June Ponderings...

Hello to you!

June is such a wonderful month, don't you agree?

This June has started off rather busy for us...

but a perfect kind of busy, indeed.

I recently had a best friend come and stay with me for five days!

Oh, dear.

We stayed up very late most nights!

Painting until 4:00 am on this night.

Well, she had gone on to bed...

but I continued to paint until my eyes would no longer stay open.

Moons seem to be everywhere lately!

As girlfriends do...

We also pampered ourselves with oh, so yummy grilled foods, conversation, sharing stories and secrets. These days, she and I often discuss our aging bodies!

We did matching manicures and pedicures!

She has joined me in the nail wrap business and is already enjoying it tremendously!

It's so nice that she and I share so many common interests, which leads to even more fun things to visit about!

She went back to her world on Wednesday.

I, back to my life on the prairie, with husband by my side.

(He had gone on a trip for some RZR riding with one of his best friends).

There is always much to do around our prairie home and rolling hills...

however, over the weekend, he and I chose to take walks with our fur babies, down to the pond.

I even squeezed in a couple of brisk, solo walks.

We were both a little blue on Father's Day this year.

It was the first Father's Day without his sweet dad on earth. We could not call him on the phone.

And of course, I always pine for my dad who is miles away,..

But I am so grateful that I can still hear his voice and make plans to see him.

I will probably always be somewhat homesick.

We kept ourselves busy throughout the day of fathers.

I baked a pineapple upside down cake, worked on commission work.

Hubby also went to work for half of the day.

We were glad that we did so because being self employed has it's stressors. If we do fall behind, we lose money and only we are accountable. We never want to lose a customer and word of mouth is our best advertisement.

So, we both got a nice jump start on this week's work...

and yes, each job does have a deadline.

At the end of the day...

he picked a pretty pink rose from our rose bush...

Just for me.

A reminder.

Why I am here.

Enjoy your day, dear ones.

Xo

 

A full moon in June?

Hello!

I heard a rumor...

That soon, there will be a full moon.

Of course, when it happens...

I will grab my camera and try again.

I never can seem to get a good, crystal clear shot of the moon and all of it's glory.

Can you?

I welcome your tips and suggestions!

I sure do enjoy painting the moon!

Today I completed this commission piece.

Shhhhh.

It is a surprise gift for a high school classmate who really loves the moon!

Whenever there is a full moon in the sky, she posts a picture on facebook, along with a caption that reads, "Oh. Would you look at that"!

It has become her "thing" on fb!

Cute & clever, don't you think?

That angel who has commissioned me to paint for others for an entire year is behind this one as well!

I have added 16 treasures in this mixed media moon painting!

Can you find them?

I will be doing more hidden treasure pieces!

I may even do one for our home!

We have had lots of rain here on the prairie!

Yay!!!!

All things are growing well and I do believe that I am going to have some lovely pumpkins!!!!

Looking forward to company this weekend and most all of next week too!

My girly friend, Lori, will arrive on Sunday.

We are going to do our nails and our usual creative stuff!

This is my current mani and pedi...

What do you think?

Oh, so much fun!!!!

Lori has joined my team of independent consultants!

You can too, if you'd like!!!!

We would certainly love to have you!

I think that we all need a variety of fun hobbies, and I am so happy to have found this one that also provides me with a bit of fun money too!!!!

I do hope that you have a wonderful rest of the week!

I will see you soon!

XO

 

Back Home and Back to Work...

Hello, dear ones!

Did you have a nice Memorial Day weekend?

Hubby and I took a little road trip to visit our families back "home".

He did some RZR riding on the river while I shopped with my two moms, one being his mother.

Lots of dining out and simply sitting in my parents' living room.

I'm perfectly content with the simple things!

Once back to our prairie home, it's been work, work, work!

All good work, of course!

Work in the garden.

Work with customers who buy my fancy nail wraps and jewelry.

Work inside the home and oodles of laundry!

Work in my art studio! Yay!

I have finished this commission piece and will be shipping it to it's new home tomorrow.

Do you remember me sharing the story of the client who has made it her new year's resolution to "be a kinder person" by having gifts of art mailed to them without ever identifying herself?

Well, this is one of those secret gifts!

I will also be enclosing this...

With a card.

I am enjoying this job more than any other!

It's so very uplifting and fulfilling!

I could forever paint...

But it's just always so much more special to paint for others.

I wish that she would commission me for life!

I will be so sad when our project ends in 2015.

Of course, my newest little hobby and side job means having pretty nails!

This truly is fun for me, and hey...

It's some fun spending cash too!

