Another Day another M&M

Hi all,

It's Friday!! For some reason the weekend just feels freeing. I didn't get a chance to complete the sketch I posted yesterday.

I posted on my shop front I have another site http://www.maudyandmadison.etsy.com/ am I nuts or what! lol Like I don't have enough to keep up with now. Not that I get up I mean out the chair at the computer where I enhance my sketches in digital. I am also peeking at Rachel Ray while chewing on M&Ms.

The sketch above is from the Maudy and Madison collection in Hobbletown. I worked for nearly 8 hours on the print yesterday. What site will I work on today? I haven't decided yet...I am very spontaneous.

I am trying to decide whether to start another blog for Hobbletown or just combine them here. Let me know what you think?

Thanks to all who chatted with me in the Etsy Forum I really had a wonderful time. Blessings Raine.

The Perls of my Daughter

Oh how could one not love a child who makes you laugh all the time!

I just received a text and then a call...she heard a vibrating noise and texted me confused she couldn't find it.
She's running around the room swating at the air thinking there has to be a fly in the area. LOL
I ask her if she saw a fly....No she replied. Oh help me here! After approx. 5 minutes of chasing the air...
She figures out it was her cell phone on vibrate. How old is she 22 and she makes her hubby crazy.

Bless her heart she keeps me laughing and that's great for the soul.

Uploaded her again todays sketch

This is a sketch I did last night and will be working on today. She will take me about 4 hours to complete and review. Then I will add the final touches before releasing her. It takes a ton of printing to make sure the colors are correct etc. Its not as simple as some might think. I haven't named the sketch yet so if you have any ideas feel free to post your first impression.

In the Forum on Etsy

I am in the forum right now on Etsy trying to figure out this crazy system of blogging. I was wondering if I am suppose to add every crazy thing that goes on in my day.

Like the other day my daughter called me at 4 am EST time and said, Mom I am scared I am in the closet. I said WHAT! She said there is a tornado coming. Now I live in Ohio and at the time the winds were about 60 miles an hour, my lights went off and on but there were no warnings of a tornado. She said her hubby called and told her to get into the closet. Well, the closet I found out had a special feature once you shut the door you couldn't get out. She was warned of this by the owners. She was so scared and I couldn't stop laughing...bless her heart. So she's in the closet for about 1/2 hour and to top it off she had her dog with her...he's not small at all. Abe is a hunting dog. These are things that go on in my life. Needless to say she laughed all day the next day as I did.

Off to Create A New Design!

Okay I am off to create a new design. It must be the weather! We finally had a break from the Snoooow! It's Melting Yeah! I have some new idea's for my shop at Etsy. So till next time enjoy your day or evening.

Learning blogging Extras

Boy, it's been a task learning blogging. You may notice some things are out of place as I continue to adjust things. Learn how it all actual works. It's trial and error as of now. So hang in there with me as I learn the html of things.

Be sure though to visit my shop to purchase at www.raineedaydesigns.etsy.com
this is where you'll find all of my work.

Raineedaydesigns: M&M's are addicting!

Raineedaydesigns: M&M's are addicting!

M&M's are addicting!

Okay so I am about to get ready to create another illustration. Out comes the M&M's not that they are inspiring...I just find eating them is soothing as I create or those darn commercials have me brainwashed!
So,I don't know how many of you live alone but when you do you'll find yourself talking to just about anything or anyone who will listen. For the first time I found myself answering my own question I stopped dead in my tracks. LOL and said what the heck. I need to get a dog or something. Artist seem to be loners and so busy creating we forget to get out. So I do a lot of laughing at myself.
My last idiotic episode... standing outside in the snow shoveling my huge driveway wondering, where was my knight in a shinney truck with a shovel attached. So two go by and just watch me Hmmm am I that entertaining? I wave yelled hello, thank you and goodbye. Then all of the sudden an ODOT those guys who plow and the roads drove by... I got right out in the street and yelled NO I just shoveled that! Course he pulled up the shovel waved and went on about his business. Then I got stuck in a 3 foot drift against my mailbox trying to shovel it out as the truck across the street sat with it's headlights brightly shinning on me. I thought oh great I can see it now woman frozen to post on mailbox trying to mail herself NOT!

P.S. M&Ms are wonderful and so are these sites where you can find me at
www.zazzle.com/designsbyraine -lots of my items for purchasing.

Busy creating away!

It's been awhile and I have been busy creating away I can't begin to tell you how time consuming yet exciting and fun it really is, along with being so magical when you finish the illustration. I am also joining a ton of groups right now also. In fact this is one I just joined. Technorati Profile

CONTEST

I am starting a contest Jan 19 till Feb 19. Any purchase made in my shop at www.rainedaydesigns.etsy.com will put your name on a list. On Feb. 20 I will email at random a customer who has made a purchase. They will pick a number from 1 to however many names are listed at the end, email it to me and that person will win an angel.

The names will be listed in the order purchases are made. The angel will be signed by Raine and dated on the bottom. She will stand 6 inches tall. The number picked will be posted Feb. 23 on my blog and shop along with the name of the winner. Plus, included you will recieve a print from my Childhood Memories collection signed and date.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL....

