Contest Winners

The Winners of the Fruit Ornament Contest are

Laura G and Carrie C. I will be contacting you to get your mailing info to send you out your set of butterfly stationary.

The correct answers were"

1. Straw - berry or Strawberry Shake.
2. Key Lime Pi
3. Orange Bowl
4. Plum Line

Thaks for everyone who particpated.

Stay tuned for a great 2011.

My entry for they draw and cook. What's better than Mac and Cheese on a cold winter day? And you can play with the pasta and make an angel ornament as well.

Homemade Holiday Ornament Exchange and Contest for you

This year I participated in BluPenny.com's Homemade Holiday Ornament Exchange.  We were a group of 4 and our name was the Fruitcakes. So knowing that friends don't give friends fruitcakes, I decided to go with the fruit theme but make visual puns.  This was my first foray with sculpy clay, so they turned out ok, but realized that sculpting is not my calling. But it was a fun project none the less, and on top of that I get three cool ornaments in return.

So to add a little fruit punch to  my post this week and getting in the holiday spirit, here's a quick contest. If you can guess all 4 of my fruit based visual puns, email me at marsha@marshabaker.com. If you're right I will put your name in a drawing for a set of my butterfly stationary - to be pictured later. Entries must be received by December 24th at 1 pm Central time. I will randomly draw from all entries with all 4 correct answers.

Happy punning, Marsha

2011 Calendar John 15:5

Here's my calendar for 2011. I design this calendar for an Italian Mission in Turin Italy. Grapes seemed to go well with Italy and I love the verse they suggested. Now on to finish up those Christmas Cards - its going to be a quiz.  Stay tuned!

Painted Pot for Amaryllis

How about doing it yourself?

One thing I lilke to give during the holidays is an Amaryllis. Its a gift that create interest for the entire holiday sesaons. You can get a bulb at any of the large big box retailers. They are usually not very expensive. I like to get them in the bag and then create my own unique gift, by painting the pot.

 

Supplies needed; Clay pot ($2.50 -better wider and not tall as the roots don't grow deep).

                               Acryllic Paint, brushes, potting soil, amaryllis and or paper white bulbs.

Cost for pot, soil and bulbs:  $16.50 - but I bet some of you can do if for a lot cheaper than this!

Time:  1 hr

The Process:

Draw a simple design on the pot with your pencil.  ( you can erase if you need to)

Paint the pot, depending on your color choices, you might need two coats. Let dry completely.

Fill pot with about 2" of soil, add bulbs, cover bulbs with remaining soil. Fill to rim, leave green new growth exposed.

Water well. Put in a bright spot in your house and wait for the blooms!

For after care of your bulbs and getting them ready to bloom again next year check out this site:

http://www.amaryllis.com/pac.htm

 

Abundantly Blessed

Just a piece I've done as I feel so abundantly blessed with all that I have. I have the best family and the Lord has blessed us richly. We are humbled by His graciousness and ever thankful. Take time to count your blessings this holiday season.

The Envelope Exchange

Here are the envelopes I sent off to Jill for the Envelope Exchange. There's still time to enter if you get them to her by November 30th. Here's more information:  

http://mapleleafartistry.blogspot.com/2010/10/mail-envelope-art-swap.html

Can't wait to see what cool envelopes I get! These are a bit distorted as I am having technical problems with the big red X. But be assured that the real envelopes (and I sent stationary too as a bonus) are cool.





Winning Wine Label and a question

On a whim I entered the wine label contest for the Master Gardeners and I won!  They have been growing grapes for a while and they are making wine this year. So I thought I would share. This is pretty exciting. If you ever need any gardening advice call your Master Gardener at your local extension office, they are pretty awesome people. 

Ok now I need some help - this image is distorted - its wider that the original. Any hints on how to fix this? It uploaded with a red x.

Homemade Ornament Exchange

Found this way cool exchange. Make three ornaments and get three. Sign up at http://www.blupenny.com/2010-hm-holiday-ornament-ex. Sign up by Nov 24th and ornaments must be shipped by Dec 17th. Cost $10. How fun,, I can't wait to get started. Sign up soon it you're interested.

Idea Exchange

Here's my Christmas card, year before last. I didn't design any Christmas cards which was the first time ever!  So this year, I am purposing to get started EARLY (yes, I know its not Halloween yet!)  And I am thinking about using a Christmas Carol - I Saw Three Ships......  So this is what's on my mind. I am wondering what you're thinking about creating and what you're pondering.   I am reading this great little book called Zing! By Sam Harrison, It's about getting your creativity going. Here's one thought from the book: If I share my apple with you, we each have half an apple, but if I share my idea with you, then we now both have two ideas. So what are you working on and thinking about? I'll be working on my card and in the meantime you can post and share your ideas and what you're thinking about and we'll all benefit. Stay tuned for the card.

Prov 15:17

Illustration Friday - Proverb

Here's another post for Illustration Friday! It was right up my alley, as most of my work is to illustrate the Bible.  This was a fun one to  do. So go make some time and share a meal people you love, especially if you've been meaning too, and have just been tooooo busy. Life is short, so purpose spend time with those you love today.

Everybody loves ice cream!

Just thought I'd have a little fun with Illustration Friday. Everybody loves dessert. As a kid, I always wanted to see how many scoops I could really eat, but was never that adventurous.  So go get some ice cream today!

