Strange Magic

I had just come from a thrilling morning cheering my boys on as they qualified for State with their high school in Cross Country (Go Fenwick Friars!)! One of my sons and I wanted to share the proud news with grandma & grandpa so we stopped by for a visit on our way home from sectionals. After catching up with congratulatory hugs, we were gifted with a pot of chicken soup for the boys accomplishments and headed home. Knowing that Autumn was finally starting to kick in here in Chicago, we left my parents back gate, anxious to see the road that awaited us.

The route we were taking home has always been one of my favorites. Not only it is a scenic drive, it is filled with memories of countless hours spent running, biking, roller blading, horseback riding while in my twenties. The colors always spectacular, the woods lush and vibrant, the trails and the roads offering so much solace, peace and inspiration.

With my youngest son shotgun, I immediately handed him my phone, asking him to video our drive. We were both struck by the majestic beauty of fall in full bloom as we glided along our path. With the serendipitous backdrop of Electric Light Orchestra drifting from the radio, we exited the back gate into a magical autumn paradise. The drive transcended our silence as we sliced through the woods taking in the breathtaking moment. We gazed at the extraordinary colors that showered us as we absorbed the Strange Magic that enveloped us.

This was a moment in time that I will never forget and one that I will especially cherish with my son by my side...

Wedding Invitation Suite

What a thrill to be asked to design a complete custom Wedding Invitation Suite for the very special couple Meg & Max, currently living abroad in Amsterdam. Despite the distance, and added challenge of Covid, we managed to pull this off with beautiful delicate results. The wedding suite consists of all the paper goods sent along with the wedding invitation.

The invitation card, the response and reception cards were customized with the bespoke M&M monogram and letterpress. We included accommodation information and topped everything off with a lovely translucent vellum letterpressed card as a cover sheet. The letterpress invitations were printed on a heavy weight cotton fibrous stock that really demonstrate the beauty of a pressed invitation.

The invites were wrapped in a hand made, hand placed custom envelope liner. The illustrated background floral pattern of the monogram represents Meg’s flower choices of monochromatic white hydrangea and roses she selected for her wedding bouquet and arrangements.

A separate bespoke custom map depicting the event venues and iconic sites around Chicago was illustrated in watercolor. I wanted to illustrate points of interest in Chicago, the city where Max & Meg first met and grew up as well as, include details from their wedding itinerary and give a special nod to Amsterdam, the current city where they reside.

The painted watercolor windmill from Amsterdam was used for the compass rose and the symbol of the VondelPark entrance gate, was used as the east direction symbol. This is the park where M&M spend much of their time strolling and biking while working and living in Amsterdam. The bike icon along the Chicago lake front, was illustrated from the photo Max sent of their bikes that they ride in bike friendly Amsterdam. The painted thumbnail watercolor of the Dutch post impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh’s The Bedroom painting was used as an icon for the Art Institute of Chicago. This is where the second of three versions Van Gogh painting is part of a permanent collection (fun fact; the first Version is located Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, the third is located at the Musée d’Orsay, Paris).

Hope you enjoy the invitations, the photos and the story, as much as I enjoyed creating everything! Would love to hear your comments :)

Congratulations M&M, can’t wait for the big event!!

Halloween Costume Making Is Our Jam

I started really enjoying Halloween when I made my son’s first Halloween costume when he was just 8 months old.  It was just the creative outlet I desperately needed at the time.  As the years progressed, Halloween costume ideas became something we talked, planned and created well in advance.  The kids wanted unique costumes over the years and with my need to create something completely out of my wheelhouse, costume making became our jam.   

13 years later, I am still at it, with help from my 11-year-old and now for the first time, passing the baton to my oldest, as he is making his very own ghillie suit.  I thought this was the perfect time of year to share some of our years past Halloween, semi-home-makes once again, as we are all so excited for costumes & candy fun!

Brooklyn Bridge

After a 15 hour, all night drive to New York with the family, the Brooklyn Bridge was one of the first sites on our checklist to see. My husband had a special delivery on Long Island and we were along for the ride. NYC was a place I had fallen in love with years ago, a place I had promised the kids I would take them someday.  The day had finally come and the excitement of the family was beyond belief! 

