2 in 1 day!

I don't know what is going on, when I hopped on here earlier it had "INACTIVE" all over my blog. Well that will teach me! 

So I thought I'd post again. 

This little (12x12) canvas is part of a gift going to my WONDERFUL sales reps (hopefully they will remain my sales reps). It was and frankly still is a VERY stressful Christmas season for us! I wouldn't blame them for dumping me, but I would be sad. 

I'm hoping they like their gifts!     

The colors are off in the picture, I got a new camera and obviously need a tutorial on using it!

Vote for me

Of course I waited til the last minute to enter! Please take the time to vote for my entry! Thanks!

 

The BABY finally started pre-school! She was a little nervous and so was mommy! Also celebrated 13 years of (happiness)marriage yesterday. Can't wait for the next 13!

I bought a new camera and will finally be listing ornaments this week! Have a great day!

Still here

I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted on here! So much has been going on. We moved to another town into our beautiful old home and are working on getting our old home ready to put on the market. Its unbelievable the work we have to do at both! I am in full swing with Christmas orders and my sales rep, Sandra, rocks! I will be putting ornaments in my Etsy shop next week. They will be available for quick personalization and shipping. I think I'll have a giveaway then too! I'll be posting names and locations of all my shops soon and there are a couple of "Trunk Show" dates  to post too. TTYL but SOON! 

Christmas in June

Yep, They'll be available SOON!

So.... how ya doin? Sorry for the long blog break but this has to be the MOST stressful and hectic summer of my life. 

I'm still packing up the old house, trying to strip wallpaper and paint walls at the "NEW" house, find fun things for the girls to do (and finding people to do these things with them), get estimates and get work started on the old house so I can get it on the market in 3 WEEKS!

I just started planning Ellie's 4th birthday party that is this weekend. Bad Mommy...

On the business end, I have a wonderful lady that had seen my keyfobs in one of my shops and contacted me. She is now repping my line and adding new shops left and right! That is ALL GOOD! But now I have to be a little more professional and make ordering books, brochures, ordering forms etc. Not to mention getting ornament samples done this week to be photographed.

I'm sure my mother is still disappointed that I didn't post about her on Mother's Day, and I wanted to post about my wonderful hubby on Father's Day and I missed that boat too. 

Anyway, enough about poor me. Thought I'd show you more of our UNIQUE house. The first pic is what I call the cave. It's very dark and cozy. This is our makeshift bedroom for now. You can see the way it opens up to the second floor.... interesting? I think instead of stripping that wallpaper, I'll have some wallpaper put over top of it.  Any suggestions? 

I'd better get back to work.... so little time...            

Chimp Eden

Totally love this show, if you haven't watched it before, give it a try. Great family show!

Mural Work

I've been doing a little mural work. It use to be a big part of my income until a couple years ago. When I went to Atlanta's Americas Mart, I picked up 70 new shops and was painting key fobs, frames, canvases, bottles, buckets, ornaments, stockings and plaques! I was so overwhelmed  with the massive orders, I had no time for mural work. I lost a bunch of those shops because I couldn't keep up. I have since cut my wholesale product line down to key fobs and ornaments only but I'm going to start adding some other items in the next few months. Wish me luck!

*There will be a painted name canvas hanging between the 2 palm trees.

My new shoes!

I spent the rest of my Mother's Day money on these Volatile flip flops. I love them! I'm 5'4" so not only do they make me feel tall but they are so comfortable! 

Great Mother's Day!

I hope your Mother's Day was a happy one! I had a great one! Cash was my "gift" along with a box lid diorama Rachel made for me. I actually ran to TJMAXX with my cash as soon as they opened. I bought a bright blue and green tunic and some sunglasses to wear to our Mother's Day dinner at historical Hall's on the River

It was so good! I had a Seafood Hotbrown and we all shared banana peppers and fried green tomatoes AND hot fudge cake. I'm hoping we'll be able to become regulars there once we move into our new home since it's really just down the road from us!

We went back to the NEW house, my mother headed for the COT that Tom sleeps on , while the rest of us headed for the pool table.  I made it a fairly short stay. The girls and I came home and snuggled on the couch til bedtime. Tom stayed down there of course. He's trying to tame the landscape at the moment and has to stay on top of the yardwork.  I fear he's getting a little to carried away with the saw. I've laid down the law concerning the gigantic Wisteria that's growing by the porch. If it comes up missing, he will too! 

Mother's Day gift ideas

Just a few ideas of things I would love to get ... hint hint dear hubby!  

Derby Day!

Derby Day is here! This IS a holiday here in the Bluegrass. I hope you take the time to watch it today..."My Old Kentucky Home" always gets me emotional. I am very proud of my Commonwealth. 

My picks for Derby... Papa Clem (to win), Pioneer of the Nile, Hold me Back, and Mr. Hotstuff  

Artfire

I just opened ARTFIRE shop! Check it out HERE!

New listings!

Just listed new items and new pics in my etsy shop!

Lots to do!

The girls and I spent most of our weekend at the house. I've been removing wallpaper from the dining room walls. Not a bad job. It peeled off easily except for the backing and a little soapy mixture is taking that off. The guys finished the plumbing (YEAH!) but discovered termites in the process (UGH!). Hubby is moving on to the electrical repairs and working on the grounds.

