Cherry Chocolate Cupcake Painting and Giveaway

This "Cherry Chocolate Cupcake" painting is listed on eBay and ends this week.

5" x 7"

A chocolate fudge cupcake mixed with cherry pie filling is topped with fluffy, butter cream, piped frosting with a cherry on top. Displayed on a black cake stand embellished with tiny ruby colored crystals, this dessert is a treat for the eyes as well as the tummy. This fudgey, cherry concoction is wrapped in a cute red and white polka dot cake liner. A red grosgrain ribbon with white dots is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Now please rush right over to Laurel Plum Online because she's offering a "Giveaway" of one of my prints. The giveaway ends this Friday the 27th. Laurel has a beautiful blog full of tips on getting organized.

Bedside Table Redesign

Around Christmas I shared this picture of my new lamp that I bought for my bedroom. I'm now using this as a "before shot" of my bedside table.
This is the "new look" for my bedside table now. I purchased Penny's (Lavender Hill Studio) mosaic directions online and this is my first project. This was so much fun! If you think you'd like to try to mosaic something, Penny's directions are great and very easy to follow. I had an old matelasse that I cut to make the skirt. It's simply velcroed around the edge of the table for easy removal when it needs washing. I tied a black ribbon around the top edge and added one to the lamp as well because I keep reading that every room needs a touch of black. Large black buttons were also sewn down the front where the fabric overlaps. Click on the photos for a closer view.

I have a question to ask all my faithful readers, " Should I paint the lamp base antique white or black?" If you think I shouldn't paint it at all, you can also vote.

There is a "Toile Party" going on at the Pretty Organized Palace Blog, so go check it out!

Clover Hill Folk Art Painting

New listing for my eBay auctions:

"Clover Hill"

Click on photos for a closer view.

Avary and her mother, Ruth, have worked hard all morning making a surprize, giant cupcake for their friend and neighbor Miss Hester. Everyday after school Avary stops in to visit with Hester who fell and broke her hip while pruning her climbing rose bushes that grow up the side of her stone cottage. Avary has been doing chores and helping in the garden until her friend heals and asked her mother to help her with a surprize for their ailing neighbor. Getting up at the crack of dawn the mother and daughter team made the most delicious giant cupcake and frosted it with fluffy pink butter cream frosting. Ruth sent her daughter up Clover Hill to the little cottage at the top of the lane with her sweet treat in hand.

Soon I will share with you another project that I'm doing for our bedroom. It's been fun and I can't wait to show you.

I was honored to find out that I had won second place in the Artist's Choice Awards on eBay for the "Folk" category.

Now, I've got to get back to the mess, hmmmmmmmmmm, I mean project I'm working on.

St. Patrick's Day Cupcake Painting

Just a quick post to let you know that I listed this 8" x 10" painting on ebay last night. The background color was very hard to photograph, but the top picture is more true to the original.

A white chocolate chip cupcake is piled high with piped green "Irish Cream" frosting and topped with miniature chocolate chips. Displayed on a black decorative cake plate and covered with a glass cloche, this cupcake will look great displayed for St. Patrick's Day or year round. The black lettering at the top of the picture is dripping with green Irish cream icing and a green and white checked ribbon is tied around the knob on the glass cloche.

My mother's side of the family is Irish and I've yet to find a four leaf clover. How about you? Do you have the luck of the Irish?

Custom Painting

A while back I did a custom painting for a sweet customer, Laura, who wanted me to do a painting of the place where they were married as a gift for her husband. You can view that post here. This year she asked me to do a painting for her sister, Marian, and brother in law, Doug. They had recently purchased a new home and she wanted me paint a picture of them in front of the barn on their property. Doug had given Marian a dragon weathervane as a gift, so I added that to the top of the barn. She has given them their gift, so I thought I would now share it with you.

Marian & Doug's Barn:

Marian and Doug I wish you a life time of wonderful memories at your new place and with the new little one that's on the way! What a great place to raise children.

Last night I listed the painting below at the starting price of $1.00. Yes, I said $1.00! So, if you've never been able to bid on one of my originals because of the price, now is the time to try. The shipping for this painting is $32.95 (includes insurance and delivery confirmation) because it's an oversized package. They charge more for size than weight. This painting is 18 inches by 24 inches.

"Traveler's Ease at Turtle Cove"

If you're looking for that perfect place to rest your weary head, you should venture to Traveler's Ease Inn on Turtle Island. Owners, Leota Mae and Harley Thompson, will have a warm and cozy feather bed fluffed and waiting. They will greet you with a pot of herbal tea and cranberry muffins with orange frosting. Customers quickly become friends with the Thompson family and return for years to come.

