Original Folk Art Painting by Catherine Holman

If you are looking for a bargain after Christmas, I have three original paintings that are on sale for 20% off until midnight January 3rd.  Simply click on the title above the painting and it will link you to the item in my Etsy Shop.

"A Star Filled Halloween Evening" 

"Sunflower Lane"

"Ladybug Cupcake"

Hope you all were blessed with a great Christmas and not trapped in an airport somewhere.  Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

Maybe I Can .....

Do you ever dream of being multi-talented?  I know I do!  Once I get on Pinterest my mind runs wildly through all the wonderful decorating and craft ideas.  I pin this and that knowing full well that I don't have time or the talent to make everything I would love to try.  Then, yesterday I came across Marian's post on her blog Sweetopia and thought for one moment, maybe I could.  Maybe I could make these beautiful cookies shaped like a paint palette.  Wouldn't that be perfect since I so adore painting!  Maybe I could do these gluten-free since I don't eat wheat based products.  I may give it a try at some point, but for now I'll just share the visual beauty of these little cookie palettes.  Stop in and check out Sweetopia's wonderful cookie creations by the oh, so talented Marian.  

She has so many beautifully decorated cookie ideas on her blog that you will be totally captivated, especially if you are like me and think "just maybe I could do that."  She has the tutorial and recipe so you can give it a try.  

I can paint desserts, but can I actually decorate real cookies that look like art?

Stop in and tell Marian I sent you. 

Cherry Chocolate Cake Painting

I love working on these little 4" x 4" paintings.  When I'm finished, I tie it up in a coordinating bow and "wah lah" it's ready to list on Ebay.  

"Cherry Chocolate Cake"

Three bright red cherries top this milk chocolate layer cake frosted with pink cherry frosting.  This sweet treat is displayed under a glass dome on a beautiful aqua cake plate.  

Painted on a black background with black edges and tied off with a brown and pint dotted bow, this painting would be a delightful reminder in your kitchen to bake up something for your loving family!  

 Or....you could just show it to them and say, "Dream on", if you don't like to bake, or you're on a diet, or the kids have tracked mud all over your freshly mopped floor, or.....fill in the blank.

Remember this is a great calorie free way to enjoy your cake and not eat it. 

Sweet Valentine Chocolate Strawberry Cake Painting

New Valentine creation listed on eBay tonight:

"Sweet Valentine"

A heart shaped chocolate cake is frosted with a decadent chocolate ganache and topped with juicy red strawberries. What a lovely gift for your "Sweet Valentine." A black and white checked ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Valentine's Day will soon be here.  How do you celebrate? 

Red and White Polka Dots Everywhere

My new favorite is anything with red and white polka dots. 

Red and white dotted apron and boots.  (link for boots at bottom of post)

Red and white dotted bowls and pitcher....

Dotted dessert plates on a stand....

This stand used to be a candle holder and plate ....

that I glued together and painted white....

I have lots of red and white dotted cupcake prints available in my Etsy store that would make a great Valentine's Day gift too.

I got these red and white dotted boots on Amazon and I love them!  Check out the link below.....

Anyone else crazy about red and white polka dot?

Search Amazon.com for red and white boots

Cupid's Arrow Valentine Cupcake and a 100 Year Celebration

What a celebration! Grandma Chickie turned 100 on January 4th.  She had so much fun visiting with people who came from miles around to share this day with her.  Here she is holding her high school graduation picture.  She honestly told the news paper that she didn't know if she could make it another 100 years.  This great lady still lives on the farm and inspires me every day.

My father in law is still in the Rehab Nursing Home working hard to recover from a stroke.  He has been back and forth between the V.A. Hospital and the nursing home due to a few setbacks.  Please keep him in your prayers because he sure has a long way to go.

This week I've been setting goals for myself and my artwork for the New Year.  Yesterday I finished this little Valentine Painting and will be working hard to paint more this year.  Motivation has been very difficult for me this year, but I promise to get with it soon.

"Cupid's Arrow Valentine Cupcake"

 Tiny red sprinkles glisten on the edge of this luscious butter cream frosting. This chocolate cupcake in a red wrapper is accented with white hearts. A red "cupid" heart pearced by an arrow tops it off. A red and white dotted ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Hopefully lots of new and exciting paintings will fly out of my studio this year.  If you have any ideas for what you'd like from my blog this year, please leave a comment.  Please leave a comment anyway because I truly love reading everyone of them!



