08-08-08?

I was contacted by one of Ryan's co-workers, Courtney. Courtney is a delightful group, who recently got married and spends her "free"time in a Christian singing group. ( I quote that because I believe she spends most of her time that isn't in the office singing) Courtney asked if I could do a painting to memorialize their wedding date, colors and flowers. I was happy to oblige and created the following little 8 x 8 gem:

Her flowers with light green hydrangea's with dark purple, white and tangerine iris', her girls wore tangerine dresses and it was the perfect color combo for a summer wedding. Sometimes I wish I could get married again, if for no other reason to plan out another wedding. Curious why I put a question mark in my title? Well I'll tell you, I'm 2/2 so far this year - Courtney sent me an email with the specifics and details - which included the date. I sent the painting and packaging to work with Ryan to give to Courtney - she loved it, but well, uh, the date was wrong. She got married on 08-08-09. I called Ryan towards the end of the day, because I hadn't heard from him and I was concerned she was displeased. So he answered and told me the problem - I freaked, I could have sworn she told me 08-08-08. Good thing I'm an organized gal - I located the email and I was right - she sent me the wrong date. I find this hilarious for two reasons first - this is my second painting this year that I had to modify the date and second she got married less than six months ago - it just made me chuckle. So Ryan brought it home, I fixed it up and it now displays the appropriate date. It was really no problem to fix it at all - you'd be surprised how easy you can make corrections. In any event - thank you Courtney - I really enjoyed doing you little painting - I wish you love and happiness in all the days of your marriage!

Fortunately my next painting does not include a date - so at least I have that going for me! Thanks!

McCartney's Watchful Princess

I am really excited to show you my latest painting.  It is for a little girl, McCartney, who is 2 1/2 years old.  I was contacted by Mike, whom I went to high school with and reconnected on Facebook.  I seriously love Facebook.  He said that he and his wife wanted to do something unique and special for McCartney since they don't get to see her as often as they would like. I am all about unique and special! He checked out my Completely Art page and mentioned he liked this painting (now that I am looking at it I am horrified at the photograph and may need Ryan to bring it home from the office so I can have Leslie take a crack at it with her new lens). After thinking about it for a bit, I thought that while replicating that painting wouldn't be difficult, it was a bit mature for a two year old.  Since I am a fan of trying to make something that will last, I thought why not add a bit of something to make it more age appropriate and beyond.  So I decided it would be neat to have a tower and princess leaning on her balcony looking out into the waters and at the moon.  Maybe she is a night owl, maybe she has insomnia, maybe she's waiting for her prince to return, whichever the interpretation - I am very happy with the result.  What I am happiest about is the reaction I received when I delivered the painting to Mike's house this afternoon.  I have to say I am always nervous to ship out my paintings, I just don't know what the recipient will think.  Art is so subjective and you never know what people envision in their minds vs. what they actually receive. So when I delivered the painting today, I am please to say that they were really happy with the finished work.  What I think I love the best is the look on their faces, like, "you really did that?" Perhaps I don't look like a "typical" artist, whatever the case, I am pleased as peas that they liked it and I can't wait to hear what McCartney thinks. 

Thanks again Mike and Lee Ann for letting me create this fun piece. I really had fun with it and I am so glad that you like it.  Thanks again for letting Penny and I crash your house - your family is wonderful!  So much fun!  I look forward to seeing you again soon and maybe even working on something for you!  Thanks!

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!!!

A-I-N-S-L-E-Y

An order had been submitted about a month ago for a seven tile spread that would match a nursery valance. I was thrilled because first I have wanted to work on a large canvas spread - 7 letters makes up a pretty substantial piece of wall art and second the bedding was just absolutely adorable!  Abstract with swirls and flowers and shapes - just beautiful.  I jumped at the chance and wanted to share with you one of my very favorite pieces I have done to this point.  

When Sarah, my client, contacted me and attached an image of the valance in the room and told me that the room was painted pink, I immediate had ideas on how to matte and hang this piece.  Normally, I would matte these pieces on white matte board.  I do this for a few reasons - first off the white usually pops of any colored wall and second it holds all the tiles even so that you don't have to make a zillion holes or use a laser level to get the plumb.  I thought with this spread though that it would be really beautiful to double matte it using both white and chocolate brown matte board and attaching pink polka dot ribbon - the piece can be hung from the ribbon - but I also added holes to the back of the matte board for a more secure hang, not to mention keeping the matte board and canvas' from warping.  It turned out better than I could have hoped.

