Girly Girls!

Oooohhh...I love all the pastels!  I especially love them this time of the year when I'm fall colored out and about to overdose on red and green!  It's always nice to expand my color palette just a wee bit.  This sweet 10x10 princess verse for Cassi shipped out a little while back.

This one of my absolute favorite quotes for the baby nursery.  However, it would be really special for any child.  I think it would be perfect for adoptive parents as well.  This is a really pretty color combination of hot pink, lime, gray, and navy.

Here's the same quote with hearts instead of dots.  Wouldn't this be cute with stars and in blues and yellows, too?  This 11x14 also features a purple, lavender, and pink color combination.

Here's two more of the princess canvases for a set of sisters, Maddie and Marley.  So sweet!

Madison

Jamie Roller ordered this really sweet set of three for her baby girl, Madison.  She asked for the bird and the owl from the bedding to be on these two 5x5's. 

She wanted the name and the main colors of pink and green on the 8x24.  This size is just perfect for over the crib or bed.

I chose a design that definitely matched the bedding but also didn't necessarily look like a baby's nursery.  Hopefully Madison can have this piece of artwork in her room for a long time.

Here's the three pieces together - I love it!  This set was custom created to match the Hayley bedding from Pottery Barn Kids.  You can click here to see the quilt.  You can also click here and here to see previous designs also for that bedding.

Back To Reality...

We've been thoroughly enjoying our fall break!  It's so nice to have the week off with the kids.  We have gone to Perdido Key, Florida for the past few years and love it.  It's a really small town and there's nothing to do but go to the beach and relax.  Just what the doctor ordered!

I have a few paintings that I just haven't gotten around to sharing.  This one was shipped out a few weeks ago to one of my favorite customers!  I remember this song.  She asked for neutrals with a touch of crimson.  I think it turned out really pretty.

The masterpiece painting is the matching one to a sister piece that I did a long time ago.  I think it's sweet that little brother wanted one, too!

This zebra and hot pink print is a teacher canvas that went all the way to Texas!

This orange, white, and light blue canvas was ordered by a teacher friend for her niece's birthday.  She the ultimate Tennessee Vols fan!  I think the chevron background with the circle center is so cute!

While I am home from Florida, I am preparing for Pumpkinfest.  It is this coming Saturday!!!  That's soon and I've got a ton to do.  I'll be taking orders again on October 27.  Be getting those holiday lists ready!

Happily Ever After...

Jessica Alford is my daughter's third grade teacher.  We'd never met until she cam to Centertown this year.  I have to admit that Lauren was a little nervous about having a "new teacher", but Mrs. Alford has been so sweet to her.  She's won Lauren over!

Jessica has a really sweet little girl, Aubrey Lee.  She wanted something for her room in their new house.  She asked for chevron, pinks and purples, and this wonderful quote.  I added some rhinestones to the crown because it sounds like Aubrey is a typical girlie girl!!

I did this one as an experiment for one of my summer art classes.  I added some really special touches and think it turned out really pretty.   There's lots of shading on the castle and the sky is full of stars.  When you see it in person, it has a fine coating of glitter for added sparkle!

I added the wording with a little girl's room or playroom in mind, but how perfect would this be for a princess themed wedding or shower decoration?

This is a 16x20 and is immediately available for $45.00.

The Pink Giraffe

Dana Evans ordered a surprise for her daughter's new room.  I would love to see Brooke's face when she gets her canvas!  Dana just told me that the room was going to be in shades of pink and green, and that Brooke loves giraffes. 

 

I used a basic pattern for a giraffe shape that I had seen on an applique.  I added some girly touches and this sweet giraffe just came alive.  I love it!

The Cabbage Patch

Lauren got a Cabbage Patch Kid for her birthday back in February.  She loves dolls and has a Bitty Baby that has always been a favorite.  She has gotten really attached to Belle Erica, her Asian Cabbage Patch Baby.  Over the summer I was looking for safe website for her to play games on, and we came across the Cabbage Patch site.  

It did have some cute stuff to do, but she was fascinated with the Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia.  We promised to take her over the summer and just got too busy.  We had a Marriot coupon for a free night that expired soon, so we decided to take off on the four hour drive after school last Friday.

Babyland General is no where near an interstate.  You exit just past Chattanooga and the rest of the way is winding little backroads.  Cleveland is a very small town.  We ate lunch at the little pharmacy/diner on the town square.  However, everyone was very nice and the actual hospital is a neat place.  If you love Cabbage Patch dolls, then this is the place to go!

Lauren had to sign "official" adoption papers and take a pledge to be a good mommy.  

Here she is in the patch.  She chose the baby right beside her with blond hair, green eyes, and the pink striped pajamas.  It was neat to walk through the patch and choose the perfect baby!

The "doctor" tells the story of the cabbage patch and how the babies grow and wait to be adopted.  It was fantasy and fun...you definitely had to use your imagination!

 

She was so happy to bring little Mary Jane home!  Carter decided that this trip was not for him and stayed home with the grandparents.  It was really nice to have some special daughter time, and I think she enjoyed being the only child for a little while!

How To Add Glitter To Practically Anything: Tutorial

I have an eight-year-old daughter and we both love for things to be glittery!  I've always done the old school Elmer's glue and sprinkle glitter.  Shake off the extra.  Repeat.  It's a mess and it never quite completely covers.  I had a coupon for 40% any regular priced item at Michael's and decided to try something new.  It is glitter transfer paper!

I got the Martha Stewart brand of the medium and one pack of the glitter paper.  The medium is basically a really thick version of Elmer's glue.  You do have to squirt it out and paint it on with a paintbrush.  It is great because you can cover a very large area or get in those tiny spaces.

It paints on white - like this - and I do recommend that you follow the directions on the bottle and let it dry the full 10 minutes.  It's hard to wait!  We tried it a little early and it does not work until it is good and tacky.

Here's  my little girl putting the transfer paper glitter side down on the medium.  The she rubbed and rubbed and rubbed with the rounded end of the paintbrush to transfer the glitter from the paper to her painting.  They do sell sticks for this purpose.  Popsicle sticks, plastic paintbrushes, or really anything that's not sharp will work.  You do have to rub a while to get it really glittery!

Here's the finished detail of the glitter fireworks on her Cinderella's Castle painting.  This is just basic acrylic craft paint on a stretched canvas.  The transfer medium will work on lots of different surfaces.

Yay!  It turned out so cute!  Everything is better with a little sparkle!

Faithe

This promise from the parents to the child is one of the sweetest and most important things that I paint.  I am blessed enough to be able to paint it over and over again.  Children need all of these things, and they need to hear it.  What better way to remind them, and yourself, of the promises you make to them.

Pink and Zebra

The pink and zebra trend lives on!  It seems like this has been such a popular color and print combination...and it just keeps going.  This 8x10 combines a pale pink with the zebra print, a super cute font, and some polka dot ribbon.  The perfect touch for any little girl's room!

The two 8x10's are a little different in that they feature the hot pink and the initial behind the last name.  You know this is going to get attention on the front door!

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!