Happy Halloween

Hello!  

 

This is my last personal post before I post up some paintings, I swear.  I have been busy, I finished two of my Christmas orders and nearly done with another two.  I have two more to get to and of course my own to work on!  Leslie is in Disney, so I can't wait until she is back this weekend to photograph what I have done.  Until then - you will hear about our Halloween!

As some of you may know, Penny is Snow White - adorable, I didn't make it, because why recreate the wheel, especially since I had to make the boys.  I think you'll agree - she makes the perfect Snow White.

The boys wanted to be aliens from the cartoon Ben 10.  Of course they don't sell these costumes, so therefore they had to be made.  I orginally through I would just make sleep bottoms and a hooded sweatshirt and embellish them to look like the alien of choice.  Drew came upon me organizing my sewing wares and he stated, "mom, I just don't see how this is going to work." If you know Drew, he had his hands on his hips and was as serious as they come.  So I scrapped that idea and decided to wing it.  So I used their Spiderman costume as a template and went from there.  Honestly I am very proud of how they turned out. I didn't put as much effort into the masks, because lets me honest, they stay on for all of five mins and then the kids decide they don't want to wear them.  So they aren't as well crafted as the rest of the suit.  The boys are happy - so I think I did well.

We then carved pumpkins - it went so fast and so smooth, I usually dread it, but am pleasantly surprised with how quickly we decide on our design, clean, carve and toast our seeds.  This year we did pumpkins for the kids and Jon had an additional pumpkin that he did for a contest at school.  

yes, i am the queen!

ta-dah!

We also did a fun craft (thank you Lisa Au) where we made our own pumpkins and ghosts and such - they turned out cute, you can see that Drew and I are into winter already, we decided to make snow men.

I have the big bowl of candy ready:

I'm ready to pass it out:

Yes, my mother made this and wore it when she was a room mom.... ahhh

The kids are ready to score some sweets:

Ryan as grandpa Max from Ben Ten

Have a great, fun and safe Halloween - have a wonderful weekend! Thanks!

you went out on a school night?

Ryan and I went out last night on a school night.  How, do you ask?  Well I was fortunate enough to have the stars and moon a line and my brother is on Fall Break, like the rest of central Indiana.  Apparently Noblesville Schools wanted to be a bit different this year than the rest of the school districts, so my usual babysitters have school today.  So my brother and my sister in law Anna (who took today off) watched my three chickens so that Ryan and I could go to the Music Mill and see TR3.  For those of you who don't know who I am talking about - it is Tim Reynolds - amazing guitarist and also plays with the Dave Matthews Band.  He and Dave are featured on the Live at Luther College CD.  It is an amazing CD I recommend it highly. 

So we got a chance to hit Steak and Shake (our old stomping ground from College) and go to the Music Mill and listen to some fantastic music.  

We were surprised because their was an opening act and we really liked them!  Their a local band called Red Moon. They'll be playing in battle of bands in a another couple of weeks.  They had a Dave Matthews style about them and their guitar players were phenominal.  I highly recommend you check them out.

We got home about midnight, all our chickens were fed, bathed and in bed.  Just a perfect way to end a perfect night!

I've got a couple of paintings I am finishing up, and few I'm starting.  They'll be up soon!  Thanks!

Happy Birthday Charlie!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Charlie.  Okay so Charlie's real birthday was a few weeks ago - but we celebrated his birthday at Gymboree yesterday.  It was all of his little 2 year old friends (which was ADORABLE!) and they had a really, really good time, despite Gymbo the Clown.  (I am trying not to pass on my neuroses on to my children - so I smile, nod and just stay away.  It is my version of stop, drop and roll, but I digress.) Charlie was in his element and enjoying the heck out of himself.  Here is the birthday boy!

For Charlie's birthday I decided to do a Dino-rific painting for him and his dinosaur themed room.  I hope he liked it!  Here are a few pictures of the painting itself:

Happy Birthday sweet boy - we're so glad we could celebrate it with you!  Have a great Sunday everyone and Thanks!

friendly blessings

I really should get to bed, but it struck me as I was walking in the door tonight how blessed I am to have the friends that I do.  This week has made this abundantly clear to me.  I know I posted this painting before, but it seemed appropriate to whip it out tonight.  I did it for my girlfriend Lisa for her birthday, it is my spin on the Claddaugh symbol for friendship. Which is appropriate for my post this evening or morning depending on how you spin it!

