New Little Christmas Cupcake Paintings

I finished two little Christmas cupcake paintings yesterday and got them listed on eBay.  I love using glitter on these little paintings!  Click on the pictures for a closer view.

"Joy"

A tiny gingerbread house is tucked into this marshmallow creme frosting along with two little evergreen trees. This cupcake sparkles with glitter applied to the frosting and the "Joy" label. 

A red and white dotted ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

"Peace"

A tiny gingerbread house is tucked into this marshmallow creme frosting along with two little evergreen trees. This cupcake sparkles with glitter applied to the frosting and the "Peace" label. 

A red and white dotted ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Today I'm working on a Gingerbread Bakery painting and it's going to be so much fun!

Hugs,

Catherine



A Little Christmas Decorating in the Kitchen

I always start my Christmas decorating in the kitchen because this is where I spend most of my time.  It's my favorite room in the house! Click on the photos for a closer view.

Soon it will be time to start rolling out dough and mixing up batches of yummy Christmas cookies and candy.  I'm so glad that I started my decorating in this room to get me in a jolly mood!

I would like to thank each of you for the prayers and support for my father in law.  We have now moved him to a nursing home near us where he will be going through lots and lots of therapy.  Please keep him in your prayers for continued improvement.  Thank you for your kind words of encouragement!

Hugs,

Catherine

Cyber Monday Sale!!

CYBER MONDAY STOREWIDE SALE!!

This Monday, November 29th, all artwork and prints are 25% off in my Etsy Store.  Simply use the coupon code C1AT2 when you make your purchase to receive 25% off.

Personalized prints make great Christmas gifts and we have several to choose from:

Cupcake Shoppe

Coffee Shoppe

Yarn Shoppe

2 selections of Cakery and Cafes

Tea Shoppe

Also, on Monday, November 29th, all prints in my Fine Art America Store are 25% off.  Great gifts available are:

Stretched Canvas Prints (discount on the artwork only, not the canvas)

Framed Prints (discount on the artwork only, not the frame)

Art Prints

Personalized prints are not available through Fine Art America.

Please use coupon code GYZGJX to receive your discount at this store.

No coupon code necessary in my eBay Store.  All prints are 25% off on Monday, November 29th.

Merry Christmas!

Catherine

Happy Thanksgiving

God bless you and your family on this beautiful Thanksgiving morning!

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!

Update on my Father In Law

Thanks to everyone for all the prayers.  It really means so much to the family and my father in law, Jim.  He is still going through rehab this week and we hope to see more improvement.  With strokes they can improve one day and go backwards the next day.  Your continued prayers would be appreciated.

Here is Jeff, the horse, outside the restaurant once again dressed for Halloween:

Asking for a favor....

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but we've had our lives flipped upside down recently.  My father in law, Jim, has had a stroke and is in need of prayer.  He is going through rehab this week and must keep improving in order to get to stay on the rehab floor.  We've seen improvement over the last 2-3 days and don't know what the future holds for recovery.  Our hope is that he will be able to go home with family until he is able to return home in Rockaway Beach, MO.  He is in the Branson hospital where he is getting some of the best care that I've ever seen.  They have such a loving staff of people ready to help in anyway they can.  We also need prayer for the safety of family members who are taking turns driving 4 hours from Kansas City to Branson to be with Jim.  He does not want to be left alone and I don't blame him.  His improvement in the last 2-3 days has been an answer to prayer but we continue to need prayer through his recovery.  Jim is a man who loves to fish and rides a Harley.  I'm sure the Harley is now in his past, but we definitely hope fishing is still in his future.

Now on a lighter note, this is what we saw when we came out from eating breakfast at the Farmhouse Restaurant in downtown Branson:

How can you not smile at a horse who thinks he is Dr. Suess!



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.

Giveaway Winner!

Just a quick note to let you know that the winner of the giveaway "Mocha Cupcake Painting" is Heather #46.  Please visit her at her blog "Audrey Eclectic".  Heather is also an artist and I'm sure you will love her artwork.  I've been taking weekends away from the computer so that is why I haven't posted this information until today.  Congratulations Heather!   I promise to be back soon with a new update, but for now I'm finishing up my final commission piece.  I've decided to stop taking commission work and to start painting what's swirling around in my head.  I long to sit and paint the scenes I used to do during the holiday seasons.  My hands are itching to get started.  Enjoy this nice cooler weather!