A neighbor came over this morning for coffee and a mani!

We both did our nails and of course, I snap pics of mine!

Our flower gardens are looking so beautiful!!!!

Loving this weather and all of the colors!

I will see you back here again very soon!

XO

 

Brush strokes, color, & a perfect day!

It's that time again...

You know.

That colorful time of the year!

That season that lifts our spirits and encourages us to run outside to play!!!

I did just that on this perfect Spring day!

I painted and played "Miss photographer"...

but only with my iPhone.

 

I watered all of our oh, so pretty flower beds...

and worked in the garden too!

The birds singing to their friend...

The chatty squirrel peeking down from a nearby tree.

Brush strokes.

Color.

Happy heart.

How is your day?

 

Fabulous, I hope.

I'm working on this commission for a photographer.

It's far from completed, but if wanted to share!

In between my outdoor work and play,

I came inside to cool down. It's in the 80's here this week!

(What I call perfect).

I prepared lunch for my hubby, as I always do on week days.

I then sliced fresh fruits.

Lemons, limes, strawberries.

More color of Spring...

and such a lovely aroma!

I added the fruit to a pitcher of Spring water and placed it in the fridge.

On these "perfect days", I need extra water, don't you?

So, why not make it colorful and healthier?

and yes, I failed to snap a pretty pic of all that fruit floating in the pitcher!

Maybe next time!

Yes.

Life is good!

Blessings to you!!!!

 

Where did I leave off?

Oh, dear!

Where did I leave off?

First, a big HELLO to all of you!!!!

How have you been?

 

It's been awhile, I know.

My world has undergone many changes and adjustments! (All good, I might add), but trying to find "balance" has not been easy since I resigned from my day job in November.

I have discovered that working from home, does indeed, come with a whole set of new challenges.

Time management being the biggie for me!

Friends, I have been richly blessed with consistent commission work, and it always keep my art work at the top of my priority list! No problem there. I love being responsible and dependable. My biggest thrill and form of payment are the praises that I receive from clients and recipients of my art! I love waking up to an email or a Facebook message from someone who is overjoyed and so grateful after receiving a piece of my art! This makes my heart so very happy!

Yes.

I'm doing what I love and I do it passionately.

I've had orders for anniversaries...

And surprise gifts to friends...

Birthday gifts, a child's bedroom (the decor in planets & space)...

Day after day, I paint.

Some days I find myself feeling restless. Is that the word that I'm seeking?

I miss doing personal art, especially my art journaling.

Some days I really have not felt all geared up to go into my beautiful art room and paint.

I am one who needs variety and I do like to create on a spur of the moment.

So, I added another "for fun" job to my life.

I signed up to be an independent consultant with a nail wrap company. I seriously did this, as a hobbiest, and only to give me something fun, yet still creative, to add to those days that I needed a break from art work.

Oh my!

This HAS indeed been fun...

And yes, creative.

But then suddenly, I became crazy busy!

Once Facebook friends caught wind of the nail wraps, I found myself running more errands, delivering and shipping nail wrap samples, doing nail wrap parties! Oh. And of course, keeping my own nails pretty!

I honestly did not expect all of this! 4 recruits.... Helping them, orders arriving... Advancing to "senior consultant"! Giggle. Giggle.

Once again, I'm so happy in all that I'm doing but I am now working on balancing my art, Jamberry Nails, house, husband, travel.

This is why I have been absent from blog land!

I seriously, have had no extra time for taking and editing photos let alone, sitting down to type up a blog post.

I also adore blogging.

I will get it all figured out!

I will say, that out of all my jobs...

My favorite is, and always will be, my art.

When I'm painting...

Something unexplainable happens.

Even on those days that I did force myself to pick up that paintbrush...

Within minutes, I realize that I am smiling. I even dance a little to the radio! Shhhhh.

I diffuse the lovliest essential oils. It's such a slice of heaven...

In my art studio.

Oh!

Do you remember these?

 

Well, since we last visited, I have also made oodles and oodles more! They have shipped to Shops and stores in different states! No kidding! I have reveived some very nice checks in the mail for these guys!

Happy heart. Happy life!

My wonderful husband has supported all of my jobs. He even builds odd shaped boxes for my big canvas paintings to ship in. How did I ever get so lucky?!!!!

We've planted our garden here on the prairie. He even built a wonderful fence all around it.

In August we are going back to the East coast for our big vacation!

Life is good.

I hope that you are savoring every moment of yours!

God bless and I will certainly do better at blogging!

Yes.

I will.

Xo

 

Polka Dots...

Hello out there and happy Monday!

