Bright and Cheery

Look at all of these bright and cheery dots for the bathroom!  I just love all of these colors together!

The sunlight was streaming beautifully through my front door and it looked so pretty on the canvases.  

 I know this whole set will bring lots of joy to whatever room they are hanging in!

Teachers

I get a lot of teacher gift orders this time of the year.  I love it and try to make each one special!  Here's some bright and cheery colors for Miss Haley and Miss Meghan right down the hall from me at Centertown Elementary!

These girls are so much fun to work with, and I know they are doing a wonderful job with their reading groups.  These matching - but not exactly - signs will be so cute outside their door!

A more classic apple with multicolored dots for Mrs. Brewer.  I love this 4x12 size for the classroom.

Some pretty pastel paisleys for Mrs. Kelly.  This one is so soft and sweet!

Finally, some super cool owls for Mrs. Ryder.  I was sent some fabric to match.  I love the citron green brown, raspberry, and light blue color combination.

This one also requested some personalization on the side.  I love this idea!  I know as a teacher that even though every gift is appreciated and every student is loved, it all runs together through the years!

Happy holidays to all of the teachers out there!

Grandparents

It seems like I've had several special canvases ordered this holiday season that have been geared towards the grandparents.

It's hard to find just the right gift for grandparents.  Our grandparents literally have everything and if they need something, they just run out and get it!  Custom canvases make a great gift because grandparents today go by so many names.  We have a Gen, a Pa, a Memaw, a Steve, and a Granny P.

Here's some great last minute gift ideas for those wonderful grandparents!

Show Us Your Life - Shop Small

I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner today to feature small businesses and etsy shops.  I am so excited for this opportunity to network with other artisans and new customers!

I've had my blog for several years and love taking online orders.  I also work with a shop here in my hometown for local orders.  I loved shopping on etsy and decided to open up a shop.  Business has been good!

Here's the link to my etsy shop and I hope you will all stop by.  I've added a coupon code just for all you who are visiting from Kelly's Korner.   Just enter KELLYSKODE when checking out for free shipping!  It's only good through December 1, so shop soon!

Captain Andrew

My neighbor and friend, Katherine Sparkman, redid her son's bedroom in a Captain America theme.  I think that's every little boy's favorite movie right now!

She wanted a fairly large 16x20 to go over his bed.  His walls are painted a dark blue and there are lots of red accents in the room.  I decided to keep it simple with a white background and that signature shield.  I know it is hard to tell in the pictures, but I used a silver metallic paint.  It has a shine but is not glittery!

After I got it to her, she decided to add the "captain" to the top and make the letters a little thicker.  I love how it turned out!  Thanks so much, Katherine and Andrew!

Show Us Your Life - Main Dish Recipe

I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner today to share my favorite main dish recipe.  Anytime we went to an Italian restaurant, my husband always ordered chicken carbonera.  I got the idea to try and learn how to make it at home for him.  I found this recipe and gave it a try.  It turned out to be a family favorite and is one of our regular dinners.  If you like it more pasta like, just use less broth.  If you like it more soupy, add a little more.  You can also add more peas or bacon. depending on how your family likes it!

Ingredients:

4 slices cooked bacon, chopped (I use turkey bacon)

2 eggs

2 c spaghetti broken into smaller pieces

4 tbsp olive oil

1 c diced chicken breast

1/2 c frozen green peas

3 chopped green onion

3/4 c heavy whipping cream

1 1/2 c chicken broth

3 oz shaved Parmesan cheese

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley

pinch of pepper

Directions:

While bacon is cooking in the microwave and spaghetti pieces are boiling, beat the eggs in a large bowl until frothy.  Cook spaghetti al dente and drain.  Pour into bowl of eggs and immediately begin tossing, the heat will cook the eggs.

In a large sauce pan, heat the oil and add the chicken cook for a few minutes and then add then peas, onions, and cook a few minutes longer.  Slowly add cream stirring.  Slowly add broth stirring again.  Heat for another five minutes under low heat.  Add the cheese, bacon, garlic, and pepper and stir until cheese is fully melted.  Add to the the spaghetti mixture, mix well, and serve hot.

My family loves this with focaccia bread with olive oil and Italian herbs for dipping - just like in the restaurants!  It is also even better, if possible, the next day for lunch!

New Holiday Designs

How about a look at a new holiday design?  I've been working on this new combination for a while and I just love how they turned out.  They are both 8x10's and cost $25.00 each.  The top one is the more neutral version.  It features shades of tan, brown, sage green, and red.  It is perfect for the holidays, but also looks great the rest of the year, too!

