And the Winner is................

Thanks to everyone for entering the 2nd Artfulife giveaway. Thanks also to those of you who posted about the giveaway on your blogs. I hope that you will come and visit often & feel free to leave comments also. It is always fun to make new friends. I hope you will check back often for more giveaways and the grand opening of my Etsy shop.

Domestic Spaz you are the winner! Please e-mail me (my e-mail address is to the right on my blog) so I can mail off your painting this weekend. 

Sorry for the jumpy video, My camera only works so well when it comes to video's.

This Weekend in Pictures

Aris & Sloan

Aris & Wyatt

Goofy little Air Bear

I just found all the little tools you can use to enhance your photos. I really love the look of older photo's, you know the faded photo's from the 70's and older. So I played around with the those tools on a lot of the photo's below. I don't know much about photography. I think every once in a while I get lucky and take a good photo. This is one that may not be that great to most, but I love it.

I was ringing some bells and Zoe got soooo excited. Not a great picture, but cute to mommy.

This weekend there was a Pioneer picnic at one of my favorite parks in Reno. They have so many fun things to do at this park. Kids can pan for gold. There is a mine shaft slide playground. You can dig for dinosaur bones (pretend of coarse) and there is a petting zoo with horse rides. Oh and a log ride. Plus there are all these different gardens and many people use this park for weddings or receptions.

Zoe had a blast panning for "fools gold".

Sloanie

Sloan & Penny

I seriously think this is the fattest sheep alive. He was huge.

The petting zoo.

We waited and waited oh yea and did I say waited, to see the baby lambs fed. It was so worth the wait.

Daddy and Air Bear

We washed the car

My most favorite picture of Zoe. For now.

I took these on Monday, but thought I would include them anyway.

Oh how I love my girls. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Newest Link Artwork

The new and improved "Photography" link title.

This is the new link title for "Artists & Illustrators". Dean said he has a hard time reading it. I can see it, but it might be because I drew it. Please let me know what your thoughts are on this on both of the new titles.

FINAL DAY FOR ARTFULIFE GIVEAWAY!!!

Its the final day to post a comment for a chance to win the painting of Owl mommy and her babies. The drawing will happen at 4 pm PST. Good luck!

Owl Mommy & Her Babies Giveaway

Owl Mommy & Her Babies

Well friends here is the next illustration I am giving away to one lucky blogger. This is an illustration I did tonight for one of the labels on my blog. I am trying to work on a few things to make my blog look a little more personal. So please bear with me while I am redecorating. The little sign that momma owl is holding is for my "4 kids" link.

Who ever wins this little painting will be able to choose the initials or name that they want painted in the sign that she is holding. I will also add ribbons on the little owls ears if it is for a girl. For now I am leaving it gender neutral. I feel it could work in a boys or girls room. I haven't found a frame for this yet (just finished it) but as soon as I do I will post a picture of it in the frame.

So all you need to do now to have a chance at winning this little guy is to post a comment. If you link the contest to your blog, I will add your name to the drawing twice. I hope that everyone has a great weekend!

Post Script. Oops! Silly me! I forgot to say when the contest ends. The last day for posting a comment will be on Monday, July 28th @ 4pm PST. This is so little Sloan, or maybe Zoe can pick the winner. This is so much fun! Look forward to hearing from you.

Introducing.....Drum Roll Please........

The newest members of the blogging community!

Suzannah over at Sitting Pretty Studio has created an art blog for her daughter Jolie.If you haven't ever visited Sitting Pretty Studio's, you should. Suzannah and I have known each other for years. I met her when she came to Ringling School of Art and Design to participate in a summer art program. We hit it off. She introduced me to her now Husband Jeff's Brother Jeremy. Jeremy and I hit it off too. He is Sloan's biological father. Even though things didn't work out for Jeremy and I (the wedding never happened) Suzannah and I have remained close over the years. She is more like family than just a friend. Susannah is also a very talented artist and she and Jeff have three darling kids. They live in Hot Springs Arkansas.

Jolie's blog is called Lunch Box Gallery. Sloan has been asking me to start an art blog for her and I finally took the time to set it up for her. She wants to call her blog Blooming Doodles. She will be making the header for her blog this weekend. Please feel free to take a moment and visit both of the girls blogs. Comments are always welcome.