I love weekends but I'm also very anxious to greet Mondays and a new work week these days. (Gosh, it feels good to be able to say that)!

I have just finished up this commission piece.

Bad pics, I know...

But photographing an 8" x 24" canvas is tricky.

The client wanted me to create a whimsical version of her bathroom, in her colors, of course.

I adore the polka dots!

Soon into the painting, I found myself wearing polka dots!

We had a weekend filled with company and events.

A 50th wedding anniversary celebration. I wore a dress and hubby wore his nice black slacks.

We were happy, however, to get back into our jeans on Sunday for a trip into the city.

Shopping at Menard's for garden seeds and supplies...

and then topping it off with Starbuck's where I stocked up on coffee for the home and a new insulated travel mug. Oh, and a caramel macchiato for the road, of course.

Yard work for hubby and studio work for me for the last part of our weekend. Yes, I'm changing my studio decor just a little after buying two new comfy chairs from Pier One Imports. Pictures soon, I promise!

How was your weekend?

Fun, I do hope!

I'll see you back here again soon!

XO

 

Hello peeps and pretty nails!

Hello, peeps and Happy Spring!

Oh, it feels so good to say that!

At last, Spring has arrived!

We are still awaiting warmer temperatures here, but officially, it's here and I have heard that lovely sound of birds singing outside my window.

Easter is next and I have been having a blast squishing clay into sweet Easter treats to wear!

These are my very favorite Easter treats! I feel like such a child, sucking all of the sugar off of them...

and then savoring the gooey marshmallow in my mouth!

How about you?

Do you have a favorite?

And chocolate bunnies are just the cutest! (Not as easy to sculpt though)!

And now I have a story to share with you!

Last weekend I participated in a local fundraiser event, as you know from my previous posts. After setting up my art displays, I began to roam a bit and visit other participating vendors. I met a charming new friend who was selling her finger nail wraps, along with hand care products and nail lacquer. I made it very clear to her that I don't do my nails (as you can always see in my photos like the ones above). Yuck! Why bother when I work with messy paints, gesso, gel mediums all day. I even clip my nails whenever I begin working with clay so that I do not leave finger nail imprints on my projects.

However...

I was still quite curious about these nail wraps that shrink to one's finger nail with a heat source... and her finger nails were so darn cute! After spending long hours at my booth, and she at hers,... I finally agreed to trying these nail wraps by having one put on with her tiny tabletop heater. I was even more curious after watching the vinyl "melt" onto my natural nail... With such a beautiful design. I went ahead and placed several of the raffle tickets that my hubby had purchased, into her giveaway basket.

At 3:00 pm the raffle began...

And I won that basket filled with hand care products and TWO packages of nail wraps!

So, I'm going to jump ahead a bit to shorten this story.

Once home, I realized that I could now really put these nail wraps to the test and not be out any money by doing so. That was a relief. It's somewhat like a brand new art journal. That first blank page is always a little intimidating. I never want to ruin the pricey new journal! (It takes a little mental preparation to convince myself that it's my journal is to play in and mess up.... That's what it's for)!

Speeding up this story even more...

With full manis and pedis (with these things called, "nail wraps"), I went about my normal tasks of showering, putting on lotions, painting, scrubbing mediums off of my hands and cuticles, doing dishes, laundry, opening pull tab cans...

Now on day 4 with the entire sets (manicure and pedicure, in which I solely applied).

My conclusion:

First- complete joy! I can have pretty nails and still do art!

Second thought- I want more of these!

To my own amazement, I signed up to be an independent Jamberry Nails consultant!

 

This is my art blog so you will not find me promoting any other products here, other than my own creativity....

and if this weren't something that just totally has me in "aaaaaahhhhhh", you would not be hearing about it at all. Friends, this is the reason why I have not blogged in a week! Seriously. I have been setting up my pro pay account, ordering product, visiting with my girly friends who are now flipping over it and anxious to try!

So, I will leave you with this:

Check out my link to my new personal consultant site, Boho Nails.

If you wish to try the wraps they are "buy three, get one Free".... But I insist on helping you apply them the very first time, via messages or in person for local friends. I used a method and a few tricks that has kept my wraps perfectly in tact, so please, please, message me if you order!!!!! Why? Because it's so worth trying but only if you apply them correctly! I want you to love them as I do.

Now I find myself kinda wishing that they would fall off...

Because I can't wait to slap on some new designs!!!!! Giggle giggle!

My toes and fingers are welcoming Spring and sandals!!!!

 

Goodbye ugly nails!

Hey...

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you soon! I'm currently working on several commission pieces and can't wait to share!

Xo