January Chicks

"Blackcapped Chickadees in the Lavender Field"

Acrylic, 8" x 24" January 2010

Sold!

This week I completed my painting of two chickadees and sold it, with the varnish barely dry! I started this painting in November, but was commissioned to paint the smaller "Joyful Chickadee" as a Christmas gift, so the big one was set aside. How am I going to build up a body of work to have a gallery show if I keep selling them off? A good problem to have!

"Joyful Chickadee"

Acrylic, 5" x 7"

Commissioned, sold!

Bathroom #2 Finished (a la Azteca!)

Inspired by the radical improvement in the upstairs bath remodel, I finally got off my uninspired rear end and finished the boys' bath downstairs. I had done a lot of the hard work last year, patching and repainting the ceiling, then painting the ceiling and walls with the cream and turquoise, but I stalled out at the "tile" mosaic. After dropping the "stamped tile" idea and cutting my own stencils for the 5-color tile design I created, I was finally back in business.

I stenciled the mosaic pattern all the way around the bath, then added a simple mosaic around the window to set it off.

I found a nice shelf unit at the thrift store and covered up the pink roses with dark green paint (thought the boys would appreciate that). I wanted a little more storage since this bath has no vanity.

The boys like it! Jo likes the lizards and Z appreciates his school colors in the design.

1-2-3-4-5 and Beyond

Howdy there! Yes, I do still inhabit this planet. I'm doing well, how 'bout you?
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Lots of good stuff going on, and this kale photo has nothing to do with anything. Yikes, this has been the worst photo-taking year ever! What's new? Well, I got a part-time job at the gluten-free healthfood store where I've been a customer for 5 years, and so far I'm really liking it. Heck, I have been advising people about gluten- and dairy-free stuff for free for years! Secondly, I have gotten a little decorative painting job to do in a home before Christmas. Thirdly, I recently got an email from a photographer who's interested in having me paint her bird photos! And they're beautiful photos too! Hope that happens! Fourthly, I was invited to sell my fabric grocery sacks at a craft fair in 2 weeks, so I am sewing, sewing, sewing. Fifthly, Christmas is coming and my choir is having major long extra rehearsals lately.
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So that's what I've been doing. Hope you are well - I've been checking in on your blogs, I have!

Twins' Nursery Final Pics

I finally coordinated with the twins' mom today and went over to the house to get my final portfolio shots of my work in the nursery. It looks so cute with the crib up, the teddies up on the high shelf, and the closet full of teeny girlie clothes!
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So fun to see my design a reality! Besides the flower border, it was my idea to add the high shelf and paint light blue above it, and to paint the interior of the closet pink. They added the pine plank ceiling and crown molding themselves, and it looks great together!

Painting & Parenthood

I'm working on the last bits of the balcony mural - yesterday I did the clematis in the pot on the balcony. I always have loved Clematis "Nelly Moser" and now I have one, ever in full bloom! (click on the photo at left for a bigger view)
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In other news, I just set up a "myspace" account, dohh! One of the requirement for our teen's having a facebook/myspace is that his dad and I are his "friends" and we can see what he posts on his general friend profile. For you non-techy parents, it means that you can see his main page and photos, etc. along with the comments that his other "friends" add to his page. It does not mean we can see his private chats. I am continually astounded at parents who do not even know that their kid has a facebook/myspace, much less what the kid is posting on it! It is very eye opening! And did you know that your kid can post to his myspace/facebook remotely, even adding photos and video from his cellphone when he's not even sitting at the computer? Think about it...

This Week on the Wall and on the Sewing Machine

Now that the nursery is done, I'm working on finishing my balcony mural... I finished the floor, the pot, and the vine. Flowers and a curtain to go.
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By the way, the nursery was done in the nick of time! The twins were born early, 3 days after I finished and they just put the furniture in and the crib up!

Sorry not much to share. I worked on a quick costume for my son this week for the Freshman Homecoming skit, so I hope to have good pics to show you tomorrow!

Ring Around the Rosy, a Border Full of Posies!

I think the nursery's done! Gotta go back Monday with a clear eye and look it over for touch-ups before I toss out the paint cups. I think this was a great learning project for me. Here's what I learned from it:

- It took me 20 hours of work to paint 28 feet of this border.
- I need to determine my working schedule with the client and if I can be in the house unattended.
- Working in a room still under construction is interesting! Need to keep all my things together in a portable tray or rack so that if someone moves my stuff, it won't spill or get lost.
- I am allergic to cats and fluffy dogs and I need to be able to limit their access while I work.
- Always have papertowel and clean water at the ready before you start!
- Determine what your paint-clothes are so you don't ruin your entire wardrobe.

- Remember to stretch out and to eat and drink regularly so you don't get shaky and sloppy.

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I'm going to bring my tripod and get official "after" shots for my portfolio next week, after they get the crib and other furniture set up. Yay!

Ella & Evie's Nursery, in Process

Here's what I've been up to this week! This nursery is for twin girls, due in a few weeks. Their momma picked out a very cute bedding set from Pottery Barn Kids called "Abby", shown here on the left.

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We are redoing the former office in their home into a nursery: wood slat ceiling, white trim and crown molding, sunny yellow walls. I am interpreting the pattern on the "Abby" bumper pad onto the walls all around the room. Above the window is a cute narrow "dish shelf" we added to disguise a weird wall bump-out (that's blue painting tape around it currently) and I'm going to paint the wall above it light blue with white polka-dots. Lots of colors and layers and details to go, but this job is a blast! Plus, it's making the momma and daddy very, very happy!

Update on the Mural Painting Biz

Here's what the balcony mural looks like today. I haven't got it done as fast as I thought I would, for several reasons: running to the store again and again for the required school supplies, running to the school to pay lab fees and bring forgotten lunches, and getting distracted with some sewing projects.
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But I'm still pleased with the progress, I like how the sun shines through the railing onto the floor. You can see I still need to finish the floor and the pot of flowers on the balcony. I have lined up my next project: a baby nursery for twin girls! I met with my client and got her input, now I'm going to make some sketches for her. I also have leads on two other future jobs!!