Chocolate Pecan Cupcake Painting

Looks as if I need to be doing paintings of fruit, vegetables, slimfast, etc. This time of year I start to feel the tug of jeans that are too tight and shirts that have become too snug. I'm sure this extra weight is due to inactivity and painting all the time. Painting these cute little cupcakes isn't helping either. Getting out in the garden during the spring and summer usually gets me back into shape pretty quickly because I'm not inside with the frig. Hurry up Spring!!

This cute little "Chocolate Pecan Cupcake" is now listed in my eBay auctions. The bow is bright red even though it may appear to be hot pink in this photo.

This yummy chocolate pecan cupcake is filled with chocolaty, nutty goodness. Decorate your kitchen with this cupcake piled high with mint green frosting topped with red roses. The border is painted a pale yellow and is accented with black and white checks and tiny red roses. A black tag is painted at the top labeled "Chocolate Pecan". A bright red grosgrain ribbon with white dots is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

I've also listed this little 6" x 6" spring painting:

"Greenbriar Lane"

When a gentle breeze is in the air, people walking down Greenbriar Lane and neighbors with open windows, are entranced by the sweet scent of Miss Effie's flowers. She has won first prize at the county fair the past two years for her beautiful pink roses. She loves to teach the neighbor children how to garden and treats them to lemonade and orange frosted cookies for their help. Miss Effie is then showered with hugs and kisses.

A Sad Tale of a Girl and her Cake

Friday was my birthday and my husband took some time off and treated me to a wonderful day. Thanks honey!

I thought I would share an idea of where I get my desire to paint cupcakes and cakes. In the photo below I was celebrating my birthday at the tender age of 3. Who would have guessed what a dessert freak I would become! My sweet older brother, Joe, stepped into the scene to help me carry this heavy load. As you can see from my dismay, I thought he wanted it all to himself. In the end I'm sure I won out and gobbled up that heavenly concoction which led to the slim and trim figure that I had the time. The look on my face says it all, "Get your hands off my cake!"

Which leads me to mention that this print is now available in my Etsy and Ebay stores!

Dark Chocolate Cupcake Painting

I had a really difficult time listing this painting on eBay this week because it matches my kitchen. My husband's says I'll sell anything I've painted that isn't attached to the house. I'm really bad about not keeping anything for myself. This is a much larger painting than my other cupcake paintings. It measures 12" x 16" and I even have the perfect spot for it. I may have to do another one of these for me!

"Dark Chocolate"

This triple fudge cupcake is made with dark chocolate and has a rich fudge texture. You'll want to sink your teeth into this beauty piled high with piped green mint frosting and topped with pink roses. Displayed on a pink decorative cake plate and covered with a glass cloche, this cupcake will make your stomach growl each time you walk by it. A brown grosgrain ribbon with tiny pink dots is tied in a bow and attached to the cake plate. The black lettering at the top of the picture is dripping with green mint icing.

These dreadful pink counter tops came with the house when we bought it, but this painting looks good with them. I painted my kitchen brown when we moved in because I thought it would make the counters look more like beige. I may have to give in and play up the pink because I have to live with them for a while.

A Little Makeover and New Paintings

Sorry for the extended vacation from my blog. After I got my computer back from the shop we started experiencing internet problems and I haven't been able to post for a while. I will try to catch up and get everyone up to date on what I've been doing during this time away from the computer. The following two paintings were listed on eBay last week between the intermittent internet service and will be ending this week. The first one "Stone Crossing" is done on a 3/4" canvas instead of my usual 1 1/2" box type canvas. This gives the purchaser the option to frame it or leave it unframed. An eggshell crackle and antiquing has been applied to this painting to give the appearance of age. Click on the image for a closer view.

Stone Crossing is a quiet haven for Francine and Edward Stewart and their family. Coming home at the end of a day of hard work to a home cooked meal prepared by his wife’s loving hands, is exactly what Edward needs. The family gathers around the long harvest table where hands are joined and heads are bowed as the blessing is asked over the food that is being served. Everyone shares the events of the day and tiny voices giggle as tidbits of meat are handed under the table to Clyde, their English bulldog. The stress that comes with Edward’s job at his office begins to drift away and melt like the snow that gently falls outside.

The next painting, "Moist 'n Chewy", is another cupcake painting and will be ending February 24th.

Dark chocolate frosting is swirled and piled high on a moist 'n chewy chocolate cupcake. A turquoise cake stand and glass cloche cover make a decorative display for this delectable dessert. A decorative tag on the side of the cupcake liner lets you know what the choice is. The black lettering at the top of the picture is dripping with chocolate icing. A turquoise ribbon with brown polka dots is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

I also did a little makeover project this week. I posted a photo of the before picture a while back and here it is again.

