Whatever floats your boat!

So we're going to the lake in T-minus two weeks and I needed a beach bag to take out on the boat.  My mom and I decided we would partner up on this bag.  She was going to sew on a pocket to one side and I was making an iron-on for the other side.  At least one hour of sewing and cutting out the iron-on later, we were ready to heat up the iron and complete this bag!  However, I must be a little rusty on crafting because, although I don't have a photo of the first attempt, it's safe to say it's in the trash due to an iron vs. material meltdown.  Yes, that's right...I melted the first bag while attempting an iron-on.  Turns out "you can't iron nylon".  These were the words of my dad after the fact...that would have been nice to know beforehand!  After a minor fit throwing and my mom telling me "It's not a big deal.  I have another bag.  We'll try it again.", we went back to work.  I tend to get a little intense during craft projects by the way.  Fast forward through bag number 2 and you get this! 





Bubble Feature

My sister in law is getting married at the end of July and I had this idea to do an abstract painting featuring bubbles/spheres as a wedding present.  I'd like to paint some other paintings similar to this in different colors.

 

Hoot Owl

We didn't really have a specific theme for baby Kip's room, but if it was up to me I would have had an owl theme.  However, we didn't want to have to redecorate in a few years when he grows out of a baby theme, but I thought I'd still do an owl painting.  I wanted something really colorful and stimulating with owls to hang above his crib. 

Curtain Banner

I sewed together this cute banner last night for my baby boy's room.  It's Superman newsprint fabric sewn into triangle banners and strung onto a cord.  Then, we just tied it to the curtain rods to drape across.  I think it really put the finishing touches on his room.

Home Organization and Decoration

Here are a few of my latest sewing projects: a trash bag holder made with the cutest cupcake pattern and a baby picture book.  It's shaped like a cylinder with elastic on both ends.  The top has a loose elastic band to allow for your bags to be stuffed in and a ribbon to hang tie it.  The bottom has a tighter elastic band allowing you to pull out bags individually. 

My husband and I found out in November that we were having a baby and so we already began receiving gifts at Christmas from family members for our baby boy.  I received the fabric for this baby picture book and sewed it up in about an hour.  It was a pretty simple project since it didn't matter what order the pages are in...there is not a story to follow, just short prayers on each page with colorful animals.

Hope In the Lord!

Amidst all of the natural disasters and other problems of this world, I find great comfort that those of us who believe can keep our "hope in the Lord".  This was the inspiration behind my latest piece and will hopefully be a reminder to its new owners who will get to enjoy passing it every day in their home.  When I look at this painting, I reflect on the fact that no matter what problems you may encounter in life, we can hope in the Lord.  We have a savior, Jesus Christ, who gave his life so that we could die to the things of this world that are only temporary and live a life devoted to him with the promised reward that when we die and leave this world, we will have eternal life in heaven with our most awesome and holy God who created everything and gives each of us the breath of life each day. If you are interested in having this eternal life or are already saved and would like to share the joy you have found with unbelievers, please visit http://www.markcahill.org/.  Have a blessed day!

"What is it?"

I created this latest piece as a Christmas gift for my cousin-in-law who has decorated part of her home in zebra and pink.  "What is it" someone asked.  Well, it's abstract...it's lines and shapes in monochrome, meaning the image is limited to one color...pink.  The black and white are considered the lightest and darkest shades of the color, but mostly the absence of color. 

"The Pink Zebra"

16" x 24"

Acrylic on Canvas

Not for sale

 

Christmas Sewing Projects

I've recently taken up sewing...something I've always wanted to learn to do and decided I now have time to learn.  This year for Christmas I decided to make several gifts.  My aunt and uncle just recently remodeled their home, so I made my aunt these cloth napkins and a matching table runner.  Their kitchen and dining room is decorated in a Vineyard theme, so I chose this grape vine material that should go really well with their decor.

I also made casserole carriers for Meme (my grandma) and my grandma-in-law.  Hopefully, I can make myself one later on...they're really handy!



Autumn Blooms

Back in October/November, I was inspired to paint one of my fall flower arrangements.  Fall is probably my least favorite season, which is likely disappointing to many of you since most people love fall.  I think I dislike it because of the weather, which in Oklahoma is cold and windy, not ideal for running outdoors.  However, I do love the warm colors associated with the Fall season.

"Autumn Blooms"

8" x 10"

Acrylic on Canvas

Creative Wall Decor

These are some of mom's latest projects.  This bulletin board below would be really great for pictures and notes.

Next is a shelf for your knicknacks!

And a chalkboard for personal notes or a kid's room!

The Wapiti

Elk are also called wapiti, a Native American word that means "light-colored deer." (From http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/elk/).  Just a little trivia.  I was asked a couple of months ago to do a commission pencil drawing of an elk.  The drawing would be given as a gift to someone who has just gotten into the hobby of keeping elk.  Luckily, I had a reference photo from Yellowstone.

Sold

Trash to Treasures

My mom and I have a fetish...and I have to say that my mom is a little worse than me about garage saling, but here's the confession.  My name is Elizabeth and I'm a garage sale junkie.  We basically like to buy things at garage sales that have the potential to be really cool, like furniture, wall hangings, decor, or whatever catches our eye.  You can do a lot with spray paint, decoupage, and other creative methods to completely turn something that was junk into a treasure.  We bought this miniature dresser and bench/stool this summer. 

It could be used as a vanity table for a little girl's room or maybe a jewelery box.  It's so cute!  It's difficult to see the true size, but it's actually no more than 2 feet tall.  Notice the little clear handles on the drawers...really neat!

Pickin' Wildflowers

"Pickin' Wildflowers"

12" x 12"

Acrylic on Masonite

In the Collection of Si Perkins

I just recently finished another Yellowstone inspired painting, titled "Pickin' Wildflowers".  Funny enough, the title just popped into my head because my mom and I just adored the beautiful purple and yellow wildflowers that overflowed in places throughout the park.  And by the way, you're welcome if you are now humming "Pickin' Wildflowers" by Keith Anderson!...because I'm humming it right now, too!  When I started this painting, I wasn't planning on using the impressionistic style, but it just sort of took over and so I went with it.  The wildflowers were the finishing touch and I just love the bright colors!  You can see the pictures behind the inspiration below of my mom and I amidst the wildflowers.

 

Inspired: Summer Vacation

"Buffalo Study"

8.5" x 11"

Pencil Drawing

We took an absolutely amazing summer vacation this past July to Yellowstone National Park.  Unless you've been there, you cannot imagine the land formations, animals, and much more you will see, some of which I  didn't even know existed.  It is incredibly awesome just to experience the majesty of God and all that he has created.  There were times that I was just in complete awe of the sights I was seeing, from beautiful sunsets to intriguing geologic formations and lots of other things!  Anyways, it inspired me in several ways, and I have to admit that it occurred to me when I was back home that I was experiencing some sort of an artistic block.  Sometimes as an artist, I find it difficult to capture photos that I can work from and in this specific situation, not sure how to depict what I saw.  One of the animals that intrigued me the most was one of the most common animals you will see in Yellowstone Park, the buffalo. 

I had so many pictures and was still unsure of what I wanted to do, so I began a buffalo study.  The first one above is Buffalo Study 1 in pencil.  I have yet to finish this buffalo study as I determined I would like to get away from wildlife and create something I'm more passionate about.  Following my buffalo study was a landscape inspired by my Yellowstone photos, which will soon be posted.