The writings on the Wallflowers

Vintage Romance -- Shabby Lane Shops Magazine

2012-01-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

My latest short story titled, "A Golden Romance", is in the new Shabby Lane Shops Magazine! It hit the newsstands yesterday and can be found in all Hancock Fabric stores, Bookworld and select Barnes & Noble stores. It's a fun magazine with lots of DIYs and articles.

You can also purchase by clicking here.

2011-12-10T14:53:00.000-08:00

Twelve fleur des lis pendants all painted and ready to go for a special order! This was a perfect project for me, I just love this symbol. I'll have to offer a few of these on my site, and maybe paint a couple more for me!

Black Friday Through Cyber Monday Sale at The Painted Cottage Studio!

2011-11-24T21:37:00.000-08:00

20% OFF all items at The Painted Cottage Studio, where you'll find my hand painted jewelry! The sale runs from 11/24/11 through 11/28/11. Enter coupon code HOLIDAY20 at checkout for 20% off your entire order!

THANKFUL FOR YOU SALE

2011-11-09T07:24:00.001-08:00

Thank you to all of my past, present and future customers! To show my appreciation, I'm having a THANKFUL FOR YOU SALE going on right now through Monday, November 28th at my hand painted jewelry shop, The Painted Cottage Studio! Save 10% on your entire order by entering the code THANKFUL10 at checkout. Or email me at handpaintedjewelry@charter.net for a custom item!

Also, my Wallflowers items have joined in on the sale with 15% off your entire order through Monday, November 28th! Simply enter the code THANKFUL15 at checkout.

Have fun shopping, getting ready for the holidays and being with family and friends. Have a wonderful day!

Yummy (and easy!) Pumpkin Muffins

2011-11-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

These muffins are so yummy and so easy! I believe this is a Weight Watchers
recipe, but it was passed on to me by a friend. I just had to share...

1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin

1 box spice cake mix

1/8 cup water

**option... 2/3 bag of mini chocolate chips for the chocolate lovers! Yum!

Mix together with mixer and fill muffin cups half full, or bake in muffin
tins sprayed with cooking spray. Bake approx. 12 minutes or until
toothpick in center comes out clean. Bake at temperature according to
directions on the box.

Custom Painted Necklace

2011-10-20T07:05:00.000-07:00

I just completed a custom made, hand painted necklace for a friend. I used very tiny brushes with this one, it's all on a 1 inch square!

Holidays and Traditions Shabby Lane Shops Magazine

2011-10-12T19:31:00.000-07:00

Another wonderful Shabby Lane Shops magazine just hit the news stands! This "Holidays and Traditions" issue includes my short story, titled The Christmas Tree Farm.

You can find "Holidays and Traditions" in select Barnes & Noble, Bookworld and Hancock Fabric stores! And of course, you can also order this issue, a subscription and back issues at this link.

The Making of a Mural

2011-09-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

I recently finished a mural at a friend's house and luckily took a few pictures along the way! She wanted a tranquil ocean with a palm tree on each side and a few flowers.

It didn't look like much when I first started...

Okay, a little peaceful looking now...

I love this, the floating coconut stage. It made me laugh. (Notice how my client wanted fluffy looking clouds, so I changed them for her.)

We labeled these "the aliens". Unfortunately I had to leave it like this overnight and my client woke up during the night thinking aliens had landed!

What a difference a few leaves make!

Here's the left side...

and now the right side...

and ta da! It's finished!

Back to the Missouri Botanical Gardens

2011-08-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to find this heart shaped hydrangea at the gardens. How perfect!

The climatron and water lilies look so beautiful together. It was great to be there on a sunny day, a little hot of course (in St. Louis, what do you expect?) but that's okay, we were just happy to be there!

Chihuly created these glass sculptures a few years ago and they add so much color. Those lily pads are so large, we had to resist walking on them like stepping stones.

These guys were just asking me to come over and take their picture. I couldn't say no.

Still green, but finding these gourds was a subtle reminder that fall is just up ahead. (Yay!)

The New Veggie Garden

2011-07-18T12:06:00.000-07:00

Freshly picked radishes! Unfortunately I don't really like radishes but still, we have radishes in our new garden. Yay! We put our garden in a little late so I'm thrilled to get anything to grow in the 90+ heat.

The baby carrots are up in the corner and are slow growin'. But that's okay, I'm just happy to see them there, alive and happy. And now I can say..."oh yes, we have carrots in our garden this year."

The first tomato is just turning red. I have big plans for this little guy. Oh yes. Hopefully there will be many (many) more to follow.

Introducing Lucy

2011-07-04T06:41:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help myself but post these photos of our kitty, Lucy. She just turned a year old in April and I have to admit, she's a sweetie. She likes to lay on her back a lot, super surprising for a cat.