We'll Miss You Eric

I'm a little down in the dumps because we took our son, Eric, to the airport.  He is returning to Spain to teach for another school year.  Eric teaches conversational English to grade school students and he loves it.  You can follow his blog here where he journals about his adventures.

I took this photo of our daughter,Amber and Eric last night.  We fixed a big dinner so he could enjoy one more really nice American meal before he returned to Spain.  I also made him pumpkin pie since he won't be here for Thanksgiving or Christmas again this year.  Believe it or not, he and his friend Cody, made a really nice Thankgiving dinner for their friends in Spain last year.  They had to special order a turkey and were asked by the butcher if they wanted the head cut off. 

We wish you another fantastic fun filled year Eric!  God Bless!!

If you haven't already signed up for my giveaway, check out my previous post and make sure to follow the directions.  You must leave your comment on that post and leave me an email address if you don't have a blog.  I've been asked where to put the email address and you simply put it in with your comment.  I must have a way to contact the winner.  Thanks everyone for all the sweet comments and for following my blog!

Yeah! A Giveaway!!

Yeah!! I've reached 200 followers!  To celebrate, I'm giving away this 6" x 6" cupcake painting titled

"Mocha Cupcakes"

A worn and stained recipe is the background for this coffee flavored mocha dessert. Milk chocolate frosting also flavored with a hint of espresso is swirled on top of the cupcake. Chocolate sprinkles add the finishing touch. This yummy creation is wrapped in an aqua and red paper liner. A tiny red bow is glued to the cupcake and a red and white dotted ribbon is wrapped around the edges.

To win this little "calorie free" piece of artwork leave a comment on this post.  I've had a lot of people ask me how to do this and you simply proceed to the end of this post and at the bottom it will have a tiny link that says "comment".  Just move your cursor over the word comment and click.  Please leave me your email address if you don't have a blog link or I won't be able to contact you.  If you don't leave your email address, I will have to draw again and go on to the next person.   Your email will only be used to contact the winner.  I don't share or sell email addresses.

For a second chance to win, link to this post on your blog or facebook and then come back and leave another comment letting me know you have done this. 

For a third chance to win, become a follower here or on facebook and then leave another comment letting me know.

If you are already a follower comment again to inform me for another chance.

Deadline is Oct. 1st.  I will announce the winner on Oct. 2nd.

Guess what else?  I've finished my fall painting and it's now up for bid on ebay.

"Annual Barn Dance and Hayride"

The “10th Annual Autumn Ban Dance & Hayride” is in full swing at the Morton homestead. Karen and Howard look forward to entertaining friends and family with a hoedown in the barn each fall. Their three strong sons, Rickie, Jerry, and Bob, help their father prepare the day ahead by carving pumpkins and placing hay bales inside the barn for seating. Jack o lanterns glow from the windows guiding happy guests to the large red barn. Mom spends the day making huge kettles of chili and a hearty beef stew to serve to her guests. She always has an appetizing meal spread out on picnic tables covered with country red and white checked table cloths. Kid’s eyes glaze over at the sight of candied apples, popcorn balls, cookies & pies. Lucy, the Morton’s daughter, serves up a pretty smile along with some hot spiced cider to the boys standing in line hoping to ask her to dance. No one goes home hungry after this party!

The children enjoy bobbing for apples and hayrides while moms and dads swing their partners across the hay strewn dance floor. Effie, the family cat and her new babies watch the entertainment from a hay bale outside the doorway and try to stay out from under foot while one of the kittens tries to sneak in the side door. Every year the party tends to grow as news spreads throughout the village about this fun filled event!

Crocheted Bag

Last Wednesday evening during craft night, this is what I worked on:

You can find the complete instructions for this bag at Lucy's blog Attic24 (my favorite new blog find).  I actually like her colors better, but couldn't find them when I went shopping at Michaels.  I will have to make another one with her vibrant color combination.  I haven't had this much fun crocheting in a long time!   You'll not only like Lucy's crochet patterns, but also her cute way with words. I feel like I'm in the UK sitting there visiting with her over a cup of her tea while we chat about yarn.

This bag is great for toting my yarn around.  I think I'll make me a scarf with the remainder of these colors.

Autumn Folk Art Painting

I'm having so much fun with my newest folk art scene.  I've had the windows open and there is the perfect cross breeze flowing through my paint room with nice cool temperatures.  This painting and the weather gives me the inkling to whip up some warm pumpkin bread.  I love this breezy, drizzly weather!  Autumn is definitely on the way and I couldn't be more ready.  Don't you simply love "sweater weather"?