It began on Friday when Ryan and I went out with our friends the Hazelriggs, I've mentioned them before, but we went for a belated birthday dinner for me (Annakah continues!).  But before I get away from my point, I am so blessed to have our cousins Mike and Kim Wert so close to us - in both proximity and relationally.  They watched our kids so we could go out to dinner and have a bit of time with our other friends.  See they are our cousins, but we enjoy them so much that they are our friends as well.  I mean just because you are related doesn't mean you are going to like someone.  We are blessed because we do like them, dare I say love. Our evening out was wonderful - laughing and reminiscing.  So fun to be with people we enjoy and in turn enjoy each other.  At the risk of being repetitive it is so nice to have another couple that we love to spend time with.  I couldn't have chosen two more fun people to spend the evening with.

Sunday I got a rare chance to spend time with my brother and hang out and watch football and eat snacks.  It was so nice to just be Annie with Steve.  While I LOVE when our families get together - there is something so comforting to just hang out with my brother, almost like we're kids back at our house in Schererville - I half expect my mom to come out of the kitchen with a Totino's pizza or treat for El Amigo, its just comforting is all.  

Monday I was able to have Brooke over for dinner and then on to yoga.  Brooke and I have been friends since I worked at HNTB back in 2000.  Although over the years we don't see each other as much as we once used to, in the last six months we've gotten this yoga thing going on and it is WONDERFUL!  First off, I enjoy having her over for dinner to catch up and visit, but then to share this fantastic, peaceful workout and meditation.  It is truly a great experience.  I think we both enjoy it so much, which is so fun to have something like that to share.  Monday was an impromptu visit by Leslie and her daughter to drop off my images from the previous week.  She dropped by and I insisted on them staying for lunch.  Growing up, I always admired my Yia yia.  She was one of those people that you would come to her home and weren't sure if you wanted to leave.  It just was so comfortable, she could feed an army at a moments notice and the house was never short on love, coffee and great conversation.  This is the home I strive to have.  So it was nice to convince Leslie to stay and visit and eat and let the kids play.  

On Tuesday I met up with Leslie again, but this time we met at Cafe' Patachou and had breakfast with Sally.  A fantastically hilarious and animated lady I knew from MOPS a few years ago - we clicked, and like a lot things lost touch.  Well this small world of ours brought Sally back into my life because Leslie and her are friends.  One of the things I love about Sally is her volume - she's like me, its loud or your asleep, not much middle ground.  We had a great breakfast and some fun catching up.  

Today is Wednesday, I've gotten some great catch up emails from one of my busiest friends Betsy.  You've seen her work here, you know who I am talking about.  We go back years, I was blessed to have met her through her late husband Drew, one of my good friends from college. After he passed, it was hard, but I have been lucky enough to be able to see her marry a phenominal man and have a darling boy.  Although we don't talk as often, I know she's just an email away and we can cover something saucey to something silly in a moments notice. I have been grateful for her little snippets that keep me updated with her and her life.    Today I also had some fun with "Thelma" of my "Thelma and Louise" friendship with Meg.  As Ryan says we're not driving over the cliff, we're driving our husbands over the cliff with our shopping.  Eh, its just money, right?  But I digress, we needed to do some emergency Christmas shopping that involved the dreaded TOYS R' US.  This is someplace you should never go alone with children. We both had our agenda, so we divided and conquered as necessary and was quite successful at pulling the wool over our children's eyes, all the while getting what we needed done.  There are not many I could do this with and it is one of the reasons I love her so.  I then got the opportunity to go to dinner with my girlfriend Jen, who I haven't seen in a while and catch up. It has been months.  I enjoy Jen so much, there is never silence, but no competition - I love talking with her about everything from diapers to discipline to relatives and children - there are no boundaries and it has been so comfortable from day one.  I am so grateful for having met her and being able to foster this great relationship. 