I have no idea what she was thinking here.

I couldn't believe she could still fit in a soda box. This used to be one of her favorite toys when she was...umm, smaller. We used to push her around the house like riding in a little kitty car.

Now Lucy's a member of the family and it's getting hard to remember what it was like before she was here.

My New Hand Painted Pendants

2011-06-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a few of my new hand painted pendants I recently listed on Etsy. These are teeny little paintings where I use teeny little brushes and lots and lots of patience!

I'm having so much fun creating these little paintings, I'm in the middle of making more and I can't wait to add them to my new Etsy site next week!

Oh by the way, if you want to check it out I'm at www.HandPaintedJewelry.Etsy.com.

Shabby Lane Shops Giveaway and Latest Magazine

2011-04-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

Click here to enter to win this Spring Shabby Lane Shops Boutique Bag giveaway! That link will take you to the Shabby Lane Shops blog where the entries are being accepted. There are 32 shops that contributed to this giveaway, so this would be a great one to win! If you can see it, my mini blackboard tag is right in the center of the picture.

Four of the last Shabby Lane Shops magazine are included, along with the recent Spring & Summer issue that will hit newstands April 6th! My latest short story is included in this new issue. It's titled "The Unexpected Garden" and it's very much a spring and Mother's Day story. If you don't see it in your Barnes & Noble or other local bookstore, you can always order it here.

My New Mini-Sized Painting

2011-03-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

I painted this itty bitty painting last night and baked it this morning. I love how sweet and small it is.

I have several more just waiting to be painted. I can't wait!

I'm Back At It Again...

2011-03-11T21:14:00.000-08:00

But this time I didn't paint one large chalkboard, I painted over 40 small, sweet little chalkboards. These have been shipped off to Tennessee to be included in the Shabby Lane Shops boutique bags, to be sold at the Nashville Women's Show in April. I even included a little mini piece of chalk with each one!

They can be used for gift tags or for labels in the kitchen, etc. AND since they're chalkboards, they're totally reusable. I kept three for myself, but I can see it's not going to be enough!

By the way, if you would like to order a Boutique Bag from Shabby Lane Shops and receive a sampling of what many of the shops have to offer, the link is http://www.shabbylaneshops.com/catalog.htm?item=354

The Ice Storm

2011-02-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

Every single twig and blade of grass was covered today. It was beautiful but I have to admit, I enjoyed its awesomeness much more from the inside of the warm house as I watched through the window.

My lavender is trying desperately to hang in there.

And this is all before the sleet hit. We had so much sleet it looked like snow.

But the kids played in it anyway.

Which means, of course, these icicles were demolished.

Hang in there lavender. Spring will be here soon....

I Just Finished My Chalkboard!

2011-01-27T21:02:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is, but I have a thing for chalkboards. I found this cabinet door at a yard sale and, for some reason unknown, had it sitting in my basement unused. It's so fun to give something new life, to change it into something totally unexpected. I should really do that more often.

I have the perfect spot in my kitchen for this freshly painted 'Menu' but the thing is, I still have more chalkboard paint. And I still have more cabinet doors from that yard sale. Where will I go with all of them when I'm finished?

2011-01-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

It's voting time! I've decorated my website once again for Valentine's Day. I even have falling pink hearts this year! Click here to see how it looks. But then come back and remember to vote for me (by clicking on the button below) for this year's Valentine's Day contest! Thank you!!

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-01-09T07:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I'm sharing a link to the new Shabby Lane Shops magazine on sale now either through this link or at book stores across the country, including select Barnes & Noble stores. I have a short story included in this magazine titled "Romance in Bloom".

This magazine is called New Year Romance and is the New Year/Valentine issue. Just like the past issues, this magazine has great articles and beautiful photos, so don't miss it! Subscriptions are also available.

2010-12-19T07:36:00.000-08:00

This is a sweet, sweet little robin from Scotland. My husband just returned from a trip overseas to visit his grandma and was able to snap this photo before he flew away. (I hear it wasn't easy.) Oh, I wish we had these over here! I might have to paint him on something...

These two photos are from a town in Scotland called Moffat. There's the Moffat Post Office and gift shops looking all Christmassy with their Christmas trees hanging off the buildings.

I was in this town before and ate at The Rumblin' Tum. What a great name. I've also been to this James Pringle Weavers gift shop and bought a porridge stirrer. I'd never seen one of those and had to get it to hang in my kitchen!

I had to include this pic of the beautiful scenery in Scotland. It's a litle hard to see but little houses are dotted all along the water.

Bed & Breakfasts are lined up in a row and so colorful in Blackpool, England. More inspiration to paint!

