My Girls...part three

Where to begin with Brooke.  Brooke and I became fast friends at first job at HNTB.  I know that we were every bosses nightmare - two twentysomethings, planning to get married, chatty and worse than that we were squished into one big "bull pen" which is the equivalent to two cubicals with out the separating wall.  The best part was we weren't the only ones in there either.  Needless to say, there was lots of chatting and not nearly as much work was done.  We were young and they got smart and separated us later on.  Brooke is a person you feel very comfortable with, right from the get go.  She's evolved since I've known her from a fun loving partying girl to a fun loving super athlete.  We all walked and ran the mini-marathon here in Indy together the first couple of years into our relationship, but Brooke got bit by the running bug HARD.  Since those early days she's run marathons, trail runs, she wins her age group pretty much every time, does mountain biking and has a pretty strong stance on high fructose corn syrup.  She is truly an amazing person and one that motivates me to make myself a healthier and better person, taking better care of my own body and my family's as well.  Her determination is so strong - I strive to attain half of that determination for myself.

I am also so very blessed to have Brooke as part of the small bible study that I do, it has taken our relationship to an entirely different level and has brought so much depth to an already pretty fantastic friendship.  Like anyone else Brooke has her ups and downs in life - sometimes the downs seem to be running the show, but her optimism and strength are no match.  Our little group has provided so much healing and learning in the short time that we have met.  I, we all agree that it is no coincidence that we formed this group and began this study.

When deciding what to paint for Brooke I was immediately moved by the Warriors in Pink dove.  It is representative of peace in a time of struggle, freedom and gentle joy.  These are all things that I wish for my friend and see within her.  So for Brooke I have the Warrior Dove:

You learn things about your friends - first off if you know Brooke she loves green and purple, hell they were her wedding colors and second, which I did not know, she has an affinity for birds.  Sometimes things just work out perfectly.

I'm pretty sure that Brooke was happy with her dove - I think I saw a tear, which is pretty awesome because Brooke is a very composed person.  I love you Brooke, thanks so much for your friendship and support.  I am eternally grateful!

Thanks!

Next up: Jill

My Girls....

It has been awhile, but not without good excuse.  Last week seemed to blow by and then I was gone for the weekend for a much needed and anticipated girls weekend. I've mentioned my girls before: Annemarie, Angie, Brooke, Hea, and Jill.  They are my girls from my HNTB days and I have known them for nearly 10 years now. There is no price for what they are worth to me.  We try to get together every 6 months or so - Jill living up in Chicago and Hea down in Lexington.  To commemorate our 10th anniversary and just to say I love you, I painted and framed a canvas for each of the girls.  Each day I will highlight one of those paintings.  Today will be Annemarie.

Now it is weird how things work out, but I thought long and hard about each of my girls, where they were in their life and how I see them. Along with my blessings and prayers for them and what I see for their future.  So when I thought about it I saw the Tree of Life being the perfect muse for my painting for Annemarie.  The beautiful thing about art is that you don't have to recreate the wheel - you can take things that exist and make them unique because they are YOUR interpretation.  Here is Annemarie's Tree of Life:

There are few reasons why I chose the Tree of Life, the first being that Annemarie is adorably pregnant and expecting her second daughter at the end of April.  The second is that she is evolving as a working woman, part time working woman/stay at home mom to full fledge stay at home mom.  If you have ever made this transition, it is much, much harder than it seems.  Lastly, I am blessed enough to have a bible study with Annemarie and my other girlfriend Brooke, which is not only taking our friendship to a whole different level, but helping us, Annemarie flourish and set deep roots as a Christian. Thank you Annemarie for your friendship and your love - I am truly blessed!

Next up: Angie!

Thanks!

Henrietta

I loved Mr. Rogers, I did, really I did.  More than Sesame Street, or the Electric Company, the Muppets, I just loved Mr. Rogers.  I still do- can you imagine being his child?  While I realize no parent is perfect, I can't imagine that him at his worst is me at my best.  I still like to watch him, his calm, hypnotic voice, so patient and kind.  Ahhh...the days before all these crazy characters.  My point, yes I have a point.  One of his characters, X the Owl lived in a tree, Henrietta Pussycat lived next door.  

In honor of my lovely friend Heather's birthday, I painted her an owl, I named her Henrietta because it seemed fitting, her personality reminded me more of Henrietta than X.  She reminded me of the whole scene in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.  If you don't know Heather, also affectionately known as H.Lo, she is truly one of the most creative souls I know. She now lives ALL the way in Seattle and needless to say I don't see her much, but she has helped me out quite a bit with technical questions on websites and blogging, in addition to setting up my custom blog header.  So as a thank you and for her special day I present Henrietta the Owl.

