A Beautiful Mess

HeyHey*YouYou

Hi there. Just wanted to share a few new paintings and things I've been making. xo, elsie

a few more questions and a *sneak peek*...

 

Q: hi elsie!
my question for you is this:
what is your favorite product that you design for your Love, Elsie lines? i love your paper.
A: Thank you! There are a few products that I especially love working on... Paper is fun. These are a few of my favorites from the new Forrest collection...

I love making gel stickers too. The Love, Elsie gel stickers feel (to me) like mini collages. They are really fun to create!

The other product that I always can't waaaait to see the finished version of are the soft charms. 

Q: How many hours a day do you spend on crafting? (painting, photos, photo editing, scrapbooking, designing of new lines?) I am always wondering how you do it all- but I guess that is your "day job".
A: Yep. Well, I usually wake with something on my mind (either a deadline that I need to focus on or a new concept that I am anxious to work on...) so I will work for a few hours on that. In the afternoon I run errands and have lunch with my boyfriend. Then I work alone for a few hours (i like to work both alone and with people...must have both!). In the evenings I either work at home with Vanessa or if i am doing something portable I sometimes go to Jeremy's studio and work with him while he is recording. I *love* staying up late to create as well. Honestly, there aren't a lot of other things that occupy my time. It's busy, but it's also really really simple.
So...it probably sounds excessive to some people, but it really works for me. I guess that is the blessing and the curse of really truly loving something. It really helps that the people I am closest to love to work also and we can do it together! :D

Q: Hi Elsie - Id love to know what your favourite colour to wear is, and which are your fave pair of shoes that you own and why?! thank you!
A: my favorite color to wear (surprise!) is actually black...

and my favorite shoes are probably my cowboy boots or   blue polka dot wedge heels.

Q: Favorite actor/actress
A: easy....



Q: When you have kids, what kinds of things will you do to encourage them to be artistic and creative?
A: I guess I imagine simple things, things that my mom and grandma did with us. Building forts, taking long walks, painting, playing dress up, watching Peter Pan and baking together. My mom encouraged my sister and brother and I during some of the most random artistic obsessions... she was really supportive of what we were into even if it wasn't something that she was really that excited about. I just remember feeling really nurtured and having a *lot* of free time. It's wonderful thinking about those memories with my family and it's exciting to imagine making memories like that with children on my own someday. very exciting!

Q: What was ONCE important to you but is not now?
A: Long term plans.
I used to have the next twenty years on my life mapped out in my mind. I guess that as life has changed I've learned that these plans really aren't as helpful as I once thought. Now I am just enjoying one thing at a time. I still have goals, but not as many plans... :)

Q: Is there anything that is art related or creative that you've wanted to try or learn to do but haven't yet done so? If so, what is it?
A: Oh my gosh, yes! I don't really know how to sew, and I love the quilts that rachel makes... i have never done a wall mural and i would love to be involved in a film project someday, in some way. so much much much....

Q: How did you first meet Mr. Larson?
A: We have a few close mutual friends. One of them was sort of trying to get us to hang out. We didn't really know each other, but one night he invited me to come work at his studio with him and it was just really nice. Our first "date" (which didn't really feel like a date at the time) was watching Juno. It was my second time to see it, but i didn't mind... :)


Q: When you posted the preview of your Neverland painting series, there was one that looked like a map of Neverland. Will the series in your Etsy store be expanded? I've been keeping an eye out for that particular print but haven't seen it yet.
A: Well, yes! :) I am doing a shop update tomorrow (Wednesday) at midnight.... that painting will be available as a print now, as well as many other new additions!
Here is a **sneak peek** of what is coming in my shop update tomorrow....
i've recently become fascinated with painting underwear. :D

and a new print set i've been working on.....



More coming soon....
xxooo. e

 

well, hello there (Q&A pt.1)

it's Monday... i am having a bit of a sick day today (gross!), so it's the perfect time for me to hang out for a few hours and try to put a dent in these questions (over 200...whoa!) this should be fun...