Nest Clock

2010-11-17T07:40:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is. My new studio clock that I've promised to post. I searched for the perfect clock to "match" my studio and could never find it. I noticed this round wood one day and something clicked.

It hit me that I could make my own clock! I painted the bird's nest and 3 blue eggs, added the hardware and there you go, new clock! I have no blue in my studio so I'm not sure why the eggs had to be blue. But in my mind, it worked.

I hung it over my Susan Branch calendar. I have to have one of those in my studio every year also, just to make the room complete.

acorns?....seriously??

2010-11-14T06:10:00.000-08:00

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love our two oak trees but...c'mon. We're swimming in acorns. Some years one tree explodes with acorns, some years the other but this year both have dropped so many it's like a carpet.

I'm still trying to find the best way to pick them up. So far we've raked them in piles and loaded them into buckets. And then what do we do with them?

Thanks to the folks at Country Living magazine I found a new option for our overflowing bounty. My daughter will love making these acorn necklaces sprayed with gold paint. I wonder how long these will last? We could make thousands of them!

I couldn't let fall pass by without including a photo of the burst of color in our backyard. We have two of these burning bushes and they're so large, it's all you can do to not notice them. If only we could find a way to preserve these gorgeous leaves for the rest of the year.

Christmas Voting Time

2010-11-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again...yep, time to vote for your favorite Shabby Lane Shops website for the Christmas Decorating contest! You can check out my changes on my website, WallflowersArt.com (and see the pink snow).

It's super easy, just click on the Santa above and scroll down that page to click on the website you want to vote for (oh, let's just say "Wallflowers" for example...) and then click the "vote" button. Easy!

This year I painted the little blue bird and flower pot just for the holiday season. Then I used my new Photoshop software to create the rest. Fun! Oh yea, and my favorite part was changing the falling blue snow to pink!

Sunflower Fan Blades

2010-10-27T11:28:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share my latest project with you. I painted these yellow/orangeish (although they don't look orange in the picture) sunflowers with a butterfly on white fan blades. These were painted for a friend who loves sunflowers and they'll fit right into her kitchen.

I couldn't help but line them all up in a row, just because they looked so great together.

And here I'm pretending they're hung up, imagining they're going 'round in circles. What a fun project and a great idea she had. It's like a never-ending summer!

Back To The Gardens (yay!)

2010-09-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

BACK to the Missouri Botanical Gardens again, one of my favorite places in the world. We took the kids there on their last day of summer break and it was gorgeous. That place is getting so big, we never seem to see the whole thing in just one visit anymore.

This water feature is so cool and inviting in the Japanese Garden area. The ripples are almost hypnotic.

This is the same fountain just a different view. I'd like one of these in my backyard please.

They call this the Climatron conservatory. We didn't make it in there this time but we've toured it several times before (and I'm assuming (hoping) many times to come). I was there once in the wintertime and when we stepped in, it was like we were transformed into summer. Everything was so lush and green.

Beautiful lily pads were still blooming. Somehow the water always looks black in this pond but it creates such a stunning effect with the flowers. Love it.

I think I take a picture of this fountain every time I'm there. I always try to capture how lovely it is. You have to imagine the gentle spraying sound of the drops as they hit the water. If only a camera could capture this...

I'd never seen water quite like this before. It was as if someone had dripped food coloring in and swirled it with a stick, just a little, to create this green marbling affect. I thought it was beautiful, but I noticed all of the fish were at the other (clear) end of the pond.

One of the ever-changing areas of the gardens. When I visited in late spring this scene was totally different. They had just planted annuals but now, presto chango...magically it's a whole new garden!

Art Expo 2010

2010-08-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

Amazingly, every year in August the streets around the "square" in our town come to life with beautiful street chalk murals. This is an example of one of the winning designs of the almost 40 entries.

The finished "painting". I sooo love the colors. It's too bad they get washed away when it rains. AND we all drive over them when the weekend's over!

This is a view of one of the streets with the artists at work. They begin in the morning and judging is at 6:00 pm. That's a lot of art created in a short amount of time.

I think we all know who this is...

Ta daa!

The much-used bandstand with gorgeous balloons flying all around the square.

This fountain sits in the center and occasionally sprays us with much needed mist on a hot hot day. It's even beautiful at night with it's multi-colored lights.

More artwork. I think this was made by high school students. Isn't that amazing?
This year's highlight included a professional sand sculpturer. Wow. You have to scroll down and see his creation. These great sandboxes were set up around the sculpture for the children. This was definitely a highlight for my kids!

This is where he's just getting started. Only one man worked on this and finished it on the second day.

Amazing!