Christmas Pudding and Gingerbread Bakery

I have to apologize for my lack of Christmas paintings this year.  I usually start painting them in October but this year things have not worked out.  Simply put, I have two new paintings to share with you.  I finished this one tonight and listed it on eBay.  If you would like a print before Christmas, let me know and I will get some listed.  I usually don't sell the prints until the original sells, but since it is so close to Christmas I will be happy to get them printed for my blog readers.

"Christmas Pudding"

Three pleasingly plump Christmas puddings are topped with a bright red cherry and holly leaves. These delightful treats are lined up on a pretty red and whited dotted cake plate. A red and white polka dot ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and is tied in a bow at the top.

Also, this week I was inspired by a blog reader to do a Gingerbread Bakery painting.  The children's story about the Gingerbread Man came to mind where the fox eats the gingerbread man when he jumps on his back to cross the creek.

"Gingerbread Bakery at Fox Creek"

(click on the photo for a closer view)

When I finished this painting I realized that the frame of the canvas had warped slightly and it didn't lay flat.  This can be caused by the difference in humidity from where this canvas was made and Missouri where I live.  It looks fine when hanging and doesn't bother me in the slightest, but not sure if I should try to sell it.  I love it so much, I think I just might keep this one.  I will offer a print in my stores though. 

How sly of that old fox to open his own bakery after getting his first tasty nibble!

Thanks for all the inspiration from my readers!

Hugs,

Catherine

Cupcake Coasters and a Candy Apple Cupcake Painting

Last year I signed with a licensing agent.  I have several contracts for projects in the works and now my first licensed product is available.  These stone coasters with my cupcake art on them are now available through

 CoasterStone:

I nearly fainted when I saw that these were on their website! I'm so excited and can't wait to get my samples in the mail. 

 

Today I finished another little cupcake painting and listed it on eBay.

"Candy Apple Cupcake"

Chunks of apple goodness are mixed inside this spice cupcake topped with creamy caramel frosting. Red hot candies are sprinkled on top of this yummy concoction wrapped in a red and white dotted liner.

Try a few red hots in a cup of hot tea for a real treat!

I want to thank everyone for your prayers and concern for my father in law.  We will be bringing him to a nursing home near us next Tuesday so that we don't have to continue driving 4 hours to Branson to visit him there.  He will continue with therapy in the nursing home for a while and then we will go from there.  Today he had a feeding tube put in because he hasn't been getting enough nourishment.  This is only temporary until he can gain enough strength to do his rehab.  He has a long road ahead of him.  Thanks again for your prayers.

Yarn Shoppe and Cupcake Paintings

I've had a few requests for a yarn shop painting and here it is! 

"Knit Wit Yarn Shoppe"

Stella and her sister Delores own the yarn shoppe in the center of town. New friendships have formed with the wonderful customers who sign up for their classes. You could say they are a close knit group. The two sister's spent the day decorating the shop for autumn and whipped up a batch of pumpkin bread to serve in their classes along with a mug of hot spiced cider.

For those who don't want the expense of an original painting, it will soon be available as a print which can be personalized.  This painting is listed on eBay and you can click on the title above if you are interested.   The auction ends tomorrow night. 

I also have a little cupcake painting that I finished yesterday and listed on eBay.

"Acorn Caramel Cupcake"

A caramel surprise is tucked in the center of this dark chocolate cupcake with turquoise frosting. This treat is topped with a caramel acorn dipped in melted chocolate and then in chocolate sprinkles. A turquoise and brown dotted ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

I saw these little acorns on another website and they are simply made with caramels.  You place 5 or 6 in the microwave at a time for about 5 seconds.  Roll between you hands to shape like an egg.  Dip one end into melted chocolate frosting (from a can) and then into chocolate sprinkles.  I can't wait to try this perfect treat for Autumn!

Halloween Treat Witch Cupcake Painting

I had so much fun painting today!  This funny cupcake was such a change from the tedious, precise painting that I just finished (my last and final commission piece) that I wanted to jump for joy!

If you are interested in this Halloween painting, it's available on eBay now.

