**Update: Giveway Now Closed**
So you might have noticed the blog has a few lulls every now and again. This typically happens when things get a little crazy around here. You see, in addition to crafting, blogging and the typical mom stuff (soccer camp, art camp, music class, oh my!) I more than likely have a number of exciting illustration projects on my plate. And so I thought, instead of hiding out when this happens, why not share a few of them with you?! I do have an illustration blog, that is quite neglected and not at all updated regularly, but I think I might try to merge some of these things onto Mer Mag. What do you think? Would you be interested?
At the moment I'm working on a super super fun project! I can't disclose what it is but it involves horses and I just can't wait to share it! I also have a number of other book projects going on that are just so cute and so much fun! If you are interested in looking up some of my work, I illustrate under the "pen name" Tuesday Mourning. Long story but basically I just loved the name and enjoy it when artist personas are as whimsical as their work.You might have noticed from this blog that I love children's toys and so when I have the opportunity to illustrate for companies like Mudpuppy, working on great projects such as these fun finger puppets and flip draw book, I'm just head over heels! I'm crazy for this kind of stuff, aren't you? And I have to say, you should get some, because they are so much fun! And better yet, super affordable. The finger puppets are only $6 and the flip draw book is $8! Perfect birthday gifts, if you ask me.
And guess what? I'd love to share some with you! I've decided to gift a set of finger puppets and a ballerina flip draw book to one lucky reader. What do you say?! Just make a comment mentioning one of your favorite creative summer activities and I'll enter you into the drawing to win these fun gifts! And if you like "mer mag" on facebook and I'll enter you in twice! (I know, I'm seriously a slow poke when it comes to social networking - just joined Instagram this past week - so I'm finally getting around to really sharing mer mag on facebook :)).You have until Friday to enter. I'll then Announce the winner on Monday, June 25th!
I'm an aspiring illustrator, and I would love for you to share more of your illustrations on the blog!
ReplyDeleteThe flip book is awesome! What a cute ballerina :0)
ADORABLE!!!!! You are wonderwoman.
ReplyDeletemy favorite summer activity is going to Malibu Beach. My mum and I like to order cheese pizza in a box and take it with us. My mum relaxes and watches me hunt for little sea snails.
ReplyDeletethank you
claire
my daughter Lilyanne says she loves the flip book!
ReplyDeleteI say merge your illustration blog with mer mag, perhaps less work for you. :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite summer activity is going to the ocean in Maine (which sadly doesn't happen every summer!).
I love your these new projects you are working on! Your crafts ideas are very inspiring too :)
I love to use leaves in summer projects. I thought it would be nice to collect all the different tree species' leaves and paste them to a piece of cardboard, or make rubbings of them and then identify them and draw the distinguishing characteristics of each tree on the tree so that you end up with a hybrid of the entire neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI like to use nature. I think collecting a leaf from each tree in the neighborhood and making a hybrid collage would be cool.
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to see more of your art here.
ReplyDeleteYou know, there's so many great creative projects out there, and when I'm browsing Pinterest, sometimes I get super overwhelmed. When push comes to shove (every day!)we just like to draw and paint! With crayons, markers, pens, different kinds of paints...it never gets old.
Also, I'm going to like you on FB.
Also, my little girl is loving those puppets!!
madmim.com
Love this books!
ReplyDeleteA favourite creative summer activity? Preparing little boats with recycled materials for my small daughter and putting them to float on the pool...
I think the beach would be my favourite Summer activity, next Summer ( I'm in NZ) I'm going to to take some plaster of paris along and make some shell and hand print sculptures using the sand as a mould.
ReplyDeleteI love your work - it is beautiful and whimsical as always. My children both adore your work and use it to base off their own ideas for making puppets and dolls. It is most assuredly one of their favorite activities.
ReplyDeleteThese really are gorgeous & the perfect birthday gift. Where are/will they [be] available?
ReplyDeleteFavorite summer activity: hmmm, there are so many. We've got it down to a science here. Pool, stops at THE BEST shaved ice stand in Dallas, gardening (more like harvesting..yum!), short trips to our favorite fruit stand in the "country," the promise of a vacation, even if it's just a road trip to see family...hmmm, what did I miss? :)
My favorite summer creative activity was sewing! I learned to sew by working on 4-H projects, mostly in the summer. I must have been a nerdy 9 year old to think that was a lot of fun.
ReplyDeletemy favorite summer activity is going to the beach! :D
ReplyDeleteWe just made hand print paper lilies for my husband for Father's Day but so far I really am enjoying doing letter crafts with the kids. I bought an ebook with ideas but most of them are on the website of the author (noflashcards.com). Simple and educational, can't beat that. :)
ReplyDeletemy girls would fight over both of these!
