Family Rules

Lots and lots of family rules! This design has been super popular and done in every color combination under the rainbow. I think these earth tones are my favorite. These two are both off to Canada! Thank you so much, Shauna.

I've also been doing lots of class rules lately for all of you teachers. I'll have those photos up soon!

Pineapples

This has been the summer of the pineapple! That's okay...I love them, too! This design has been done bunches of times. I think it is the khaki and cream dots with the pineapple that makes it a little different and so popular. I actually did two of these at the same time. Thank you, Julie and April!

This is a new pineapple design sent to me by Paula Smith. I do not know where this photo came from so I can't give credit. Just know that it came from somewhere! She wanted it changed up a bit and on an oval canvas. She has a glass oval in her front door. Great idea!

Here's the finished oval on my front door. I love it!

I really like the pineapple, but the modified diamond design in the background is my favorite thing about this canvas. The colors she chose are absolutely perfect for summer, too!

Celebrate Everything

I usually do this canvas with a black background and bright multicolored lettering. Elaine Alsup wanted it done in colors that would match her kitchen. I had been wanting to try the design in other colors but just haven't had the time to experiment. It turned out so cute and I just love the message! Not only is it perfect for those of us who don't always get their holiday decorations out on time, but it also reminds us to celebrate the little things, too.

Drake

Melissa in Texas wanted a personal gift to send to a far away friend on the arrival of their new son. She needed it to coordinate with the "Cheerful Critters" line of bedding from Pottery Barn Kids. I looked over the bedding and chose to focus on that cute little snail!
That is one of the great things about ordering a canvas. Shipping is included in the price and I will ship to someone other than yourself. That makes it super easy to send a personal gift to a friend or relative on the other side of the country!

Here's Drake's special gift. I love that it is all bright and cheery and small enough to fit just about anywhere in the nursery. That red gingham ribbon just tops it off perfectly!

Blue and Brown Bathroom

Nicole in Michigan is one of my new etsy customers. I am relatively new to the etsy world and I love it! It has just opened me up to a whole new world of customers. I spend quite a bit of time shopping on there myself!
Anyway, Nicole wanted a set of four 5x5 canvases for her son's bathroom. She ordered one set of bathroom accessories and sent me all of the details. When she got it out an opened it up, she hated it. She so sounds like me!

Luckily, I had not started on hers so the redo was no problem at all. She decided on the whale set available at Target. The colors are so cute and the canvases match so well. I can't wait to see pictures, Nicole! Thank you!

Show Us Your Life - Marriage Advice

Today I am participating the Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life series. I do this every once in a while mostly because I love going through and reading all of the others! It's fun to get ideas, advice, and see how others do things.

Today's topic is marriage advice. I have been married for over fourteen years and am not pretending to have it all figured out or that I have a perfect marriage. I don't know that there is such a thing. Maybe that is my advice...don't pretend. We're not perfect. We get on each other's nerves sometimes. We even have fusses and different opinions. However, the fact is that when we married, we married forever. We have to find a way to forgive and meet in the middle.

My advice is nothing new. In fact, it is very old. Bible old. When I was asked to paint this canvas a while back, it was like my own thoughts in someone else's words. Forgiving each other's faults because of your love...I couldn't have said it better myself!

It also helps that we enjoy each other's company. We laugh a lot. We are opposites, so instead of arguing and trying to change each other, we balance each other out. We have date nights. Now I am off to do some reading. I can't wait to see all of the advice!

Summer Lovin'

I am having such a good summer! Yes, we have been busy with lots of different activities and painting, but I have also managed to find time to just do nothing. Nice. There have been several orders for these pineapples. I love the colors and the dots with the pineapple. This would look great on any one's front door this summer! Thank you, Julie and April!

Even though I love traveling and we usually have something planned, we did not go on a true vacation this summer. Normally, I would be busting a gut to go somewhere. We do have a couple of fall trips planned and are saving for something big next summer, so I have just enjoyed being home.
Mike had a conference in Alabama so me and the kids tagged along. We found fun things to do like Alabama Adventures, the McWane Science Center, and the hotel pool! It was calm and relaxing, much like summer 2011 has been.

We drove up to Atlanta for one night before heading home. The boys were planning on a Braves game but rain changed that. We went to the American Girl Place instead. Carter was not happy, but he and his dad made the best of it! Lauren and Abigail, however, had a ball!