Watercolor Grape Hyacinths

One of my smallest paintings ever.............

Original Watercolor Painting of Purple Grape Hyacinth Flowers by Elise Engh: Grow Creative
Original Watercolor Painting of Purple Grape Hyacinth Flowers by Elise Engh: Grow Creative
Original Watercolor Painting of Purple Grape Hyacinth Flowers by Elise Engh: Grow Creative
Original Watercolor Painting of Purple Grape Hyacinth Flowers by Elise Engh: Grow Creative

....but also one of my prettiest.  This one got snatched up only a few days after listing it in my shop!  I love it when that happens!

Photos of the Week

Some of the small things that made me happy last week......

Purple Lilac Blossoms:  Grow Creative

....... all except the dandelions.  I can't say I'm happy about those pernicious little weeds all over my lawn.  Oh well.  I'm doing my best to focus on better things than dandelions and migraines, even though I can't get rid of either completely.  I find it's better to look for the good stuff.  The lilacs and kids playing cars in the grass.  The signs that life is not all that bad.  

A Look at my Sketchbook

Having some fun with markers, pens, and crayons.........

Maker and Pen Paper Bookmarks: Grow Creative
Maker and Pen Paper Bookmarks: Grow Creative
Blue and Green Mandala Design in Marker:  Grow Creative
Maker and Pen Paper Bookmarks: Grow Creative
Trees Sketched in Ink: Grow Creative

I used more watercolor paper scraps to make some crazy marker bookmarks.  I don't know what else to do with those scraps.  I've already made like a bajillion bookmarks and I mostly read on my Kindle now anyway.....oh well!

Photos of the Week

Spring Blossom Photography: Grow Creative
Spring Blossom Photography: Grow Creative

This was the week that everything bloomed.  So pretty! This time of year always fills me with hope and I can't help but smile, no matter what's going on in my life.  Knowing that there are beautiful sunny days ahead does that to me.  What's your favorite part of spring?

Decorating Eggs with Markers

This year we ditched the usual vinegar egg dye and decorated Easter eggs with permanent markers instead.  It's fun to switch it up once in a while :)

Hand Drawn Marker Easter Egg Designs: Grow Creative
Hand Drawn Marker Easter Egg Designs: Grow Creative

Our New Parking Strip Design


This post is dedicated to my hard-working husband.  (He totally wants me to write a post about his big yard project so I'll humor him..... he deserves it!)

 When we moved into our home the yard was a total disaster.  The parking strip in front of our house was full of weeds and ugly trashy trees.    After two years of cutting down trees, pulling out stumps, digging out rocks, sifting dirt, laying cement, and laying down some weed block, drought tolerant plants, rocks, and wood chips....... our parking strip is complete! 


We planted some Seaside Daisy, Basket of Gold, and Blueberry Ruffles Lavender.  So pretty!

I am so glad we decided to do this instead of the typical grass parking strip that requires lots of water- half of which ends up in the gutter.... wasted.  Yep, drought tolerant plants like these are the way to go here in Utah.  


What do you have planted in your parking strip?  

Watercolor Header Designs

Notice the new header?
I was playing around with my watercolors and decided to use them for a colorful header for spring! I think I may actually use all of these for a header at some point.  I love them all :)

Watercolor Blog Header Designs, floral, stripes: Grow Creative
Colorful Watercolor Stripes Painting Design
Watercolor Blog Header Designs, floral, stripes: Grow Creative
Watercolor Blog Header Designs, floral, stripes: Grow Creative

In Love with Citrus


I've been so inspired with colors lately.  Maybe it's because of spring and I'm so excited to finally see some color outdoors again!  

So here are some fun citrus-colored watercolors .... plus a little purple and pink.

Original Watercolor Citrus Painting: Elise Engh- Grow Creative
Original Watercolor Citrus Paintings: Elise Engh- Grow Creative
Original Watercolor Citrus Painting: Elise Engh- Grow Creative
Original Watercolor Citrus, leaf, and elephant Paintings: Elise Engh- Grow Creative