"No, Not anything Out of the Ordinary Doc"

For exactly 10 days now I've been experiencing the worst case of sciatic nerve angst since Mailey was in my belly (she thought it was super fun to play on it like a trampoline).  Oh man, it's ridiculous pain.  What triggered it?  Well,  I am determined to get my mile run under 10 minutes.  So last Monday I pushed the button on the treadmill until I was able to maintain that consistent 8.5 min. mile.  Yep.  Nearly died, but loved every minute anyways.  You know the feeling?  On Tuesday while working out with Kathleen I was complaining that my lower back was tingly feeling.  Maybe I needed new tennis shoes?  By Thursday I was laid up on the couch with a heating pad, and shaking it hurt so bad.  But life must go on.  This Monday, one week after my intial flare up as I lovingly call them, I decided to do this:

Today I gave up and called Dr. Warren.  Dang it.  He asked what was up with my back.  Had I done anything lately to possibly cause the flare up...any falling....anything out of the ordinary?  Yeah.  Nope nothing out of the ordinary at all comes to mind.  But it did start after I ran on the treadmill last week.   I am sure that's it.  Sure. 

Just wanted you guys to see how far up I was.  Above is a picture from far back, and a few years back.  I should have had Mike take the picture of me painting a little further back.  He did all the rolling I did all the edging.  There was no way I could roll, but brushing was fine.  To get to the top moulding I had to climb the ladder and then onto the very sturdy yellow bookcase.   This is a little...I mean BIG project we are working on in the house.  Painting is just a tiny part of the transformation.  I can't show the color yet, thus why you are getting black and whites....but it's going to be super great when it's all done. 

Well, off to try and start putting stuff back where it belongs.   Take care guys!

What A Find!

Just wanted to show off a thrift store score!  When I saw this box amongst all the Christmas gone bad on the shelf I nearly fell over trying to get to it.  I mean look....original cardboard box with amazing graphics and  it's written twice that they are American made.  I bet there are very few ornaments made in America now except the ones we make, with foreign parts though!  Then to open the lid and find ALL 12 ornaments in perfect condition and the most amazing Tiffany blue color....it was a yipppppeee moment for sure.  And the little yellow sticker on the box said, $3.  Yep.  Wallet breaking day I tell ya!

I'll show you how I'm using them later in the week or so.  Right now the area they are in is under construction.  So what's been your favorite find for the season? 

The Great Etsy Shop Update!

Ok blog friends, I finally took the hours needed to size and upload many new items into my etsy shop.  It feels SO GOOD to have it done!!  I am thinking if you place your order ASAP I can get the items into the mail and hopefully to you before Christmas.  Fingers crossed anyhoo.  So now available are hardboard tiles and stands:

 keychains:

statement necklaces:

I also wanted to say thanks to all of you for your continued support throughout the year.  I know you are reading, my stat counter tells me so, and it makes my heart so full knowing that you are there.  It's like I have  a thousand friends I've never even met.  Super cool.

Scents of Christmas

Nothing says Christmas more than the scents to me.  We grew up with real Christmas trees, so the natural smell of tree filled our home.  Now that I am all grown up and have chosen the artificial tree tradition, which is quite lovely covered in flock, it definitely has no smell.  Recently I walked in to a local retailer and found the solution to my lack of Christmas smell in the home:

So if you are wanting the fresh smell of just cut Christmas trees in your home, I highly recommend this candle!

A Little Painting For Christa

Ok, so maybe it's not so little!  I met Christa at the Folk Fest in August.  Sweet little thing loved my pink daisy painting....but needed it to be 6 times the size it was.  Man, I think it turned out amazing!  This afternoon the kiddos and I are headed to Atlanta to deliver the painting then head over to the Puppetry Arts Center for Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer production.  We are super excited!  What a wonderful start to our very busy Holiday filled party weekend! 


PS yes, it has taken me until today to get it all ready for her.  Note to those wishing for a custom painting, I do tend to procrastinate.  tisktisk.

Bike JOY

So here's a sneek peek at the project finished by one of my two K classes at the Trinity School for their art auction.....oh man is it cute!  I may have to go and bid on it myself.  :)  Or perhaps I should work on one with with my own two children?

So how'd we do this you ask?  There were like 19 kiddos involved in helping to make this bike super lively!  Well, I painted the wood with my favorite black gesso then drew the bike out with chalk.  The kids came in groups of three to paint one area each of the canvas.  I then took the paintings home to dry and frame.  Literally all I did to "fix" them was wipe away the chalk lines and add the doolally lines along the grass line.  Looking at the finished product made me realize that perhaps I need to loosen up a tad with my own paint brush!

Oh, and in case you are wondering what this is all about, it's for the Trinity School Spotlight on Art annual show and auction.  Artists are paired with classes to complete a painting to auction off.  It's the goal for the junior artists to work in the same style and theme as the artist usually paints.  So it would not have been cool for me to show up and paint a chicken or a human.  Right?  And kindergarten kiddos love a bike.  And so do I! 

By the way, vacation is going great.  Except....well I did have to paint a custom painting for someone.  It was kind of important.  I'll show you pics Friday when it's all dry and done.  :)

Life's A Balancing Act

This is an old little painting that I just love.  In fact, I've added it to many of my printed items this season because of the colors.  It's entitled, "Balancing Act".  And today, well life is feeling like one giant juggling game. 

I'm currently sitting in the Goodyear shop having some routine work done on my orangey van.  It's funny, as I've made the list of things to do for the week I can't help but giggle at the mundaness of it all!  Grocery, dentist, school volunteer, plant the bushes I brought, spread pine straw, dry cleaners, bank, gym, puppet show, birthday party, luncheon.  Yep, pretty much looks like a suburban housewife's list of things to do.  Cracking myself up.  Show season is over, the studio is cleaned, the house is decorated for Christmas, our Christmas shopping is done, and well....I really have nothing pressing on my agenda.  Wow.  Life is such an act of balancing this and that.  Since August I have literally had to balance shows, teaching 3 days a week, volunteer jobs, Mommy jobs, wife jobs, getting myself out there in cyberworld, and more.  Now, with 19 days until Christmas I can actually step back, look around and enjoy this last month of the year 2010.   Yep.  Folks I'm taking a vacation (from creating that is).  You'll see me here and there on the blog of course.  I've got a few more things up my sleeve for 2010.  But otherwise I am going to take some time to recharge and re balance my creative little life!