Ooh Baby Baby.

Here are a few pics of some artwork I made for my new precious niece. In case you didn't notice her name is Caelyn. Caely, for short.

Her mommy likes owls too! And we might as well start Caely out at a young age as well.

Nothing compares to the amazing and precious handiwork of God. She was perfectly and wonderfully made. Here's your proof....

Special Order for SB Photography

Samantha Bender of SB Photography is our favorite go-to gal when we are in need of professional photos for various reasons.  She took these pictures of us Things With Wings girls, one of which we used for our DEMDACO bio.  She took family photos of my family too, which we LOVE!  Here's one of our many favs:

Recently, we had Samantha come again - this time to take photos of our three Things With Wings studios for an upcoming magazine that we're going to be in this summer!  More on that later...

As a thank you, I had the privilege of doing a set of three panels for the Bender home.  Samantha and Stephen are in the process of finishing their basement, and will have a huge print of this Saturday Evening Post cover that lists the Beatitudes, art by Mother Corita.  LOVE it!

http://amazon.com/Saturday-Evening-Revolution-Photographic-Underground/dp/B0025QC0AK

Sam's request was for me to create a set of three panels that use this quote,  from an untitled song by My Epic:

"What was it like when you slept, did the rocks come close and the trees lean in, and did the air rejoice just to be your breath?"

And to use the same bright colors as in the Saturday Evening Post print above.  So here's what I came up with:

Here's an idea of what they'll look like hanging side by side.

By the way, SB Photography is nominated again this year for Top Photographer in Eastern Iowa on KCRG's A-List!  If you like her work, you can vote for her here in this simple process!

It's Time For My Yearly Mod Podge Buildup Removal.

Exhibit A: My Mod Podge bowl with its year long buildup.


Exhibit B: My Mod Podge bowl after year long buildup is removed. (Looks brand-spanking new, doesn't it?)

Exhibit C: The amazing Mod Podge buildup that came out of my Mod Podge bowl which is, in itself, its own work of art (and could probably still function as a bowl on its own.)

I just thought the world needed to see it.

Valley Junction Spring Art Market

We're so excited to be coming back to Des Moines for this one day art show, May 22!!!

This is one of our favorite shows - in the streets of historic Valley Junction, home to over 150 unique businesses, specialty shops and restaurants.  SURELY someone there carries "This Thing Called Family!"  Anybody know?

One of the reasons we love this show so much is because we can get there and back and do it all in one day!

(Well, we've learned to only DO our favorite shows, so I guess technically they're ALL our favorites!)

It's always a good time! Mark your calendars!

Saved By Love Creations

Head on over to Saved By Love Creations to see an interview that we did!

*Note: the first item pictured - the Count Your Blessings Lazy Susan - was actually designed by Connie, not me.  It is a part of our "This Thing Called Family" collection, so you might be able to find it in your area!

Happy Spring Break!

Busy Wingers!

We love this picture from the Chicago Market Preview Directory!

Long time, no blogging!

We are so busy right now!  So sorry for the lack of blog activity!

Good news is that it's all good stuff:  "This Thing Called Family" is selling very well!  We've had a ton of positive feedback, stores have sold out of their first orders and are re-ordering, many items are back ordered because they're selling so well! 

In fact, we're hard at work right now, finishing up designs for items we're ADDING to the collection for 2012!!!  We can't WAIT until we can share them with you.  It's going to be such good stuff!!!

Mamma Winger had knee surgery last week to repair her torn meniscus.  She's still on the mend, but getting a bit steadier every day.  Plus she celebrated her birthday!  What a way to spend it!  Thank you so much for all your well wishes!

Spring Break is just around the corner so the goal is to finish up our designs this week, then it's off to the Dells for a few days of indoor waterpark fun!

How about you?  How will you be spending your spring break?

Have you spotted This Thing Called Family around town?  Fill us in on where you've seen it, and/or what you bought.  Are you a shop owner who carries it?  We'd love to see pictures and feature you!

Happy Spring-Is-Just-Around-the-Corner!

Glue Gun = Power

Another post by the "getting craftier by the minute" things with wings daughter:

I'm getting crafty again.
Not sure what will come out of this...but I went to Hobby Lobby and Walmart and got myself my very own glue gun. I have a feeling this little guy is going to change my life.
The possibilities with a glue gun are endless.

I feel a new sense of power with this. watch it.
Although I'm pretty confident it will own me. I'll have burn marks to prove it.
Here are some fabric pieces that I got...not sure yet what I will do with them. But they make me smile:

Pretty Green Flower

From the "non-crafty" things with wings daughter:

I'm getting crafty people.
I saw these cute hair pins on an etsy site and my new roommate, Jordan, told me that she could make them.
So I pulled out the random tub of fabric and she showed me what to do! Here is my favorite one that I made:

Not gonna lie. The glue gun about took me out.

This Family Is Funny.