Henrietta

Don't forget the auction ends tonight for my painting on the blog Calling for Justice, so if you are interested, please take a look, all proceeds are going to a wonderful group, IJM.  

I am nearly done with my last contest painting - just a few finishing touches.  So will get that out and up here as soon as I can.  Another quick note, don't forget all Christmas orders must be in by November 14th.  I've gotten a few orders already, so please contact me if you are interested for something for Christmas.  Enough announcements - thanks again and have a great day!

New beginnings and an end

Today is Monday - I decided to title this post new beginnings because there are so many going on right now.  First up, Ryan left this morning to start his new job, almost six weeks to the day. I'd like to say that we spent a lot of time together over the last six weeks, but bless my husbands hardworkin' heart, he was busy most of the time with side jobs, projects, interviews and such. One thing I could count on was help in the morning.  He would get up and make the kids breakfast, while I helped get people ready.  The ultimate divide and conquer.  That ship has sailed so to speak, so now I fly solo or sail solo depending on how you look at it. I decided since I wouldn't have help, I should get up earlier than the kids (which is hard with my early risers) and get myself dressed and start my day.  We did that and it worked, but I am tired.  

It was a pretty lazy weekend, I painted a bit, got frustrated with one of my pieces, I decided to start over, but have to wait until my canvas' come in on Tuesday.  In the mean time I worked on a piece I am especially proud of, the inspiration is a bit heartbreaking, but I pray that it provides peace and a bit of joy to the recipients.  I started my contest paintings, I've gotten them sketched out and one of them started.  They are such cute ideas, I can't wait until I finish them.  When I first start a painting, I have a final image in my head and for a big chunk of the painting process I am frustrated because I want to get it to that point!  I also have to feel out some of the details.  The first time I do any theme it is so time consuming to get the process down, which is why it takes so much more time for custom work.  Once I have done it - additional pieces or replications take so much less time because my layering process and how I do certain aspects of the painting have been figured out.  So I hope to have my latest paintings done by this time next week.  So I can ship them out to their prospective homes.  I also have a few Christmas presents I need to get started on, so hopefully next week I will have a bit of time to flesh those out.  

In the mean time Ms. Leslie came over with her adorable daughter and shot a few pictures of my latest vignette that I finished up for Drew.  

The full piece!

Almost got it!

She also shot a few pics of my little drawers I painted last year for Penny for Christmas.  My mom wanted to get Penny something that would hold her doll stuff.  So we found this unfinished crate and drawer system.  Mom was my biggest cheerleader, so she entrusted me with the painting.  I am so happy with how it turned out and it was a special gift from my mom to Penny.  Something we will cherish.  I've wanted some pictures that do it justice and now I finally have them.  

Pretty purple vine flower

Thanks again to Leslie for being my photographer extraordinaire and turning them out so quickly.  

So for now the house is quiet, the little ones are busy playing together and I am enjoying some coffee, from my new coffee maker.  It was a surprise from Ryan that I am geeked to no end about.  Our other maker was on its way out and I have been ogling this little fella for a while. I love this coffee maker!!!!  

I had a great end to my birthday  - Ryan and I got a chance to see Burn after Reading.  It was great and in typical Cohen brothers style, very entertaining.  I recommend seeing it, if you are a black comedy type of person.  Brad Pitt's character is hilarious and I don't know if it was really as hilarious as I thought it was or if it was the fact that Brad Pitt was playing this type of character.  Anyway you slice it, he was great.  I enjoyed it immensely! 

So Annakah ended with a breakfast at Perkins, the Colts pulling a win out of you know where and seeing a great movie with my darling husband eating popcorn, raisinets and soda for dinner, the kids going to bed without a hitch and a great nights sleep.  What more can a girl ask for??

That's it for now, have a great day, thanks!

Big dork

This is a phrase my husband often uses for me. "You are such a big dork."  It isn't a criticism, really, its more of a term of endearment.  I have a tendency to get excited over silly, ridiculous things.  For example:

This is my new angle brush - I am so excited, it is made from synthetic mongoose hair.  Who knew such a thing existed?  All I know is that it is going to be awesome to do lettering with and I have a LARGE letter project I am starting this evening.  

With that LARGE lettering project comes a BIG canvas, and with a BIG canvas comes the need for a BIG paint brush for backgrounds and covering large areas.  That is where this fella comes into play.  I've never had a BIG wash brush and I am happy to add this to my collection.  

Last, but not least is Mr. Angular brush - it is significantly bigger than the one I mentioned above, but thats because it does different things!  This guy will take the place of the one I purchased a month ago that will be retired to the preschool paintbox.  It was a good brush, but now this one is better!

