Jacobean Primer…in case you’re interested!

My friend Kade asked me to paint a table for her client.  Her client is her former babysitter, Amy, who has moved to Fayetteville to finish up her degree at the U of A.  Kade is decking out Amy’s room and wanted this little table to shout out. 

She wanted a red table. I knew there was a lot of black and white in the room and the fabric for the window treatments had a few more bright colors in it, so I pulled those out for the table top.  I knew just what I wanted to do with it…but first, a word about the design era that influenced me…

I love Jacobean design…you know, the wonderful patterns and prints from the late Elizabethan period through King James dating from the late 1500’s to 1600’s and Celtic Scotch in nature?  (What a nerd I am, but I can’t help it.)  It’s simple, yet intricate patterns and colors have always drawn my eyes.  It’s still a part of that black and white thing I love and a punch of color to set it off.

It’s predominate use of floral and faunas, geometric design and vivid color with black are easily identifiable in motifs using paisleys, thistles,  checkerboard, flowers and plaids.  Its classic design is simple, clean and timeless and is constantly revamped with a fresh approach for modern appeal.  Here are a few examples…

 

Here are forms of it in the 21st century…

   

and now for Amy’s table…   

   

Flickr Tags: Jacobean art,hand painted table,paisley,red table

Gotta Love the Little Goblins!

 

I pulled out our Halloween decorations boxes over the weekend.  Setting everything out is something I can usually depend on our boys to help out.  During this process, we reminisce with stories of Halloween past, what costumes they will wear this year and if we are going to start up the neighborhood “You’ve been Booed!” campaign. 

This year was clearly different.  I guess the boys are getting older and not as excited to notice every little treasure we have collected over the years.  No checking to see if I placed something in the bathroom, or to smell their pumpkin heads buckets to see if they can still smell last year’s candy.  I don’t really think they even noticed that the stuff was set out until I asked…it makes me sad…our boys are growing up and will be out of here well before we are ready to say goodbye.

There was a time when Michael would have run while holding his breath past the spooky display at the front door.  Did he even notice the cockroaches and spiders I set out for him? 

True, there is a lot to look at here, I guess I am just decorating for me these days.  They still make fun of me for putting froo froo feathers and glittery junk in the Christmas tree.  Ol’ mom has got to toughen up!

Flickr Tags: Halloween decorations,spider webs,retro Halloween decorations,children

Custom Invitations…

I create a lot of custom invitations for all sorts of celebrations.  Here are a few from recent events…

and a few years back!

        

I love this Idea!

My son’s Catholic Elementary school has a wonderful tradition that we parents cherish. In the student’s sixth grade year, they make a crucifix in art class out of branches they cut from their own yard and create the figure of Jesus out of wire wrapped with paper. The students work on this for weeks and when they are completed, our pastor blesses them all at mass. The children bring them home to their families towards the end of their sixth grade year (and final year at Immaculate Conception School) and parents find a prominent spot in which to display.

When our oldest son brought his home from school several years ago, he knew exactly where it would hang…on the bare wall in our foyer that had been reserved just for this crucifix when he entered kindergarten seven years earlier. I have friends who have had many children go through this wonderful school and they have them clustered together as a focal point in entry ways, den and living room walls and up staircases. It always gives me goose bumps to see them displayed!

My friend Daren has a wonderful way to display hers…she just moved into her newly built home several weeks ago and asked me to paint a phrase at her back door…what we as Catholics say at the end of mass…”Let us go to love and serve the Lord.” Her family sees that wonderful statement every time they leave the house. What a wonderful thought! And yes, her daughter’s crucifix is hung next to the phrase!

Better Get Ready for the Boys!

Baby Showers are an exciting time for first time parents…and especially if baby boy twins are on the way! Soon to be mom Kathy is eight weeks away and is, well, radiant and the most beautiful pregnant mama there could be! Future dad Jeff simply cannot wait to meet “his boys.” My friends, Jennifer and Megan, and I threw them a couples shower and used their nursery room colors of turquoise, pear green and brown as the color scheme for this BBQ dinner.

A diaper ring wreath seemed appropriate at the door…glasses of wine were not to far off!

The banner was a clothes line complete with clothes pins, layette essentials for the twins, and baby washcloths. The boys’ names are Luke (Lucas) and Drew (Andrew.)

The wine bar included hand painted glasses…

and the appetizers table paid homage to Jeff’s devotions to the Razorbacks and golf.

Guests were both inside and out on a tolerable late summer night.

And dinner is served…a finger licking good BBQ feast complete with “less than delectable” descriptions of the many joys that parenthood has to offer…

followed by the best petit fours this side of the Mississippi!

It was a fun evening and we are all excited to watch this couple grow into a family!