Friday, February 29, 2008

Busy...Busy....little....b

I haven't written in a few days due to many things. I have been busy filling orders, preparing to launch new product in a few days, and getting ready for my next show in Dallas. Between the business and my normal life as a mom, it can be a bit much at times. Oh yeah, and
I 'm a swim instructor twice a week, which takes up about four hours each week.
My swim job is very rewarding, I love teaching kids how to swim.
So, back to art talk, I am so excited to launch some new products coming up. Please check back in about a week to see my new items. Have a great weekend!

Monday, February 18, 2008

COMING SOON!

I am so excited about some new products that i will be launching in March, and here is a little sneak peak.

I have been secretly working in watercolor during my not very often spare time and I'm having fun. I have been creating more animals and above is only one that i will show today.

I love owls. There are so many artists creating them these days that its really neat to see everyone's take on them. Well, here's another one of mine. You all know I have another owl on my Alpha Tree and my woodlands paintings, and here is another.

A mother owl and her two sweet babes. I think they turned out great and hope you all think so as well.

So, above is a new product with a new piece of art. I am calling them Shadow Box Works.
For now, they are only offered in a white shadow box with a hand-painted watercolor print inside. The artwork is pinned on all corners. The look is clean and fresh. Perfect for a nursery. These new designs will be up on my website in March. If you are really interested and can't wait until then, because they are so cute and unique, please contact me for pricing and different designs.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

Happy Valentines Day!

I am doing a quick post today to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day. Today, Tangled and True will start a giveaway that I hope all of you will enter to win one of my paintings.

Also, I will be giving a 20% discount on all my paintings through Monday February 18th, 2008 at midnight. Visit my website and type in the code JARLOVE20 at checkout if anything catches your eye. Or, feel free to call me direct, I love talking with my customers.

Have a lovely day with your loved ones and I'm off to paint, pack, ship, and attend Austin's Valentine Party at school.


Monday, February 11, 2008

Kate & Max Series

I love New York. Many trips have been taken by me to this wonderful place. For reasons of play and work. During my visits I have seen it all from Central Park to the Statue of Liberty. And I can't wait to get back there again.

I wanted to create something completely different, as far as artwork for girls. I also wanted to create pieces of inspiration and create a character that little girls would love to be.

That is how I came up with Kate & Max.

A beautiful young Fashion Designer and Mom. She lives in NYC and has everything. Even a cute little dog named Max. He is a Bichon Frise.

So far I have created only four paintings in this series, but I plan on adding more. If you haven't checked them, please do so. And check back often to see if I have added more.

I know exactly what I want to create next in the series....but you will have to check back to find out.
Thank you for reading!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

LOVE

Themed artwork is becoming more popular within stores these days. I had some stores purchase this adorable painting to add to there Valentine gift section.
I came up with this design before Christmas not even thinking about Valentines Day. I just wanted to create a pretty painting that would be perfect for a little girls nursery.

So, when I am coming up with designs, I write down a list of items and ideas as to what I am wanting to create. This was my list for this particular painting.
  1. a modern tree
  2. pink colored hues as dominant color
  3. hearts (of course)
  4. cute abstract birds
  5. add texture by felt and hand-made printed paper
  6. I wanted this painting to be able to fit with a number of different decors in a nursery.

That was my list, and you see the finished product. I named the painting " LOVE "
because to me the painting sets off happiness and warmth. And everyone who has seen it just smiles. And that tells me that they LOVE it.

Thank you reading!

Friday, February 8, 2008

LOVE to GIVE


I have had a very busy day today and it's not even close to being over.
  1. Went to Jacob's school for his Honor Roll breakfast.
  2. Came home to finish two Alpha Tree Paintings.
  3. Built the frame for a custom canvas that I will be painting over the weekend.
  4. And built a frame for a little bird painting going to charity.
Yes, that was all this morning. And my day just started.

So, this weekend I am going to a charity event hosted by the Rotary clubs of Southlake, Denton, and the Metroport. I am donating two paintings. Alpha Tree and The little blue Titmouse bird. The Rotary Organization are raising funds to finish a medical clinic in Nicaragua. They will also being raising funds to bring down more medical supplies to families in need. The project is called "Friends of Nicaragua " and you can learn more about it at www.fonclub.org.

I have been donating to this charity group for about a year now and I have met some amazing people. One of them is my good friend Debbie. She is a Rotarian, so sweet..."Hi Debbie!" The event is a poker and blackjack night. There will also be a silent auction, food, drinks, and just plain fun.
I can't wait.
Back to work!

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Finding Love


Before the holidays, I purchased these little stones for my bathroom, that smell fantastic. They make the bathroom smell fresh and clean. Having four boys in the house, you can only imagine how many times a week i am cleaning. So the neat thing about them is, when i poured them out to put them in my pretty little bowl, I noticed one stone was shaped like a heart.
Can you find it? Crazy how little things I find brighten my day.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Italian Sunday

It's day 6 of my 14 days of posting things creative for Valentines Day. So today, I am showing you one of my recent commissions. My client wanted an Italian canal landscape with boats.
I titled the painting " Italian Sunday ". The size is a 16x20" on canvas. I think it turned out really well and I know she is going to love it. I love doing commissioned work. It's always something new and challenging, and for some odd reason, I love to be challenged when I'm painting. Well, it's off to Arizona today and I can't wait to hear her response.
I'm off to paint !

