The Artist

The Gift

2011-12-31T15:31:00.000-08:00

Last summer my sister in law gave me a large old frame. It had sall peices missing and had nails sticking out the back. She had found it in her fathers garage/ workshop rafters. He had passed away and they were getting the tools ready to sell.
On the way home I thought and thought of what to do with this big frame. Then it hit me. I never told my brother what I had in mind, so it was a total shock when she opened a small box for Christmas. Inside it had a small note that had question marks on it and it said Mirror mirror on the wall ???

Deb looked at me and I replied, can it mean the bathroom mirror..No What about the hall mirror..No Then it must mean our bedroom mirror !!! I took her into the room and sitting on the Bombay dresser, in front of a mirror I had her present covered with a sheet.

ELEVEN

2011-09-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

For eleven days in September the magic appears and then it is gone , As children we could hardly wait till that special time when or dreams come true, and new ones were made. The smells of popcorn can always bring those memories back to quicken our hearts. The girls sheepishly wishing for that special boy to win that big stuffed toy so she could carrie it around with pride. The boys with their eyes sparkling just knowing their girl is beside them as they go take their seat for the next ride. Those crisp evenings that held mistery and magic, and nothing could spoil that special time. Each year our steps get slower and the noise gets softer, and the rides are left to the young. As the smells drift by my heart picks up the beat, for those eleven days are coming to a close and the smile on my face will remain till once more the lights are turned on at the Fair.

At The Tennessee Valley Fair

2011-09-11T15:27:00.000-07:00

I got

a second place for this one. A red ribbon.

I got a white ribbon for this one. Third place.

Gentleman Gardner

2011-08-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

I gave the painting I did for the 91 year old gentleman gardener to him Fri, His wife said he wanted to go straight to the framers to get it framed. I guess he liked it.

Painting Of A Little Boy

2011-08-23T15:15:00.000-07:00

I was visiting the job site of my friend the builder when she told me one of the workers wanted a portrait of his son painted . He had a small photo so I took it and painted this. I think it turned out nice. I hope he likes it.

A Painting From My Garden

2011-08-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

A 91 year old man gave me 7 Irises last year. This is one that bloomed this year and I then painted it. He let me dig 30 this year and I can't wait till they bloom next year. I am going to give him this painting for letting me have some of his Irises. He had over 200 in 5 beds.

New painting Of An Oldie

2011-08-11T14:32:00.000-07:00

I had taken some pictures of the Tennessee Gardens a few weeks ago. I took one of an old truck in a field of sunflowers. I wanted to paint it and had talked to a client and she asked me to do it for her. We then changed the truck color to one that she is accenting her game room in . I then changed the sunflowers to a small purple flower. This is the finished painting. I enjoyed this one.

Friends Youngest Girl Has Her Own Mural

2011-07-03T02:41:00.000-07:00

This is the youngest of the two sisters. The room is a big bonus room they turned into their bedroom. It has high ceilings and lots of angles. They also have a small room next door for a TV room . This little girl loves animals ,and wanted all her favorites on her wall. Their first house caught on fire and they lost their dog in the fire. He is painted playing on the beach with the girl flying a kite. I wanted to do something special for the girls, and the idea of the silhouettes just pooped in my noggin. They also wanted drifting clouds on that high ceiling. I taped a 2 inch brush to a pole and did the clouds standing on the floor. Not bad, he he . They loved it an I am loving this idea. The previous post was the older girls wall. Please enjoy.

I Gave Her Big Fish

2011-06-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

A little girl wanted fish on her wall. Her mom didn't want all the wall done so I came up with this. A large fish tank. Then I had her to poise for me to paint her in silhouette.

Just BEACHY

2011-06-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

I painted two paintings this week for the shop. The first is of a little girl that I saw on Vieques island a few years ago. We had gone to the beach and saw this lady with her two kids. The older girl had just built a nice sandcastle and was standing to the side looking at it. The youngest got up ,walked over an plopped down right in the middle of it. I started laughing, and asked her mom if I could take photos. I painted a small version of this and sold it on the island. I wanted to do a bigger one so this week I did.
This is a house I made up.but can you imagine laying in bed at night with the waves crashing. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Oh Sorry I went to sleep. hehe
This is Tammy's station. It is next to the shampoo area, and she is using a beach theme. There is a small wall in the same room .and I came up with an idea for the wall. I am doing a mural of all of us at the beach with me on the side painting their picture. The girls are wild about the idea.

Second Book

2011-06-07T02:17:00.000-07:00

Joe Goes Fishing
Authored by Ann Lovell
Illustrated by Kathy Thacker

Going on a fishing trip? What do you need? A rod. Some bait. And fish, of course, both big ones and small ones. Especially written with early readers in mind, "Joe Goes Fishing" is the simple tale of a little boy on a fishing trip. Your early readers will love the story and the illustrations, not to mention the success of reading on their own!

This is our second book that you can order on on Amazon or through the book stores. This one is for kindergarten,an easy reader. We are working on the next in the series about the farm.

The Best Team

2011-04-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

I went to the salon today to get some books autographed by the author of our book. She is leaving Fri. to go back to Thailand so I thought it would be a perfect time to get s publicity shot of the two of us. While we were talking we came up with the idea of the third book. She is in the process of finishing the second book. Ann wants to get both children's books done by the end of this year.

On Amazon

2011-03-30T03:42:00.000-07:00

The first book in the series is now on Amazon.com It is Charlie's Big Adventure. I
ordered my copy and can't wait to see it. I have been so excited,I have emailed about 100 people this morning.hehe I know this silly,but this is my first book published. The author will be in town for two weeks and I can't wait to see her. LOL ©©©©©

I Have Been Framed

2011-03-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

A customer asked me to paint a portrait of her old home place and to then put it in a window she had. I painted it on a piece of canvas pined to some cardboard. I then mounted the window after the canvas was dried. I have done a few of these but this is the first one I remembered to get a photo.

