Aunt Lisa's Paintings

My Aunt Lisa came to visit me this summer. We had a fantastic time. We made a trip to a craft store and she bought me three canvases to paint. She wanted art that meant something in her home. I kinda feel the same way. It is hard for me to pick up something from a chain and hang it in my home. I felt honored that she thought something I did would be special. This fall we went down for her son's, my cousin, wedding. I made sure that her paintings were ready for the trip. Each canvas is 2' x 3'. I didn't want to ship them. Not to mention that I wanted to see her face when she saw them for the first time. I can't wait for her to frame them and hang them in the perfect place in her home. I am sure I will add the polished pictures to this post. 

A beautiful day

My beautiful niece

On December 31, 2011 sister-in-law and her husband were able to take their sweet baby to the temple and  be sealed for time and all eternity. 

I made this little piece of artwork for them to celebrate this day. I framed it in a cream frame. There were also two other frames that were 5x7 that matched so they can make a grouping on their wall of pictures from that day. And it I wouldn't be me if I didn't make a new bow for the occasion. The bow is made of the same flower on the artwork. Hey, she is almost 4 months old. The girl needed a fresh bow. 

If you are not familiar with the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints and our belief on families being together after this life- here is a wonderful explanation from mormon.org  

Can a husband and wife be together forever? Do Mormons believe that families will live together in heaven?

Family relationships can last forever—not just for this life.

Just as some of life’s sweetest joys can come through family associations, the loss of a beloved family member can be a source of our deepest sorrows.

Jesus Christ gave power to His disciples to seal families together forever when He said, “And it will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).

Death does not need to be the end of our relationships with cherished loved ones. The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that the “same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there [in eternity], only it will be coupled with eternal glory” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:2).

Family members who accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ and follow His example can be together forever through sacred ordinances performed in God’s holy temples. These ordinances seal a husband and wife together for all eternity and children to their parents as an eternal family. (See: “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”)

http://mormon.org/faq/#Temples|question=/faq/church-and-temple/  (here is the actual link)

Hand Print Salt Dough Ornaments

This year I had a few of the cousins over at my house. We decorated gingerbread houses and cookies. They were beautiful, but I didn't take pictures. It was too crazy with a house full of kids to remember the camera! But I had two nieces over. And since they are 3 and 4 months old, they weren't too interested in the decorating. So I looked up a recipe for salt dough ornaments and made a little something.

4 C flour

1 C salt

1 1/2 C warm water

bake for 1 hour on 350 degrees

easy right!!

 I added the name and date with an all (it's a tool, but I don't know how to spell it. It is pronounced "all", tooth pick would word too). Rather then dragging it, I did dots closely together. This way you don't get the pulling that distorts the letters and the puddles at the ends of the letters. 

And Viola!
They are a much softer pink. The camera made them really dark.

Family Pictures

Her is our first official family picture in about 5 years! We have tried many times to have a random person take our picture on the beach or at the temple. But let's face it... you have to take a hundred pictures to get one good one. Especially when you are dealing with kids. I am very pleased with this one. 

Chantel Tucker, a very talented friend of mine, took our pictures. She edited the family one. The others I tried to edit. Of course they aren't quite up to par. It being Christmas, oh and the fact that she has a baby due on the 29th, I figured I could wait on the editing. She was kind enough to come out there and take them in the first place!

Hand Print Art

 Isn't it amazing to see how little hands grow. This gift was inspired by my own little ones. Hands are one of my favorite features on a baby. They are just so tiny. And as they grow they still look tiny, until you compare hand prints from just a few months earlier. On the leaves you record the date and age of the hand print.

I made extra flowers and leaves. And of course plenty for wiggly mess ups too.

So for the baby that has everything... here is an new idea on something as classic as a hand print.

Mrs. Claus and her itty bitty elf

It's that time of year again. We could go to the mountains and cut down our own tree in the time it takes me to fluff my branches on our "faux" tree. Does calling it faux make it more socially exceptable to have a fake tree? I guess I have found my favorite holiday canvas. A tree is like it's own piece of art. And most everyone takes part. I love it. It allows everyone to express themselves without even knowing they are artists too. So I am slightly obsessed with this particular shade of blue. And of course that spilled over onto my tree. And the elf. Notice she matches my tree. My favorite ornaments to buy are angels, stars and snowflakes. But hey, who doesn't love the literal symbols of Christmas mixed with a few secular? 

