SLOE GIN FIZZ

Meet the Mackerel who mastered macrame. Mackerel always felt like a fish out of water until he discovered his craft. Now he is surrounded by other makers and is as happy as a clam. . . . #sloeginfizzart #alliteration #macramelove #macramemakers #mackerel #illustration #stickerart #sticker #michiganartist #stickers (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqbYHl-vbLW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Floating through the week over here with my sea lion pal. Did you know sea lions have visible ear flaps but seals don’t?! That’s how ya know this friend is a sea lion. Hope you’re all having a good week so far! . . . . #sloeginfizzart #sloeginfizz #illustration #nurseryart #sealions #kidsroomart #print #airship #steampunkairship #michiganartist #fairewholesale #papercampalum (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqYxowPvGh2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It’s Monday. Let’s do this thing. (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqTWrXBvK9r/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Spring! Squirrels are gettin’ nuts round here. (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqQh6n8rGcj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Saturday vibes. Sleepy, rainy with hints of spring. (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqOgKS8vH8J/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Racing right into that weekend, head first, full speed. Happy Friday, friends! . . . #sloeginfizzart #sloeginfizz #runnersworld #runninglife #running #bananas #sticker #stickerart #stickeraddict #stickerslap #laptopstickers #illustration #michiganartist #fairewholesale #papercampalum (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqL-FtRv5i7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Today feels a lot like this. The promise of spring is in the air but it’s still so gray with a hint of fog. This drawing was based on a photograph my grandmother took in the 1940s and always takes me straight back to her kitchen. In the photo, the windows are a little fogged up — from what I imagine was something fragrant and delicious baking in the oven. She was a wonderful baker and an amazing flower gardener. I’m not sure her artistic talents were ever truly recognized but I appreciate them. Happy spring Thursday! . . . #sloeginfizzart #sloeginfizz #illustration #plantlife #plantlover #kitchenwindow #michiganartist #print #inkdrawing #womenwhodraw #instaart (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqJR8YqPWj9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

These mixed weather days of early spring still have plenty of opportunities for a warm soak with our tea otter pal. ☕️🦦☕️🦦☕️ . . . #sloeginfizzart #illustration #teaotter #otterlove #otterlovers #ottercute #michiganartist #print #sticker #ottersofinstagram #stickerart #fairewholesale #papercampalum (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqGy9qXvkAT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

We’re easing into porch hang season! Can’t wait. (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqEHq7DvL1x/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Croak-us! Happy spring, everybody. We made it. . . . #sloeginfizzart #illustration #croak #crocuses #crocus #springflowers #toad #animalart #michiganartist (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBhqBMP9c9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Had such an amazing Sunday making this super cool #stainedglass #monstera hanging with my pals @glass_action and @amanzalot! Carey is such a patient and thorough teacher and Manz had me laughing throughout. It was so fun to explore a totally new creative outlet. Thank you, Carey! I can’t recommend enough taking one of her workshops and I’m already dreaming up projects to try in glass! ❤️❤️🧡 (at Oak Park, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp_jfz6DfNb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Cat and camel carry cake in a canoe … have you got all your March birthdays and special dates covered? A perpetual calendar helps you keep track! . . . #sloeginfizzart #sloeginfizz #birthdaycarddesign #illustration #alliteration #greetingcards #perpetualcalendar #michiganartist #stationeryaddict #stationerylove #womenwhodraw (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp3GpZcPKmR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Spring is coming! In the meantime, I’m gonna plant myself inside this little sunny greenhouse and soak it all in. . . . #sloeginfizzart #illustration #greenhousegoals #solarium #print #michiganartist #greenhouse #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsplantsplants (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp0s-klPtTF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

What’s for dinner tonight, friends? Sassy mushroom lady wants to know … new grocery list notepad design available in the shop. . . . #sloeginfizzart #sloeginfizz #illustration #grocerylist #fridgeorganization #sassymushroom #mushrooms #kitchenorganization #marketlist #dinnertonight #michiganartist #fairewholesale #paperlove (at Hamburg, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpyKbeFvIMs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Right after we got home from Hawaii, I headed back out to Colorado for my 75-year old uncle’s wedding. I’m am so glad I made the trip as it was a week filled with amazing people, tons of fun and visits with family I don’t get to see often. The wedding itself was so heartfelt and personal and I felt so much creativity in the air throughout the week. Two of the highlights were book and music discoveries. Books: I had the pleasure of meeting @sandrabondliterary, the agent for the newly released book, Go As a River by @shelleyread.author. When my flight was cancelled, Sandra was kind enough to host me in her Denver home and we had such fun staying up late talking books. I devoured Read’s book on the flight home and can’t recommend it enough. The writing is just so beautiful and vivid — telling a deeply moving story that is both heartbreaking and uplifting, all set in the beauty and ruggedness of the Colorado mountains. Go read this book! Music: @spinphony, an incredible electric string quartet performed throughout the wedding and I could have listened to them for days on end. From AC/DC to A-ha, from Cream to U2 and beyond, they were just so much fun. People couldn’t stop talking about them. Their version of Seven Nation Army made my day and their costuming was icing on the cake. This photo does not do them justice! (at Vail, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpvi-g1PHV_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

No matter how much I had seen on tv and in movies, I really wasn’t prepared for the lushness of Hawaii. Even small city parks and highway roadsides were filled with dense greenery that was so exotic to me. And yet! It was also familiar in a small way: I recognized loads of plants that I had learned about and drawn while working on the Tropical section of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens book! On a snowy day like today here in Michigan, there’s nothing quite like soaking up the humid warmth and dense greenery of the conservatory @matthaeinichols. It would be the perfect place to visit this weekend with the family to soak in the warmth and remind us that spring is just around the corner. #sloeginfizzart #illustration #matthaeibotanicalgardens #annarbor #annarborparents #annarbormoms #annarborkids #picturebookillustration #picturebookart #picturebookillustrator #scbwimichigan #scbwiillustrators #michiganartist #squirrelfamily #botanicalart (at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpn5_3pPb3I/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Growing up in a small NY beach town in the 80s, we had the coolest little surf shop that I was obsessed with. Some of my earliest drawing memories are copying all of the OP designs I could get my hands on. Visiting Hawaii was like a nostalgic flashback to that energy. Here’s a look at the work of @kailahogawa , @kelsiedayna , and @jacksoren — just a few of the contemporary artists working there that I fell in love with. Though I was smitten with surf culture, I never tried it as a kid. Sam and I took surfing lessons while we were on Oahu. Thankfully there is no photographic evidence of this. We had so much fun but it is so freakin hard on the teensiest of waves. To then go and sit just feet away from such incredible women surf icons like Steph Gilmore and Carissa Moore at the Hurley Pro on Sunset Beach was mind blowing. 🌊🏄‍♀️🤯 incredible. Gahhhhhh. Can’t wait to go back. https://www.instagram.com/p/CplUtRCPEe6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=