I'm taking a huge risk in sharing the deepest darkest dreams of my sister with all of you, but I had to.  She's just going to have to trust me on this one.  It's for her own good.  I'm sure this is all very therapeutic.  And besides, it's too funny not to.  Here's the email she sent my mother and I this morning.  I think she must have still been having flashbacks:

"I had a weird dream last night. We did a Christmas line for Demdaco* and we went to their showroom for the first time to see it. It was like we didn't know what was going to be in the line so it was all really surprising. We were walking around and you guys all had this really cute stuff, ornaments, etc. and everything of mine was KOALA BEARS. And I was like.....But.....but...I do owls. Not koala bears. And Jill you were trying to convince me that they were really great and stuff. And then I was like "Is EVERYTHING of mine koala bears??" and Mom brings over this box and says "Here this is yours!" and I opened it to find a 3 ornament set sold together. The first one was a little koala bear coated in yellow glitter, the second was a hot wheels car with a string attached for hanging and the third was this little figurine of Jesus and he was playing a Kenny G saxophone. I kid you not. I was so upset. And I was like, they don't even GO together, why would they put them in a set together! (Like, that's what I should have been worried about....)  It was all just discombobulating and I feel better talking about it."

 *(we're really not. so don't start any rumors.)

 And then here is the response that she just got from our dear ole mother:

 "God has sent you a special message via a dream - like He did with Jacob and Joseph!  You are a special chosen one.  Keep those creative ideas on the back burner, girl!"

 Who knows, maybe koalas are going to be the next big thing?!

via Trendy Tree

Things at Things With Wings

Things are really busy around here this month at Things With Wings!  Geeesh!  Our poor blog has had to take a backseat while we work to meet some deadlines.  There's so much we're gearing up for for this summer and next year already!  We've got so much to share with you, and can't wait until we get the 'go ahead' to do so!   
 We received the kindest email today.  Here's an excerpt:

"Well, I will start by saying I LOVE YOUR WORK!

My Mom is a regular at a shop called Crazy Daisy in Cedar Rapids and the other day we took a road trip to do some shopping. I stumbled across your work and I spent most of my time trying to narrow down how many I would buy. I bought the large round Count Your Blessings tabletop piece:

and Hold Hands Tightly.

There were many more I liked, but when the lady said you have a bigger line I thought I would wait to see what else you have.  I checked your website and saw so many things I like.

I am so picky about what I put in my house b/c I don’t like a lot of clutter and I only want to be surrounded by things that make me smile and feel good when I look at them. Kelly Rae Roberts is one of those artists for me, and now you are too!"

We are so grateful and humbled to be doing this job and to receive an email someone took the time to find us and write.  And to be mentioned in such good company!   Thanks to DEMDACO for making it possible! it's an honor and a privilege!

*Go here, if you're interested in purchasing a lazy susan like the one pictured above.   There's 3 to choose from in our line!

Custom Mirror for Emma Lou's And Drewster's Bathroom.

I'd love to share with you a new custom piece I just finished up. I loved this project. This family is so much fun! They are building a new house and Mom wanted a special mirror for the kids' bathroom. This piece included things thatare special to the kids, Emma and Drew. I hope they love looking at it every morning and gives them a little bit of encouragement to start their day. At the very least, I hope it reminds them of how much they are loved by their parents! This project was special because it is ALL THEM! Their words, their inside jokes, their special sentiments. My job was easy! Thanks so much Hartwig family!

One Word Sums It Up: "Wow"

 From Saturday's Press Citizen...

(click on the image TWICE for larger text that's easier to read! )

Help. The Contents Of My Art Closet Fell On Me And I Can't Get Up.

I'm attempting to clean out my art closet today and I'm just shocked, horrified and disgusted. It's embarassing. It's why its been dubbed 'My art closet of shame'. It has a reputation and people have even asked to see it when they come over. I can't tell you why I'm cleaning it out because it's a secret. But, it's a good secret! You know I wouldn't randomly take on this monumental project for no reason, right??
These are the random things I've come across that have intruded on my art space:
* a Play-doh fun factory
* multiple uncontrollable balls of yarn
* dog biscuits
* 3D glasses
* tissue paper. Lots and lots of tissue paper. So much that it seems to have multiplied at an
alarming rate.
* A wrapped gift. I have no idea who it's for. It's in Christmas paper. But, it's not from this last Christmas......
* a pink harmonica
* a sheet of self adhesive googlie eyes
* several pairs of angel wings
*a bag of rocks
* a ping pong paddle

And I'm only halfway done!!! I've got two more shelves!!! Ok.....back to work. No more procrastinating!

"This Thing Called Family" has gone to market!

Logo on stickers

It's been a long year of waiting and more waiting, but the time is finally here when our new line is being launched out into the world! 

The Atlanta gift market is happening as we speak.  Buyers from shops all over the US are picking out the products that they want to sell in their stores this year.   Hopefully lots of them are choosing ours! We can't wait to hear more about how it's going and get some feedback on what buyers are saying!  But for now, Demdaco was nice enough to send us this picture of what our area looks like:

Demdaco showroom in Atlanta

Next week is the Chicago Market.  We'll be going over that weekend and are planning on spending the day, January 22nd, exploring the Demdaco showroom, taking pictures and browsing around the rest of the market.  This will be our first time experiencing the market atmosphere, so if anybody's got any advice, we're all ears!

To celebrate and spread the love, we will be giving away several pieces from our new line!  So keep your eyes and ears open because some GREAT giveaways are coming your way soon!

Our little blurb on the back of each piece.

WE'VE GOT A WINNER!!!!

Congratulations to Stephanie Nungesser Schmidt ......

She is the winner of our Things With Wings giveaway!

Thanks to all of you who entered. It was so fun to read all your comments. We'll do this again soon!

Stephanie, please email me at greengirldesigns@gmail and let me know where to send your art!