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 !

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

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.

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!

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.

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.