HAND PAINTED PADDINGTON BEAR THEMED BABY SHOWER FOR HAYLEY'S FRIEND, LILLYAN

 Hayley was planning a baby shower for her friend, Lillyan.  Lillyan LOVES the Paddington movie, especially the Paddington houses.  So, Hayley decided Paddington should be the theme for the baby shower.  Hayley asked me to draw and paint a 6'x6' mural of the Paddington houses.  She wanted to use it as a back drop for picture taking at the shower.  What a great idea!

This is Lillyan, mommy-to-be.

Paddington houses that I painted on 6'x6' canvas.

I had fun painting the curtains and flower pots in the windows.

Hayley and Justin.  

Lillyan and Trey.

Look at the Paddington Bear Cake.  So cute!

Party girls.

Looks like everybody had fun.

Getting started.  A carpenter friend built a 6'x6' frame out of 2x4's and stapled the huge canvas tightly onto the frame.  It was tight enough that the canvas was stable while I was painting.

Hayley had a back drop stand for holding up the mural.  Everything looked perfect!

Thank you, Hayley, for letting me paint this fun project for you.

HAND PAINTING ARTWORK ON CANVAS DROP CLOTHS

HAND PAINTING ARTWORK ON CANVAS DROP CLOTHS

The holidays are right around the corner and I bet you're planning your decorations.

A fun way to decorate is with canvas drop cloths.

These are the halloween drop cloths that I painted for a client.

You can paint these, too.

They were fun to paint!

I used craft paints.

  For all of the large metallic swipes that you see, I used a very wide brush.

Your kids would have so much fun painting

witches, black cats, spiders, ghosts, etc.  All are very easy to paint.

Just spread out the drop cloths on your driveway and let'em go at it!!

Have fun!

~

Here is a link to my tutorial about painting on canvas cloths:

HAND PAINTED CHAIR SEAT COVERS & TUTORIAL PAINTING ON CANVAS CLOTH

"PLEASE DON'T THROW MY LEAVES AWAY"

"PLEASE DON'T THROW MY LEAVES AWAY"

Your trees are begging you not to throw their leaves away.

Their roots are deep and bring up the minerals and good things in the earth for nourishment.

Those minerals go straight to the leaves.  In the fall as they flutter to the ground, they are putting those minerals and good things back into the soil to nourish the roots.

Those leaves are organic matter and as they decay, all is returned to the soil.

Healthy soil is what makes a healthy garden.
(Be organic~no chemicals, please)

Most of the leaves in my yard are soft and will decay pretty quickly.  I don't mind the look of the fallen leaves.  If they bother you, you can mow over them to break them up.  Then you can rake over them and they will settle to the ground and be a good mulch, then compost for the grass and your landscape.

If you think you have too many leaves for your grass, rake them into the flower beds and extra piles around your trees.  Or, you can share them with your neighbors.

FALLING LEAVES IS HOW THE EARTH REPLENISHES ITSELF.

PLEASE DON'T THROW THE LEAVES AWAY.

11-20-16

RACHEL'S NEW HOME IN THE COUNTRY

RACHEL'S NEW HOME IN THE COUNTRY

Rachel and family were building a fabulous new home on a large piece of property out in the country.  She was her own designer and has done a wonderful job.

Rachel wanted a huge framed mirror in the entry.  That is what you see reflecting through the front door.  The front gate is quite a distance from the house and she told me she could see the mirror from there.

She asked Rick, her carpenter, to build her an 8'x10' wooden mirror frame. 

The backing is one big piece of wood which holds the mirror in place so it won't bend and crack.  The carpenter built the wide frame on top of that large flat platform.

Then, Rachel asked me to paint a faux finish on the frame to match her entry flooring.

They told me that when the glass people brought the mirror the first time, they broke it and had to replace it.  Can't even imagine how much that mirror must weigh.  Don't remember for sure, but I think they glued the mirror onto the large flat backing.  It's leaning against the wall.

I made a sample board for her to choose the look she wanted.  She liked the top sample.

"Before"

Rachel told me she had a very large, shades of gray and white, painting of Buddha that she was going to hang above the fireplace.  Looking out that glass door to the right...

is her swimming pool.

At Thanksgiving she sent me this video of wild turkeys walking on her front porch.

If you listen closely you will hear them gobbling.  I love this video!

And, she sent me a picture of the wild turkeys walking on her back porch by the pool.

The carpenters told me that when they first started working on this home there were wild turkeys, deer, fox and other animals when they would get there in the morning.  I would love to live in the country!

Rick, the carpenter, built this cabinet for Rachel.  It sits next to the fireplace.

Also, he built this table for their breakfast room.  It's going to be stained a dark brown.  Look at that tree right in the middle of that window.  Somebody did a lot of counting and measuring for that to happen.  I noticed several windows and doors like that.  Amazing!

 This is the breakfast room ceiling.  There are several ceilings like this in this home.  The hallway in that opening on the right of this picture has three or four small groin vault ceilings.  The lights reflect so beautifully in a groin ceiling.

Master Bath (below).

Rachel happened to have her grandmother's old door and she asked Rick to cut it in half to make two cabinets in her coffee (?) room next to her master bedroom.  A piece of glass is on top to protect her grandmother's old door.

I loved working at this home in the country. 

Rachel was so easy and such a pleasure to work with.  

Thank you, Rachel.

MAKE A NICE CENTERPIECE FOR YOUR DINNER TABLE USING ROMAINE LETTUCE

MAKE A NICE CENTERPIECE FOR YOUR DINNER TABLE USING ROMAINE LETTUCE

A few minutes ago, I was washing and draining a head of romaine lettuce.  I placed each leaf in my strainer to drain the water off.  The leaves and shades of green looked so pretty I thought it would be a really nice certerpiece for your dinner table.  Heads of romaine lettuce (usually) cost under 2.00, each.

I always cut the base off.  Individually, I rub each leaf front and back in vinegar water.  Rinse in fresh running water.  Then, drain the water off in a strainer.

I love artichokes!  I dip in butter and lemon.  So good.
Artichokes are full of vitamins and minerals.