LAST CHANCE - HOME PORTRAITS IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!

STILL NEED IDEAS FOR THAT SPECIAL 

PACKAGE UNDER THE TREE?

I'm busy in my workshop creating some 

one-of-a-kind gifts and

there are still a few days to order yours 

in time for Christmas morning!

H O M E   P O R T R A I T 

ordering deadline for 

CHRISTMAS DELIVERY 

is 

Friday, December 15th

Click HERE to order.

(Free Christmas gift wrapping upon request!)

"Give a memory of HOME this Christmas"

HOME PORTRAIT SALE

HOME PORTRAITS

for 

CHRISTMAS

Wrap up a Home Portrait for under the tree this year.  

Right now my Home Portraits are with 10% off with the coupon code GILLY10 at checkout.  Your 8 x 10 portrait will arrive matted and ready for framing.  Click here to go to my Etsy shop.

THE GIRLS

On a sunny, summer day I drove past a farmer's field in southeast Wisconsin where a small herd of cows was milling around.  When I walked up to the fence every head turned my way, and out of curiosity, started lumbering toward me.  The next thing I knew there were about fifteen of them all jockeying for position.  They were eager to pose, shuffling around so everyone got a chance in the front row.  Once they decided I had nothing to offer they got bored and mooved on . . . 

but I walked away with a bunch of great photos to work off of.  

The three girls below made it onto the first canvas.  They want to be part of your farmhouse decor!

THE GIRLS

16 x 20 

oil on panel

Painting is sold in a solid black frame shipped free of charge.  Click here to go to ETSY.

THE OLD EBLE BARN

  "The Old Eble Barn"

12x12 inches

oil on panel

The old Eble Barn was a stately landmark in Wisconsin for many years.  It took two days for 36 men to raise the barn in 1936, but it stands no more.  The barn was such a familiar part of the Brookfield landscape, standing firm as Blue Mound Road developments came closer with each passing year.  When I heard of the coming destruction of the barn, I spent a day sketching on the grounds and taking photos.  

This painting can be purchased from my Etsy shop by clicking here.  This 12 x 12 inch original oil painting comes is in a solid wood, black, 'floater' frame.  ("These unique frames are so named because the illusion they create is that your artwork is "floating" within the frame instead of being covered by it". -Blick)

******Free Shipping******

HOME PORTRAITS FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

It's that time of year again!  Do you want a unique and one-of-a-kind gift for that special someone on your list?  Maybe a home portrait is just the thing you're looking for.  Your home is special to you.  Fond family memories of holidays and growing a family are made here.  Treat yourself or a special person in your life to a lasting memory of a home, lake cottage, or other special place with the commissioning of an original, hand-drawn pen and ink  portrait.  Home portraits make great house warming gifts too!

Now is the time to order to ensure receiving the portrait in time for Christmas giving.  Plus, right now, there's free shipping on all home portraits!  Click here to visit my Etsy shop.

A collage of some of the home or special place portraits I've done in the past.

{Home Portraits at Gillyflower Cottage}

HALLOWEEN POKES CRAFT NIGHT

It's time for another craft night with the girls.  This time we're making Halloween Pokes.  Here are just a few from Pinterest we're using for inspiration.

Check back tomorrow to see what we concocted!

INKTOBER DAY 4

Another day, another acorn!

I love these things - they just don't have a bad angle!

It's not too late to join in with Inktober.  Just do a little ink sketch of anything, and post it with a hashtag.  Be courageous! 

Cinderella Pumpkin Night

  The colors, the deep grooves, the shape of Cinderella pumpkins are beautiful.  And expensive!
So, my group of willing ladies and I are going to give it a shot.  We're going to make our own Cinderellas and ours will last forever!  My plan is to use canvas drop cloths for the shape, fishing line for the grooves, and grapevine for the stems.



Check back in a few days to see our masterpieces!

INKTOBER DAY 3

INKTOBER DAY 3

Today, a bundle of berries I found on a shrub at the coffee shop.  The colors are so beautiful, it was hard to stick with the Inktober guidelines and use only ink.  Maybe another shot using watercolor is in order?  