I lucked out when I asked, Leslie, my photographer, to do an "action" shot and her daughter's bedroom just happens to be pink!! Perfect!

S-L close up

Bottom view

I received a nice note from Sarah and Matt regarding their painting (and for the record the box was HUGE!):

Hi Ann,

 

We received the painting yesterday and you were right the box was huge:)  We love the painting. It awesome to be able to display her name in a unquie and beauitful way. It matches her room perfectly! It is so much better than just putting wood letters up on the wall it it will last a lifetime. You did a beauiful job on the painting and provided excellect customer service. Thanks so much.

Matt and Sarah Hall

Thank you so much to the Hall's for allowing me to work on something so special for your daughter - it was so much fun to do!  It was absolutely my pleasure!!!! Enjoy!

I still have a birthday post and another girlfriend to cover, so stay tuned, I'm not done yet!  Also, I've tweeked the website a bit, added stuff mostly, check it out and enjoy!

Thanks!

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

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!

 

Thank You 2008

While I could do a whole series on being thankful, I thought that it would be appropriate to take this moment to thank all of my customers of 2008.  It has been a heck of a year, but I think that everything happens for a reason - it isn't without purpose.  I would have never guessed this time last year that Penny Pickles Art would have been as successful as it was, that I would have clients that were not just friends and family, but complete strangers from referrals or from plain old cyber space (which in turn many have become friends!) What began as a sort of therapy to get through the days of caring for my mom, something else to focus on and get caught up in, has become so much more.  

It is amazing to me how as soon as I finish a piece and think, "Huh, I guess I can catch up on creating new themes, updating my website, etc. a new order comes in. My clients have been so truly wonderful to work with - so creative, so trusting, so patient.  I am floored with every order that someone thinks enough of me and my art to pay me to do a piece for them.  I have been able to stretch my artist talents with not only children's art, but some pretty amazing, inspirational pieces that have touched me more than I can explain.  2008 has truly been a blessing of a year.  Thank you to everyone that placed an order, told a friend or passed on a business card, I am so very, very grateful.

2009 has so many possibilities.   There are plans in the works of updating my website, creating more artistic and attractive packaging and best of all an etsy site (with much prompting from some friends).  I can't say for certain when all this will take place, but hopefully sometime soon.  I'm not complaining though - I'd rather have orders and opportunities to work with clients, instead of working with cardboard!  So keep checking back for updates and new pieces.  Penny Pickles has a few tricks up her sleeve that I believe will make 2009 even better than 2008.  

Thanks again, Take care and Happy New Year from me to you!

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!

let's hear it for the boys....

Yes, I have returned after having fallen off the face of the Internet.  We went for a long visit to the in-laws in Tennessee.  It was interesting not checking email, facebook, web page statistics, etc.  It was freeing, really and with all honesty I didn't miss being "connected" every second of every day.  We are back though, it is nice to be home.  We got in late last night and this morning we got up and went to get our tree from Dull's Tree Farm, where we have been going to since Jon was a baby.  After the Colt's game, we need to pick up Cyd from his doggie hotel and commence decorating and grocery shopping (ugh).  

In the mean time I am so happy to be able to share these canvas' with you.  One of my contest winners, Steph, was kind enough to order two canvas' for her nephews for Christmas.  They were 6 x 6 canvas' with simple wooden frames.  The first was my Vroom, Vroom, Whoosh theme - that Steph specifically asked to focus on trains.  

"G" transportation

I decided to give "G" an sleek express train instead of a freight or steam engine.

The whoosh in Vroom, Vroom, Whoosh

The second canvas I did was my Dino-rific theme.  Every time I do this theme, I have a few dinosaurs that I like to include, raptors and barosaurus, and certain scenery, volcanoes (which were Jon's idea in the first place).  I do like though, to try out new dinosaurs and I am especially happy with my triceratops and pterodactyl.  Yes,I am very pleased with how this canvas turned out.  

"T" in Dino-land

"T" is for triceratops!

Uh-oh - it's going to blow -good thing I'm in water!

I love reviews - of course they've always been good, so I am fortunate - but I love them nonetheless.  Here is Steph's comments on the paintings she's received:

The paintings arrived!!! Oh and they are great! I can't WAIT to give them away at Christmas this year.  I am only disappointed that "G" and his parents won't be traveling since they are expecting a new baby in January and want to stay close to home, so we won't see their reaction in person.  

I'm so impressed with the way the colors on the dino-rific tile will go AWESOME with my nephew's room, even though we didn't know the room colors ahead of time! It's amazing and I love love love the little dino details. The teeth on the one in the water and the dots. The dots are always my favorite little touch!

