Inspiration Tuesday - a little practical magic.

One of my all time favorite movies to date is the wonderful Practical Magic, if you've never seen it, do check it out, it's so beautiful in its story, and its set. So my Inspiration for the week is based loosely around the movie...and the feeling that movie gives me.

image from a Fanciful Twist

with gardens that make you want to sit and just lazily bask in the sun...

 

to rooms, filled with clutter and wonder

 

to adding the leaves around you to the pages of your journal...

to women who run in the wild...

to the deer...that gallop through the snow...

there are so many beautiful feelings this movie brings to the surface...

Even though I had watched this movie so many times during my teens and early 20's I sat there the other night, glued as if it was the first time I had seen it...

I hope this has inspired you to pop on the movie, and get lost in the beautiful

xx Courtney

Blog Give Away Winner!!!!

I was going to get my teacup humans to draw this give away, but both are in foul moods! (one day of holidays left) so I went to trusty random generator, being this my first time using this thing, I had to google how to screen shot and everything lol! Learning Curve!!!

So the winning comment was number 5! which was....drum roll pleaseeeeee

Kerry SinigagliaApril 22, 2013 at 4:07 PM

Courtney.You are so talented and generous.I know that your dreams of becoming a fully fledged artist will become a reality.In fact I believe that you already are.You have such a great style and beautiful heart.I haven't known you long, or personally, but through fb and your blogposts, I can tell you have so much to share.Good luck to everyone, but especially you Courtney. DREAM B I G ! Congrats on 3 years blogging. I have one but not sure how to use it.LOL.I'll join you one day.


Congratulations Kerry! please email me at theinnerstitch@gmail.com with your address and I will get the lovely little forest girl bubble wrapped and posted!!!

have a fanstastic Monday guys, and thankyou all so much with the lovely comments left for me on the giveaway post! it was so humbling.
I will be back tomorrow with an inspiration post!
xx
Courtney

3 Year Blog Anniversary! GIVEAWAY!!

I cant believe it, its been three years since I started writing this little blog, and how my life has changed! I've been through so many ups and downs, silences and time of much to say...hopefully this blog grows with more time but for now I am really happy for the lovely followers I have at the moment! You guys make me want to write and art!

I mentioned on my facebook page that I thought it was time a lovely give away, so I ambled into the studio to create a canvas to give away! This is my first piece of art that I'm letting leave my hands...hopefully as I get my bits and bobs together, there will be more original art in my etsy store, as well as prints, badges, and a few surprises! all of this takes time!!!

so lets get to the actual item that I'm giving away

this little nook dweller came from the slaps of paint and collage papers one night when I was stuck for what to make, so I just painted...and before i know it, she popped out.

shes is a little tree spirit, who holds rainbows in her leaves to keep her from jumping into the dark lake! she is a lot like me to be honest.

to win this little forest beauty

All you have to do is leave a comment and be sure to leave your email address so we can get in contact with you.

Earn Extra Entries:  *Follow Little Raven Ink

* Follow LittleRavenink on Bloglovin

*Like Courtney Brook Raven Ink on Facebook

*Follow Little Raven Ink on Twitter

*Spread the love about this giveaway on your blog, twitter or facebook 

 

Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry.

 

Entries Close the 29th April 2013 

I will put everyones entries and bonus entries into a hat and have my little teacup humans draw a winner

 Goodluck!!!

xx Courtney  

 

Friday Pages - Bursting with colour!

welcome to another friday of Fridays Pages, a collection of stuff I've been working on, so you guys can keep up with my bits and bobs!

I've been trying to work on my homework for mermaid circus, so alot of it based around that, actually looking over my images, all of it is related to that course lol.

getting some face work back into my journals, I've spent so long living in my nookdweller world that I'd not given faces much of a look! so it was time to start sketching and getting out my pencils and markers to make some faces!

My darling man took me to officeworks the other day so I could photocopy up a storm! including collage sheets by the lovely Teesha that she designed just for the course, and pages of my own stuff to start using for collage work...I re sized an image I did during one of Janes courses, to turn into my next mermaid in my book!

Week one had me cutting up a storm, I had such a fun time making this collaged beauty, I've never really collaged in the traditional sense, but I really enjoyed the process, one I think I'll incorporate into my work more often! something I can do while watching tv with the Mr.

Playing with my creatures, and some more facework, I'm really liking the general size of this journal, its a nice holding size when I'm sitting and drawing.

That's all from me today!
if there is anything you'd like to know about these pages, just ask me in the comments and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!
xx Courtney

I Do Wednesday - Save The Dates.

At the moment I am currently lost amongst the save the dates! ours is a long way off being even made or thought of, but there are some really CUTE ones swimming about pintrest! Here are some that have caught my eye...and inspiring the look and feel of our own save the dates

 

the artist in me loves the little modern silhouetted figures and the text, this was definitely a fave.

this was a collection I found on pintrest, that made me smile, I think the photographic way is the way Im leaning, but I change my mind on a whim, I love the ground posing ones the best...they have made me smile every time I see them done!

This one set my heart a flutter, getting their save the dates printed onto vintage hankies! so so beautiful, would be a huge task to accomplish, but what a beautiful whimsy touch this one was. I could only dream of doing something that sweet and unique.

pop ups!!! who doesn't love a little old fashioned pop up, this was adorable! loved the vintage feel to it.

and last on my list...some beautiful little character drawings, this almost had me trying to draw john and in character form!

so many creative and wonderful ideas!
I shall have to sit and think about it, now my mind is bursting with ideas!
have a Beautiful Wednesday
xx Courtney

Inspiration Tuesday - Illustration Obsession.

Lately I've been drawn into the lovely world of illustration side of pintrest, finding kooky creatures, and whimsy laden words I've gotten lost in the lovelieness of it all. I need to start filling my walls with prints of these artworks...I need a wall devoted to it in my house...let me take you away...

If i can track down the original artist, I link back otherwise all images found via pintrest.

This beautiful soft sad little character stole my heart. I adore her...and the fact that she is on a bookpage makes her most lovely.

 a little tree character to make you smile! I see her walking through the forest making sure all the trees are happy, her leaves shaking when she laughs. so simple and yet so emotive.

from the amazing mind of Nathaniel Mather This is so cute! I saw it and had to include it in my picks for today's inspiration!

a girlfriend of mine loves boats, so I saw this and thought of her...traveling the ocean and the stars by boat..what better way to do some traveling.

I'll be back tomorrow with an I do Wedding Wednesday Post..and also will be posting some of my work I'm working on in the Mermaid Circus post..I didn't get Friday pages done as I was at my sickest with this cold thats holding on for dear life! so more art to come, I promise.

I hope you enjoyed a step into my world...and my love for illustration.
x Courtney

Monday Mantra - Why Not?

It's another Monday morning, and I'm looking through my picks for Monday Mantra, and this one seems fitting. Why not Today? there is nothing from stopping us from making changes today. If we wait for the perfect moment, we will never change something. You can change your life at any stage, you just have to be willing to jump in with both feet.
So Why not today? change something today, try something today...there is no time like the present.
xx Courtney