I'm getting very, very sleepyOur new mattress set was delivered today and it's all I can do not to fall asleep while typing.  We've been sleeping on a very hard mattress for far too long and now I can hear my plump new bed calling my name.  Before I head off I just wanted to let you know that this cute little "Butter Pecan Cupcake" painting ends tomorrow night on eBay. 

The yummy taste of Butter Pecan Ice Cream is replicated in this cupcake topped with vanilla bean flavored Butter Cream frosting. Chopped pecans are sprinkled on top. A black and white harlequin ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Here are just a few more photos of our trip to Spain.  We visited the tiny village of Chinchon where we met the best salesman in the entire world. He was especially proud of the items that he sold which came from Chinchon such as olives, wine, etc.  He gave us samples before we made our purchase and then happily posed while Rick took his picture

And this lady was so proud of the pastries in her bakery that she told our son, Eric, that she wanted to show us her ovens.  We followed her out of the bakery and past a couple of doors down the alley we entered a room where her husband was busy taking pastries out of the oven.  We then followed her back to the bakery where we purchased our fresh, hot treats and sat outside to devour them. 

See that castle on the distant hill?  Well, really it's only the top half of a castle.  We walked from where I'm standing taking this picture to that castle and that's not even where we started from.  I had to throw away one pair of shoes when we returned home.  Thank goodness I bought a new pair of tennis shoes before we went to Spain. 

This is the plaza in Chinchon.  In the summer this area is closed off and used for bull fights. 

Finally we arrive at the castle.....

and here is the beautiful view beyond the castle.  I love all the olive groves around this village.  After all the noise of Madrid, Chinchon was amazing quiet and peaceful.  What a lovely place and such sweet people. 

Now I'm off to test out that new bed!

Vanilla Cupcake Painting & Tapas in Madrid

We've been moving my mother into her new apartment so I'm a little late in letting you know that this little Vanilla Cupcake painting is up for auction on eBay. It ends Thursday evening this week, so you might want to check it out soon if you're interested.

A juicy red cherry sits high atop fluffy blue frosting on a moist vanilla bean cupcake. Wrapped in a red and white dotted liner, this made from scratch confection will bring a smile to your face and a touch of whimsy to your kitchen.
A red and white dotted ribbon is wrapped around the edges and tied in a bow at the top.

Below are a variety of the many different Tapas that we ate during our stay in Spain....

Ham with a white sauce on toast, and ham with a spicy sauce on toast....

Our son likes to frequent Tapas Bars because you order a drink and your food is free.

We would all three order our usual Pepsi and then got our choice of a Tapas from the menu. Needless to say we didn't spend much on food while we were gone.

Red peppers with tuna on toast.....


Spain's famous ham with cheese.....
Thanks for putting up with my vacation photos!

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake Painting and Evening in Madrid

Yesterday I got back into the swing of things and painted this yummy spring time treat. I can't wait for those first juicy red strawberries. It brings back memories of working in strawberry fields when I was in high school. I listed this painting on eBay last night.

"Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake"

A rich pound cake is displayed in a red and white dotted cupcake liner and topped with fluffy whipped cream and a large strawberry picked straight from the garden. A red and white checked ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Madrid at night is pretty spectacular. I love the photo below of this old restaurant.....
My hubby became quite the photographer while we were there.

the next photos were taken through the window of another restaurant....

I wish I knew how many miles we walked each day. That was our main mode of transportation besides the metro, trains, and buses. I've got lots of painting to catch up on, so I'll share more later. I've missed each of you and hope to catch up soon.

In a Land Far Far Away.....

Remember in my last post how I said that I was taking a computer break and doing a little "day dreaming" to renew my creativity..... Well, we decided to take a little trip

to visit this good looking guy.....
My hubby and I took a trip to Spain to visit with our son, Eric.


Instead of gardening at home we visited Madrid and went to an indoor market where they sold ....

beautiful produce like this....

and this.....

just had to throw this in.....

Can you believe that with all the beautiful sights to see in Madrid, that this was one of my favorite places to visit.....

I would like some of those cashews please....

and even though I'm a chocoholic this is a little too much chocolate even for me, but isn't this so creative!

I will share more later, but promise not to go overboard with all our vacation photos. I've got some jet lag to get over!

Taking a Computer Break

I'm taking a long needed break from work and my computer. Both my Etsy and Ebay Stores will be closed too. I need to energize and get myself inspired so I can get those creative thoughts moving once again in the right direction. Maybe I need to put on my gardening hat and get outside to soak up a little sun....Sure hope the weather cooperates!

I'll dream about planting some of these to hang on my garden gate again this spring....

These are my favorite garden gloves. I bought two extra pair at the end of the season last year.


I'll dream about painting my old yellow chairs this color......

I painted two of these for my daughter last year. Until the next post, I'll be doing a lot of fanciful day dreaming!

Happy Birthday!!

Sorry about the length of time between posts, but I've been sick with a terrible cold for three weeks and now the medicine that I'm taking makes my hands shake so I can't paint. I do feel better though.

Today is not my birthday. My birthday is at the end of February. My cold kept me from posting this until now because not only was it hard to paint it was very hard to type with shaky hands. I wanted to share what my crafty daughter, Amber, made me for my special day.

She made this little crochet hook case:

This cute little wreath:



This is the cover for some music she recorded on a cd for me. It's made with pictures from old Anthropology catalogs:




Isn't it cute!!!





She puts so much thought and love into everything she makes....




She also made me these adorable earring......

Please check out this post from her blog here. Also, if you like a real tear jerker check out her post here too.

Not responsible for any mistakes in the post. Ha!

