Kaden

So I have been painting, SURPRISE - I wanted to do a little painting for my nephew Kaden, who is about 15 months old. His room is done in navy, dark red and beige and in typical boy fashion: sports. His dad, my brother in law, is the only other sports lover in the family, so I appreciate this about him very, very much. We are few in number so we need to stick together and anything I can do to help Kaden along is fine with me. I decided to do his Christmas painting on an 8 x 8 canvas and modify my sports theme to suit their favorite sports. It allowed me to stretch my painting legs so to speak because I am working on a very large canvas (another Christmas present) that is different from anything I have ever done before - which is terribly scary and fun. So without further ado -Kaden:

Thanks!

Introducing...

It was brought to my attention a few days ago from an old jr. high friend that I should offer gift certificates.  I don't know why this didn't occur to me sooner, but its BRILLIANT!!!  Of course - if you are interested in getting something unique for a friend, but don't want to make decisions for them - order a gift certificate!  I can provide them in any dollar amount - and I can also give advice if you aren't sure where to start.  What an awesome gift for baby shower or for new parents, that doesn't involve clothing that gets outgrown in three weeks!  

Once my technical advisor gets home from work, he will update my site - its ready and waiting for him.  So there you go - some new Penny Pickles news! Nothing earth shattering, but news nonetheless.  

Thanks!

Gabriella

I was approached by a very good old friend, Caryn, to do a nursery piece for her cousin's new baby girl, Gabriella. A bit of background on us, Caryn and I met after I had Jon and she had her son Noah, who is a week older than Jon.  We met at a breast feeding support group and after a few weeks of talking we found out that we lived a few blocks apart in the same neighborhood - she and several others became my "booby buddies, " that made that first year of motherhood so much more bearable and fun!  Since then, we've had more kids, we've moved and our babies are now first graders, but we've kept in touch.  Of course if any of you have school aged children, you realize how challenging it is to get together for "play dates." That being said, we've been able to see or talk a few times a year and it is one of those friendships where time doesn't seem to matter.  

When Caryn asked me to meet up for coffee and discuss her cousin's piece, I looked forward to both catching up and brainstorming.  I was thrilled - I know, I'm always thrilled, but really I just love the fact that I get to do so many custom pieces. What was so fun was that Caryn gave me a basic idea of what she wanted, but really let me run with my own ideas.  I always surprise myself because at first it's all blank, and then I just can't stop the ideas - it all comes together almost instantly.  I liken it to anything else, the more you do or stretch your creative "muscles" the better you get or the easier it comes to you.  Anyway - Caryn wanted flowers, she wanted something that would go nicely over a crib or changing table, and the room had chocolate brown and pink in it and espresso stained furniture.  I decided with this piece to step away from my Gerber daisies and do a flower similar to a dogwood blossom.  I used a variety of pinks, peaches and yellows with my trademark "dots" - as Jon calls them and added some fun chocolate brown polka dots and super colorful butterflies.  The result was adorable!  What I love best about this piece is that it embodies what I try to achieve with all my paintings - something that will transition from nursery to toddler to child.  This piece with no doubt go beautifully in Gabriella's nursery, but I can see this canvas still being relevant when she is 7 or 8.  I'll stop going on and just share these pictures!

Happy

Little

Butterflies!

Thank you Caryn for allowing me to do this beautiful canvas for your cousin.  It was a true treat and I am so happy with how it turned out and so flattered that you liked it as much as you did.  I am so excited to hear about how it looks in Gabriella's nursery.  Thanks again!

Gimme a "M", gimme a "A", gimme a "C"

Finally some Penny Pickles art!  Not that you mind seeing my angels, but lets be honest - its the painting that brings you back...right?

It was rhetorical so you don't have to answer that!  

I was contacted a couple of weeks ago by a previous client, Steph that wanted me to make something for her newest nephew.  She wanted something with sports, but wondered if we could tweak my current sports theme - just not to pigeonhole this little fella into one sport or another. I have been wanting to do a theme like this - I just haven't had the time.  I am so glad that Steph asked - because it was a lot of fun to do.

So for little Maclain, we did "MAC", since that is his planned nickname - they asked for soccer, football and basketball, with a medium blue background.  I am so happy with the outcome:

Thanks again Steph!  I mean I am always excited to work on things for my clients, it means a lot when they come back and ask me to do paintings for gifts, when they do it a third time - I am just touched and humbled.  I appreciate your business more than you know!  It's good on a girls ego, it is!  (Sorry we've just watched ALL six Star Wars movies in order here at the Page house so a bit of Yoda-ease is coming out, it is!

