Giveaway Winner and the Beginning of a New Cupcake Painting

Amy is the winner of the Valentine Cupcake print giveaway. Congrats Amy! Send me your address and I'll get it in the mail right away.

I started this little painting today and should have it finished in the morning. You'll see it finished in my next post. I must get back to my folk art villages next. Any ideas? I seem to have a block for some reason. I think I've been painting too many cupcakes and can't get my mind around something more involved. I also need to decide if it will be painted on a large 24" x 30" canvas or a small one. I would like to get rid of this last large canvas that's taking up space in my studio.

Also, I know that most of you thought I should keep the "Sweet and Irresistible" painting, but I've listed it on eBay. I'm having a hard time deciding what I want on that wall above the shelf, but I'll know it when I see it. Above the stove is really not a good place for a painting since it would have to be cleaned all the time.

What do you think winter, spring, summer, or fall for this next village scene? Is everyone tired of winter yet? We're still getting snow.

Gigantic Retro Style Cupcake Painting

I've had two gigantic canvas's sitting in my art room waiting for me to get creative. I may have to keep this one (I think I've said this before). Then again if I got a good enough offer, who knows! I'll sell anything that's not nailed down. That's why I don't have very much of my own artwork. Do you think it's too big for this area?

Click on the photos for a closer view.

This gal has my posture after sitting at my drafting table all day. I saw this stance on a lady from a vintage sewing pattern. On the pattern the ladies apron was sheer so you could tell she was slim and trim even though her transparent apron flared out over her straight black skirt. My mother thinks she looks "in the family way". So, I could have put "Hot from the Oven", but didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I thought it would be nicer to use "Sweet and Irresistible". Do you think she needs a tea towel over her arm or a pearl bracelet? Every woman in the 50's dressed up to bake didn't they? A towel might take away too much from her cute apron though. Let me know what your ideas are.
This is kind of like having the lady from that movie "the 50 foot woman" above my stove. Hope she doesn't kick those cups off!

Don't forget to sign up for my Valentine's Day giveaway in my previous post.

Valentine Print Giveaway

This weekend we celebrated this "sweet" gal's birthday. She's my pride and joy and my first born angel. Amber has a knack for lighting up a room with her smile and her enthusiasm. She was pretty surprised when she got a gift from our two dogs, Annie and Jersey, and our cat, Bailey. They are very thoughtful animals and thought she might like some gluten free crackers to snack on. Happy birthday Amber!

Amber loves tradition and every year she has chocolate pie instead of cake for her birthday. She also likes pot roast for dinner on her special day.


I should have had this giveaway a few posts back when I hit my 300th post, but instead I'm doing a Valentine Giveaway. Leave a comment on this post by Monday at 6pm to be entered to pick a Valentine print of your choice from my Etsy store. You can view my Valentine prints at my store by clicking here. Come back to this post and leave a comment telling which Valentine cupcake print you would choose if you win. I will need to be able to contact the winner so make sure to leave a link or an email address.

Celebrate With a Valentine Cupcake

My momma always taught me not to lie. I don't think this is a lie though as much as it is a change of heart. Remember in my last post where I said this is my last Valentine cupcake painting for this year......well I just never know when my mind will take a completely different direction as I put my brush in my hand. It all started when I took a short trip to Hobby Lobby after leaving the doctor's office. I came across some cute harlequin ribbon and made my purchase along with a few other cute items that were 50 percent off.

After taking down all my Christmas decorations, I needed something to put on the shelf above my kitchen stove.
....and I found this cute pillow for about $4.00 for my new computer chair.


I found some cute black and white harlequin ribbon that I decided to grab to use for a cupcake painting in the future. I love to keep lots of ribbon on hand. Now, this is where I had a change of mind. As I was getting ready to paint, somewhere in the back of mind a little voice said, "You still have time for another little Valentine cupcake painting using your new ribbon." With a complete reversal now I switched directions and this little painting appeared....



"I Love You Cupcake"


I listed this one last night on eBay.




This very rich dark chocolate fudge cupcake is topped with fluffy white frosting. Tiny red hearts are an extra little touch and a red, "I ♥ You" ribbon is tied around the base of the cupcake. A small white heart hangs from the red ribbon with the word "Cupcake" in the center. So, when read all together you are saying to your sweet Valentine, "I ♥ You Cupcake"! A black and white harlequin grosgrain ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.





