Flowers and Polka Dots

My large floral painting is finished! 

This one was based on some flowers from my yard- my zinnias and cosmos.  I also experimented a little with some crayon was-resist textures underneath.  I love the polka dots!

For now, I don't have any immediate plans for framing or hanging.  Life is moving fast and there are some big changes coming for my family.  It's moving time!

Photos of the Week

Wow... what a week!  I haven't been this busy in a long time, but I was lucky to have enough energy to handle most of it.  Thank goodness.

Every time I am blessed with a burst of energy I'm reminded of how I used to be.  I used to be kinda normal.  It's weird to realize how not-normal I've been for so many years.  It's been so long that I could run more than one errand in a day without getting a migraine, or babysit some kids for four hours without getting totally wiped out.  I hope this new energy lasts and that it's a sign of good things to come :)

Painted Pumpkin Floral Vases Tutorial

I love decorating for fall!  It's probably the season I get most excited decorating for (other than Christmas).  But just using the traditional orange-yellow colors gets a little boring.  Why not add some fun contrast with bright greens and blues? I'm all for it!

I discovered the idea for pumpkin vases over at Green Wedding Shoes, but I wanted to add more color and I don't have a rose bush in my yard so I tried out Zinnias, Geraniums, and Cosmos flowers instead.

Here's how I made my vases:

Materials:
mini pumpkins
acrylic craft paints
paint brush
large nail or nut pick
hammer
fresh cut flowers (or if you want these to last longer, you can use fake flowers)

Step 1:  Choose a color scheme of 3 or 4 colors and paint your pumpkins with acrylic craft paint and let dry.  You can do many things with this part. I chose to do a little ombre.

Step 2: With a large nail or nut pick, create a few small holes in the tops of the pumpkins by hammering the pick into to top.

Step 3: Cut flower stems to desired size and slip them into the holes in the tops of the pumpkins.  You may need to enlarge some of the holes to get the stems to fit.

Arrange your pumpkin vases on a table to enjoy! If using these for a party, prepare them right before.  The fresh flowers don't last long!

Fall Projects

I've got lots of projects going for fall! 

I painted these mini pumpkins yesterday...... ombre style.  You'll be seeing these again next week in a tutorial I have planned.  It involves flowers....it's gonna be good.

My scarf is finished too. The pattern is coming!

And I got ambitious with a large floral painting.  I've been feeling better this week, just a little soreness left from the surgery, and I feel like I want to take on the world.  I haven't been able to do much for so long,  I want to do everything, but yes, I need to pace myself.  Patience is a hard trait to cultivate.

Old is New

Some new takes on old subjects...............

I've done feathers, hearts, and elephants before........ pa-lenty of elephants, but there's something fun about finding a new way to paint them.  So many many possibilities.

The purple heart was a custom request.  I like doing custom work when the subject is something I already love!

And this purple feather watercolor is the smallest painting in my shop.  3x4 inches, so very very tiny.  

Photos of the Week

We took a little drive in some more remote mountains... oh my gorgeous! It was worth the drive. We took in the scenery as we listened to General Conference on the radio and stopped for a pick-nick. It's moments like these that take my breath away with beauty.  I let go of my worries and breathe freely.  I really needed that.

Up the canyon a ways were some lakes.....um wow! We couldn't have picked a better day to be there!

Who knew pie was so dangerous!  hehe

 Slime bombs.... we find joy in simple things.... sometimes silly things :)

Watercolor Tomatoes

My garden is bursting with tomatoes! I'm not a huge tomato-eater, although I love them on pizza or in a pasta sauce, so I may as well paint them......

The slices painting is my favorite.  I had never examined the insides of a tomato so closely before- art is education after all :)

For Sale in my Etsy Shop