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

OUR ROCKET DOG


I am off today to see a client for a commissioned piece of her dog. And with that in mind, I decided to tell all of you about our dog named HAWK. Most people, who don't know my kids, don't understand why we named him Hawk. He is named after Tony Hawk the professional skateboarder. When we lived in Ca., Tony lived about 15 min. from our house. He even built a skate park down the street from our house. If you hadn't guessed, my boys love to skateboard.

But, what is really amazing about our dog, is his name fits him perfectly. He is a RAT TERRIER. These types of dog's perform in the circus. No, we don't send him off with Ringling Bros., but he definitely shows off when other people are around.
He does everything. The smartest dog ever. He will wake me up in the middle of the night if one of my boys are sick. Yes, he really does. He can ride a skateboard, loves to play soccer, and he can even trap a soccer ball. That's when the ball is in the air and comes down. He will catch the ball in the air and bring it to the ground. He loves to swim and fetch the balls in the pool.


One day, the neighbor behind me threw his frizbee over my fence and it landed in the pool. Hawk looked at me, and I said " Go get it." He jumped in, got the frizbee, and dropped it over by the fence. He knew it was the neighbors. I could go on with stories, but I don't want to be a bore.
If you have gone through my website to look at my paintings, you will notice that i have a painting called Rocket Dog. That is Hawk. He is our super hero. I am working on more Adventures of Rocket Dog, and hope to have them out in a couple of months. I have sold quite a few and my clients want to see more. He is famous in our neighborhood. All the kids come over to see him. And he loves them as well. Everyone tells us, " Can I have your Dog?" I would love to make a book out of him. he is such an inspiring dog to us, that I want to write about him. He has given my entire family so much love the past three years, and we are ready to enjoy many more.

We love you HAWK xoxoxoxo

Monday, February 4, 2008

HEART INSPIRATION

I stumbled across this room setting from a beautiful baby store in Georgia called B. Braithwaite. A mother and daughter created this most amazing store after a trip to Paris. But what drew me to this picture was that it is exactly what my room looked like when i was a little girl. White walls, simple white and birch furniture. Except, the hearts in my room were in a single straight line going around the middle of the room. My childhood is what inspired me to create my modern hearts. I added some other bright colors in just to give it more conversation. And that it did. And just as i expected, they are selling very well. They are one of my top sellers and for reasons being. My clients have bought them for children of all ages. Baby, kids, and teens to be exact.
And almost every person who has purchased them have all said the same thing, " The Modern Hearts are so bright and happy, I have to have them and my daughter is going to love them."

And I am so happy that my customers are enjoying them as much as I have.


Sunday, February 3, 2008

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

It wouldn't fit in our house if football wasn't the topic for today's post. SUPERBOWL....yes it's a holiday around here. All the requests are in for what I HAVE to serve today. Ham, chicken wings, cheese dip with spicy sausage, chips,etc. Of course, i will throw in some veggies. My boys, and I am including my husband, are already taunting each other for who will come out victorious.

I'm off to make a chart of dollar squares for the game....and the bank!

Saturday, February 2, 2008

CREATIVE BREAKFAST


Good morning to all. I am posting today with a favorite family breakfast. EGGS IN A FRAME. My boys love this breakfast and I make it for them at least two..to ..three times a week. But since we are celebrating the month of February, a heart cutout is perfect.

So easy. Even the kids can help out on this part.
Press the heart down to cut out your shape.











Then spread butter on all edges and both sides of the bread. This makes it extra yummy.


Spray your heated pan with cooking spray. Place the bread onto the pan and let it cook for a minute. Drop the egg right in the middle. Cook to desired consistancy. My boys like the yolk runny so they can dip bread or bacon in it. Don't forget to add some salt or pepper for great flavor!






There you have it. A perfect breakfast. Spread your favorite jelly, jam, preserves, butter, peanut butter, or whatever you like on the little heart cutout. Bacon is a must in our family. Surprise the ones you love with this breakfast on Valentine's Day, your loved one will never forget this. Enjoy and happy to share.

Friday, February 1, 2008

MORE STUDIO PHOTOS

I enjoy looking out of this window everyday. The outside the window is a home for many traveling birds.



The Winnie the Pooh is a project I did for the Disney Catalog.

The little knitted items were a gift from my mother-in-law.

The owl is my favorite.
















An original illustration that i created years ago.

This print is still being sold across the US today.


So that is my studio! Please check back everyday for a little creativity and inspiration.

FEBRUARY IN THE STUDIO


I am so happy that February is here. I just finished my last order of pictures from the Dallas Show...Yeah!

I decided that everyday in February, up until Valentines Day, I will post something creative or inspirational. So my first items of creativity and inspiration for February the 1st are a clean studio, in which I do every Friday, and my sweet Love Chick paintings, that have been a huge hit since I launched them on the site.




Every Friday I organize and clean my studio. Catch up on all the paperwork for the week, invoice clients for the following week, and tell myself that I WILL be painting over the weekend.







I LOVE white and clean as you can see.
I even have a pretty chandelier hanging from my fan.












I keep everything very organized.


Plus it looks so pretty.