Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Blue Birdie is back and so it's a Giveaway Day!!!



The prize is going to be 3 little boxes...
...from my new collection of sugar eggs. They are tiny and difficult to photograph, but I think if you click on these pictures that you will be able to get the idea. I love the concept of eggs made of sugar with a tiny scene inside.
To enter this little giveaway drawing, all you need to do is comment on this post. If you are wondering if you are welcome to enter... don't ask. You are very welcome! :)
Some of these tiny egg boxes will be showing up in my shops sometime tomorrow... See them here & here. You are welcome to enter as soon as you see this post. Entries will be admitted until midnight tomorrow EST. Good Luck to one & all!!!

What a difference a day makes...

My lovely forcythia bloomed out in all it's glory. Forcythia is like the golden trumpet announcing the arrival of spring. I love it! My brother-in-law says that when you see the forcythia bloom, that is the time to put the fertilizer on the lawn. I am not an expert gardener myself, I did kill the lilac that I planted... it may have died of kindness because I worried over it so much, however this forcythia grew to be 10 feet tall in 3 years with no fuss. Maybe it has the perfect spot, I don't know. It makes me so happy.
It was a quiet afternoon around here yesterday, because everyone else went fishing and so I was able to accomplish a lot on these Easter boxes... which cross your fingers, I will be showing you tonight as part of the Wednesday giveaway. They will also be available here & here.
This was not made yesterday, but I love this painting. I think I have a little Matisse in my family.
This came in the mail. It is so lovely inside. I always look forward to the holiday issues.
So then, I was inspired and finally got all the Valentines down and most of the Easter stuff up. I really want something like this, which would really improve on all the blah paint I have going on down here, but I need the colors to be brighter, ofcourse.
If you happen to be up really late, swing by here again and you will be able to sign up for the Wednesday Giveaway that will go through tomorrow. Have a happy day.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Do not miss Mo's post ... The Politics of War...

See it here.

A few things that have captured my eye...

I was taking down the Valentine stuff yesterday... I know it's really late to be doing that, but look at my pretty flower from C... it's still so lovely.
Look at these colors! This is why I cannot resist Easter candy.
Look what is about to burst forth in glory! I love spring. I am going to be painting away today. I have this fab idea for little boxes inspired by those fun sugar eggs with the pictures inside. Have a happy spring day. It is looking like the next giveaway will probably be Wed. so be watching and if I hurray, you might be the first to get one of my new sugar egg boxes...

Friday, March 16, 2007

Tonights Winner is...


Carrie J. Congratulations!!!
Thanks so much to everyone for participating! There will be one more drawing next week... so be watching!!!
Happy Weekend!

Thursday, March 15, 2007

The Friday Giveaway Drawing...

Welcome to that last giveaway post for awhile. I may possibly do one more tiny one next week just because one thing that I was expecting did not arrive in time and it's just so great that I don't want you all to miss out... so be watching.
This giveaway features one of my black lacquer boxes and one of Beth's Market Bags. Beth's Market Bags are just lovely. They are also tough and practical. They can carry a lot of weight and they wipe clean inside and out. Beth also sent along a matching belt and so the winner will have two fun pieces. Notice Beth's cute new label!My mother, grandmother and aunts love black lacquer furniture and all things Asian, which is the inspiration for these little boxes. These boxes don't really have much of an Asian feel to them, but I love how the black lacquer makes such an amazing background for color. I love these boxes and have made them part of my standard repertoire. I hope the winner will love them too. If you like this box and don't happen to win, watch my shops because the black lacquer boxes appear fairly often.
When I started painting Love Boxes, the main idea was to paint a pretty box and then add pretty words. I wanted to meld my interest in the visual arts and my love of reading and of beautiful words together. Finding the perfect quote, or writing the perfect quote to go inside is often part of the challenge of making these little boxes. But, when they are finished, I feel that they make a gift that can really have meaning to the person who receives them. And, no matter how much or how little someone has, they can always use an expression of love. The inside of this box reads..."love brings bewitching grace into the heart... Euripides..."
I really appreciate everyone for participating in my little giveaway week. I am so excited! I have always wanted to have my own little shop and I think this one is small enough that I can just manage it. I also really appreciate all of the "word of mouth" advertising that many of you have done to help out. Thanks so much! I am really grateful... so please don't keep my new little shop a secret... please tell everyone you know and visit often.
As before, any little comment on this post will enter you in Fridays drawing, which will end at Midnight EST. You are welcome to enter as soon as this is posted & and everyone is welcome to enter so if you'd like to tell a friend.. no need to ask permission. I would love it!
Good Luck to Everyone!
Lindsey is the Winner of Thursday's Giveaway!

Fairies In The Making...

Paint the little fairies...
Blow on some pixie dust...
...and add wings
These will be available in the new Etsy Shop sometime Friday...

Pansies...

I planted these Crown Azure Pansies in September and they are a little rough around the edges, but with some Preen in the beds and a little fertilizer as well, these will be huge clumps in just a few weeks. I love Pansies...
Take all the sweetness of a gift unsought,
And for the pansies send me back a thought.
Sarah Doudney

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Eggs...

They are finished!!! Hooray!

Morning...

The thing is ... I married a farm boy. Farm boys are morning people. They are also often not party people, homebodies, you could say. Once one of my husbands brothers came for dinner, at 9:30 P.M. he was, head back, snoring away in a chair.
If you are contemplating marrying into an agricultural family, you need to be aware that this behavior, all of this behavior... is contagious. I used to come alive at 10 o'clock, now I'm dead at that hour. I used to love parties and going out, now I love to be home.
I love to wake up before the sun and open all the shades and watch the sunlight enter the room while I blog or clean up last night's dishes. Sadly, the morning light shows how desparately the windows need washing and the furniture needs dusting and because of that I almost didn't show you these pictures, but .... look how pretty the sunshine is on the ivy and the pretty stripes it makes on my little table. Someday I am going to get the windows really clean and the dusting done... at the same time... and then it will really be amazing. Until then... I am going to enjoy and be grateful for the pretty sunshine coming in after all those cold, gray winter days. And, even with dirty windows... I am going to be very happy.
Hope you have a beautiful morning....

Granny Chic... Movie of the Week...

I actually have not seen this yet. I am going to add it to my Netflix list, but how lovely does Audrey look there... So pretty. I must see it!

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

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...

Monday, March 12, 2007

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...

Sunday, March 11, 2007

The Elephant Box Chinese Fairytale Monday Giveaway...

Watch! See the birdie... To celebrate the opening of
my new Etsy shop
Hand Painted Love Boxes...

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.

Friday, March 09, 2007

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!!!