Will This Get Me Through 'Til Turkey Day?

Hmmm...I am not sure about this recent door hanger I painted throughout the week.  It started out as a Halloween thing...now I see more of a pilgrim's hat rather than a witch's...I may just keep it up till the end of November!

A "Bewitching" Birthday Artie Partie!

My precious little friend Peyton wanted an "Artie Partie" for her birthday this year and I was thrilled and honored!  Peyton loves a good birthday party as seen here and here when she was was turning 4 years old.  Where has the time (and her adorable baby cheeks) gone?  Her Mom suggested something for Halloween and I sent her a quick idea for her approval...that's how most things get started around here...with scrap paper and dried out markers sketches!

Check out this adorable picture of of Peyton taken by a very talented young lady...it really captures her spirit!  And that CAKE!  It tastes even better than it looks...which is fabulous!!

The girls are painting their banners green and will be copying the banner in the background.

Abbey has traced her legs and is ready for the next step!

Paint palettes are loaded with colors of the season.

Birthday girl Peyton starts to paint the witch's legs...

 and the girls talk about political ads on tv (of all things!)

while painting!  Oh yeah, and One Direction!

 Mammas are impressed with all that talent in one room!

Purple skirts, stripy leggings and 

big black boots make these witches adorable!

 All finished and ready to hang on doors and walls all over town!  What a great way to spend the day!

There's Just Something About Candle Light

Last night was the perfect autumn evening...it all started with morning coffee while we watched leaves fall from the trees on a rainy, dark day.  My husband made a big pot of Gumbo and I baked a dessert for the evening's meal.  

Throughout the day, I  happily cleaned the house, got laundry done and shine up the floors.  That's what I love about this weather, our beloved SEC football season, and home cooked meals...all seems right with the world!   Good friends were coming for dinner and to watch football, it was still raining and cool outside, the house smelled of sweets and savories, and the fall and Halloween decorations made it all the more pleasing.  

I lovvvve to light candles when I entertain...it is so warm and welcoming, and make our home so cozy...so light up the flambeau, 'cause I've got some illuminating to do...there are candles everywhere!  They are lined up in the foyer, on just about every table, counter surface, next to the potty,in front of the food, on the mantle and hearth!  Can't. get. enough.

I'll spare you pictures of all of the candles, but my favorite thing to do is to make the fireplace hearth look like there's a fire with lots of candles when it's not cold enough to lay one.  

Just love it...but let's keep going...on to the mantle!

The more the better...until my son pulls me out of this fantasy life by saying, "I think that's enough candles, Mom."  Simplicity is best.

There is something magical about candlelight, don't you agree?

Sneak Peak to a Young Man's Dream Room!

He's a great kid and soon to be an official teen-ager and Mom wants me to design a room he and his friends will want to hang out in.  He's a huge Hog fan and I've got some great ideas ready to fill his room on his special day...here's one of them I painted just for him today!  Can't wait to see how it all turns out and how he likes it!  Stay tuned!

Throw Back Thursday!

I went to an old friend's house last night for a delightful "Girl's Night In" and loved getting a chance to visit with friends that I haven't seen in a while.  And that includes this guy below!  I painted it for my hostess friend years ago and it was a fun one to paint.  She has it hanging on her china cabinet during the season.  It's good to see he's held up so well!

Your Real Estate Team!

My good friend has decided to sell some property and really wanted a hand made sign rather than a screened shop production or a "Big Box" store fill in the blank sign.  She said if she made the actual sign, would I paint it?  I think we made a great team effort on this one!  She asked her son to help her with the project and he did!  Not so much luck with that with my son! 

Furniture Before and Afters

These two dressers got recent face lifts...

 

 This cherry piece was painted with bold and bright pink and cream stripes 

for a young lady's room.

And though this dresser below is dandy in it's own right, 

it's going into a peaceful guest room with a beach feel...

and this chippy paint finish might do the trick!

Artie Partie with the Smartie Pants!

What could be more fun than getting to hang out with eight young ladies who are about to start their senior year in high school for an evening of crafting, music and munchies?!  I have known most of these girls since they were tadpoles and it was so nice to spend time with them and see what lovely young women they have become...all while creating jewelry organizers for their bedrooms and dorm rooms (yes...some are already thinking about dorm decor!) and monogrammed make up brush holders.  

For this slumber Artie Partie, we set up in the carport on a cool summer night, brought out the lamps and bowels full of m&m's and got to work!  Oh, and these girls are literally smartie pants...brainiacs is more like it! 

 There's something very pleasing about your personal monogrammed clothing and decor!

 Decisions, decisions...what kind of rhinestones to put on the board.

It's always so much fun to see what designs the girls chose to do...always reflective of their personalities, decor and their wonderful senses of humor! 

From Lilly Pulitzer to jagged and edgy, they all had a great time creating their masterpieces at the Artie (Slumber) Partie!

I've Got Sunflowers on a Cloudy Day...Craft Daze Finale!

I have to apologize for the lack of pictures for this post...it was a strange day...pouring down rain when I woke up forced me to change the game plan a little.  I rely on the hot sunshine to help dry paint, glue, etc. more than I should and the rain and humidity was brutal.  I had 11 darling little ladies and two wonderful helpers to assist but needed more hands to take pictures!  We painted glass vases and mason jars with pink on the inside, orange on the exterior and polished it off with a gold medallion.

 First things first...clean the glass!

 Possibly the worst part of this project!  Paint took forever to dry, the glue guns were not keeping up with our demanding craft queens and some of us burned our fingers a time or two...

 but in the end, we were all very pleased with our happy flowers and vases...and the sun came out at the end of the class.  A sure sign that making sunflowers is a rain stopper!

Here's a close up... 

Craft Daze Abstracts and Bag Tags

We  plopped paint down and pushed it around to the beat of the music this morning!  We closed our eyes and painted not caring where the color ended up or what brush strokes looked like to come up with our colorful canvases.

 

 It was all about color and they did a great job of creating a masterpiece for their walls.

 Look at that color!

 Snack time selfies...

 The big reveal...peeling off the tape.

 Big smiles to the results

 So pretty and such sweet girls...

 we also made backpack bag tags 'cause school is just around the corner!