When I stand before God at the end of my life,
I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say,
"I used everything You gave me."
~Erma Bombeck

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December 10, 2008

Quote of the Week...

Lord grant me patience. But hurry! ~Author Unknown

Katydid and Kid

I discovered a new blog this morning, that I really think I'm gonna love visiting. She is doing a couple of really great giveaways including one for some really cool calendars. Be sure to visit soon! http://katydidandkid.blogspot.com/

December 4, 2008

Quote of the Week

PEACE starts with a smile. ~Mother Teresa

Been Busy!

I know I haven't been posting for a while. I have gotten caught up in the Christmas rush! Over the course of the next couple of days, I will update you on what I have been doing... This project was for my sister in law's mother in law. Did you get that? Anyway, these pictures document the process from start to finish. First I write out all the words describing the individual as shown here... Then, I practice the name and the watercolor wash to go behind the words like this...
Then, I make a few mistakes and have to start over again. The beauty of handmade items is the work that goes into them! The very first word I wrote I spelled wrong! It should have been "loving".
Here is the finished piece that my sis in law picked. Actually I did three and this is the one she picked.
After she has it framed she will send me a pic and I will post the finished, framed piece for you.

November 12, 2008

Quote of the Week...

The GLOW WORM’s never glum… how can you be grumpy when the sun shines out your bum? :) -Author Unknown

November 11, 2008

Can you guess who this is?

Give up? Why it is none other than Tinker Turkey. Actually it is Tom Turkey going incognito for the wall in the hall at K's school. This was a family assignment to save Tom Turkey from being roasted on Thanksgiving. What do ya think?

"L" is for...

Pretty little Lola. I made this for one of my nieces to go along with her Christmas present. You can see more at my Etsy shop. Just click the link to the right.

November 5, 2008

Quote of the Week

Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. -Nathaniel Hawthorne

November 1, 2008

If I had all the creative time in the world, I would want to...

...catch up on my children's scrapbooks ...learn to create lampwork glass beads. ...learn to make beautiful original glass mosaic items. ...start a calligraphy business. ...learn to custom embroider and do personalized items. ...learn to sew. (I think I would love fabric as much as I love paper!) ...paint more. ...create beaded necklaces, earrings and bracelets. ...try fabric decoupage. ...create collages with all the art techniques I already know.

October 29, 2008

Quote of the week.

If you hear a voice within you saying "you are not a painter", then by all means paint...and that voice will be silenced. Vincent Van Gogh

Paintings to match decor...

In an effort to brighten my girls' rooms without painting the walls, I painted these canvases with acrylic.
They were really fun to do. I might have to do somemore!

Passion for calligraphy...

I really love calligraphy. The problem is that I am so much of a perfectionist, it takes me dozens of times of writing something before it passes my approval. Sometimes, I don't even approve it, but get tired of looking at it so I call it finished. There is a saying out there that an artist never finishes, he just walks away. I find that has to be true in my case otherwise I would never frame anything! This is detail from a piece I did for my brother's long awaited graduation from college. I think he approved. This is one I did for my friend for her birthday. She loves purple. If you look closely, you can see her name in the background and then several words that I would use to describe her in the foreground. What do you think? Should I custom make and sell these in my Etsy shop?

More creative stuff... Altered letters

Another one of the things I love to make is altered letters. I did this for my daughter's wall in her room. These make excellent gifts, I have given just the first initial for birthday gifts and Christmas gifts.
If you would like a custom made letter or a whole name for that fact, head on over to my Etsy shop. There is a link to the left. Have fun looking around!

October 26, 2008

I sold my first items on Etsy!!!

Too cool! I sold these little magnet clips today. Both in one sale. I am just so excited. If you haven't dropped by, now is a good time to get that Christmas shopping done!

October 21, 2008

She wants to be like me...

K. was watching me make these for my Etsy site the other night.
She (my 5 year old) decided to make some of her own. Here are her ceramic tile magnets...
and

K. has her own creative flair and you will be seeing more of her beautiful pieces in the future.

October 17, 2008

I did it!

I finally listed some items in my Etsy shop. No pressure to sell, just have fun creating things to share with others. View it here at www.creationsbylanie.etsy.com. If you see something you would like custom made in your favorite colors, let me know!