The Answer

2011-03-17T05:11:00.000-07:00

While at a friends house she asked me if you can paint over tile on a backsplash. The answer is ,yes. First ,tape off ,then lightly sand. Prime area and let dry. Then start painting what you want. When finished ,put a couple coats of sealer on and let dry. A lot of people put tile on for a backsplash. This is fine but if you are like me and like to change things, this is an answer for you.

Here is the before next to the after, so you can see what a change it makes.

She loved the new backsplash. If she ever wants to change it just prime and re paint something else.

New Mural

2011-03-09T18:10:00.000-08:00

No, that is not someone at Halloween,it is just me painting.I do look a fright in my painting cloths.
This is a bathroom wall I did today for a friend. They took down some old mirror tiles and just put a piece of panneling over the bad place. She asked me to paint something over the panneling. So I let some of the wood grain remain to give it intrest. With the shelf painted too, said the best part is,she never has to dust it.

Painting Spring

2011-03-06T08:38:00.000-08:00

I just finished this one and hung it on the wall in front of my station. Everyone is enjoying the Spring feel of this one.

Cover

2011-02-10T05:35:00.000-08:00

This is the cover for the second book. I got an email from the author last night,saying it will still be a few weeks before the printed version comes out on the first book. She is a missionary in Thailand ,and is doing this when she has time to spare. When she gets the second one written then I can add some more pictures for the book. The second book is about handicap children.

The Book Is Out

2011-01-12T20:21:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I did the illustrations for a childrens book. The author is a missionary in Tyland and it has taken a while for her to get things together. She just email me with the news that I can shar . You can get it for your Kendals . Here is what she sent me. Charlie's Big Adventure (Connie and Friends)
www.amazon.com
In this first story of a series of children’s books called “Connie and Friends,” Charlie, a white duck, is disappointed when he is denied a job at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. To get the job, he attempts to become a mallard with the help of his barnyard friends – Connie, his practical co
Share.

I gust got an email from the author, she wants to at least do 10 books !!!!! This is the first review of the book....

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book! The illustrations draw you right into the story and what an enchanting book! My 5 year old loved it!, January 14, 2011
By William Stone (Columbus, MS, US) - See all my reviewsThis review is from: Charlie's Big Adventure (Connie and Friends) (Kindle Edition)

Painted Chest

2011-01-10T04:49:00.000-08:00

I was called in by an interior decorator to do something unusual for this hosiery chest. I then came up with the idea to paint the material on the chest.
I made the drawers to look like the material of the pillows in the bedroom. I wish I had gone beck and got a photo of it in the room . The one with the x's is made up with tiny rose buds lined up.

I "m Ready

2010-12-21T13:16:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our home for the hollidays.

The house is ready for the parties. I am having the family party, and two tea lunches,plus the girls from the shop are coming for brunch then we go shopping..

This is the table in the hall.

One of my hair customers gave me this Poinsettia.
I did the swag over the window that went with the chandy.
I did this little painting just for this space.
This is looking up from the first floor.

This use to be the garage until we turned it into a master bedroom. Now we don't have to go up those stairs several times a day.

Red and Green

2010-12-05T23:18:00.000-08:00

#links

Thanks to Susian for hosting this party. Last year I had the pipe to burst and was in remodel mode for two and a half months. So, no Christmas in this house last year.
I wanted to at least get one room ready so we could enjoy it to the fullest.

The white metal church was a gift from a client several years ago.
The small snow village house I found at the thrift shop for $5.00
I found this cloche at a thrift shop for $4.99. The deer and flowers are from the dollar store. I had a candle holder I melted the wax and put the deer in till it got hard enough for him to stand. I just pored snow around and put flowers , then the glass on.
I just had to light a fire and get the full effect of the room. Now I have the rest of the house to do. I hope all of you have as much fun as I have had doing this room.

New Painting

2010-11-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

I was over at Brabourne Farms blog with Leigh as the host,when I saw a photo of a bike with a basket. She always has great things to look at on her blog. I just fell in love with the photo,and asked if I could use it to paint a painting for myself. I used the frame I got at a road side sale for $20.00 I am very happy with the way it turned out.

I Do Love Yellow

2010-11-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

With fall comes colors and yellow is my most favorite. I just love to drive around to see the leaves come to life in the bright sunshine. When you see a tree that has turned yellow,it looks like pure gold. The trees just glow ,in yellow. This birdhouse was a gift from a customer 3 years ago. Thanks for stopping in to see the color yellow.

Hart of The Home, In Chocolate

2010-10-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the party,our host is Shelia at Note Songs, and I know you have seen what a lovely kitchen she has.
On Dec.2 I came home to find a 9 ft. waterfall in my dining room. The water pipe up stairs had burst, and ran for 7 hours. It ended up being 40 thousand dollars damage to our home. Needless to say we had no Christmas last year. It took a little over two months to get our house back together. They gave me 24 hundred dollars to find cabinets. At first I thought I had made a mistake. Then I finished the mural, and decided to paint the rest of the kitchen in chocolate. I am happy at it came together in my chocolate kitchen.This is looking from the living room .You can see the kitchen to the left.

You may think the room is dark, but I don't have the under counter lights on, so you can see the mural better. I painted it and put a coat of polly acrylic on so you can wash it. I like to change things,so I didn't want tile. This way ,when I want to change the look,I just start painting.

We had the fridge to stop working, so off to Lewes and new fridge. We had a side by side and when I found this one I knew it was the one for me. I just love the freezer on the bottom.