 

Oh, my little itty bitty elf. Her expression was adorable upon finding a tree with lights in her den after her nap. There were no ornaments hung... so she got to help. It was priceless. With ball in hand, I asked her to show me where it should go. She pointed to a branch on the lowest part of the tree right at her eye level. I hung it. My little elf inspected it and said "cue." (her cute). Then on to the next ball. I thought this was going to be a wonderful time. Then I hung ball number two and she said "no." I pointed to another branch close to the one that she pointed to. Again "no." We did this with a few more ornaments and sometimes I would get a "no, no, no." Wow, little miss priss! Perfectionist maybe! Cutest Christmas moment ever! I bet Nanny was laughing her head off. I am sure that she didn't miss that one.

Itty bitty ELF!!! I should've waited to post until bed time. She covered the kitchen island and herself with the syrup bottle left out from breakfast while I was on the computer. Bathtime here we come.

My Little Bitty Girl's Nursery

 I found this great fabric on sale and went from there. What doesn't start with a great sale? 

 I made the curtains and the crib skirt. Although sewing is still pretty new to me. Thankfully they are high so you can't see my crooked seams. And I made a "quilt" and pillows. The word quilt is used rather loosely. But I had to try and do something else with the extra fabric. Looks great on the chair when you are far far away!  

 Then did a mural below the chair rail pulling out the flowers from the fabric.

Finishing off the room I did a few pieces of artwork.

Although it seems silly to call it a nursery now that she is so big! Here she is with her new baby cousin. She wasn't jealous when I held the baby, but she did insist on sitting on my lap too. Silly girl.

Why I feel I was given this gift and talent

As my brother-in-law said "I love to speak in public, but this is one assignment I didn't want." This was in reference to giving the story of his mother's life at the services for her passing. I have done many portraits of loved ones that have passed away. The first one was about 15 years ago. I wanted to do something to help the family that had just lost their beloved mother. The passing was in it's season, I think she was in her late 80's and had lived with diabetes for a very long time. This wonderful lady was a part of my family for a long time and we all loved her very much. I thought to myself, if I could sing, I would sing at her funeral. But this is what I do, so I will draw a picture. Then, as life happens, there were more opportunities to work through my own grief and help others by drawing a loved one that had passed on. 

But this one, my mother-in-law, my husband's mom, our Nanny, and my dear friend; this one I didn't feel I could ever muster the strength to do.

Not wanting to have any attention directed toward me at this time I did not want to draw a portrait. I asked my sister-in-law if they had found a current picture that they would be able to frame at the services. She said they were just going to use the bridal portrait that they had painted a few years back. I wasn't sure if they just weren't able to find an image that would work nicely enlarged and framed for the occasion. So I asked my brother-in-law if he thought that they would like to me to a portrait. And since they were putting a slide show together, asked if they had found one they would like me to use. Since her appearance had changed in the last few years, I didn't know what time period they wanted to use. 

And then came the challenge. The idea sounded great to them. But I only had one night to complete the portrait. And I NEVER got the image! He sent it, but it didn't come through. So with two hours before I needed to leave to assist with the arrangements for later that night I finally got the image. I don't know how my hand moved with the precision that it did. But I never made a mistake and didn't sit and ponder my next pencil mark. My hand was truly guided. And when I put the final touches on her eyes, it was if she was there with me, looking and smiling back at me. It was a beautiful experience. 

At the center of this family and in our hearts she will always be. We love you and will miss until we see you again!

And we are happy to say that this family picture is outdated yet again because of another addition. With two sweet babies. One that she hand picked to come to our family the moment she left this life and crossed into the other. 

My little muses

My little muses. What would this life be like without someone who inspires them? I just have to remember to take pictures! Because goodness knows I don't have any time to paint these beautiful creatures now. When they are grown I will have all the time to paint there sweet little faces. Now, I am just happy if I can keep them fed, clean, and happy!

Hallie turns 2

It has been a while since I posted last. When we moved I had trouble getting pictures from my computer attached to anything. I special hard drive for them. But I think I have found a way to fix the problem. Hopefully more posts to come. But for now here are some new pictures of Miss Hallie.

Happy Halloween

Our little tulip fairy. Hallie loved trick or treating and loved her Chocolate even more!

And of course what would a blog be without a little family bragging? This is my darling Hallie. She is now 18months old. Everyone was right, they do grow up so fast. She is a running chattery little girl. Her Daddy and I are just amazed at all the little things that she does that make us fall deeper in love with her everyday.