Wedding Day

Just over four months from our wedding day!
Plotting and scheming and planning away.

So much advice, and its good to hear.
A lot on my mind as the day becomes near.

Every girl just wants the day to be right.
I have a dress and some shoes that are white.

We have the whole summer and it's hard to wait.

But at the same time, it is almost the date!

Our honeymoon is booked, so thats set in stone.

We can't wait to spend a whole week alone!

Balancing work while planning our day

Has been a real challenge in such a big way.

Planning the guest list has been really rough.

We can't invite everyone and that makes it tough.

Everyone's happiness is important, it's true.

But sometimes there has to be compromise too.

It is hard to make sure that everyone's pleased.

Sometimes my concern just has to be ceased.

I want my bridesmaids to be happy too.

I worry a lot they have too much to do.

The merge of two families is a really big deal.

It is crazy to think this will be real.

Above all the planning and wedding and fun,

The health of our marriage remains number one.

I've been through so much already with Cam.

If you ask, "are you ready?" I'll tell you I am.

Bob Harper's Pup Karl

I've been having a lot of fun researching celebrity pets.  This is a painting of Bob Harper's dog Karl.  What a cutie!!!!  Maybe someone as inspiring as Bob might find some inspiration here. :)

Pug Puppies to the Rescue

This gorgeous pug pup, painted in watercolor is an example of the kind of piece you would get if you ordered a Custom Pet portrait from Funamals on etsy.

So I had the a fabulous opportunity to visit and photograph some adorable pug puppies.  Their mother, Lola, was rescued through the Mid-Michigan Pug Club just before she gave birth to the pups.  At nearly eight weeks old, these pugs are energetic and playful.  I found it a real challenge to photograph them as they like to be right under you, or pounce on your camera!  

This pup is barking up the wrong tree!

Custom Pet Portraits by Funamals on Etsy

Check out Mid-Michigan Pug Club on Facebook!

Bo Obama

So I decided to paint President Barack Obama's dog, Bo.  What a cute pup!  He's a Portuguese Water Dog.

                I wonder what it's like to be the First Dog living at the White House...

The Craft Room Clutter Project

I finally tackled my new craft room and got it organized.  I received a lot of advice from some friends on Facebook.  The advice was very motivating and turned out to be just the key to getting the job done.

The craft project I rewarded myself with after I was finished.

Tips included lighting candles, making coffee, using small boxes, watching "Hoarders" on TV and checking out inspiration on Pinterest.  I tried them all.  I did not sit and watch "Hoarders," but I had it on in the background on my computer (its really hard to sit and watch).  It put the mess in my craft room in perspective.  For a while I have been shutting the door and avoiding the room.  This mess, however was really not as big and overwhelming as it felt.  I also heard phrases like "you can't live like this" and "this is really unhealthy" while watching it.  Hearing those phrases kept me motivated.

I searched Pinterest for inspiration.  I love all the colors in this photo! Very inspiring.

Source: saturatedcanary.blogspot.com via Erinn on Pinterest

...And After a few hours, the room began to come together!

An intimate corner...Finished paintings hung up, finished pillows adorn the chair.  Frequently used items on a vintage TV tray with a frequent project underneath.  A spinning carousel keeps acrylic paints in line.  Square shelving from Target keeps everything in its place.  I have a whole section devoted to wedding projects.  

Useful tools kept in sight and in reach.

Fabrics are folded and sorted by color.

A shoe caddy on the back of the door keeps supplies in their place.

I took an old cork board and covered it with fabric to give it a new look.  We have a "Temporary Workspace" in the craft room, meaning that the table is to always be kept clear unless in use.  The "No Fear" tag in the top corner of the board is a piece of inspiration that was given to me by my high school dance coach.  I keep it there because it really meant a lot to me.  Useful and often used tools are hung up within sight and easy to access on a regular basis.

It feels so good now that its organized!

Inspiration Tuesday

I splurged and bought myself a kitschy little stamp.  I love stamps but never use them.  As an artist I have always felt pressure to use my own artwork for everything.  I love this stamp because every time I use it I think about how important it really is to enjoy today.  What a great, cheerful reminder!

My new studio is starting to spiff up!  The sun was shining, which is unusual for a typical January in West Michigan so I shot a few photos in hopes to cheer you up.  Happy Tuesday!

Pillow for the Ring Bearer...Handmade

This is the pillow that my then three year old nephew will be carrying down the aisle at my wedding.  It looks a little bit bare right now because fresh flowers will be added before the ceremony.  I used fabric scraps from my collection and hand sewed most of it with a needle and thread.

The pillow was then stuffed with cut up plastic bags allowing me to finish it completely without spending a dime!  My fiance Cam and I designed the pillow together.  He loves paisley, and although it is not my favorite, I love it here because he does.  I love a good compromise...and it is a good thing because that is what marriage is all about, right?

Finally, I added a ribbon handle on the bottom.  The pillow is complete.  Wedding planning has been smooth sailing so far!