Abigail: birds in flight

Birds are so cute when they are standing stationary on a branch, but have you ever noticed how graceful they are when they are flying overhead? I referenced some images of birds in flight and did a few line drawings of my favorite wing spreads. Put that together with some nice vibrant colors and patterns and you get .... Abigail :)
~erin
www.erinriescreativity.com

Pretty Penny

Pretty pinks and peaches and purples is the inspiration for my pretty penny pattern!
I fell in love with this color palette that I put together from a variety of images I had pinned (I LOVE PINTEREST)

I referenced my trusty flower book and searched for some gorgeous blooms to draw. And put it all together with a little hint of yellow green accents and this is what I came up with.

If you have any suggestions for the next variety of flowers I should draw or a color combination you would like to see let me know!
~erin
www.erinriescreativity.com

You're Invited

I just have to share these unique wedding invitations that I spotted on one of my favorite blogs (Style Me Pretty) ... I think wedding invitations are quickly becoming an over the top obsession of mine! ... well designed and creative ones that is!

In these I love the use of untraditional wording. The words that are called out and large leave no confusion about what information you can find on that piece of the stationery. Plus who doesn't love the color combo of teal and red! Not to mention, check out the tattered yet perfectly coordinating envelope all of the collateral comes mailed in! (well designed Groom!)

Let me know if you or anyone you know would like to discuss custom wedding invitations! Color, Color, and lots of pretty elements would make the best invitations to entice your guests to come to your Big Day!

~erin
www.erinriescreativity.com
and now on FB so 'Like' me :)
http://www.facebook.com/erinriescreativity

Project: Embroidery Kits

My embroidery kits came just in time to sit outside on the deck or by the lake on a perfect cool (NOT HUMID) day! My first attempt at embroidery turned out fairly well!
Does the art look familiar???? These are my patterns and birds licensed by Dimensions Crafts!
They are now available at retailers such as Michaels and Joanne Fabrics around the United States. Check out stores near you! (for locals they have been spotted at Joanne's in Woodbury and Roseville and Michaels in Eagan)

(they are displayed by the other sewing, embroidery, needlepoint kits)

Go buy one and try your hand at this craft:) Afterall the level of difficulty on the packaging is 'easy/beginner'! ENJOY

~erin
www.erinriescreativity.com

Hello Eloise

I just wanted to post my latest and greatest little pattern collection. This is Eloise. I was inspired by gorgeous anemone flowers. You might ask where the name came from.... well to be honest I struggled with what to call this collection (it was named 'newest pattern' for quite a few days). About a week ago I watched the movie Love Happens and absolutely loved Jennifer Aniston's character....AND i thought her name in the romance tale fit this pattern perfectly :) Eloise

  

There are endless color combinations with this collection. I can easily change the colors to make alot of colorways for each of the patterns. Eloise would look great on lots of products don't you think???

Enjoy!

~erin

www.erinriescreativity.com

Project: MY Sketchbook

Well the deadline came and went.... and i managed to finish something of a sketchbook to send in for the Sketchbook tour . I crammed it all into one week of rushed creativity (I probably shouldn't admit to not doing my most quality work but honestly the deadline definitely snuck up on me!). Weddings took up my priority after i signed on for the sketchbook project months ago and i regret not being on a more regimented schedule with it..... but there is always next year which I will be participating in full force for sure :)

First let me explain, I have always had trouble keeping a sketchbook. I like to write my ideas down and creatively brainstorm, but when it comes to sketching and doing quick renditions etc, I am no good. I think I just like to completely finish a piece of art so the thought of just quickly getting it down on paper is a little frustrating to me. My sketchbooks usually end up being mostly a process book. Showing how i got from my creative idea in my head to the final painted or carefully drawn out piece rendered on the computer. Gathering my inspiration for design and color and putting it all in one place is satisfying for me.

With that said it was no surprise to me that that is precisely what this little sketchbook project ended up being for me. I gathered a bunch of resources and did some drawings on vellum paper (that way if i didnt like how it was looking, i could just start over on another piece of vellum instead of being tied down to using one of the 'good pieces of paper in my sketchbook'). I then used pens and inked over the pencil renderings so they were 'erin stylized'.

The next challenge was to get some color into the designs.... afterall i am PASSIONATE about color. So I roughly painted the sketchbook page with watercolor and/or colored pencils. I did some research on color combinations and then applied them so that they were balanced through out each design.

The Sketchbook Theme I chose was INSIDE/OUTSIDE so I tried really hard to figure out how to incorporate that into my idea without just drawing stuff inside and outside. So I concentrated on spaces. The flowers represented the outdoor spaces. The other geometric renderings were the shapes that i saw in some of the references of indoor spaces that i collected. I broke the space down into shapes, lines and textures. I absolutely love looking at spaces in everyday life like that. Paying attention to how each object interacts with one another and how the colors play off each other.

I think, if i would have allotted myself a lot more time, that this book could have been a really unique piece of art for me. So I am promising right now to devote A LOT MORE time to my 2012 Sketchbook Project! :)

GO VISIT MY SKETCHBOOK while it is on tour .... see the above website for more details!

I have alot of new projects on the horizon for the next month, but if you know of any other artist related projects I could participate in let me know! Otherwise feel free to challenge me to a project idea of your own! I am feeling the need to be creative. Just message me your thoughts and suggestions.

~erin