And, these days I'm loving drawing acorns so now to hunt down oak trees to find unusual specimens.  The challenge is to find the ones that made it to the ground in one piece before the squirrels get to them!

INKTOBER IS UPON US

INKTOBER  

"Every October, artists all over the world take on the Inktober drawing challenge by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. I created Inktober in 2009 as a challenge to improve my inking skills and develop positive drawing habits."   - Jake Parker

Day #1

Day #2

What a fun way to go into fall!  Small ink drawings are quick and satisfying.  After a wonderful summer full of gardening and outdoor activities, fall is the perfect time to nestle in and pull out the ink bottle and nibs!   

Today, a walk to find seed pods and leaves . . . and a video I've posted before.  This was one of my mom's favorite songs.  Melancholy, but so beautiful!

Autumn Leaves

-Nan

GRANDMA'S NATURE CAMP IS COMING!

It's almost here!!!

Jack and Lucy 

are coming!

It's time for some great books, fun snacks, painting, 
nature crafts, and marshmallows around the fire!

HURRY, Jack and Lucy!!!
Come back to see our Nature Camp in action!

ANOTHER CREATIVE NIGHT WITH THE GIRLS

It's the first day of SPRING, so a good time to make 

something to celebrate the end of WINTER!

This project was inspired by a recent trip to Anthropologie - one of the greatest places to find unusual dish towels.  So, this time we'll be doing a little creative painting on fabric.  All we need is a 1/2 yard of cotton fabric, a small amount of white fabric, and acrylic paints.  Everyone can make a towel that will perfectly match their kitchen colors.

I'll be sure to post a picture of the finished 

masterpieces - they are certain to be beautiful!

"Bearing Flowers Dish Towel"

by

Anthropologie

TIME FOR A SPRING TEA

I was talking to some friends about Pinterest recently.  Everyone says they save all the ideas and then rarely ever look at them again.  So, I'm pulling out ideas, some old and some new.  It's time to go through some of those Pinterest boards and do something with all that I've saved. With spring right around the corner, here's a start to planning a 

May Day Tea 

for a bunch of wonderful women.

"What potent blood hath modest May!" -Ralph W. Emerson

Following, are some of the ideas I'm using . . .

                                                                   crushculdesac.tumblr.com

youcouldmakethat.blogspot.com

youcouldmakethat.blogspot.com

   

                                                            

                                                                          indulgy.com

Spring needs to be celebrated - especially 

when you live in Wisconsin!

💗

STITCHIN' WITH THE GIRLS

There's nothing like spending an old fashioned, cold winter's night embroidering and chattering with your girlfriends.  What a night of camaraderie and fun, while making a project for Valentine's Day.  All were successful too - no frustrations or flops!

(Spring girls' night already in the planning stages!)

MORE VALENTINE IDEAS

MORE VALENTINE IDEAS FROM A FEW YEARS AGO . . .

There may no longer be young children in this house, but I think one still needs to decorate for the "other holidays", like Valentine's Day, kids or no kids!  Big people love the holidays too!

  So, today I made a valentine banner for the front entryway, and also put a little valentine tree in the dining room.  I typed out some love quotes in the typewriter font, cut them in strips, and glued one onto each piece.  Then you can embellish to your heart's content.  I just used ribbons and some cut out hearts, but you could add buttons, charms, lace, sheet music . . . anything!  I used these for gift tags also.

Enjoy . . . again!

And, of course you must have the essential Valentine's Day question . . .

Just a couple punches at the top of each piece, a little ribbon woven through, and you're done!  This is an easy project that would probably be even more charming if you let your young children help!

GIRLS' CRAFT NIGHT FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

VALENTINE'S DAY 

is right around the corner 

and THAT sounds like a

good time for another craft night!

I'm setting down the paints to prepare for a night of stitching with the girls.  Some red thread, red wine, and red velvet cupcakes are in order!

Come back to see what we've been up to!