These white blossoms are little bits of beauty peeking out from the green leaves on our holly bush. 

Creating Cartoon Animals

Well, it’s no secret that one of my favourite things to create and draw are cartoon animals. I love to come up with interesting positions and funny expressions for them. Then I like to add humorous sayings or messages to them. This last week I’ve designed the cutest teddy bears in spring dresses ( what… teddy bears aren’t animals) for birthday party invitations. I’ve also drawn some cool cats and redesigned a beaver that I created a while back. It’s great that there is no right or wrong when creating your own characters they just are what they are! I’ll share some of them with you here. Hope you enjoy them and to see more come by my store Designs by Shell.

Maintaining Your Fitness Motivation

Some days it is definitely harder than others to stay motivated and inspired to do a good workout. Whether you choose to go to a gym and lift weights and do cardio machines or you prefer to exercise outdoors, one still needs motivation. A few of the ways that work for me are : 1) Set small goals… like today I’m going to do two sets of lunges or add an extra 8 squats to my routine. 2) Think of something healthy that you love to eat like fresh strawberries or a juicy peach and remind yourself how good that will taste when you finish your workout. 3) Wear something stylish or cute (ladies) it really does put you in a better mood than if you just throw on an old t-shirt.  4) Find a workout partner that can motivate you for at least one of your workouts during the week. For me I work out with my husband on the weekend and we help motivate each other. We always have a delicious breakfast after our workout too! So try to make it fun and you’ll stay motivated. Here are some designs from my store that might inspire you too! Designs by Shell

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A Golden Day by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

  This was my neighborhood as I saw it yesterday. 

A Golden Day

The subtle beauty of this day

Hangs o'er me like a fairy spell,

And care and grief have flown away,

And every breeze sings, "all is well."

I ask, "Holds earth or sin, or woe?"

My heart replies, "I do not know."

Nay! all we know, or feel, my heart,

Today is joy undimmed, complete;

In tears or pain we have no part;

The act of breathing is so sweet,

We care no higher joy to name.

What reck we now of wealth or fame?

The past--what matters it to me?

The pain it gave has passed away.

The future--that I cannot see!

I care for nothing save today--

This is a respite from all care,

          And trouble flies--I know not where.

Go on, oh noisy, restless life!

Pass by, oh, feet that seek for heights!

I have no part in aught of strife;

I do not want your vain delights.

The day wraps round me like a spell

And every breeze sings, "All is well."

                                              Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Capturing Great Floral Pictures

Spring is here and the flowers are beginning to show their heads.This is my favourite time of year. Time to get the camera out and capture some beautiful floral pictures. There are a few things to remember when taking photos of flowers and I’ll share them with you here. The first tip being you’ll want to focus on your subject, getting down close to it. Try varying your position and angles to get the perfect picture. Tip # 2 would be to try to take your shots in filtered sunlight or on a slightly overcast day as the bright sun can wash out your images. Tip # 3 is always check for distractions in the foreground/background of your shot. Sometimes weird items lying in the way distract from your subject.  Try these next time you’re outside with your camera.  I thought I’d share some of my products that sell well with my floral photography. Hope you enjoy them and to see more come by my store Designs by Shell.

Technorati Tags: floral,flowers,photography,pictures,designs+by+shell

The Moon

It was a big moon last night just like they promised on the news.  This picture is poor quality, but you can still get a feel for what it was like looking up into the night sky from my back yard.  I decided to get a little of our scraggly pine tree in the picture to help with proportion. 

 The pine wasn't always scraggly, it was once very beautiful.  Bag worms attacked all the trees around us one year and it never really fully recovered from that.  Bag worms are icky and interesting at the same time.  I didn't know about them until the year our tree was infested.  All I can say is when I looked real close at this coccoon hanging from our pine and saw that it was pulsating, I was really grossed out.

Anyway, what a beautiful moon last night!  I didn't think about anything gross when I looked up at the sky, I thought about how lucky I was to be alive.  Moons can be inspiring that way, especially big full ones like last night.

Annabelle's Bone

This is Annabelle's mammoth bone.  At least that's what it said on the package at the store. I don't think there are any more Wooly Mammoth's.  So it's probably really a cow bone. She really does love to gnaw on it. Her jaw muscles get quite the work out--they must be soooo strong.

Doesn't she look cheerful in this photo?  Annabelle always looks happy.  She's the perfect pet for someone who has to battle depression now and then.  She looks so happy and she literally jumps for joy at the sight of you-- you can't help but cheer up a little.