Textile Collaboration

Eeek I can't believe I have let another month lapse without a post!!!  So sorry to those of you who try to check back periodically!  I have a lot of exciting things in the works including new branding, website and a second textile collaboration with my dear friend/coworker Lauren Lail!  I am hoping to have my new website/blog up and running by November so I will keep you posted!  

Back to textile collaboration.  We shared this news today on our Novel. blog but I thought it was too good not to share again!  So here's the sneak peak at the horse print I drew/painted for Lauren's vintage inspired FALL line Library by Lauren Lail.  She is just amazing!!!!  I can't wait for you to see her entire fall collection!

I can't tell you how excited we are to see this come together!!!  It's going to be amazing!  I will be sure to post once her Fall line arrives!!!

And just as a reminder, her Spring/Summer line is currently on SALE 20% off so head over here and buy, buy, buy before it's all gone!!!! Enter SUMMERSALE20!!!!

And just in case you have forgotten...here is our first collaboration.  A painting I did that Lauren had made into a skirt! 

 

Happy Monday!!!

Little Sleep Style

I have been so slack about pulling together a "big boy" room for my littlest.  He is 3.25 years old now and it's time I get rid of the sweet stripes on his walls and the baby framed prints.  He is such a rough and tumble boy and his room right now looks like a nursery still.  Poor baby.  I'm hanging onto to the baby years since he is my last.  

  

I thought I would pull together a little board of what I'm imagining for it.  He loves the beach and has absolutely no fear around water-slightly terrifying but I also want to embrace that for him.  I'm always a fan of blue, white and grey so those are basically the colors I am starting with but will of course throw in some orange and green.  

1-loving these beach/surfer photographs blown up and framed in the big white square frame(unknown source-found on Pinterest)

2-How freaking amazing is this chest from IKEA? Don't need, but l.o.v.e!!!!

3-BM Horizon Grey

4-another amazing IKEA find

5-abstract piece by his momma-Way Way Allen

6-curtain panels turned bedskirt from......wait for it...IKEA

7-All time favorite sheets from Serena and Lily

8-CB2 standing light-perfecto

9-bedskirt from Anthropologie similar to the look we're going for with the curtain panels above.

His room is so tiny I only have room for a single.  I have a really cool headboard for it that I'm thinking of painting but want to wait until the room is painted to see what I think.  It has an asian flare to it with a washy green glaze over it.  I promise to post about it once we get a little further in the process!  So, what do you think?  Do you like the direction his room is headed?  

Nudes

I went home to my parents last week for a quick minute and while I was there I saw these two paintings propped up in the dining room.  

Any guess as to who painted them?....

If you follow mw on Instagram (waywayallen) then I'm sure you know!

My dad!!  Aren't they quite good?!  I am my dad's biggest fan and have always, always loved his drawings and paintings.  He is an architect but is an artist as well.  You know I love color if you follow my work at all so I think that's part of the reason why I was so drawn to these!  If he will let me, I will post more pictures on the blog soon!

*My dad and I are going to have an art show together at Novel. late summer...keep you posted!

Effortless Style

Are you familiar?  I have been a long time follower of Camila's blog, Effortless Style and I have always enjoyed her In Her Shoes segment that features different artists, designers, DIY'ers from around the country and let' sthem in on what a day in the life of that person is like.  All glitz and glamour right?!!!  I was thrilled to be asked to participate in her series today.  

So head on over here to see a glimpse of what "a day in the life" of this gal is like!  

Happy Friday my friends!

Ashley Warnock Photography + Pout Pop Up

I have had the good fortune of being friends with so many creative and talented ladies in my life since moving to Charleston a little over ten years ago.  One of those crazy talented gals is Ashley Warnock who you may remember me blogging about in the past.  The girl can snap some photos like nobody's business!! She has an eye and a heart for what she does as a profession.  After flipping through some of the pictures she forwarded my way I was blown away with what she came away with in our two hour session at the studio!!!

I have  a little something up my sleeve that Ashley is helping me make into a reality...slowly but surely I hope to be telling more in the coming months.  So for now it's just some sneak peeks.