Thanks again and next up Gabrielle!

these shoes aren't made for walking..

To keep with my "girl" series, I wanted share something I did for my friend Meg.  Meg's birthday was last Thursday, so it makes complete sense that I would posting her birthday gift and publicly celebrate her day a week late!  Right?  I actually was able to give her, her gift on her special day and enjoy a rare lunch out with no children - we're so naughty we even had wine at LUNCH!  I've been a bit backed up with sharing photos, but I am happy to share this one with you now!

So for Meg, I wanted to do something quirky and fun, something she enjoys and would put a smile on her face when she sees it.  I came up with this little lady:

The slingback, peep toe heel - not much more on this planet that is pretty than this for a girls wardrobe!

Okay, so I really like shoes, but Meg LOVES shoes - I don't have an official head count - but I am guessing it is somewhere around being able to cover the feet of a small village in Africa.  So this little beauty seemed more than appropriate.  

With all seriousness though, Meg has become one of my best friends and our relationship is one of those that I believe has come at a time when I needed it most.  Meg fills a lot of the voids I have since losing mom - they have quite a few of the same qualities, so even though our friendship is only a few years old, there is a comfort there of a decades long relationship. So for you Meg, I wish you a very happy birthday and a wonderful year ahead!  I love you!

Thanks!!!

My Girls...part five - the finale

Last, but certainly not least is Heather, fondly referred to as Hea.  Hea is another one of my HNTB girls - she, like Brooke and Angie, worked in the GIS department of our company.  Hea is a quiet, reserved sort of gal with THE best Kentucky/Southern girl accent you'll ever hear.  Hea and I were pregnant at the same time twice, with her first (my Jon) and her second (my Penny).  Hea moved back to Kentucky several years back, and I have been fortunate, along with the other girls to have been able to go down, visit and share in her amazing southern hospitality.  Heather's two girls, Katie and Abby are spitting images of their mother and just as beautiful as can  be.  Her husband, Sean, is quite possibly the nicest man on the planet.  He's always grinning, happy and you feel like best friends on contact.  They are truly a wonderful family.  

Back to Hea though, since this post is suppose to be about her, I have to say that there is much that I have learned from Hea.  She has a passion for her family, extended and otherwise - if you are her friend, you ARE her friend and you know it.  She has this amazing connection with her husband - they are going to be the two that are 90 and still looking like they just met and are sooo in love.  I admire her for keeping that passion alive - it is so easy to take for granted your spouse, especially when you have kids.  You both get put on the back burner - by her example it helps me keep my passion in check with my husband, remembering what it was like when we first met and keeping that alive and well in our relationship.  I also have to say that Hea has an amazing talent as a writer. It was something she was pretty tentative about sharing with us girls, but she finally did and she is incredible. The genre of her writings is truly an area I hadn't read before, but believe me when I say it keeps your interest throughout.  I am truly proud of her and her accomplishments and look forward to what is to come in her career.  

For Hea, I chose to paint a lotus flower - the lotus, to me, is very sensual plant -something that I think Hea embodies - all the petals, layers - she is a quiet person, but once you get close to see and find all these layers to her, I also see her blooming, coming into her own with her writing career and her role as wife and mother - just so natural and perfectly fitting.  

I have to say that I forgot to have Hea's painting photographed, I was so damn excited I boxed it up without even thinking (this is not the first time I have done this!) so I had Heather snap a few for this post.  

Hea's Lotus

I love you Hea, miss you and can't wait to see you in March!!  Take care, enjoy this beautiful snow and thanks!!!

My Girls...part four

After a bit of break, I realized I am so behind.  I mean, Monday was Jill's birthday and I should have posted this then, but here I am today realizing that tomorrow is another friends birthday and I have a painting that I have to post for her, but won't be able to because this one is going up late.  I'll get it figured out one of these days.  Plus this is a nice problem to have, I have so many paintings to post and not enough time to post them.  Not to bad.