I first recall being roused from sleep, in the wee hours of the morning, by the rumbling of the car as we were crossing Throgs Neck Bridge en route to Long Island. Looking south for any glimmer of NYC, still too dark, sleepy eyed and probably too far north, my plans were thwarted.  It wasn’t until we headed back into the city, just after sunrise; that we found ourselves headed directly into Manhattan via the incredible Brooklyn Bridge.  Maybe it was the gentle glow of the sunrise, maybe even the golden color of the massive limestone and granite masonry piers peeking through the early light and speaking directly to us. Or maybe, just the morning excitement of everyone first seeing the illuminated gates and web of steel suspension cables in a twisted perspective of converging lines welcoming us into Manhattan.  Whatever it was, the Brooklyn Bridge became the glowing magic doorway to the city that never sleeps…an inviting entrance that created a lasting visual symbol to the beginning of an exciting and amazing NYC adventure!

Brooklyn Bridge

11 x 14 Edition of 300

15 x 18 Edition of 200

To purchase prints, click on the Brooklyn Bridge image above.

Prints available at http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/brooklyn-bridge

DIY Costumes

      November 03, 2013          

This is becoming one of our things, the kids and I making serious Halloween Costumes!  It started with their own leather (pleather from Target) jackets and real bull whips to add to their Indiana Jones Halloween costumes.  The following year, they wanted to be a "real" Military Lego Minifigure and Icee Polar Bear. Went to the army surplus store to buy an actual military dress uniform and sized it and fit it to a custom foam board body we constructed.  Went to the Brookfield Zoo to purchase a polar bear mask & paws.  Still needed to make the fur hat, hind paws and Icee Letterman sweater and awesome Icee Trick or Treat Bag.  Last year it was a Pokemon Card, a specific card mind you and a different Lego Minifigure, the Lego Robot. This year, it was Steve and an Enderman from Minecraft, again with specially designed Trick or Treat bags and accessories.  The products the kids love, come to life, their obsession of the year seems to crescendo into Halloween costumes.  We usually buy some store bought  pieces and add to the costume with some homemade accessories. The accessories are where it is at, the kids keep coming up with items to add, making their costumes more unique and their very own. 

Ingredients: Store bought finds + handmade crafting + DIY instructables + alot of foam core + glue gun+ cutting + pasting + patience + most importantly + kids imagination!

Enderman & Steve from Minecraft

Enderman and his Grass Block Trick or Treat Bag.  Enderpearl inside. 

Steve Head to Toe with Custom  Iron Armor and Treasure Chest and Diamonds & Golden Apple inside. 

Pokemon Card & Lego Robot

Lego Robot

Pokemon Card

Icee Polar Bear & Military Lego Figure

Looked all over for this exact color, finally went to Army Surplus and cut and sewed an actual dress military uniform to fit the foam core body we created.

Particularly liked the Lego head we made with the cap of the yellow spray paint used to paint his head.

Icee with is custom Trick or Treat bag

He's the Icee Polar Man! 

Creating A Website

This website has been long in the making!  Thought it was going to be a huge undertaking, didn't realize it was right at my fingertips.  Heard about Squarespace from the amazing photographer, Sheri@cityBeestudio.  Thanks Sheri!  Have always wanted a website, just didn't realize I was the one who was going to be creating it! 

Well, here goes...

I will be using this area mostly as a photo Blog,  posting pics of works in progress as well as, anything going on in my little world.  Below, I am working on a new Travel Watercolor that will be available Holiday 2013, titled I Believe, Rockefeller Center, NYC at my Etsy Store www.etsy.com/shop/reneeleonestudio .

My Travel Watercolor Series represent chapters of my life, culminating in an artistic journal depicting the places I have been and the experiences I have encountered along the way.  My goal is to complete at least one image from every state in the US. Almost there!

Please feel free to make comments and or ask questions.  Looking forward to figuring this all out!

View fullsize

Working on I Believe, Rockefeller Center, NYC