Before I go I wanted to mention the most amazing blog I  found via Sitting Pretty Studios. Artist Geninne over at Geninne's Art Blog. She is a super talented artist, mother, and wife. She too has set up a blog for her two son's. They are very talented too. If you have some time I hope you will go and visit both Sitting Pretty Studios and Geninne's Art Blog.

New Links!

Upcoming Fall swap over at Morning Glories & Moonflowers

During my giveaway I had the pleasure of meeting some lovely and talented bloggers. Lori Drake is a wife, and a mother to two lovely girls, a crafter and just seems like an all around nice person. She has a super fun blog called Morning Glories & Moonflowers. She is also hosting a Fall Swap, I am pretty sure there is still time to get in on the fun. Just hop on over and take a peek and be sure to email Lori if you would like to participate in the Fall Swap.

The other blogger that I met was talented photographer Gillian Gauthier. She is an amazing photographer. She also hosts many fun and funky giveaways on her blog. She was kind enough to ask if I would like to participate in one of these giveaways in the near future. I can't wait. 

So run over and take a peek at both these fun blogs!

First day of 3rd Grade

Sloan's first day of school was yesterday. She is in year round and I love it. She was so nervous when I dropped her off. When school was over and I picked her up she couldn't stop talking about how much fun she had. She loves her new teacher and has some of her old classmates in her class this year.

After we dropped Sloan off at school, I had to run to the bank and Zoe and I saw this. Zoe started freaking out and wanted to play in the bubbles. In case you are having a hard time figuring out what this is, this is a really nice little fountain in the parking lot of a very nice shopping center. It sort of looked like a giant lemon meringue pie. I am guessing that some silly kids put soap in the fountain as a joke. I am sure it was a mess to clean up, but it couldn't have made my Zoe any happier. Today when we drove by the fountain, Zoe couldn't understand where her bubbles went to. She is so cute.

It is hard to believe that my little Sloan is in the third grade. I hope this will be the best year ever for her. Zoe misses Sloan terribly when she is at school. She asks all day long when we can go pick up sissy. I miss her too. I had so much fun with Sloan this summer break. I am excited that she is at school and learning and having all the fun new experiences that come with third grade. I do however wish I didn't have to do the homework hassle every evening. I dread it. Sloan is so strong willed and pushes her limits every chance she can. My mom just told me about a book titled "Setting Limits for your Strong Willed Child" by Robert J. Mack Kinsey. I am going to go and get it this weekend. I feel like I am spending so much of my time with the girls correcting and threatening Sloan with punishments. It isn't fair to her or the little ones and I am just to tired to keep up with the disrespectful behavior. Plus Zoe is picking up the bad habits and has started back talking also, she's only two! So wish me luck and I will let you know how the book is. 

My entry for the Red Barn Quilt Co. Giveaway

Hailey's Birthday Suprise

The whole duck theme was inspired by my sweet little next door neighbor, Miss Hailey Pie. She loves ducks. She had her first birthday this weekend and this is what I made for her. I am a little embarrassed about this one, it's not my normal illustration style. It's a little Mary Engelbreitish, I don't mean to do this. Sometimes my illustrations just turn out like this. If I had done a different background, it wouldn't look so much like her style. Besides Mary kicks some serious art butt, I have a long way to go before I was even half as good. I am in no means trying to copy her style. I guess Hailey likes it. This makes me so happy.

And the Winner is................

The winner is......cpullum. Please email me your address and blog link so I can send you little "Flower". 

Thanks to all of you who took the time to leave such wonderful and kind comments about my artwork. Thanks also to the bloggers who posted about the giveaway. I hope that you will feel free to visit Artfulife again very soon. I had so much fun doing this little giveaway. It is an honor to meet other bloggers who are moms, grandmas, and creative women all full of so much passion for their families and the creative life they are living. I applaud all of you. Can't wait to do another giveaway very soon. 

(Sorry for the jumpy video!)

FINAL DAY FOR FIRST ARTFULIFE GIVEAWAY!!!

Today is the day that I pick a name out of a hat and send "Flower" off to her new home. If you are visiting for the first time and would like to try and win the giveaway, there are still a few hours to post a comment. I will be drawing a name this afternoon at 4pm. Today is Sloan's first day of school, and I promised her she could draw the name. I will announce the winner a few minutes after that. Have a fun day everyone! 

