HERE I AM!!!!!

Oh, my friend Diane had it right when she said I must be up to my elbows in painting... I have indeed been a busy girl in my studio and simply loving every minute I spend there. The sawdust has been flying and brushes working their magic as the holidays approach. As many of you know, I simply love finding unusual things to paint on so I decided to share a few with you.

One of my most recent pieces is this beautiful doll trunk that I "altered" with a page from an antique hymnal, one of my little wooden angels and some of my saltbox houses painted on the bottom. I think it would be a great place to store all your Christmas cards and stamps, don't you?

Another great find was this antique saw. I have only painted another saw and it was one my dear father-in-law had used over 60 years ago. I decided it would be a fabulous gift for my dearest and so painted the family farm on the blade. The saw pictured here was the perfect piece for me to try out my new snowman pattern. I am most happy with it and thrilled that my sweet friend, Natalie, is going to use it in her beautiful prim home. You might remember that I featured her in one of my older posts...

I have saved the most unusual piece for last! These bellows are just huge and so lovely. They, according to the antique seller, were used on a farm years and years ago. I painted my new design for a Father Frost on this amazing piece of Americana and couldn't be happier with the outcome.

So, dear blogging friends, I am off to paint a bit more. The clock is ticking and I have to get busy. My warmest regards go out to all of you!

By the Light of the Candy Cane Moon

I just love this design by Terrye French. I have painted it on two different pieces and have orders for two more teapots painted with the same cute scene. I never paint a design the same way twice... I just can't do it! I have tried, but it goes against my nature. Do you feel the same way? I even vary recipes each time I prepare one over and over. The problem is, I don't write down the changes I have made so when one turns out really well and my dearest just loves it, I have already forgotten what I did to make it better. I guess the lesson here is to always keep a pencil handy!!!

So many things to paint, so little time!!!

Once again I must apologize to all my wonderful blogging friends for not being attentive to my blog. I have been painting away in my little studio like a mad man (woman!!! LOL!). My favorite season is fall but my favorite things to paint have got to be anything Winter and Christmas. I have more ideas than I will ever be able to produce into reality. I was always puzzled when I was a little girl and I would hear my friends say they were bored. My goodness, I have never been bored a day in my life --- how can you be when there are so many wonderful things just waiting to be painted on, glued together and assembled?

Here are a few of my latest pieces. Thanks for taking the time to look --- I welcome your comments!

The first is an old cabinet that I painted with a Candy Cane Snowman (design by Katrina Roncin). He is one dapper fellow, don't you think?


I have a passion for vintage cheese boxes and here is one I just finished today. The inspiration for the flying snowman came from Terrye French and I added my own twist.

Finally, here is an old kerosene can, painted with the sweetest little angel ever. The penny rug border has black snaps for centers to give extra dimension to the piece.

Old Farmhouse Gathering on Etsy

I belong to a wonderful group of artisans on Etsy called Old Farmhouse Gathering. We just welcomed our 200th member!!!! Currently many of the artists are featuring Autumn and Halloween items in their shops. Just type OFG in the search bar and you will find treasures galore!

Christmas Time!

I have been MIA for a while and I apologize to all my blogging friends. Dear Megan has been busy house hunting and we have been lending support (isn't that what parents do best?!!). I have also been treasuring hunting, cutting wood for projects and of course painting hours on end in my little studio. Here are some Christmas projects to get you in the mood. Check out my Christmas counter below... it isn't long until the happiest day of the year!!

The first project is an old cheese box. My dear father-in-law used to buy one of the "hoops" of cheese that came in this type box every year at Christmastime. Can you imagine a twenty-five pound piece of cheddar cheese? I found this lovely old box and painted it up with a Terrye French Santa.

What would make a better beard for old Santy Claus than yards of torn muslin. This Jolly Old Soul has two and a half yards of torn strips to create his magnificent beard. Lots and lots of glitter and mica flakes make him look as if he has been on a midnight ride for sure.


Finally, here is a sweet gingerbread teapot (my design) with a Christmas tree filled with all sorts of gingie delights. I have two Christmas trees in my kitchen for the holidays and one of them is always contained in a teapot. After all, don't you spend a lot of time baking and cooking goodies so why shouldn't you have decorations there too??? Oh my goodness, all this talk of Christmas makes me want to start decorating! Do you think my dearest would notice if I start putting out my Snow Village????

Harvest Moon Clock Box

This is a clock in name only.... I removed its non-working parts and replaced them with a new face painted as a Harvest Moon. I saved the hands from the old clock and attached them to Mr. Moon (aren't they pretty?). I love to rescue items and give them a new life. I always think about that old holiday cartoon about the island of misfit toys where they are all broken and unloved. Well, this clock box is feeling feisty with his twinkling eyes and rosy cheeks. The wood finial that I attached to the top is painted to resemble a pumpkin. This was a fun piece to construct and paint!

A Sweet Etsy Friend...

I love the customers I have on Etsy --- they are the sweetest people on the planet. We send notes back and forth and share what is going on in our respective lives. One special friend is Tracy. She and her husband have two precious little girls and live in a house that they dearly love. They are filling it with things they find and refinish as well as art that they collect. She sent several pictures to me, one of which I am sharing with you. This is an old wash stand that they have redone.... don't you love it? She has displayed a couple of my pieces on it. I am honored that the things I have made for her have such a good home. Thank you Tracy for taking the time to share your life with me!