A Perfect Match

Here is the finished product.

Here is the inspiration.

Here are the two together. It is hard to tell where one ends and the other begins...the true sign of a perfect match.

Buzz! Buzz!

Brooke Bauer is finishing up her student teaching at Black Fox Elementary in Murfreesboro. She ordered the flag canvas that was previously posted and this super cute bee canvas for the teachers she has been working with.

Mrs. Bargatze has a bee theme in her classroom. This should fit in perfectly! You can barely see it, but there are black and yellow polka dots around the outside.

Please Knock...

...baby is sleeping. I love these sweet little 5x5 signs for the baby nursery. Sleeping babies are just the most peaceful things ever.

This one is also off to Miss Natalie in Chattanooga. I crossed paths with Natalie on Barter Boutique. If you've never been there, you need to check it out. It's a place for those you make things and love to trade. You all know that I love a good trade! Natalie is sending me some surprise jewelry. I can't wait!

Flowers

I am so happy to share a new spring flower design with you all today. I wanted something bright and cheerful that would really stand out on any front door. The colors are so pretty and I love the flower designs, especially that rose!

I have a few other versions of the same design that will be available on the blog and at Et Cetera soon. This one is off to Natalie Jane (who has the cutest blog ever!) in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as a surprise. Wouldn't you love to open your mailbox and find this?

As always, I am taking custom orders. There are so many things coming up...teacher gifts, graduation gifts, and Mother's Day!

Red, White, and Blue

These two red, white, and blue teacher canvases are just too cute. They're both different, but special in their own way. The flag is in cream, navy, and burgundy. I was going for a more traditional, vintage look.

The polka dots are a little more funky and fun. This one is white, royal blue, and a true red. I also chose the dotted font. Mrs. Potter is a big Pioneers fan, so I added the little "Go Pioneers!" in the corner.

Thank you, Tiffany and Brooke, for your teacher gift orders!

Show Us Your Life - How You Met Your Husband

Today the Show Us Your Life Series from Kelly's Korner is about how you met your husband. I can't wait to "blog hop" and read all of the stories. We meet our soulmates in the most unexpected of places and times.

Mike and I grew up in the same hometown, but never knew each other. Hard to believe in a small town like this! We are 61/2 years apart in age, so let's just say we ran in different circles.

It wasn't until he came to Irving College Elementary as a teacher that we even heard of each other. I chaperoned my sister's eighth grade trip to Gatlinburg - last minute and unexpected - and that is how we met. Now I look back and know that God knew what he was doing.

I was in college in Murfreesboro at the time. We started talking on the phone and had some very nice dates, but most of our time was spent apart. Things started slowly, but that's what wins the race.

Aren't we a couple of good looking kids? It is funny for me to look at Carter now and picture him as a husband and father. I know that it is my job to prepare him for that, it's just hard to see sometimes.

Oh my, we look like babies!


Now we have our two babies. We are so blessed to have found each other and made this wonderful life that we have. I often forget to be thankful just for the day to day routine.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed the peek into my life. Come back anytime!

Thoughtful Gifts

I don't have too many men who place canvas orders. When they do, they sure make the women in their lives happy! I've got a new customer in Kent Barnard. He is finishing up a teaching practicum and ordered the classroom teacher one with her name on it. He chose the apple and primary colors and I added the gingham ribbon - perfect for kindergarten!

Kent also went ahead and ordered one for his fiancee, who is also a teacher, just because. Those are the best kind of gifts, don't you think?

A Unique Request

Miss McKenna Rhea is getting ready to graduate from MTSU and wanted a gift for a special professor. They are both fans of those silly bunnies you see around everywhere. They are pretty cute! I love what she chose for the wording. Can't you just see this on a college professor's office door?

None of this is the unusual part...

I've never, ever, ever had a request to do a DNA border before! She was even kind enough to send me a visual for what DNA looked like. McKenna says that her professor is a "science geek" like her.

Well, I think you're an awesome science geek - I like geeks - and will someday be an awesome orthodontist. I so admire the hard work and dedication that goes into becoming a doctor. Way to go, McKenna!

Choo Choo!

New customer Danielle Hendrickson wanted some brightly colored trains for her son's room. She had this super cute quilt that she wanted matched. I love all of the different patterns on the fabric pieces. With this rainbow of colors, these two were so fun to paint!

Both of these are 16x20. They will look so good hanging together in his train themed bedroom. Thank you so much, Danielle!

Sweet Baby Girl

I love these flowers for a sweet baby girl on the way! They were custom designed to match her bedding. Her bedding also features "minky dot" fabric. This border includes a texture to mirror that fabric. This is the first time I've tried it and it turned out really cute.

Those flowers and colors paired with a cute font and rich chocolate brown satin ribbon is just too adorable! Thank you, Holly, for the order!

Show Us Your Life - Teacher Gifts

If you are needing a custom teacher gift, this is the place! I just rounded up a bunch of my past faves to show the variety that is possible. As you can see, any colors and designs are available to truly match your teacher's personality. There are also several size options to fit any budget.