This old cedar chest has sentimental value to me because it was my "hope chest". Did any of you have a hope chest and does anyone do this anymore? I hoped and dreamed of a dashing, sweet, loving husband and I got all that and more than I ever "hoped" for. That makes this cedar chest 36 years old. A little paint and a little fabric and this is what it looks like now:

Woodland Cove Folk Art Painting

"Woodland Cove"

I added this painting to my ebay auctions this week.

On Saturday nights, Bernice and Horace host a little get together with their neighbors. The women get the food prepared while the men get out the dominos for an evening of good food and fun games. Ethel and Walter introduced their new neighbors Flora and John to their hosts at church and they all became quick friends. The close knit community of Woodland Cove nurtures their friendships and is always there to lend a helping hand.

Wouldn't it be great to live on you own little island with you best friends and neighbors just a boat ride away. Take some time this week to invite some friends over for food and games. You'll feel so blessed and wish you had done it sooner. Here is a recipe for the chicken salad sandwiches that the ladies served:

"Chicken Salad"

Boil together in a 6 quart saucepan

4-4 1/2 lb. stewing chicken (I like chicken breasts)

1 Med. onion quartered

1 large carrot sliced

1 bay leaf

Mix :

1 lb. seedless grapes

2/3 cup mayo

1/4 cup milk

2 T. cider vinegar

1/8 tsp. pepper

1 cup diced green pepper

1 1/2 tsp. salt (I use 1 tsp. or less)

1/2 cup California walnuts or Cashews

1 cup sliced celery

Add chicken and mix.

Eat Cake Folk Art Painting

I owe a debt of gratitude to my sweet brother, Keith, who has loaned me his laptop computer because mine is in the shop for repairs. What a sweet guy! I had no idea how I was going to fill orders for the next several days. Anyway, I wanted to share a new "Eat Cake" painting that I finished last week and couldn't get listed due to computer problems. I added this painting to my eBay auctions this evening. This painting is 8" x 16" and has a brown ribbon with pink dots tied around the edges. You can click on the images for a closer view.

"Great News"

I'm a finalist in the eBay group "Artists' Choice Awards 2008" for the Folk category! Wish me luck because I need it. I'm honored to be nominated along with the other very talented artists in this category. Thanks to all those who nominated me!

Chocolate Fudge Cupcake Painting

I've been a little lazy lately and can't seem to concentrate. I seem to be painting what I'm thinking about. Cupcakes, to some of you, may not seem like work, and just because I love painting them and don't need to concentrate, doesn't mean I'm not working. Sounds like I'm making excuses for not putting my mind to work on a village scene to me. But believe me, it's hard to paint these and stay away from the kitchen. Now that's hard! I don't know about hard work, but it's hard to not go whip up a batch of these chocolate fudge cupcakes and eat myself silly!

I added this little "Fudge Cupcake" painting to my eBay auctions this evening.

A chocolate fudge cupcake with chocolate frosting is painted on top of a recipe from an old cookbook that is decoupaged to a canvas. Tiny colorful confetti in shades of pink, blue, and green are sprinkled on top of the fluffy frosting. A pink cupcake liner and a "fudge" tag embellish this yummy cupcake. A tiny black and white checked ribbon is hot glued above the label. I've also attached a pink satin ribbon to the edge of the canvas and tied it in a bow at the top. The entire picture is painted except for the recipe and the ribbon.

Valentine Cottage Folk Art Painting

This is just a quick little post to let you know that I listed this little Valentine Cottage painting on eBay last night.

Decorative details adorn this cozy cottage owned by decorative painters Pollyann and Phillip. When they first bought the house it was painted white but now their decorative details have added their signature work to the home. Black and white checkerboard trim edges the roof sections. A cute red and white checkerboard chimney and polka dot roof were the inspiration for the stained glass window with the red heart that Pollyann designed. Love is abundant in this home where a red heart decorates the door for Valentine's Day. The lettering for the "Be Mine" bracket is decoupaged to the canvas and the black bracket is painted around it.

You have your choice of a red and white or black and white checked ribbon tied around the edge of the canvas.

Back to the Super Bowl half time entertainment!

Cherry Cupcake Painting

"Cherry Cupcake Dream"

My computer has been giving me fits lately, so while waiting for my hubby to work on it, I decided to get some painting done. While browsing some blogs lately I've noticed several kitchens done in white, yellow, and lots of red. So, I was inspired to paint this cupcake painting in these colors. I listed this painting on eBay last night and it would make a lovely Valentine's Day gift for that special person in your life or for yourself.

