Olivia's Orange Apron Cupcake Painting

Before my husband and I left this past weekend for a trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, I listed this painting on eBay:

"Olivia's Orange Apron"

Olivia works for her best friend Ruby at her Cupcakery. She designs and makes the aprons that they wear at work and also sells them to the customers. Between Ruby's famous cupcakes and Olivia's fashionable aprons the two have become quite the entrepreneurs in their small community. 

Olivia also loves French pedicures and Ruby's culinary creations!

This painting would be cute hanging side by side with:

"Ruby's Red Shoes"

Both paintings are available on eBay.

We had a fabulous time in Eureka Springs staying in a quaint log cabin and driving around looking at the beautiful scenery and colorful autumn leaves!  Now I have lots of catching up to do this week and new paintings to start. 

Are the leaves changing in your area yet?

Gratitude Autumn Folk Art Painting

I'm still on a roll and that pumpkin sitting on top of that hill below might be too.  You can check out my newest painting on eBay.

"Gratitude"

As he makes the long climb up the winding trail to the old yellow farmhouse at the top of Clover Hill, Johnnie hears the music playing from the old radio in the kitchen on top of the frig. It gently drifts through the windows and into the chilly night air. Memories of dancing with Tilly around the kitchen floor to this very tune brings a smile to his face as he quickens his steps toward home to surprise his wife. Gratitude for a safe return after 12 months serving his country and into the arms of his sweetheart is more than an answer to their prayers.

I can't decide what to paint next, but my mind is full of ideas and it should be fun!

New Halloween Tasty Morsel Cupcake Painting

Check out my new cupcake painting listed on eBay tonight.

A Tasty Morsel

Myrtle's hat flew off and landed right on top of this delicious chocolate cupcake topped with purple butter cream frosting and orange sprinkles.The star studded cupcake wrapper is the perfect attire for this tasty Halloween morsel.

A black and white checked ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and ties in a bow at the top.

I'm on a roll and have been painting away and loving it!  I'm not sure what motivates me.  Maybe the cooler weather?  What motivates you?

Autumn at the Village Inn Folk Art Painting

The first day of September I was in full autumn swing.  I got up early and made two loaves of pumpkin bread.  It wasn't long before my family was drawn to the kitchen where the sweet aroma tugged at their appetites.  A couple days later I made pumpkin pies and then a week later pumpkin chocolate chip cookies with brown butter maple frosting. 

Now I've turned my autumn desires to painting and finally finished "Autumn at the Village Inn".  I listed it on eBay last night.

Ester and Joe are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary at the Village Inn in Strasburg, PA where they spent their honeymoon. Taking long walks hand in hand they chat about how God has blessed their lives with family and friends over the years. Sweet memories rich with love and happiness have bound these two together even through the hard times. Their lives are woven together like the stitches in a quilt. Pieces of their lives are sewn to one another forming a blanket of wonderful memories that warm their hearts.

What are you up to this fall?

An exercise program should be high on my list to get rid of all those extra pounds due to all the baking going on around here.

Petite Cupcake Shop Open

A few months ago I was commissioned by three lovely ladies wanting a cupcake painting for their soon to be cupcake shop. 

Petite Cupcakes & Events, LLP is the brain child of three dynamic women who hail from New York, Louisiana, & California. Brought together by shear luck, this partnership was formed based on their absolute love for cupcakes and the belief of family fun. Our mission is to produce and market quality yummy cupcakes, fun-filled events , great customer service, and a family-friendly environment. So, stop on by and taste our "cuppies", you know what they say "good things come in small packages."

 

They are now open and here is their storefront:

Cupcake samples:

If you are in the area, stop by and tell them I sent you!

 

2766 Belle Chasse Hwy, Gretna, LA 70056 yum@petite-cupcakes.com (504)233-3020 

Village Inn Folk Art Painting and a Great Book

Just in case you think I've skipped town, I thought I'd share what's been on my paint table for the last two weeks.  I've decided that I need to get back to painting some folk art scenes instead of cupcakes every week.  It's been fun, but very slow going.  The scene I'm working on is the Village Inn from Strasburg, PA.  I'm painting it as an autumn scene with lots of brightly colored leaves and pumpkins.  I visited Strasburg while teaching several years ago at Steph's Folk Art and fell in love with the area. 

My hope and goal is to finish this painting this week.

I got a surprise in the mail this week from Paraclete Press.

What a sweet little book about Gratitude.  It includes a Thanksgiving short story by Louisa May Alcott.  The best part though is the folk art on the front cover is mine.  I'm honored to have my artwork on this sweet little book that is available at Amazon.

Amazon also will let you have a look inside the book.  So, stop by and take a peek.  It is a quick read for a cool autumn day.

