Vacation??

I thought I would relax when I got out of school, but I feel so behind that I don't know when I will ever catch up. I got so much done last night, though! We watched a movie, and I painted away. First, Dear John was okay; it won't be one of those movies I stay up late watching over and over. Now, Valentine's Day has made to my list. I loved that movie! I know I am a day late, and everyone else has seen it. I will admit that I was a little shocked at Bradley Cooper and McSteamy--their characters didn't quite fit the images I had of them; well, I guess Anne Hathaway's didn't either!:)

Working on a treasure chest bucket for a Father's Day gift. The customer wants it to for her father to use at their Cape Cod beach house when the grandkids visit an island and hunt for shells with their Grandpa. I thought this was such a sweet, special gift that I have been really excited to get started. Coming soon--Pottery Barn--I have several people waiting on projects to match Pottery Barn bedding.

Matching Mermaids

A customer from etsy asked if I could create a bucket to match her daughter's swimsuit. She emailed me the pic, and here is her matching bucket. It was fun to paint something a little different than my normal designs.

Potty Training

I swore that I was buying my last box of diapers in April. We have been potty training hard, since I got of school last week. She is doing great, but Jason doesn't exactly agree/approve of my method. I say just let her run naked and potty when she is ready. She didn't have any accidents yesterday, but she will if she has a diaper on. She will ask for a diaper and when I say no, she says, "Awww." I thought I would post a couple of pics that I think are cute; I doubt her daddy will agree.

My little cowgirl--she was running around in nothing but Mattie Claire's hat.

"Mama, my wheel is broke; I've gotta fix it."

Platter Picture

Laura is such an awesome blogger. She has lots of the platter pics to see. She also says lots of sweet things about me; I can't brag and repeat them about myself, so you will have to visit her to see the platter and read all about me:) thehortonfamily.blogspot.com

I thought I would share a funny Molly story. We were eating out Monday night, and Molly says her prayer to bless her food. I have had no idea what she has been saying all these weeks, then it hit me! "Praying for this food, praying for this food. Amen." I asked her if that was it, and she said "Yep." I guess that works; God gets the point.

I am a LIttle Sensitive

Several weeks ago an awesome beach store contacted me to paint buckets for their shop in FL. We were talking back and forth, then nothing. I contacted her to double check and gave her a simple out. However, she replied with things like "I am an honest person" and how she thought having beach buckets in her shop would be a "slap in the face" of people hurt by the oil situation. She was interested in buying my totes, loved my designs.... THEN I saw her feedback, and she had bought buckets from someone else. Yes, I cried a little. I would love to show you a picture of the other buckets to get your feedback compared to my design:), but even though my feelings are hurt, I cannot be that mean. I thought I would tell that story and share my new seahorse design. Tracy, you think Sassy will like that seahorse???

Now, for some positive news--I was chosen for an etsy treasury over the weekend for my sports beach bucket. It was a sports treasury and my first!! I was super excited, so I think that cancels out the seahorse.

Met Laura last night; hope Alise and Mrs. L. like the teacher platter!

Take My Word for It

I have been working on finishing up some personalized ceramics. I had a teacher platter to do for one of my favorite bloggers, and I didn't want to let her down. I fired it on Saturday and got ready to add the details with my ceramic pen, and it didn't work! I called the ceramic shop about an hour from here-SOLD OUT! I called Michaels about in hour away in two directions--both SOLD OUT. I got on Dick Blick to have one overnighted--SOLD OUT! Yep, that is how my luck usually works out. I played with my pen until I got it to work enough to finish up the plate. You will have to take my word on how precious it turned out; it has too much personal info on it to post. Hopefully, my blogger friend will black out some of the personal info, and I can steal a copy to post here.:)

Summer Classes

Doesn't look like summer classes are going to work out this year--SORRY!! I am working on finding a building to put at my house as a studio. I will be able to have lots of classes and my very own work space/studio. I hope this big plan will work out, but I know it won't work out in time for summer classes. Let me know if anyone knows of someone ready to part with a building! Thought we had found the perfect building, but we were a day late. I will just cross my fingers and say a prayer that it will all fall into place. Again, so sorry that I can't have fun with your little ones this year:(

Pray for Evan

Keep Evan and his family in your prayers. I just checked out her blog, and they have made it safely to California. He will have his surgery this week, so don't forget to pray for this family. I know Mattie Claire's eye surgeries were minor, but you can't help but get a huge case of the "what if's" and begin doubting your decision. I know Evan's amazing mother will need just has many prayers as he does.

