Food, Art, Carnival Rides and Family Time

I spent some time at the Date Festival this weekend. I went kid-less on Friday night so I could have a chance to enjoy the art exhibits without being rushed by an eager child seeking to be shaken, spun, and nauseated by carnival rides. My favorite thing about going to the fair has always been the food and the Junior Art Exhibit. I find kids artwork to be so full of life and pure in expression. Below is a glimpse of some of the pieces that were on display.

Carnival rides are not exactly my favorite activity at the fair, but I succumbed to peer pressure and joined my daughter on Saturday afternoon. I was done by the second ride, and I spent the rest of our time there taking photos like the one below, experimenting with different angles and perspectives.

A day at the fair wouldn't be complete without funnel cake - my favorite! I had my cake first thing Friday night, and per a friend's recommendation, I tried a maple bacon donut on Saturday afternoon when I returned to the fair with my daughter. It was pretty good actually, but it's not something I "must have" next time I go. Mainly because I try not to over do it with the treats. If I'm going to allow myself something sweet and high in calories, the funnel cake would be more pleasing to my taste buds over the bacon donut. 

It was definitely a fun couple of days followed by a birthday dinner for my dad's 59th birthday. We had a great conversation with the old man. It touched my heart and made me believe in miracles once again. My dad, the life of the party for many years, the one who has been a rebel all his life in many ways, surprised me with some profound words of wisdom, love and expression this weekend. He spoke in a way that only a man of faith can do. Happy birthday dad. I love you.

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iPad Mini case, Created with Prismacolor markers

I love the set of Prismacolor markers that Mr. Perez gave me for my birthday last October. Every Friday night my daughter and I have art night, where we put away all our hand-held electronic devices and enjoy an evening of art and creativity the old fashioned way while watching a movie.
It's my first time using high-quality markers, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Once I started experimenting with them, I realized it feels a lot like painting. My favorite part is how the colors blend so nicely with no hard edges. I'm not even close to becoming an expert, but practice makes perfect, and I hope to get a lot of practice in the coming year.
One thing I do recommend if you are looking to buy these markers, is buying a pad of marker paper. I use a Canson Marker paper pad. It's surprisingly thin paper, yet the colors don't bleed through. If you use other cotton-based papers, you'll find that the paper absorbs too much of the ink from your markers, and the color will bleed through the paper, ruining the sheet underneath.

Below is one of the first pieces I created using my markers. I've uploaded the design to my shop and created an iPad case with it. I'll be sharing more of my illustrations soon.

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Dia de Los Muertos Sugar Skull Illustration

I shared a photo of my work in progress earlier this week on my Instagram account. I was working on a Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) sugar skull illustration before bed...doodling and coloring away on my notepad with my favorite Sakura Gel Pens.
I've never been a Dia de Los Muertos fan (too scary), and it's not something my (Mexican) family celebrated as I was growing up. However, I've been seeing a lot of artwork pop up lately in relation to this Mexican tradition, which inspired me to design a skull that was less scary than those I've seen.
The image (above, to the left) shows the snapshot I shared on Instagram earlier in the week. The image to the right is the final product, now available to print on custom postage, bookplates, address labels and more at PaisleyInParis.com.

Are you a Dia de los Muertos fan?


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"Happy Flower" iPhone case

Spending a little time this Saturday morning doing what I love...working on my shop! I created my "Happy Flower" design a couple of weeks ago during a 10 minute break at work. Thought it would make a cute iPhone case. What do you think?


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Well, Owl be darn - Halloween is near!

I bought a pocket-size sketchbook and carry it with me everywhere I go. I don't have much down time, but it has come in very handy during those evenings when I take my daughter to art class or karate. I manage to fit some "mommy alone time" amidst all what's going on in my surroundings as I focus on my art and everything in the background fades away.
As always, with everything I do, I've dived in full force! Not only am I doodling in my sketchbook, but I bought some high-quality Prismacolor markers, color pencils and started experimenting with mixed media and drawing on different types of stock. Last night, I decided to put some of those new art supplies to good use and here's what came out of it.

This is fairly new territory for me, I've been drawing on the computer via Adobe Illustrator for over 15 years now, so I have a lot to learn about freehand drawing and mixed media. I'm having so much fun in the process though. Every day while I'm at work, I look forward to night time when my daughter falls asleep so I can relax and work on my drawings uninterrupted.

If you think this little guy would make a great addition to your Halloween decor, visit my shop, where you will find several items featuring this festive Halloween illustration.
One of my favorite items in the shop are these square stickers, which you can customize with your name to decorate the goody bags for Halloween treats. 
 
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My InstaCanvas Gallery is now Open!

Hi there! I can't believe it's been close to a month since the last time I had a chance to post an update. The good news is that all is well. In fact, I just got back from a two week trip to the Midwest where I had a chance to reunite and reconnect with friends and family in Chicago and Moline, IL. I had a great time and took lots of pictures! Once I settle in and have a chance to download all my pictures, I'll share a few images and stories of the fun things I was able to see and do while on my trip. But for now, I'd like to share the good news. I am proud to announce the opening of my new InstaCanvas gallery! I've been having so much fun with Instagram, and I'm thrilled to share that my images are now available for purchase through my gallery at http://instacanv.as/paisleyinparis
I'll be adding images daily so please, visit as often and you'd like! Leave a comment, browse, soak in the art, and if you see something you like, you know it can be yours to admire on the walls of your most favorite space. Below are a few images from my gallery.