ReplyDeletewe love all that you do!
our favorite summer activity is taking little road trips, the little spots that you wouldn't plan a big tip to...for instance this summer we want to check out virginia city, an old mining town (it's perfect since we're moving nearby to reno)
i liked mer mag on face book too :)
Oh, these are so lovely! I've been lurking your blog for a while - I found it by accident-ish and ever since I've been hooked. Your artwork is lovely! My favourite summer time activity is definitely spending time with my nieces. I'm not a mommy yet and hopefully still have a while to go (I'm 20) but I've always loved crafting and doing fun activities with the girls. I'm already the favourite aunt - score! Haha, this is really super lovely and I'll continue to follow your work! xx
ReplyDeleteOh, I also liked you on Facebook! Forgot to mention that haha :'D
ReplyDeleteSuch sweetness!
ReplyDeleteThe finger puppets and flip books are such great ideas and so cute. My daughter would surely love them!
ReplyDeleteOne of our favorite creative summer activity is filling balloons with homemade cornstarch paint in neon colors. We like to bomb the neighborhood sidewalks with some paint and my daughter loves sitting on top of the balloons that are harder to burst. It all comes out in the wash or with the next summer thunderstorm so it's good clean/messy fun!
Oh and I liked your page on Facebook!
DeleteThe pool is my favorite summer activity. I really enjoy seeing all your fun creations! I wish I had a little part of your creativity.
ReplyDeleteHow nice! Your art and kid projects are always tops. Summer or not, our favorite creative activity involves food. My kids and I like to decorate everything from cakes to quesadillas.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely merge the blogs. One of my favorite blogs is Secret Agent Josephine, I came for the art, I stayed for the story. It makes the coloring books and projects so much more appealing when I feel as invested as I do in the artist. Favorite summer activity... Changes every year! this year we are very into popsicles. When a beach is on the agenda, that's always the highlight, but we live a looooong way from coasts, so it's not happening this year.
ReplyDeleteYES, PLEASE! Love ya.
ReplyDeleteMy fav summer activity is making paper mache toys and pinwheels. I get a lot of inspiration from you too :)
ReplyDeleteIn the summer we like going to the beach, going to Menchies for frozen yogurt, walking around town and going to the park and library and HANGING OUT with friends!! So come down for a visit, Mer. Serious. And I love seeing what you are working on. You are so inspiring.
ReplyDeletethe beach...the library...menchies...needing all three today :). And with you and your little boys too!
DeleteFirst of all, you are so talented!! Second, my favorite summer activity is to travel to Europe because there is no better place at this time of the year!
ReplyDeleteLove the flip book. This would keep my granddaughters busy for hours and hours!
ReplyDeleteMy little girl would LOVE the adorable ballerina!!!!! I love your blog...
ReplyDeleteKindest regards
rosa & limone
I like the idea of you sharing your illustrations on here, from both pseudonyms!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite summer activities was actually the "summer game" as we called it. We would make up families, draw house plans, make paper dolls, and play-act all summer long. I still have some of those dolls. :o)
My little girl would love the puppets! So cute! Our favorite summer activity is to get out in nature and explore.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite creative summer activities is drawing with sidewalk chalk with my kids.
ReplyDeleteI love your illustrations and I would love to win these for my 7 year old! <3
I've got an idea to sew flip book for small children. Thank you. This is also one of my summer sewing projects. :) With best wishes from Slovenia to the other side of the globe.
ReplyDeleteOh! And I'm a fan on FB! :)
ReplyDeleteI would love anything of yours. You are so creative! My favorite summer activity has to be riding our bikes to the farmers market.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful, congratulations. My favorite summer activity is going berry picking, then eating them and making jam from them. Yum!
ReplyDeleteThose are just about the cutest things ever!
ReplyDeleteOne of our fav summer activities is making homemade popsicles. We love to get creative, and I've noticed that my kids are much more likely to try new flavors if it is in popsicle form. :) Win!
My five year old daughter, Edie, is dying over both the finger puppets and the flip book! Our favorite creative summer activity is to do all the messy art projects out on the patio.
