Notecard Party

Below are May's picks for Vee's Notecard Party.  These photos are evenings in Madrid during our trip in 2010.

I'm linking with:

Thanks for joining!

Catherine Holman

 

Four Season Folk Art Plates and Mugs

This set of 4 tin plates and 4 stoneware mugs are samples from my first instruction book," The Village of Stoney Point", that I've decided to sell to make more room. I'm listing these all together because I don't want to break up the set. There is a different scene on each plate , but the same house on each mug changing through the season.  

You can check out the listing here.

"Hazy Summer Days"

"Golden Autumn Blaze"

"Crisp Winter Freeze"

"Gentle Spring Breeze"

Thanks to every one of you for reading my blog and below is a free recipe card just for you!  I love reading all your comments.  I'm not sure if you've noticed in my comment section there is a place for replies.  I haven't tried using it much because I wasn't sure if you receive a notice when I reply back.  I'm going to give it a try starting today.  If you leave a comment, I will replay back directly in the comment section, and would appreciate it if you would let me know if they whoever they are notify you that there is a reply.  You can print this recipe card as a 4 x 6 photo on an index card. 

Catherine Holman

Dog Days of Summer Folk Art Painting

I had a great time with this painting even though it seemed to go on forever.  I kept adding little dogs here and there and had to stop before the pound showed up in the painting.  I've listed this painting on eBay and it's scheduled to start tonight.

"Dog Days of Summer"

 Every morning at half past nine, Fern leaves home for her morning walk with her dog Foster. As they pass the library Foster quickens his pace toward the entrance to his favorite shop, Bone Appetit. Camped outside his doorway, Henry notices his regular morning customers have lined up and reaches into his apron pocket to make sure he has treats to hand out before he unlocks the door for the day. As Jake and his dog, Lady, round the corner into town and pass in front the Snip ‘n Clip hair salon, he notices Fern in her pretty red and white dotted dress. This may just be the day he gets up enough nerve to ask her if she’d care to join him for a soda at Broomfield’s General Store. Of course this will have to wait until Foster and Lady have had their choice of gourmet treats at his pal, Henry’s shop.



 Don't you wish you could just jump into this scene and go have a soda at Broomfield's General Store with Fern and Jake?

Note the little dog playing catch with his owner and the lonely dog at the top of the hill...

These two have captured the heart of Henry, the owner of Bone Appetit.

Jake's dog appears to be a cross between a collie and a wart hog.  Oh, the joy of folk art!

Dog guarding the door to his stone cottage...

The scene wraps around the 1 1/2" edges and doesn't need a frame.

I think I'm ready to paint something fattening and quick like some cupcakes!

Catherine Holman

Folk Art

Finally, it's finished.  I've had several things come up that kept me away from finishing this painting.  I will show the the final piece tomorrow after I have a chance to name the painting and write the little story to go along with it.  I will also include a link to the auction when I list it on eBay.

What a huge relief!  Have you had any unfinished projects hanging over your head? 

Catherine Holman

My Secret Garden

This is my secret garden surrounded by a privacy fence and very few people get to see.

We live in an older home and the soil is very black dirt.  The yard at our previous home was hard clay and I had a very difficult time learning to garden.

I still don't know much about gardening, other than digging a hole and sticking a plant in it.  What I do know is that good dirt makes all the difference.

I love how my neighbor, Betty's, cottage peaks up over my fence in the photo below. 

I'm a lazy gardener and don't like to do a lot of digging to start a new flower bed.  Most of my beds were started by laying several layers of newspaper on top of the grass and covering it with about 3 inches of cypress mulch.  Next year the grass and newspaper will be gone and I can plant my flowers. 

We are still getting temps in the 30's on some evenings which is scary when so many of my plants bloomed so early this year.  How is your garden doing this spring?

Village of Stoney Point Tea Bag Box

This box was one of my projects from my first instruction book, The Village of Stoney Point.  It's one of my favorite pieces and was painted in 1993. 