I'm sure there is a Wisteria vine next to the studio and I can't wait to see it bloom!

There's a stray neighborhood cat that the girls have named Miss Priss. she comes to visit us quite often. This weekend she gave us a show and delivered a kitten on Tom's army cot! the girls witnessed it all, great moment! She then carried it off to our neighbors house and delivered more.

At home, I'm packing up and moving a few boxes everyday, getting things gathered for a yard sale, and making lists and plans for our current home ( lots to do to get it ready to sell). I haven't worked on the chandelier any more BUT I did paint a couple kid's furniture pieces this week. A child's vanity with lots of pink stripes, dots, and some Swaroski crystals and a big table and chairs set with pink animal prints! contact Peggy's if you're interested in purchasing one of these. 

Business has picked up A LOT.  I have a couple new stores that have started buying from me and a couple more interested. I had a meeting about doing some murals, I'll be presenting sketches for those this week. I really need to finish up some paintings that will be sold as prints and I want to put some things in Cafepress . Then it's time to start working on Christmas ornaments!     

 I missed so many great photo opportunities this weekend. All of my cameras have problems and I will be shopping for a new one this week... any recommendations? 

Rate my Space

Hoping they'll pick this room for a makeover!  Rate my kitchen!

I'll never see my husband again!

We have started moving stuff into the new house, mostly things we won't need here at the old place.We've met our neighbors, they seem nice and have a lot of knowledge about our house! For example, the former owner was a woman from New York that had twin daughters. She had an issue with one of the bathroom showers. It could not be shut off in any way, so she left the HOT shower run continually for 2 years! Tom and his sweet brother "RAIL" (they all have fun nicknames given to them by their dad) are redoing ALL the plumbing this weekend, the electrical redo is next.  

Tom is just so happy with our new home regardless of it's problems. He has a new pooltable in the detached garage (mancave) and has been sleeping there on an old Army cot. So with all the work to be done AND his love for the place, I really won't be seeing much of him except for my daily boxed deliveries!   

The girls and I spent yesterday painting their playroom a beautiful Tiffany blue, see the room above. Good bye Burgundy! I've also started making a FUN chandelier to go in the room. I'll post it and the instructions on how to make it next week. 

Today I have packing, glazing ,painting and cleaning to do. Better get to it, have a great Sunday!

Happy Easter!

Must watch!

New Kitchen Pics

This kitchen has  beautiful wood walls and ceiling. It's odd shape and sections require some creative thinking! This round window overlooks the wrap around porch, to the right is cabinets and counter with dishwasher, see 3rd pic...  
This is the area when you first enter the kitchen (entry is on the right, past the stove) Cabinets are definitely going to be painted! I really love glass tiles and am thinking of adding them as a backsplash to break up some of the wood.  A new countertop is on the list. Really not sure about a color scheme. Creamy cabinets...some blues? Keep in mind there's going to be a lot of DIY projects with LOW budgets, Heating and Air are the money eaters in this house. You'll see wall air units and baseboard heating throughout.  
This is the dishwasher area...to the right is a step down to the breakfast area and the built in fridge. Maybe build an island with a cooktop over here?
This area will have a table, maybe a bench built in to the left side and some comfy chairs to complete the seating. These beautiful big windows... love them but what do I do with them?

There's also not a lot of wall space for artwork..gasp! I'll figure out something! 

I'm thinking I'm a great candidate for HGTV'S Rate My Space makeover....   

We have a winner!

Comment #21, Craftola is the lucky winner! Congrats and thanks to all who entered and or posted about my buckets on their blogs! I hope everyone had fun during the party! 

I really didn't get to enjoy much of it. Besides being swamped with orders, WE GOT THE HOUSE! Actually my stepdad is closing on it this week( THANKS Charlie Pop!), we will be buying it from him AFTER we sell our current home. Lots of work to get this place ready to sell! The job will be so much easier after we move a large portion of our STUFF to the new house!  I start packing TODAY. We are so excited about this move! Lots of big changes for us but all for the good we think!   

The above pic is at the new home, looking thru the kitchen to one side of the wrap around porch.

Ultimate Blog Party!

I had so much fun at this PARTY last year! It's not too late to join in, just go to 5 Minutes for Mom to sign up, you won't regret it....lots of prizes and you get to meet so many great women!

My prize picks would be 

*free advertising on boutique flair

*biz cards from boutique graffics

* a $5o.oo Target gift card from HERE

or the cute flip flops or jewelry or books or....  ANYTHING!

Leave a comment here and telling me about your favorite item from the above grouping and I'll draw a name at the end of the party. You'll win your choice of a small easter bucket, a key fob, or a soap bottle! 

P.S. get a second entry by following me! Just add a second comment telling me you did it!

Shop Update

The shop has been updated FINALLY! I was not techy smart today. I could not for the life of me figure out how to get pictures from email to iphoto!  Any hoo, I listed what I could and will be adding more a little at a time. I still have some small eggs and buckets to add then it's painting time all weekend. EXCEPT... remember this? Well we made an offer so put us on your prayer list or cross your fingers that if it's meant to be it will work out!