Home, Studio and Balance

Ugh. My studio is a disaster. I have to walk around on my tip toes so I don't step on open paint tubes or glass Christmas ornaments. I would post a before picture, but I think I might embarrass myself beyond repair. I will post a finished photo later this week though!

We are getting our house re-financed- HOORAY- and the appraisal guy is coming January 4th. This means that I will be cleaning our house from top to bottom until he comes. It kind of feels good to get the house cleaned up anyways. We have almost lived here for 5 years, so it is time for a revamp! Which means, I getting ready to repaint- or have someone repaint- our formal living and dining room and my bathroom. I am thinking of a really pale blue color similar to the photo below for the formal room. What do you think?


My bathroom will be a light Tiffany blue to go with my Tiffany blue antique depression glass collection.

One of these days I also hope to do a Christmas recap! Santa Greg was amazing to me as usual. I am a lucky girl!

My November-December was such a busy painting time for me. I seriously painted and sold over 30 paintings and a bazillion hand painted ornaments. I have been so blessed, but I am so excited for January. I need to slow down and add a much needed balance to my life. Take a little time to take care of my little family and myself.

Whirl of a Weekend and Being a Full Timer

On Thursday I headed to Dallas to do a lot of different things!~

Well, let me back up. I went to bed on Thursday morning around 3:30am. I went to bed so late because I was finishing these two guys...

Marty the Moose, 36"x48"

Big Boy Hoots, 30x40"

I was finishing them to take to my Dallas Art Patron, who bought the 7 paintings from me. Well after my trip to Dallas he now has 11! Bananas. This is his entry way now after we hung my work. His home is still under remodel, but it is GORGEOUS! I am blessed to have my work hanging next to Picassos, Chagalls and Whisters now!




Here is Trigger in his kitchen...

Big Boy Hoots and the Goldfish are in the office, and I didn't get a picture of McCoy the Longhorn on the stairs, but he looks great there!

After my happy art fest, I went to Opus in Addison and got a hair cut!
I also got more PINK! I love having pink hair. I think life is too short not to have pink hair, and it is like people give you a free pass to be weird when you are an artist. I'll take that free pass thank you very much! :) My husband likes it too, so I think it is a win, win!


After my pink makeover, I headed to my high school art teacher's art show in Carrollton. Neat stuff, and I am SO mad I didn't take any pictures!!! Here is his website.

Then I headed over to the Rising Gallery for their artist Christmas party! I am showing at the Rising Gallery in April 2010. It is in the Knox and Henderson area. Save the date! Dear friends Alli and Courtney met me there! So sweet of them to be my dates!

I was planning to head back to Tyler after the Rising Gallery event, but being up until 3:30am the night before put a damper on my plans... well, not really! I ended up staying with the awesome Dr. Heidi Edmondson! As a thank you I brought her bare little tree some ornaments. I love Heidi :) She is the BEST!After spending some time celebrating my 11 painting sale by doing a little damage at Anthropologie in HP village the next morning and visiting with my dear friend Jaran at her casa, I finally headed back home to Tyler. I love spending time with friends and shopping in Dallas, but Tyler is my home now. I love Tyler more and more each day! Such a lovely place to live!

Later Friday night I had Greg's law firm Christmas party. What a fun time! I about hurt myself on some little peanut butter moose chocolate cups! Heaven. I have photos of Greg singing Poncho and Lefty kareoke with his buddy Robert, but he would KILL me if I posted them. I'm still laughing. Maybe one day I'll post...

I am booked solid with commissions until Christmas eve. I am so blessed seeing there is a recession going on and all! Business has been AMAZING, but my goodness I am taking a week off after Christmas to do very little. My Snuggie, warm puppies and stack of books by my bed are calling me name! Bring on the 26th!

My Girls

Could they get any cute? I think not! My nieces, Alison is 9 months, Katie is 9 and little Sarah is 3

My New Best Friend

I am kind of in shock. A very nice art collector man in Dallas has decided he likes me and purchased 7 of my paintings. BANANAS. I am so excited! This is what he bought :)

Meet Rudy Rudolf the Snow Mobile

Greg made my car festive! Love him and my new fancy auto!

Happy Thanksgiving and GO LONGHORNS!

I like painting longhorns and the TEXAS Longhorns. I just finished Mac. He is named after Mac Brown. I think he has pizazz.

He is for sale here at a special Thankful Thanksgiving price! YAY!

Charged...

I've been charged with the task of making the new artsy banners to hang in downtown Tyler to promote the new art developments downtown. This is my first go at it... what do you think?

Christmas Fun!

Click on them to take you to my etsy site. I love Christmas!

