A Favorite Product...

Even though I have a water softener... hard water can be a problem in the kitchen/dishwasher. If you deal with that at all, ie. spots on the glasses or even a yucky smell in the glassware or even an in-efficient dishwasher... this stuff is the solution. You won't believe it and I promise no one is paying me to say that. I just stumbled over a blog that was talking about cleaning the dishwasher and remembered how I used to think about that before I found this stuff. You can also mix it with water and make a solution that will completely clean up hard water deposits in the shower etc.. It smells great too!

Afternoon light in the studio...

These are the boxes that I have been working on lately.
These don't have finish on them yet...
however.. they almost photograph better without. These above have finish...
Don't you love how the afternoon light comes in bathes the room in this beautiful light, highlighting my mini-plastic lawn ornaments... :)

Teusdays Giveaway...

This is the post. This is the post that you comment on to be part of the giveaway today! Yesterday the giveaway was about my favorite box. This box is the one that most people tell me is their favorite and so this box is going to be part of the giveaway today, which is a bit of a surprise, but has somthing to do with...

Cowboys and Indian Braves, Secret cupboards & Magical Keys... make sure to comment on this post to be entered in the contest....
Good luck to everyone!

Mother's Day Box....

Available at the new Etsy Shop...

www.handpaintedloveboxes.etsy.com

Lovely Things...

I thought that Jenni & Shauna would love the simplicity of these apothecary jars. I love them, they could be filled with anything from lemons to gumballs. And, my mom wanted everyone to see these lovely green glasses. See them all here.

And the winner is.............

Mother Goose!!!

I hope everyone else will come back & participate tomorrow... the theme will be The Indian in the Cupboard...

The Elephant Box Chinese Fairytale Monday Giveaway...

Watch! See the birdie... To celebrate the opening of

my new Etsy shop

Hand Painted Love Boxes...

www.handpaintedloveboxes.etsy.com

Today's giveaway will include this Elephant box. When people ask me which of the designs is my favorite, this little pink elephant wins every time. He is also available here.

And, it will include this fun book and all the fun things in the bag below. In order to enter the drawing, all you need to do is comment on this post...

Comment by Midnight tonight EST. I will draw a name out of a hat and post the winner Teusday morning! Good luck to all!!!

Isn't this cute?!?!?

My friend Angie made me this cute thing, and it's so cute I can't eat it. I thought everyone might want to have a look at this. The little box is made out of cardstock.

A Tiara for a Princess...& 5 days of Giveaways...

My lovely friend Shawna commissioned this little golden crown as a birthday gift for her daughter. The inscription inside the box reads, " I am a child of royal birth, my father is king of heaven and earth. My spirit was born in the courts on high, a child beloved, a princess am I. I love that quote and remember hearing in forever. What I did not know is that it is part of a larger poem by Anna Johnson:

A CHILD OF ROYAL BIRTH
I am a child of royal birth.
My Father is King of heaven and earth.
My sprit was born in the courts on high.
A child beloved, a princess am I.
I was nurtured there; I lived by
His sideIn a home where patience and love abide.
My mother was there in that glorious place
Blessing her children with queenly grace.
I grew to the stature that spirits grow.
I gained the knowledge I needed to know.
I was taught the truth and I knew the plan
That God and Christ laid out for man.
I was there when the stars of morning sang.
I mingled my voice when the heavens rang.
I was there to rejoice, to praise and applaud
The shouts of joy from the sons of God.
I waited my turn and I came to earth
Through the wonderful channel of human birth.
Then the curtains were closed and the past was gone;
On the future too, the curtains were drawn.
I live on the earth, and God willed it so.
With freedom to choose the way I should go.
I must search for the truth,
I must serve and obey;
I must walk by my faith or fall by the way.
Someday I’ll go back; I will answer the call; I
’ll return with my record to the Father of all.
The books will be opened and so will my heart.
There will be rejoicing if I’ve done my part.
My Father, the King, with His infinite love
Will welcome me back to the mansions above.
The curtains will part and eternity
In it’s light and glory will open to me.
~Anna Johnson

I spent most of yesterday finishing the finish on quite a few boxes which I will show you next week. And listening to more Robinson Crusoe. He has finally escaped the cannibal island and so maybe we are done with scattered bits and pieces of people and endless discussions about raising goats. Goats are Robinson Crusoe's main source of protein. And, Jenni maybe you can answer this.... why do the English always want to boil their meat? Why not roast it over the fire?

