Mehndi Monday

Check out this sleeve that I did recently. I love some of the little details, and I think the fingers are my favorite. I have been doing a lot of hands lately, hoepfully now that things are warming up I can tag some feet soon too.

Happy Mehndi Monday.

Mehndi Monday

I have been enjoying doing so many projects this spring. The weather is so lovely in the pacific northwest, it has made everything feel fresh and new. It is the perfect time of year to be sporting some henna.

Have a great Monday All.

Mehndi Monday

Happy Mehndi Monday Everyone.

This was a fun, simple + quick henna application.

The hands stain really fast and get a rich rust color when dried.

Have a great day All.

Emerge

I love painting people + faces. 

I was kind of intimidated by painting anything other than abstraction for a long time. But the human figure is actually really fun, if you have a reference. 

I love to just let the paint flow + just see what I end up with. And that is how I started working in the beginning, spontaneous, colorful, but admittedly hit or miss. But as I have painted more over the years, I find using a picture or really anything as a reference to be much more rewarding.
I would say this work is somewhere in between. I did use a photo for the face, but then kinda just had fun with some swills for the rest. 

Thanks for checking out my work + have a great day.

Mehndi Monday

Just some more mehndi practice.

As the weather gets nicer it is super fun to wear some henna.

Have a great Monday.

Aphrodite

Here is an oil painting I did a while back. I was taking a class on ancient religions, and we were studying the Greek gods and goddesses. I don't really remember the assignment, except that one of the options was to paint a picture!

So here she is, dancing in the gloaming, my Aphrodite. 

I wish I still had this one, although not super technical, I really enjoyed painting it.

xoxo

Blogiversary + Top 5 Henna Posts

April marks the One Year Blogiversary of this little space.

Henna is one of my favorite things to do + to wear, and I love that this blog has been a great place to document and share my work.

In celebration of the last year I wanted to post my top 5 favorite henna designs.

Enjoy.

Check out more pics and the full post here.

Check out more pics and the full post here

Check out the full post here.

Check out more pics and the full post here.

Check out more pics and the full post here.

Thanks again to everyone who reads and checks in on this blog.
I love being able to share my projects, especially my henna and have it so well received.
Looking forward to even more good stuff in the year to come.
Happy Mehndi Monday.

Blogiversary + The Top 10 Posts

April marks the One Year Blogiversay of this little space.

I cannot believe how much I have enjoyed documenting the last year on this blog.

In celebration I wanted to take a look back at my 10 favorite posts from the lasts 12 months.

Enjoy!

Picassoesque II

I really want to be painting more in general, and this painting is a great reminder to do just that. 

Check out the full post here.

Casting On

This is a special moment because I have never tried to knit anything so ambitious, as a sweater.

Check out the full post here.

Snow and Smuggling

It was a coooooold winter all over. And our little town got snow.

Check out some snowy pics, and my thoughts on plant smuggling in the full post here.

Candle Making

One of my very first posts, and still some of my favorite pictures. 

Check out the full post here.

Today Feels Like Purple
I just love this west coast sunset. Awesome pictures without any filter.
Check out the full post here.

Life Of A Tomato
Growing my very first tomato plant.
Check out the full post here.

DIY Cork Board Display
This is one of my most "popular" posts from the whole year.
Check out the full post here.

Tiles In Parts
I love doing henna on almost anything! Here is how I apply it to ceramic tiles.
Check out the full post here.

Flowers In The Wind
This was the most fun origami project.
Check out my full post here.

Documenting
Last but not least, one of my favorite posts to write.
Check out the full post here.

Thank you to everyone who has been reading and checking in on this blog over the last year. Your readership means a lot, and I really appreciate you taking the time to look at my photos and read my words.
I am looking forward to the next year, with lots of ideas, and crafty projects that I cannot wait to share.
Thank you again for a really fun year, and have a great weekend.
xoxo

Mehndi Monday

Just a little weekend henna.