The train on G's tile is perfect too.  I love the helicopter-- I don't think I'd notice the landing pad before and it's such a great touch! amazing!

Thanks so much again!!! The paintings are so great!!!! I love checking the blog and seeing all the other things you are doing too-- it's especially awesome to have the photos of the little details although having my own and having seen the two others in person, seeing photos does NOT do these paintings justice!!!

Thank YOU Steph - I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to have a repeat customer.  I really enjoyed working on these canvas' and like I said before it is always fun to tweak and change my existing themes.  I can't wait to hear how your family likes them, please drop me a note and let me know!  

I have a few more pieces to share in the days to come - I have a few busy weeks ahead of finishing up my own Christmas presents and doing a large piece for a new client.  I hope every one's holiday was a good one - take care and thanks!

garden girls...

My girlfriend Angie put in a request to have me do two paintings for her girls for Christmas. I was so excited to do these, because Angie's family lives on a farm and her girls are two of the sweetest little farm hands you'd ever lay your eyes on.  Maddie, is my son Jon's age and Avie is a few months older than Drew.  So I've known these girls since they were babies. Angie had requested my flowers are de'vine theme, but wanted to add a bit of the great outdoors to it.  Specifically adding some butterflies and roly poly bugs, which are the girls favorites.  Her girls aren't afraid of dirt, but definitely have a girlie side.  It is always so much fun to customize themes that I have, especially when I know the children I am painting for.

Who doesn't love a lady bug picnic?  I have to admit, Betsy had this song on her website and I was just starting this painting at the same time.  I thought - hey I can have a lady bug picnic!  So this is mine.  And yes they are eating watermelon and chicken legs.

Acrobatic roly poly bugs!

Thanks again to Angie for ordering these fun little pieces!  I can't wait to hear how the girls like them after Christmas!  I am leaving for Tennessee this weekend - have a wonderful holiday and once again...

Thanks!

Princesses of all kinds

As much as I hate to push the delightful cupcakes and ice cream cones down, I have a few princesses I'd like you to meet.  Welcome Ava and Mia:

Mia the mermaid

This crab isn't so crabby!

Ava the dancing princess

A princess has to have a castle!

If you've followed my blog, then you know that I have a new addiction of playing on Facebook.  It has been amazing in putting me in touch with so many people of my past.  Grade school, High School, College - people that I was close to, but with distance and time, have lost touch. One of these individuals was Elizabeth.  I went to college with Elizabeth.  We were two of 7 or 8 in our Urban Planning program at the College of Architecture and Planning.  Elizabeth and I connected through Facebook and pretty soon there after she contacted me about doing two 5 x 7 canvas' for her nieces.  I was thrilled!  She wanted me to expand upon my existing themes of Under the Sea and the Dancing Princesses.  I was so excited too, because her nieces have the shortest, but prettiest names and I would be able to fit their whole name on the canvas.  I think you'll agree they are perfect for two little princesses!

Thanks again Elizabeth for letting me work on this fun little pieces. I hope that your nieces enjoy them very much!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and stay warm!

Thanks!

Sweet, Sweet maria!

I have art to share!!!!

This has been a difficult couple of weeks, between Ryan being on a business trip, Drew's birthday, countless meetings for school, friends and otherwise, and 6 paintings going on a once - it is no wonder I am as pooped as I am!  But after seeing these pieces finished it is sooo worth it!

First up Sweet Little Maria!

Miss Leslie, my photographer, asked a simple favor.  For me to do a canvas for her dear friend Jill, who just had her third child, but first baby girl.  Being a lady who knows how exciting it is to make the jump from Dinosaurs to Princesses, I was thrilled with the opportunity.  The request, she would like a 24 x 24 canvas, and she was visiting them in a week.  Now to be clear, Leslie did NOT put me under the week constraint, but she has been so awesome taking pictures left and right and turning them around in no time, how could I NOT deliver? Well, I did, in fact I finished the painting in three days.  Of course the third day involved seeing the AM on the good ol' clock, but I couldn't be happier with this outcome. The only details that I was given, was to do a pale pink background with a darker pink "M" and add cupcakes and ice cream cones in pastel colors.  I decided to do a pink on pink stripe with a scrolly "M", and have alternating cupcakes and ice cream cones in a variety of "flavors."  I also added my sparkle - which I have become fond of.  After using it in my Tiny Angels painting, I realized in the right setting, it adds just the right finishing touch.  Of course in addition to my sparkle, when I asked my son Jon what I needed to finish the painting "I know mom, you have to add your dots,"  I've become predictable - hopefully that isn't a bad thing!  I consider my dots to be my "flair" or my signature touch.  Honestly this is going to become a new theme -it is SOOOOOO cute.  I think you'll agree!  So here is sweet treats for a little sweetie:

Cupcakes and Ice cream - what could be yummier?

