When I am not Illustrating...

This is what I do when I am not illustrating.  It felt great to get my hands dirty with some good old paint, wood, and hot glue!  Can you tell that I am excited for the upcoming holidays?  Yeah, probably just a bit.  *wink-wink*

A Soft Feminine Summer Mantel

Summer has been crazy around here.  So much for those laid back lazy days of the wonder years!  The kids and I have been having a blast swimming, picnicking, vacationing, sewing, learning, and exploring.  But today, I had enough of our chaos and made some sense of it all.  Now that summer is almost over I have finally brightened up my mantel for the season.

Hand crafted and feminine, I am sure to hear a sigh or two from my hubby who will kiss me anyway and love me all the more.  I tell him I need our home to inspire my art.  I think it will work this time. Good thing the next season is Halloween/Fall.  That is for sure less girly!

If You Like It, Put A Name On It

I know my kids are tickled pink when a gift comes with their name on it.  There is a specialness that comes with a personalized name gift that can't quite be compared.  When I was tweaking a few illustrations the other day, my youngest and most precocious girl made this comment: 

"Hey, Mom, I think this would look TOOOONNNSSS better if it had my name on it.  Don't you think?"

And there it is.  Personalization, custom naming, the thing that makes little hearts go pitter patter.
If you like it, put a name on it.

So in honor of my darling 5 year old who knows what she wants, all my prints can be personlized with a child's name for free.  Just send me a quick convo or leave me a note in 'message to seller' upon check out.  I will be in touch shortly to sort out the details of making your unique Wonder Lane Art just an ounce more special. 

Eventually all listings will have their own custom options listed.

Here is a peek at personalization in action:

Coral red and aqua whale print.

Deck the halls with Christmas in July!

All my prints on sale!  Everything in the shop comes with a discount or gift.  Christmas in July is here for the whole month!  Prints make a delightful gift that lasts a lifetime, making magical childhood memories full of joy, they can see everyday and keeping them through out their life!

*Buy any one print and choose another 8x10 of your choice for free! 

*Only pay shipping on your first print of your order UNLESS you reach $50 and your shipping is Free, world wide!

*Plus the first 50 orders will receive a killer coupon code of 50% off of your next order which is absolutely transferable to friends and family.  Heck, I might even consider your dog.  But he might have a hard time typing in an order. ;-)

*Fabulous print sets with astronomical savings!


I hope everyone in the US had a great 4th of July, yesterday.  I wish I had pictures of our festivities but like a dodo I left my camera in the car while we played games, chatted up a storm, watched fireworks, and ate scrumptious food.  I really need my own personal photographer who wouldn't mind not having a life of their own so they can follow me around taking pictures all the time.  Wouldn't that be fabulous!?

Now go hum "Jingle Bells" while you get your Christmas shopping done early!

Print set 3 Link

Prints Set 4 link

Combo Print set

Putting yourself into Words.

I ran across this guest post by Alexandra Franzen, on Oh My, Handmade!, called: The 4 Elements of your Personal Introduction - OR, How to Make Sense of your Life When you Have 15 Bajillion Different Passions.  The title hooked me immediately.  Who doesn't have a 'bajillion' ideas, passions, assignments, etc in the handmade biz going all the time, 24/7?

The four simple steps where fun and enlightening.  Besides, when done you will have a succinct, well thought out, personal statement that rocks!  Win, win in my books.  So head on over to Oh My, Handmade and try it out!  Come back and comment with yours here too!  It will be fun to make a personal statement collection, don't you think?

Here is what I came up with:

I'm an artist, mother, and dreamer.  I create magically bright and colorful children's art for babies, kids, and their fun loving families that want joy filled homes.  But really I am on mission to bring families closer together, with magical childhood memories, by providing a means to make their homes a haven of hope and love. What has brought you joy today?

Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy!


A bit of childhood joy:

Summer Butterfly Girl

Yee Haw and Thar' She Blows!

Two more fun prints for boys in the shop.  Boys things are under represented!  The choices are limited and much to be desired.  So I am doing my part to expand stuff for boys!  Here they are:

Ride 'em Cowboy!