I turned the overhead light off, so it wouldn't glare off the glass in the painting.
Thank you for stopping in to take a look at my chocolate kitchen. I left coffee and a sweet treat for you. This is the living room after the redo.

The After

2010-09-30T06:07:00.000-07:00

This will be the second time this bathroom has been done in 6 months. The main redo was for the major water damage from a water pipe that left our home with 40 thousand dollars in damages. After everything was fixed we had a hot water to spray water under the floor, damaging my bathroom. The floor had to re removed including the sub floor. There are a few more things to finish,but I am so happy to have my bath back We have 2 1/2more baths but this was my favorite.
When we took out the vanity to redo the floor,I thought it would be a good time to change some things. The mirror was so old you could not use it to put makeup on with. Off to the thrift shops. I found this mirror for $18.00.
I had it ready to paint and grabbed a can and begun to spray. I had planed to paint it black,but I picked up the silver can by mistake. Then I thought HUM! After spraying I then took some black to enhance certain areas. I also replaced the white vessel with a clear one.
One day I was blog hopping and found a designer that had used a teapot with flowers in her bath. A friend gave me this little teapot. It had one foot gone, so I put a piece of cork on it ,now it would work perfectly for my room.
These keys are something I fell in love with in a shop.
I bought these boots 15 years ago in an antique shop. Yes ,I did try to put them on, I got about half my foot in the top part.. They must have had tiny feet.

Bring In The Red

2010-09-06T03:08:00.000-07:00

One of my clients that I have done several things for asked me to paint something in her nieces dining room. She wanted to bring some red into the room. Here is what I painted for her.I love the colors of these rooms.

2 Rooster Painings

2010-07-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

When the lady in Vieques Puerto Rico gift shop emailed me that a painting had sold, she made a request. She asked me to paint roosters. We took photos of these two on the last trip. I knew I would paint them at some point. This was the perfect request. I am sending two dog paintings and a cat painting along with the roosters. It is fun to see where one of your paintings will end up. The painting that just sold in Vieques ,is going to a couple in Cal. as a wedding present. Sometimes I can imagine the home it goes to and think it has a new place to live and make others happy.

Just Finished

2010-06-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

I just finished this painting. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy this one.

New Painting

2010-06-10T14:39:00.000-07:00

This is my latest painting. I call it "Lazy Days" I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by to look at this new work.

She Bought Seven !!!!

2010-06-03T03:51:00.000-07:00

These are the last two paintings I have done for one customer. She has bought 7, and I am doing one more for her. The last one is just propped up in the beauty shop just so I can take a photo.

Chocolate In The Kitchen !!!

2010-03-11T14:29:00.000-08:00

Before the water damage I had white cabinets. I wanted something different and this is what I came up with. The cabinets are white frosted oak with a chocolate glaze. I had painted the mural behind the sink before the damage. My friend said she thought I should continue it on around the back splash.After I finished the back splash I knew I was headed in the right direction. When it came to the wall color, I wanted the cabinets to stand out so I went with a dark chocolate. All this chocolate talk makes me want to start baking.
Ok, back to this post, so I will tell you I am very happy with my new kitchen

Livingroom Done My Way

2010-02-10T16:13:00.000-08:00

The dining room table is still being refinished, so keep that in mind when you see the dining room. The living room is just comfy enough for hubby and me. I had a fire in the fireplace twice this week.Now you decorators take it easy on me,I found some things at thrift shops and I found the pillows today at Big Lots. Lowes had the palm for $10.00 and Home Depot had the Tulips for $4.00.
We are still installing the kitchen faucet, and can't do the clean up of the kitchen till that is done.

The Day My House Came Home

2010-02-09T01:24:00.000-08:00

Tod

ay is the day they move my things back in from the pod. It has been 2 months since I came home to find a waterfall coming through my ceiling. They just about redid the hole house, and we are very well pleased with the work done. I got all 25 boxes unpacked,and put away. I will say, that was a job. The kitchen is not finished yet, the faucet has to be replaced, so I can't clean in there yet. I am loving the new cabinets and the new dark chocolate wall color. It is not for every one, but when have I ever been normal. I wanted to have the sofa slipcover on but I was just too tired. The rest of the living room can be another post. My dining room table is out being refinished, it was scratched when someone sat metal drawers on it in the pod. The box shaped like a shirt ,is one of the first things I bought when we moved here. A store use to sell shirts that came in these, but that was a long time ago. I bought this one from a antique dealer. I haven't seen another since.

Three Paintings

2010-02-02T21:04:00.000-08:00

I finished these paintings this weekend and took them to my client yesterday. She broke her knee and can't get out so I took my computer and showed her what a blog was. I told her about all the wonderful ladies I have met on here and the great blogs they have. Ok, so I also got her hooked on YoVille. If you don't know what that is ,its a game that you play on Face book that you decorate your home. I will have to admit that I now have 2 houses and an apartment.
But it is so much fun .

I KNOW I CAN !

2010-01-28T22:58:00.000-08:00

I CAN DO THIS...I CAN DO THIS!!!Oh yeah,I keep telling my self as I look at my kitchen with only a stove and fridge left. The photo is what I had last week as we started taking out the cabinets. Now there is no counters, no dishwasher, no sink. Lordy ,and I am going to mtry and cook in this for 4 days!!! Have I lost my mind ,or what is left of it. Don't answer that ! I now in the end I will have a new floor and new cabinets, but this is insane. My coffee pot is in the bathroom,the dishes and food are in the living room on the shelves. My pots and pans are in the bedroom I have to play hide and seek with anything else that was in those cabinets. I did find a pack of cigretts that was in the back of the small shelf over the fridge. From 11 YEARS AGO when I quit!!!Why they put those little shelves there that you never can reach, so you have no idea what is in there.PURDGE..that is a word I have been using a lot latly. I throw away things as we move things to a diffrent room. Then when we have to move that room it gets purdged again.By the time this house is done I will have no stuff left.I have two weeks till I go to Puerto Rico and the dance of getting every in and out to get the house finished will be tight. I can't even pack, because thouse things are still in the pod. That will be the last part of the dance, getting all of the things back in the house from the pod ( they are doing this too).Then it has to be cleaned. It is going to be a tight squeeze ,getting it all done in two weeks. I will have to keep saying it..I know I can.. I know I can!!!"

