Handmade valentines & learning Hebrew

I'm trying to learn Hebrew, and so for my valentines this year I decided to write "love" in Hebrew. It's pronounced "ahava" and spelled אהבה .

I made them out of repurposed thin cardboard from a coffee cup carrier (and some scrap card stock with drafts of illustrations on it), which I painted with watercolors, and then drew on with gel pens and markers.

Practicing drawing mouths

Handmade cat potholders

I made these potholders as a gift for a partner's birthday.

After much deliberation over fabric options, I bought the jumping cats fabric at Gather Here in Somerville, MA and the other fabrics at Joann's Fabrics in Brockton, MA. I usually use secondhand fabrics (for environmental reasons), but this time I really wanted to make something inspired by his style, so I needed more options.

I took these photos after he had used them a few times, so they're a little dirty. Also, the stitching is imperfect, but he loved them, and I like them anyway.

They each have a little pocket to put your hand in.

Recent illustrations

Some mail art and illustrations I've made recently. The map is meant to be Union Square in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Handmade Mother's Day card

I made this card for my mom with gel pens on card stock.

Illustrated Boom Boom the cat glitter holiday ornament

Happy December!

I made this Christmas tree ornament for my friend, with an illustration of her cat Boom Boom. I also used lots of glitter, because why not?

I drew Boom Boom on white card stock, then pasted him onto gold glitter paper which I cut into a circle using zigzag scissors. Then I cut a piece of cardboard into a slightly larger circle, wrapped gold tissue paper around it, which I secured with glue, and gathered the ends of the tissue paper on the front, to be covered by the glitter paper. I also added some extra glitter on top of the tissue paper to give it more sparkle. Then I used a hole punch to make a hold for the ribbon.

It's so cute in a little gift box!

Illustrated pecan pie magnet and fabric bag

I made this glittery magnet for a loved one whose favorite pie is pecan.

I drew the pie on card stock using markers and colored pencils. Then I covered it in a coat of Mod Podge, added a little gold glitter, and stuck a magnet to the back of it (on top of another layer of card stock to keep it firm).

The back of the magnet

I made this little fabric bag to put the magnet in.

Birthday banner with collage and stamps

I've been working on this birthday banner for my best friend Christine for the past couple days, and I finished it last night! It is double sided so it can either be hung in a large doorway/opening, or turned around to the non-birthday specific side and used at any time of year.

It says, "Happy birthday Christine!" in gold sharpie. It is easier to read in real life.

I stamped white card stock with bingo stamps that I got on a recent trip to Florida where I went to bingo night with my aunt. Then I put purple "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" stamps on top of that with a label stamp that can spell out anything. I colored white ribbon gold with a gold sharpie.

The back is collaged with prints, flowers, and hearts.

This was the back of one of the collaged sides, and I tested out a stamp color on it (which I decided would be too dark), but I thought it was a beautiful composition, even though it was unintentional.