Hope everyone is surviving this "spring forward" Monday.

Henna on Tile

Just wanted to share some mehndi on tile I did recently.

Although I love the color that the henna leaves, I really really want to be working in color. It has been frustrating though, just trying to get the right consistency using paint. (It is hard to find something that will hold a line the way that henna does.) I have been experimenting with making my own paint...and hopefully will get a good recipe down so I can play more with colors.

In the mean time, henna will definitely do the trick.

Have a great day All.

Mehndi Monday Fail

Much like any art, or really anything in life, sometimes you have a major fail.
I love to show off my work when I like it, but I thought it would be good to share some pics of when things go wrong too. This dsign came together quickly and smoothly...until the quickest and slightest of movements smuggled the whole thing.

I have been working on my henna and mehndi designs for several years; and to me, this work is a true reflection of not necessarily artistic talent, but of practice, practice, practice. Because the truth is when I first started working with henna, I was bad. I mean realllly not good. In fact I appreciate those friends that let me tag them in the early days, and who were all gracious enough to only be encouraging....despite some pretty abstract designs. But I learned from my mistakes, and didn't give up.

Now I mostly am proud of what I can produce. But every so often things get wrecked.

Ironically when the henna dried and the stain was reviled, the smudges were not even noticeable!

I think it is hard sometimes when on the surface things seem a complete disaster, to be patient and see the beauty that is revealed underneath. 

Happy Mehndi Monday Everyone!

Mehndi Monday

I love doing my mehndi on ceramic or wooden surfaces. Here are two plane white 4"x4" ceramic tiles that I have added my original henna design.

Getting back into the swing of things in this new year, and excited for some new projects I have in the works! Including some henna inspirations, knitting challenges and sewing adventures. Looking forward to a project filled, handmade year. Have a great Monday everyone.

Swirls

Here is a picture of an oil painting I did a few years ago. I love this painting mostly because I had such fun painting it. For me, sometimes I can knock out a work in a few hours or sometimes it takes many many....many hours. This labor of love came fast and spontaneously.

"All children are born artists. The problem is to remain an artist once we grow up"

Pablo Picasso 

Mehndi Mondays

Original Mehndi Henna Design by Danielle.

Mehndi Monday

 So this week's henna installment is very cool for me because I did this design on myself!

 I am right handed and all of my henna practice has been with my right hand, but recently I began wondering if I could do it with my left hand....

So here it is. The closer image was applied with my non-dominate hand. 

Pretty cool right?! I don't really know what I can do with my new found talent, but it is definitely a reminder that we all can do amazing things if we don't limit ourselves.

I wonder what else I can do with my left hand...

Happy Hennaing Everyone.

Captured Moments

A Friday ritual. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor, and remember.

If you are inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

It is finally my favorite time of year (anywhere) but especially in the Pacific Northwest. Every morning lately has been filled with fog and cool air, colored by the changing leaves.

Have a happy Friday Everyone.

(This segment is inspired by soulemama.com)

Mehndi Mondays

Original Mehndi Henna design by Danielle.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday.

Mehndi Mondays

Doing henna or having it put on are both so relaxing. The paste I currently use has a wonderful lavender scent, and the henna is so cool when first touches the skin.

I have been really into hand designs lately- have you noticed?!

Happy Hennaing Everyone.

Untitled I

This is an old oil painting I did years ago. It, like many of my paintings, is out in the world somewhere....I always feel so different about my work after some time has passed. I am glad that I have photographs, because to be honest looking at this is like someone else did it. Weird huh?!

Summertime Henna

Just a few photos of some recent mehndi henna work that I did. I love the brown-red color of the henna paste against the green background. Henna paste is a totally natural stain, scented with essental oils. For those who have never had it done, I say give it a try simply for how wonderful it feels on your skin. The paste is cool and the whole process is very tranquil. 

It is beautiful in Oregon today, and I think that we will have some tomatoes off of my very first tomato plant.....any minute now.....

Pretty exciting stuff.