A Model

2010-01-25T00:36:00.000-08:00

This is a condo my best friend built. She is a contractor and was having a friend take some photos of the model home to put on her web site. I just took these and thought it would make a good post for today.I painted the backsplash in the kitchen. She decorated it with things she bought over the years.

1815 House

2010-01-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

This old lady was in need of some magic. The kitchen had brick that had been painted, and re painted, over for years. The owner is getting the house ready to sell and wanted a few things done. She did not want to take the time to remove the paint, so I suggested it to be painted to look like the real brick. It can give the new owners a look see what bringing it back to original would look like. The house was built in 1815.

A Little LOOK

2010-01-14T10:59:00.000-08:00

This is just a little look at my bathroom,not finished ,but it is getting there. I can't do much more till the new kitchen cabinets get put in. Then they can finish the hardwoods in the kitchen ,hall and foyer. Then the things come out of the pod. I was talking to my older brother last night and he had a small water break. He fixed it by himself, not a big repair.
I just hope they get done by the time we go to Vieques,

I Don't Have A Tail

2010-01-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

Yeah that is me on the right, not with the long tail,I am the one with short hair. My sister in law on the left and Reuben our guide in front, on the island of Vieques. Reuben took us on a ride through the mountains and down by the ocean.I had not been on a horse in 20 years, but I was surprised that my butt did not get sore.If you happen to be on the island in a few weeks,and see something big bobbin along ,one will have a long tail,but it won't be me.

Out With The Old

2010-01-10T06:48:00.000-08:00

This is the picture I posted this as I was painting my kitchen, and before I finished the entire kitchen the water damaged the house. Yesterday I got to pick out my new cabinets. At first they weren't going to redo the cabinets. Then I cut cost her and there till I came up with enough money the contractor gave me a go ahead with a limit. I picked out a frosted white oak with a chocolate glaze. It will take two to three weeks to get them in. We are going to take these out.(save on the cost).
Years ago we had a tree to fall and had damage. Not knowing much about it we let the insurance co pick a co. to do the repairs. In the end the paint had spots where not enough had been used. I still signed off on the project.WRONG IDEA. It never got done right.
Well you live and learn. I had a customer to tell me she had to deal with redoing her Dada's house after a tree fell ,and just about destroyed it. She said she kept a close eye on what was used and what was not so she could get extras. The contractor gives you pages of the estament of each room broken down to every thing they are going to use.
I added up dropcloths for every room(we were down to sub floor)not used. Tape(they never use tape) Lights that werent taken down. Primer that wasen't used. Carpet that we had taken out,$150.00 chandy ,and I found that one for $48.16
All of this added up to me new cabinets. If we would have gone to a hotel as most told us to do, I would have never seen what was used and what was not. I was cutting one of my clients hair and told him how I was getting new cabinets, He said he didn't know you could do this .If any of you have damage to your home,keep track of what is used and you can go with a cheaper this and that. My hardwoods were $2.34 per sq. ft. I picked out ,the contractor had priced them at $9.56. in the bid. I hope you never have to go through damage to your home,but if you do keep a close eye on the bid pages.

I have FLOORS !!!

2010-01-05T14:15:00.000-08:00

I CAME HOME TO MY HARDWOOD FLOORS DOWN IN THE LIVING ROOM AND DINING ROOM. TO many it would be no big deal. DEC. 2, I CAME HOME TO A WATER FALL IN MY CEILING FROM A BROKEN PIPE UP STAIRS. We have been living in one room since it happened so I am thrilled with the hardwoods.This is what I came home to.

Sold

2010-01-03T20:31:00.000-08:00

Yah Hooo,I sold some paintings, in Vieques, at the Caribbean Walk Gift Shop. I am going to do some more to take with us when we go in Feb. A few more weeks and We will be on the beautiful island off the coast of Puerto Rico

Dream

2010-01-03T10:02:00.000-08:00

.As you sit by the fire with hot tea in your hands ,start to dream. Dream of the flowers that will come this Spring as the days grow warm again. Dream of new flower beds yet to plant, or move things around as most of us do. Dream of the birds chirping in the trees, as the smell of fresh mowed grass filters through the garden. Dream of the fish in the ponds splashing in play, as you listen to the trickling water flow over the rocks. Dream of beads of sweat on your forehead as the sun beats down on a hot Spring day. Dream of the different fragrances from all the flowers in bloom.
Oh yes blogger friends,start dreming, as we count the days till the calender says Spring is here!

This is fun

2009-12-30T08:58:00.000-08:00

This is my first attempt at doing a mosaic, with a big thanks to Laurie at Bargan Hunting.

Painted Cats

2009-12-23T13:29:00.000-08:00

One of my customers I have done several things for asked me to paint this for her daughternin law. It was white so I painted it black then painted the daughter in laws 4 cats on it. It will be used to hold their food.
This is their little dog that is painted on the top of the chest.

New Painting

2009-12-19T14:55:00.000-08:00

A painting I just finished for a lady.

A Break From Repair

2009-12-16T06:05:00.000-08:00

My friend Linda asked me to tea yesterday and I was so happy to get away from the mess at my house. If you don't know, we had a water break with about 40 thousand dollars damage to the house. They are just starting to do the repairs.

