Update.

...well, it's official. Half of my grad school portfolio is lost or compromised. My deadline for submission is in 3 weeks. Please excuse me while I proceed to have a heart attack, stroke, and go off the deep end all at the same time.

Update Update: My cousin is going to try and pull out the hard drive to recover my files. Hopefully it'll work. I'm so blessed to have so many friends who offered to help :)

Life Update + WIP

A small life update... my faithful old PC was hit very hard with a virus on Friday. Due to crazy amounts of stress, I took off for the early part of the weekend to hang with one of the best people I know, my lovely friend Amber. I still have some fiddling around to do, but there is a chance I may not be able to recover my files from my old computer. I'm hoping this is not the case, as most of my grad school portfolio is on there and would be lost to me just 3 weeks before the deadline after months of work.

If you would be so kind as to think a few good thoughts for my thumb-drive as it braves the hopefully-not-too-scary platform of my Safe Mode start-up to rescue my poor files, that would be amazing.

In the meantime, I leave you with a work in progress of my latest commission, [hopefully not] lost in the depths of my wounded PC.

2 hours, on 1 layer.
{ art (c) erin mcmanness 2011 }

Coffeeshop Drawing

 

"I was honestly too exhausted to care anymore."

{ art (c) erin mcmanness 2011 }

I sat in a coffee shop for awhile tonight, working on this drawing. It was nice to just let my pencil do what it would without too many rules.


I think about you everyday.

Thursdays are for making friends.

Today I was greeted by an unusual guest.

I had been hearing little noises all over the kitchen and living room the other day, and after a lot of searching, I just convinced myself I was going off the deep end. My life has been very strange lately, so this conclusion didn't really surprise me. But today, I sat down at my computer with my coffee to start working; I heard tiny feet scurrying. I looked down, and there was Mr. Mole, looking right up at me.

I have often noticed that I have a special relationship with animals.

They like me, and I like them. I was just telling my friend how I believe have two superpowers: 1) I can be hilariously awkward, and 2) I can befriend animals with the skill of a Disney Princess. So Mr. Mole and I have been getting acquainted as I've worked today. I get up to refill my coffee mug, he scurries under the stove. I sit back down, he comes out and looks at me and does laps around the kitchen. He is currently sitting right next to my boot, happy as a clam. I think I may name him Ned.

During the day, I usually have my ferocious dog Rufus to keep me company. He protects me from invaders, reminds me when it's time to exercise, and does the occasional filing and faxing. Today he was being a lazy bum, until he heard Ned running around the kitchen and decided to investigate.

My ferocious dog really is very intimidating. Long story short, ferocious dog is now sitting up on a chair, being very brave and whining as Ned the mole runs all around the kitchen.

Do you have silly animals that keep you company if you work from home?

More Winterbirds & a Sneak Peek...

Happy Monday, lovely birds ~ I hope everyone had a great weekend. I spent mine up in Philly, visiting my family, watching lots of football (Go Ravens!!!), and helping my dear old dad take some photos for his online business :)

This week will start my complete and total plunge into putting the finishing touches on my new portfolio for graduate school. Submitting this new portfolio will hopefully help me to receive some more scholarship aid and lessen the cost of school. Good thoughts for a diligent heart and mind over the next 3 weeks would be appreciated! My self-set deadline is Thanksgiving, and especially with daylight savings, it's creeping up on me faster than I would care to admit!

For now, the last of the Winterbird Collection is already up in my shop!

 I would love if you'd like to go check them out! They make great accessories for your wintery outfits, and even better gifts for stylish loved ones :)

1 // the Nahimana, meaning "Mystic"   2 // the Meda, meaning "Prophetess"   3 // the Chilaili, meaning "Snowbird"

Thanks for taking a look! And after I finish with my portfolio...

{ all images (c) erin mcmanness / mirilovelove 2011 }

Whale in the Window - Work in Progress

Tonight after dinner I set down to work on a couple of commissions that are on my waiting list, after finishing some deluxe necklaces from the Winterbird Collection. Already Winterbirds are starting to go! Exciting! I'll be photographing the newest amores-for-your-collarbones tomorrow!

And now, here is a lovely work in progress of one of my commissions.
I sort of fell in love with Mr. Whale there and got carried away :) Those are the best commissions: when it's 2am and I'm like, "Awww, do I HAVE TO go to bed?!" I'm not 100% sold on the yellow/orange walls. We'll see if those change. I usually paint to my Instrumental Playlist on youtube; there's something about it, it just helps it flow. Tonight I was diggin on one of my all-time favourites: the Braveheart Theme. Hauntingly beautiful, perfect for an underwater scene with a ginormous whale suspended in the bubbles. It's my favourite movie, hollllly cow.

"You're mad, bonkers, off your head. But I'll tell you a secret:

all the best people are."

{ Alice in Wonderland }

 

Happy Thursday, lovely birds ~

Inspiration & Preview - Winterbird Collection

Over the past several days and nights, I have been diligently working (aka: sculpting, carving, painting, drinking hot apple cider, and watching Food Network) on my new line, titled: 

"Winterbird"

 { click here to shop }

After re-evaluating some things in my personal life, I wanted to create a line that represented 

freedom, flight, and the notion of unlimited possibilities.

The Winterbird is an elegant, romantic lady; a woman who knows how to weather the storm, take flight, and sing in the dead of winter.

All you creatives know how it is: you turn off your light, pull your covers up, snuggle in, get comfortable... and wham. You're hit with a brilliant idea. (They actually do say that laying down increases creative activity in your brain) I've learned the hard way that I just won't "remember it in the morning", so I flick my light back on, flip open to a new page in my sketchbook, and start sketching. 

The Winterbird line started this way: as a 2am sketchbook must-do. Each feather pendant in the collection is hand-carved from individually mixed colours of polymer clay. I took care to cut each feather in a unique way, and select special gems, vintage pieces, and findings for each pendant. Each feather is hand-etched, and some are hand-painted.

Over the next couple of days, I will be updating 

My Etsy Shop, { The Little Bird }

with all of the new Winterbird necklaces. This is actually only a preview - I have 9 gorgeous, unique necklaces that aren't even pictured here! Keep your eyes on my shop this week to see all of the new pieces!

(All images above are (c) Erin McManness / Mirilovelove 2011)

Lastly, I wanted to share some of my inspirations for creating the Winterbird line.

(All images below are credited to pinterest.com and their respective owners)

Thank you for reading! Happy Wednesday! 

(and don't forget to check out my shop!)