I've Painted My Last Pumpkin!

As much as I love to see seasonal things some along each year, I am equally glad to see them go.

There's been a lot, and I do mean a lot, of pumpkins in our house this fall season! I really do love painting pumpkins. They are actually pretty easy to do. I also love doing all the family names and monograms.

This was a new design this year. This is a large 18x24 canvas and features more of a pumpkin patch. Love it!

The brick red background and funky font give this pumpkin a totally different look.

This is my final batch of pumpkins literally finished up tonight. They are headed to Et Cetera tomorrow. Hopefully someone out there will need a last minute fall gift!

Another large pumpkin patch. This one was featured on an easel in my Autumn Street Fair booth and got so many compliments.

Now it's on to snowmen...

Christmas Orders!

I am now taking Christmas orders but only for a short time! I usually set November 1 as my cut-off date. Honestly, time has snuck up on me and that day is really soon!

I am setting the date as November 10. Anything ordered after that cannot be guaranteed ready for Christmas. Make your lists, check them twice, and send them to me!

Thank you for being so prompt and understanding about this policy. This simply allows me time to make each canvas something special while giving me time to enjoy the holiday season as well.


Keep your teachers, secretaries, and those hard to buy for family members in mind. Be sure to include yourself, too!!

Boys and My Girl

My girl is a girly girl. She like to read each night all propped up in my bed. She loves her baby doll, Abigail. Now they have all of these adorable "dress like your doll" clothes. I found this purple flannel gown set at Khol's. It was on sale and they always have great coupons! I thought I'd share because I think this would make a great Christmas gift for the girly girls in your life!

Now for the boys! Pamela in Texas ordered two football themed canvases for her two grandsons. I think they will look awesome hanging together! I love the bold stripes.

This is the same Pamela who ordered one for her granddaughter a while back. Click here to see that one. It has beautiful flowers...no footballs! Is this an awesome grandmother or what!

Catching Up...

We just had the most wonderful fall break with our family in Perdido Key, FL. Sometimes you just need to get away, stretch out in the sun, and breath in some warm, salty air. It does the body, mind, and spirit good!

Before we left, Phyllis Graham ordered these three little cuties for her Bunco group. I am not into Bunco and I'm not sure how it all works, but it sure sounds like fun! I love the little witch boot all topped off with gingham ribbon.

My absolute favorite saying for fall! I love the really big orange polka dots, too!

I bet I've painted fifty pumpkins this season. They are more popular than ever! This one have a little glitter and lime green polka dotted sparkly ribbon.

I've finally got done unpacking and am now preparing for parent/teacher conferences. I am hoping to get back on my regular painting schedule after that. I know that many of you placed your orders for Christmas and are in no hurry. For those of you waiting, thank you so much for your order and your patience!

One Fish, Two Fish...

One day, two days...that's all I have left until fall break starts! I'm sorry, but that's about all that's on my mind right now. This upper respiratory infection really got me down and I am so looking forward to a little break. My etsy shop is already on vacation mode and I am putting down the brushes for a few days. I need to!

Anita Nunley recently ordered this 12x12 as a baby gift. It started out just like any other polka dots order, but there is just something about it that I love.

Maybe it is the color combination. Maybe it is the clean lines of the name. Maybe it is that turned out very balanced (I like that!). Whatever it is, I like it!

Here is the crib sheet that it matches. The walls will be light blue. I thought that red ribbon would really stand out! The title of this blog post comes from the fact that this is Dr. Seuss "One Fish, Two Fish" themed bedding. Thank you so much for the order, Anita!

Kaegan and Kaemey

Can't you just picture these is a sweet little bedroom shared by two sisters? That's just where they are going! One over a big girl bed and one over a crib. I can't wait to see it all together!

Kayla in Shelbyville, TN, ordered two 16x20 custom pieces for her daughters. She sent me pictures of the bedding and specified the tree and the owl.

I chose to do the pink and green dots and strips and to switch them out on the canvases. I love the way they match, but aren't too "matchy". I hope that makes sense to someone other than me!

(photo Pottery Barn Kids)

Here's a photo of the inspiration bedding. I've painted for this bedding before, but it has always just been pastel polka dots. I got more layered and complicated with this one. I am very proud of how they turned out! Kayla, I hope you and the girls love them, too! Thank you so much for the order!