We sat in the floor and had a cozy lunch, tomato bisque, also scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserves .Different sandwiches of egg salad, cucumber,ham,and chicken salad were just yummmmmmy!

We had so much fun the lunch turned into a 4 hour visit. Thanks Linda for giving me an enjoyable afternoon.

Ceiling Mural

2009-12-06T03:28:00.000-08:00

This is the mural I was painting for a 70year old lady of her grand kids, when I found the water damage in my home. This is in her bathroom. The walls are a beautiful soft pink, a Martha Stewart color. The pink is also in her bedroom. I enjoyed doing the little kids ,it is just hard on the neck. I did 7 hours the first day and came back the next morning and finished it in 4.

BOO HOOO!!!!!

2009-12-02T13:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday started out just fine,I was painting a ceiling. enjoying my work till the builder came in and told me someone had hit my car.
I took it in stride,no big deal, just a scratch.
When I got tired I decided to go home and finishing tomorrow.
I opened the front door to the sound of a waterfall. Also a large whole in my ceiling with water standing inches on my hardwoods. I run next door and get the only person home, a teenager. We find the cutoff as I call hubby. He hurries home to find the house in a total mess. Today as I finished up the mural, hubby delt with the people in white covers that sucked the water out of the heat vents. Oh yeah, No heat downstairs on the main floor. The water had pulled the vent piped out.
The ceilings some walls and all the hardwoods have to come OUT! In other words 2 MONTHS!!! Santa can just keep going on by my house,no Christmas this year.
As a good bloger I had my camera ready so this is my CHRISTMAS PHOTO!!!

What Garage???

2009-11-29T16:18:00.000-08:00

This is a sample of the bedroom we have been working on this week. While the tuekey was in the oven we were putting down the floor in the bedroom. This is the bedroom we made out of the grage

GET ME THE ROASTING PAN!!!!

2009-11-24T03:36:00.000-08:00

A friend sent me this and it is so cute I had to post. IT IS JUST TOO HARD TO HIDE WHEN A MAN IS HUNGRY!!! Is it hard to find that perfect turkey!!
As most of us spend this Turkey Day with family and friends, I hope you put out some seeds for the birds, and squirrels. When we lived back in Ky. we never saw many squirrels so we enjoy the ones around our home.
This is the turkey we saw at the Appalachian Homecoming. He has plenty a reason to look worried. This week many will be on the table instead of living it up on a farm like the Museum.
Happy Thanksgiving to all. Be safe on the road as you go to the loved ones.

Growth !!!

2009-11-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

A friend did some work for me, and asked if we could trade out . His father had given him this huge 5 ft.x 5ft. canvas with a large pastel flower on it. I said I could use the same canvas and paint over the flower.. His house is painted a camel color. He also had some abstract art so I took it from there.
I call it"Growth" The right side is the unsettled country,and the drops are the trees that were used to build the city on the left. The dots are coins that have paid for the growth of this country. The ribbon of blue is the rivers that were harnessed for energy. This is not my usual style, but It was fun to do.

Christmas At The Beauty Shop

2009-11-12T03:13:00.000-08:00

I went to the beauty shop Mon. and started decorating for Christmas. We new the weeks ahead would be full, so this gets it done and we can just enjoy. This is the tree beside my station I decorated with things I had from a tree I used 3 years ago in my home.

We have 4 doors,but just the one the people use have this wreath I made.
We have ten of these windows in the shop. Some will just have something simple.

This is in the shampoo room.
I sprinkled snow around the bottom,and I am going today to the thrift shops looking for some villages.

A New Mural

2009-11-03T16:11:00.000-08:00

I painted this today for a lady that wanted this small wall to stand out more than it was. I did this in 5 hours. The moldings are real the stones are painted too.
The lady had some plates displayed inside of the molding before.

Miss Mary's Sewing Room

2009-10-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

Miss Mary is a very sweet lady that brings goodies to eat to the beauty shop. She asked me to do something in her sewing room and this is her photo as she walked in the room.
Mary had this little room she used to sew in. On one wall she had a bad place, now you don't see it.
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Leave me alone in a room with a paint brush and tell me to paint what I think would look good WOW!!! This is heaven to my ears!!!I loved doing this one for a lovely lady that will think of me ever time she sews. Oh yeah, while I was painring, she made me a cake to take home!!!YUM!!!

An English Cottage

2009-10-02T02:44:00.000-07:00

I painted this English cottage this week. I hope you enjoy it. Kathy

A New Painting

2009-09-23T06:48:00.000-07:00

One day i was at every ones fav store Hobby Lobby when I saw a LARGE frame on SALE!!This is just too good to pass up. With a few nicks it was no problem to touch up. I keep it prompted up against my art table and glance at it,then think what to paint????? I picked up a roll of canvas, and just stapled it straight to the frame. A stretched canvas was expensive for this size. The frame takes a 30 x 40 inch canvas. I am going to keep it so I just stapled it to the frame.
Still thinking what to paint as I was going through my photos ,then a light bulb came on! I took a few photos and combined then into this. Here is the finished painting I call "Rest And Dream"."Kathy Thacker

UT Gardens Has BUGS!!!!

2009-09-17T14:06:00.000-07:00

A surprise awaits you every time you go to U T Gardens, as we found out when we stop to go for a walk .The creative minds have been having fun when they came up with the BUGS!!!Yes I said bugs at the Gardens and I don't mean the usual ones.
This GIANT WASP is just enjoying the beauty of the flowers.
Get the bug spray!!!!You can find the neatest things at the gardens.

The giant grasshopper must have given these two someting to think about!
The sunflowers were almost gone but still fun to look at.
The flowers were wonderful as always.,Hubby takes a break under the arbor. Sue Hamilton the director of the gardens has done a wonderful job,thank you .Kathy Thacker

I Got A Surprise!!!