And speaking of Novel., don't forget to stop in the Pout pop up shop this Thursday 11-8pm!!!  Makeup and skin care products galore as well as mini consultations!!!  I cannot wait to get made oh-va!!!  Message me if you are in town (Charleston) and would like to make a 30 minute appointment for a mini makeover.  Slots are filling up quickly!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

This painting by my good pal Katie, is it not killer????  I have always admired her work and would love, love, love to have one of these beauties on my wall someday!  And this Aphrochic wallpaper is so freaking awesome.  Would love it in my bathroom!  Dreaming, dreaming.... if only hubby read my blog he would know just what I needed for V-Day!  Hope you have a good one with your love! 

XOXOXOXO

Art for the Kiddos

  I thought I would share a few art activities I have been doing with the boys over the last few weeks that have been a huge hit!!!  Thanks to Pinterest of course I have "repinned" a hundred art activities for the boys.  Things that seem so easy but I never would have thought of them myself.  Check out my board here and I bet you will get great ideas too.

Shaving Cream Letters and Numbers

I think I saw this on Pinterest but little R's teacher also reminded me of this fun exercise!  I got both boys involved

Cornstarch Playdough

When at a loss for activities to do with a  2.5 year old make playdough!  And when you get the idea, look in the pantry beforehand to make sure you have flour.  Mistake on my part ended up being a win in the end because of cornstarch.  Why on earth I have cornstarch and not flour beats me but any who it made for a funky textured playdough.  The fun lasted all of 15 minutes but hey, every minute of entertainment counts around here!

Painting Animals

This was fun for both boys and actually kept them interested for longer than 15 minutes!!!!  

I need to know what you are doing at home to keep the kiddos entertained!  Do tell!!!

Slacker

I know I have been the worst about keeping up this blog, but lately things are getting busier and busier!!!  All in a good way but my blog has become last on my list.  I imagine things will not slow down until after Christmas, am I right?  Do all of you feel this way?  

One exciting thing for us at Novel. is that this time of year means lots of Holiday Shows!!!!  We have many fun events ahead and one happens to be today at Fleur in Raleigh, NC!!  So if any of you live there or have friends or family in Raleigh, then head on over to the trunk show going on today!!!!  Lots of new goodies from Blue Chickadee, Library, Balboa and Bon Vivant!!!  

In case you are wondering here is a list of our upcoming events so you can mark your calendars!

Thursday, November 8-Fleur-Raleigh, NC

Wednesday, November 14-Mom's house-Columbia, SC

Thursday, December 6-Balboa Showroom-Spatanburg, SC

Friday, December 7-NOVEL. Showroom King Street Walk-Charleston, SC

Thursday, December 13-Van Jean-Columbia, SC

Friday, December 14-NOVEL. Showroom-Charleston, SC

Now on to what I have been up too these past couple of weeks.  Basically I have been eating and drinking my way through!  Ridiculous how many pictures I had on my phone of food!!!  

Lets start with this ridic side of beets adapted from Jamie Oliver.

Smoked Beets...yes please

Step One

Last Step

Roasted Potatoes

Grilled Romaine

Roasted Tomatoes

Finally got to try out  Butcher & Bee here in Charleston on Upper King Street.  Man was it worth the wait!!!  I had the Pulled Squash sandwich, sounds odd, and it was, but it was mouth watering good!  The squash had been pickled as well as BBQ'd if I remember correctly.  Anyway, yum!  You should go!  Things for vegetarians and meat lovers!!!

Pulled Squash Sandwich

Now I was also painting in between my binge eating.

Finally finished and shipped off this beauty to NYC this week.  It's going in a baby girl's nursery.  I cannot wait to see it hanging!

Working on a few little side projects for a friend.  

I can't disclose just yet but it will be worth the wait!!!

And to end it all, I got to meet up with some old college buddies!!!  How fun is it to laugh so hard your stomach muscles hurt?  Can't wait til the next time!

Hoping to get better at this blogging thing, but making no promises:)  Have a great weekend!!

