Mark & Christina

Right now I am packing up for the beach.

I am SO excited. I can't wait to get away from the city... for a WHOLE WEEK. Not to mention the fact that I get to see my family. My mom & dad, sister & brother-in-law are all coming! It would have been an amazing trip with just my hubby and I... but this is just icing on the cake.

The beach house, sadly, does not have internet. So I am leaving you for a week as well. So, I thought I would leave you with a blog about the last Father's Day plaque, because I sent it off, and it was beautiful.

Christina, my cousin, finally got her marine husband, Mark back. He had been over seas for several months. While Mark was gone Christina continued in her pregnancy with their second son, Gavin (LOVE love that name). Gavin was born in April. Mark came home in June. ....Get it? I can not imagine going through my pregnancy without my husband. Even more than that, I can not imagine going through labor alone. ... I am not half the woman that Christina is. I wasn't even there, and as unfortunate & sad as it is, i haven't even met Mark yet... but I would go as far as to say that time stood still for that moment when this precious family got their Daddy back. I am quite sure it did... how could it not?

So, for this beautiful family. I had the privilege of painting a FATHER'S day gift. Are you kidding?! Painting for a Father who sacrificed so much to defend our freedom... my freedom....It was such an honor. In a way i felt like i was saying, "thank you''


but somehow, there's no words for that. but these are the words Christina chose for the plaque...

walnut plaque. Acrylic paints. Sold.

it still brings tears to my eyes. That is the sweetest.. most honoring thing for a man... ANY man to hear. But for a marine... i can not fathom how those words will weigh on his heart.

Thank you for reading. i hope you all have a wonderful weekend & week. Talk with you soon.

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.

I can't wait to get my hands on these...

I have two of these walnut plaques. My husband SAVED them from the dominion of darkness... the trash can. When he brought them home to me at first I was speechless. I had no idea what I could do with them. I thought to myself, "self, maybe you can make someone a fake MVP award."

Then it hit me.

Father's Day is coming up. How precious would a homemade "Father of the Year" award be! I know, I know... I'm a genius.

All joking aside. I would love to create these for someone. I am looking to sell them at about $10-15 dollars each. The lucky customer can pick their own color scheme, wording & design... whoever they are.