May 27, 2010

LET YOUR ART GUIDE YOU ~ WEEK 16 ~


This week I am featuring a project I did in the ART of organizing, and it is an art! One I am not very good at. Hey- I'm trying though, right?

I decided to quickly make a family calendar chalkboard in my garage and though I had plans on having one inside, this works perfectly for our family. We get in and out of the car in the garage multiple times a day. There is no way we can miss a very important date now.

This took me no more than a half an hour to complete.

You will need:

~painters tape
~chalkboard paint
~a sponge roller


Mark out the area you would like to paint in.
Press the edges firmly to prevent seeping through.

Roll on the paint evenly and then repeat again for a total of 2 coats for durability.

When it is dry then mark out your desired days, projects etc.

(yes- I had a court date for a speeding ticket *blush*)


I got carried away and wanted to do another area that the kids could use and where the chalk dust wouldn't blow around the inside of the house.

Right below the other chalkboard I repeated the process and voila!

I painted directly onto the dry wall and it has been working brilliantly. The neighborhood kids love to come and draw and use it now too.
Win-win for me and the kids!

I had a little shelf laying around that I used as the chalk holder and put the chalk in some old jars. I always save jars-to my husbands chagrin but I always have a use...eventually ;-)

Can't wait to see what you other creative minds have been up to this week.
My kids are done with school for the year today...EEEEEK!!!
Let the summer begin!!!!!


xo Emily xo







May 20, 2010

LET YOUR ART GUIDE YOU ~ WEEK 15 ~

I am going to do something extraordinary- I am going to admit I couldn't quite do it all this week. I had family in town and I have a cold and kids with colds. Ughhhh- you guys know...

So because I couldn't get anything done this week I will re-post something from exactly one year ago. It seems like I posted this years and years ago, one year ago seems unreal.
For those of you who have seen these paintings before, sorry for the repetition, and for those of you who haven't, enjoy!

MAY 2009


I feel so happy!
A year ago I felt extremely happy as a mother raising my children, but the little niggling voice that kept saying that I needed more "me" time was now yelling loudly in my brain.


I listened and began to pursue my desires as an artist and I feel so fulfilled. Taking a blank white canvas and turning it into a picture, something of beauty, something that makes me and the recipient smile, feels out of this world.


Having a customer come back for another piece of my art was one of the best feelings I have had yet in this journey. A sweet lady in Mexico, New York has not one, but two of my pieces now. The beautiful poppies above, she bought from me last November.

She loved this painting that I did as a present for a friend, and she asked that I make her a bigger one, just like it.

So here it is. Birds of a feather... part deux.





I am so grateful for the abilities God blessed me with.
Did I mention I felt happy?

xoxo Emily xoxo



May 13, 2010

LET YOUR ART GUIDE YOU ~ WEEK 14 ~



Has everyone had a whirlwind week? The days fly by and I can't believe how quickly this week has come and nearly gone.

I had a rare privilege.

Let me explain. I moved to England when I was 13. It was the biggest blessing for so many reasons. One thing I never got to participate in was a prom.
I always regretted not having that experience but I guess traveling all over Europe and the United Kingdom makes up for that
;-)

My friend and I were asked to assist a girl from my church in her prom preparations. She was going for a vintage 1940's look. Her style is unique and brave.
I LOVE that.

She needed something for her hair that had that 40's feel and asked me to come up with something. I accepted the challenge with a little anxiety but came out victorious.

This is what I made for my art this week.



Obviously the flower is sitting on her shoe. I used silk organza fabric and kind of just went with it until I figured it looked good, then I used a vintage grey pearl in the center that I had gotten at an antique store. I looked for the netting to make a birdcage veil, but in the time frame I had, I could not find any. So instead, I used a regular netting to hang down in her eyes, as you will see in the pictures.


None of this would have been possible without my sweet friend TiNeill. She was amazing with the make up and hair.

Just in the nick of time it all came together. It was so lovely getting her ready and seeing the transformation.



I mean seriously, can she look any cuter?!?!?!





I feel like I got to experience a small taste of what a prom would have been like, but I wouldn't have traded my path for anything. Thank you Charme for trusting us to make you look like a movie star!!!

xo Emily xo



May 12, 2010

ANNIE GET YOUR...

Horse.

Yeah- that's it.


This is the story of Annabelle or Annie as she is called round these parts.
She had a very important party to attend. She knew only the best outfit would do.



So she did what any self respecting toddler would do. She called Alison at "One stitch at a time".

One Stitch at a Time


Only Alison could deliver the cutest outfit ever made...and she did!
Annie was in Strawberry heaven with her matching skirt and shirt. She could have never imagined that the other kids would be so jealous of her cute outfit.

Alone she played... but she played looking a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e.
She didn't notice all the attention she got from the little boys either.



She was over it. One little exhausted party girl she was. It's tough looking that cute she said!!





So if you are in need of an outfit for your little prince, princess, cowgirl or cowpoke then scoot on over to

One Stitch at a Time

The End

May 06, 2010

LET YOUR ART GUIDE YOU ~ WEEK 13 ~



Good morning everyone!

To those of you who are lurking and thinking about joining the challenge, come join us. It is so worthwhile to have this challenge each week and push yourself towards a goal.

I know I mentioned before that I gave the bride something special for her shower but let me explain first.

Her wedding theme is "The Perfect Pair" with pears being used in the invitations and decorations at the wedding. We did a lot of shots using the pears for that reason.









While I was shooting this shot above, the bride needed a break and lip gloss retouch. I saw the pears where they were perched and there was something so stunning about them on their own.

I snapped this picture below and couldn't have imagined it would turn out as well as it did. This is my art for this week
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I framed it and gave it to her at the shower. Without knowing why she started crying. It touched me and so I started crying. Blubbering fools we were! She told me that she had spent hours looking for a photo with two pears like this, to always remind her of her this precious time in her life. It was all very touching as you can imagine. The photo is one that I adore and plan to frame and put in my dining room.

I am also going to list some of my photograph prints for sale on my Etsy.
Check back later today if you are interested.




Now start linking up my darling friends who are joining me in this challenge.

YOU ROCK!!!

xo Emily xo




May 04, 2010

Easy gift wrapping idea and.........



the most beautiful bridal shower.

Keep going down for an ingenious wrapping idea
(if I do say so myself)


I just need to say this was the most beautiful party I have ever attended.
Every little detail was spectacular, as you can see.



Dean & Deluca catered the shower.









My pictures of the bride were featured.



So this idea came to me and it's a winner. I gave the bride something I will show you guys on Thursday for LYAGY but I had a huge surface space that I wanted to adorn. The bride has my sense of style so I went with this idea.
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Tea towel rosettes.
Or kitchen towel rosettes as I have been told. I know in England they are called tea towels. Anyway- whatever you hang in your kitchen to dry dishes or hands with.
;-)

Everyone ooohed and awwwed over it and it was very simple.
Take the tea towel and fold it in half diagonally. Roll it up so you have a long "snake".
Then start wrapping it around tightly on itself into a round shape. Then pin it on the bottom with safety pins when you are done so it holds it shape. I only used 2 pins.

For the leaf I did the same thing but then just folded it in half and then back on itself.

So cute huh? Plus it's a useful wrapping idea too. The bride can use them once unwrapped.

Alright- get ready for Thursday!!

xo Emily xo