Spreading Myself Thin

That's how I feel right now...spread thin. I know you all don't want me to run through a list of all the things going on in my life right now. I know you all have the same busy lives and completely understand.



I am going to stop taking orders from now until October 1. That basically gives me the month of September to get caught up on that list and make up some stock for the Autumn Street Fair. My etsy site is on vacation mode!



Take that time to get your holiday wish lists ready for me! Please make plans to come to the Street Fair in downtown McMinnville. I promise to have lots of cute new designs and some old favorites. I'll continue to update the blog and facebook so check back often!



Thank you!!

Summer Breeze

I am in Oak Ridge this weekend for a baseball tournament. People ask if Carter is just now finishing up his season. The answer is no, he is playing fall ball this year with a team based in Sparta. There are several friends from McMinnville on the same team. We are really enjoying it! Carter needed continued regular exercise from his bout with pneumonia and loves baseball so it was a perfect fit.

It feels like summer just got a little longer for us! The weather this weekend is warm and sunny. We visited the hotel pool. We've all got "ball park tans". We've been eating Hawaiian Ices. Mmm....summer!

Debbie Haley is also extending her summer with this weathered "summer breeze" canvas. She design the font, layout, and colors. She also requested the weathered - not necessarily antiqued - look. I love it!

Mrs. Amy

Amy Whitsett (she'll always be Amy Keel to me!) is an old high school friend of mine. We've gotten back in touch through the magic of facebook and I am so thankful for it! She's pretty close by and has the sweetest little family. She is also a teacher. I was more than happy to paint something special for her classroom.

She told me what it need to say, but left the rest completely up to me. I love it when that happens! I used some of the prettiest colors I could think of, a lovely gray font, and added a little sparkle. I even topped it off with a glittered polka dotted ribbon. So cute!

Fall Favorites

It's just about that time of the year...fall! Fall is my favorite season. I love the colors and the smells. I love painting fall and Halloween canvases - so many ideas! I am working on some new things for the Autumn Street Fair, but here are some old favorites.

The skinny witch legs are always popular. I also do an elf leg version. These are available on 4x12 and 8x24.

I like the witch boot for Halloween. This one is sort of simple, but really catches the eye with black and bright colors. I think it is just too cute with the gingham ribbon!

How about some fall colored polka dots? The colors look great all the way through Thanksgiving. The 8x10 size fits just perfect on a wreath.

This design was first done with a pineapple. Someone (I can't remember who!) requested it with a pumpkin and I've done about fifty since then. The beige and cream dots look so good with just about any front door color or home decor.

Finally, so some sweet little 5x5's. These two are so cute for Halloween and that tiny size fits just about anywhere. At just $15.00 each, they also make a great teacher gift.



Start planning your fall needs and be sure to stop by my booth at the Street Fair in downtown McMinnville on Saturday, October 1. See ya then!

Monograms

Monograms are just classic. This simple, but beautiful, cream and black monogram makes the perfect wedding gift. I have a new customer in Palmyra, Tennessee, who thought so, too!

I love painting monograms! I get the opportunity to focus on just one letter and really making it special. When doing long names and verse or quotes, I don't get that opportunity. This one shipped out to new customer, Lianna. I am wanting to do more of those diamonds in fall colors for the upcoming season.

Back To School

Just in time for Donna Wood's Cookeville classroom! I haven't done ladybugs in a while and I think this is just too cute! This is a 12x12 - the perfect size for a classroom door.

I jazzed it up a bit with a few rhinestones and some gingham ribbon!

We're at a new school this year, Centertown Elementary School. Even though it is sometimes hard to be the new kid (for me and them!), it has gone really well so far. I think we've found family! Carter is in Mrs. Tena Self's fourth grade class. I can't believe he is already in the fourth grade! He really wanted to wear hi brand new Tim Lincecum jersey. I was worried about all that white!

Lauren is in Mrs. Lisa Carden's first grade class. Can you tell that she was fired up that morning? I thought she was going to spontaneously combust. She wanted to wear a ruffly skirt and lots of polka dots - mission accomplished!



I hope your school year if off to a great start, too!

No Shoes Allowed!

Since Faith McGee ordered and polite "no shoes allowed" sign a long time ago, I've done this design over and over again. It has become very popular on etsy! This one wanted a slightly different wording, but that's what puts the custom in Dream Custom Artwork!