 
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Featured Invitations & Stationery Designers

If you can't find what you need at PaisleyInParis.com, there are several other fabulous stores to chose from within the Zazzle community! I've listed below a few of my favorite stores to browse, powered by highly creative and talented artists. Check back often, as I will continue adding to the list as I come across these little shops that stand out from the rest with their unique flair and fresh inventory.




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Custom iPhone Cases

I spent some time this week modifying some of my existing designs to create custom iPhone cases. They turned out so cute! Click here to view them all, and check back soon, because I'll be adding new designs in the next couple of weeks. ~ These also make great gifts for any occasion!

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Celebrating Womanhood

I went to the hairdresser to highlight my hair yesterday and took my 6 year old daughter with me. I knew we'd be there for a while, so I packed some snacks and had her take her sketchbook, crayons and markers. When my hair was done, she showed me her little masterpiece and asked to please add it to her website. I asked her who it was, and she said it was a pretty lady from a magazine, so I decided to turn her illustration into a postcard that celebrates womanhood. ~ Enjoy!

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Cute Packaging

It's official, I have cooties. I knew it was gonna hit me sooner or later, and it looks like it happened sooner than later. My body's aching and dehydrated demanding rest and warm tea. I've been congested, nauseous, and well, you get the point. All the symptoms of the common cold, I have'em. But I've been taking good care of myself, eating warm homemade chicken soup, drinking lots of water, orange juice and taking my vitamins because mommies can't be sick. We have too much to do!
In evening when I felt a little better, hubby and I took a quick trip Target to buy me some cold relief medicine and look what I found! These adorably packaged boxes of Puff's facial tissue. And guess what I did? I paid the extra price for nice packaging and purchased generic over the counter cold medicine. I figured, my body will eventually heal, but cute packaging livens up my soul instantly. Faster than any cold relief name-brand medicine could ever heal my body.

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Food Art

Art comes in all mediums, shapes, sizes and yes, flavors too! Today I'd like to feature the work of a talented little momma over at Little Food Junction who so graciously shares all her little creations on her weekly posts. Below are just a few of my favorites.




Eye candy that's nutritious and fun! Okay, break time. I think I'm hungry now.


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Cute and colorful Mommy Calling Cards

Next time you meet a great mommy (or daddy) with a kiddo as fabulous as yours, don't loose touch! Be prepared with one of these super fabulous calling cards and schedule your next play date. No more looking for scrap paper to jot down numbers, just hand over your calling card and watch how your children's social skills begin to blossom as they interact with other children their age.

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"How do I become a wedding stationery designer?"

Every now and then I get a bit of fan mail. People just stopping by to let me know how much they like my work. I love it! It keeps me inspired and it motivates me to continue creating more and more each day. About a week ago, I received an e-mail from a fan who aspires to become a wedding stationery designer and she wanted to know if I could give her a little more insight on what it entitles. Let me tell you...it's a lot of work! But it can also be very rewarding if it is your true passion. Click here to read the post.

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Toilet Decor, Just for Fun

What? Someone's hiding in the toilet? An alligator may bite my toosh while I'm relieving myself? Uh, I think I'll hold it 'till I get home, thank you very much.

(Decals found via Etsy)

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Ladybug Play Date Calling Cards

I recently added these cute ladybug calling cards to my shop. I never really used any mommy cards when my daughter was a toddler. We have a big family, so as a toddler she had tons of play dates with her little cousins. Then the last week of kindergarten came around. She was excited about all the end of year school activities, but sad about not seeing her friends during the summer. My solution? These adorable play date calling cards! I made her a handful of my "Let's Hang Out" design (also available in my shop) to pass out to her classmates on the last day of school. They were a big hit with the teachers as well as with the rest of the mommies, and we're excited about keeping in touch with her little friends during summer vacation.
If you like these cards but your kids are all grown up, you can keep these cards in mind for the next time you're looking for a great gift for any small child and mommy!

Daydreaming about San Diego

I've been day dreaming about a weekend getaway in San Diego lately. Would love to take the girls to the zoo or the wild animal park.

Maybe some time in June when work slows down a bit and the kids are out of school.

To the left: "Animal Stack" wall art by Charlotte & Austen.

Frida Kahlo, happy as can be!

Frida Kahlo's life has always intrigued me. Her paintings speak volumes, but even though I admire her work and enjoy attending Frida exhibits, I don't own any copies of her artwork. It's just so sorrowful. But now, thanks to a very talented Canadian artist by the name of Tascha, we can own a series of bright and colorful paintings that depict a happy Frida. This is a Frida that enjoys life, that see's beauty in all things, a Frida that will bring a smile to your face. Thanks Tascha for giving life to one of Mexico's biggest treasures. Click here to view more paintings and visit Tascha's Etsy shop.

Paris is a feeling

Work and the holidays have kept me away from blogging the last few weeks. It's been a fun time, and with the new year around the corner, a time for reflection and new aspirations begins. There's so much I'd like to blog about today, but sometimes pictures speak louder than words, don't you agree? So instead, I thought I'd share this beautiful image by Etsy seller IreneSuchocki. Do you hear what the image is saying? I do. That's exactly how I feel at this time!

Happy New Year!