Very First Artfulife Giveaway

Hello! My name is Flower and I am hoping someone will want to give me a new home.

Here is a scan of the original painting you will receive in the cute little frame, as pictured below. The image is 4"x4" (Quilt is not included)

I have wanted to do a giveaway for quite a while. Just lately I've gotten up the courage to actually put this giveaway into motion. Although there is nothing new about a giveaway, people have been having them for a long time before I started blogging. I want to give credit to the lovely and talented blogger Kathleen over at Grosgrain for inspiring me to do the same.

You might be wondering why I would want to give something away to someone I don't even know? As an artist it makes me feel amazing when someone asks for my work. The fact that someone would want to hang up something that I created with my own imagination and God given talent makes me feel happy. So if you like little "Flower" and you would like to give her a home please just post a comment. I will choose a winner on Monday, July 21. My hope is that I will get a good response. I would like to do a giveaway of my art at least two or more times a month. I will cross my fingers.

P.S. If you want to link my post to your blog, and you mention the "Very First Artfulife Giveaway on your blog, I will add your name twice to the drawing. Good duck, I mean luck!

Happy Anniversary

2006

It is hard to believe we have been married for 3 years. The last three years have flown by. I couldn't ask for a sweeter husband to spend my life with. The fact that I can still wake up and feel like the luckiest girl alive says a lot about our relationship. I love you so much my love. 

Can't Wait to see This

Old Red Barn Giveaway

Old Red Barn is the wonderfully creative blog of Dana. Not only does she make these lovely and beautiful quilts but she is a talented photographer and makes really lovely homemade soaps and facial scrubs. Although I have never purchased anything from Old Red Barn ( Just found her blog) I do hope to purchase something in the near future. Take a peek at her lovely site, oh, and don't forget to enter for a chance to win this beautiful quilt.

I know it may seem a little crazy that I am posting these giveaways, but I am all for supporting other artists in their pursuit of artistic goals. What a great way to get your art to those who might not normally have a chance to own something from you. It has inspired me to have my own very first giveaway. I have wanted to do this for a while. Part of me is nervous to have a giveaway, what if no one wants to win what I am giving away? The ultimate humiliation. It's really putting yourself and your talent out on a limb. I am willing. I have made a fool of myself before, it's nothing new to me. Tomorrow I will be posting pictures and details of my very first giveaway. Please come back tomorrow and join the fun!

Ducks & Ducks

The inspiration, Seeing Flowers Dress by Hannah Anderson.

This little duck is for Hailey's birthday.

This little duck will hopefully be going to a special home very soon. 

Today was a super busy day, and the week should only prove to be just as crazy. Sloan starts school on Monday. I am trying to fill the last few days with as much fun as possible. I have tried so hard to make this a special summer vacation for her. It is hard to believe she is now starting the third grade. How fast time flies when you are the mom. Hope everyone has had a great day.

So Far

I thought I would update you on all the hard work I have been doing lately. My goals are coming along slowly but surely. So far I have walked 128 miles since I first started to exercise. I am also excited to announce, drum roll please, I have lost three whole pounds! In a little over three weeks. I know pathetic huh? Three pounds is three pounds. The cool thing is I am now seeing results from all my hard work. It just motivates me even more to keep on keeping on. 3 pounds down, 17 to go.  

Aris and her new baby

Aris loves her new baby. 

Just Ducky

So I sat down tonight with my little Sloan and we sketched together. Sloan bought her first sketch book the other night with the gift card her Grandpa David and Roberta gave her for her birthday. She was so excited to finally have her own sketchbook. It is nice that we are able to do art together. 

The above sketches are ideas for some upcoming paintings I would like to do. Little Haylie is turning 1 on Saturday. She is just ducky for ducks! I figured it would be fun to make her some kind of duck art for her birthday gift. I wanted to sew her something, however my machine is acting up. It will either be out of paper or painted. I bought the frame on Friday, now all I need is to do the artwork. I will post pictures of the finished project.

Guitar Daddy

A little father daughter jam session. Can you tell by the motion that Zoe really gets into her music?