Sorry 'bout that!

I was supposed to come back last Friday and tell you who the lucky winner of the Novica give-away was...so sorry I'm tardy.  Life got in the way and I was distracted from blogging...So anyway...
Wanna know who won? Svetlana,  (who is a beautiful modern quilter, by the way) please email me and I'll give you the deets on your gift certificate.

I have a new print for the etsy shop I want to share with you...

You can buy it here as an 8 x 10.  I will also make some 11 x 14 prints if you are interested.  :)

Yesterday was my last day of teaching and today was the last day of school for my kiddos.
We had a little pool party to celebrate today and tomorrow begins our Summer together.  I'm excited.

And now...I'm off to work on a Carnival birthday party we're having here in less than 2 weeks.  I'm having so much fun preparing for it and I can't wait to show you pictures! 

Custom "beYOUtiful" plaques

I've added custom "beYOUtiful" plaques to my shop right here.

I recently had a slew of requests for custom color schemes, so I thought I'd add them to the shop.

Isn't that rose gorgeous?

Don't forget to enter the Novica give-away below...I'll pick a name tomorrow:)

Teaching Art

After my long blogging break for the Advent season, I think I forgot to mention that I got a (part-time) job teaching art at a Montessori school.

I've really enjoyed it and I will teach an art summer camp this summer and then go back again next school year.

We made Sock Monkey Paintings this week and I thought I'd share a few.
Aren't they cute?

It might be something fun for your Summer List.
Have you made your list yet?
I'll be sure to share ours when we are finished.
3 full days and 3 half days of school left here before summer vacation, not that anyone is counting around here!  ha

Give-away:)

I have a really awesome give-away to share with you...

A line of artistic items sponspored by National Geographic called Novica.

Here's a little bit about it.

"A Nation of artists throughout the world --
a village of carvers in Bali;
a family of ceramists in Brazil who have handed down their craft
from generation to generation;
a farmer in the Andes who hand-weaves alpaca sweaters.

It is a community of artists who have been isolated
for centuries by distance, time, and geography --
isolated from the very community of collectors seeking
their unique, inspired, and undiscovered arts and crafts.

Now, finally, there is a bridge connecting our separate
communities into one worldwide nation --
this is The NOVICA Nation.

A nation of people inspired by the arts and
empowered by the Internet."

I ordered this necklace,  the Brass beaded choker, 'Alive', made in Thailand.

It came in this beautiful box with a story about Chuleekorn, the woman who made it.

I had a hard time choosing.

They have a line of home decor, jewelry and apparel, and paintings.

Here are some of the other jewelry pieces I'd love to own:

I love their mission statement:

We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.

At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.

We want you to know about who you're buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.

In the spirit of the Internet, let us bring you together.

NOVICA. The World is Your Market.

Novica is letting me give-away a $50 gift certificate to one of you!
Leave me a message telling me what you would order, and I'll pick a winner on Friday, May 25th!

A little va-cay

 (Awesome metal sculptures found in the resort)

 (um, me...hubby is camera shy)

 (Dinner here was delicious)

 (Super huge dragon made out of Legos, in a lagoon)

 (Large bronze statue in Downtown Disney.  Didn't even think to see who it's supposed to be!)

(folk art found in the House of Blues)

Hubs had to go out of town this week for a work conference and I found family (Thank you!) to stay with the kids and went with him.

It was rainy and dreary and perfect.
I sat in the hotel room while he worked, read magazines, caught up on blog-reading, used the resort gym, crafted with another wifey,  and we ate out a lot.

I was supposed to be there until tomorrow but my oldest called me last night and said, "Oh, I forgot to tell you that the 6th grade awards are in the morning and I'm getting awards..."
Yes, I drove home for it and any irritability I had was quickly replaced with pride.  I love that kid.

And now I'm back home, refreshed after my two day mini-vacay and feeling blessed.  :)

700th post! (and a sale)

Good evening!

Did you have a nice Mother's Day?  We had a nice, quiet day and it was just what I wanted.

I wanted to get some stuff done without any interruptions and I did just that!  :)

This is my 700th post!   I can't believe that.

There have been times I've thought of letting the blog go...but when I look back at all the entries it has been such a blessing!  I love that it's like a visual diary, and I love the bloggy friends I've made, so I continue to do it.

I am doing some Spring Cleaning in the house and in the shop.

I've been inspired to try some new things, to make some new things, to arrange for some changes.  I'm so excited!  So I thought I'd do a little sale for my blogging and Facebook friends only.

Time to clear out some of the old, to let in some of the new!  :)

1.  Heart with Wings

This is a wooden plaque that measures 24" x 24"

It is hand painted and has a hook so it's ready to hang.

It will ship in two pieces, and when you get it you can use hot-glue the heart with wings back on.

Sale Price:  $45 (includes shipping)

2.  8 x 10 hand painted canvas
Slightly distressed.  The sides are painted so you can hang it as is, or you can pop it into an open 8 x 10 frame.
Sale Price:  $12 (includes shipping)

3. 8 x 10 hand painted canvas
Slightly distressed. The sides are painted so you can hang it as is, or you can pop it into an open 8 x 10 frame.
Sale Price: $12 (includes shipping)

4. 8 x 10 hand painted canvas
Slightly distressed. The sides are painted so you can hang it as is, or you can pop it into an open 8 x 10 frame.
Sale Price: $12 (includes shipping)

5. 8 x 10 hand painted canvas
Slightly distressed. The sides are painted so you can hang it as is, or you can pop it into an open 8 x 10 frame.
Sale Price: $12 (includes shipping)

 6.  Original Family Rules
This is my original family rules that has traveled to art shows with me as an example piece.  It has a little wear and tear on it.  ;)  (very minimal, but I wanted to mention it)
It is all hand-painted on a piece of wood that measures 12" x 24"
I do my custom Family Rules on canvas now, so this is that last wood one!
Sale Price:  $60 (includes shipping)

 7.  Family Pillow
This pillow measures 12 x 16, and it is in perfect condition.
It will come with the pillow form inside it.
Sale Price:  $35 (includes shipping)

8.  Start Every Morning with God pillow
Based on the original print,  this pillow measures 18 x 18, and it is in perfect condition.
It will come with the pillow form inside it.
Sale Price: $40 (includes shipping)

9.   C. S. Lewis quote pillow
Based on the original print, this pillow measures 18 x 18, and it is in perfect condition.
It will come with the pillow form inside it.
Sale Price: $40 (includes shipping)

If you'd like to claim one, please either leave me a comment or email me.

I will send paypal invoices out.

Here's to a great week!  :)

Some things I've learned about being a Mom

Happy Wednesday!
I'm over here today talking about motherhood.
I hope you'll join us :)

Rainbows

I'm having trouble loading my pictures into picmonkey...anyone else?
It keeps telling me to reload my browser?  I'm nervous putting my pictures online without my name on them....I've got to be honest.   I need to learn how to make a copyright symbol.

Anyhoo...I painted a glorious rainbow of canvases last week.  They are all 8 x 10 and I handpainted the words and slightly distressed them.  They make me smile:)

Ava and I had a Mother/Daughter art show locally today...we had a good time together!

I have a few of the canvases left too...I'll try to get them my etsy shop tomorrow :)

How was your weekend?  :)