2009-09-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

The blogers that come to visit have seen my header. I was featured guest artist at the Tennessee Vally Fair in 1998. Well while I was there I took that photo. The coordinator asked me to paint a small mural at the end of a wall. I did it and never thought about it anymore. Today we went to the fair, the first time since I was there. To my surprise I turned a corner to find the same small mural. The director happen to walk by and I asked her about it. She said they take it down and put it back every year during the fair.
I was so glad to finally get a photo pf the mural. I have had people ask me if I am going to be at the fair this year . Now I can say yes every year.

How Many Does It Take To Land A Fish??

2009-09-08T00:15:00.000-07:00

Some fishing stories tell of the one that go away and this is such a tale, but with a very different ending to this fish tale.
Al day the fish would nibble but we could just not land any thing. Then hubby caught this one, so we thought the day was done. I laid my pole down, to go get my drink. With a yell,"it's gone",came from hubby. I ran back to find the fish had pulled my good rod and reel in and had taken off with it. Dang!
Now with one pole gone we decide to pack up and go home.

A few of the picnicker's get on board the pontoon to go around the lake when they see the float from my fishing pole,and yell to tell us, so they head over to see if they can snag it.
We thought we had just go the rod and reel back, but to our surprise, the fish is still on the hock. Hubby hands me the reel, and I start reeling in, as he grabs the net.
In the end ,the story is one to tell for years to come.About the carp that took 5 people to get in.

LOOK TOOTSIE!!!!!

2009-08-31T15:12:00.000-07:00

Hubby was home today so we did a little project I had in mind. We had two shrubs at the side of the house that had gotten out of hand. A few weeks ago hubby cut them and I put something to kill the roots.
Hubby got the dead roots out and my mind started to work. I had bought the three arched trellis at Big Lots a month ago. The bench is a $2.00 find at an estate sale. The planter I have had a while.
Add a little black paint ,a few brick, and you have a new flower bed.
The small wall on the right is going to be mortared and then the water hose will go behind it.

Dream Cottage

2009-08-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

I did finished this one this morning. I think I have gone cottage crazzzzzy. There are some cute cottages here. I just take one thing I like and add to it. I hope you enjoy this one.

Cottage Painting

2009-08-23T17:24:00.000-07:00

I found a small cottage and took the things I liked from it and added things I made up. I just took it up to the Appalachian Art Center today. I have been taking a lot of photos when driving around. I found one last year that I want to paint next. Hope you enjoy this one.

Dreaming

2009-08-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

I just did this for the manicurist in our shop. I took two photos she liked and combined them.

UT Gardens

2009-08-09T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I went back to the University of Tennessee Gardens Sun. They are always changing . The pond was finished this time. There were places all through the gardens for photos like this. They took a wire bench and made a flower scape out of it. With all these flowers to look at hubby heads right for the electrical panel. Just like an electrician! hehe

Move It Around

2009-08-05T02:50:00.000-07:00

The latest painting . I hung it at the beauty shop. I have 8 paintings on the walls. there. We just painted the shop, so I move the paintings around to other rooms. That way they give a fresh change to the rooms.

After The Rain

2009-08-02T07:36:00.000-07:00

When we went back for the reunion,it started to rain when we got to the hotel, I looked out the window and saw this rainbow. I think they are wonderful.
This is Pikeville Ky.a town near where we lived. It had been years since we had gone through the town. I was surprised to see the hanging baskets of flowers. I thought they looked lovely.

Now I Am Stoned!!!!

2009-07-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

The wall is stoned, not me. I love to change things and this is so true when it comes to my back splash. I use to have it just painted a sloid color. Then I started thinking about putting tile.
I knew that would never work for long till I would want to change t. Then before Christmas one year I started with a small mural, the next year I added the brick. Well I started my Christmas project early this year and here are some before and after.
This was my back splash the last time I re did my wall.
I found the canisters at the Home Store. The cookware was a Christmas gift last year from one of the girls at the beauty shop. It fits right in with my material. This is the finished product. My take on French country.
Here is a small video of my wall getting stoned. First I painted just patches of 4 different colors mingled This is me making the grout lines, just getting the shapes of the stones. It is not that hard so if you want a change to your back splash and have some paint, go for it. If you want to change to solid paint next time just sand and prime.

Dream Interrupted!!!

2009-07-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

A family reunion of hubby's family ended with a little more than we planned.
As I was drifting off to a good night sleep , this BLARING FIRE ALARM woke us up.
Ok, now there is no way I am coming out of the hotel in my nightie. I got dressed in just seconds, with the blast of the fire alarm in our ears,
Hubby was not very happy about this little outing. hehehe I think a small kid pulled the alarm in the pool area.

LOOK!!!

2009-07-21T11:07:00.000-07:00

Here are two of the paintings I took up to the Appalachian Arts Craft center. I am also hosting a blog so people can get to know the members that have their craft there.
Today I am posting about a quilter named Patty Ashworth. Please come by and see what she does. appalachianarts.blogspot.com

At It Again !!

2009-07-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

If you are like me you have been busy with things so that your blogging has fallen behind. I am trying to catch up with all my around the house projects and also go on to a reunion next week in Ky.I have been painting some getting ready to go up to the Art Center on Mon. So I painted these this little beagle to put in the center for sale.
I have painted this little beagle before, so I changed it some. I think he will fit right in with the country crafts .

Fresh

2009-07-12T00:57:00.000-07:00

This cluster of flowers on my station are out of my garden. I love it when I can take fresh flowers to work for my desk. They just make you smile.
I just love the Stargazer.