Pumpkins Galore

2010-07-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

The "baby" pumpkins are quietly taking over and slowly making their way up to the tomatoes for a sneak attack. Last fall my son smashed a leftover pumpkin in the corner of my mom's garden and who knew that would be better than carefully planting each seed one by one.

But either way, I'm so excited to see signs of fall peeking through!

Gettin' Ready

2010-07-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a photo of the wall that Tony (my husband) built for me for an upcoming art show. He started building a second wall because they just fill up so fast, I'm already out of room on this one. It's currently standing in the middle of my studio. It will be interesting to see where the second wall will stand. I might not be able to walk into my studio after that one's up!

Ocean Painting

2010-07-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

I just completed this painting a few days ago and although it isn't very large (6" by 12"), I sooo want to be there! I've wanted to paint this scene for awhile, imagining I'm walking along the beach while waves gently glide over my feet. Puffs of cotton float in the sky. It's a simple scene but the blues in this painting are so calming it just makes me feel...well,...calm.

Here's the same painting on the shelf my husband built for our bathroom.

I just had to share photos of the shelf, he did such a great job!

Tea Time

2010-07-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

One day a week, my son visits his grandma and they have lunch together. I knew all about the hot tea, the soft boiled eggs in a cup and the "soldiers" (toast cut into long strips) they make. It wasn't until recently I discovered they break out the fine china. Now that's a tea party! And notice...they each have their own salt and pepper shakers!

This reminds me of my little kitchen when I was a little girl, although our place settings weren't quite so, how should I say, ... elegant. One thing's for sure, my son will always remember spending this special time with his grandma.

The New Shabby Lane Shops Summer Garden Magazines Are Here!

2010-06-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

They're here, they're here! This is a Shabby Lane Shops, 48 page magazine with great articles, gardening tips, summer recipes and even a short story (written by moi!). This cover is so luscious, it almost bursts with summer yumminess. If you would like a copy, click here to order from my website.

The Spice Rack

2010-06-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

This is it, the spice rack I grew up with. Once I got ahold of it, it will never be the same. It became the star in a short story I just wrote for the Summer Garden issue of Shabby Lane Shops magazine. Which, by the way, will be coming out in a few short days! (Yay!)

I had so much fun transforming this piece into something totally different. The doors came off, the drawers came out (still deciding how I will reuse those pieces) and I painted the whole thing satin black. A little distressing, a little hand painting and voila! I now have a place to put my egg cup collection! (I have a little confession...I don't really like egg in a cup. I just like the cups.) These beauties came from Britain when family members visited there recently.

The nest at the bottom is a real hummingbird nest. I found it in our yard a couple of years ago and hung onto it until I found the perfect "nesting" place. How lucky that it fits perfectly with egg cups!

2010-05-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

So the other day my kids were playing in this blow-up pool. I could hear them laughing and giggling and I peeked out the window and could tell they were pushing on the edges, water sloshing around everywhere and gooshing out the sides.

A couple of minutes later I see a blur of color out of the corner of my eye. I looked out again to find what you see in this photo above. You know, they couldn't even see where they were going. Wow, they don't even need water to have fun with a pool. Sometimes I wish I could be just their age and do all of that fun and goofy stuff right along with them. But then again, sometimes I do that anyway.

Gringo Jones in St. Louis

2010-05-20T19:58:00.000-07:00

When we visited the St. Louis Botanical Gardens this week we made a stop at Gringo Jones. This is a uniquely, interesting shop on the corner, only about a block or two from the gardens. A true experience. It's one of those shops you walk in and think it's quaint and small, but you soon realize it keeps going on and on and on. I love those shops. Some rooms are outside and that's where I took these photos. There was so much to see in one little area, that we just had to stand in the middle and slowly spin around, trying to take it all in. Check out the cello in this picture. It's new use is a wine rack.

We've happily accepted the fact that this place has now been added as a must-stop shop on our way to the gardens.

This sundial was my fun purchase and new addition to my garden. There was another one with a broken tip that had the perfect amount of aging and "experience" that came along with it. It had been sitting in one of the outside rooms. I went with the new one, dial intact. After all, what fun would a sundial be for the kids if they can't really see it work? Besides, after a couple of rainy seasons and snow coverings I figure this new one will have the perfect amount of oldness to it. AND it will work.

My (pretend) Second Home

2010-05-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

Upon arrival at the Missouri Botanical Garden on this beautiful, sunny morning, it was hard to miss these onion flowers just outside the door; greeting us with their surprisingly large, purple awesomeness. Even the butterflies came to whisper hello.
I couldn't resist capturing the image of this lady, capturing the image of the view in the photo below. She looked so peaceful sitting there. You can't tell by this photo but we were surrounded by one of the rose gardens. I could sit on these gray benches all afternoon and just drink in the scent of hundreds of blooming roses.
Now that I'm a garden member I feel somewhat like a part owner. Not really, but I get to pretend that I am. So I pictured how nice it would be to live like Monet at Giverny, with a house inside the Botanical Garden. It was easy to imagine painting whatever and whenever I liked.
These roses would be my first stop, paint brush in hand.