Lots of Dots and Coughs

This bathroom set is usually four 5x5 canvases. Melissa in Indiana wanted a custom order done on 10x10's. At first I thought the bigger size might be too much, but I ended up loving it! It definitely game me more room to work!

Melissa asked for a cream background, chocolate brown writing, and yellow, lime, and burnt orange dots. I love all of these colors with the neutral khaki.

I hope she'll send me pictures if all four hanging together!

Here's another set of the usual 5x5 size. Okay, I admit it. I love them, too!

I know there are some of you who have been on the list for a while now. I apologize. I have been sicker than I've been in a long time. This awful cough and chest congestion has been hanging around for exactly a week now. I've missed two and a half days of school. Not fun. I am getting a little painting done, but I really just want to rest. I am hoping to be feeling a little perkier tomorrow!

England Bound

I loved painting this special order for Sammie "across the pond" in England. She chose a beautiful Bible verse that I've never done before. She also wanted an S monogram. All of this was to be done in black, white and gray.

On the monogram, Sammie asked for swirls and a hint of zebra. I had to put some thought into that one! It turned out so pretty! I hope they make their long journey safely. Thank you so much for the order, Sammie!

Hippie at Heart

I guess with being born in 1975 and being named after the Looking Glass song "Brandy, You're A Fine Girl", I am a big hippie at heart! I love to tie dye! I have absolute privilege of teaching the art class for Tennessee Tech's education department. Each semester one of their projects is to tie dye. It is always a blast!

I love the two scarves in the center, but looks at those two t-shirt designs! Great job, guys!

I would wear that scarf with everything! I like the idea of tie dying an apron, too. An apron is a great little tool to have stored away in your classroom. I use mine about once a week!

That baby onesie is just too cute! She plans on getting it monogrammed. What a wonderful custom gift that would make!

Teaching teachers to teach and showing them how to incorporate art into their lessons is one of the highlights of my week. Every semester has a different personality. It is always so nice to see my former students around the schools. I am so proud of them!

Fancy Snowman

You all have seen my standard snowman design. I've done the same basic one for several years. I love it and it has proved to be very popular! Every once in a while, I have to sit down and give my designs a fresh look. I've snazzed up the snowman with a few special touches!

I love the curl on the top hat, the diamonds on the hatband, and the little strip of zebra on the scarf. Emily loved the pattern in the background. It all comes together so nicely without being too busy. This snowman can be done in any color combination. It can also be personalized just for you or to make a perfect gift!

Customer Appreciation

You know those times when feel like everything is going wrong and you just want to give up? Yep. I have those times, too. I've made several mistakes on canvases lately. It's no one's fault but my own. I'm human - it happens! When it happens, it makes me so mad at myself. There's not other way to say that. As you can imagine, I've been mad at myself a lot lately! Or so it seems...
I was feeling like just hanging up the brushes. I'm out. I don't need this. I'm done. And then I got this email.

"I just wanted to tell you how gorgeous your artwork is. You do an amazing job! Don't ever stop painting...you are very talented!"

I don't know this person. She just sent it to me out of the blue. They were the perfect words at the perfect time and she needs to know that. You never know what impact your kind words will have. I am going to make a real effort to say at least one nice thing to at least one person everyday. Thank you, Ashley Bridger.

For all of you snowman lovers out there, I am ending this post with a little sneak peek at the newest snowman design. I took my old favorite and snazzed it up a bit!

Oh, yes. I forgot to mention that Ashley has a painting blog as well. Click here if you'd like to see more from this sweet lady.

Families

It seems that I've been doing a lot of family canvases lately. I paint them pretty consistently all through the year, but they do sort of come in bunches! I've blogged before about how much I enjoy painting these. I know how much my family means to me and I love helping other families celebrate.
This beautiful cream, brown, and burnt orange went home with Regina Matheney. Notice the extra "e" is missing on this one! Oops! I had to repair that and then forgot to take a picture. She was so super sweet and understanding. Thank you, Regina!

Lauran Nichols ordered this one in navy and white and had it shipped to the newlyweds all the way up in Pennsylvania. I thought that was a great idea if you know someone far away who is getting married or celebrating an anniversary.

Kristen Grayson ordered this one with a thick chocolate brown border as a gift as well. This is a newer design and has become pretty popular. I like it too!

Finally, this one went out to new customer, Darla D'Alessandro. She wanted a simple cream and black with the name and established date. I did this one on a smaller 6x9 canvas. Perfect for when you just want a little something special!