This painting of three charming cherry cupcakes would be a great way to brighten up your kitchen. All three cupcakes are in coordinating red and white cupcake liners and are topped with fluffy white butter cream frosting and a single cherry. The three cupcakes are "Cherry Chocolate", "Cherry Delight", and "Cherry Yum Yum". Each cupcake rests on a decorative black cake stand with it's own unique style. Tiny little black and white checked ribbons are hot glued to the stick section of the labels. I've also attached a black and white checked ribbon to the edge of the canvas. I've photographed this painting with and without the ribbon on the edges. It can be removed if you prefer.

Above you can see this painting sitting on my red roller skates next to the Valentine Cupcake painting that ends this evening on eBay.

Here's a final look at the "Be Mine Valentine" cupcake painting before it skates off to its new owner at the end of the auction.


This week I cleaned all the Christmas artwork off my chalkboards and here is a sweet little surprize my hubby left me. I love it that he still does these little things after 36 years! The Missouri Conservationist magazine arrived in the mail this week and I just had to share the beautiful photo on the cover with you. I love the contrast of a brillliant red cardinal against the glistening white snow.

Print Giveaway Winner and a New Valentine Cupcake Painting

I've been pretty busy with custom orders lately and it's been difficult to work in a few minutes to post on my blog. I did manage, however, to get this new little cupcake painting done for eBay. I try to list at least one or two new paintings on eBay each week.

"Be Mine Valentine Cupcake"

Decorate your home for Valentine's Day with this colorful 5 inch x 7 inch cupcake painting. A moist yellow cupcake with a red and white polka dot liner is piled high with fluffy white frosting and a bright red cherry nesting on top. A cute heart shaped valentine is attached to the side of the cupcake which rests on a black cake stand topped with a glass cloche. The black lettering is dripping with white frosting and accented with red hearts.

Congratulations! Melissa from Sunbonnet Cottage is the winner of my print "Giveaway", Hill Crest Island. Send me your address Melissa (my email is in the sidebar). Thanks to all of you for your wonderful comments and good luck next time!
I know that a lot of you thought this was a painting I was giving away, but it really did say print. Keep watching though. There may be a painting giveaway sometime soon!

Banner Painted in Music Room

Yesterday I was flipping through the pages of an old album I had put together of some of the work I had done in homes for clients. I had completely forgotten about this one and I thought I'd share it with you. I painted this in the music room above their built in storage cabinets. You can click on the photos for a closer view. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Giveaway, New Painting, and Cake Recipe

This week I received two awards from two great bloggers. The first award comes from Jenny at All Roads Lead Home. This Lemonade Award is based on displaying great attitude or gratitude. Wow! Thanks Jenny. Check out Jenny's blog because I really think this award applies to her. She is the sweetest and cutest blogger and she even paints! I wish I had time to follow the rules and pass this on to several people, but since I don't, please grab this one for yourself right here. I love the attitude and gratitude of all of you who comment on my blog.

You can pick up this next award at Joyce's Blog, Moderate Suburban Chick. She's a lovely lady and has a pretty yummy looking recipe for quick Cinnamon Delights you can grab while you are there. We are even the same age as soon as my birthday arrives in February. Check out Joyce's blog and have a cup of coffee with her!
Now, as I was cleaning up around my paint room I came across this print, "Hill Crest Island", that I had crackled last year and have decided to give it away. Just leave a comment on this post before January 22nd when I will use a random number generator to pick the winner. Only one chance per person please. If your comment doesn't link to your blog, or you don't have a blog, please leave me an email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win. I promise to sign the print too. It will come with a certificate of authenticity with the following story:

Clarita and Henry Castaway live in a cottage on Hill Crest Island. They row their little red boat to the mainland each morning to have coffee and breakfast with their friends at a local cafe.

Yesterday I finished a house portrait which I hope to share with you soon and then I did a little painting that I listed on eBay titled, Hampton Hill.



Mrytle and Richard live in a cottage on Hampton Hill. Today is Richard's 55th birthday and as always, Myrtle is making his favorite cake to celebrate. As the snow gently falls they will enjoy dinner by the fire and share a piece of cake with their neighbors who have come to celebrate as well. Good friends, a loving wife, and great food, what more could a man ask for!



Here is the cake that Myrtle served her husband and I serve mine every year on his birthday:

"Watergate Cake"

1 White cake mix
3 Eggs
3/4 Cup oil
1 Can 7-up
1 Pkg. instant pistachio pudding

Mix together well and then add:
1 Cup pecan pieces
1/2 Cup coconut
Stir together with spoon
Bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 min.

Icing
(Put on cold cake)
2 pkgs. dream whip
1 pkg. instant pistachio pudding
1 1/2 Cup cold milk
Mix together and ice cake. Sprinkle cake with coconut and pecans. Keep cake refrigerated.

New prints are added to my shops weekly, so check them out.