And all of my gardeners would wear these great hats.
And this would be my fairytale house. How handy it's already built on the grounds for me. (Actually, I'm told one of the employees normally lives there.) I would never have to leave.

Except to buy more paint.

2010-05-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

If I could, I would make The Missouri Botanical Garden my second home. (Add an ocean and beachfront cottage and I'm there.) I don't live close enough to visit every day but I wish, wish, wish I could. I finally became a member this year and I get to take my own little personal field trip there tomorrow.

The photo here is from a year or two ago, but it's one of my favorites. I'm hoping to get some good pics tomorrow (sun, please!) and I can post more.

2010-04-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

To Celebrate Mothers Day,
Everything on Our Website is
10% Off!

Sale ends May 4th

ALSO...

be sure to click on the link below and enter the Shabby Lane Shops Mother's Day Giveaway. Lots of goodies in this one, as you can see by the picture above.The giveaway includes a hand decorated Marie Antoinette Tote with Avon products, tea and coffee, 2 packs of note cards, an issue of the Shabby Lane Shops first magazine (Mother's Day issue), coupons, recipe cards and a $25.00 gift certificate! This giveaway ends May 4th. Good Luck!

And Then The Circus Came to Town

2010-04-22T08:04:00.000-07:00

The circus rolled into our little town and for an evening we were taken back in time. I felt like we were characters in a book as I listened to kids talk about the tent raising and the clowns and the elephant rides. Yes, there were acrobats, tigers, camels and, of course, a juggler.
But the highlight for me, I have to admit, was when the little barking dog got to ride on the back of the pony. I had to laugh out loud at that one. Wish I had a picture but it was just too, too dark in that tent for my camera.
One night only, and then the entire circus packed up and moved on to the next town. Just like a comet in the night sky, if you don't see it this time around you might have to wait a awhile for the next one to come sailing by.

2010-04-12T21:18:00.000-07:00

These are two of my new hand painted signs just listed on my website. This Cottage by the Sea sign reeeeally makes me want to visit the ocean again. It's slightly distressed, just enough to make it look like it's seen many year's worth of high tides.

And Le Nid is French for The Nest. It's a sweet little sign that would fit in anywhere. Both of these are listed in my Hand Painted Signs category on my Wallflowers website.

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Easter. I hope your day is as brightly colored as these little gems.
We had a lot of fun dying these eggs, and now we just have to wait for the Bunny to come and hide them.
...I can't wait!

Primed and Ready

2010-03-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

The color of my brush matched the weather. This was priming day and the gray, gray sky matched the primer color on all of these pieces. But, they've already begun to change and are becoming colorful, happy little things. I don't usually start this many painting projects at once but I just couldn't resist this time. I have soooo many items I want to paint on, more than what you can see in this photo. Little by little, the gray will disappear and they will be transformed.

Newly Created Cottage Signs

2010-03-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

These are just two of the newly created items that are currently in the works. I've spent the past two days sanding and sanding and priming several pieces that are just waiting for me on my work table. I can hear them over there, calling to me...paint me! paint me! How can I help but obey?

So Many Projects, So Little Time...

2010-03-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

I walked into my studio yesterday morning and just had to laugh to myself.

I admit, when my husband made this table for me last year I thought it was huge. Now I apparently have no problem filling it up. I think I counted 3 different projects going on here. I even had to varnish a painting on the studio floor...annnd...frame two paintings on the kitchen table. I don't know what it is about me, but if I have one project going on then I'll have four more taggin' along side of it.

But I love that and I'm now convinced I will never be bored.

2010-02-23T07:50:00.000-08:00

Oh, waiting and waiting for Spring! I love this topiary and yellow bird because it's reminding me of what's just around the corner. This is my little practice painting of what a friend asked me to paint on her wall. I'm secretly thinking about painting it on my wall as well!

Easter Treasure Box Giveaway

2010-02-12T13:57:00.000-08:00

We've done it again! Many of the Shabby Lane Shops members have joined together to create a giveaway with many wonderful items, destined to brighten the winner's Easter basket. Even the box by itself would be a wonderful prize! Make sure you click here to sign up to win.

P.S. My contribution is the 5" x 5" original painting of the bird's nest with 3 blue eggs.

Painting Blue Skies

2010-01-28T13:42:00.000-08:00

I found myself painting a blue sky this morning. Perfect timing, considering we finally had a real blue sky outside the window. It's been days. Weeks, it seems since that's happened and it brightened the mood in the studio from inside out.