Here's the next stage in this new painting:

Most of this painting is finished.  I still need to add what I call the icing on the cake....the beautiful blazing autumn trees and falling leaves.  Some white fencing would be nice too.  Have you got any ideas?

You can click on the photo for a closer view.

Once I get 200 followers, I will celebrate with a giveaway so keep watching.   Thanks to all my followers and those who leave comments.  I wish I had time to answer all my comments, but that wouldn't leave me much time for painting.  I do appreciate that you take the time from your busy schedules to read my blog.  If you have any comments about what you'd like for me to post in the future, please leave me a comment or send me an email. 

Three Folk Art Farm Scenes Create Wallpaper Border

I have three paintings that were accepted by a wallpaper company for a border design.  I'm not sure when it will be available, but I'll keep you posted.  For now, these three paintings are up for auction on eBay. 

Two of them are paintings that I'd previously done and the one in the middle is a new design that joins the two.  The first one is "Cat Nap".

The new one is "Betty and Oreo"

and the third one is "Till the Cows Come Home".

The three paintings are being sold together in one auction.  If they don't go together, I will then sell then separately.  I would love to see them go as a set.

All three are also available as prints which are sold individually.

Recipes and Another Stage in my Autumn Painting

I'm still working on this painting:

It's a little slower progression because of all the people in this painting.  You can click on the photos for a closer view.

A few readers have asked me for the recipes from a previous post.  The Jello Salad can be found on the blog Mennonite Girls Can Cook.  This is one of my favorite blogs and where I find alot of wonderful recipes.

"Slow-Cooked Pull Pork"

1 T. oil

3-1/2 to 4-lb. boneless pork shoulder roast, netted or tied

10-1/2 oz. can French onion soup

1 c. catsup

1/4 c. cider vinegar

2 T. brown sugar, packed

12 sandwich rolls, split

Brown roast in oil on all sides and then place in crock pot.  Mix remaining ingredients, except rolls, and pour over roast.  Cook on low for 8-10 hrs. (I cook mine overnight)  Discard string and shred meat with a fork or fingers. Spoon sauce from pan over top or serve with your favorite BBQ sauce.

"Coconut Cream Pie"

2 c. milk

2/3 c. sugar

1/4 c. cornstarch

1/4 t. salt

3 egg yolks, beaten

2 T. margarine

1/2 t. vanilla extract

1-1/2 c. sweetened flaked coconut, divided

9-inch pie crust, baked

Cook milk, sugar, cornstarch and salt in a saucepan over med. heat until thickened.  Cook for 2 additional min. stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.  Stir a small amount of this mixture into egg yolks.  Pour yolks back into saucepan and simmer for 2 minutes.  Add margarine, vanilla, and one cup coconut and pour into crust.  Spread meringue over pie and seal edges.  Sprinkle remainer of coconut on top of pie.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 min. 

Meringue:

4 egg whites

7-oz jar marshmallow creme

Beat egg whites with electric mixer on high until very stiff peaks form.  Add marshmallow creme and beat for 4 minutes.

Barn Dance and Hayride Folk Art Painting

Working in the studio....

I'll share again when it's finished.

Anniversary

My husband and I have known each other since grade school.  Rick is the 2nd one from the left in this photo and I'm on the far right.  We started dating our junior year in high school and have been together since.  We are truly blessed to have each other.  He's truly my very best friend and the love of my life.

I found this on my chalk board this week:

He's the best!

Enjoying the end of Summer

We have a family dinner at our house almost every Saturday.  This weekend we enjoyed tomatoes fresh from the garden, a yummy jello salad (and yes that's cheese on top), coconut cream pie,...

and pulled pork sandwiches.  That salad looks strange; but believe me, it's good!

Not only will it be the end of sweet juicy tomatoes, but the end of my flowers will be upon us too. 

I will miss opening my gate each time I come home and being welcomed by this cheery scene....

and this...

By the time August arrives I have to admit that I'm tired of watering all the plants that I put into pots each year.  I always tell myself that I'm cutting back.  I don't really see that happening anytime soon.

Enjoy what God has blessed us with for the remainder of the summer, because soon the cold and snow of winter will be upon us.

I have to admit, I love that too. 

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?

New Porch Pillows

Remember those pillows I kept saying I was going to make with my "tea toweling by the yard" fabric?  Well they're done and they are just the touch I needed to finish off the deck and gazebo.  Click on the photos for a closer view.

The perfect spot to sip a glass of lemonade....

or read a good book.

Yes!  They're reversible....

Which side do you like best?