ReplyDeleteFirst: please do share your illustration projects with your blog crew. we love your imagination, weather for fun or for feeding the fam! second: my favorite summer craft is sun prints! and i just got a kit for my daughter for her fifth birthday, so i'm eager to get out there and share this sort of magical process with her and her little sis. third: love the 'finger puppets' and flip book! i had no idea that i was already an admirer of your work in another format! the worlds collide! thanks for sharing so many of your ideas with us!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite summer time activity is painting outside. Well, watching my son paint outside! :)
ReplyDeleteHi. We met awhile back at one of Kenny and Amber's kids birthday parties. I'm his cousin. Anyway, I recently found your blog again and think you are incredibly talented and inspiring. Thanks for all of your ideas, and I thought what better time to say it then when you have a giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHey cuz! Everything is oh so lovely on your blog. Amazing. So this summer me and the kids made a summer fun jar so I don't have to be as creative everyday. Each week they pick out an outing, a food to make, and an activity to do at home and we make sure we do all three that week. Hope you're having a great summer! xo
ReplyDeletelovely!! my daughter would ADORE these! and wow, you have such wonderful talent. keep up the fabulous work!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite summer craft project is setting up the easel in the backyard and letting the kids paint. Somehow messes seem more manageable in the summer. :)
ReplyDeletestephanie_r_bailey@yahoo.com
Oh- forgot to mention I'm also a Facebook fan. :)
ReplyDeletestephanie_r_bailey@yahoo.com
Amazing blog! im so happy i walked in here!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing to do in our hot Israeli summers is to hike early in the morning to a spring or a river, and enjoy nature.
These look so cute! My favorite craft project this summer is making a bright garland out of left over linen and easter egg dye. We just painted each flag and then sewed them onto a long thin strip of fabric- sewing done by her! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhen it's warm enough we love to paint on the fence and walls outside with a bucket of water and brushes. It's fun to see how long the picture will stay or how quickly it evaporates in the sun.
ReplyDeleteMy kiddos love to trace themselves with sidewalk chalk and then decorate their outlines on the driveway. Love the blog and hope I win! :)
ReplyDeletehey merilee! glad i found your blog. these books are amazing and i love your art too! my favorite summer activity is taking the kids on a bike ride with my man. not too creative but still.
ReplyDeleteOur favorite summer acitivity is taking our sketchpads outside and drawing the bugs we see.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first summer I can really celebrate with my 14 month old daughter. My favorite activity, is sitting in the evening beside a little bom-fire, nestled in with a warm blanket, a cup of hot cappuccino and roast marshmallows. It's always been a tradition I've wanted to start with my own family, and this summer our daughter will get to enjoy it. :)
ReplyDeleteI have not one creative bone in my body. Luckily I just had my first baby, so I have a year or two before I have to start coming up with fun activities for her. One of my favorite (non-creative) summertime activities when I was young was racing leaves down the gutter, and dancing, during torrential downpours.
ReplyDeleteSno cones and water parks
ReplyDeleteand I liked you on FB
I got linked here due to the flip book, but the finger puppets are cute too!
ReplyDeleteI was excited to use a "deal voucher" the day after my birthday to take my kids to the paint-your-own-pottery place. It was neat to see what they chose to do and I worked on a couple of blank tiles. It was a lot of fun....and air conditioned!
I'd love to win! I have a little one coming in Aug and could use it! Thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteThese are rad! The flip and draw book especially. We got so excite we had to go and make our own finger puppets from some old cereal boxes. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMy friends ( all about age 30 and most with phd's ) get together to craft. We open up a pininterest board and try to do as many activities under the category as possible. Lately we have been obsessed with campy friendship bracelets with "adult details" like washers and spikes and gold charms. Next week : upcycled tshirt rag rugs !!
ReplyDeleteMy four year old is crazy about dragons and princesses. Forget the rescuing princes, they aren't needed :)! She's awesome!
We love hiking in the summer! Nothing like watching the little ones discover and explore the world around them!
ReplyDeleteI liked you on FB, too! My girls would love the giveaway!
just ran across this, how cute are those puppets?!
ReplyDeleteduring the summer we love to paint. my 3 year old nephew loves doing that when it's raining outside here in sunny florida.
*This* is why I love the internet. I stumble upon fantastic art and inspiration for myself and my babes. I adore Mudpuppy,they produce my kind of art. Your work is grand! Thank you for sharing and having this blog---I will be returning and certainly 'friending' you on the book of faces. :) Happy creating!
ReplyDeleteDrawing with my granddaughter who would love the finger puppets
ReplyDeleteSo far, my favorite summer creative activity is perler beads (the ones you iron to melt together). I'm more than a little addicted - it's fun!
ReplyDeletefabulous! i just took Princess Peepers back to the library today and was wondering if Tuesday Mourning was your real name! So fun! Love those puppets!
ReplyDelete