I looked down and noticed the sunlight hitting my paints and the shadows all around and, without thinking, grabbed my camera to save the mood. It's the little things that make me smile.

It's a Valentine's Day Decorating Contest

2010-01-11T11:01:00.000-08:00

The Valentine's Day decorating contest has begun for Shabby Lane Shops! If you would like to vote (please do!), click here or on the button in the right column. This is what I painted to celebrate Valentine's Day...a time to appreciate all who are important in our lives and to look ahead to the promise of good days to come.

So have a little pink cup of happiness...from me!

The Eggcup

2010-01-08T20:38:00.000-08:00

These are just a few of the items in my new collection...eggcups. Wouldn't you know, just after I got back from Britain last year I decided I wanted to start collecting these. When my in-laws decided to go back over this year just before Christmas (they're from there so they occasionally fly over) I remembered to ask for some and...voila! They brought back this wonderful assortment of eggcups and I now have a new collection!

Here's the thing, I don't actually eat eggs from an eggcup. For some reason I only eat scrambled eggs. So I plan to put up a shelf and display their cuteness.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-23T19:26:00.000-08:00

We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year! My kids were in the spirit of the season today and decided to paint some Christmas scenes.

I just love it when they paint.

The Christmas Tree Farm

2009-12-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

This was my first trip to a real live Christmas tree farm. Love, love, loved it! Look at that pond just trying to ice up but not quite there yet. We took a hay ride through the trees and drooled over which one we would love to take home. One little girl sitting next to me decided she was going to take all of them. I don't blame her. But get this...there were 45,000 (yes...thousand) Christmas trees at this farm!

Now, you have to close your eyes and imagine all of these trees are covered with soft, white, fluffy snow. Their branches are heavy and the air is crisp with a blue crystal sky. Ahhh...now that's a beautiful Winter wonderland scene.

Tesoro Fino Great Giveaway

2009-12-19T09:11:00.000-08:00

This is an awesome giveaway that my friend at Tesoro Fino is currently having! You have to check it out at http://tesorofino.blogspot.com/ and enter. She's great at taking beautiful objects and changing them into something even more beautiful. I know I would love to hang these in my kitchen to give it that extra touch it needs. Or at least I didn't realize my kitchen needed that extra touch until I saw these dazzling silver spoons!

2009-12-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

Yes, this is my husband...talking to a camel.

He does that sometimes....

Whoa!

2009-12-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I'm posting this picture but it was just too funny that I couldn't resist. My kids got out all of the ornaments, put them on the tree and it was wonderful. I stand and gaze at the Christmas tree...red and gold beaded garland, white twinkly lights, ornaments of bygone Christmases dangling from the branches, golden ribbon draped from the tip top and then I turn around and see this...the aftermath of a tornado. I mean really, what else could it be from?

But seriously, I hope my mom doesn't see this photo....

New! Downloadable Gift Tags

2009-12-04T09:55:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks before Christmas 2008 I wrapped a few gifts and rummaged through my stash of ribbons and packaging, looking for my gift tags. It's one of those things you run out of one year and you're convinced you'll remember to buy more before the next Christmas comes, but at some point throughout that 365 days it just escapes you.

I had an image in my head of a pear dangling from a limb and decided right then to paint it and print out my own gift tags. This year I've made that same tag and a few others available to you as a downloadable PDF file through my website, Wallflowers. You can click here to view them all or each one separately on the pictures above. These images are Michelle Meyer original designs and only available through my website. They look nice printed on card stock with either a matte or a glossy finish. They can even be dressed up by punching a hole and adding a ribbon.

Wallflowers Handpainted "Believe" Giveaway

2009-11-30T10:20:00.000-08:00

Momma In Flip Flops 2 is hosting a giveaway for my Christmas "Believe" original hand painted canvas. It will arrive just in time for the holiday season. This sweet little 5" by 5" wraparound canvas fits anywhere on your wall or displays nicely on a desk or shelf.

To enter, click here and this will connect you to the blog post with the directions to enter. If you sign up as a follower of her blog then you can catch ALL of her giveaways as soon as she posts them. A winner for the "Believe" painting will be randomly chosen December 2, 2009. Good Luck!

It's a Zoo Around Here

2009-11-24T13:23:00.000-08:00

Here it is, late November and we actually got to go to the zoo! I was a little surprised that the peacocks were one of the highlights. I can remember in the past feeling lucky if we found one peacock strolling around. But this time there were about a dozen of those colorful birds...walking, sleeping, keeping guard over their sanctuary.

We discovered that if you really want to see the big cats, right before feeding time is the best. I don't know how many times I stood and stared into empty cages, hoping for a glimpse of a panther or tiger. But when they're hungry, they're out there!

