Sunday, February 27, 2011

Party Girl!

Too much dessert makes one look like this:
Yes, that's me!  All pudgy and hanging onto that scrumptious birthday cake for dear life!  Now you know where my obsession with cupcakes and dessert came from. 

I had a fabulous birthday weekend!  Our daughter, Amber, and son in law, Scott, came out and spent the evening with us on Friday.  They even cooked us a delicious supper and did all the dishes! 
Our son, Eric, called us on Skype from Spain this morning to wish me a Happy Birthday and made is mama very happy too! 
Then to top it all off, my sweet hubby, Rick, took me shopping and out to dinner. 
I'm truly blessed to have such a wonderful loving family!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Let the little children come to me.... Folk Art Painting

It's finished!  I listed this painting on eBay this evening and it's listed as a fixed price item.  There are no worries about having to bid on this painting.



Tammy and Matthew have been blessed with a bundle of joy this year. Little Wyatt is full of vigor, love, and joy when his father returns home each evening from work. Even though Wyatt's words are hard to understand at this age, Matthew knows and understands that his son had a wonderful day. With the faith of a child, little Wyatt knows that his father will be there for him.


 


I'm having an end of February sale starting today to celebrate the beginning of spring!  Join me in my eBay store to start saving 20 percent off your favorite fixed price store listings.  The sale ends at midnight on February 28th so if you've been meaning to pick up some of those "calorie free" cupcake prints to decorate your kitchen or some nice summer/spring folk art prints, now is the time!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Vintage Finds and a New Folk Art Painting in Progress

I've probably shown you this table that I found at my neighbor's garage sale last summer.  I thought it would be beautiful painted and glazed to bring out the detail of the carving.  Well, here it still sits in the same worn condition that I found it in.
"I need more furniture", as the saying goes, "Like a hole in the head!"
But it would be beautiful painted.  Don't you think?  I have even considered painting it and doing a mosaic on the top with old dishes.

Saturday my husband left the house and came right back a few minutes later.  I assumed he had forgotten something.  Around the corner from our house he had seen a sign that read, "Fixin' to move sale".  He took a picture with his cell phone of some chairs that they were selling for $10.00 each.  We got in the suburban knowing full well that we were bringing these babies home with us.  The lady of the house had four of these and we bought them all.  Remember the old saying I mentioned above?  My excuse is that my children might want them for their home or my mother, my neighbor.....
You have to admit that they are a bargain.

Who buys 4 chairs like these?  I love the style and they could be recovered or I could make slipcovers.  The legs will definitely need to be painted or refinished.  They are in good enough shape to use as is, if I fix the legs.  Right now they are in three different rooms of our home.  I think I've talked myself into keeping two even though I really don't need them.  One of these days our son will move out and we might need them or he might need them or..... 
Wouldn't they be cute with slipcovers made from drop cloths with a cute pleated hem on the edge!  Those darn decorating blogs are causing this dilemma.



This painting is on my drafting table right now and it should be finished tomorrow.  I'm feeling a little more inspiration lately with the sun coming through the windows.
Our temperatures dropped from the 70's yesterday to the 30's today. How's your weather?   Does your creativity change with the weather?
Hugs,
Catherine

Friday, February 18, 2011

Home Sweet Home and a New Folk Art Print

I haven't painted any folk art scenes in so long.  I've truly missed painting these little scenes.  So, I started one yesterday.  While browsing through all my past artwork to find some inspiration, I came across this little scene that I painted a while back and decided to make it into a print to sell in my eBay and Etsy stores. 

I realize that most of you are probably sick of snow, but I just had to share this one.


Snow gently falls upon the McNeel home where Bob and his wife Mona sit enjoying the warmth near the fireplace. Each night they join hands in a prayer thanking the Lord for the blessings He has given them.

He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. Psalm 9:11


Also, today I'm joining the following "Home Sweet Home" party at:

Come and join us!
Hugs,
Catherine











Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Divine Chocolate Cupcake Painting

Today I finished this 6" x 12" cupcake painting and listed it on eBay:

Topped with bright red cherries and loaded with divine premium chocolate, these tempting treats are a feast for the eyes as well as the tummy.




Any requests are welcome!
Hugs,
Catherine

Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine's Day Giveaway!

Happy Valentine's Day! 
Maura of "Lilac Lane Cottage" is the winner of my Valentine print giveaway.  Stop by her blog to congratulate her!  Her posts will make you dream of the heavenly lilac scent that arrives each spring!
Maura, please email me with your address and I'll get this in the mail. 
Wishing you all a love filled day!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Valentine Print Giveaway!


Since I love all my blog readers and enjoy reading all your comments,  I've decided to have a Valentine Print Giveaway!
Here are the rules:
1. Go to my Etsy Store and let me know which of my Valentine prints you would like to have.  It needs to be a Valentine print.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling me which Valentine print you want if you are the lucky winner.
3.  I will need to be able to contact you if you are the winner. So, if you don't have a blog with a link, please leave your email address in your comment. 
4.  This giveaway is available to all my readers, not just those in the US.
5.  All comments must be left here by Friday, February 11th at midnight. 
6.  For a second chance to win click on the "follow link" in the righthand sidebar and become a follower.  Be sure to comment again to let me know that you are a follower or have now become a follower. 
Thanks for being such loyal readers and please leave a comment!
Hugs,
Catherine

Monday, February 7, 2011

Simple Winter Days and Sweet Friends

Every morning I sit here with my cup of coffee and read my morning Bible verse from this sweet box of daily verses that a dear friend gave me.  I also decided to sit back and enjoy my first issue of Mary Janes Farm that another dear friend gave me a subscription to for Christmas.  I should be painting, but I'm hitting a rough creativity spell......