This one has a different shape in the center.  It is also the more holiday-ish of the two designs.  This one features shades of green, black, and red.  It goes so well with my Christmas decorations!  I want one for my front door!

Let It Snow!

 

All of this cold weather and frosty mornings have gotten me in the mood for some snow!  Here's some of my favorite snowmen!  I love these two classic 10x10 snowmen.  They look great all winter and never go out of style.  That's my favorite snow saying, too!  I took this pic before I added ribbon so picture them with a big green and blue satin bow on top!

 

This snowman is super cute with the pink accent.  Pink is so pretty with the blues and white for winter.  This also looks perfect for Valentine's Day!

The new fancy snowman design was new last year and was very popular in a lot of colors.  Here's the red version which goes so well with the little touch of zebra.

I love the lavender and green version...perfect for winter!

The snowman families are always popular and make a fabulous gift especially for newlyweds or families with new babies.

Here's another one..too cute!

 

The little 5x5 snowmen also make great gifts and are small enough to use as ornament on the tree!

Snowmen backgrounds don't have to be blue!  How about some hot pink?

 

Or some khaki?  The possibilities for your custom snowman are endless!

One Big Fat Christmas Post!

It's that time of the year again...Christmas!  The clock is ticking on the deadline to get your  holiday orders in!  Please have them in by November 10 to guarantee Christmas delivery. 

I decided to share some of my Christmas favorites to get your creative juices flowing.  So just grab a gingerbread latte, sick back, and enjoy!

This top one is an 8x24 ($30) and is so special because it is a card holder.  White grosgrain ribbon has been added to use clothespins to add your holiday cards for display.  I love this idea!

 

Also an 8x24 ($30) in one of the cutest designs ever...elf legs!

Here's the elf legs in a smaller version 4x12 ($20).  You can get them worded however you like!

 

"Happy Holidays" is an 11x14 ($30).  I love the fancy lettering and touches of pink!

I love these sweet, simple "ho, ho, ho's".  They are 4x12 and cost $20.00.

 

Another cute "happy holidays" with touches of pink.  This would also look fabulous with red accents.  This is a 6x9 and costs $20.00, but this design works in just about any size!

Another sweet set of "ho, ho, ho's" with bright, cheery colors.  This is a set of three 5x5's ($35) that have been connected for hanging.  They look perfect on the front door!  I can also leave the separate to stand on a shelf or mantle.

I decorate in candy and gingerbread men so these are perfect for me!  I absolutely love this 11x14 ($30) gingerbread man with a Christmas poem quote.

This 6x9 ($20) is so pretty up close with the distressing, antique glaze, and glitter!

For the serious gingerbread lovers, here's a huge 16x20 ($50) gingerbread man with lots of pretty details.  I love the recipe faded in the background!

 

The silver glitter shows up so pretty on this black 8x10 ($25) Christmas song lyric canvas.  The little holly berries are three dimensional glitter dots, too!

This funky 8x10 ($25) Santa is so cute on the door!  This design also looks great in just about any size.

One more favorite gingerbread man - 6x9 ($20)!

Love this little 5x5 ($15) to go in a wreath or for those small, special places.  This even fits really well on the tree and makes the perfect gift!

This is one of my favorite holiday designs.  I call it "Sugar Cookie".  The great thing is that it is not necessarily just for Christmas.  This super cute 10x10 ($25) design could feature a name or monogram as well and be left out all year long!

Finally, a little "Joy" to finish this big, fat post!  This classic 11x14 ($30) design has the traditional red and green with a little lime.  Topped off with a wide red stain ribbon, this will never go out of style!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Progress...

Sometimes it really doesn't seem like it, but I am making progress in lots of areas.  The house never seems to be as clean or as decorated as I'd like for it to be, but I did take down my Halloween decorations this afternoon and our new stockings arrived.  That's progress!  

My main goal this week has been getting Lauren well again.  As you can see, she is making progress.  Pneumonia just seems like it takes forever to get over.  We spent the morning at the pediatrician's office and imaging center getting chest x-rays.  Now we are home with a new prescription and good diagnosis.  It just takes time.  I got her a new activity book to keep her on the couch a little longer!

I have found a little time to paint this week.  A sick child paired with the normal Halloween madness has put me behind my planned schedule, but I am making progress!  Here's some snowmen and Christmas gift orders that have been started.  

Finally, I came us with a new holiday design that I'm really excited about.  I've been experimenting with it in two different color schemes.  I'll have them finished and ready to fully unveil soon.  

Remember to get your holiday orders in by November 10!  Thanks!