Strawberry Vanilla

Chocolate with Buttercream Glitter Frosting

Chocolate with Chocolate Chip

I haven't gotten to talk to Jill directly, but the way Leslie describes it, Jill opened the box, grabbed the piece, jumped up and ran into the nursery.   She started to take down the art pieces she bought that inspired this piece and wanted to hang it immediately!  I look so forward to hearing from her and posting her response later this week.  

In the mean time here is what else Leslie had to say:

I couldn't wait until tomorrow to tell you how much Jill and Gaspare loved the piece for Maria!  I was so proud to give it to them, and they truly appreciated it.  You cannot possibly imagine how closely the pink you used for the background matches the pink on Maria's walls.  It's like you were a little fly on her wall! 

I am really happy with this one - it had been a while since I had worked on such a big canvas - it was such a nice change of pace.  While I love working on my tiny paintings, it is a treat now and again to work on something so big.  I am thrilled that I had another satisfied customer - beyond just my good friend.  Ryan just laughs because all day Saturday I was like, "I wonder how they liked it?" I get so nervous, it isn't even funny.  I'm just a people pleaser. 

I have several more paintings, but need to get clearance from the clients to post those pics this week.  For now, just enjoy Miss Maria's sweet treat!

Thanks again to Leslie for her great photography, feeding me and my chickens and for the record, Leslie, I like the name William.

Thanks!

Night Fairies and Imps

I mailed out my final contest piece last week and in an effort to renew my confidence in the USPS, they got that painting to Steph in record time!  I couldn't believe it when she emailed me on Saturday and said that she had already gotten it!  Perhaps they heard they were on the bubble with me...

On to my canvas.  Steph had come up with the idea of Night fairies and Imps - so I thought this would be a quirky take on the fairy idea!  It was fun to do and I am so happy with how it turned out.  See for yourself:

Colorful, no?

Night Fairy

Steph followed up with this wonderful review:

Oh my gosh, we LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the painting! It is utterly adorable, and seeing it made me realize that you really can't appreciate--until you see one of your paintings up close--just how careful and detailed they are. The flowers with faces are so delightful, the color scheme really really pops, and we just know that our little R will absolutely love seeing this personalized canvas hanging above her bed! it's amazing! I love love love it! Thanks so much-- we're thrilled with the painting and couldn't have imagined anything cuter.

Thanks again,
Stephanie & Jamie

Yeah!  Thanks again for the awesome idea - it was such fun to work on and enabled me to something so different from what I've done before.  I can't wait to have my next contest!!!

I'm busy here working on Christmas orders and birthday presents!  Things have been busy and great and I owe it to all of you!  Thanks again for keeping Penny Pickles busy and inspiring me to do some adorable, unique art!

Happy Pickles!

Auction Time - finished!

Well the auction for the painting I did has ended and I am proud to say the painting went for....

$200!  

I am so thrilled!!! The winner, Kelli, will donate all those wonderful dollars to the IJM!  I will be shipping out the painting later today and can't wait for Kelli to receive it. Thank you to all the bidders and thank you to Amy for being called to do "something" and really doing "something" about it.  As my friend Leslie would say, "God's fingerprints are all over this one!"  I couldn't agree more!  Just wanted to share this exciting news!

Thanks and have a great weekend!

If you haven't been keeping up with my posts, please scroll down, I've been busy with all sorts of paintings!  Next up - final contest piece!

Auction Time

This is one of those times as a person that when it rains, it pours.  I hate having pushed my last work down on the blog roll - so if you haven't checked out my latest paintings, please scroll down I am so proud of them!

