Louis for this first time, and teaching my "Painting with Wool" techniques. I've teamed up with Abbey Eilermann of The Daily Disco, and she's hosting my workshop in her new studio space. The workshop is from 1:00-3:30, and all Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-42849556805797021082016-11-07T08:51:00.000-06:002016-11-07T08:51:40.645-06:00Sketchbook Project - Week 44I've now filled SIX sketchbooks! I love seeing all of them stacked together, and I love watching a blank sketchbook slowly transform into a vessel that contains little pieces of my daily life. With eight weeks to go, my goal is to plan the remaining sketches of the year to exactly fill one more book.
Enjoy these pages! Catch up on the project here.
Watercolor
Watercolor &Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-66043768038336314622016-10-31T06:00:00.000-05:002016-10-31T06:00:05.095-05:00Sketchbook Project - Week 43Purple is the apparent, but unintentional them of my sketches this week. I don't mind. Four pages this week were inspired by walks around our neighborhood. I found the color of the grass seed heads especially beautiful, and then I used the seed heads as paint brushes on the following page. I really like the page that looks like a sea of people. I saw a painting like this (Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-16861424506236614242016-10-30T21:40:00.000-05:002016-10-30T21:40:15.688-05:00Sketchbook Project - Week 42Woops! This post is a week late, but I did do the sketches in real time. I played with shapes and layers this week, tested out some ideas and made time for another realistic food painting with a twist. The clementine is probably my favorite, but the first spread is a close second. It was three layers of paint, then marker, then paint, and I really love the way it came out. EnjoyDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-40874181836275908832016-10-17T09:44:00.003-05:002016-10-17T09:44:53.484-05:00Sketchbook Project - Week 41I had a surprise backyard visitor this week--a roadrunner! I was working in my studio when I noticed movement just outside my window. This little guy has been hanging out and chasing grasshoppers multiple days this week--such a treat to watch! Also in the sketchbook this week is an homage to the fall colors that are beginning to show, a collections of treasures found during a Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-33932851359094076182016-10-10T08:43:00.001-05:002016-10-10T08:43:40.517-05:00Sketchbook Project - Week 40Hey friends! I indulged in another food painting this week (and then enjoyed that avocado on some tacos!) Enjoy the pages!
Watercolor
Acrylics Paint
Watercolor & Gelly Roll Pen
Left: Watercolor Right: Acrylics
Watercolor
Watercolor &Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-43833469168197165482016-10-03T08:34:00.002-05:002016-10-03T08:34:28.767-05:00Sketchbook Project - Week 39Last week was full of to-do lists as I prepped my online felting course for release, which left me with little inspiration for sketching. So instead of concentrating on subject matter, I used the time as a meditative process and focused on patterns, brush strokes and pen marks. The time spent on each page was still productive and still worth the effort.
Left: Watercolor &Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-78612643002736286682016-09-26T06:00:00.000-05:002016-09-26T06:00:08.821-05:00Sketchbook Project - Week 38This is the sixth sketchbook I've cracked open, and I didn't even blink an eye at all the blank pages. I just dug right in. The first page actually started out way differently, but I'm a big fan of how it turned out. I had little patience for most pages. I've been juggling a LOT of projects that are requiring so much of my time, so a few days this week were my just putting my Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-39300771445109394952016-09-19T08:07:00.001-05:002016-09-19T08:07:41.341-05:00Sketchbook Project - Week 37I filled another sketchbook! Now I have five completed books, and seeing them stacked is a very satisfying sight. I'm finding that watercolor is my go-to medium when I feel pressed for time. I sat down to do a watercolor pattern on Monday that turned into a loose and abstract landscape, which is fine by me. We visited the local Botanical Garden which inspired the lily pads and bathingDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-70993829948071885982016-09-12T06:00:00.000-05:002016-09-12T06:00:13.402-05:00Sketchbook Project - Week 36I spent so much time this week working on my upcoming online course, it was hard finding creative motivation for sketches. My favorite is the toadstool spread, and this is probably not a surprise to most of you. All of these toadstools were photographed during a hike at some point or another. I just scrolled through my camera roll and picked out my favorites. The page with greenDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-66055101030389600982016-09-05T00:19:00.000-05:002016-09-05T00:19:25.568-05:00Sketchbook Project - Week 35Thirty-five weeks I've been at this project, and I'm thankful for the things I've learned so far. Even though I still have a third of a year to go, I'm anxious to reflect on the project as a whole. Until then, I'll keep filling the pages.
Have a look! I apparently wanted to work with flowy and watery paints this week. I also broke out my rock collection for a bit of inspiration.
Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-8494433834780840262016-08-29T07:00:00.000-05:002016-08-29T07:00:39.455-05:00Sketchbook Project - Week 34Since we moved to Northwest Arkansas, I've been able to get on my bike more, and we've been enjoying the greenways and trails here in Fayetteville. It's also really nice and convenient to have a neighborhood where we can take our pups on long walks, rather than a long farm road with no sidewalks and cars that speed by too quickly. As the temperature begins to cool off a bit, we've Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-76074797858455093982016-08-22T06:30:00.000-05:002016-08-22T06:30:09.463-05:00Sketchbook Project - Week 33Were you worried that maybe I lost interest in painting food? Well, don't be. I haven't lost interest...I've just been holding back. Ha! There are two and a half food inspired pages this week. The second page of purple lines is an ode to cabbage and then there's the donut. So that's two food pages. The 'half' is the watercolor page of horizontal stripes that bleed Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-7069742390864224832016-08-15T06:30:00.000-05:002016-08-15T06:30:27.515-05:00Sketchbook Project - Week 32I was busy this week preparing for my shop update, working on commissions and my Crafter's Box project , so I tried to keep the sketchbook pages quick. Speaking of the Crafter's Box, the painted leaves are my colored version of the illustrated patterns that I provided for the kit! I almost gave them a coral pink background. The rainbow page is a result of just using every Prismacolor Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398988291417427542.post-68859577501263511772016-08-10T19:02:00.000-05:002016-08-10T19:02:24.950-05:00Join Me for a Great September Project!I have some news! You may remember my post last month about collaborating with The Crafter's Box. Welllll, I'm happy to announce that I will be their Featured Maker for September! And now I can spill the beans about my project!
In September, we will be needle felting a trendy-but-classic monstera leaf design on a beautiful linen pillow case. This is the perfect piece to updateDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558348436499794580noreply@blogger.com0