It's been slow going on the painting and posting and probably will be for a while. It's my first week back to school. When I get home at night, I just want to put my feet up! Once I get back in the swing of things, it will all return to normal!

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!

Hot pink that is! It seems that hot pink has been the official color of summer 2011! It is usually paired with black and white (so pretty!) but I've also used it with aqua, lime, and purple. These super cute monograms were designed to be used in a wedding. You can see their colors - black, white, and hot pink!

My sweet friend, Mileah Knowles, ordered hot pink with zebra stripes - love it! This would so match my classroom this year! I had several girls comment at Open House on how much they loved my room decorations!

Finally, I don't think it really has to anything to do with hot pink, but I've got a hot girls' night out to see Miss Katy Perry! It's been a while since this ol' girl has been to a concert and I am really looking forward to it.



You all have a wonderful Friday! If you are like me and this is your last official day of summer break, make it a good one!

Sweet Little Princess

Megan in Murfreesboro ordered a special Bible verse for a sweet little princess on the way. Her good friend is expecting a baby. She sent me a picture of her pink bedding to match. I think this is the perfect gift!

I did one a while back for Ella's big sister. Click here to see that one. I love Bible verses for baby nurseries...what better way to start things off?

Ms. Haley

Kelly Cannon ordered a special little 6x9 teacher canvas for her good friend. She is a first year teacher and Kelly wanted something to celebrate. I love that idea - so sweet!

I've been in Murfreesboro all day today getting Carter a check up. I am so happy to say that he has made a full recovery from his pneumonia. Now I am settling in with a Gigi's cupcake and a Toddlers and Tiaras marathon! Whew, what a day!

Mrs. Rachel

I told you I had a bunch of teacher orders to share! I do have just a few more and then I'll move on to something else. It's just that time of the year! I love this simple but so cute design. It works with any colors and any size canvas.
This is an 11x14 (perfect for the door or hallway!) and makes a perfect teacher gift at $30.00. Keep it in mind when the holidays roll around!

Mrs. Wright

This might be my favorite teacher sign design - it's so cute! I am a big fan of paisleys and am excited to be working on some new things in that department. This is an etsy order from Lindsay in Mississippi. Now she start her school year off right!

If you've never visited my etsy shop, I'd love to have you come see me!

Mrs. Laura

My sweet friend, Laura Dunlap, wanted something in hot pink and black to decorate the door to her speech room. I decided to do extra large dots in the background with some pretty black lettering over the top. I think it turned out so pretty!
Apparently, I've spent too much time at the pool. I didn't even know there was such a thing! I've developed an ear infection - swimmer's ear. It is very painful and has slowed down my painting progress. I'm in bed today! I am sure the antibiotics and ear drops will kick in any time now.

Mrs. Howard

This kicks off a long line of teacher canvases! I took all of my teacher orders and bumped them to the top of the to do list. I apologize to everyone else, but I know how important it is to have everything in place and just perfect for that first day of school! I am working on my zebra print curtains today!

This super cute 16x16 canvas has shipped out and made it safely all the way to south Florida. Tissan Howard wanted something to brighten up her classroom. She sent me some color and pattern inspiration and font ideas. I put it all together and came up with this design. I absolutely love it!

What's In The Bag?

My kids can't stand to see a gift bag in the house and not know what's in it! This little bag is being delivered to Et Cetera today for pick up.

It's filled with letters for Allison Haley. She wanted a set of plain white letters painted as a baby gift. I've done letters just like this in the past to match the same bedding. Click here to see that bedding.

All of the letters, colors, and patterns look so good together. I can't wait to see them on the wall! Send me a picture, Allison!

Class Rules

It's almost that time of the year - back to school! As a matter of fact, I've got my Open House tomorrow night! I've been painting lots of teacher canvases lately so I know all of you are working as hard as I am to get your rooms ready. I've got one of these cute 8x10 class rules available if you need a teacher gift or one for yourself.

The other one has already been personalized and delivered to "Mrs. Jaco"! She snapped this one up about five minutes (literally!) after I dropped it off at the store.

"Mrs. Jennifer" ordered some class rules for her room from Et Cetera. She wanted primary colors with a little more of the blue. This is the first time I've done this design in these colors and I think it turned out so cute! That big blue satin ribbon is the perfect way to bring out the blue!