Two Sneak Peeks

As I anxiously await the closing of my house new house (or should I say old new house?), I did some extensive doodling which became a b&w illustration that is soon to be colored. Once I finally get the official closing date, this illustration will become my new Facebook cover photo.

Oh, the journey begins... 

Also, last week Justin and I had an engagement photo session with Erin Oveis Brant Photography, and she posted a preview picture...which of course only made me hungry for more!

At Beaver Island Beach on Grand Island <3

I am SO proud that this amazing photographer is from my very own dumpy hometown. She lives in San Diego now, but just happened to be in visiting and doing photo sessions for the week :o) 

I knew that if I couldn't get Erin for my wedding photography, I at least had to get an engagement session done.

Illustration Friday: Book

Happy Friday!

Not the happiest Friday I've had, but I've got a good feelin' about this one. Despite the fact that my closing date was supposed to be today and I thought I'd have the keys to my new home this afternoon (which I won't).

So why do I feel so optimistic about today? Beats me. It's one of those odd times when you feel like you can sense something happening before it actually happens. Or maybe I'm just excited about October beginning this upcoming week.

Engagement photo session this Monday! I'm excited/nervous/scared/anxious/hopeful.

As for Illustration Friday, today's topic was book, and I am happy to oblige.

"Annie didn't really mind Sebastian's company. Truth was, he was her best friend." 

Homeowners at last!

Okay, we really weren't looking that long. Can you believe we found a house we like in around 2 weeks?  I talked to a banker who prequalified me for a loan Friday morning, we put in an offer Friday midday, and our offer was accepted by 4 pm!

Boom.

Because this duo knows to look past the endless rooms of sponge-painted walls and see the true Buffalo gem that lies beneath...

More updates to follow. I apologize for the lack of posts, my mind begins to stray when I'm onto a new illustration adventure ; )

House Hunting for Beginners

And the beginners would be us. Justin and I have been working with a Realtor to invest in an income property multi-family home. We'd live in one half and rent out the other, and flip it as we go (thank God my dad is a carpenter). We looked at one yesterday that's got some potential...I'll just be happy to no longer be renting.

Don't get me wrong, I love Grand Island and the breeze that I can get there through my windows (not found in Kenmore). However, I'm paying every month to my landlord which is equivalent to flushing that money down the toilet. Not only will I never see it again, but it won't be helping my overall net worth!

Enough house talk. Justin and I have been wondering how we can incorporate drawings into our wedding, because we are both creative peoples. The hard part was incorporating it without it looking tacky, but I think I've come to a resolution: Owl, and Pigeon.

"concept drawings"

No, they don't have names yet. The owl will probably lose his attitude as well. What I'd like to do is have these two as "guests" at the wedding. You'll be introduced to them on the save-the-dates, then watch their story throughout the invitations, program, cake, placeholders, card box, etc., eventually ending on the thank-you cards. We're playing around with ideas, and one that we have is that the pigeon and owl don't get along but the owl invites the pigeon to come because he wasn't invited. The pigeon's jealous of the owl because owls are always considered a "cool" animal found on pillows, phone cases, the works, whereas pigeons...not so much. 

They bicker throughout the entire wedding, and greet guests to their seat with cheesy pickup lines ("Is that a new hairstyle Deb? It looks nice." --- you get the idea.)  and eventually in the end on the thank-you cards you see them hugging and crying over how beautiful the wedding was and you see that in the end they really are friends. 

They'll be simple, sketchy, and in coordinating wedding colors. I'm pretty excited, and I hope the guests find it entertaining at the very least. 

More finalized designs will be posted in the future when the colors are chosen, with proper names for each bird included. Any ideas for names? I considered Leonard for the pigeon for some reason...