Here is the little angel from the last blog. I completed her wings, she stands about 4 inches tall. She is made of clay and has not been fired yet. I may add a halo and sometimes I write a poem on the front. I haven't decided if she is completed yet.

Finally I have been able to load a angel for all to view. The first one is one that I have had for awhile. She stands approx. 6 inches tall. The top one is smaller and as you can see is in the making, her wings have not been completed. I make them in different positions, some have halo's and there hands are positioned differently. I just go with whatever I feel when I am making them. It's very relaxing for me as they are all in white or a pearl with a gold halo if I add one.

Opening New Etsy Store

I have decided to open another etsy store offering the angels I design and sculpt. I have been doing this for many years and giving them as gifts. My friend/partner, Pamela Jo who does my listing and shipping on Rainee Day Designs convinced me to offer my angels. I just hope I don't get in over my head, of course, then again with her help it leaves me with just the designing and completing the items.
I have a picture of one that is in the making and will load it today to give you an idea of my angels. I hope you enjoy them too!

Latest News for Rainee Day Designs

I am currently working on a new project/design for the store. I am working on a paper doll that will be a little more than just what it's called a paper doll. I am so excited, I have so many ideas for her. I will let you know here on my blog when she will be ready to make her appearance. I will upload a temp so you can see what's going on as soon as I get one ready. There will be more than just one paper doll design. I plan on having many different paper dolls for collection.

My Love of Knitting

My favorite things to do outside of illustrating are knitting in the winter and gardening in the spring and summer. In the picture above is my latest project for my daughter. I am knitting a lap blanket for her to keep warm as she reads. She is a huge book reader. The colors are cream and plum although it looks more purple in the pic it's actually a beautiful warm plum. I am using the stocking stitch and garter on the edges. I just love the way it is turning out. The task is getting it done for her before winter is gone. It currently covers my legs and lap but I wanted to make it a tad longer so it covered her legs comfortably. I have to say as I knit now it's doing a great job keeping my legs warm... I am going to miss it.
I have been knitting since I can remember as a child my mother taught me to crochet and my aunt to knit. I am not a huge fan of crocheting and like the professional look of knitting. I have used metal needles over the years and was so happy when they came out with bamboo needles. I just love the control you get from the bamboo and would recommend them to anyone who loves to knit or is a beginner. If you get the chance try knitting it is so relaxing and in this horrific challenge we are experiencing with the enconomy this is a great way to relax and destress. Here is a little secret about the chair in the picture...it's where I sit most of the time and sketch my illustrations. It is SO comfortable.

Beginning to blog Wow this is new for me!

First I would like to say Hello and Happy New Year to all. I am not one on resolutions I am more about experiences from life, the new year and learning to grow. Each new year brings along with it many ups and downs for everyone simply paying attention to what your experiencing and learning from it will take you further in your life then any resolution.
I know right now it's a bad time in our enconomy that brings a lot of hardships with finances, our significant other and people in general. In a crisis I can say this for sure, you will truly find out what the people around you whether family, friends, or strangers are made of, who will help or turn away.
Which leads me to something that happened to me resently. I have a truck that is 11 years old is in great shape and has been good to me. The only trouble it gives me is every year I seem to have to replace the coil pack. Being single and living alone it helps to educate yourself about any topic that helps. I know way too much about trucks. Lol. Anyway, I went to the gas station for gas after pumping my truck would not turn over. Nothing, it took me a minute to be reminded of the coil pack so I went inside the station (all the girl's know me there) and I ask a man to help me move my truck. He said, "are you talking to me?' Duh, I relpied with that I got the typical reponse women are so bossy. Now, I thought to myself Hmm must have had a bad experience with a woman to which he learned nothing or he would not have been so still in the moment of that old experience. I felt sad for him as not letting go of that experience has him stuck in that moment and not moving forward and experince the present.
Well I ask Amber to help me move my truck, between the two of us I put it in nuetral and off we went. Now mind you, 5 men where outside some getting in there car's others pumping gas but all starring at us. Well, anyone who knows me knows I am not an introvert with people just private about my family.
So, I yelled, "hello guys I wanted to thank you for your help in watching us move this vehicle." As much as I try to believe and give people the benefit of the doubt that they are more helpful now in this enconomy and not as self -envolved, it just disappoints me to see things have not changed as much as I would like to see. I look at people in the world and only see humans sharing a planet a journey. I don't see color, race just humans. I see all humans as my family and eveyone I pass throughout my day I feel are a part of me, a human. I talk to everyone . help those I can even if it's just to say hello. I stongly believe we are all here to help each other.
In the end I got my truck started just by wiping off the spark plugs that connect to the coil pack and off I went. I plan on continuing to talk to everyone and helping those I can with whatever I can offer no matter how big or small.
Happy New Year to all and remember everyone you pass is truly just as you a human making the best of there journey. Extend your hand whenever you can you'll find it's a great feeling.