I'm thinking about Jill this morning as I am eating my organic vanilla yogurt and my homemade granola from my yoga studio.  Jill.  Where do I begin?  Like my other girls I met Jill at HNTB.  She was an intern and she was doing her grad work at IUPUI.  We all immediately took to Jill because she is fantastic.  One of the most genuine people you will ever meet.  She was interesting too, she was my first vegan I ever encountered.  Now we all have run into "vegetarians" or even some of those people who think they are but still eat fish and chicken.  Not Jill, she was vegan.  She didn't eat meat, use any products with animal by products and doesn't wear leather, or anything that may have originated in some way to an animal.  I found it fascinating.  I also realized that all she ate was tortilla chips and salsa for lunch, so it was intimidating to figure out what we should fix when we started our monthly girls night.  We started out with at least two vegan things - something Jill would bring and one of us would brave the world of TVP or tofu or carob.  At first it might as well have been called spaghetti or stir fry night - we didn't have much imagination.  Jill will admit that if she hadn't been with Dan her wonderful, handsome, vegan husband, she'd be living on chips and salsa. She's a simple girl.  Our food choices expanded to all things vegan and our meals became quite extensive, chocolate cakes, chili's, dips, breads, sides, casseroles - there is SO much you can do vegan.  I love Jill for opening my eyes to a whole world of options out there.  Now she hasn't turned me vegan, but I really do like to cook vegan.  I also always tell her that if I had to kill it and prepare it myself I would be vegan, plain and simple.  In my world meat comes from a Styrofoam container or on a platter at the meat dept.  It doesn't resemble its former self so- in this case ignorance is truly bliss.  

Beyond being vegan Jill is as active as they come (I can hear her laughing), but seriously she is always spinning, walking, running, taking classes, kickboxing - I get tired of thinking about it.  She is a creative soul that has the most amazing heart and if anything that is one of the best things I have learned from her.  To love, love all and love it well.  She is a wonderful friend, rarely forgetting to send a card or surprise just when you need it.  I admire her passion for her beliefs, her love of her family, the relationship she has with her sister and her carefree attitude. I tease her because she can be a bit helter skelter about things (a la 22 containers of armour-all wipes in the backseat of her car) but I truly love her for it and it gives me the boost to let go a bit and relax.  

When I was thinking about doing a painting for Jill it immediately came to mind that I have gained so much wisdom from our friendship and that I find Jill to be that perfectly quirky friend that I love dearly.  So I thought lets do another Owl.  I decided to match her Owl to her very cool, black, white and red kitchen.  It is such a wonderful hub of her house - so many spices and goodies to make the most basic of tofu taste delectable.  So I present to you Ruby, created by me with love for Jill - love you!!!!

Thanks again Jill for your friendship and love!

Last up, but definitely not least: Heather!

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...part two

Okay so I lied I didn't do it everyday.  Each day seems to escape me - it is unreal.  But my next girl is Angie.  Angie is another one of my HNTB girls, she now works for Ball State. She lives on this fantastic little farm, she has horses, and chickens and cats and dogs and is even thinking about goats. Oh how I love goats, I would love to have enough property to have some goats, I wanted to buy one at the State Fair a few years back - they only run about 30-50 dollars, but Ryan talked me out of it.  I wasn't properly zoned to have one anyway... So I allow my inner farmer to live vicariously through Angie and her family.  

Angie has two little girls nearly the same age as Jon and Drew and they are ADORABLE!!!!  Angie and her husband Aaron are a hoot and they are all around a wonderful family to spend time with.  So as our girls weekend was approaching I wanted to think of something that seemed "Angie" to me.  She has this great collection of what I call "Kitchen Chickens," I am sure they is some better name for it - but that's what I call it.  Seeing that she enjoyed those, not to mention the farm that she has and the abundance of roosters she has in her chicken population at the moment I thought a rooster would be a perfect fit.  Beyond the obvious, I can not tell you how much I admire Angie, she works all day, gets her girls to and from school, manages to keep up her house, get food on the table AND take care of her farm.  I know that her husband helps, but I know that Angie is the glue.  I admire her desire for living more simiply - working on her farm as a more full time thing and expanding into organic farming.  I liken Angie to a rooster on a farm, in charge, overseeing and makings sure all is safe and sound.  She is just a very, very cool person.  So my painting today is my rooster for Angie - I love you and hope you enjoy it!

I will admit that I painted this THE day we left for girls weekend, I had another one done, and I decided I didn't like it as I was wrapping them up.  So I decided to start over and I am MUCH happier with this Mr. Chicken.  Ah amen to last minute decisions.

Thanks again and have a great day!

Next up: Brooke

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!

Pretty Little Paige

In December we had our sweet little friend Paige's birthday.  Along with some High School Musical accessories, I painted her a canvas of her very own.  She is the last of the Hazelrigg birthdays, we celebrated Anna's and Charlie's earlier this year.  I matched her painting to her adorable PBKids valances and used a lower case "P", cuz I think it's short and spunky - just like Paige.  We love Paige and so does our little Drew - the two of them have gone to school together since the were about 20 months old.  They are like Mutt and Jeff - Paige, tiny and Drew, not so tiny, they are of the same mold though and Drew is fiercely protective of Paige.  Our secret hope is that they get married one day just so I can say that I have a daughter in law named Paige Page.  Here they are doing what they do best - being silly:

Here is Miss Paige's painting:

Happy Day to Paige!  Stay tuned for more art!

