The rest of the girls

I finished the rest of the girl's portraits last Friday and getting ready to ship them out to Arkansas today. The buyer was VERY happy when I sent her the final jpeg images last week! What started out as a cute idea for a Cmas gift for her friends became something very special in the end.





















It was very cool to learn about each girl along the way-all through emails and pictures. The buyer's journey took on something more as well-she really was choked up when she saw the final images and just can't wait to give them to her friends during New Year's celebrations.






















So as I was wrapping them up last night with brown paper and bubble wrap and securing them in a box, it occurred to me that this was the last time I would be able to look at the originals before they are sent on their way. It made me a little sad, but knowing they will mean so much to these girls makes it all worthwhile.

the girls

This week is the final push for finishing portraits for 4 friends in the midwest. Rachelle commissioned me to create portraits of herself and friends for Cmas gifts.

I finished Monica this weekend and really loved how her expression turned out. She's originally from Denver and a snowboarder. She's the laid-back dreamer and a has an artistic quality about her. She struggled with her path, and has changed majors a half dozen times until finally settling into applying for pharmacy grad schools.

Monica, 8x10 mixed media on canvas

Giveaway-Art Block!

In the spirit of the season, I've decided to host a giveaway! But, in order to make this fun, and in light of a recent negative moment I experienced, I'd like to hear about a time you had to "rise above" a situation, take the high road, so to speak- where you kept your cool and just let it go.

***(ammended 12/16, since this giveaway ends tomorrow, and there haven't been many posts-this is my first giveaway after all and I am learning how to promote this kind of thing-I'm opening up the comments to "why would you like to own this block or where would you display it?"***

So, list your comments here, and on Thursday, December 17, I will choose the best response (in my humble opinion) and the winner will receive my Been Caught Stealing block from my shop. A little treasure for those of you who enjoy dreamy, whimsical things like that. Open to USA residents only! Thanks!

Little treasure boxes

This past Sunday night was my first ever holiday sale at my friend Heather Pyles' house. It was so much fun and great to hang out with friends and other sellers! You know I have partnered with Connie Fontova of Hang on Sister to do a limited edition line of my artwork on her bottlecap and glass tile jewelry. And I had come across these cute chipboard boxes and knew I had to make custom keepsake boxes with artwork to match the jewelry. I only did 6, just to see how they would be received. Well, I sold almost all of them! I also did 5 ornaments, and sadly, I didn't photograph them, but they all sold as well. So it makes me so happy to see those little precious things go off to new homes! I got a few custom orders for more boxes, and I think I'll experiment with some small wooden ones as well. fun, fun, fun!