art and what inspired it...

One of the best parts of summer is getting to work on projects I've had in my head for a long time but never could find the time...

Lately I've been inspired by several different things...colors I saw in South Africa, small treasures from an antique store in West Point, small clay pots my dad brought back from Costa Rica, frames I saw at a market just last Saturday...

Its funny how my mind works...ideas floating around driving me crazy until I do something about it.

Here are some pictures of some of my inspiration:

Wooden giraffes I found at a market in Cape Town...love the colors!

...and painted gourds

...and fun colorful coasters I made into magnets.

I fell in love with this antique phone (made in 1973) when 

I saw it in an antique store in West Point, MS...

...I also found this fun and colorful bracelet for $2 & couldn't resist!

My dad brought these back from Costa Rica...they're actually for Kristin 

but I get to display them until she comes home!

This was a frame I bought at the Farmer's market in Clinton Saturday.  They are actually made by Kyle and Whitney Sephton, (good friends of mine and Buster's)..."Whyle" frames is what they are called.  Check out some of their work here...you'll love it!

And now for my most recent creations--made possible by the inspiring work of other creators!

This was definitely a time-consuming project/puzzle!  But I really liked how it turned out.  The colors are my favorite part about the whole thing.  Surprised?

This was an antique recipe box given to me by a very dear friend for a wedding gift...I have loved using it (I can't believe its already been 3 years!) but I wanted to give it some color...

So here it is--in color!

I forgot to take a before-picture of this antique mail organizer...We have also used this daily since we got married.  It needed some color so I painted it my favorite teal color with some red accent flowers.

With only a few more weeks of summer vacation left, I'm determined to work on and hopefully finish all the other ideas I still have floating around in my mind...I'll keep you all posted!

Have a great week and God bless!

Travel, Art, and a New Life

Since returning from seeing Kristin in South Africa (I ended up putting my pictures from Cape Town on Facebook), I have been able to rest and take even more advantage of my summer break!  Being able to do some traveling, painting, projects...of all kinds, and visiting friends, I feel truly blessed and thankful.

A few highlights of what I've been up to:

**** A weekend with Kimsey and Alan in Ocean Springs:  George Ohr & Walter Anderson Museum, some great food, walking on the beach, playing with Liddy, and of course---it was "Scrapin' the Coast" weekend!  (FYI, "Scrapin' the Coast" is an annual get-together for low-rider trucks and vehicles...brings out some pretty interesting folks which makes for great people watching.)  Good times!

Alan's Avalon fit right in with the low-riders...

Buster needed a break after all the museums!  I'm sure he wasn't too bored!

****One of the biggest projects I've worked on this summer is for a lady in Tupelo.  She commissioned me to do this tryptic of some dahlia flowers to above her queen-size bed.  I had alot of fun coming up with the idea and painting it!

****Yesterday I went to Tupelo to deliver the paintings and to see some close friends, Amanda and Brock, that just had their baby!  It was such a special time...getting to meet their sweet little girl, Cora Grey.  Its amazing how something so small can be the greatest blessing...our God truly is the giver of life.  It is good to be reminded of that...

This is what I made for Cora's room...got the idea from a good friend.  Thanks Kimsey!

Thank you, Lord, for summer...thank you giving us eyes to see and enjoy the things you've made--and the things that others have made with the gifts you've given them.  Thank you for the gift of community and for the love that is shared between dear friends.  Thank you for life...for the miracle of new life.  Amen.

Happy Friday!
Love,

Hello South Africa!

Mom and I decided to take a trip to see Kristin in South Africa and what a wonderful time we've had so far!--we've seen and done so much and we just got here Friday night!

It has been so cool to see where Kristin lives...her awesome apartment, where she buys groceries, where she works, where she shops, where she goes to church, etc.  I only wish we weren't so far away so we could visit more often.

Here's a look into Kristin's apartment...notice the amazing artwork on the walls.  Not surprised.  At all.

Kristin driving on the "wrong" side of the road in a standard!  Mom should not sit in the front anymore!  TIA (this is Africa)

The morning after we arrived Kristin and I went to pick up Catherine and Christine from the airport.  It was so crazy how it worked out that we would be here the exact same time--they met a group from Texas later that day to do some work in a township close by.  So we got to hang out all day--went to the Organic farmer's market and saw some awesome artwork!

Sunday after church we ate lunch at this awesome place called the Tea Garden.  Then Ethan took us to a Fine Arts market downtown...We got to see some amazing art from local artists.  Very appropriate and inspiring!

Yesterday we went to the Lion park--got to pet some cubs and drive around to see the Lions.  It was crazy because there were no fences in between us and them!

For lunch afterwards we went to a place called Monte Casino...the architecture and interior was beautiful.  I guess being a casino I wasn't surprised...but it was amazing.  Extremely Italian.

This is just the beginning of our trip...Thursday we leave for Cape Town!  So I will definitely have more pictures soon!  I wish Buster could be here...Miss you babe.

Happy Tuesday!