Yee Haw! Ride 'em cowboy! Feel the rush of the Wild Wild West in this nursery art for your little boy in his bedroom, nursery, or play room. Full of rich brown and red, with a neutral touch it will fit into any children decor and even grow with his ever changing likes.

This cowboy nursery art pops right into a rootin' tootin' frame or mat with an 8x10 opening. Sure to get your little sheriff's star of approval!

Thar' He Blows, Green Whale Print

Sammy the Whale, is hand drawn and carefully digitally colored with the best green and aqua ocean colors in this baby boy nursery art print. He is the perfect wall size at 11x14 inches. And makes quite the splash in your children decor that can only be found in Wonder Lane Art, fine art prints. What a lucky boy this green ocean whale will make!

You can find both these boys prints here:
Riding Cowboy 
Green Whale Print

And not to leave the girls out a cute red and turquoise whale print:

 

Red and Turquoise Whale print for girls

What is cuter than red and turquoise in a nursery? This sweet Coral whale nursery art full of whimsy and imagination. Your little girls room just isnt' the same without a red and turquoise whale hanging magically on her bedroom wall!  She is a great wall size at 8x10 inches.

I usually have several print sizes available in my shop to suit your budget needs! If I don't have the particular size you are looking for, feel free to contact me at {wonderlaneart (at) gmail (dot) com} and I will see what I can do! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Time Flies When Your Having Fun

Such a fun few weeks gearing up for summer!  My kids can't wait, and I love the enthusiasm I feel from their jubilation.  It has made me very creative.  Here are my two newest additions that speak for themselves.  

Alphabet Poster

No Place Like Home

They can both be found here: ABC and HOME.  Feel free to pull up a chair, grab a cup of lemonade and make yourself at home.

Vacation and Inspiration

It was great to take a step back and think only about my family, playing with the kids, and site seeing this last week!  Thanks for hanging in there.  But back I am and in full force. 

I thought you might find my inspiration progression amusing so here it goes...

Cute, but a little dull?  Something wasn't sitting right with me.  When I woke up this morning I decided she needed a little more...oomph.

Better, but still not quite right.  Something is missing...but what?  It took me all day and then some to figure it out.  After drawing this sweet lamb I had the lovely old fashioned nursery rhyme stuck in my head.  And there we had it.

Baby Lamb

A little vintage, a cup of cute, and a dash of nursery rhyme and I fell in love.  Sweetness of the white lamb kind for any girls room decor.

Now off to snuggle kids that can't seem to quite fall a sleep tonight.  I think I know what I will tell them as a bedtime story!

Spreading the News!

Red and Orange Songbirds

These red and orange songbirds are spreading the good news.  With spring in full force now, that means summer is just right around the corner.  What awaits you this summer?

Red Balloon Girl - Sea to Sea

Maybe, a summer full of balloon adventures like, this red balloon girl awaits just across the sea!

Because Of Kindess!

I was just headed off to bed and had to check my shop stats one. more. time. I am a little obsessed as of late with SEO and how to fix my tags and titles, but not to bore you all with the details of those keyboard headbanging efforts.  And what do I find in my blogging feed?  Well, a sweet post on my little print...

Flowers for Mother

This is from LDS Etsy Teams blog: Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Please, go over and give them some blog love!  I feel so truly blessed to meet such amazing people through such unique ways!

Keeping Up with the Kids

My kids are greatly creative which can and often equals huge messes.  I love that they are creative, but have to admit that cleaning up some of it is not.  So today I am turning my frowny face upside down, and looking for a smile...these are my daily inspirations.

*finger paint all the way up to our elbows and sometimes the wall, seat, and floor...

*play dough masterpieces that we can smash as big giants, plus if you wait for playdough to dry in the carpet it picks right out...

*jammy kisses and sticky fingers, sometimes at the same time...okay, almost always at the same time...

*the smell of crayons, hopefully on paper and not in my dryer...

*stepping on legos because the creation was so impressive I forgot to look where I was going...

*braiding long Rapunzel hair and the ability to transform it from a rats nest into a lovely french twist...

 *eating cookie dough with the kids  because a spoon full of cookie dough helps the mess go away...

What things do you love about your upside down days?

Catching Butterlflies

Will It Ever End?

This is why I illustrate.