Here Comes Summer

Painting lots of buckets for the summer. TRYING to potty train a stubborn 2 year old--pray for me!

Birth Announcement Canvas

My baby brother's wife's sister is having a baby--did you get that?? I actually taught her my first year teaching when she was in high school, and she is very creative and talented. Knowing how talented she is made me a little nervous about painting something for her, but she didn't have anything for her hospital door. She flew in a few days ago for a baby shower, and I spent the last several days painting her a personalized canvas. I painted the smaller one and glued it to the larger one. I used ribbon to add the one below for her to add the details. I enjoyed doing it, and I hope she liked it.

Ears for Evan

I have never met Evan or his mother, and I was not able to attend the cut a thon last Friday at Salon 7. I checked out their facebook to see how their cut a thon went and was excited to see this picture. This is Evan and his brother Aiden with the gifts my kids and I made and the overnight bags donated by Monday's Child. What precious little boys!! The cut a thon raised nearly $11,000, but I think she is still a little short. Don't forget you can visit her blog to make a donation--earsforevan.blogspot.com

Check out Angela Holley on facebook. She is Evan's mother and has lots of pics up from the fundraiser.

More Mother's Day Plates

This one is every grandchild's thumbprint to make the flowers and bugs.

Mother's Day Who Dat!

Several weeks ago, I did a footprint plate party. One mother wanted a Saints plate for her mother-in-law. The foot is her daughter, and her son is on the sides with his thumb prints. Sorry it is sideways; it is not saved like that, but I don't know what is wrong. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Whew, Two More to Go!

What a week!! I am glad to be home with no Friday night plans. We are all exhausted and ready for summer break. I will try to make several posts over the next few days to catch you up on what I have been up to.

I travel between 4 schools as a parish-wide art teacher. One of my schools had their FFA banquet last night. Some of my art students are members of FFA too. The FFA sponsor asked them to create LSU paintings to be auctioned off at the banquet. I offered to do one too. The above painting was my contribution to the auction.

Ears for Evan

I don't really know how to start this post. My computer will most likely short out, because it will be soaked in tears. I only heard this week about a 3 year old boy, Evan, who was born with malformed ears. The surgery to create ears for Evan will cost nearly $100,000. Since January, his mother has raised $58,000. A hairdresser from Monroe read about the story in the newspaper and wanted to help. This Friday, Salon 7 will have a Cut-a-Thon to benefit Evan. They will have an awesome raffle, door prizes, plate lunches, silent auction; wow, this list goes on and on. This little boy's special mother has a blog--earsforevan.blogspot.com She talks about Evan and shares some of her struggles; she has a precious picture (he has the most beautiful lashes!) and a poem that had me sobbing. I think what makes this story even more heart breaking is that it took these parents nearly 6 years to conceive, and Evan's twin brother has cerebral palsy. I have some awesome friends! I sent out an email to my friends today telling this story. I was able to sell several raffle tickets, and we are putting together some summer gifts for Evan and his brother. Monday's Child even donated overnight bags for both boys. If you want to help, don't forget you can visit Salon 7 in Monroe this Friday, or you can make a donation on Evan's blog.

Back at 29!

Today was for sure a MONDAY!! Thank you, mother--I reeeeally needed to be back at 29!

Feeling Super Guilty Now!!

I feel just awful--I lost a follower. It is so easy to spot when you haven't broken 30! I don't know if it was the lack of posts or the content of posts:-). Mama--I know you follow, so sign up as a follower to bump me back up to 29--I need it for my self-esteem!! I thought I would step up my game and post two days in a row!!

A couple of weeks ago, I got an email from a friend asking if her "thing" was ready. My reply was, "What thing?" There had been a huge misunderstanding, and I had one day to paint the canvases to hang on her sister's hospital door when she had her baby girl the very next morning. I ran to Wal-Mart on my lunch break and bought some canvases. I did a quick pink spray paint job and added damask, stripes,... I finished in a little under 4 hours. Thank you Brittany for the brown ribbon that finished off this quicky job. I wasn't quite satisfied with the way the stripes fell, but I love how the damask turned out. I will go back and add her length and weight. More posts and painting pics coming soon!