Hello Reader,
I hope you're enjoying these first days of winter and are having a wonderful holiday season. I know I've been absent from your inbox for the last 2 months, but I'm back now and excited about a new project I'm working on. It's just in the beginning stages, so I can't say too much at the moment, but I wanted to let you know that inspiration is afoot.
I've really enjoyed putting this newsletter together over this past year and I want to thank you for being a part of it. Stay tuned for more magic and whimsy in the new year!
Though Christmas is behind us, I'm still enjoying this cute Christmas cat video a friend sent to me. It's adorable and hilarious at the same time!
Here's to a new year filled with magic!
Until next year,
The new year is always a time of reflection for me and that usually means a new journal or two. If you've been thinking of adding a new notebook to your collection, one of these whimsical favorites might be the perfect fit!
See more notebooks! |
Over the last few weeks, I've dabbled in many mediums. On the left is my latest pattern - birds among sunflowers. This pattern was inspired by a sketch I did back in the summer. I also decided to do a version without the birds to see how different it would look. This pattern isn't ready for products just yet, but I like what I have so far. On the right is one of the many mandalas I've worked on over the past few months. I find creating mandalas relaxing and fun and this one came out better than I thought it would when I started.
Bella continues to be a source of amusement and inspiration, as seen here during her exploration of our sparsely decorated Christmas tree. The only ornaments we added were non-breakable for obvious reasons. The Christmas tree on the right is my sister Becky's tree. I love all the special characters that fill the tree. On the bottom left, I took a shot of the flowers I bought for myself with a Target gift card I got for Christmas. I love the magical spring feel of the flowers as wells as the lovely purple vase they came in. And finally, a shot of my nephew Christian and his beautiful bride Barbara. They were married just 3 days before Christmas and I'm so happy I got to be a part of it.
Nourish your imagination with thoughtful essays and whimsical art from Sunlight Forest— where wonder and creativity take root!
Hey Reader, Can you believe it is September already? Here in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania the weather has shifted and we are in the midst of those golden sunny days with mild temperatures, gentle breezes and puffy white clouds in the sky. I’ve been spending as much time outside as I can, soaking in the last days of summer. This September feels like a new beginning of sorts. The departure of one of my regular marketing clients has me rethinking the services I offer and I’m EXCITED about my...
Hi Reader, This week I did something that both intimidated and excited me: I signed up for a free 5-day Photoshop challenge with illustrator and pattern designer, Sarah Watts. I haven’t created any patterns for a while and thought this might be a way to get back into pattern-making again. And while I’m good at making patterns in Adobe Illustrator, I’ve realized that the textures I like to add to my art might actually translate better in Photoshop. The first exercise was creating a flower...
Hi Reader, Somewhere along the line, we were told that clean surfaces and color-coded files are the sign of a productive life. And sure, a little order can be nice—but so can the quiet magic of a glorious, living mess. Right now, my desk is a landscape of paints, sketchbooks, and little scraps of tracing paper with random drawings. It’s not “Instagram-worthy.” I used to look at this mess as a necessary part of my creative process, yet still felt “bad” about it. I thought I should really be...