Tomorrow, I help in Jon's class, I am hoping the afternoon will provide me with some time to call both Lisa and Griff.  They are two of my oldest and best friends and I cherish them so!  I missed Lisa's call today and it has been WAY too long.  Griff has been a hardworking machine and I just know there is much for us to catch up on. I miss these girls more than I can explain.  I look forward to our lunches and dinners as they come.

Finally I look forward to Friday, spending it with my very best friend Ryan.  Sure he's my husband, and everyone says their significant other is their best friend, but he truly is.  If you don't know our story, here is the cliff notes version - we were best friends for 4.5 years before we dated.  It really wasn't an option to date or an opportunity to date until that last semester of our last year at school.  I am so blessed to have him as my husband and my friend.  There is little in this world that I cherish more than time with him.  Friday will be good.

So you see, I am so very blessed and this is all in ONE week.  I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on all that has happened in such a short time and how utterly humbled and grateful I am for the people in my life.  Thank you to all of you, I love you!

Night Fairies and Imps

I mailed out my final contest piece last week and in an effort to renew my confidence in the USPS, they got that painting to Steph in record time!  I couldn't believe it when she emailed me on Saturday and said that she had already gotten it!  Perhaps they heard they were on the bubble with me...

On to my canvas.  Steph had come up with the idea of Night fairies and Imps - so I thought this would be a quirky take on the fairy idea!  It was fun to do and I am so happy with how it turned out.  See for yourself:

Colorful, no?

Night Fairy

Steph followed up with this wonderful review:

Oh my gosh, we LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the painting! It is utterly adorable, and seeing it made me realize that you really can't appreciate--until you see one of your paintings up close--just how careful and detailed they are. The flowers with faces are so delightful, the color scheme really really pops, and we just know that our little R will absolutely love seeing this personalized canvas hanging above her bed! it's amazing! I love love love it! Thanks so much-- we're thrilled with the painting and couldn't have imagined anything cuter.

Thanks again,
Stephanie & Jamie

Yeah!  Thanks again for the awesome idea - it was such fun to work on and enabled me to something so different from what I've done before.  I can't wait to have my next contest!!!

I'm busy here working on Christmas orders and birthday presents!  Things have been busy and great and I owe it to all of you!  Thanks again for keeping Penny Pickles busy and inspiring me to do some adorable, unique art!

Happy Pickles!

pretty penny

So my dad gives me a lot of garbage because I have so many pictures of Penny.  Honestly, the boys don't like pictures much, which I figured would happen closer to 15.  That and the fact that Jon is gone for a better part of each day - I don't get a ton of opportunities.  I did however snap a few of Penny this morning in her dress from Silly Papa with the matching shoes.  Of course she is devoid of all bling or accessories, which is very unlike her -but a girl is allowed her off days.

.  

She doesn't pose much!

I love that smile!

Today is suppose to be my day for me, all the kids are in school.  It never winds up that way, I am usually cramming so much into this little four hour window - that I am exhausted when I get home with the littlens.  But today was a success - I had my hair cut and eyebrows waxed - I no longer look like Chubacca's cousin and I met up with Leslie to take some pictures of my latest work.  I then scored some great Christmas gifts at Pier One for our preschool teachers and got a sweet new top at Old Navy for me to wear on my date with Ryan tomorrow night.  Yes you heard me right, Christmas presents. I'm nearly done, my husband thinks I'm nuts and you probably do to - I just can't stand waiting, so I shop early.  I'm weird.

About the pictures - I don't have those back yet - so sorry Steph! I know the suspense is killing you, but you will probably get the painting before I post it.  I am very happy with how it turned out- it is just so colorful and fun!  I also finished my first Christmas present, but that won't get posted for a while.  So for now I am working on three Christmas projects, one of my own and two from a former college mate, who I reconnected with on Facebook. Gotta love that new obsession with Facebook.  

So that is all my friends, have a great weekend, I will post again soon!  Until then...thanks!

What's new pussycat, whoa, whoa, whoaaaah

I have been neglecting my blog. It isn't really that I meant to, its just that, well, I've been busy.  I know, lame, but true.  I have been working diligently on my final contest canvas.  It is so different than any of the others I've done - which lets be honest - was the point.  The problem is that tweaking takes FOREVER.  I just don't get happy with a painting until it is done.  Up until then, I am so critical - which is good.  Frustrating, but good.  