I am participating in Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life Series today. Welcome all you new visitors! Please leave me a comment to let me know that you were here and I will do the same for you. You are also more than welcome to email me with questions.

It usually takes about two weeks to complete an order. Please allow time for shipping if you are not local. Get those end of the year orders in now!

God Is Great...

My little nephew, Ian, says this prayer at dinner and it is so sweet in his little voice. I can't help but to think about him when I see these words!

This very special mealtime prayer is for LeAnn Nokes. She liked the one I did a while back (click here to see it!) but wanted a slightly smaller version. This one is 11x14, features tone on tone background stenciling, and a sheer white ribbon.

Family Canvas

The khaki over the red with the cream in the background is so pretty. This is a favorite font, too. This one is off to Nashville to new customer Kati Bumgardner. Thanks, Kati!

Rustic Rooster

Burgundy, pale blue, and gold...

rustic, beat up, antiqued...

"I'm thinking roosters". These are all of the words used to describe what Ashley wanted on this canvas for her parents. I had a hard time picturing it and I always have a vision of the finished painting before I even start. I was flying blind on this one!
The more I worked, the more it came into focus. I love this unexpected color combination. I used a stencil and a brown glaze to get the faded overlay design. The final step was sanding the edges and corners to really get an antique feel.

I love it, Ashley! Thank you!

Boys and Girls

Chocolate brown just looks good with any color. Really. It works beautifully with the pale blue and green for a boy. This 10x10 was ordered by my mother to give as a baby shower gift. The diamond pattern has to be one of my favorites.

It is also adorable with pale pink. This 11x14 is for Snow Princess Hailey Woods. She redeemed her gift certificate for something special to match her bedroom. So cute!

Ultimate Blog Party

I just found this wonderful "blog party" through Kimberly at Oh My Baby. It looks like a great way to find new blogs, spread the word about yours, and possible win some cool prizes. Here's my party post and prize wish list!

Hi there! Thank you for visiting my blog today. I would love for you to become a follower either here or on facebook. I like to know who's watching!
As you can see, I love to paint. I paint everyday and everything you see on the blog was done by me by hand. I am always excited to meet new people and get those special, custom orders.
Besides painting, I am a fifth grade reading teacher and a mom of two. Along with my fab husband, we are always on the go - but that's how we like it!


Really and truly, all of the prizes are awesome! Here are a few of my favorites:
#6 - jewelry (always!)
#18 - healthy mom basket (I'm trying!)
#23 - monogram gift certificate (Lauren loves her monogramming:)
#31 - Amazon gift card (I am a reading teacher, after all)
#32 - Target gift card (my favorite place)
#34 - "Bliss" Body Butter (need I say more?)
#39 - Hilton Garden Inn (one of our fave hotels)
#51 - $25 French European gift card (anything European is for me!)

Silpada

Stacy Campbell of Dunn, North Carolina, is a Silpada Jewelry representative. She wanted a little sign to put on an easel in her booth for craft shows.

The black diamonds in the background is the Silpada logo. She wanted the company name over the top in silver. I got to choose the accent color and went with turquoise. Just because it seems like every canvas I do has a polka dot or two on it, I added a few of those as well!

On The Clothesline!

I've been spring cleaning and have come across some cute items that I need to part with. We are paring down so be looking for the annual yard sale soon! I have an 18M romper painted with a starfish and an octopus. I will be happy to personalize it just for you!
$10.00

I have a girl's large (14-16) long sleeve tee with watercolor polka dots and tiny hearts. This is also available for personalization and looks great with a monogram.
$10.00

This is a size 3 tee shirt dress with royal blue trim handpainted with funky flowers. It is adorable plain or with a name. Wouldn't this make a cute pool cover-up?
$10.00

I also have several that are plain and just waiting for your ideas. I can do birthdays, special trips, big or little brothers and sisters, names, monograms, 4th of July...the possibilities are endless! Whatever your little one likes can be put on a shirt, romper, or dress. These make wonderful gifts and are special priced at $10.00 each!

1 black trimmed dress - size 2
1 aqua trimmed dress - size 3
1 blue trimmed dress - size 4

1 short sleeve tee - S(6-8)
1 short sleeve tee - M (10-12)
1 short sleeve tee - L(14-16)

This is all I have so when they're gone, they're gone!

Simple Monogram

Cream and black, a beautiful font, a simple border, and wide black satin ribbon - perfection!

Sweet Dreams

I love this sage an khaki color scheme! I would not have out these two shades together because they seem so similar - one would fade into the other. I would have been wrong. The result is so peaceful and calm.
This 8x24 "Konnor" cavas was custom designed to match the Mod Pop Monkey bedding available at Toys R Us. I apologize for not having a better image of this adorable bedding. I just couldn't get it any bigger, but I really wanted you to get the idea!

Thank you, Tammy Crouch, for your first order! Enjoy your baby shower today!