I can't put it into better words.  Over at MCKMama, her post about, "Will It Ever End?", the constant bothers of motherhood that are being veiled to really be precious moments that go too fast.

This is what I illustrate.

Keeping those dreams, hopes, little hands, locked in my heart through the use of my ink.

Take some tissues you moms out there and have a great read! Will It Ever End?

Best Friends

Theatre Clouds

I couldn't go any further in my day without sharing the work of Elly Mackay from theater clouds on Etsy.  I am floored by the imagery, emotion, and content of her work.  I want to jump right into one of her paper theater prints and stay for a short holiday!

I instantly fell in love with this:

An Unexpected Journey 8x10 Print

and this:

Catch - Print by Elly Mackay

There are so many amazing prints, please head over to her shop and have your own mini holiday right in your very own home!

Learning the Ropes of Etsy, Facebook, and Twitter

The silver lining to throwing out ones back is that I have time to lie around on the couch...I guess.  But I have learned how to make a facebook page, (which ended up not being as mysterious as I had thought), finally figuring out how to post a live link on twitter, and getting my groove on over at Etsy. 

So I do have a facebook page...Missy Anne of Wonder Lane Art.  It feels so jr. high, but will you like me?  Say you will.

Other news, my kids kill me with their games.  Yesterday, since I was out of commission, ie laying on the couch, they created this elaborate game of "My Mini Restaurant", complete with rooftop green house with two specialized gardens.  One could even purchase a ticket for a tour.  I needed to take pictures but I couldn't move.  So please feel free to be as generous and creative in your own imaginations as possible.  They seriously had spread the entire game all over the living room and play area and used every kitchen item I owned.

Good news, today is a new day and I feel almost back to normal!  Watch out laundry!

Also what do you think about downloadable PDF coloring pages on my site?  Is that something that would interest the little people in your life?

Surprise, I am Open!!!

My print proof came early and that means...My shop is full and open!  I spent all night and some early morning hours to load and list each print.  My brain is fried but it is so worth it.  This is an exciting day for me!

You can view all the 21 prints I have for sale at my sweet shop Wonder Lane Art on Etsy.

Here are a few of my favorites...

Birch Top Hat

Double Dutch Ducks

Bon Voyage

Thanks for taking a peek!  Enjoy your stay!

Today brought Me a Gift.

These last few days I have been struggling with my drawing.  Something wasn't clicking with my heart, hand, and mind, and then translating that to paper. 

But then, today brought me a gift. 

I threw my hands up in frustration and decided to have mommy time with my kids and we went for a bike ride.  This couldn't have been a better choice. 

Good disguised as a bad day. 

After tiring ourselves out, we stopped to rest in the refreshing evening spring breeze and my sweetest Ellie, began to pick the biggest bouquet of dandy lions I have ever seen.  And the pure joy she got from gathering and then giving her precious bundle to me was like fire for my creative soul!  Thank heavens I don't go any where now with out sketch pad and pencil.  Right away I sketched her flower picking efforts.  And low and behold, I am back in business brimming with inspiration.  Thanks sweet girl for loving the joys in everyday!

Illustration Inspiration

Wednesday finds me today with some great finds on Pinterest.  Today these caught my fancy.  Let's start with this yellow number courtesy of Southern Grace and Sunshine on Tumblr.

How could this be any cuter, I ask?  The mock bow and the attention to detail make this dress amazing.  Plus that little girl is sunshine herself.

Next, presented by Violette Field Threads, a gorgeous line of clothing for kids.

I love the southern throw back this darling chevron maxi dress does for this sweet girl.  That hat is the icing on the cake!  And last but absolutely in no way least...behold this precious apron.

Charlaanee over at Etsy has amazing flair for girly and gingham.  I can picture little girls baking up a storm in these sweet ditties.

Happy looking!

GIMP 2.6 or Building New Art Muscles.

It has been a long night for sure getting the workings of Gimp under my belt for illustration coloring.  I am exited to master this skill and make my illustrations shine, but in the mean time I think I better get a hot pack, wrap my neck up from bending over at the computer all day and go to bed!

So for tonight a sneak peek of what I have been working on...

 Tomorrow...figuring out watermarks.  Exciting stuff, folks!