Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Do not be jeolous of others




"Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish jeolousy. Avoid people who make you unhappy."
Here I am continuing with the 8th out of the 12th commandment of life. :)
It is never a good idea to compare yourself with others. Be happy with who you are and what you have. You are unique. You are special.
Do not be envious of your sibling, friend, colleague, neighbour, classmates etc. Use your energy to improve your own life instead of wasting your life in miserable envy.

Friday, March 26, 2010

NEW in the shop this week...

some of my work from overseas, plein air and sketches, Italy and Argentina.



Thursday, March 25, 2010

I'll be posting some of my travel sketches and ink drawings to the shop soon, from Italy and Argentina. While going through files, I found this little study that I'm awfully fond of. I did a pencil study side by side with a watercolor study of a small corner of the gardens at the Pontignano Monastery outside of Sienna. What an amazing, meditative spot to work on plein air studies, let me tell you! There was no one else there except for a few students working on restoring the frescoes inside. I can still smell the cypress and feel the spring sun on my back...sigh.
Favorites...
I suppose we all have favorites when it comes to our work, and I have to admit this is one of mine: Magda, Queen of the Mice.

Of course I am close to The Pirate's Daughter, a customer favorite and an award-winner. She is my wild spirit, my irrepressible, willful, independent child. My wind-whipped, redheaded girl of the high seas.
But Magda is a secret favorite in my heart. She has a spirit of her own that is mysterious and maybe a little dark. With her bed-head and her off-kilter crown, her party dress and romper stomper boots, she's tough and fearless and doesn't care if she doesn't fit in with the status quo.
And I do love the mice, as well. The mice always make me smile.

Monday, March 22, 2010

It's officially spring!
And with the spring, the new collection is in the showroom at VDJ:
You may have seen Q in many a VDJ outfit on our home blog, including the dress in our home blog banner. We're big VDJ fans around here, and it's always exciting to find the new season's collection in the shop.
I love the spring/summer pieces this year, and Q is already wearing a few of them.
So it's with great excitement that I announce...
All photos above by VDJ

...that along with the spring collection, there will be a set of my illustrated paper dolls available in the VDJ shop soon!
This collection was created exclusively for Le Vestiaire de Jeanne, and will feature a doll of Jeanne, along with ten outfits from the spring/summer collection.





Hope you like! I'll be working hard over the next few days to get the sets ready for production.

ps - this set was featured today on MUMisGEEK. Yes, even before it's available in the shop...which raises my blood pressure a bit, I have to admit! Check it out!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Photo: Daan of MaandagDaandag

THIS inspires me! Daan's beautiful, crafty work on her beautiful, magical child.

ps - I have been sick for a month and a half (!!) and working very hard on some big projects, so please forgive my absence in this space. More soon!!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Quotes about Worrying


"Never borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than real ones."


This is the 7th Wisdom from the 12 Commandments of Life by

Have you every stayed up all night or worried all week about something which eventually did not happen? I have. Too often! Isn't that silly?

Here are some more quotes about worrying.


"I have spent most of my life worrying about something that did not happen" ~ Mark Twain


"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, it empties today of its strength."
"Don't sweat the small stuff. Its all small stuff."

Disney Mickey Ice Skating Coloring Pages

Disney Coloring Pages, Mickey Mouse Coloring Pages,
Disney Mickey Ice Skating Coloring Pages

Monday, March 8, 2010

Happy Living Quote: Stay out of Debt


"Do the things you enjoy doing but stay out of debt."


#6 from the 12th Commandment of Life Series.
Money is the route of all evil. Don't allow money to rule your life.
Live within your means. Be happy with what you have. Enjoy the simple pleasures and things in life. Most importantly, stay out of debt. Don't let it weigh you down and lead to further problems.

Spongebob Dancing with Candy Cane Coloring Page

spongebob coloring pages,Christmas Coloring Pages
Spongebob Dancing with Candy Cane Coloring Page

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Today's Quote: Be Yourself


#5 in Robert Louis Stevenson's 12th Commandment of Life is.....

"Don't let your neighbours set your standards. Be Yourself."

Don't compare yourself with others. Don't compare your lives, your achievements, your career, your family life, your successes in different areas. Just be happy with yourself and what you have.

Here are some other "Be Yourself" Quotes I like:

"Always be Yourself because the people that matter don't mind and the ones that mind, don't matter."

"Be Yourself. An original is always worth more than a copy."

"Be Yourself. That is something that you can do better than any other. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that."

"Be Yourself. God gave you shoes that fit you. So put 'em on and wear 'em."

"To be Yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is a great accomplishment."- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spongebob Coloring Pages with Christmas Tree, Stocking, Boots, and Santa

Spongebob Coloring Pages, Santa Claus Cloloring pages, Christmas Coloring Pages,
Spongebob Coloring Pages with Christmas Tree, Stocking, Boots, and Santa

Friday, March 5, 2010

Special announcement:
I recently created a special outfit for my paperdolls, Evelyne and Mathilde, based on the gorgeous and ethereal Brooklyn-based Loup Charmant line of organic cotton clothing. The set includes the two dolls plus two Loup Charmant outfits, and the above original illustration based on the line. Printed on 100% cotton watercolor rag, this set is exclusive to Loup Charmant and available only on their site.

Halloween Pooh Treat Costume Coloring Pages

Halloween Coloring Pages, Winnie the Pooh Coloring Pages, Disney Coloring Pages,
Halloween Pooh Treat Costume Coloring Pages

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Food For Thought: "You can't please everybody"

Here is Robert Louis Stevenson's 4th Commandment of Life.

"You can't please everybody - Don't let criticism worry you."

In other words, Don't Worry.... Be Happy! Don't Worry, Be Happy! Whenever I hear these words, I always think about the Bobby McFerrin song below...


Don't Worry, Be Happy
From the Movie "Cocktails"
Performed by Bobby McFerrin

Here is a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy......

Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry, be happy
The land lord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy
Lood at me I am happy
Don't worry, be happy
Here I give you my phone number
When you worry call me
I make you happy
Don't worry, be happy
Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style
Ain't got not girl to make you smile
But don't worry be happy
Cause when you worry
Your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don't worry, be happy (now).....

There is this little song I wrote
I hope you learn it note for note
Like good little children
Don't worry, be happy
Listen to what I say
In your life expect some trouble
But when you worry
You make it double
Don't worry, be happy......
Don't worry don't do it, be happy
Put a smile on your face
Don't bring everybody down like this
Don't worry, it will soon past
Whatever it is
Don't worry, be happy


Two Character Color Book - Disney Coloring Pages

Disney Coloring Pages, Winnie the Pooh Coloring Pages,
Two Character Disney Coloring Pages

Monday, March 1, 2010

Commandment of Life #3

"Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't think that somehow you should be protected from the misfortune that befalls other people"



I am not sure what Robert Louis Stevenson meant when he wrote this but I would imagine that he was asking people to ....

Lose that Ego. Be humble. Don't be so full of yourself, regarding yourself as above others and more important than others.

Spongebob and Sandy Shook Hands and Happy for the Victory Together Coloring Page

spongebob coloring pages,spongebob
Spongebob and Sandy Shook hands and Happy for the Victory Together Coloring Page