Then last week a blogging friend, Janet Metzger of The Empty Nest, sent me this beautitul hand knitted cowl scarf and a cute knitted flower pin.  She gave away 10 Circle of Love scarves and the story behind it is so inspiring.  She said,
"I hope to honor my friend Phyllis, who recently lost her battle with cancer and who's company I kept while I knitted them." 
Thanks Janet; I will cherish it!





 
I am so far behind in my blogging that I forgot to mention that Natural Awakenings featured two of my paintings on the front cover of the free autumn issue.  A blogging friend mentioned to me one day that she saw my artwork on the front cover.  It's always nice to hear from bloggy friends and nice to know that someone out there recognized my artwork.
 

I recently decided that I need more color in my life after reading one of my favorite blogs, Attic 24.  I'm making this colorful hexagon afghan for my bed and these blocks are put together as you go.  She has fantastic easy to follow instructions here.  Lucy's blog is so much fun to read and I know you'll love her cute accent that comes through in her daily posts.  Makes me want to hop, skip, and jump right over to England!

 

 
This is what my poor hubby was doing this week.  Poor guy!


 

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Happy Birthday Amber!



She's my first born...
my best friend...
my crafting buddy...
got the best smile on the planet...
a very happy girl...
beautiful inside and out..
encouraging....
talented....
my little girl.
Happy Birthday sweetie!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Foot Prints

I always know when Rick is arriving home because our dog, Jersey, barks with excitement as his car pulls in the driveway.  As I was going down the stairs to greet him, I was met with this image of his foot prints on our sidewalk through the window on our upper landing.  He was using the blower to clear away the snow and his prints where he had walked remained intact.
Then as I arrived downstairs I found this little gift bag with a sticker on it from my favorite store....

Here is a closeup of the shop info incase you are ever in the area... 
The bag was facing this way though (with a little message on the back).....

He has wonderful taste; don' you think!

The clothing all comes from Thailand and the detail is beautiful!

Then I realized that his foot prints were a message that the Lord laid upon my heart. 
This week he took a dear friend to a doctor's visit because he wouldn't be able to drive home after a procedure that was done, he  visited with his father in the rehab/nursing home everday (usually twice a day), and left this morning early to visit with his 100 year old grandmother who he also calls everyday to check on.  He sure leaves his foot prints on the hearts of an awful lot of blessed friends and family members.  Then on top of all this he thinks of me while he's out working and stops in to buy me a gift "just because"! 
I'm surely blessed to have this wonderful man in my life!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Sweet Valentine Chocolate Strawberry Cake Painting

New Valentine creation listed on eBay tonight:

A heart shaped chocolate cake is frosted with a decadent chocolate ganache and topped with juicy red strawberries. What a lovely gift for your "Sweet Valentine." A black and white checked ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Valentine's Day will soon be here.  How do you celebrate? 

Monday, January 17, 2011

Red and White Polka Dots Everywhere

My new favorite is anything with red and white polka dots. 
Red and white dotted apron and boots.  (link for boots at bottom of post)
Red and white dotted bowls and pitcher....

Dotted dessert plates on a stand....

This stand used to be a candle holder and plate ....

that I glued together and painted white....

I have lots of red and white dotted cupcake prints available in my Etsy store that would make a great Valentine's Day gift too.






I got these red and white dotted boots on Amazon and I love them!  Check out the link below.....
Anyone else crazy about red and white polka dot?

Search Amazon.com for red and white boots

Friday, January 14, 2011

Cupid's Arrow Valentine Cupcake and a 100 Year Celebration

What a celebration! Grandma Chickie turned 100 on January 4th.  She had so much fun visiting with people who came from miles around to share this day with her.  Here she is holding her high school graduation picture.  She honestly told the news paper that she didn't know if she could make it another 100 years.  This great lady still lives on the farm and inspires me every day.
My father in law is still in the Rehab Nursing Home working hard to recover from a stroke.  He has been back and forth between the V.A. Hospital and the nursing home due to a few setbacks.  Please keep him in your prayers because he sure has a long way to go.

This week I've been setting goals for myself and my artwork for the New Year.  Yesterday I finished this little Valentine Painting and will be working hard to paint more this year.  Motivation has been very difficult for me this year, but I promise to get with it soon.

"Cupid's Arrow Valentine Cupcake"



 Tiny red sprinkles glisten on the edge of this luscious butter cream frosting. This chocolate cupcake in a red wrapper is accented with white hearts. A red "cupid" heart pearced by an arrow tops it off. A red and white dotted ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.





Hopefully lots of new and exciting paintings will fly out of my studio this year.  If you have any ideas for what you'd like from my blog this year, please leave a comment.  Please leave a comment anyway because I truly love reading everyone of them!


Thursday, December 23, 2010

More Christmas Decorations

Our family room decorations.....
Rustic snowmen....
The painting of the old victorian house and the "woody" is on a tray that I painted many years ago.
Click on the photo for a closer view. 
Santa must have left his hat here last year....
A cowboy hat and large colorful Christmas lights on the stone mantle.....
Rick's old rusty truck (a childhood toy) and stockings......
A canoe rental sign.....
lots and lots of evergreen....
My favorite moose picture (sorry about the flash).....
decorated snowshoes....
A birchbark Santa....
May you have a blessed Christmas and a safe one too!
Catherine