exploring we will go

A while back we made the promise to each other to always make time to seek adventure as a family (you can read about it here). Exploration and going outside is a big part of our daily lives and once in a while I like to share a little peek into our adventures.

for the love of daffodils

Living in Oregon we get A LOT of rain and this time of year can often feel like the rain will never end! But amidst the clouds, the grey, the puddles, the flooding and the mud, the evidence of spring is beginning to emerge. 

The first sign of spring around these parts is always the daffodils! And though it is still raining, the hills, the pastures, the roadside flower stands are all filled with daffodils!

I've been buying up as many daffodils that I can (they are around $1.00 at the roadside stands) and using them with Lucy in our daily learning and creative activities like talking about the color yellow, learning about bulbs, drawing shapes, we even made flower crowns to welcome spring!  

How perfect that when the rain the and grey sky can't get more unbearable, we are blessed with something so bright and beautiful to kick off spring?!


Please note: Daffodils are actually poisonous, especially the bulbs (crazy right?) and when eaten can cause unpleasant stomach issues. I feel like I have to include this info for all the mamas out there. While daffodils are wonderful to enjoy, keep them out of babies and toddlers mouths!

hand painted statement wall

I've been drawing and painting on walls (and even floors) for a long time now. I am pretty sure that my 6th birthday party when my parents let all of us draw on the wall completely changed my perspective on the potential of a wall!

Recently, after rearranging our primary bedroom, I had a sudden urge to do something really dynamic and creative with the huge wall above our bed. I had been debating on creating some large decals or even wallpaper but didn't want to spend the money so I grabbed my paint (of course) and went to town!

I used black acrylic paint mixed with a little bit of water and covered the entire 12 foot wall with a flower pattern. 

I embraced the rough texture of the wall and also let the the paint drip in places.

As much as I love color, I decided to keep the wall black and white so I could change the colors of our bedding.

After about 4 hours of painting, a sore shoulder and a $6.00 tube of black paint, I created a crazy cool statement wall (it's kinda like being inside a page of my sketchbook). And the best part is that it's only paint!

If (or when) we get tired of it we can paint right over it and start over!

my thanks AND giveaway winner!

I just have to say thank you to all of you for playing along with my week of giveaways and for all the wonderful birthday wishes. I had a wonderful birthday complete with a collaborative drawing from Lucy and Andy! We will be celebrating with family for the rest of the weekend!

In the meantime the online class sale will run through Sunday.

Jord Watch GIVEAWAY WINNER- contact me at alisaburke@gmail.com!

fashion friday- jord wood watch giveaway!

Fridays here on the blog are typically dedicated to all things fashion and for my last giveaway of the week I've got a super unique watch to share! I am really picky about the brands and things that I promote here on my blog (I tend to turn down a lot of requests). But when Jord contacted me to see if they could send me one of their wood watches for review, I didn't have to think about it- I mean I'm a nature girl who wears wood jewelry!

Jord watches are beautiful and unique. They are designed to take people back to nature and are handcrafted from wood. I love this watch SO much because it a fabulous alternative to all those trendy gold watches!

Today Jord is giving away one of their featured watches to a lucky reader! In addition to the watch I'm going to throw in a set of my handmade wood burned bangles and a wood ring for the winner!

To win-

Leave me a comment

Tell me your favorite fashion accessory

I'll draw one winner and announce on the blog tomorrow!

CANVAS GIVEAWAY WINNERS-

Email me at alisaburke@gmail.com with your mailing address and we will get your prize in the mail!

Please note that the sale on online classes will end on Sunday!

a canvas giveaway!

Once upon a time (sometime in 2006) I was attending a wedding and couldn't find a purse that I liked to go with my little black dress. So I grabbed one of my messy graffiti paintings, ripped it off the stretcher bars and sewed it into a clutch. Little did I know that this moment would COMPLETELY change the direction of my creative career! I suddenly discovered an entirely new process- creating paintings on canvas and fabric and remixing them into all kinds of accessories. I loved that a piece of art could be completely redefined! Soon after, I wrote a book all about transforming painted canvas in to all kinds of things.

For the past 7 years I have been making all kinds of things out of canvas, I've taught gazillions of classes and written numerous articles about painting and remixing canvas and I never ever get tired of the thrill I get from cutting up canvas paintings and turning them into something new!

rip painting from Alisa Burke on Vimeo.

So today I am sharing my love of canvas with you! I am giving away 3 canvas gift packages that will include-

A signed copy of my book Canvas Remix.

A canvas messy pouch (filled with a few of my favorite supplies). 

A little package of painted canvas scraps to play with!

Leave me a comment- tell me one thing you are grateful for today!

I will randomly select 3 winners and announce tomorrow (Friday)

WOOD BURNING KIT GIVEAWAY WINNERS- email me at alisaburke@gmail.com with your mailing address and we will drop your prize in the mail!

wood burning giveaway!

By now you should know that I am a little obsessed with wood burning- I love that simple materials can be transformed with a little bit of heat! So today I am giving away three wood burning kits complete with a burning tool and lots of wood goodies to burn.

Leave me a comment below

Tell me what the weather looks like outside your window today!

I will draw three names and announce the winners tomorrow (Thursday)

Looking for some wood burning inspiration- check out 10 of my projects below!

1. bangles  2. buttons  3. frames  4.blocks  5.rings  6.wood box  7.twig earrings  8.wood burning tips 9. rustic valentines 10. spoons

DICK BLICK GIFT CERTIFICATE WINNERS-

send me and email at alisaburke@gmail.com and I will get your certificates emailed to you!