Aren't these the happiest darn illustrations? I came across Katie Vernon's lovely work while browsing for all things spring on Etsy. While busy curating springtime images, I was stopped dead in my tracks by Katie's work. These prints embody everything I love about spring; flowers in full bloom, lively creatures (mystical unicorns included) and bright, fanciful color. Plus, they make me smile. Alot. 

Katie is an illustrator based in Bloomington, Indiana and her illustrations are heavily influenced by her career as a florist.  I still can't decide which image is my favorite although that squirrel and hedgehog have my vote for cutest of the bunch. Katie sells all of  these delightful prints in her etsy shop, Chipmunk Cheeks.  You can make a whole wall of happy with these Flora & Fauna prints. Which one is your favorite? 

Isn't this work amazing? 
I had the opportunity to catch the Sheila Hicks retrospective exhibit at The Mint Museum and fell in love with this woman's colorful work.  Boy, did she do some WORK! Fifty years of it. 

Heavily influenced by South American textiles and weaving techniques, Hicks works with handcrafted linen dyed by hand and creates stunning visuals with color and scale.  One of her pieces, "Mega Footprint Near the Hutch"  extended 50 feet from the ceiling of the Mint down three flights  to the lobby floor. Truly amazing. 

If you're in the Charlotte area, the exhibit is here for one more week, closing on January 29. Catch it if you can! 

Here some other links from my week worth noting...

This movie hits the Queen City this week. Get your tickets!