I am so excited to use my new brushes.  There was one that I secretly covet, but just couldn't justify spending $50, yes I said $50 on.  Not until Ryan gets a job. So until then, I will just think of you often my little brush...

Big Happy Dork!

Anyway, I mailed out my painting for the Walters and just had a new order placed, so I am off do some painting.  Until then...

Thanks!

a machine

Hello!

Well, I have been very busy - I finished a quick piece for a friend, waiting to hear back from a client, finished all my frames and will get them attached and ready to go tonight and am progressing on my work-in-progress projects.  It is really going well.  

Tomorrow Jon starts school, we got up at our appointed time, got ready, fed and cleaned in record time.  As Ryan asked, is this for Jon or you?  Actually it is for me, I am LAZY in the morning and while I had full faith in Jon, not so much in me. Can I tell you what I am not looking forward too?  Packing lunch each night, ugh - it is so not part of my routine and it isn't like he'll take leftovers.  Can I tell you what I am excited about?  Jon and Drew not fighting every morning, I mean its like a ritual, we get up, we get along for about an hour and then we fight, about everything.  Oh yes, peace will be restored in the Page house, thank goodness.  That is until Penny starts to steal Drew's toys - then it will get ugly again.  Ah the cycle of life- like a friend once said - there are reasons why some animals eat their young.  

Well I have a visit on Thursday from Lady Leslie and her lovely littlen' Meredith and we will be photographing all of my finished pieces! Yeah!  I just can't wait to see how they turn out - and then in turn show them to you!

Okay, signing off - Ryan has another interview this morning, keep the good vibes going!  Oh and if you have any ideas for my September contest, send 'em in.  I have had one submission, and its a good one, but I'd like to see what else you've got!  

Thanks!

on a roll...

So as fast as I get frustrated, it passes.  I am done!!! I finished my art piece for the Walters, and I can't wait for them to see it.  Of course now need to get the mad skills of my in house carpenter to cut and nail my frame for me to finish and attach to complete the piece.  I am very geeked about this piece, as if you couldn't tell.

You know, some days are so productive, and others - ehh.  This evening as we are inspired by the Olympics I have finished my piece, started my vignette for Drew, sketched out a new idea for a friends secret christmas project, and started a christmas present for a friend, I have been a very productive girl and its only 10:30!!!!  Go Annie!!  I also had one of my bestest friends Jen over this evening for dinner, she spied the piece I did for Ryan for our anniversary and was picking my brain for a large custom piece for her living room - so we're thinking a large 24 x 24 canvas, flanked by two 8 x 24 canvas' vertically hung - grading color from each small canvas to the larger middle canvas - I am so very excited at the chance to do something this scale and yet again a different, more interpretive art.  

Tomorrow I am picking up my images from my lady friend Leslie - who does not yet have a website, but is a fantastic photog and if you live in central Indiana, you need to hire this girl before she books up!  I can't wait to share my latest cause ribbon and ultimately my newest custom piece for baby "Oak."  

Okay, I have a 400 freestyle to watch - have a great night!!!

its out of the park...

After a long, but wonderfully productive day I capped off the evening by finishing Jon's baseball vignette! I promised I would have a little less me and bit more Penny Pickles - so here it is:

The boys bedroom is slowly becoming a "big boys" bedroom and they are definitely showing their affinity for sports. That being said it made sense to do tiles that reflect their interests. They are my 4 x 4 canvas tiles, mounted on white matte board. I wanted to do a "scene" instead of just the typical balls and sports accessories - I mean he is my kid, why not make him a little something special.  Next up will be Drew's football vignette and I have had a request for a golf one as well.  I know nothing about golf, so I am going to have to do my research.

I don't think I'll get much work done this evening, we have family in from the Boston area and our hosting them and some of the local fam for a big dinner.  Tomorrow though, Ryan is going to see Dark Knight and I get to cozy on the couch watching What Not To Wear and TalkSoup.  A secret confession is that I love to paint with that stuff on - I don't really watch it obviously, but listening to it is entertaining nonetheless.  

I have a bit of stuff to do before the family comes...until next time!

Miles Tiles

Here is where it all began, I little idea I had, that developed into a birthday present, that turned out so nice I decided to make a company out of it.  The birth of Penny Pickles.

So my dear friend Betsy, has an adorable little fella, named Miles. Miles is two weeks older than my Penny.  Betsy had painted a canvas for Miles' room that has the happiest little bee you've ever seen. So taking that idea a step further I created my great outdoors theme.  I added the orange chip board letters to give it a three dimensional quality and mounted it on a double canvas of white and chocolate brown.  The result speaks for itself.  

Fortunately Betsy is also a fabulous photographer, so she generously took a few pictures of the finished product for us to enjoy!