Grief is a Maze

Just out from Grief Illustrated Press, Grief is a Maze, by Joan Ebbesmeyer, illustrated by Marsha Baker (that's me!). Joan wrote this to help people heal in their grief and share her personal story. Although this is a tough subject, it was a wonderful project to illustrate as the book is full of rich metaphors. You can contact Joan directly about the book at joane08@centruytel.net.

April Virtual Paintout - Canary Island

9 x 12 - Watercolor

April sort of just evaporated, but I decided to take a little time today to finish this lovely hotel in the Canary Islands as part of the Virtual Paint out and submit it under the wire. Can’t wait to see where May takes us.

A Late Offering to the International Fake Journal Contest - Mara the Kiwi

I’m a little late in posting my International Fake Journal – Sorry Roz!  As I’ve been earnestly working on the journal, I had to post it. The reality is that my sister recently returned from a very cool vacation to New Zealand. Her pictures were amazing and being the compulsive journaler that I am, I had to journal her vacation. I especailly loved adding the native art of the Maoris as borders to the pages.

Welcome to Mara’s International Fake Journal, April 2010:

Hi, I’m Mara, I’m a Kiwi bird looking to make my way back home. Due to budget cuts, the Zoo was going to transfer me Omaha, but I decided it was time to go home and find my mum, I've been here since I was first hatched. At the airport I picked the lock of my cage with my beak and I found this cute couple who’s headed to New Zealand, so I think I’ll just stow away. I’m sure no one will notice me!

I have a few gripes about people coming to gawk at me in the zoo. I am the national bird of New Zealand. Please do not confuse me with the brown fuzzy fruit. Yes, I am a bird, but I don’t have wings. I have the lovely fragrance of mushrooms, and for the life of me, I don't understand why some people find that unpleasant. And if you’re coming around for tea, don’t come before 4 pm, as I like to sleep during the day.

Here I am in Fiji, relaxing in the waves. We stopped over for a few days to get used to the time change. The trip over was very long, and a bit cramped, but mum is just a few more days away. So far everyone thinks I'm just part of the tour.

On first day in New Zealand was spent on the South Island, we toured Mt Cook (the hightest point in NZ), and Lake Pukaki. Then we saw some of New Zealand’s 34 million sheep on the Canterbury Plains. Next we saw pretty purple and pink lupines near Lake Tekapo. Where's all my fellow kiwis?

We spent the next day in Queenstown on the South Island. We toured the Queenstown Gardens. No sign of any Kiwis yet….

Today we took a ride on the 1912 TSS Earnslaw steamship to Walter Peak Farm to see spinning and sheep shearing. We also walked up the Franz Josef Glacier. It was a bit slippery, but the view was incredible. I bought some New Zealand jade called Pounamu to send to the girls back at the zoo. I dipped it in the ocean for good luck. No Kiwis here…..

And the Winners Are..........

Thank you for everyone who responded to my blog post this week. Your feedback was invaluable. The committee also has some suggestions, so I will post the final LifeSpring Logo in a week or so when it's final. In the meantime, I was overwhelmed by the number and quality of comments, so I decided to award three sets of 8 Butterfly Peace note cards. I asked the Fabulous Baker Boys for random numbers between 1 and 17 (total responses). They provided me with #2, #7, and #12. So they lucky winners are:

Elizabeth - Artwork from a Northern Gail blog


Revelle – Image maker blog


Reana - Reana's Sketch Journal.

Please send me your addresses at mpbdesigns@rocketmail.com and I will get the cards in the mail to you!
Thanks again to everyone for their awesome comments!

Marsha Baker

Need your opinion on a logo design

Here are some logo designs I’ve done for a church. They’re really struggling with their branding. They want to be casual, and inviting. If you were the average joe, which of these 5 logos says – You’re warmly welcomed here? Please vote on the poll to the right

And if you leave me a comment – the more critical the better – do you like the colors, should the water drop be different, different font choice, or move element 1 in logo # to logo ##…. I will put you in a drawing for a set of 8 Butterfly Peace blank greeting cards that I have also designed – see below. Please reply by Saturday April 24th. Drawing late Saturday night – Central time. Thanks much for your feedback.   Marsha

Comments will be put into a drawing for a set of 8 Butterfly Peace Cards. Drawing April 24th.

Artist Trading Cards

This year I am purposing to try lots of new things. I stumbled across the Burlington County Art Center which is currently having a show of Artist trading cards. I thought it might be fun to submit an offering of ATCs. I also like to experiment with new stuff, so here are some Calla lilies done in ball point ink pens. The show starts on April 17th – so go check it out, they received over 800 cards! – here’s their link. http://www.burlcoarts.com/ATCExhibit2.htm After the show is over they will send me back someone else’s trading cards. Can’t wait to see what I get!

Illustration Friday - Expired

Expired  watercolor and ink

I immediately thought about my husband who traveled  Internationally. On one trip, he arrived in Helsinki Finland and the customs agent asks, "What is this Expired mean?”  This was his third stop on the trip. He had recently just gotten a new passport, but grabbed the expired one. When your Passport is expired they punch the word expired at the top when sending it back to you. So here's my offering for Expired.

Its a Reptile world

"Its a Reptile Word"  Color pencil - the scan really dulled the colors

I had a little fun with reptiles. I have always loved the Geico Gecko, and when he posed with glasses, I had to draw him. I did this for my son for his 23rd birthday - Yikes! It will fit in nicely with all the other eclectic art on the walls in his apartment.

My First Post

Welcome to my blog. Please excuse the vast array of wide open spaces, the site is still under construction. Here are a couple of things I have completed recently. For the Virtual Paintout, I found this great office building with green and red vinage growing up the building walls. It was fun to do.