Fancy French Ladies

So, this past week I had a commission of a French lady for the Dallas design group I freelance for, and this inspired a second French lady. She is for sale on Etsy. I love my job!

Dear Gap...

Please stop making this crap. No one wants ruffles on their butt, especially me. Leave the ruffles alone!

J-List: Christmas Wishes and Candy Cane Dreams

I haven't done a J-List in a VERY LONG TIME! Sorry guys! Greg has already started the "what do you want for Christmas" chant! I love that he is always so on top of things and excited about gift giving to Jenny. I figured it would be a perfect time to put up my Christmas Wish List 2009! Of course I don't need anything for Christmas besides the love of my family and friends, but since he asked very nicely! :)

Let's Get Digital...

Barnes and Nobles new Nook ebookAmazon's Kindle

I can't decide which one I like. I like the look (and name!) of the Nook book, but I have a feeling since it is new it will have issues. I love paper books- the smell, the touch, the flipping of pages, but I also love to read at night in bed, and Greg hates my night lights. This might solve our problems!


J'adore Tiffanys!
Tiffany's silver bow earrings... so precious! I have been looking for a pair of cute bow earrings for awhile... these are perfect.


Sequin Flats! Oh my goodness these are great! I'd feel just like Dorothy! I am SO excited sequins are in at the moment!! Size 9 if you please! :)
Kate Spade Harper Sequin FlatGuess Eisner at Zappos.com


Snuggle Up!

Oh yes, a Snuggie is at the top of my list this year! I've already informed Greg this one is a must!


A little Coach... naw really!?
Garnet Textured Metallic Clutch

Amanda Leopard Sequin Clutch
Amanda Metallic Evening Wallet

A Coach Evening Clutch/Wristlet... I love these three!


A little neck shimmer!

Ooak- Something Old Something New necklace by Chrystalyn on ETSY. Chrystal is a good friend of my sisters from childhood, and she now makes AWESOME jewelry! I find something I love about every other day! This one is my current love!

Besides wanting EVERYTHING in the home section of Anthropologie, I also like these two things!

Freshly Fallen Coat by Anthropologie Love the cream roses and ribbons! A little pricey, might not be a MUST HAVE, but worth a mention!


Silver Plated Scarf also by Anthropologie I would shimmer like a rock star! Again a little pricey, but SO NEAT!


An Apple a Day...


Handmade Apple Mug by Studio Elan on ETSY. I have a thing for apples. Apples were the theme of my fall wedding. I love them! I would really enjoy my coffee our of this little friendly apple every morning!

I'm sure there will be more, but this is a good start right!!!

Day 4: I'm the greatest star... I am by far... but no one knows it

Ok, name that song... anyone? I bet Tracy and my mom know!

Day 4 was spent at NASCAR, Hollywood Studios and Downtown Disney!

I got Greg the Richard Petty NASCAR experience for his anniversary gift! He LOVED it! Such a stud!
Then after a fun morning we headed to Hollywood Studios! Formerly known as MGM... We usually don't dig this place as much as some of the other parks, but oh my gosh we had fun! We were even picked to be Captain Jenny and Swabby Greg in the Backdraft tour demo of Pearl Harbor! Greg was quite the comedian! His job was to scream like a girl and panic... I couldn't function b/c I was laughing so hard at him! Greg rode Tower of Terror several times while I shopped too! I did the Tower once last time we visited, never again!

We got to see the new American Idol show where contestants actually try out for a real try out spot at American Idol and the audience gets to vote. It was neat!
We met a few friends,
and even met Doug from UP! SQUIRREL!


I always like going to the animation studios. Maybe one day I'll get to be an imagineer Disney artist!



After a nap and a shower, we headed to dinner, where I got to draw on the table, and then to Downtown Disney to hang out on the patio at House of Blues. We just got settled in for a long night of live music when the House of Blues owner asked us if we wanted to free tickets to the Cirque du Soleil! Of course we said yes, and headed off to the show.


We were just about late, and so we hurried in and I gave my tickets to the nice clown who I thought was going to help us find our seats. Um, wrong. Apparently the clown was waiting on 2 idiots to give them their tickets and be part of the show! He lead us all over the auditorium with a giant spot light on us and eventually blopped out two tickets on center stage! I was wearing a dress that was not bend over and pick the tickets off the stage friendly, so I made Greg go get them. As soon as he got on the stage 5 other clowns came out! It was just a joke to make him think they were starting the show, but it was funny! He was funny and ran off the stage.

Then we found our seats, which were awesome! 5th row and FREE! It was an amazing show! So glad we got to go!

Day 4 was awesome! We were a part of 2 shows! Crazy how things happen!