 

 

Q: I would like to know other than  sushi what else is some of you fav foods? What do you snack on when you scrap? Thanks!!
A: mmmm. this is a fun little question.
I've mentioned these before... i LOVE Lara bars. any food with only 3 or 4 ingredients gets an A+ in my book! My favorite flavors are "cashew cookie" and "banana cookie"... "key lime pie" is good too.

Green apples are my favorite. Raw or baked with cinnamon... yum!

Coconut water...

Coffee and tea...

(my drink...)

(Jeremy's...)

we go to Starbucks (maybe) waaaaay too much, and all of the local places (mostly big momma's and the coffee ethic).

Speaking of, i have an embarrassingly LARGE collection of these,

(thinking of building a pirate ship out of them?)

and last, but certainly not least... my very favorite pleasure food!

Q: Have you ever been to Iceland?
A: Nope, but i would *love* too. love love love love.

Q: Are you a good singer?
always wondered... hmmm :]
A:haha... nope. not at all. i only sing in my car... alone! :D

Q: Alright here's one!  Where do you find all of your fun, funky vintage clothing??  You always look amazing!!
A: Well, thank you. That is so kind.
I like to take a break (usually if i am having a stressful day) every few weeks and go to a few thrift shops (here in Springfield, my favorite is "Thrift Haven" on Glenstone... Commercial street has some great Vintage shops too!) Also, it's always fun to shop online... here are some recent "good finds"...

from etsy...

i wanted these so bad, but they sold... bummmmer dude.

i love this one. 

I've been lusting badly for a pair of these... they are for a great cause too! 

some summer dresses..... and i am think i need to order these....

you can never have too many pairs, right?

oh... and i almost forgot, i steal clothes from my sister! ha! :D

Q: What is your favorite accessory at the moment?

A: bandannas!

Q: I am curious how you got your own scrapbook product line?
A: well, it was a process... at the time i had just written my first book, i was contributing to Creating Keepsakes, designing fonts and teaching classes. i took my time to find a company that was a good fit for my style and most importantly who i could really trust. It wasn't a rushed thing at all and i have been very happy working with KI Memories. We have had a lot of fun together the past almost 2 (wow!) years.

That said, I will admit that I work a *lot*. I love staying up late, obsessing over new ideas and having more side projects than i can keep up with. I think that really loving what you do is the most important step. To absolutely love the things you spend your time on every day is (to me) one of the most valuable things you can experience in life!

Q: Where do you get most of your inspiration from?

A: oh my.... this is going to be a long one. :)

let me first say that i *adore* the feeling of being inspired. when i first hear a new song or see a new film, or whatever... best feeling in the world.

here are the current ones...

i love High Fructose...




and swindle...  



and Juxtapoz

a few (newish) favorite artists and photographers....

Ryan Heshka

the lovely miss lulu... 

Linzie Hunter 

elloh

 

 

Jim Houser

hmmm... i could go on and on and on forever.... :D
music:

I've been listening to this soundtrack with you know who...

(

jenny...

and my favorite band (probably for the rest of 2008, yessss i love them that much!)

the flaming lips

and it would be silly of me not to mention this boy...

he  comes over to my house and immediately  walks over to my painting table to see what's new every day. most days we work together in some way. it's really inspiring to me how much he loves to create. it's a great way to live.

other random things that inspire me:
peter pan
outer space
Emma's stories
Doren's drawings
Rachel's journals
pretty weather
Commercial street
my favorite website
and making things for my etsy shop

OK... off to meet Nessa for dinner. i hope your Monday was lovely!
more Q&A soon! loves, Elsie

happy birthday, Brett!!

happy birthday to one of my favorite people in the whole world!!

note: thank you all so much for all of the fun and interesting questions.... i am looking forward to doing several posts in the coming week based on these. love you!