Anyway, enough of him. Later in the evening we moved on to reading Peter and the Starcatchers... which is much more fun, and a gift from Shawna. Thank you Shawna! We love this book so much that we are reading it aloud together & cruising through it. So I have purchased an additional copy...

.... which brings me to my next point...

which is that Peter and the Starcatchers and many other lovely and fun things are going to be part of 5 drawings that will start Monday and go through Friday to celebrate the opening of the new Hand Painted Love Boxes Etsy Shop. All you need to do to participate is to comment on the posts that include this little birdie. The prizes are going to be really fun! So.... watch for the birdie and comment on that post before Midnight EST. Good luck!!!

Pillows...

Once upon a time, I made this pillow. I chose strips and scraps of favorite fabrics and sewed some pretty ribbons on top and then added some buttons that cames as extras in those tiny plastic bags attatched to new articles of clothing. I love this pillow because every once in awhile something turns out how you want it to and this was the case here. Sadly, it is coming to pieces and needs to be replaced. My family loves pillows, but they do not have the word "decorative" in their vocabulary; they only understand the words "user friendly". So... when I do make a pillow, I make it envelope style so that the cover can be slipped off and washed in the machine. This works well because all of the pillows I make turn into bean bags and all sorts of other things on the floor. Also, when the pillow form becomes flat and useless, a new one can be slipped into its place. Some of the pillows I have made with sturdier fabrics have gone through 3 sets of pillow forms before the covers have worn out.

I need some new pillow covers, but I will save that for another day as I am painting Easter today and listening to hopefully the end of Robinson Crusoe who has now been ship wrecked for 18 years and has discovered that a band of cannibals have been coming over and eating people on his peaceful little Island. On the positive side, he has learned to be a decent potter, farmer and goat hearder. But... I truly feel that this book is more a list than a novel. It is a list of disasters, bad decisions and kind of a 'what to do today' book... ie 'today I will make an umbrella out of goat skins'. Didn't Vogue try that once? Anyway... when will end? I am ready for the cannibals to eat this guy and have it over... Hopefully, no one here is in danger of being eaten today and just looking forward to a patch of sunshine instead... Have a great day!

Easter Eggs...

Yesterday, I painted these Easter Eggs while listening to the book Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Dafoe. I have always thought I should read this book and never have had the chance. So here I am painting eggs, as safe as can be, but feeling like I've been through an earthquake, chased by beasts, captured and enslaved by pirates, wind blown by tornados and finally shipwrecked for years. At least I have these pretty colors to look at... Have a bright happy day! :)

Camellia Box...

I haven't quite finished this box yet, it has no finish or words yet... but it's coming...

Chasing Fireflies...

Don't miss this post and the darling on-line children's clothing store that Jenni found! Very Cute!

Beth's Market Bags...

Beth has listed some darling new bags! See them here.

Finished Prams...

This is one of the completely finishes prams that will be appearing in my new Etsy shop! Handpaintedloveboxes.etsy.com !!!

Pretty Pink Pearls...

See it here.

Granny Chic... Cute of the Week...

See it here.

Granny Chic Movie of the Week...

We watched this movie over the weekend. I like this one quite a bit. Myrna Loy is really great in this one...

Lovely Aunt Jackie... and the famous Coconut Cake!!!

My lovely Aunt Jackie, who happens to be a realtor in Idaho if any of you happen to be looking for property up that way, has also posted the famous coconut cake recipe on her blog. I guess we can't get one of the ingredients here out west, but all of you out east can. See check it out. It is DELISH!!! Recipe here.

Amazing Grace...

This movie tells a bit of the story of John Newton (1725–1807), who wrote the lyrics to Amazing Grace. But it is mostly about the movement inspired by the song and by the tireless work of William Wilberforce and others who worked to end slavery.

See this movie. It is brilliantly beautiful.

Also, I think this movie is appropriate for children as young as 8.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that Grace appear,
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
We have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And Grace will lead me home. (Lead me home!)
The Lord hast promised good to me,
His word my hope secures!
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this heart and flesh shall fail
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be for ever mine