Spiced Apple Cupcake Painting

I just finished painting this sweet little cupcake and forgot how much I enjoyed painting on top of the recipes.  I haven't done one like this in a while and hope you enjoy it too!  It's now listed in my Etsy Shop.

"Spiced Apple Cupcakes"

A spiced apple cupcake topped with maple butter cream frosting is painted on top of a little recipe that is decoupaged onto a cute 4inch square canvas. The 1 1/2 inch edges are painted beige and a sweet black and beige ruler ribbon is wrapped around the edges and tied in a bow at the top and there is no need for framing.  

I found this great ribbon on Etsy a while back and forgot that I had it.  

It's been in the 70's here for the last couple days, but is supposed to snow tonight.  Is your weather as crazy as ours?

You've Got Mail - Layer Cake Friendly Quilt Project

Back on Valentine's Day I did a post about my friend, Betty, and I going up to Hamilton, MO to the Missouri Star Quilt Company.  We sat in the audience while they filmed her new DVD.  We didn't realize that NBC news was there also taping and she was on the news last Friday evening.  Betty and I didn't make the cut.  It was such a great day and I'm now addicted to quilting.  They are one of the fastest growing companies in the US and they are located in a small farming community.  Her family has remodeled an old building downtown where she holds quilting retreats.  Between the retreat center and the shop they are putting in a new restaurant because there isn't much in town besides a Subway shop.  

If you love quilting you probably already know about Jenny's online store and her online tutorials, but just in case you haven't heard of her you can click on the video below to enjoy her great instructions and her fun personality.  

Yesterday was a very, very big birthday for me.  I mean that number is really big this year!  So, to make myself feel better I ordered my birthday gift and purchased some new quilting supplies.  I'm feeling a little better about that number now.  

Please check out the Missouri Star Quilt Company website and let me know what you think.

Also, check out my friend, Teri's blog, The Hummingbird Thread, to see the quilt that I'm making following her tutorial.  I'm using the same fabric that she used.  

New Retro Red Velvet Cupcake Original Painting

Hot off my paint table is this new little 6 inch x 6 inch Red Velvet Cupcake painting.  I must admit that I haven't painted any cupcakes in quite some time.  I also have a new folk art scene started and will be working on it tomorrow.  Hopefully I can try out Rick's new camera soon while I'm painting, but he'll have to be here to help me with it.  

I listed this new painting on Etsy today if you would like to purchase it for your home.  It's ready and willing to travel through snow, sleet, or whatever your weather might be and arrive on your doorstep handed over by your cheery postal worker.

This yummy Red Velvet Cupcake is decorated in retro colors of red and aqua. The paper cupcake liner is painted with red roses and aqua sprinkles dot the creamy white frosting. 

Remember, Spring is just around the corner and we'll soon be mowing, digging in the dirt, weeding, and cleaning the gutters!

February Snow Storm

I gave my poor brain a workout today trying to edit Rick's first Go Pro Camera video and then trying to figure out how to get it to transferred to YouTube.  I love how his shadow is the star of the show as he creeps around to the front yard with the camera attached to his forehead and tries to find the sidewalk that runs in front of our house.  

We got this snow at the first of February and today it is finally melting.  It's so hard to believe it can go from all this snow to 60 degrees in a matter of a couple weeks.

Do you think I should hook his camera on my head as I paint?  

Be Mine Valentine!

Today my neighbor, Betty, and I are headed to Hamilton, MO to the Missouri Star Quilt Company.  If you quilt, you've probably heard of them.  They are filming a new DVD and needed audience members.  They are one of the fastest growing businesses in the midwest and they are smack dab in the middle of a tiny farming community.  I'll keep you posted on our little trip when we return.

"Happy Valentine's Day!"

Burrowing in During the Storm

Last night as the wind howled and the snow fell and covered the earth with a large white glittering blanket, Rick kept watch over the fire in the stove while I knitted.   The scent of beef stew simmering on the stove helped to ward off the chill too.  We woke up this morning to a good 12" of snow.

Poor Rick is outside shoveling and cleaning everything off.  He's got his new GoPro camera attached to his head so I'll see if I can load a video for you tomorrow.  He's pretty new at this camera, so I won't make any promises.

I spent the better part of yesterday and today changing up my blog and learning how to put my artwork into the background.  

Hope I can remember how to do this the next time I want to make a change!

Did you get snow yesterday or are you from one of the few lucky states that missed this storm?

A Late Start to a New Year

I must apologize to my friends who have been trying to comment and have been unable to.  I made the mistake of linking my profile and comments to google+ not realizing that unless my readers use google+ they would not be able to comment and I could not moderate comments.  I now have resolved this problem and believe me it's never simple, but hope I haven't lost too many readers in the process.  

Getting creative once again after the holidays and the loss of Grandma has been quite difficult as well.  

I'm also moving into a new world of a gluten free diet.  My daughter, Amber has followed this diet successfully for several years and is encouraging me and helping me along.  Hopefully this will help my energy level.  Any tips or experience with a gluten free diet will be much appreciated.  Wish me luck because I'm definitely going to need it!  

Grandma Edna

Edna May Holman, my husband's grandmother, had her 103rd birthday on Saturday, January 4th and we had her funeral on the following Saturday.  We never got to have her birthday party because she got pneumonia and didn't recover.    One of my grandmother's died before I was born and I only met the other one once.  Edna was really my only true grandmother and what a great grandmother she was.

She had been ready to go home to heaven for quite some time and it was truly a blessing to know that she can once again hear the birds singing and garden to her hearts content in the most beautiful garden of all.