Doesn't it look cute on my shelf in the kitchen along with my other purchases? I may have to paint one for myself!



If you are looking for a gift for that special someone for Valentine's Day the following two prints are available in both my eBay and Etsy Stores.


"Love Valentine"


"Be Mine Valentine"

Valentine Cupcake Painting

I finished this 9 x 12 inch Valentine Cupcake painting today and got it listed on eBay this evening. You can check out the auction here. If you want a Valentine cupcake painting, this is the last one I'm doing this year. I just finished a cake painting for a customer who owns a cake decorating business in Australia. I will share that with you soon. I really wanted to keep that one for myself!

A sweet cupcake for your special Valentine! This yellow cupcake is piled high with fluffy pink frosting and accented with heart shaped candy and white pearl sprinkles. This whimsical creation is displayed on a turquoise cake stand and covered with a glass cloche with a pink heart shaped knob. Tiny pink hearts hang from the edge of the cake plate.

Love Valentine Cupcake Painting

I listed this little 6 inch x 6 inch Valentine painting on eBay today. You can view it here. I have some good news that I would like to share. I now have a licensing agent and my very first contract to license a couple of my designs. This is a journey that I've long wanted to take. Sometimes it's hard to take that next step, but that was my one and only New Year's Eve resolution. Now I can check that off my list! You can view my artwork on their website "Next Day Art".

This very rich dark chocolate fudge cupcake is topped with milk chocolate frosting and a bright red rose. Tiny white sprinkles are an extra little touch and a red, "Be Mine" ribbon is tied around the base of the cupcake. Love is spelled out in red at the top and accented with tiny white dots. A red and white dotted grosgrain ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Party Time!!!

I've been a little slow on the draw since Christmas. I just got all the decorations put away and now the house looks completely undressed. It always looks like something is missing at this point. Does anyone but me usually find some little Christmas item that you forget to take down like two or three weeks after you've put everything away?

After New Years we move right along to my sweet hubbie's birthday. We went out to eat with our son in law, Scott, and daughter, Amber. Happy Birthday honey!

We then returned to Amber and Scott's house for a little cake and some fun....

Aren't we too old for this big guy.....show the little lady how it's done! This was our first experience at playing Wii. Notice I didn't share any pictures of me doing this!
Amber had the sweetest post on her blog for her daddy. It almost made me cry. You can check it out here.

Also, our son Eric, spent several day with his friend Cody, traipsing throughout Rome and you can check out his photos and post here.

Merry Christmas

I'm retiring my paint brushes and my blog until after the first of the year so that I can spend more time with family. I wish each and everyone of you a blessed Christmas!

Christmas Tour

Here are a few more pictures of our kitchen decorated for Christmas:

Below is my baking station which includes my basket of cookie cutters, cook books, glass canisters of baking ingredients, and containers of sprinkles for cookies and candy. My mother and I have made so many batches of cookies and candy that my back is killing me.

Cute snowmen.....

Berry wreaths.....

You can check out my christmas decorations from years past here and here.

I have to get back to making out cards before it's too late to send them!

Christmas Giveaway Winner

I'm so glad you could stop by today. Come on in, take off your boots, and warm yourself by the fire.

Today I'm drawing the name for our "giveaway". This is a highly technical process and might take a moment.......drum roll please........The winner is Lavender Dreamer!

Congratulations!

Just follow the wonderful scents coming from the kitchen where I'll dip you up a plate full of spaghetti. Do you remember I mentioned that I was getting a new stove? Well here it is and I love it! Recently I painted my kitchen a pale yellow and took down the old pot rack that was above the stove. I know that a lot of you love pot racks, but I was tired of having to clean the rack and the pots all the time. They got dirty just from hanging above whatever I was cooking. I had this long narrow cabinet and painted it white and placed it above the stove instead. It's great for spices.

Help yourself to some peanut butter fudge.



Can you smell that sauce simmering?

I can't decide what to display on this shelf when Christmas is over, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

My little Aldi's candy cane trees....

Merry Christmas!!