Happy Birthday to me!!! My wood art doll for MMM this week...

Hi Everyone!!! today is my Birthday and I am on day 3 of celebrations....most people don't like celebrating Birthdays but I love it!!! the more fun the better...the more cake the better!!!

Anyway, I thought I would post my latest doll creation....She is having her Birthday and I am submitting her to Mixed Media Monday this week....the theme is " what was she thinking" she partied for 3 days for her Birthday and wore a matching purse...what was she thinking....she also ate cake and cupcakes and everything else....what was she thinking....

I also thought you all would get a kick out of some of my gifts from Cole...he always said he wanted to get me a Barbie!!! well I guess he and Daddy found some and I love them!!! (I am still a kid at heart and will always love Barbie dolls...only now that I am older I don't give them haircuts like I used to.....lol)

I have another party today hosted by my wonderful parents!!!

Hugs

Diana

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Free Printable Valentines - Diana Evans 2010 - Enjoy!

Hi Everyone....I made some fun printable Valentines you can download from my website...you can print these and use them for personal use!!!

Enjoy!!!

I added some sparkles to my printouts....these are going into a package for my wonderful Niece!!

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My Love Bugs and Illustration Friday - Focus

Hi Everyone....Hope you all had a wonderful week....this week's theme on Illustration Friday is "Focused" and I decided to show you my new paintings and a piece from a while ago...when I think of focused...I think of busy bees that are focused on their work....and nothing else....and who can blame them...heading to see all kinds of beautiful flowers.....I also have a sweet little Lady bug...but she is more focused on finding a mate.........and last but not least .....

I added this fortune teller...she always has to be focused so she can give the correct fortunes to her clients......she wants them to keep coming back.....

Happy Friday!!!

Diana

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Theme Thursday - Busy

Hi Everyone....I thought I would show you the latest painting in the painting a day project....She was inspired by my old raggedy Anne doll that I still have in my studio....her clothing is a busy pattern and I thought she fit this week's theme on Theme Thursday...

I have kept my doll for many years now and it makes me smile to think back to my days as a wee little girl....I also still love dolls....and love barbies too....I guess we never really get old....we are all just kids at heart...and I want to stay that way!!

I also thought you would get a kick out of Cole's latest comments....whenever he sees a Barbie commercial he always stops what he is doing and says "those are for you Mommy... you like those....when I am bigger I will buy you one of those barbies"

I smile and laugh and my heart is full of his cuteness!!! I showed him my little collection one day and he always thinks of me when he sees a barbie...how cute is that....

Happy Thursday!!!

Hugs

Diana

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Three Muses Challenge - Quote - create art based on a quote.....

Hi Everyone....This week's challenge over at the Three Muses Blog was a lot of fun...first I had to pick a quote and then I had to be inspired by it....so here is my quote....

"There is only one success--to be able to spend your life in your own way."
Christopher Morley

I think this really made me think about life and success and what it means to me...One of the greatest successes for me was and is becoming a Mom...I think Motherhood was a pivotal point in my life where I started to weigh out things and really focus on what is important for me and my family....It also made me think about what my life means and would be left behind in this world ...so that people would know I was here.....

and that is when I decided to pursue my art full time...so I could be home with my child and create each and every day.....It is also why I started to write and illustrate children's books....because for years to come children would be able to read and enjoy my art.....it is very fulfilling and this is what success means to me....A lot of you may not know this...but I left the world of Technology and Business (15 years to be exact) ...the proverbial rat race....with a great income to enjoy far more benefits and far more successes all in my home sweet home.... so the next time you look at your lives...think about success and really define it ...it may change the direction your life is in and bring you some new focus....after all isn't life too short? So my two pieces for this week's challenge represent Motherhood and art....my passions...my successes...

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Hugs

Diana

My cute Little Angel...This is after bath time ...he wanted to paint with Mommy...and the results are below....I love each and every one of his paintings....and seeing him each and every day as he grows into a little man....that makes me feel successful.....

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Hearts for Haiti - Paint , support and make a difference.....

Hi Everyone...There is a wonderful initiative that is called "Hearts for Haiti" .

Laure over at Painted Thoughts has developed this wonderful idea to help the people of Haiti through art.

Artist will make hearts in the ATC size - 2.5 x 3.5 and send the image to Laure where she will make a design out of all of them and then we will raise money for Haiti.

Please join in!!!!

Go visit Laure's Blog and read more about it and join in.

Have a wonderful day and always be grateful....

Hugs

Diana

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Mixed Media Monday - "the games that people play"

Hi Everyone....I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!!