Thanks!

Four!!!!!

I am excited to show you another one of my Christmas gifts.  One I am pretty proud of, since I know nothing about what I painted.  I have a wonderful friend name Jen.  Jen and I have known each other for since we were about 11 or 12 - so a little over 20 years, which makes me feel a tad mature if you know what I mean, to have known someone other than my family for that long.  Needless to say, Jen is one of my very best friends.  She is known as Auntie Griff to my kids and she is officially Cyd's girlfriend and home away from home. (With all honestly he tolerates us, I believe, because she comes over and he goes to her house, but I digress)  Jen was an essential person for me and my family during the time my mom lived with us and ultimately died. She would come over and have dinner, visit with mom, mom felt very comfortable with Jen, so the turban would come off and mom would be "big mare" once again.  My mom would always sing that stupid girl scout song - "make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold..." when I would talk about Jen.  She was so happy that we had remained in touch and such good friends.  When we were in the days prior to losing mom Jen would show up and do what "good polish girls do, we cook!" and made several dinners, breakfast and miscellaneous snacks for me, my family, and my brother, Anna and dad.  She took the kids with her for a slumber party and Wii fest the night before mom died and kept them all day, the day of her passing.  She took time off work to watch the kids for me when we had mom's wake and funeral. 

She has been instrumental in my healing and I quite honestly don't know what I would do with out her.  I love her and she is the sister I was never given by blood.  All that being said, I wanted to do something special for her for Christmas.  She had mentioned eons ago about doing a golf painting.  So I thought, eureka!  So I did a golf scene with her nickname - Jen is quite the golfer and I could go on about her handicap and scores and such, but I have no idea what the hell it all means so I won't waste your time - but she's good and she loves it.  You would think that since I live on a golf course that I would be able to paint one up in a jiffy, but I didn't like the tee box I am on so I went online and found a beautiful course in Connecticut to model my scene. Without further ado....

I had to give my golfer a "pouf" of hair, because if you know Jen, you know that she has a pony tailed "pouf" at all times, it is adorable!

Four!

The dreaded sand trap!

I am pretty sure that Jen loved her gift and I am so very happy that it turned out, especially since I am, ahem "handicapped" when it comes to understanding golf.  Pun intended!  I believe it has found its spot above her desk in her office at home.  A perfect spot for a hobby/sport tribute!  There is more where this came from, so stay tuned and thanks!

 

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

Tis the season - so I have been working on a bunch of Christmas presents, for me, for others, and well some I can show and some I can't. Which is frustrating!!!  I am going to share this little one, even though it is yet to be sent out. I am fairly confident that with vague background information that this painting will not be "discovered" by the potential recipient.  That being said...

I'd like to introduce my newest theme - "Going on a bear hunt":

"b's" woods

THE BEAR

Rabbits, rabbits, lots o' rabbits

My father in law tells a mean version of "going on a bear hunt, " he really gets into it, leading the group of kids (and sometimes newly initiated family members...but I digress) in running, slooshing, sneaking through the woods to and away from the bear!  My own father began telling stories to Jon about a bear that liked to eat every one's pancakes.  Jon had a slight addiction to pancakes a few years back, but I am happy to say with intervention we have been able to get that under control and branch out his breakfast options to eggs, waffles and pop tarts.  In my dad's story the bear would sneak in your house and eat all your pancakes, or in another version he would knock on your door and demand all your pancakes.  So seeing that kids love things with bears, I thought I would do my own version of the woods and pay tribute to the bear.  It is a perfect theme for a room with no real theme.  If you know me, my children don't have "themed" rooms, they have simple colorful walls, bedding and such, so that as they get older I'm not replacing comforters and lamps and things with their current obsession.  It has worked so far, but we'll see.  Now please don't think I am against themed rooms, that isn't the case at all - but I like to try to create themes that will work in most any room at most any stage of a child's life.  I think this is one of those themes.  I mean who doesn't love a friendly bear, some adorable rabbits and a wise old owl?  I am looking forward to hearing what the recipient thinks of this little fella.  I am very happy with how it all turned out!

Only two weeks away until Christmas!  I can hardly believe it!  I hope you all have a great day and thanks!