Letters to Sarah: I love you

This past Saturday I went to Craft Lake City, which is a DIY Festival. There were many artists that ranged from Illustration to Pottery. I was particularly inspired by the Graphic Designers, who hand lettered so well. Every year I tell myself I can do it too, but fear always chokes that dream.

This week I wanted to practice my hand lettering for my sister's letter and honestly I feel I improved a lot. I really love this letter, and it is one of my favorites so far. I hope you feel the same.

Letters to Sarah: Blackhawk trail

This week I thought it appropriate to draw my sister a landscape of the Blackhawk trail. This past week I was the camp director for my church's Girls Camp and I had an incredible spiritual experience on this trail as did all that came with me. I wrote my sister about this experience and how it has strengthened my testimony in my Savior, even Jesus Christ. Usually, I am not sure whether to talk about religion on my professional blog, but I find it difficult not to do so when it is a huge part of who I am. But for now, I will leave it at that. I hope you enjoy this little sketch I did. It truly was a beautiful hike through the Unitas!

Letters to Sarah: Paper Cranes

A few weeks ago I wrote my sister and this is the drawing I made for her letter. I just got a letter back from her telling me that she loved it. I hope you all enjoy it as well!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful dad! I am so grateful that he has always been here for me. He has always encouraged me to work on my talents in the arts and I would not be where I am today without him. I could not have asked for a better dad.

Letters to Sarah: Matsuyama Castle

Sarah has been on her LDS mission for a year now and was just transfered to Matsuyama a week ago. I thought I would draw her the castle in Matsuyama to commemorate her transfer.

Happy Mother's Day!

I want to wish my wonderful mother a happy Mother's Day!

I drew this card for her, but I want to share it with all of you and wish all of the moms out there a wonderful day, because you deserve it! Being a mom is no easy task and it is the hardest job ever. So thank you for being amazing!

Happy Birthday Trevor!

Happy 26th Birthday to my sweetheart, Trevor! 

I made this card for his birthday and I illustrated myself giving a ballon to Trevor. It made me so happy when he told me it was his favorite card :)

Letters to Sarah: Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone! I know it's a little early, but in order for this to get to Japan before Easter, I mailed it a week early. I had a lot of fun drawing for this for Sarah. I love the style of pen drawn Folk Art and I hope you all do too. Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Happy Birthday Jade!

Happy Birthday to my sweet sister-in-law Jade!

Letters to Sarah: I miss you beary much!

Letters to Sarah: Happy Valentine's day!

This week I am finally ahead of schedule for Holiday cards for Sarah! Hooray! I decided to go with a cute little owl with hearts for her. If you couldn't tell yet, I love woodland creatures! I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day celebrating your loved ones :)

Letters to Sarah: Belated Christmas/New Year's Card

Life has been so busy for me lately and I finally found the time to post this little gem. However, I was about a week late sending my sister a Christmas card. All of December, my husband Trevor and I were making ornaments and doing Japanese book binding for family and friends and I was unable to find time to write Sarah. (future post coming) I also wrote her companion a card and did a drawing for her. (not shown) I felt that she would like a deer drawing and a nice note as well. 

On Christmas day, I was able to talk to Sarah for a little while and I can't tell you how much I have missed hearing her voice. She sounded happy and she is busy as well doing missionary work. Before she hung up, she bore her testimony in Japanese and it was beautiful. (I don't speak the language, but it was convincing to me.)

Letters to Sarah: Thanksgiving

This week I made Sarah a Thanksgiving card since she will probably get it the day before or after Thanksgiving. In Japan, for obvious reasons, they don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but I told her to keep the spirit of the holiday with her. I also challenged her as well as all of you to write down 100 things you are thankful for. It may seem like a lot, but once you start going it gets easy. There are so many things to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Birthday Card for Madi

I got to practice my hand lettering today!  I made a card for my friend's daughter. I had lots of fun making it, but I still have a long way to go and lots of practice before my hand lettering is amazing. Currently it's all over the place, but it has lots of character. I hope Madi likes it as much as I do.

Letters to Sarah: Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! This week I decided to do a pen sketch with watercolors to make Sarah a Halloween card. Although, she won't be getting this card until after Halloween...it's the thought that counts, right? 

In Sarah's letter, she wrote that her companion wanted me to write her name. Her last name is Tojo and Shimai means sister in Japanese. Sarah has oddly left out of her letters what Tojo Shimai's first name is. So Tojo Shimai will have to do. 

I hope everyone is having a fun week of celebrating! Sayōnara

Finn for a Friend

Last week was my good friend's birthday and he really loves Adventure Time. I also bought him the book The Fart Tootorial (you must read this book is hilarious!), so I thought it appropriate to draw a picture of Finn farting with the inside saying "Hope your birthday is a gas!"

Letters to Sarah: Wings of Angels

This week I decided to illustrate my sister riding her bike with a dove symbolizing an angel. She has been a little discouraged learning Japanese and I made this to cheer her up. 

Since it takes 10 days for a letter to get to Kobe and visa versa, I hope she is doing better by now. 

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy 50th Birthday to my amazing mom! I decided to hand letter her birthday card and I had her open it over the phone this morning. She absolutely loved it and said it's not fair that I can hand letter like that.

I also doodled my mom's birthday invitation for a trip up to Lake Arrowhead for the weekend.

Folksy Fox: Letters to Sarah

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

I am doing a personal project that is 52 weeks long. Every week I have a different topic to draw on (which I plan on posting weekly). My first week was a self portrait and this past week was "plant."
I absolutely love drawing trees and decided to copy-cat the Welsh artist, Valeriane Leblond. I love her folk art style and I wanted to try it out.

Cheers!

Letters to Sarah: Koi

Here is the card I drew for Sarah this week. I copy-catted Japanese illustrator Ryo Takemasa. I really loved his koi, so I did a pen & ink drawing instead of doing a color print like Ryo. Cheers!