I went a little crazy with the framing of these photos. After playing around with the colors I just couldn't bear to take them off again!

This mother giraffe was fun to watch. She knew it was time to eat and could hear something just behind the doors. She would run to one door, then hear something at door number two and run there. Then run around a big circle pathway and back to door number one again. Every now and then she would chase the ostrich that shared her home but then it was back to door number one to start all over again.

My Gift To You! Recipe Card Download

2009-11-18T17:17:00.000-08:00

Click on the card for the downloadable pdf file

I created a new recipe card for you in a downloadable pdf file! You can print out as many of these as you want...print them on card stock, tie them up with a ribbon (I'm really startin' to LOVE ribbons) and give as a gift. Or keep them for yourself. Or both! You decide.
A little background about this bowl...this is the antique bowl (and a very heavy one!) that my grandma used to use. She's the same grandma that stitched the "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" picture from a prior post. Now I have this bowl because I LOVE to bake chocolate chip cookies (also see my recipe for those yummy things here). Why that entitles me to have the bowl I'm not sure, but it somehow made sense at some point along the way. I actually DO mix up my cookies in that bowl and I use that same wooden spoon that I looked at to paint the border spoons on the recipe card. I don't know why, but there's just something about a wooden spoon that helps it all mix up just a little bit better. I suppose it's just like anything worth doing, the process of getting there is just as important as the end result.

Wallflowers Is Having A Giveaway!

2009-11-15T20:10:00.000-08:00

Wallflowers by Michelle Meyer Studio is having a giveaway! Frugal Mommy of Two Girls is hosting a giveaway for my Christmas "Believe" painting! Simply visit her blog at http://frugalmommyof2girls.blogspot.com/ and follow her instructions on how to enter. Easy! If you sign up as a follower of her blog then you can catch ALL of her giveaways as soon as she posts them.

This Christmas "Believe" wall design is new this season. The moon gently sleeps while snowflakes quietly fall around him, all while awaiting for that magical day. This charming design is hand painted with acrylics on a 5" by 5" by 1 1/2" wraparound canvas. No frame is needed and can be hung on a nail or can sit on a shelf or any flat surface. Comes ready to hang.

Shabby Lane Shops November Treasure Box Giveaway

2009-11-11T20:37:00.000-08:00

Another Treasure Box will be given away for the month of November! This is an awesome collection of items from several of the shop owners from Shabby Lane Shops. Just click here to go to the Shabby Lane Shops Blog to sign up to win.

This Christmas "Believe" 5" x 5" painting is my contribution to the giveaway!

Doesn't this look like it would be SO much fun to open up and find what treasures are inside?

Shabby Lane Shops Holiday Decorating Contest!

2009-11-01T05:33:00.000-08:00

Several of the Shabby Lane Shops members have had a lot of fun decorating our websites for the holidays! I think of my little pink cottage (above) as my art studio, so it was kind of like decorating my own house. It was SO much fun! I went through old photos and found this snowman that my kids made, and the sled they use for sailing down the hills. The ornaments hanging above the door and window are from my vintage stash. Even the presents under the trees are from Christmas' past! It's like a part of me went into this sweet little picture. Just like decorating for the holidays at home.

So don't forget to vote for your favorite Shabby Lane Shops holiday website design (Wallflowers!). Just go to the link on the right sidebar and vote for your favorite (Wallflowers!) through the end of November. Oh yeah, did I mention if you want to vote for me, just go to that link and click on Wallflowers. Thank you!

More Inspiration...

2009-10-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

My family and I spent the day at the Botanical Gardens, one of my favorite places ever! I could visit there every day and always find something new. These first four photos are in the "Japanese Garden". It's so peaceful there. The sun decided to hide and we even had a few sprinkles here and there but I didn't mind, it was still gorgeous!

Have you ever seen mums cascading over a wall like this?

I took this photo simply because I love pillars!

What a great idea. Peppers for some fall color!

My Grandmother's Talent Is So Inspiring

2009-10-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

I glanced up over my bed every night when I was a little girl and read this prayer that my grandma stitched o so many years ago. Isn't it lovely? So vintage. I wanted to create a painted design that reminded me of this happy, sleepy image. One that would be both modern and nostalgic at the same time.

This new design is destined to be a part of a child's happy memory.

Fall Birthday Party!

2009-10-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

Fall birthday parties are so much fun! It's so exciting to see lots of little pumpkins start out all orange and quiet, just minding their own business. And after a flurry of excitement involving buttons, google eyes, sequins and feathers, they're given new life and transformed into happy little faces all in a row. Whew!

Happy Fall!

