Finally got a bit of Christmas on my blog!

I had planned on having a "Christmassy" background on my blog on the 1st. But with life being as crazy busy as it has been, I only managed it this morning. But I LOVE it! Sharon at Plumrose Lane has several gorgeous FREE blog backgrounds available. She also has the matching side bar buttons if you so desire to have them. And, last, but not least, she offer beautiful banners for ALL her background designs in her Etsy Shop. Go check 'em out!

Sharon also shares MANY tutorials on various blogging topics such as changing your background from a two column format to three and the ins and outs of Google Analytics.
Have a great Monday!
Stephanie

Weekly Challenge- "Once Upon a Time"

Whew, I didn't think I would get something in here on time! But here is my entry for this week's challenge at Inspiration Avenue- "Snow White- Rose Red". The theme was "Once Upon a Time" and it led me to think of fairy tales. And since I've been having a tulip craving of late, I decided to do a tulip painting featuring a group of tulips most white except for one red......here you go:

Granted it's still a WIP, but hopefully ya'll can get the general idea of where it's going.  While you're at it, go take a peek at Inspiration Avenue to see what everyone else did.  It always ends up being a wonderfully diverse collection!
Have a great day!

Stephanie

Acrylic Painting: "Midnight in the Garden"

I finally finished my new painting- "Midnight in the Garden" it seems like it took forever;  between working all last week on my Thanksgiving dinner and all the other little incidentals that came up.  But here it is- for better or worse, finished.  As always, I can see other things I'd work on if I let myself, however, as I've said before- the hardest part of painting is deciding when it's complete.  So. This. Painting. Is. Now. Complete...!

For more pictures, check it out in my Etsy shop.
Thanks for bearing with me :)
Stephanie
I'm off to start working on the IA challenge for this week.....maybe I'll actually have a finished piece for this week :D
Ya'll should check it out too- we have a GREAT theme this week, "Once Upon a Time".  Click HERE for more info.  Cheers!

My Friend LuLu is having a Giveaway!

LuLu creates the gogeous pieces and among these is her collection of Faux Cakes- Truly things of beauty!  Right now she's hosting a giveaway featuring this one- isn't it amazing?  Do pop over to her blog to enter!

Sorry I haven't been around much in the last week.  Been busy prepping for Turkey Day and then recovering from all the prepping.....
Cheers,
Stephanie

Weekly Challenge- "Incognito"

Since I've spent all week working on "Midnight in the Garden" I didn't have time to create a new piece just for this week's challenge at Inspiration Avenue. But after looking at my garden angel, I've decided that he has enough mystery to fit the theme of incognito so, here is my entry for this week:

"Midnight in the Garden".

Be sure to see what everyone else has been doing for the challenge at Inspiration Avenue - as always, there are a ton of varied pieces that folks have been working on!
Have a wonderful day!
Stephanie

Black Friday a few days early.......

Etsy just added a wonderful new feature for their sellers- coupon codes!  So, because I'm so excited about it, I decided to start my Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale today!  From now till November 30th, you can get an additional 10% off all of my paintings by entering the coupon code: BLACKFRIDAY2010 at check out. 
I'm also offering a BOGO special on all my altered books and journals- buy one and get the second half off!

Glorious Morning Altered Book with Original Painting and Morning Glory Seeds

Feminine Mystique- Altered Journal

Parrot Tulip Collaged Altered Book w/Bookmark

Moonflower Collaged Altered Journal

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Stephanie

What's UP in the Studio- Just a bit more on Midnight in the Garden......

Dontcha love my sloppy desk?

Since the weekend is upon us and my kids will be home until the Monday after Thanksgiving, I will probably only have snippets of time to paint. But, sometimes that's a good thing. Right now, my painting is at the point where I need to leave it alone and consider what it wants in order to be finished. It's also at that point where if I just jump in, I'll make a LOT more work for myself by overoing it. I have two pictures for you guys today- the first one is before I started painting yesterday- the reason I'm showing it is because I like the horizon line in it better than where it is now. Not being a landscape painter, this is the kind of thing I struggle with. A lot. So I need ya'll's eyes and suggestions- right now it's too harsh. Do I just blend it in with the suggestion of a horizon or do I have the leafy bits drape over the existing line? Seriously, I need any suggestions, prompts, etc.! Thanks!

Oh, and the colors in the first one are more accurate.  The second one was taken before sunrise with a flash and with my decrepit camera that I'm hoping Santa will replace :)  So please bring on the suggestions- I AM happy with the far background and the statue tho' he still needs a few more highlights.
Have a wonderful Saturday, whatever you choose to do with it!
Stephanie