Sweet Ila Mae's: The After

I offered a new service at Sweet Ila Mae's...personalization on the spot!  It was a big hit!  I had several canvases that I had embellished, but left off any wording.  Customers could purchase the canvas and let me fill it in while they shopped.  Here's a few...

I am so happy with how they all turned out and loved seeing all of the customer's happy faces!

Lauren sneaked a picture of me painting!  Now here's some shots of my booth...

Even though the weekend was a HUGE success, we did rain out on Sunday.  You can click here to see the rain sale album on facebook.  It will only be up until noon tomorrow!

Sweet Ila Mae's: The Before

I haven't been posting much because, honestly, I'm busier than ever!  Between getting ready for a craft show, managing regular orders, teaching summer art classes, and ball season - summer is starting to feel not so much like summer.  I do get to sleep late most mornings so I can't complain!

I am thrilled to be participating in my first ever Barn Sale!  I've been working so hard on new designs and making sure that I have plenty old favorites.  Here's the info for Sweet Ila Mae's in Quebeck, Tennessee.  I hope you all are making plans to come see us!  I'll have lots of "after pictures" on Monday.

Have a fabulous weekend!!

Show Us Your Life - What You Make or Sell

It's my favorite day on Kelly's Korner!  We all get to show what we make and sell!  Not only do I get to show my artwork, I get to browse your links and go see lots of other wonderful products.

Well, I make and sell custom painted artwork.  I love to paint and have always painted.  I am thrilled that I have found a way to do what I love for a living.  It is always a pleasure to work with new and repeat customers and come up with the perfect design for them.

Here's how it works...you just check out the size and price guide in the sidebar, choose your colors and design by browsing the blog or using your decor as inspiration, and then email me with your details and any questions (brandie_bc1@yahoo.com).  I'll get back to you with any questions of my own and maybe a few suggestions.  After we've got that all settled, I'll send you a paypal invoice that includes shipping and get you on my to do list.  Easy as that!

How long you stay on my list depends on several things...I am a teacher and mom of two, there may be several orders ahead of you, you may have a complicated design that takes more time, etc.   If you need it by a specific date, you need to let me know that when ordering.

I didn't add any pictures to today's post basically because the blog is covered with them!  There is a handy little search bow in the very top left hand corner where you can type in a keyword if you know what kind of thing you are looking for.  There's also a history by month of past posts in the sidebar.

I'd love to hear from you all...let me know what you think!  Thanks for visiting today!

Polka Dots!

Here's some really pretty dots that have come across my table lately!  This 8x10 is for Tonya Reagan to give to her mom for Mother's Day.  She runs a daycare in her home and Tonya thought she might like a sign for the door.  I thought it turned out so bright and cheery!

This was an etsy order for a small business.  It shipped out a couple of weeks ago and I got a message from Candace that she loved it!  Yay!

The pastel dots were also an etsy order that shipped out a while back.  There was some really pretty pastel Pooh bedding that it was designed to match.

This is the Pooh quote that I do lots with a few custom changes.  It was requested to shorten it down a bit and to put some of the key words in a different font.  It turned out so peaceful and pretty - prefect for a nursery!

 

Here's some primary dots that are absolutely perfect for the classroom.  This little 5x5 shipped all the way to Scotland!  I love the gingham ribbon topper.  I'm doing my room next year in a aqua and red combo and may be needing something similar for myself!

Yes, I'm already planning for next year!

Show Us Your Life - Crafts for Kids

I'm so excited to be linking up with Kelly's Korner today to show off some great crafts for kids!  I am also really excited to go and visit all of you and get tons of new ideas!  I am an elementary school teacher and love to incorporate art into my lessons whenever possible.  I am also an artist and I'm starting some art classes this summer.  I am so looking forward to it!  If you'd like to check out the schedule, here's the link to my class blog.  Now, on to some crafting...

As you can see, I am an artsy-craftsy person.  Always have been!  Although most of my projects do involve painting, I've tried to dig up some variety for you.  My daughter and I painted these wooden boards to be mini chalkboards!  They turned out so cute!  Here's the link to see step by step instructions.

This is one of my favorite projects ever!  The Pottery Barn Kids flower covered lampshade that my daughter wanted was totally out of my budget, so I  made one!  Here's the tutorial for that one.

I am teacher at an elementary school and at our local college.  I tie-dye each year with both groups!  Here's the link to see more tie dying and to get tips on products to use and folding techniques.  Go get your hippie on!

One of my favorite projects that I've recently taken on is working with buttons.  These buttons were just purchased at the craft store, but how fun would it be to work with some vintage buttons or family heirlooms?  I can see some beautiful projects with a vintage feel.

I fell in love with the plain wooden owl cut outs and bought them without really having a plan.  Turns out that they made wonderful bow hangers.  I just painted them up super cute and used the staple gun to attach grosgrain ribbon.  Don't use the silky kind for this project - the bows just slide right off!

