Think "Inside the Box"...

As I've said before, I have trouble thinking "outside the box"

...so I just decided to think "inside" the box...

the crayon box that is!

Having taught 1st grade for so long, I'm quite comfortable

with primary colors...

the inspiriation for this batch of my Santas.

I hope they "make a passing grade"!

Sonething Old, Something New...

Oh, don't get excited! There are no wedding plans for anyone in my family.

Something old...that would ME, the artist who painted this Santa.

Something borrowed...that would be the IDEA (inspired by a Toni McQuire pattern) for this Santa.

Something new...that would be this OOAK cypress knee Santa.

Something blue...that would be this BLUE robe on this original hand painted cypress knee Santa.

                                                                   
         
                                                                      Other new Santas just off the painting table...

                                                                                                         



Santa's Workshop Has Been Busy

This lone elf has been cranking out more new Santas this week.  Here's a peek at some of my Santas with a little bit of a new look for 2011.  However, next week I'll be helping with VBS at my chuch and one of my granddaughters will be here for the week.

Better enjoy her while I can.  She will soon be to old to attend VBS as she has done each year since she was three years old.



Introducing First of 2011 Santas

Finally, I've completed the first batch of my 2011 Santas!

These are all hand painted on cypress knees.  For those who aren't familiar with cypress knees, they are part of the root system of the cypress trees that grow so plentiful at the edges of lakes and bayous in the south.  The "knees" pop up out of the water at the base of the tree.  Once the tree has been cut for lumber the "knees" are just useless.  That is until someone like me takes God's wonderful creation and gives it new life such as I did in creating my Santas.  Visit my website, http://www.wood-n-stitches.com/ to see more.

Here's a glimpse of before and after.

Before (actually "during" because I've already primed and basecoated)



After



Website Seems to Working Properly Now

The customers that were having trouble have since emailed me to let me know that they finally got the site to come up properly!  I don't what  was wrong or how it got corrected, but the "bugs" are out of it now.  I had put in a call for help to my website designer.  Maybe she fixed it for me.

Anyway, thanks to all of you who checked it out for me.  It was weird that it was working for some and not others across the country.  I would be on the phone with the customers and we would be doing the same things online.  It would go through for me, but not for them. 

Up and running with yet something else to be thankful for during this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

The Ole Paint Brushes Are Flying

I've been painting every minute I can lately.  It's just 2 weeks until my next show which is the Broadmoor High School Arts and Crafts show in Baton Rouge, LA.

Sold in Baton Rouge.

Like the snowbirds, this one is moving to Florida.

Like the one above, this lady is headed to FL for the winter.

Moving to a new home in AR.

Moving to Arkansas

Moving to Arkansas also.

Here are the new cypress knee snowmen and Santas that I added to my website, http://www.wood-n-stitches.com/ today.  You can see more by clicking on the title of this post or the link above.  Business has really picked up online the last few days. 

New Santas and Snowmen Added to Website



Sold in Baton Rouge.



  These guys are on their way to a  new home in MN.  They'll love the winter there.
I hope you enjoy your piece of Louisiana!

These guys have found a new home....just up the road!

Sold in Baton Rouge.

Found a new home in AR.

Also going up to AR.

Tagging along with his buddies to AR.

This guy will be moving just up the road with some of his friends.

These guys will be moving up the road with their friends to a new home.

Sold in Baton Rouge.

  These two  are on their way to their new home in FL.  I hope they don't melt in that heat.
My heart almost did when I heard from their new "mom". 

Yet another one going to AR.

Me, too.  AR bound.

Sold in Baton Rouge.

Sold in Baton Rouge.

Sold in Baton Rouge.