'SIGN'ificant Difference

I am currently working on door signs for this Holiday Season. I am so excited about this. The wood is absolutely wonderful to paint on-just like canvas. I am having a blast painting these, and it's been a while since I enjoyed painting!

I am mostly excited about these signs because they have meaning. Not just because they are (hopefully) reminding people to be thankful & merry during the holidays. I think these paintings have value because 30% of the proceeds will be donated to my mother in order to help pay for her medicine.

Let me explain. My mom has a lung disease called Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Basically, the blood vessels which take blood to her lungs do not dilate. She also has a hole in her heart the size of a half dollar. Needless to say... she is having a hard time. The medicine for her PAH costs $30,000 a year.... after insurance. So whatever we can do to help, we do!


The signs are reversible. One side (pictured) is for the Thanksgiving season. The other side will be navy blue with white lettering which reads, "Merry Christmas". I have not yet finished the Christmas side, so I don't have a picture to show for it. If a reversible sign is purchased, it is $50. However, you can opt to just get a Thanksgiving or just a Christmas sign for $25. I put this information up yesterday and have already made 5 orders! I am so excited to finish these & celebrate this season, merry & bright!

Sewing Sweetness

So, my friend Joy over at The Goose Beary Shop (etsy) & Redirected Dreams (blog) helped me with a gift recently. If anyone actually knows me in real life, they know the idea of me sewing is as far fetched as the idea of Politicians telling the truth (ha). We have some friends who are expecting their very first child this winter. I wanted to give them something that really mattered. I would have painted something, but they are not finding out the gender... so I wouldn't really know what to do. I don't think anyone really wants a brown plaque that says "baby" on their wall.

I knew Joy could help me because, well, she's like my saving grace! Not only did she come up with some awesome ideas(... YES, plural.. because she just kept making more & more! Have I mentioned that she is my saving grace?) but she also *drum roll please* TAUGHT me how to use the sewing machine.

I don't know that you genuinely understand the seriousness of this issue.
It was like watching Chuck Norris bake a cake.

Anyway. So, I got the wonderful privilege of making a receiving blanket with two matching burp cloths. Joy, in all of her angelic kindness however, made: a sock monkey, a cell phone holder, a teething rag doll, & an infants ball.

So. Here are the pictures
& if you're interested in Joy's handmade work, please visit her etsy The Goose Beary Shop for more goodies & order something from this wonderful momma! (Sorry, Joy, I don't know how to link your pages, or I would have.)

Momma

Painting has been so slow lately. Life, on the other hand, has not. I am trying to find the balance of doing things I enjoy & enjoying the things that I do.

Does that make sense?

This weekend is going to be great. Dear friends of ours are coming from North Carolina. They are expecting so we decided to throw them a baby "party"... because that is more manly that a shower. Haha. My amazing friend came to my rescue & helped me with a gift. She taught me how to use a sewing machine! Oh my word... it has been a long time coming. I am so proud of myself, but mostly just thankful for her. She spent all day helping me make goodies. Truthfully, I only made a couple of the items, the rest was her. She is such a generous person. I thank God for her presence in my life.

I can't show you pictures yet, because I have to give it to the mother-to-be first! But I will, as soon as I can.

I do have one new piece of art to show you. I painted this for my mother. She doesn't get to see my daughter often & it was her birthday. It happens to be one of my husband's favorites so far. What do you think?

Pine frame. Acrylic paints. Gift.