WKRQ in Cincinnati

I was so excited to see this photo that Patti — from WKRQ in Cincinnati — sent to me!

I wrote in my last post, how much I enjoyed working with Patti on the custom set of Ohio Farmhouses that she ordered for her radio station digs.

I just love how the arc in the grass of the paintings mimics the arc of the opposite green wall and the slice of cobalt blue on the first painting is reflected in the strip of blue on the upper wall. Brilliant!

Thanks again Patti!

I Love My Customers!

I'm loving this new custom series that I just recently finished!

My brilliant customer, Patti, had really liked how the "detail" images looked in my Etsy shop listing of My Ohio Farmhouse. She asked if I could paint a series for her building, exactly like the detail shots.

I think the four paintings look smashing together! Thank you Patti for your order and for your inspiration.

Peace Love and Understanding

So happy to be in the shade!

What a fun, exhausting weekend!

I'm still recovering, unpacking and regrouping after running a booth at the weekend-long music festival Maplewoodstock.

This was the first time I've shown this work at a live venue and it was wonderful to talk with folks and get their reaction to my paintings.

I learned many new things:

My work seems to appeal to a very broad range of ages.

Men love my Farms and Dreamscapes!

My new note cards were a huge success.

So now I'll take this new info in mind as I start restocking my shelves for the upcoming holiday season.

Thanks to all who stopped by the booth to say "hi".

Now, back to work!

Milestones

Here's a custom painting I just completed recently — Gossip Girls!

As the USA was celebrating the the birth of it's nation, I was thinking about all of the milestones that the past month held. My husband, Matthew and I started the month off, celebrating our 20th anniversary, my oldest daughter graduated high school and my youngest daughter graduated from middle school.

Summer seems to have swept in while I wasn't looking and here it is July 5th!

As I attempt to catch up with life and blog, I will start on a festive note; the Backyard Bird Giveaway!

On the morning of July 1st I gathered up all the entries, compiled them into a list, cut them up, put them in a hat and the winner was drawn.

Natalie Tetzlaff won the 2-painting set and is in the process of picking her favorites for me to wrap and send — Congratulations Natalie!

I have many more items to chat with you all about, but will save those for another post.

New! Custom Love Nests Now Available as a Fine Art Print

It's true!

I've had so many folks ask me to offer prints in my shop as a lower-priced option. I've taken heed. I plan to expand this new area but wanted to start with my favorite — The Custom Love Nest Print!

Here's a great big, beautiful way to show your love. This gorgeous 13 x 19 inch keepsake is printed with vivid archival inks and velvety smooth, heavyweight cotton paper. Both are guaranteed not to fade for 100 years.

I'll add you and your-own-true-love's names, wedding date and even the amount of eggs you'd like in your nest.

This sweet gift is sized perfectly to fit into a ready-made 11 x 14 inch frame. Or for a real focal point; buy a ready-made 16 x 20 inch frame and ask the framers to cut you a mat to fit big bang for the buck!

Speaking of "bangs for the bucks"— hurry to my shop and order your Love Nest soon, because for a very limited time, I'm offering these custom prints for $30 — that's a $20 savings from the regular price of $50!

How many eggs are in your nest?

Give-Away Update

A sweet Little Backyard Bird and a Nest to go with it could be yours!

Things are getting heated up for the give-away. I've had a lot of new visitors and I'm excited about the attention it's drawn. Here's a reminder — if you haven't yet — to comment, like and heart your way to 3 chances to win. See all the Birds here in my shop.

Check out the post for more info. And remember, the contest ends when July begins!

bonne chance!

Katie's Kitchen: Cupcakes + Ice Cream = Yum!

Oh Katie, you've stolen my heart again!

In her latest post in Making Michael Pollan Proud, she shares with us her awesome entry into the 2011 Ice Cream Cupcake Contest — The New York State Upside-Down Ice Cream Cupcake. 

The contest is to combine cupcake and ice cream — hard to go wrong with that combo. But if you ask me, Katie has taken the pairing to a whole new level with this heavenly treat. Caramelized rhubarb, fresh strawberries, whipped cream and homemade Roasted  Rhubarb Ice Cream come together with delicate cake to create the sublime.

Katie's The New York State Upside-Down Ice Cream Cupcake

If you're looking for a truly special dessert for your summer dinner party, check out Katie's blog for the recipe. She makes it all look easy!