New books! The smell of new books is in the air!
Well, they're not what one would call “new” though. It seems Philippa has found some books to borrow from the village library. A “new” set of books have just arrived at the request of the village school head, Geeta. Everyone's extremely happy about it. They've got a book about Eastern Herbs and also a guide to Potions of the Ages, for crying out loud! But no one beats an early bird, Philippa says. She must borrow the new darlings before the others do or else she'll never get her hands on them! Well, maybe for at least a week or so. Except for Dorian -- he never returns the books on time, or at all for that matter.

She loved the way the embroideries shine in the firelight, the smooth and delicate feel of the fabric embracing her body, the perfumed scent of the fan enveloping her senses in sweet intoxication. Lost in beauty, she remembered the tattered hakama she cherished as she ran in the fields, wild and free, the warmth of the hearth where she ate the food she and her family cared and took from their own crops, the laughter each time they find themselves huddled beside each other in the cold winter nights with no spare blankets to be found. She cherished them, memories old yet full of love. An old life it seems, now replaced with richness she never thought would graze her skin. Mere memories, distant but never forgotten -- she longed for them as she drifted between gold and silver.

Inspired by the stunning Maki-e art of Japan. The first time I saw a piece made with its style in Osaka Castle, I couldn't tear my eyes from it, even my heart. Being kind of melodramatic huh? But it did tug at my heart so much. It's so beautiful and hard to make. Hardwork leads to beautiful things, no matter how long it takes to get there.

She loves to stay by the garden as the sun shines down on the blooms and ferns, feeling the tender warmth of it embracing her like a familiar hug. 

Society6 is starting 2017 with a lovely promo from today until January 8, 12am Pacific Time!





I hope you could take a gander and wander around my shop and see if you like something. It would be such a thrill to see you use my art in your every day life.

You'll be able to activate the 15% OFF plus FREE worldwide shipping by clicking the link below. Weee! X

Thank you so much and I hope you'll have a lovely wander around my shop!

https://t.co/4qJ0vUO3Ji https://t.co/V6L6OmOTMa

She loves the garden and everything in it. Well, maybe not all -- she's terrified of centipedes! She'll let the sun shine on your plants even brighter and the wind nicer but remember to leave some herbs for her to cook with! Oh and her name is...a secret, she says! But the wind and the birds know, she said. If we know how to listen quietly, then we'd know her name.

Remember the beautiful feeling of touching the pages of an old book, wondering just how many people have lovingly anticipated the stories within its pages? Or that simple, musty and kind of historic scent of it? And also, the excitement of opening a new book and feeling like you've found a new companion? All these are quite quirky and simple but they are part of this wonderful love I have for books. It's not only the stories, but the companionship and the "passport" I attain to far off lands and new people in adventures I know I could only have in books.

Books on the shelves, on coffee tables, on tables beside beds and sofas, on cabinets and underneath flower pots -- the beautiful musty scent of pages old and new linger in every room along with the faint perfume of flowers and rosemary. She buries herself within the pages of literature, stuck inside the adventures and thoughts of each and every story she reads, the memories and lives of the characters felt like they were hers as well. Every fact and speculation she thoroughly peruses, taking in as much as she could digest.  The books are both her escape and her comfort.

I haven't done much digital illustrations lately as I have been so busy with the holidays and some custom handmade gifts. It's such a thrill to be busy for both! But a few days in after Christmas, I've had this "itch" to continue doing this literary girl -- it's been a while since I first started on her illustration and I felt like it was time to finish her portrait. We kind of look a bit alike, but this was unintentional. Really! Haha! Are you guys familiar with the observation that an artist kind of looks like the ones she / he draws? Or maybe that there's a similarity between them among the tiniest details? I suppose it did kind of happen to us here. Haha!

Anyways, I'd love to share the brushes I used in this illustration. It's what Mingjue Helen Chen's been using which she linked on her tumblr. I have been using them for a bit of a long time now and I could say that they are the best! Here's the link and I hope you'd get "lost" in her awesome blog. 

http://jigokuen.tumblr.com/post/78660442498/some-dc-girls-redesigns-an-extension-to-the

Oh and since you are here, here's a tumblr blog about books and such that I have been following for such a long time now. I hope you will enjoy staying in this cafe / library blog.

http://teacoffeebooks.tumblr.com/

Cheers everyone and happy holidays!
:)

 Lately, I have found myself enamored once again by the simple beauty of writing letters and flower pressing. They're both so nostalgic. They leave behind not only beauty but memories and feelings. 

She lives deep within the depths of the mysterious forest, sleeping high amongst the tallest trees and walking among the humblest of creatures. She feels every sigh of the wind and hears every word from every living being. Her touch lets her see into the lives of others, making them a part of her soul, their memories becoming hers as if their lives were hers as well. The remains of those who had lived with her she incorporates into her clothing as a way to let them live on, that even in death their lives will continue to be remembered and still be part of the forest.

I have always been so in love with the concept of giving gifts. There's the warm intimacy of actually wrapping carefully selected gifts and tying them with ribbons and such things. I also love to write handwritten notes. I believe that it connects us even more to one another, that we are always in each other's thoughts and hearts each day. And this Christmas, the act of gift giving becomes even more important as we celebrate this season of peace and warmth, cherishing not only Jesus' birth but also the love we share for all.

Obsessing over paper (a wee bit obvious but hey) for so long a time, I have been making my own Christmas gift tags for two years now and it has brought me happiness even in their simplicity. Now, I decided I'd share it with others as well.


Have you ever loved a gift so much, whether it's from a friend or from someone really special to your being, that you hung that person's gift tag on your tree, or stuck it in a book so you'd remember that lovely feeling each time you come across it? Well, I am known to be such a patron of such an act. And I know there are lots of people who do the same as well. So I made these gift tags for everyone to send to their loved ones this season of extra love, peace and warmth.





Each gift tag is made of thick specialty board, two of the designs have gold foil, and golden strings are included as well for tying on to gifts. If one is interested, please have a visit on my Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/mariel.ypil

Thank you for reading this and here's to more warmth in your autumn days!

Cheers!
Mariel
X

The woods is such a beautiful place. It helps us feel so many things such as the vulnerability and beauty of our own mortality as well as the lovely mystery that is life. Under every leaf lies a secret, in every whispers the breeze makes carries a story we're yet to know if we only listen with our hearts.

Been busy with ink lately. Nope, I'm not obsessed with it. Well, there's a bit of it though. Haha! Also, I've recently arranged for a PayPal account so I could take in commissions. So, so excited for this! It's a big step for me.

This is an illustration I made in February. I was so inspired by the flowers in our garden and how they always look like they have secrets to tell. But I must always be careful of their thorns, for they will surely hurt.

Did this with ink, Kurecolor markers and graphite pencils.

It's been a long while since I've posted here. It's good to be finally updating!