My Hairbow Obcession

 I can't stop making bows, headbands, whatever. What my oldest switched over to headbands I got so excited. A whole new set of things to make. I don't know what they put in a hot glue stick, but it must have something that makes it addicting! I'll add new styles when I see them, or make them. YEAH!!!

 Felt flowers (I've done the center a few different ways, this was attempt one) and crocheted flowers and of course the classic ribbon bows.

 Set one of my Sister-in-law's bows. I think I have added at least 15 more. And I think there are some styles and colors that I left out. So it is not complete. We had to make sure that there were plenty of colored headbands too because white isn't enough. My favorite are the ones made from fold-over elastic. 

Another sweet niece's Christmas present. She started wearing pigtails. Her original set had to be updated.

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. 

Custom artwork

How in the world do you find art for a little girl's room in marigold, orange, rose, and brown. Probably not going to happen. The mom found this wonderful fabric with an out of the box color palette, made curtains, painted and then got stuck for what to do next to accessorize the room. So I created these pieces for sweet little Rowan. 

 

2 sets of 3 paintings

These are a set of paintings that I did for the den. It was a process. I hung them up, then eventually added the large white flowers, then stained the white flowers. I would just stair at them on the wall and think that they were missing something. I think they are finished now, but you never know.

These are currently in the office at work. I try to grab them whenever he moves or changes things around. But my husband won't let me bring them home. The would be perfect for the dinning room! Maybe I will have to try again. 

Dining Room Part 1: faux walls

We recently decided to start on our dinning room. And here is phase one. The base coat is "Tawny Mushroom" (or as my friend called it "Burple") and then did a smoke stain affect with glaze. 

I am not sure that it is my favorite faux finish that I have done, but I am satisfied for today.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it''s off to faux I go.....

 I think that this technique was labeled suede, or maybe leather? It was pretty simple. Did a base coat. Then I  measured off and taped rectangles in the room. Slapped some glaze in a square, pressed a huge piece of thin, plastic drop cloth on it, took it off and Viola. There you have it.

The next few weeks I will be working on a dinning room. Smoke staining the walls and doing something fancy in the trey ceiling. Probably something with flourishes (my new favorite word) and filigree. Yeah!