RIght Where I Planted It

It's Mother's Day today.  Of course you already knew that.  I'm at the show today, enjoying a day of happy sales........... unfortunately without my family.  :(  Anyhoo, I've been doing a lot of reading, thinking, and talking about happiness lately.   When I think about joy in regards to my family it can literally whoosh my body with excitement.  I am a very lucky gal when it comes to this department.  Kids are normal and pretty darn cute and sweet.  Husband seems to be going through a luv my wife so much phase= he's way lovey dovie and attentive.  My parents are just skippy and my sister is finally balancing new motherhood.  Whew.   I guess joy/happiness can be found right where you plant it.  Sometimes though, you've got to remember where you put it and may have to dig a little.  But you know, that's OK.  Because the digging is what makes the joy deeper and last a lot longer.

The Shape of Love

Friday afternoon Mailey came running up the hill, bounded into the house and said, "MOM, I found something for you!!"  "What is it Mailey?"  "Look it's a heart shaped leaf!"  "OH MY!"  Love really does come in all shapes and sizes, doesn't it?

Fireflies and Love

So the past month has been a little hard for us as a family with our daughter. Really. I won't go into it all, but let's just say that daily tummy aches, no desire to play with anyone, or eat out are just a few of her new behaviors (on top of the others we lovingly embrace). Thus why I was tickled when she actually wanted to attend the Serenbe event with me. Even though she didn't last long, it was the longest she'd been out in awhile AND she ate in a restaurant. I think she forgot that it made her tummy hurt because she was so excited about her jewelry. Anyhoo, we also have recently found out that two married couple friends are not doing so well. sigh. So these are two of the paintings that sold this weekend. As they were passing my hands and into the new owners it hit me that maybe, just maybe, finally more of me is entering into my art than just my hands. And that maybe I have something to say. And maybe someone will really listen. The top painting says how to grow love....the bottom says let nothing dim the light that shines within.

I think I've already shared these with you, but now that they are gone, the words kind of stand out to me. And the message is loud and clear. Standing firm in what I believe is good and right for our family is of top priority right now. And that little light well, just like in the fireflies little hinney, I am not going to let anything dim what is shining so bright inside me right now. And I am hoping that maybe, just maybe, you can see the light too and are not afraid to let it shine.

Spreading Love

I firmly believe that spreading love and kindness on your relationships lead to long lasting ones. And today, I'm spreading a little your way. I finished up the last of the new paintings today. Whew. It's been a very exciting time in the studio with my brushes. I drew most of them out last Tuesday so I could keep momentum going. But then along the way I got inspired to do one of these and one of those, and the next thing you know I now have 30 new paintings already packed in my car for the Wesleyan Show this weekend. Yep. I said 30. Now, many are ittle bitty for me. Like the top flower for instance, the image size is like 3" x 15". Lots are under $200.

And lots with hearts. I noticed this trend as I was photographing them all today.

This last one is a new favorite (It's about 12"x16"). The colors in person just "wham" ya. The bottom corner (which I cropped out by accident I see) says, "How to grow love". And the jars say, "Patience, trust, joy and kindness." I showed my husband and he said, "I like it, but you need a lot more than just those four things to grow love." Huh. Maybe he needs some hearts thrown his way? I have been a little absent this past week. Now that the paintings are done and I can CLEAN this place up I can throw hearts all over the place. For starters, I am going to throw a little magic into the pot of homemade spaghetti sauce on the stove. Nothing like hot garlic bread and homemade spaghetti sauce to make my family big puffy heart me again.;)

Yes, We Are Now A Petting Zoo

For about two weeks now we've been seeking the perfect Hamster. Yes, I said Hamster. I wanted one, the kids wanted one, Billy did not want one, but hey, it was 3 against 1. Majority rule in this house. Anyhoo, I am thinking at this point we might could apply for a petting zoo licence and make some money off this entourage of ours. Or get kicked out of the neighborhood for animal abundance! We now have one large fur real friends horse named Romeo, 4 sheddy cats, one silly dog, one stinky turtle, and one VERY CUTE dwarf hamster. Yep dwarf hamster. His name is, get this......Etsy. I had nothing to do with that. After buying him we were in the car throwing out names and Mailey was just insistent on Etsy. I said how do you spell that? And she said, you know, like the place you sell your art work....ETSY. Holy cow, I've created a little artsy monster. So his or her (how do you tell the gender??) name is indeed ETSY.

It is the cutest darn thing. And we've touched, held, brushed, introduced it to the four cats and silly dog, and photographed it in only 3 short hours. And it has yet to bite or seem to mind (or died). Wow. It's a good hamster. I love it already. I'm going to go out and buy it a Barbie jeep tomorrow. It's got to have a pink Barbie jeep. Okay, I am off to paint....

