Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Caitlin's Cakery & Cafe Folk Art Painting

My hubby and I have been busy making travel arrangements for a trip to visit with our son in Spain. My concentration seems to be shot since we've been busy with passports and trying to get everything organized.
I wanted to paint a village scene but one little shop is as close as I could conjure up. I will be listing this 9 x 12 painting on eBay this evening.

Bright and early Monday through Friday, Caitlin arrives at her cakery where she whips up some magic with secret ingredients to enticing confections. She turns on her favorite 40's music station and sways around the kitchen in her red dotted apron mixing gooey goodness as she waits for the ring of the bell announcing her first customer of the day. She greets each patron with a smile and sugary samples as she pours steaming cups of coffee while they make their choices reading from the huge menu written daily on the chalk board behind the counter. Desserts are displayed like exquisite jewelry in the windows and the scent of baked goods greets each hungry soul who enters this little cakery heaven at 209 Main Street.
Since my mind has run amuck, I will be painting little cupcakes, for a while until the fog clears.

Don't you wish you could step through the door of this shop and order a coffee and dessert then sit down at a table while you browse through a recipe book on cupcakes!




Thursday, February 11, 2010

Craft Night and a Snowflake Cupcake

Wednesday nights my daughter, Amber, my SIL Paula, and I get together and craft. Right now we are busy crocheting projects and will try other crafts soon. Paula is a crochet genius and can make anything even without a pattern. She makes up a lot of her own designs. Here are some items I worked on during the evenings last week. The spiral pot holder is mine and the checkerboard pot holder and crocheted envelope I did for my daughter for Valentine's Day. Last night during craft night I took it easy and simply worked on my afghan that I started about 3 weeks ago.
Paula worked on these very cute and extremely tiny pieces for Amber to make into ear rings. The tiny granny squares are approx. 1 inch in size. Amber will starch these to stiffen them and then add the wires for the ear rings. Amber made some a couple of weeks ago with Paula's guidance. She's a great instructor!
I wish I had photographed the cute hat that Amber made, but I forgot. I will share it with you or link to her blog when she posts about it.
If you've never done craft night give it a try. It's a great way to complete those unfinished pieces and visit with each other.

I finished this little painting that I mentioned in my pervious post. It is now listed on eBay.
A scrumptious dark chocolate cupcake is topped with turquoise piped frosting and accented with delicate white snowflakes and tiny white sprinkles. This whimsical creation is displayed on a turquoise cupcake stand and covered with a glass cloche. A turquoise and brown dotted grosgrain ribbon wraps around the edges of the canvas and is tied in a bow at the top.

I hope you are all safe and warm! There's nothing like record snowfall!





Tuesday, February 9, 2010

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.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

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.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

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.