I've gotten some of my first Christmas orders - let me remind any of you potential Christmas customers, the cut off date for orders is November 14th.  Please keep that in mind.

So it was great weekend, I cleaned the house, superduper well and today I will tackle the outdoors if my children cooperate.  We had friends over yesterday, the Hazelriggs, who have three children the exact same age and opposite gender as my three.  They all play together so well, so it makes for a relaxing evening for the parents -whom we love.  See Meg - a bit of blog time.  I realized though that I have no pictures of my friend Meg and I - when you become a parent, you stop taking pictures of friends and its all about the kids. 

5 out of the 6 - Charlie hit the hay early

Penny and Charlie - babies in a bath

Paige and Drew- BFF

Silly kids

Meg blew me a bit of garbage because I hadn't blogged about her and in all fairness I should have - she is a great friend.  We met at preschool (our kids) two years ago and well I can't say enough about her as a friend.  She laughs because she says she fills a void for me when I lost mom.  Which is very true. She has become my sounding board for a variety of things and is my go to person to call when something ridiculous is going on -which would have been my mom if she were here. Much to both of our husbands chagrin, we do enjoy shopping together and have enjoyed a few late night excursions to "keep each other company." Sadly we usually both return home with bags, but I have never really had a partner in crime like this - so I am enjoying myself tremendously. Both Ryan and I enjoy her and her husbands friendship - it is so rare that you find another couple that you like BOTH of the people.  (I guess I'm hoping they like both of us!) So this Friday we have a date with them - so my goal is to get some pictures of Meg and I.  

So that's the goings on with me. Later this week I will have some new pictures of my contest piece and should be well on my way with some of my Christmas stuff.  See the problem is that for the next couple of months, when I do Christmas pieces, I'm not going to be able to blog about them unless I am sure the recipients will not be checking my blog. I certainly don't want to ruin the Christmas surprise.  So things may be a bit dull on the pictures for a while - but I will do my best to squeeze some stuff in that is viewable.  Until then - thanks and have a great week!

Auction Time - finished!

Well the auction for the painting I did has ended and I am proud to say the painting went for....

$200!  

I am so thrilled!!! The winner, Kelli, will donate all those wonderful dollars to the IJM!  I will be shipping out the painting later today and can't wait for Kelli to receive it. Thank you to all the bidders and thank you to Amy for being called to do "something" and really doing "something" about it.  As my friend Leslie would say, "God's fingerprints are all over this one!"  I couldn't agree more!  Just wanted to share this exciting news!

Thanks and have a great weekend!

If you haven't been keeping up with my posts, please scroll down, I've been busy with all sorts of paintings!  Next up - final contest piece!

Henrietta

I loved Mr. Rogers, I did, really I did.  More than Sesame Street, or the Electric Company, the Muppets, I just loved Mr. Rogers.  I still do- can you imagine being his child?  While I realize no parent is perfect, I can't imagine that him at his worst is me at my best.  I still like to watch him, his calm, hypnotic voice, so patient and kind.  Ahhh...the days before all these crazy characters.  My point, yes I have a point.  One of his characters, X the Owl lived in a tree, Henrietta Pussycat lived next door.  

In honor of my lovely friend Heather's birthday, I painted her an owl, I named her Henrietta because it seemed fitting, her personality reminded me more of Henrietta than X.  She reminded me of the whole scene in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.  If you don't know Heather, also affectionately known as H.Lo, she is truly one of the most creative souls I know. She now lives ALL the way in Seattle and needless to say I don't see her much, but she has helped me out quite a bit with technical questions on websites and blogging, in addition to setting up my custom blog header.  So as a thank you and for her special day I present Henrietta the Owl.

Henrietta

Don't forget the auction ends tonight for my painting on the blog Calling for Justice, so if you are interested, please take a look, all proceeds are going to a wonderful group, IJM.  

I am nearly done with my last contest painting - just a few finishing touches.  So will get that out and up here as soon as I can.  Another quick note, don't forget all Christmas orders must be in by November 14th.  I've gotten a few orders already, so please contact me if you are interested for something for Christmas.  Enough announcements - thanks again and have a great day!