Orchids for Larissa

Today I put the final touches on Larissa's mahogany jewelry set. My husband stained these two lovely pieces of mahogany & I couldn't wait to put some art on them!

...Have I ever mentioned how good he is to me?

Larissa likes to make necklaces, so she quickly snatched up my offer a while back. I was excited to paint for her, but I had NO idea where to go with it. I couldn't figure out how to paint on stained mahogany without ruining it entirely. I asked Larissa what she was thinking. Name? Design? Not only did she want her name & a design SHE SENT ME A PICTURE. I love her for that.

Larissa was in the process of redoing her room. She said it was a mix between Victorian & Oriental (tasty). She sent me a sweet little picture of some white oriental orchids she liked. I was thankful for the picture, yet at the same time, horrified.

I have never painted flowers. I've tried before. Tried is the key word. I usually fail miserably. So, Larissa, here's to you. You gave me a challenge & have inspired me to keep trying for things that intimidate me. Thank you. I hope you love love love it.

I wanted to post a picture of the set before Dennis put the hooks on it for her necklaces & bracelets.


Mahogany. Red Mahogany Stain. Acrylic paints. Sold.

That's an order, Soldier

Excitement is flowing from my fingertips.... quite literally. I finished the Father's Day plaque for Destiny & blogged it Friday. I was kind of bummed that I still had one plaque, all paint-less & lonely. I don't like painting just to paint. I have to know who I am painting for... why they want that particular thing painted... SOMETHING personal. Otherwise, it just doesnt matter to me... does that make sense? Its like the difference between baking cookies because you have what you need in the pantry and baking cookies for someone sick. Love is the secret ingredient. And I had no love for the second plaque yet. More like resentment towards its wasted potential. Then, thanks to Facebook, a woman contacted me & asked for a plaque for her husband.

I can not really tell you how special this project is going to be. Her husband is a marine. He is currently deployed & when we gets home, he will be meeting his newborn for the first time. Can you take a moment to wrap your head around that for a second?

Now take another moment to wrap your heart around it.

Yeah. Exactly. & I get to have the honor of painting something as special as a FATHER'S DAY gift for this family. Honestly, I am humbled by this opportunity. The best part is she wants it to read: "Our Father, Our Hero". Is this gonna be a tear jerker or what?!

The rest of the day continued to be good to me. It totally makes up for all the lost sleep lately. I continued to make-wait for it-FIVE ORDERS. ...Holy Moses.

I have 3 Father's Day orders, two for $10 and one for $25-30. Destiny's are the $10 orders for her grandfather & great-grandfather. One loves to fish, the other loves to garden. So, the first will say, "What a catch!" with a fishing pole and the other, "You're someone I look up to no matter how tall I grow" with a corn stalk. Super cute... I think. I am still waiting for details on the last order for a gal named Connie. She's finding a good quote & I'm waiting to get my hands on the perfect size wood. Then I have to finish with Marge's yellow pine kitchen painting.... can you feel this whelming me over?! Then, someone snatched up the Mahogany jewelry set (sorry folks, its all gone). Aye-yi-yi. Not to mention, two people contacted me about possible orders. Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful for the business. But, I am a little stressed. Excited to be included on SO many special opportunities, but nervous... for my hands may fall off.

Keep an eye out. Sneak peaks will be coming soon-ish. & thanks for reading.

A Mouthful

Sleep has become my enemy. Why such hatred for me, sleep? We use to be so close. You use to love me. How heartbreaking. We have some friends coming in tonight, and I know I won't be able to sleep very good this weekend. I was counting on being well rested today... story of my life.

I probably won't be updating much this weekend. So I would like to leave you with something delicious to chew on for a few days. The first thing you can take a bite of is the fact that next week I will be working on a huge,HUGE painting for Marge. She would like a "Coffee Shop" sign for her kitchen. Can I just tell you that I am stoked to do this? This will be the biggest project for me yet, both financially as well as physically. We found a 2 foot long 2x12 piece of yellow pine. IT'S GORGEOUS. My generous husband saw my face light up with excitement & decided to "treat me" before I dive in head first & become consumed.

He took me to Lowes.


....I love Lowes.

Oh. how he knows the way to my heart. I thank God I married a man who understands what is really going to make me thrilled. He could have taken me to get ice cream, & I won't lie... I would have been content. But, I would also be fatter. Instead, he bought me brand new primer, sandpaper & a quart of brown paint. QUART. Actually, its called pumpernickel, & its so rich, & there's a whole quart of it. Might not sound like much to you, but it is to me. I usually buy little bitty thangs.Have I mentioned my excitement? I have never painted on a "canvas" this big. I can't wait to see the finish project. & I hope Marge LOVES it. Her kitchen has shades of brown & yellow, with hints of red... just like mine :) Can you feel it? It will be glorious.

Are you still chewing? Here's something else. He also gave me some stain & finish for *drum roll* MAHOGANY. ....WORD. When we got married, my creative man made his groomsmen mahogany boxes. They were so beautiful & I have to admit, I was jealous. Mahogany is so good looking. It is the equivalent of my husband's face... in wood. & I am excited to tell you, I have TWO perfect pieces to stain, finish & paint. JUST FOR YOU. I am making a matching necklace & bracelet rack/holder. If you buy the first one, you can get the second half off.

"How much is the first one?" you ask... why, only 10 dollars, my curious friend, thanks for asking. Don't choke... I know you're excited, but try to compose yourself. If you die, you can't own these beautiful pieces. :)

The last tasty bit of information I would like to leave you with is that the Father's Day plaque is done! Destiny asked that I put some design around the wording & so this is the finished product!


and again.

Walnut plaque. Custom order for Destiny. Sold for $25.

And, ladies & gentlemen, there's still one left... just calling your name. Poor paintless plaque.