I've been experimenting with burlap lately.  I love using it my home because I like that outdoorsy feel and it is not very expensive.  We had our church youth group over for a dinner and I whipped up this little banner for the mantle with scrap burlap, ribbon, paint, and a little stitch witch.  Perfect!

I hope you enjoyed some of my past projects!  This is by no means all of them.  Please feel free to browse the blog and check out all of the others.  Have a great day!

Big Announcement!

Art classes are coming soon!  I've decided to combine two of my very favorite things, teaching and art.  I am so thrilled to be planning some art classes and mini art camps for this coming summer.  I'd LOVE to hear your ideas, suggestions, and requests.  

I'm currently working on the schedule, painting designs, and a class blog so you can check offerings.  I also want to show off all of our wonderful artwork!  I'll let you know as soon as it is up an running.

Thanks to you all for your love and support.  Let's make some beautiful art together!

End of the Year Lists

My favorite thing about this time of the year is all of the lists.  My stocking was full of magazines with the top ten movies of the year, books of the year, and (my most favorite of all) best and worst dressed.  Yes, Santa knows that I love a good list!  I decided that my final post of the year should be a couple of lists.  Here's a list pf my top ten favorite canvases from the wonderful year that was 2012...

10.  K, L, and Y monograms - this made the list because I think they are so pretty together and a true complete set.  There is a lot of detail work (and dots!) in each one.  Also, the mom was so sweet and has ordered so many pretty pieces for these girls' rooms!

9. Merry Christmas from the Blacks -  this made the list because it marked a challenge overcame for me.  Getting dots, stripes, and a Santa all on the same canvas was no small feat.

8. The Meredith Prayer - this made the list because I sort of tear up every time I paint it.  I've painted it lots of times since, but this is the original.  All of the things a kid needs are right here.

7. The Bathroom Set - this made the list because it is a classic.  I don't know how many bathroom sets I've painted over the years and I know there's too many dots to count.  This one particular set was my favorite of the year because of the color combination...all of my favorites!

6. I Love You Forever - this made the list because it is an experiment that turned out beautifully.  I tried the scalloped edges and dots in varying sizes for the first time.  It turned out just like I had it pictured in my head and, trust me, that doesn't always happen!

5. Teacher's Canvases - this made the list because this is probably what I paint the most.  I also happen to love honoring teachers and creating special gifts for them.  I chose these two to represent teacher canvases because that owl and that worm in the apple are just so bright and happy.  I know the kids like to see them coming down the hall!  

4. Mary Claire - this one made the list just because I love it.  Plain and simple.  I love everything about it from the colors and the font to the stripes and little rosebuds.  Love it.

3. The New Wedding Design - this one made the list because it is the new hit of the year.  This design first showed up with the Avett Brothers song lyrics pictures above with a wedding name and date below.  It quickly look off into lots of other wedding songs and then to special Bible verses.  

2. The Pooh Quote - this made the list because it never gets old.  I've painted this super sweet Christopher Robin quote so many times and in so many different ways it's not even funny.  I even shipped one to Australia!  This one was chosen out of all of the others because it is so different.  It was meant to match the little girl's bedding and just turned out perfectly.  I love it when that happens!

1. Austie - this made the list because of the unusual color combination and challenging pattern combinations.  It moved up the list because I love "The Help" and Audrey Hepburn quotes.  It topped the list because the whole entire set works so well together.  So pretty!

Okay, that was my top ten.  Here's the top ten looked at posts by viewers like you!

10.  For A Special Aunt

9.  End of the School Year

8.  Brown Sugar Body Scrub

7.  Show Us Your Life - Favorite Beauty Products

6.  Show Us Your Life - Christmas Cards

5.  Kenny Chesney

4.  Show Us Your Life - Front Porches/Patios

3.  I Love You Forever

2.  Orange County Choppers

1.  Christopher Robin

Was you favorite on there?

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!

Dazzle Party Creations

I love painting signs for businesses.  I don't really know why, but I do!  This one was pretty easy because she had all sorts of business cards and things with this cute owl and beautiful color combination already designed.  All I had to do was translate it to a canvas!

This one is for craft show booths and that sort of thing.  If you've got a small business, you need one of these!  Here's a close up of that owl - love it!

Beautiful

Well, one day Lauren wants to be in Little Fairest of the Fair and the next day she doesn't.  I'm definitely on the fence about it, too, but we're practicing just in case!  She loves her new dress and so does Billie!

I love this sign for a new beauty salon here in town.  The pastel dots and the funky font were requests.  This will be so cute hanging on the door during spa time!

 

Finally, another pretty pink paisley canvas.  I love this design and it looks fabulous in any color combination.

"Beauty is whatever gives joy" - Edna St. Vincent Millay