Hilda, the witch, has landed smack dab in the middle of swirled purple frosting piled high on top of a pumpkin flavored cupcake. Her feet dangle high above this treat exposing her favorite red and white striped stockings. A black and white checked ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and is tied in a bow at the top.

I will be painting like crazy and having a grand time next week with new designs for my online stores.

Cupcake Paintings in Stock

Just a quick note to let you know that I have four original paintings still in stock in my Etsty Store.  Check them out here.

Crocheted Cupcake Booties and a New Cupcake Painting

Hot off the press!  I just finished, photographed, and listed this painting on eBay.  To view the auction, just click on the title:

"Cupcake Masterpiece"

A dark chocolate cupcake with blue buttercream frosting is painted on top of an old worn and wrinkled recipe decoupaged to the top of a canvas. Tiny orange confetti is sprinkled on top of the fluffy frosting and scatters below the cupcake. Globs of blue frosting leak from the piping bag tempting the taste buds. A decorative black and white cupcake liner adds even more appeal to this yummy cupcake. A wide black and white dotted ribbon wraps around the edges of the canvas and ties in a bow at the top.

Recently on facebook I mentioned to someone that I had crocheted some "cupcake booties" (of course) and she wanted to know where I got the pattern.  Needless to say I couldn't find that message again so that I could share that information with her.  Hopefully she will see this post.  I made these cute booties on craft night using the directions from one of my favorite Etsy stores.  If you like to crochet, this store is a dream and her instructions are easy to follow.  I've used many of her patterns to make slippers for myself too.  I'll try to remember to share those soon.  Check out Holland Designs for the best patterns ever!

Doesn't everyone know some charming little lady who's cute little pink toes would love these! 

A New Autumn Look and a New Cupcake Painting

I decided to cool down by adding a new Autumn header to my blog.  These 100 degree temperatures keep me inside where it's cool. There's lots of gardening that needs to be done like pulling out fried flowers, deadheading, and weeding.  All I've gotten done is watering though.

I've added a new cupcake painting to my Etsy store.

That's what I was doing instead of gardening.  If you're interested, you can check it out here.

A colorful sweet cupcake topped with a bright red cherry is painted on top of an old worn and wrinkled recipe decoupaged to the top of a canvas. Swirls of blue frosting coat the top of this vanilla treat in a red and white dotted wrapper.

What are you doing to keep cool?

Paige's Pink Petal Cake

Paige is my dear friend, Linda's, granddaughter.  She's another very special (13 yrs. old) sweet young lady loaded with talent.  Paige signed up for a cake decorating class and sent me this photo of her first cake: 

I'm so amazed by the talented three young ladies that I have posted about:

Lindsay Grace, Makayla, and Paige

These three ladies have so much talent and vision in their lives!

I did a painting for Paige to honor her first creation:

Pretty Paige's Pink Petal Cake was her first cake decorating experience. What a delight to the eye and a treat for the tummy!

We are all very proud of you young lady!

This little painting is now available as a print in my Etsy and eBay stores.


  

Coffee Cake Cupcake New Print

My new print, "Coffee Cake Cupcake" in now available in my eBay store and my etsy store.

Tucked into the center of this delicious cupcake is a filling made of brown sugar, toasted pecans, and ground cinnamon. This scrumptious treat is topped with a fluffy layer of cinnamon butter cream frosting.

Compare my garden bike to last years photo in my blog header.  I think the cone flowers are about to take it over. Click on the photos for a closer view.

I'll try to get a new photo to replace the above header so you can see the difference between this year and last.

Is anyone having trouble with their Knock Out roses this year?  Mine have been in the ground around 4 years and I've lost several this year.  In the spring they all looked great and bloomed beautifully.  Then one by one they started turning brown (not due to lack of water) and dying out.  I've now dug up 4 bushes.  It's almost like someone is spraying them with Round Up. 

Celebrate 4th of July Cupcake Painting

This little 5" x 7" cupcake painting, "Celebrate", is up for auction on eBay. 

Celebrate the 4th with a bang and a sweet patriotic treat! This delightful confection is baked inside a red and white striped paper liner then topped with blue frosting and sprinkled with tiny white stars. A lit sparkler is tucked into the top of the cupcakeand a red and white checked ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Our son, Eric, will be home from Spain July the 1st, so I'm going to be busy getting his room cleaned and preparing for his homecoming.  The 1st can't seem to get here quick enough for me!