Sampler Village

I have decided to do the Halloween Sampler Village. Lots of artists and crafters combine their work to make a box full of goodies. They sell a set number of boxes each month. I provide a sample to be included in 20 boxes. It sounds like lots of fun, and I am super excited to be included in the September Halloween box. Below are a couple of designs that I will be sending.

I Need a Third Job

(the new room)

MC wants a yorkie. This is not a new dream; she has been begging for one for a long time. She is getting a new room. We are turning the upstairs guest bedroom into her new pony room. She still sleeps with us, but she says she would sleep in her new room if she had a yorkie to protect and sleep with her!:) I would love to grant her wish, but... I found some locally for between $1,500-$4,000. That price is a lot more than I had in mind, so I guess we will put this little wish on hold.

I'm Back

Our trip was amazing; I am exhausted, but the girls had a great time. My card reader is broken, but as soon as I get a new one, I will have lots of pics to share.

While in Dallas, I went to market for a day. I bought each of my girls a pillowcase that was personalized. I will save them for my beach trip. The company offers a fundraiser program. You can choose any 16 designs to sell. I think this is the perfect fundraiser for my art students; sure would be easier than ferns! I am sharing a couple of samples, but they have tons more (yes, even a Bama). I think we will sell them for about $15. Would love to hear from some moms! Would you buy these for your little ones?

Toy Story 3

On Friday, June 4th my husband left for two weeks to help fight the wildfires in Texas. On the same day, my mom and step-dad left for their vacation. I haven't shared, because I am paranoid. But the fam is back, and Jason comes home tomorrow!!! I am exhausted. He is a very hands-on kind of dad and does so much around here. It has been a long two weeks without him, and we have him a big Father's Day surprise waiting.

With some late nights and girl time, MC and I have been watching old movies. She was introduced to Toy Story, which she liked. The next night Toy Story 2 came on, and she became obsessed! My little cowgirl fell in love with Jessie. We have been anxiously awaiting Toy Story 3. I have to say that it was the BEST of the three. It was very funny, and I laughed out loud several times. I recommend that everyone RUN out to see it; you won't regret it.

I usually do my girls beach buckets filled with goodies for our beach trip, but I think I am going to change it up this year. I am doing them the art boxes filled with road trip stuff. I see some personalized Jessie stuff in my very near painting future. I am taking a mini-break from painting. I stayed up until 4:30 am getting an order out on time, and I am exhausted. It was such a relief to drop it off at the post office at 8:30. I felt like I was in college again, staying up half the night to finish a painting. I will not paint until tonight, but no more laaaaate nights.

What's Up

Just finished a couple of big water bottle orders. SOOO ready for bed, but I need to get a little more done. Yesterday was MC's first riding lesson. One of the sweetest girls I have ever taught is teaching her to ride. She had a blast!!

Welcome

Welcome to all my new followers! Semi-Slacker Mom ROCKS! I have already received orders from some of her great followers. Check out my previous post of visit her blog and get on all the great giveaways.

I am sorry to say that I closed my etsy shop. I had so many order, which I am sooooo thankful for, that I had to take a break to catch up before I leave on vacation. Please send me a convo if you need:) a bucket right away. I still have some ready to ship stuff that I could mail out ASAP.

The pic is some bottles that I did for a group of women that went on a cruise in the spring. I have had no time to take extra pics this week, and I never posted these. I thought this was a great time to share. Yes, they are on the dash of my car at Sonic. I got super, duper stressed right before school got out. I needed a refreshing diet coke, and I am sure that was the only five minutes I had to snap a pic before delivering the bottles.

Treasuries

Before school was out, I made a treasury with my sports bucket. Last week, I made a summer treasury with my ready to ship crab bucket, and now, I have made a Disney treasury with my little Squirt bucket. Woo Hoo!!! Click here to view treasury.

The Semi-Slackers have gone to the beach! She is hosting a week a giveaways, and I am day one. Check her out to enter to win one of my rope pails and more great stuff to come! Click for Giveaways.

Finding Nemo

Several people have asked for Finding Nemo lately. Here are a couple of samples that I did last night.

New Designs

I have been a little bummed to see my designs popping up in several places lately. I thought the best way to beat these blues was to come up with some new designs. MC is very into peace signs right now, so I came up with this peace, love, beach idea just for her!
I am using any spare moments I find to paint some extra stuff. I have opened a new place in my shop for "Ready To Ship" items. When customers place an order for one of these items, it will ship the next business day! I may even do some weekend specials with these ready to ship items. The crab bucket pictured below was featured in an etsy summer treasury!-YAY!!