This week over at MMM the theme is "The games that people play and the last three paintings in my "A painting a day" project 2010 were perfect for the theme so I decided to post them all for Monday.....When I saw the sneak peek at the theme I immediately thought about love and our health...so these paintings all came to be ....love games can make our hearts break...but they can be mended by love too.....The anatomical heart painting represents the games we sometimes play with our health....eating bad foods and having bad habits.....and finally the last one is a little more on the fun side....it is titled ..."mind games"....I have heard many people say they are sick of the mind games in relationships....

Well I hope you enjoy these pieces and I also added a little montage of the project so far!!! and tomorrow I will have some new illustrations!!!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Hugs

Diana

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A Rose is a rose by any other name....

Hi Everyone...who can really say that they are sick of roses...I love love love roses and was tickled pink when I got contacted about my work in this Rose filled treasury....so pretty ...so I thought I would give you all a dozen roses....

Hugs
Diana

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cards cards cards....mini cards!!!

Hi Everyone...I have a thing for miniature handmade cards....so I just started working on some new mini cards for my shop....these are handmade on 120 lb watercolor paper and some are even hand painted....I think they will be perfect for gifts and love notes....I always love adding notes to lunches and these will be so much fun to use too...I will be creating more of these mini cards for all kinds of occasions....some are hand painted, some have ribbon and all of them have glitter!!!

Happy Saturday!!!

Hugs

Diana

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Illustration Friday - clumsy

Hi Everyone....When it came to Cupid University....Gabriella was always clumsy with her hearts...She would miss her target and they would all fall down....luckily at school there were numerous clouds that would catch her fallen hearts.....and give her another try at making love happen......

Have a wonderful Friday Everyone!!!

Hugs

Diana

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Theme Thursday "numbers" and more of Cole's fun work....

Hi Everyone....I painted another cupcake ....this one is all about texture and dimension...The theme this week on Theme Thursday is "numbers" and this is titles "one" just a lonely cupcake....ready to make someone smile..... Cole also worked on a new watercolour....

We also worked yesterday making a ton of special recipe breakfast patties....I love these....we ground the meat at my Mom and Dad's and made them there ....I worked with them and we made a lot of yummy patties...and these are extra lean and tasty with all the spices we put in....I am a fan of breakfast sausage...but needed an alternative way to get the taste without the calories...and I finally have a recipe I love.....

Cole has some cool techniques with his paintings....now he is all about circles at the start.....

Then he says he has to fill all the holes....(he calls the white spaces on the paper holes)

and once it is all dry this is the magic that happens.....I always think he uses way too much water....but the effects he gets are so neat....

Have a wonderful day!!!

Hugs

Diana

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Three Muses Challenge - Something in the Air and Cole's latest painting....

Hi Everyone....

Thank you for popping in and seeing my work....This week at the Three Muses blog...the challenge prompt is ...Something in the Air...and the first thing I thought of was my favorite saying..."When pigs fly" I even gave Brad...a cute little flying pig ...I told him he could use it when he doesn't feel like doing something.....isn't it the cutest little thing...especially among the Eiffel tower.... I also have a new painting by Mr. Cole...he is so sweet and now whenever he sees me in the studio creating...he wants to paint....who can turn down that sweet little face....

but tonight we all went out shopping and we got home late and Cole had to go to bed...but he asked for some of his favorite popcorn to be made ...and I had to say no....he was angry and asked for a new Mommy...be still my heart....I hope he doesn't feel that way in the morning....

and this is the note the Flying Piggy came with....

Wishing you a wonderful day...filled with inspiration and creativity...

Hugs

Diana

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Created by Hand - theme "Waiting for Spring" ...my take...Martinis for everyone...and make mine a double...and Cole's new painting...

Hi Everyone...I am submitting this double martini painting and Cole's painting from today to the Created by Hand Challenge....the theme this week is "waiting for spring" and it is pretty far away at the moment so for fun I thought we could share a virtual martini to pass the time...I never really liked the plain vodka martinis...but I love olives so make mine a double....

Cole also worked on his latest piece ...a watercolour that is bright and cheery ...just like spring...

not bad for a 3 and a half year old!!!

Wishing you all a wonderful Tuesday!!!

Hugs

Diana

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Mixed Media Monday - "wings" my last three paintings for "A painting a day 2010" and Cole is joining me on this journey!!!

Hi Everyone....what a fun and busy weekend!!! My Brother and Sister-in-law just got back from a wonderful trip to the Dominican...so we spent the weekend with them and family catching up....it was a lot of fun....