Keeping Up

I have been really bad about keeping up in general but mainly keeping up with documenting my work as I go.  I am such a immediate gratification type of girl, so once I finish something I package it, ship it  and take no pictures.  I'm trying to be better.  So I thought I would share with you a few things I have completed over the last two weeks. 

 Also, I feel the need to acknowledge that  my art may seem random since it ranges from children's pieces to more abstract work, but it's one of those things that has come full circle for me.  Abstract painting was my focus all along in college, but once I had Little R, I needed some paintings for his nursery so I started what is now Blue Chickadee.   I guess within the last year I got my hand back into abstract pieces and I'm SOOO  happy I did!!!  It is so much fun to feel so free!!  

I'll start with a few pieces I did for some nurseries...

14"X18"

9"x12"

Painting for children's rooms led to painting totes to use as diaper bags (then onto bubbles, bloomers and bibs).  These here are more for the momma but I also paint them for the kiddos with animal silhouettes like the paintings.

This is my favorite

and up close

And here are a few abstract pieces that have no been shipped-woohooo!!!!

 36"X36"

 

36"X36"

a few up close shots

Earlier this week my boys were dying to paint so we broke out the watercolors and went to town..

with no clothes on of course.

I peeked over Little R's shoulder and could not believe his piece!!!  Loving how free he was with his paint instead of trying to "make something" like he usually does.  This one is going to need a frame!

Both the boys work.  

I love that they like to paint as much as their momma!!!

BTW, Little R said this bottom piece is of the planets...I spy Saturn.

Flower Child

1/2/3/4/5

I feel so lucky to live in a town with so , so many creative gals!  Lulie Wallace is one of those ladies who calls Charleston home.  She has been around awhile and I'm sure you have seen her all over Pinterest but I was just feeling the wildflower vibe lately and thought I would share a few inspirational pics.  

PS-  Is her name not great??!!!  Love it and love her work! 

 Go check it here

You can also see that she has collaborated with the likes of Anthropologie, One kings Lane, Serena and Lily and Urban Outfitters!!!  Wowza!!!  

Bookshelf Styling + Ottoman Dance

How fabulous is this nursery?!?!  I mean really!  I helped my friend/partner at Novel. (Lauren) do a little bookshelf styling in her little girl's nursery.  I 'm not sure why she called on me because the girl has ridiculous style herself!!!  This nursery is to die for!!!!!  It is a huge room with super tall ceilings and a lot of gorgeous sunlight pouring in.  Lauren has also been a huge supporter of my business and just happened to have a few of my paintings hanging in the nursery!!  Love, love, love seeing them hung in a home!

Gorgeous baby girl!!!

Below is the wildflower tapestry I did last year to hang in Novel.  I think it looks so cute hanging above the fireplace in her room!!!

Love this little arrangement of pictures above her chest.  The picture on the far right is a framed 1st birthday invitation from her little girl's party.  How cute right?!  The other two paintings were two I painted that just happened to work perfectly with the colors in the invitation.

Ummm dying over this daybed and headboard!!  She just got the nailhead headboard back from the upholsterer and how great does it look!!!  Loving her Urban Outfitters (can't find online now???) spread and all those plush velvet pillows...one lucky baby girl lives here!!!!

Switching gears now, I had a wonderful surprise this week.  Take a look at what my friend Harriet did with my fabric (middle blue and white chevron)....

Ta Da!!!!!!!

Excuse the absolute mess /dog in the background but just keeping things real around here.  How amazing did it turn out?!!!  I told her I didn't want a slipcover because it shifts around too much and I didn't want it upholstered because I wanted to take it off and wash it. 

 Hmmm.... whats a girl to do???

VELCRO

She put velcro on the underside so the fabric overlaps itself to stay in place.  How ingenious in my book because I am totally not handy/inventive when it comes to sewing!!!

And sorry, had to do it, Mr. Big (who is HUGE now and looks silly in diapers but he is still under 2 1/2) needed to make an appearance.  

This child is my crazy one.

Happy weekend folks!!!