This photo was taken when she was in the midst of having the old siding removed.  I believe she was 100 in this photo, but it looks older because of the sepia tint.  See that little rascal in the distance on the right?  That's Lady and she now resides with us.  Grandma out lived several dogs that she adopted over the years.

This is what the house looked like once the siding was removed.

With the siding removed, the outline of the old kitchen fireplace was revealed.  I'm sure she probably cooked meals in that fireplace.  This woman has cooked on everything from wood burning stoves to microwaves.  She's seen a lot of changes over the years.  She and her sister road a horse to school and had a remarkable story to share about that.  The stories she would tell are forever in my memory and I've started saving them on my computer.

This is the house with the siding almost completed.  At 99 years old she asked the man who sold her the siding,  "How many years is the warranty?"  She was a very optimistic lady!  Edna did live here by herself until she had her 101st birthday and then went into a nursing home.  

I will share more of her stories because she had such a great influence in my life and in my artwork.

Miss you grandma!

Merry Christmas!

I've not been my usual organized self this year.  

I hung Santa on the door and got my tree up, the cookies are baked and the candy is made.   So now I'll rest my mind and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

Wishing you and your family a blessed and safe Christmas.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;  and the government shall be upon his shoulder,  and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

Caroling in Winterberry Christmas Painting

Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season with all the smells of baking and the joy of decorating your homes.  

Today I will finally get started because I've been busy finishing up my new painting:

"Caroling in Winterberry"

As cozy as Winterberry appears in the summer with all the sailboats on the water and children laughing and swimming at the beach, there is no better time to visit than during the Christmas season.

Blazing bonfires, carolers, and shops decked out with their festive finery make you feel like you've stepped back in time.  While staying at the Sugar Plum Inn you can cozy up to the fire after stepping out for a hot meal at Maisie's Cafe or make a quick run to the Unwind Yarns store for some knitting needles and a new skein of hand dyed yarn.  By the way,  all the beautiful quilts adorning the beds at the inn are from the lovely quilt shop just down the street and Betty is giving a 20% discount through the holidays.

Cupcake Snack Jars

I promise that this is the end of my cupcake ceramic posts.  Yes, these are based on my cupcake paintings and I wish I had some to sell.  I simply don't have time to order and ship in time for Christmas.  You can check for them on Amazon and I've seen some on eBay.  

How cute would this be with some of your fresh baked Christmas treats!

….and for those lovers of the color pink!

Hopefully I will be finishing up my new Christmas folk art painting next week.  I do wish I had more time for decorating.  I'm planning ahead next year!

Cupcake Trinket Boxes

New trinket boxes available from my cupcake designs:

I am painting like crazy this week finishing up a Christmas folk art scene.  I'll be sharing it soon!

Cupcake Salt and Pepper Samples

Below are the salt and pepper samples based on my cupcake paintings:

I would love to put a link on my blog for where you can purchase them, but I haven't been able to find one.  They are sold by retailers around the world so if you see them somewhere, please let me know.  It would be fun to find out who is selling them and where.

Cupcake Snow Globe Ornaments

Just thought I'd share the snowglobe ornaments that are based on my cupcake designs and licensed by Westland Giftware:

This little gingerbread house ornament is my favorite!

A cute little Christmas tree snow globe ornament...

This little gingerbread man is cute, but I'm not crazy about the wording.  I'll be changing mine by painting it out and repainting something else.  I could repaint the white area and just use some scrapbook Christmas lettering on top.

A cute snowman to cheer up your day!

I'm doing a little decorating today!  Is your home ready for Christmas yet?

Cupcake Designs Snow Globes

Remember those boxes I shared with you on the last post?  I'll be sharing those with you a few at a time because there are several.  Today I'm sharing the tiny snow globes cupcakes and they come in those great storage boxes. They measure 45mm or 1.77 inches.

I probably shouldn't have shared that last one because the lettering was messed up, but it's the only sample I had to photograph.  The last two birthday cupcakes have an "on and off" switch on the bottom.  When you turn it to on and blow in the hole on the front the candle lights up.  You can then blow to turn it off. 

I've seen some of these on Amazon if you are interested.  

I'm not sure if I'm going to invest in purchasing these to sell, but I'll try to keep you posted or give a link of anyone that I know is selling them.

Now I get to figure out how to display all my samples!

Exciting News

The UPS truck arrived and it's like Christmas around here!  I haven't even looked inside yet and I'm excited about the design on the boxes!

I need to photograph these during daylight hours, so I'll share more soon.

Maple Place Autumn Folk Art Painting

I've been locked away in that tower on the top right of this scene working diligently on finishing up this painting before fall is over.  Seriously, I do wish I had this round studio room to paint in, but mine is just a cramped little spare room in our house on the second floor.  In the spirit of Thanksgiving though, I am very thankful to even have a room that I can shut myself in where I can dream of quaint little villages where people have the time to stack pumpkins in massive iron urns and line up little pumpkins on their porch railing.  The Lord provides the rest of the decorations. This is a place where people truly are thankful for their many blessings. 

"Maple Place"

Uncle John and Aunt Dottie, as they are know to all in their little village, have been inviting folks to their home for Thanksgiving for longer than anyone can remember.  They share their home, a turkey dinner, and their blessings with those who have no where else to go on this day.  Family and friends help to make this a day that they will not soon forget.

Fall Back This Weekend

Have a great weekend and don't forget to change your clock!

Below are a few more images of our weekend in Arkansas.  These were taken by my son, Eric.

Surround yourself with the sights and scents of autumn this weekend and count your blessings.