My Dream Farm

2009-07-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

I grew up in Ky and we did a lot of farming, so this is fun to play in Farmtown. I have made my farm with horse jumps and grassy areas to just be lazy on. The pine trees remind me of back in Ky, where we had pines behind our house. I have always loved a white fence so here I can make my dream farm come true.
I still have to get my barn and house so it isn't finished. I wll slowly finish my farm the way it looks in my head.

Who Reads Directions????

2009-07-06T02:20:00.000-07:00

I had no idea you had to keep the camera level, when taking a video clip!Go ahead and laugh at the wonderful angle I got in the video clip!I hate to read directions, so like most people I just figure it out,so sometimes it dosen't work. We went to my sister in laws parents for the 4th and had a picnic. Most of the talk was about the trip in Feb back to the island of Vieques. I have been working with my camera and will take better clips on this trip.
I want to take more pictures this time ,although 1375 is not too shabby. They are great for things to paint from. Deb took 2200,and Amy too 700. I am always taking pictures so I don't miss anything. Like a bunch of horses running by. Deb took this one.

Gone Fishing!!

2009-07-04T00:55:00.000-07:00

Today hubby and I are going fishing. We will be going over to my sister in laws parents home where we always fish. The family is having their usual picnic.

Flaunt Your Flowers

2009-07-03T01:38:00.000-07:00

Ok Tootsie ,I am showing some of mine. I always fertilize too!My Glad reminds me of my mom, she had them planted when I was growing up.
My sun flowers are wonderful this year.

Tootsies flowers are wonderful as always so go take a look.

One Day Your Prince Will Come

2009-07-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

With Tinker Bell watching, the princess enjoy a day outside. This is the wall finished. I have 11 hours in the total wall. These are so much fun to do.

Wave My Wand !!

2009-06-25T03:40:00.000-07:00

Abra Ca Dabera!!! Ok so I don't have a magic wand just a little old paint brush. I don't have any kids, so when a little girl walks into her room I have just painted and her eyes light up, maybe I can do a little magic. I still have to go back next Wed. and finish. This room is for two little girls that I painted their nurseries. The mom is expecting a boy this time, so they are moving the two girls into the big bonus room.

Blooms !!

2009-06-21T21:51:00.000-07:00

A lot of flowers have lost their sent , but my favorite sent is with the beautiful GARDENIA. I just love to smell the sweet sent of them.
This is a cone flower from my garden. When I see these I always think of a dancer. The petals of pink making the skirt, with the stems standing tall and straight.
The Summer has been wonderful with all the flowers at their best.

Make Them At Home

2009-06-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

In the last house I did murals we were coming down the stairs, talking about doing something for the top of the stairs. I said what about a painting of the kids when they were small and have them sitting on the porch. We went through albums till I found this old photo of the kids in 1986. This is the end painting I just finished. The girl is getting married at the end of the month at the house.
The kids have always had Yorkies so I painted them holding the dogs.
The painting will be hung at the top of the stairs.

A Step At A Time

2009-06-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

I was going through some of the photos my sister in law took last year when we went to Vieques P. R. and found she had took these of me doing one of the murals. I thought you might like to see. I didn't have my 3 ft. level so I used a one foot one. Then the taping begins. Don;t laugh at the hair that had not been combed. The wend does that for you!.
Too bad I couldn't get my favorite step stool in my luggage.One must make do when on is on an island and no WALMART!!!
I add the flower petals in a red . then do the detail work
The finished mural.
The murals give color to the walls and there is no breakage when the wend blows . No paintings to fall and get damaged.

A Cluster Of Blooms

2009-06-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

With basket in hand I go out to collect some pretties for my station at the beauty shop. The dew is still on and makes the choices easier for me. I think only one orange for this arrangement. Now off to see what else has opened this morning.
I have to have several of these yellow ones , because they look like sunshine
Oh I do love these Lillie's and so I will have to add them to my basket.
These are the flowers I took to the shop . I enjoy them in my yard, but I do so like to have some on my station in the beauty shop.This is my cluster of blooms in a simple watering can.

Two Paintings

2009-06-14T07:16:00.000-07:00

While the guy was working on my computer this week I did this painting . It just started with the barn and sot of grew. Sometimes they just evolve into what they want.
I did this for a customer who wanted it done for her son for fathers day. She gave me 6 different photos and I put them together into one painting. I took this photo in a hurry so it is not very clear.

What Is Your Answer?

2009-06-12T01:55:00.000-07:00

My question is a simple one. Do you think you could have lived as you fore fathers did? Hubby and I went to the Appalachian Museum Sunday and did the walking tour. Yes,I was a good blogger and took 260 photos.hehe
This is one of the cabins you can go in and look at on the walking tour.
I can remember my grandmother wearing a bonnet just like the one this lady had on. She sat in front of one of the old cabins and talked of quilting.
When we say table scape, we don't think of the women of our past that made do with what little they had and were just as proud of the little they had.
Loving hands have made these quilts that have lasted long since the person has gone. I can see them sitting by the fire in the winter,listening to the crackle of the wood. Stitch by stitch they world work. I have sat by that fire eating pears dosing off to sleep as my aunt quilted.Those are memories I will always love. I still think of her when I take a bite of a fresh pear off a tree.

Just A Picking!

2009-06-10T14:18:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I went to the Appalachian Museum Sun, where we went on the tour of the old cabins and things. These two women and gentleman were on the porch playing a tune for us. I don't like country music ,but I recorded this for you.