We Found Love in the Rain

Here's a peek at some of the work I've had on my desk the past couple of days. We Found Love in the Rain is a collage piece on canvas. I combined my new layering paint techniques with favorite papers and stamping. It has been seriously dry the past month here in Georgia. So dry, that our Bermuda grass feels like toothpicks under your toes! Yesterday while painting this I was dreaming of rain and how lovely it sounds on the windows outside of my studio. And how sweet it really is to share an umbrella with someone you love. Then today it rained! So maybe I'll go paint up another rainy scene to get it to rain again tomorrow. hehehe....

Easter Love

I wanted to pop in and say Happy Easter to all my readers. And I just had to show off a few of my favorite pics. Below is an all time fave of the kiddos. Mailey in those white gloves...and notice each basket has a blanket nestled in it or rather a "bannie" as William called it, and "Kitty" as Mailey calls hers. I think this is the year they both cried the entire egg hunt. Thus, why the baskets are empty. Fast forward to ages 7 and 9 (they where 1 and 3 above) and this is my new favorite. The prima ballerina and the Joe Cool pose? There was no cheesy grin in this photo session, rather all ham.

Well, maybe one cheesy grin. And as always, Mailey has a lovely black tatoo on her face and William's hair is well, another story. But I have definitely captured who they are below. And I love that I can look back and remember their Easter this way.

Speaking of Easter and being a bit sentimental, this is the day that as a Christian I feel SO loved. Seriously, stop and think about what Christ did for us and tell me you don't get tears in your eyes, and feel so very humbled. I sure do.

A Few New Goodies

Out on a Line

" It's time for work, it's time for play a little birdie says. "

These 3 little tricksters are out on the laundry line today, just looking for trouble! I had fun playing around with this composition, lots of patterns, papers, and words. My frame guy made up these two great frames from his burn pile wood to see what I thought. I am thinking I like them! What a perfect edge to these silly little compositions. No more burning for Phillip!
Resting Birds
"The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you."

I love to paint simple compositions of birds doing the most tender of things. Do they show affection? Do they bring tokens of their love to one another? I'd like to think so.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Whew. The day is almost over. And it has been such a fun one. It seems like just yesterday though that we had last Christmas. I remember as a child it never felt this way! But now as I watch my little ones throughout the year, it almost seems I blink and we are off to the next. I had promised myself this year would be more relaxed, that I'd take it all in better and enjoy the season. I'm not saying I didn't, but I did stay a bit too busy. One thing we did differently with our children however, is shop early and not get stressed about the bills and not being able to find what we wanted. We still don't own a wii if that gives you any indication of our Christmas last year. This year we hit the nail on the head with William getting a basketball goal and Mailey the S'mores pony. He's dribbled and shot baskets until I think his fingers have blisters and Mailey has groomed and played mommy to her fur real friend all day (7am wake-up not too bad). They also received the little I-pods as a trial run on them. Mailey has not taken them out of her ears since we downloaded some of her favorites- Ingrid Michaelson, Sara Bareilles, Allison Kraus- Mom's favorites too and of course High School Musical. William has not sat still long enough all day to listen to his!

We are off to south Alabama for the Lewis family gathering which includes my Mother, Sissy, 2 aunts, cousins, little sis and her husband. The weekend is sure to include tons of yummy eating, fellowship, and some time out in Gosport shooting my new , well actually not new but new to me, 38 revolver my Father gave me last weekend at the Adkins family gathering. It is a beauty! I found this while searching for the above file. It has to be Mailey's 2nd Christmas, where she's 1 so William is 3. OMG she has changed so much in looks. William is just a bigger version of himself here, and he's wearing the construction boots he wore always always, so sweet. And they used to love on each other all the time. He carried her and held her ALL the time. Now they fight wayyyyyyy too much! Gotta show them this and maybe it'll joggle the good old days again!

Hope you and your families had a wonderful holiday!

Mattie Swinging

I tend to work on several paintings at once in different styles, mediums and subjects. I don't know how not to really. I get anxious, so while one is drying I start another one, and so the cycle continues. I am working on some sweet images to hopefully one day incorporate into a children's book. You will see Mattie doing all sorts of fun things over the next few months as I develop her character. It was recommended to me by a wonderful mentor that I should get my audience to fall in love with her, let the character develop and then write the book. So this is my plan. Here she is doing one of my children's favorite things....swinging! Of course there is no Mommy bird behind her. My very observant little Mailey noticed that right away. You see, my two still want me to push them, and since they are now 6 and 8, it does seem a bit silly, but I love it. It is another memory they will have of us together. I may still be pushing them at age 21 at this rate though! Have a lovely weekend!