Shabby Lane Shops October Treasure Box Giveaway

2009-10-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

Shabby Lane Shops presents a wonderful October Treasure Box Giveaway. This box of treasures is full of delightful items donated by it's vendors listed below.

Visit http://shabbylaneshops.blogspot.com/2009/10/october-treasure-box-giveaway.html to enter!

Participating Vendors:

http://www.wallflowersart.com
http://www.shabbylaneshops.com/
http://www.anticatreasures.com/
http://www.bagsbyannieg.com/
http://www.gracefulrose.com/
http://www.kberenzin.avonrepresentative.com/
http://www.marionberrycottage.com/
http://www.rubyjunescottage.com/
http://www.rmeboutique.com/
http://www.shabbyroseboutique.com/
http://www.shabbydenimrose.com/
http://www.sweet-kathleens.com/
http://www.someplaceinthyme.com/
http://www.thevintagenest.com/
http://www.theoddsparrow.com/
http://www.teacupsandtwigs.com/

New Wallflowers Design

2009-09-30T10:43:00.001-07:00

Yay! It's freshly finished today!

It's here! I completed my new "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" design today and wanted to share it with you. This one's 16 x 20 on a wraparound canvas and you can view it on my website here.

The Autumn Painting

2009-09-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love it when children create art. It's so fun to see kids really get into making their artwork and then I'm amazed to see how unique each creation is.

This pumpkin painting has set the mood in our house that fall is in the air. My daughter painted it and I (of course!) displayed it on the mantel. She has discovered painting on canvas and so far it seems she likes to paint as much as I do (woohoo!). Luckily for her, we have a studio set up and ready to go!

The September Garden...

2009-09-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

Juicy, juicy red cherry tomatoes. Oh how I don't want them to end! I don't think they know they're supposed to, since we're still finding more than we could possibly eat. But every September we know the garden tomato will soon fade away. We don't talk about it much, of course, hoping that our silence will fool those big bushy plants into growing more and more of those little gems until we say goodbye until next year.

These tiny little pumpkins were new to the garden this year. We've been having fun decorating the house with real pumpkins that we actually grew! (Okay, I think they might technically be called gourds but they look like baby pumpkins!)

The rhubarb was HUGE this year. This was a tiny, sad little thing two years ago that I found in my back yard at our new house. I wasn't even sure it was rhubarb so we transplanted it to my mother's garden and...voila! The biggest rhubarb plant I've ever seen. It's just too bad I don't like to eat it...

but it sure is fun to grow it!

2009-09-08T08:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, the Treasure Box giveaway has officially started! All you need to do is click on the link above and it will take you to the page to enter the contest. You'll find the instructions and list of shops that are participating. I counted over 20 different shops that are part of this giveaway! They're all members of ShabbyLaneShops.com and they've included great things like coupons, samples and a $50.00 gift certificate (towards one of the participating shops of the winner's choice).

You can check out my rose painting below (from Aug. 31st post) to see what I've donated to the Treasure Box. I've also included a 20% off coupon towards the next purchase at WallflowersArt.com for the winner.

These are photos of some of the items included in the box. Hmmm. Looks like fun! Kind-of like an early Christmas present...

Treasure Box at Shabby Lane Shops

2009-08-31T11:33:00.000-07:00

The creative women at ShabbyLaneShops.com are in the process of putting together a Treasure Box to give away! This box will be filled with lots of fun things: There will be a gift certificate worth $50.00 to be used at one of the participating shops that contributed to the Treasure Box. Some shops will include coupons and some are also sending sample items. I've included the painting you see above. It's 4" by 5" and is a little smaller than the one I offer on my website (WallflowersArt.com). I'm also including a 20% off coupon towards the next purchase to the winner of the Box.

I'll include more details of how to enter and what the link is as soon as I get the word!

Mid August

2009-08-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

Don't you love this time of year? Mid August. I didn't realize how much I liked it until last week when we drove by the sunflower field that somehow appeared a few years ago near our town. It's always a happy surprise to see the yellow blooms between fields of tall green corn stalks.

I just couldn't help myself and had to sit down to paint one of those sun-loving beauties today. This is a small, 5" x 5" wrap-around painting that will fit just about anywhere in the house.

The only thing I'm not really looking forward to is the kids going back to school again. I know, it's time and they need to, but I absolutely love it when they're home in the summer. It's never long enough (as my son would quickly agree) but I do have to admit that more work will be done by all when school's back in session!

Welcome!

2009-08-17T06:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! And welcome to my blog. I would love to share with you some of the everyday little things (and big things) that inspire me in my art studio.

When you get a chance, check out my WallflowersArt.com website. This is where I hand paint personalized artwork for children, and sometimes I include grown-up art as well. I'll keep you posted as I add new designs to the website.