The reason I am posting so soon after my last post is that a painting I've done is being auctioned off on another blog.  Amy, the author of Calling for Justice, is a past client of mine.  I did one of my largest pieces for her earlier this summer, you can check it out here.  In any event, Amy is a stay at home mom of three little ones almost exactly the same age as mine.  She is an extremely faithful person and is an excellent representation of how we should act when called by God.  She is a supporter of the IJM or International Justice Mission.  This group is a watchdog and protector of oppressed individuals all over the world. I was stunned by some of the stories of the individuals they have helped and liberated.  It is so easy to become complacent and put blinders on to the world outside of our own.  Sure we're having one of the crappies financial times of our history, but most of us still have homes or a roof over our head, still have the free will to have or to look for a job.  Most of us don't have to send our children out to work or worse yet sell them because we can't afford to care for them ourselves.  It is tragic.  Amy is doing her part by starting a blog that just talks a bit about these atrocities and is a simple girl trying to raise money for a purpose higher than herself.  When she did her last auction, I was moved and immediately emailed her and asked if I could do a painting for her to auction off.  I would send the painting to whomever was the highest bidder.  I have been blessed and this was something so simple that I could do, for a greater good.  So without hesitate below is the painting up for auction.  

Noah's Window

The reason I chose the title is because I think the sense of hope that the dove gave to Noah and his family is very much the same type of hope that the money generated from this auction will bring.  The hope that IJM brings to so many that are oppressed in our world.  I'd like to think that Noah, although faithful, looked out a window of the ark and saw the dove with the olive branch and exclaimed, "Amen, Praise the Lord, for He is good and He will care for us all!"

So if you are interested please go to Amy's site, Calling for Justice, check out her links and if you really interested, place a bid.  The bidding begins now and ends on Thursday at 9 pm, PST. All of the proceeds of this auction are going to IJM, not a dime will go to me or to Amy, nor will it even go to shipping, so if you want to help, you can, every little bit does.  

Thanks again to Leslie for my wonderful photographs and thanks to you for checking me out, have a great day!

Tiny Angels

I am so excited to share these paintings with you!!!!!

I was contacted a few weeks ago by a wonderful woman named Robyn.  Robyn is expecting a little girl soon and wanted me to do a nursery piece for her daughter's room.  

The nursery piece was pretty straight forward, stripes and dots, I will tell you though, it was one of my toughest paintings.  Which seems ridiculous - but when working with straight lines and perfect circles, plus trying to give it a three dimensional look - well lets just say I had a bit of a temper tantrum and started over - but am so happy with the final result!

Rowyn's Nursery Piece

In addition to that, she wanted me to create a tribute piece to also hang in the nursery in honor of her twin daughters.  You see these two precious souls were born very premature, Robyn and her husband Keith lost Abigail after 6 weeks and Ameilia three weeks later.  I was so touched to be asked to do such an important piece for them.  One of Robyn's friends had written a beautiful poem for them referring to the girls as Tiny Angels.  Robyn wanted me to use this poem as a muse for my painting so that she could hang them up side by side.  I had to digest the poem and the idea of doing this painting for a few days, but was struck with the vision of a antique pram with two tiny angels helping guide to this bright white light, which represents heaven.  In the poem it talks about how these angels are so small there couldn't possibly be wings tiny enough to fit them, so they use balloons to help.  Robyn had asked if I would experiment with a bit of sparkle to add a bit of glow to the balloons, angel wings and heaven. Here is how it all turned out:

Tiny Angels

The Pram

Angel

Here is what Robyn had to say about her paintings:

Annie,
 
I just got the paintings, and they are absolutely perfect. You did such a fabulous job, I can't thank you enough. 
 
The "R" painting matched the bedding perfectly. I don't really think you know how exact the colors match, my husband and I were amazed. We are going to hang the R today, after we run to Home Depot for hanging materials. I will take a picture and send to you once we get it situated. It was exactly what I wanted.
 
The Tiny Angels is beautiful, it made me cry. This week has been a rough week for us, Wednesday was the anniversary of Ameilia's passing, so the painting came at a perfect time. This painting will get hung a little later, I am now going to get the poem printed on a different piece of paper that matches the painting a little better. The spot has already been picked out for this piece. The Angels have so much detail in the hair and wings, and I love the pram. I absolutely can't wait to show this to my family and especially my friend who wrote the poem. Everyone will love it. 
 
Thank you so much for these precious paintings, I will keep them forever! You clearly put your heart into every piece you do, and it's obvious. These two pieces are so special to me already, and I just know Rowyn is going to love them in her room. God has blessed you with a wonderful talent, and I appreciate it!
 
                                                                   Thank you,
                                                                    Robyn and Keith 

Robyn and Keith, I am touched beyond words to have been asked to do this painting for you.  I thank you for this opportunity and have been so moved by your experience.  I pray for a safe delivery of a very healthy baby and know that she will have extra "angels" looking out for her throughout life.  Thank you again!!!

Thanks for checking in and enjoy this weekend!