The Sweetest Of All Things Sweet.

This makes me want to write a children's book. I wonder what this little girl/artist will become someday.

Ankeny, Here We Come!

We are getting ready to head out today for the Santa's North Pole Village Craft Show in Ankeny, Iowa. It is tomorrow, Saturday, 9-5. We will be at Parkview Middle School, where we were last year. We are looking forward to another great show there. The show draws thousands of people and all proceeds benefit the Ankeny Art Center. There are 3 sites, all schools, with hundreds of artists spaces, and shuttles running in between the venues. We've got lots of new stuff, plus the fabulous addition of my sister Laura's creations: Green Girl Designs. We plan on having lots of interesting conversations with people, and laughing a lot! We'll post pictures of our weekend when we return!

Dress in the Wardrobe God Picked Out for You

Birds, Birds, Birds...and More Birds

11/3 and 11/16,17

We are looking forward to coming to the Ankeny and Des Moines areas for two of the hottest shows going on! Folks there appreciate the new and fresh look we bring. We're excited! Here is a sneak preview. I can hardly wait! Can you?

Our Inspiration

Here is the reason we live and move and have our being. He is also the reason we paint and create. You fellow bloggers, artists, and customers and friends must know that we madly love Jesus. That is why our work is inspiring, full of hope, and fun!!! It is Christ in us, the hope of glory! I'm not ashamed to say it. If anyone has a question or comment about that, feel free to blog away, as we welcome any feedback. Our artwork surrounds this picture, but the picture itself is an antique. It was my grandmother's and was given to me when she passed on. I was about 12.

Happy Halloween!

My Mom made this a few years ago, and I had to have one for my very own. He has very nice teeth. I only just got it hung up today. Whew! Just in time!

Getting Ready

Slowly but surely I am sorting through all of my artwork in preparation for our first show of the holiday season on November 3rd in Ankeny. Here is a sneak peek of the few new things I'll have. I'll post again with more pictures soon.

Confused or maybe not!

This hangs in my bedroom near the doorway leading into the master bathroom. It's very visible as I ready myself for the day....as I'm trying to wake up.....as I'm trying to figure out what day it is....as I'm trying to figure out what to wear.....as I'm taking inventory of myself.....do I have everything on? She looks kind of like me and I know she feels like I do alot of the time!!! Anyone in their 50's understand what I'm talking about?!? It's ok. It really is!

Life Lesson

This is the door to my workroom. It keeps reminding me that this is not a dress rehearsal, it's my real life! My spirit is in agreement - I want to have the time of my life, but my body often says, whoa, I'm tired here!!! So I have to slow down more often than I want to. It's frustrating sometimes, but I thank God I can go at all!!! I feel this urgency though to live and love with a passion. Good stuff for all of us to think about. Go ahead, live it up! You know you want to!!!

God Made Everything...

...beautiful.

My boys brought home these flowers from AWANA's to illustrate the concept that God made everything beautiful. And aren't we glad?! I'm so amazed by God's creativity, and that He would allow me to be just the tiniest bit so. I'm also seeing evidence that my kids are very creative beings. For instance Will noticed that this flower looks like a lady. Yep, it sure does!!! This gal reminds me of two things: the flowers in a disney movie - I think it's Alice in Wonderland, and this site that Laura found: Faces in Places. (Maybe I should submit it?!) Would I have taken the time to notice this sweet bud on my own? Most probably not. It's so awesome when we can be delighted by the unexpected. Even more so when it's revealed to us through the eyes of our children.

Tin Foil-Like Cover and a Guitar (random, but not so random title)

So I'm feeling the pressure to contribute a picture of my "workspace". Whatever that looks like...I guess here is a picture of what my floor looks like in my bedroom. Sorry, no undies Laura!It usually consists of some clothes, which you can see in the way back, along with one very cute Madden Girl red shoe that I got at DSW for $7.00 regularly $45. (I did get both shoes not just the one...not sure where the other one is right now, probably on the other side of the room!)
It also consists of my computer and my bible (which is on the left hand side that I covered in a tin foil like cover) and notebook with lots of loose papers of my writing. I love to write and have lots of thoughts, quotes, verses, songs, sentences, words that are expressions of who I am, I guess. Also my guitar that I like to play, but don't feel very good at yet.
So there it is. My "workspace" is me. Different, but me. Messy, like the others, but me.

Organized Chaos

Not to be outdone (or outshamed,) here's what my work space looks like lately. And unfortunately not much has moved or changed in months (having a baby does that.) I'll get back to it someday! It really is organized chaos. Let me let you in on a little secret. When you see pictures on TV or in magazines of artists' work spaces and they're all painstakingly organized and tidy, don't be fooled. That's not real. They worked their butts off to create the illusion of perfection for one tiny, solitary moment in time. You can bet that the reality looks much different, or else they're not really accomplishing anything art-wise. THIS, my friends, THIS is the real nitty-gritty, true life, day-in-day-out look of an artist's space. Just tellin' it like it is, folks.

Child of God

I made these signs saying "Child of God" for Max's room before he was born. It's taken me this long (9 plus weeks) to get them hung up! They look really nice above his crib, because that wall doesn't seem so big and bare anymore. I wanted to carry the "polka dot" idea over onto the solid wall, without going overboard with yet more polka dots. I think it turned out nice.
Here's what the rest of the room looks like:

A mobile I made: The polka dot wall only took an extra 2 hours, due to the spilled paint on the carpet:
Max's favorite place - the changing table (mom made the skirt):