Check out my eBay auction. 

 Side view below.....

The hinges for the lid are two wooden pegs.

The inside has dividers so you can sort your tea bags by flavor, or use as an office organizer for paper clips, rubber bands, stamps, etc.

This piece has been loved, used, and traveled to trade shows and seminars. 

There are a few blemishes and some small places where the painted has rubbed off or chipped. It only adds to the character of the piece.

Catherine Holman

Hand Painted Spaghetti Storage Container

I'm back with my latest class sample that I've decided to auction on eBay.  I listed it tonight if anyone is interested you can click the title(link) below to check out the auction.

"Folk Art Spaghetti Holder"

Made from tin, this folk art spaghetti holder is a decorative way to store your pasta. 

The scene is painted all the way around the tin.

Catherine Holman



Bringing Life to my Folk Art Painting

Remember when a customer asked me to personalize my Tea Shoppe print and make it into a Dog Treat Barkery?  That's where I got the idea for this new painting.

I was hoping to get this painting finished today, but I just couldn't stop adding more and more details.  I write the story in my head as I paint and then my brush just won't stop.

A lady walks her little dog toward the Barkery wearing her favorite red and white polka dot sundress.

The sign above the door and all the dog treats in the windows are creating quite a stir outside the entrance of the shop.

I still need to come up with a name for this painting when I finish it next week.

Hopefully that will pop into my head when I finish writing the story.  All suggestions welcome!

Catherine Holman 

Notecard Party

A Haven for Vee is having a "Notecard Party".  You just need to pick four photos that have previously been on one of your blog posts that might be suitable (none of mine are) for notecards.  Most of my photos are not worthy candidates, but here are four that I picked for this month:

(Notice how I blur the edges to try make them look better)

I'm ready to get my pillows out but it's been a little rainy, so I think I'll wait.  Have you gotten your pretty porch pillows out yet or made new ones?

I'm linking up this post with Vee's Notecard Party.

Icing on the Cake Begins ... My Folk Art Painting

I've started what I call the "icing on the cake" or the really fun part of the painting.  A quilt and bolts of fabric are part of the window display at "The Wooden Spool" quilt shop.

The scene wraps around the edges of the canvas.

Check back tomorrow for more "Icing on the Cake!"

Catherine Holman 

More Folk Art Painting Details Added

I didn't get any painting done yesterday because I had lots of gardening to tend to before the rain set in today. 

It was such a treat to have the day to play around with my painting and bring more of it to life.  It was a bad day to photograph though.  Hopefully you can tell from the photo what I've done compared to the previouse posts on this painting.  Folk art is so much fun because there are no rules and I can make them up as I go along.

All the buildings are close to completion.  I just need to decide what each building will be, paint the signs, and add the details inside the windows.  The rest is just icing on the cake and oh so much fun!

Catherine Holman 

Tea Room Napkin Holder and Salt and Pepper Shakers

This week I'm listing these two folk art projects that are book samples from my first instruction book, "The Village of Stoney Point".

"Wood Napkin Holder and Ceramic Salt & Pepper Shakers"

The chimney of the napkin holder also serves as a toothpick holder. 

Front of the napkin holder...

Back of the napkin holder...

Check out my eBay auction if you are interested.

I will be sharing the progess of my new painting tomorrow.

Hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Easter!

Catherine Holman

Jelly Bean Cupcake

Today I'm having my family over for our Easter dinner and tomorrow we'll be celebrating Easter at church with our church family, then heading to the  the nursing home to visit with my father

in law and grandmother.

He is our risen Lord and Savior!

How do you celebrate Easter?

Bringing Depth and Detail to My Folk Art Painting

After the basecoating stage in my previous post, I start shading to add depth and some details bringing the buildings to life.  I'm still working through what each building will be and I really appreciate all the help and comments. 

I love skimming through old photos that I've taken over the years of old buildings to get ideas for my little village.   Wouldn't you love to take a stroll down this sidewalk and do a little window shopping?

Catherine Holman