This week on MMM the theme is "wings" and how fitting is this piece that is a collection of three paintings....as children we always grow up thinking that our parents have favorites...but the truth is that there is always enough love and as we grow and have more children our hearts grow even bigger....The piece is titled...." Enough Love for Everyone" and the Angel is a symbol for all Mothers....to me my Mom is an Angel and I love her with all my heart....she has always shown love to my brother and I all of our lives and we feel so blessed....so call your Mother and tell her how much you love her....and if she is not with you any longer always know that she is a Guardian Angel who will always have lots of Love as she watches you from above....

I also am so thrilled that Cole is painting again!!! I love when he asks to paint....today he created a watercolour piece for all of you to enjoy....I think he may join me on this "Painting a Day" journey....whenever his heart desires to create with Mommy!!!

wishing you all a wonderful Monday !!!

Hugs

Diana....and Cole.....

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Puppy Love gets featured!!!

Hi Everyone...I always am tickled pink when my work gets featured in an Etsy treasury!!! The sweet Black Brook Shop featured my handmade "Puppy Love" stamp today!!!

Hope you are all having a wonderful day....and if you waiting for the painting a day...the next piece is a triptych...and you will see it all Monday morning....just in case you're wondering!!!

Happy Saturday!!!

Hugs

Diana

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Illustration Friday "wilderness" and a painting a day - vintage memories

Hi Everyone....It's Friday already...wow...time sure does fly when you're having fun.... I did a quick piece for IF this week...the theme is "Wilderness" and I love going to the forest and seeing some cute wild animals...even though these guys look very cute and not wild at all..I thought they would get my love of the outdoors across....

I also added a tribute piece I did a while back for Beatrix Potter....she was an amazing lady...Helen Beatrix Potter (28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943) was an English author, illustrator, mycologist and conservationist best known for children's books featuring anthropomorphic characters such as in The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

I am also happy to report that I am on track with this project...." A painting a day 2010" is going full steam ahead....I also think that this vintage camera saw some pretty cool things in it's prime.....and of course it also fits the "wilderness" prompt...because I always take my camera on all my wild journeys.....

Wishing you a wonderful Friday filled with inspiration and creativity!!!

Hugs

Diana

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A Painting a Day - #013 - Memories of the Pierre Herme Macaron....Theme Thursday "hearts"

Hi Everyone....

I am officially on a diet...yes I said it....I need to change some of my eating habits ...and since I wont be having too many sweet treats....(maybe one or two on my Birthday) but for the most part...no more macarons...no more cupcakes....but I can still create these with art....since they are fun to create and look at.....and have zero calories......so here is a special French treat for all of you....This is a Pierre Herme special raspberry macaron.....I was a little under the weather yesterday and this is what cheered me up!!!

Have a wonderful Day!!!

This is my submission to Theme Thursday this week...since I heart yummy treats...and this looks like a perfect Valentine's day dessert.... I also have some new stamps in my line that are all about hearts.....

Have a wonderful day!!!
Hugs
Diana

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Three Muses Challenge - Water - My 12 th painting in the "A Painting a Day Project 2010" - By the sea...Mermaid

HI Everyone...what a fun these at Three Muses this week....The first thing I think of when I think of the sea is a Mermaid...so I painted this mermaid for the challenge this week....The theme is "Water" ......

Here are all the paintings so far!!!

Have a wonderful day!!! and pop back tomorrow....

Hugs,
Diana

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How about some French Macarons...a painting a day - 2010 - #011

Hi Everyone....

I am so thrilled to be on schedule with this fun project for 2010...A painting a day...all year long is my goal......Today's painting is a tribute to the French Macaron...a cookie that is almost like art....very unique and very simple in ingredients....but can be a little hard to make...these are so much fun to try and to bake ....

excerpt from Wikipedia.....

The confectionery is characterized by its smooth, domed top, ruffled circumference, and flat base. Connoisseurs prize a delicate, egg shell-like crust that yields to a moist and airy interior. The French macaroon differs from other macaroons in that it is filled with cream or butter like a sandwich cookie, and can be found in a wider variety of flavors that range from the traditional (raspberry, chocolate) to the exotic (foie gras, truffle). Making macarons requires a great deal of discipline and is a process that is highly dependent on exactitude, technique, and proper equipment. For this reason it is a notoriously difficult recipe to master and a frustrating endeavor for the amateur baker.

I am submitting this to the Crazy Amigo Challenge this week...the theme is "Postcards" and these would make a fun postcard....and I love getting postcards from France and all over the world....

Happy Tuesday!

Hugs
Diana

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