New Halloween and Gummi Bear Cupcake Prints

I just stopped in to share two new prints that are now available in my Etsy, FineArt America,  and Ebay stores.

My husband, Rick, and I have been married for 38 blissfully happy years today!

I've truly been blessed with a wonderful loving husband and a great father to our children.  Rick and I have know each other since we were in grade school.  We were both born and raised in the same small town and lived in the same neighborhood as children.  

What a sweet guy even if he is going to a Steely Dan concert with our son and son in law tonight. 

Love you honey!



Seaside Cupcake Painting

Yesterday I started out thinking I was going to be working on a "Plain Jane Cupcake",  when my painting took a different direction.  I usually start out with a pretty clear picture in my head of what I want, but as I started picking out colors and applying them to the canvas, I realized these colors were more suited to a "Seaside Cupcake".  This idea just popped into my head and here are the results.   I listed it on eBay last night for those of you who are interested in the original.

Tiny bubbles pour out of the mouths of cute little fish accenting the top of this tropical cupcake. What a cute cupcake painting for your seaside cottage retreat!

A brown and aqua dotted ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and ties in a bow at the top.

I finished my crochet rose pillow:

I'm not sure where it will go because I don't have any pink in my house. I'm sure I'll figure it out though. 

Ruby's Red Shoes Cupcake Painting

"Ruby's Red Shoes"

I finished this fun little painting today and listed it on eBay. 

Ruby just bought a new pair of red Mary Jane's and they have quickly become her favorite pair of shoes. Most days are spent baking for customers wearing her favorite strawberry apron and bib overalls. She loves waiting on customers and sharing her love of indulgent creations.

My craft night project last week was a rose pillow.  I just love how dimensional it is.  I will share the finished project soon.

This is made from a free tear off instruction sheet from Michael's.

This is such a fun project and I've already started a smaller red pillow to go with this:

 Hopefully I'll finish this afghan before winter.

Gluten Free Cupcakes in a Jar

"Black Cherry Gluten Free Cupcakes in a Jar"

Recently we celebrated my father in law's 79th birthday and I knew that my daughter, Amber, wouldn't be able to eat any cake due to her gluten free diet.  I found this recipe at Whipperberrie's blog and decided to substitute a gluten free cake mix for the regular cake mix.  These are baked directly in the jars (1/2 pints). Gluten free does not raise as much as a regular mix.

 Check out the link for the recipe.

Click here.

I think she likes them! 

The frosting is very good because it's not very sweet and it was very light.

Try these out at your next party.  Believe me they were a big hit!

Baking Day Cupcake and Apron Painting

It's finally finished.  As mentioned in the previous post, I've been working on this painting for quite some time and it just never really struck me as finished.  Yesterday I added the apron and that seemed to be just the finishing touch that this little "Baking Day" painting needed.  Check it out on eBay!

Saturday is baking day in Bell's kitchen. She ties her favorite apron around her waist and quickly whips up a batch of chocolate cupcakes for the ladie's prayer group that meets at her home every Saturday evening. A red and white dotted ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and ties in a bow at the top.

Our son, Eric, surprised us with a delicious meal this week.  It was a spicy chicken pasta dish that I can't pronounce.  He collected cookbooks from each place he visited while living in Spain.  My review:

Yummy!!!!

I thought these two items that I finished in our "Craft Night"  get together last night would tie in well with this baking and cooking post. 

I finished my crocheted ripple apron and....

as my daughter, Amber, calls it, my Harry Potter tea towel.

As you can clearly see, I'm still spending most of my time in doors out of the extreme heat.  My yard is living proof that I'm staying inside.

Boo Halloween Cupcake Paintings

This week I've been working on a new licensing project and had to repaint some Halloween cupcakes in order for the manufacturer to have a larger image to work from.  It feels a little strange to be working on a Halloween project when it's nearly 100 degrees outside, but companies get ready way in advance of the holiday seasons.  Now these three little paintings are for sell on Ebay.

I've also got a new painting almost finished that I'm excited to share next week.  I started it last year and put it away because I wasn't sure I even liked it.  I never have paintings laying around unfinished and this was driving me crazy.  Now that it's coming to life, I really love it and hope you will too. 

I'm staying inside working because it's too hot to garden.  What are you doing in this heat?

I'm linking this post up with
Handmade Blog Party Sunday.

He's Home!!!

Our son, Eric, is finally home from Spain.  He taught English at a grade school for two years.  Each year he would leave in at the end of August and return home on July 1st.    His sister, Amber, sure was excited to see him at the airport!

Eric and his friend Emma (from England)  teaching in the classroom their first year.

These kids are really going to miss him and he definitely is going to miss them!