Read The Signs

2009-06-05T01:02:00.000-07:00

OMG!!! I found what I have been looking for for three years. I was on my way to look at a house and saw this sign Estate Sale. Ok , I work on Fri. and Sat. so There is no way I get to go to sales on those days. I turn down the street when I see cars lined up. I whip my car in line and walk up to the house. Everyone was standing waiting for it to start. When the door opens I see stuff on the patio. The women go inside and the men head for the tools on the patio.So I look at the patio first. THERE IT WAS. JUST AS I WANTED IT!!I look at the tag and just about have a heart attack. $ 10.00 then next to it is a simple bench for $2.00 I grab the tags before anyone could see. They are MINE!!!! I had to go to hubbys work and get the truck to get them home. With a BIG smile on my face I drive home thinking where to put them. I am doing the HAPPY DANCE!!!~~~

Just One Leaf

2009-06-04T01:30:00.000-07:00

We all love the flowers we have in our gardens, and I am the first to go smell the roses as they say. I don't usually put things in my garden that bloom and don't have plants just for the color or texture. I got to looking a photos I took last year and noticed I had taken some of plants in the UT gardens. Then I came across this photo pf this one man that had taken time just to get the right photo of a leaf. Just one leaf. My point is ,take time to look at all the garden has to offer even if it has no bloom.

What You Get In The End

2009-06-02T02:42:00.000-07:00

When fresh flowers from your garden can make a vignette come alive.I love flowers in my garden ,but even more I love to use them. I also cut some and take to the shop. Then I can enjoy them as I work. Fresh flowers just seem to make everyone smile.I enjoy planting and watching them grow. Ok, Tottsie, feeding them too!This is one I did last year with some of my Lillie's.

Not In A Garage!!

2009-05-29T00:34:00.000-07:00

When this lady first talked to me about putting this mural in the garage ,I talked her into letting me put it at the side entrance of the house, that had an area she could use for sitting.
I found all these things in the garage and brought them in to make a sitting area. The lady said I could do whatever I wanted to do with the area. She did not know what to do with this back entrance, even though this is the way they come in the house. They have been remodeling the house for the last 1 1/2 years, while living in another house.

A GOOD Blooger ????

2009-05-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

You are driving down the road and see something up in front of you. What do you do?
1. Just go one your way.
2. Look till you can make it out.
3. Be a blond and say, how pretty!
4. Or be a good BLOGGER and grab the camera!
Well I always have my camera with me so I was a good blogger! Ok, so I am a blond too!
It is a Dragon Boat!You know it is Summer when you see carnival rides going down the road.

Done

2009-05-22T00:26:00.000-07:00

This bathroom is done in the house I had on the last post, with the nice views. This one was done in 1 1/2 days. It is the kids bathroom.

This small mural is in the room with the shower.

I Love Going??? To Work

2009-05-20T12:58:00.000-07:00

I never mind going to work because I get to see some beautiful land. I did a large mural and a small one in this house but today I am just showing you why I like to go to work. This is all owned by this family. When I see the early morning at its best I have to just take a deep breath and enjoy. I took a photo of the old tree so I could put it in the mural I am doing next week at this house.It will be a mural of the vista at the top of this hill.
As you come down the hill, you come upon the barn and pond with a windmill.
The road winds around this beautiful pond, and I had to stop and take a photo.
You come around a bend and this is the house. I do so enjoy going to work.

Jump In !!

2009-05-19T02:54:00.000-07:00

Tootsie,put some sun screen on!!! Sally, do you have the tea? Bridget,start taking pictures,please! Terrie,help me get the chairs out! Raxx,bring the towels! Laurie,Put up the umbrella! Ok, enjoy the 85 degrees,soft breeze,and the soothing waves. WEEEEEEEE!!!!!Having fun NOW!!!!!

I Want My Summer

2009-05-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

No it isn't the UNI Bomber It Is ME! This is when we went to Puerto Rico via Washington, where it was 15 degrees. Ok now to what I am about to tell you is a SHOCK! I just came back from WalMart and they had some of their winter things out. IT IS MAY!!! They were not last years. Last week I was at Tuesday Morning and they had some Christmas things out!!!! I know the stores need to put things out early to get more sales but,I WANT MY SUMMER!!!!!

A Dog Pond ???

2009-05-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

I love to hear water running while we are in the yard. I think it is so soothing to have birds and water sounds around me, while I am out working in my flowers.
We had the fish in a big pond here,till a tree fell and took out 13 ft. of fence. Now we made this small pond just for the dogs to drink out of wen they play out side in the summer. We took a small preformed liner that was deep. Taking quick Crete we filled it so it wasn't too deep, so the dogs would be safe. Now it is about 15 inches deep. They seem to like having their own pond. We still need to do some work around it.
We moved the fish pond down to the other end of the yard. For years we had a heroin that came and ate our fish, now we keep a metal net over part of the pond. They have done well with the net in place. we can still see them from the porch and it is open at top and bottom so we can feed them.

Flowers For Tootsie

2009-05-15T01:20:00.000-07:00

My customer is bringing me some of the old fashioned peonies to plant. The ones I have are not full like the old fashioned ones..
Here are some of the roses on the deck.

For A Child

2009-05-12T12:34:00.000-07:00

Monday I painted this 3 year olds room in Dora. I like the way it turned out,I did it in 7 hours. I did her name in baloons. Brianna

Breath

2009-05-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

When you step on this beach in Vieques, Puerto Rico, you just take a deep breath and let it go. This is Red Beach and it is my favorite beach out of all the 21 beaches on the island. It doesn't have a lot of people as you can see. Just step in the sand and let your cares melt away. Enjoy!♥♥♥♥♥♥Kathy

All My Love

2009-05-07T01:30:00.000-07:00

It has been 15 years since I lost my mom, and still it is hard no be able to have her close. She passed away on Mothers Day weekend. I painted this picture of her 8 years ago, she was 18 in the photo I painted it from. To all of the moms in blogland, I hope you have the best Mothers Day with the ones you love.