AutumnLeah on Etsy

I have once again found the cutest shop on esty: autumnleah. She has a website also http://autumnleahdesigns.com/

She has agreed to let me paint her shark on my buckets-super nice. I ordered Mattie Claire some lip balm stickers to give her friends for back to school. Aren't those the cutest things you have ever seen?!!! You buy the stickers from her, then add them to your own lip balm.

Purchases

Well, I set a goal for what I wanted to earn in my etsy shop for the month of June. The cash would be my mad money for Dallas, but I have gone a little mad lately. I have been spending it before Dallas!! There was no way I could pass up this dress. I already have the pictures planned for these dresses. I ordered on etsy, of course, from dayspringdresses.

Thank You

I never thought I would make such wonderful friends through my blog. Laura is always so sweet to follow and comment. She even ordered a plate for Mrs. L for teacher appreciation. Thanks to Laura's sweet gift, MY PARENTS:) and I have gotten to meet Mrs. L. She ordered two rope pails filled for birthday gifts. Before receiving her first order, she placed a second order. I want this post to be a THANK YOU to Laura and Mrs. L. I really appreciate your business and love painting for your friends and family. The pics below are a couple of the buckets. The mermaid bucket is the finished product, and the baseball bucket is before wrapping.

UPDATE: I feel guilty. After writing this, I watched Inside Kate's World! Now I just feel sorry for her.

This has been a quiet at home weekend for me and the girls. I painted, painted, painted, and the girls played and watched old movies. Mattie Claire was introduced to Toy Story, not quite sure how she missed these. We are now anxiously waiting are 3 now! Today, she watched.....
....Honey I Shrunk the Kids. I loved this movie growing up, and she did too. We know she loves bugs, and this movie had a giant ant--of course, she loved it.

We put Molly down for bed and made biscuit donuts, something else new for this weekend. While enjoying our donuts, we watched Kate Plus 8! It is like a train wreck; you have to look! I don't want to bash her, because she gets so much of that--buuuuut she just asks for it: the spikey silver heals, the bikinis, the hair extensions, the boobs that look bigger,... MC likes watching the kids, so I am sure it won't be the last time I sit through this stimulating show!

Large Order

I just finished my biggest etsy order ever!! I don't feel like I got out of my chair yesterday. Here is a small sample of what I did. I will post more later.

Summer Classes

I am busy working on some big party orders. Here is a peak at some buckets that shipped out today. I am getting ready to start the next big order of some water bottles and buckets. I will share some pics when they are all painted.

Well, I have gotten 3 more calls this week for summer art classes. I am still working on buying a building to have classes, work on ceramics, and do my painting. Drop me an email if you know of anyone with a building that would be perfect to move out here.

Thank you for Being a Friend

I can't believe Blanche died. I always loved that theme song--"thank you for being a friend...your heart is true; you're a pal and a confidante." I have been thinking a lot about friends lately. I have come up with a few rules for being a friend.

1. Don't lie to me. Even if you think it might hurt my feelings, I am trusting you to be honest. And yes, lying by omission is lying.
2. Be loyal. If I call you a friend, I will defend you with my dying breath. Is it too much to ask for you to do the same?
3. Call me. Not everyday; hey, I would settle for once a month or so. I am just as busy and important as you are, so don't wait on me to always make the effort.

I am sure I will feel moved to share more as they come to me:)

Domestic Disappointment

Our church held a taste fair last night to benefit our youth. I decided to go all Laura on it and had big plans of all the things I was going to cook and the recipes I was going to share with all of my followers. My first attempt was to make some yummy chocolate cake mix cookies. I dumped all the ingredients in the bowl and started mixing. The little mixer screeched a little, stopped spinning, then started smoking. I tried mixing with a spoon, but it just wasn't working--I had to use my very clean hands. I got Mattie Claire to document this culinary mess! My hands were very clean, and the cookies turned out very tasty. Jason loves this kind of cookie; the leftovers are all gone!
Just in case this looks so yummy, and you just have to try the recipe...

Cake Mix Cookies

1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix

1 large egg

1/2 (8 ounce) whipped topping; thawed

1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar

Combine mix, egg, and whipped topping. Stir in chopped pecans. Dust hands with powdered sugar and shape into 3/4 inch balls. Coat balls with powdered sugar and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until done. Remove to wire rack to cool.