Over the past two years, I've managed to squeeze in some additional artistic projects not for my career, but for my "framily." Enjoy this sampling of creations that brought me joy to make, while pushing me to continue trying new things as an interdisciplinary artist. Simply click on each image to enlarge!
Botanical Seating Chart
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| Botanical Seating Chart. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
It isn't every day you get
Elizabeth Taylor as your client! But at the point my college roommate Ellie saw the finished product hanging on the wall of her gorgeous barn wedding reception, she was now
"Elizabeth Taylor." Perhaps it was three years of living within candy-throwing distance of me, or helping me with art projects around the campus, but for some reason, Ellie got it into her head that I could create a hand-painted, garden-themed seating chart for her upcoming wedding, despite the ever so small hurdle that...I'd never once painted. Lucky for Ellie, it turns out painting and drawing are two
very different skills, and I quickly caught my stride. Voila! A hand-painted seating chart with garden beds mapping the table layout, and vintage botanical sketches denoting who sits where. Truly one of the most enjoyable design projects I've ever had the pleasure of taking on!
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| Garden Bed Painting. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Botanical Seating Chart. Design © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Botanical Seating Chart. Design © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
Cozy Turtle Nap Mat / Sleeping Bag
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| Cozy Turtle Nap Mat / Sleep Bag. Turtle Design © Merli V. Guerra, 2018. |
In late-2018 I had the honor of helping two of our closest friends decorate their Hawaiian sea-themed nursery for their very first child. Not only did they trust me enough to design a full-wall mural, but Sean and I have had the joy of watching this little cutie grow into an adorable, active toddler. So what better way to welcome this smiley lil bumpkin than with a custom designed, handmade sea turtle nap mat that's also a sleeping bag? I'll admit this sucker was quite the challenge to build from scratch, but in the end, I wished I'd made it a wee bit bigger so I could thieve it for myself! With a plush pillow head, padded nap mat body, and blanket shell, this turtle is ready for daycare, preschool, and beyond. The tail might actually be my most favorite detail—allowing the turtle to button up into a bundle for easy transport. It's amazing how much smaller this cozy turtle seems to be getting every month, as this sweet boy keeps on growing!
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| Detailing. Turtle Design © Merli V. Guerra, 2018. |
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| 2.5 Weeks. Turtle Design © Merli V. Guerra, 2018. |
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| 4 Months. Turtle Design © Merli V. Guerra, 2018. |
Whimsical Drawer Knobs
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| Whimsical Drawer Knobs. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
Not long after discovering I had basic painting skills, I offered my new-found services to another set of friends. They, too, were expecting their first child, and had scored a gorgeous, all-wood nursery bedroom set for a steal, minus the fact that it needed painting. While they tackled painting the dresser white, I offered to spruce up the old wooden knobs, as they'd been considering buying new, prettier ones. Using paint from my art supply closet and a clear lacquer spray, I dove into painting a sweet little collection of fanciful drawer knobs to welcome Baby T. into her nursery. The end result was far from a Monet, but paired with the whimsical animal prints above the dresser, they looked just perfect. Can't wait to see this chubby-cheeked cutie—and her brand new nursery—post-Covid!
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| Blue Pansy Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Butterfly Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Dragonfly Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Iris Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Marigold Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Sunset Peony Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Cornflower Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Pink Poppy Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| White Pansy Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Daffodil Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Glory-of-the-Snow Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Orange Echinacea Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| Plumeria Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
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| White African Daisy Drawer Knob. © Merli V. Guerra, 2019. |
Custom-Tailored Growth Chart
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| Design © Merli V. Guerra & Lovisa Lane, 2019. |
Covid has prevented us from visiting Scruffy the bassador and his little sister for the last six months, so it's a good thing we gifted her a growth chart! With the inspiring and ever-enthusiastic Lovisa Lane as my partner, we embarked on creating a custom-tailored growth chart, choosing colors that matched the nursery, and creating stencils that tied in our friends' love of science and all the neighborhood pups—including actual heights of each of the dogs when playing, begging...and yes, counter surfing. The best part about a growth chart is you can take it with you when you move, which Team Scruffy has done
three times in the past year alone!
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| Design © Merli V. Guerra & Lovisa Lane, 2019. |
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| Design © Merli V. Guerra & Lovisa Lane, 2019. |
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| Design © Merli V. Guerra & Lovisa Lane, 2019. |
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| Design © Merli V. Guerra & Lovisa Lane, 2019. |
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| Design © Merli V. Guerra & Lovisa Lane, 2019. |
Rustic Boats: "Fetching" Home Decor
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| Rustic Sailboats. © Merli V. Guerra, 2018. |
Long before tiny humans came on the scene, our pups had already brought us together with local neighbors who soon became fast friends. On one particular trip to the Poconos, I distinctly remember Sudarshan teasing me as Banksy, Ollie, and Scruffy raced around the lake fetching sticks, with me collecting them too! Driftwood DIY boat decor had been circling Pinterest for a while, so I decided to take it for a spin and make some pup-fetched keepsakes from our Poconos adventure to gift our friends. Now, we're the last family still living in the old neighborhood, while these sweet little (slightly chewed) boats have sailed out to NYC and Pennsylvania with Mr. Ollie and Sir Scruff.
Meet Me at the Nest Pillow
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| "Meet Me at the Nest" Pillow. Design © Merli V. Guerra, 2018. |
Thinking back to when the first of our neighborhood friends moved on from a condo to a full-fledged house, I was beside myself. Ira and Shaina were moving from a home literally 20 steps away from ours to one 45 minutes by car. It may not seem like a large distance—and truly, it isn't—but nothing can replace the joyous spontaneity that arises when your friends are a short jog across the street... To help ease the disappointment, I stayed up one night cutting stencils and making them a house-warming pillow to remind them of their framily at "The Nest," as we all lovingly refer to our neighborhood. Now, this sentimental pillow sits invitingly (and colorfully!) against a stunning red chair in our friends' forever home.
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Banksy [Piranha-Puppy Nala] Guerra Connolly
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It should be noted that in all but one of these instances, our friendships were initially started thanks to our sweet pup Banksy introducing herself and getting the conversation going. Thank you, Lady Banks, for continuing to bring such wonderful people into our lives, and for being patient with me every time I take over the living room floor with a new creative project.
Want to become Banksy's friend too? Follow her shenanigans @BanksySighting on Instagram!
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