Caitlin's Cakery & Cafe Folk Art Painting

My hubby and I have been busy making travel arrangements for a trip to visit with our son in Spain. My concentration seems to be shot since we've been busy with passports and trying to get everything organized.

I wanted to paint a village scene but one little shop is as close as I could conjure up. I will be listing this 9 x 12 painting on eBay this evening.

"Caitlin's Cakery & Cafe"

Bright and early Monday through Friday, Caitlin arrives at her cakery where she whips up some magic with secret ingredients to enticing confections. She turns on her favorite 40's music station and sways around the kitchen in her red dotted apron mixing gooey goodness as she waits for the ring of the bell announcing her first customer of the day. She greets each patron with a smile and sugary samples as she pours steaming cups of coffee while they make their choices reading from the huge menu written daily on the chalk board behind the counter. Desserts are displayed like exquisite jewelry in the windows and the scent of baked goods greets each hungry soul who enters this little cakery heaven at 209 Main Street.
Since my mind has run amuck, I will be painting little cupcakes, for a while until the fog clears.

Don't you wish you could step through the door of this shop and order a coffee and dessert then sit down at a table while you browse through a recipe book on cupcakes!

Craft Night and a Snowflake Cupcake

Wednesday nights my daughter, Amber, my SIL Paula, and I get together and craft. Right now we are busy crocheting projects and will try other crafts soon. Paula is a crochet genius and can make anything even without a pattern. She makes up a lot of her own designs. Here are some items I worked on during the evenings last week. The spiral pot holder is mine and the checkerboard pot holder and crocheted envelope I did for my daughter for Valentine's Day. Last night during craft night I took it easy and simply worked on my afghan that I started about 3 weeks ago.

Paula worked on these very cute and extremely tiny pieces for Amber to make into ear rings. The tiny granny squares are approx. 1 inch in size. Amber will starch these to stiffen them and then add the wires for the ear rings. Amber made some a couple of weeks ago with Paula's guidance. She's a great instructor!
I wish I had photographed the cute hat that Amber made, but I forgot. I will share it with you or link to her blog when she posts about it.
If you've never done craft night give it a try. It's a great way to complete those unfinished pieces and visit with each other.

I finished this little painting that I mentioned in my pervious post. It is now listed on eBay.

A scrumptious dark chocolate cupcake is topped with turquoise piped frosting and accented with delicate white snowflakes and tiny white sprinkles. This whimsical creation is displayed on a turquoise cupcake stand and covered with a glass cloche. A turquoise and brown dotted grosgrain ribbon wraps around the edges of the canvas and is tied in a bow at the top.

I hope you are all safe and warm! There's nothing like record snowfall!

Giveaway Winner and the Beginning of a New Cupcake Painting

Amy is the winner of the Valentine Cupcake print giveaway. Congrats Amy! Send me your address and I'll get it in the mail right away.

I started this little painting today and should have it finished in the morning. You'll see it finished in my next post. I must get back to my folk art villages next. Any ideas? I seem to have a block for some reason. I think I've been painting too many cupcakes and can't get my mind around something more involved. I also need to decide if it will be painted on a large 24" x 30" canvas or a small one. I would like to get rid of this last large canvas that's taking up space in my studio.

Also, I know that most of you thought I should keep the "Sweet and Irresistible" painting, but I've listed it on eBay. I'm having a hard time deciding what I want on that wall above the shelf, but I'll know it when I see it. Above the stove is really not a good place for a painting since it would have to be cleaned all the time.

What do you think winter, spring, summer, or fall for this next village scene? Is everyone tired of winter yet? We're still getting snow.

Gigantic Retro Style Cupcake Painting

I've had two gigantic canvas's sitting in my art room waiting for me to get creative. I may have to keep this one (I think I've said this before). Then again if I got a good enough offer, who knows! I'll sell anything that's not nailed down. That's why I don't have very much of my own artwork. Do you think it's too big for this area?

Click on the photos for a closer view.

This gal has my posture after sitting at my drafting table all day. I saw this stance on a lady from a vintage sewing pattern. On the pattern the ladies apron was sheer so you could tell she was slim and trim even though her transparent apron flared out over her straight black skirt. My mother thinks she looks "in the family way". So, I could have put "Hot from the Oven", but didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I thought it would be nicer to use "Sweet and Irresistible". Do you think she needs a tea towel over her arm or a pearl bracelet? Every woman in the 50's dressed up to bake didn't they? A towel might take away too much from her cute apron though. Let me know what your ideas are.
This is kind of like having the lady from that movie "the 50 foot woman" above my stove. Hope she doesn't kick those cups off!

Don't forget to sign up for my Valentine's Day giveaway in my previous post.

Valentine Print Giveaway

This weekend we celebrated this "sweet" gal's birthday. She's my pride and joy and my first born angel. Amber has a knack for lighting up a room with her smile and her enthusiasm. She was pretty surprised when she got a gift from our two dogs, Annie and Jersey, and our cat, Bailey. They are very thoughtful animals and thought she might like some gluten free crackers to snack on. Happy birthday Amber!

Amber loves tradition and every year she has chocolate pie instead of cake for her birthday. She also likes pot roast for dinner on her special day.


I should have had this giveaway a few posts back when I hit my 300th post, but instead I'm doing a Valentine Giveaway. Leave a comment on this post by Monday at 6pm to be entered to pick a Valentine print of your choice from my Etsy store. You can view my Valentine prints at my store by clicking here. Come back to this post and leave a comment telling which Valentine cupcake print you would choose if you win. I will need to be able to contact the winner so make sure to leave a link or an email address.