Well, it has been a long time hasn't it.
Rather than fill you in on the reasons why I haven't posted, let's just move on. I've been painting up a storm for a gallery show in October. I'll hang from October 21st til December 2nd. Excellent timing for Christmas shopping...
Also helping with the decor of a new photography studio moving into downtown Florence. Hope this studio will kick off a growth spurt for the downtown area. I would love to see it turn into an upscale art arena. Trendy, small shops...
The local library will also showcase my art soon, haven't set the dates yet. I'm hoping for September. We shall see! Have a great day!!!

Whew!. It's Been a long time! Life tends to get in the way! We are getting our house ready for the "For Sale" sign to go in the yard. It's funny how you can't push 13 years of household procrastination into one weekend! HaHa! Wish us luck in getting it sold quickly. I'm ready for the upheaval to be finished.

Pay It Forward & an Open House

I took part in a Pay It Forward over at Southern Prep. She sent the sweetest little happies!

I am working up a few projects for an Open House. This will be the first I've ever held in my home. We will have my paintings, a tupperware rep, a home interior rep & maybe a lady who makes and monograms baby things. I'm excited but a little nervous too.

Could you share any ideas or tips for holding an Open House? Leave me a comment and I'll draw three names to send a Pay It Forward to on Halloween night. If you link me on your blog, I'll give you another entry.

Leather Pillow on the Cheap Tutorial
I saw the most awesome leather sofa pillow covers on the Pottery Barn website last week. I just can't justify
spending $90 bucks each for covers.
I went to our local charity store and bought two leather jackets, one for $1.00 and the other for $5.00. I cut them apart at the seams. I laid the pieces out on the floor and pieced it back together like a puzzle to find a pleasing composition. The front of the brown one has a different seam line than the back, but looks equally nice. Same thing with the light brown pillow, the two sides are seamed slightly different but if you work it like a puzzle before you sew, it will look nice. These are 16 inch square. They really call attention to themselves. I just love them.

Beauty & Beau is next Saturday!

The sweet Princess finally found the dress that makes her happy! She's avoided pageants since about 4th grade but wanted to be involved in everything possible her senior year. This was in the pre-altered state, pins and all.

You can't tell from the pony tail shown here but her hair is long. She hasn't decided whether she wants her hair up or down and I'm really torn on those earrings, give me your opinion. Smaller or are these good?

This shop is so cool. Their dressing rooms are made of old doors, there is a shutter next to her that they are displaying pictures on.

I met a fellow Blogger!
Susie Harris from Beinvenue had a booth at the Canton Flea Market. Her art pieces are just a wonderful in person as they are on her blog. She was so nice and welcoming as was her husband. I wish I had had my camera with me. Susie had hers and her husband was sweet enough to take our picture together. Go visit her blog to see all her artwork and check out her etsy shop.

Go check out Handbag Planet.

Go check out Handbag Planet.

October 15, 2008 they will launch their new website, and are giving away a free handbag every hour for 24 hours that day. Beautiful bags!! Go take a look!

http://www.handbagplanet.com/

I do wish I could remember where I saw a picture of these witch legs. If you know, please let me know and I will credit them.

My version has fat, lumpy legs. Maybe because of those shoes!

Has this ever happened to you?

You strive to make your focal point eye catching only to have the hubs come behind you and make it ..... I guess this is still eye catching. Maybe? I've even put one of those boxes that looks like a book up there for him to use. Who else has a mantle that becomes a catch all?

What do you get when you put together an old whiskey cask lid and a lazy susan?















I've had this old lid hanging around for a few years, couldn't part with it. I just knew there was something I could use it for. Lo and behold, Everyday Gourmet had one on display as a Lazy Susan. I found this rubbermaid lazy susan for a quarter the next day at a rummage sale. And this is how I'm using it:

OoOoOo! Have you seen the new leather sofa pillows from Pottery Barn? http://www.potterybarn.com
They are gorgeous, I will be scouring the rummage sales for old leather jackets to make covers for my sofa pillows!

The summer rush at work is over. Now maybe more time to paint. Looking forward to Canton Flea Market next week. Getting a jump on Christmas shopping. Here is a peak at the latest painting. Happy fall ya'll!

Yesterday we celebrated my nephews birthday. His party was held at the same skating rink I went to as a teen. His reaction when I skated past him was priceless. His mouth fell open and he yelled after me, KK, you can skate?? I almost fell over laughing. As I was leaving at the end of the party, he came over to give me a hug and told me I could skate good for an old lady! Gotta love him!
I painted this for him. As I painted it, one thought kept nagging at me. Maybe he is too old to get a painting. What if it embarrasses him in front of his friends to get what might be considered a baby gift. Well, let me tell you, his response totally took me by surprise. One by one he tore into the gifts, turned to the giver and said thanks. I held my breath as he opened our gift, out came the remote control truck, then the batteries, he acknowledge with thanks, next came out the painting. He tore off the wrapping, he looked up, held the painting over his head, pointed too it and yelled, KK, I love it! The only gift that got that sort of response! Thrilled my heart!

Merry Christmas to you all! A flight brought nephew home from Iraq last night, we meet him at the airport. So glad he is here to see his son enjoy his first Christmas. The reindeer were fed well. Waiting for everyone to wake up and see what Ole Santa brought.
Wishing you and your families a happy holiday.

The camera has been found!
The first photo is my table setting for Pokeno. Everyone got to take a rolypoly Santa home with them. I think this setup will change for supper with the inlaws.This picture is of my mantle this year. I think I'll repeat this setup. It makes me smile when I look at it. And it is awesome when all the lights except the tree are out.

My snowman collection, not all of them. Maybe next year all of them will be out.
Have a great day. I'm off to finish my shopping!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
I've been thinking all week long how blessed I am.
Our family is healthy. No major illnesses to deal with.
I have my family close me (son is moving back to MS soon) with the exception of a nephew in Iraq. We are lucky to hear from him quite often.
Hubby and I both have long relationships with our respective jobs and feel like we can be there as long as we'd choose to be.
I am extremely proud of my kids. They have grown into great young adults.
My church family is so special to me, they are always there for us with hugs or kind words.
I can't think of one thing to complain about this morning
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

I made the threee onesies for my niece's baby shower a few months back. The big tshirt was for her brother to wear during the shower. He was a great helper, handing out game sheets and prizes. The onesies were really easy to make with my inkjet printer.

Gratitude of the day: I am grateful for my mom and dad who I live close to and work with everyday.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

It has been terribly hard to schedule painting time in here lately. It seems I can only get one a month done. I had the best intentions to paint every day. Even put it on my to-do list every morning. Maybe there is too much on the to-do list.

We got started on the studio this past weekend. Cleared the space and started placing the base. We hadn't finished the base of the main room when I took the photo, hence the funny shape. I'll get a lot of natural light in this spot. I can't wait for it to be finished. It will take a while since we only work on it in our spare time. But it's started so we're committed now.

Here is another painting, again this was done in acrylics. Sorry for the flash hotspot. I'm still learning to photograph.

Two posts in one day! I have been trying to collect photos of all the paintings I have done and given away.This is an acrylic that was a lot of fun. Sorry about the crummy picture, it was taken with a cell phone camera. The colors are off just a little.