Bye Bye 2012!

This year FLEW by so fast!! We had some exciting milestones and scary times in our families this year so I thought I'd take some time to reflect on this past twelve months ~ as I prepare for a NEW YEAR starting tomorrow!

 

 

 

Our oldest graduated HS, started dating a beautiful girl, took his first road trip with friends to another state, house sat for my parents while they were in Europe for a month, moved away to college and turned 18.

Our middle got a job, started dating a beautiful girl, dual enrolled in college and HS and turned 17!

Our youngest started driving a car, turned 16, and ventured out in 10th grade by joining multiple clubs/groups at school.

My father had a major heart scare and ended up with multiple stints in his heart! So glad that he pulled through that with no major major surgery.

My sisters Mother In Love sadly passed away and we were able to go to TN to visit and attend the funeral.

My Mother in Love ended up in the hospital for almost 30 days and in the beginning weeks they didn't think she'd make it! Fortunately, she improved and with the help of physical therapy she regained a lot of her strength and was able to come home!

My Brother in Love moved to Kosovo for 6 months as a Fullbright Scholar!  Loved reading about his travels and fun over in Europe but we sure did miss him while he was gone.

 

Other than that we've had a very Healthy & Happy 2012!

We know that a NEW YEAR is upon us and we pray that it's Healthier & Happier than ever!

 

 

 Christmas at the Farm

My mother & father in loves!

Oma & Opa with their grandkids!

 The cousins at the Farm ~ Christmas 2012

Christmas at my parents house 2012

This was the first year since 2007 that we've all been in the same house for a visit.
Sad my grandmother couldn't be with us and visit was way too short but we had fun!

Mom, Dad and us girls

 

Christmas at my parents 2012

 

 

 

 

~~~~2013~~~~

 

Looking forward to all the blessings God has in store for our family this New Year!

 

Hope you and yours have a VERY HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!!

 

Sandy



Paint class ~ Magnolia in wOils
Yesterday in paint class we painted a beautiful magnolia with wOils. It was great to see everyone as I didn't teach any classes in November due to two major events I participated in.
This was also my last class of the year! Where did 2012 go? I know for me it FLEW by way too fast!
Have already started getting classes ready for the New Year and working on special orders before Christmas and then it's time to relax and enjoy time with my family!







We changed the background up a bit in my a.m. class and painted it with wOils. In the evening class we stayed with my original and painted it with black Enamel paint.


Glo





















Barb (Happy Birthday today Barb!)




























Sandi

















Ann






















Ellen's painting

Hope you have a fabulous week
Sandy

 Painting Classes
   I was having withdrawals as I didn't have any classes in November due to two major events (Christmas Made In the South & Mistletoe Market). It was nice to see the ladies yesterday in my Larger than Life Canvas Workshop. Many different things being painted and they challenged us all as artist but think everyone did a beautiful and amazing job!

Beverlyn  painted her daughters dogs that have both passes away.
Many of these are Christmas presents so I'm not going to show the finished ones except for Ann's think she took it home and promptly hung it on the wall! :)

 

Ann painted a fall landscape with turkey and turkey hens that was simply amazing!

Patty had several paintings going on - both gifts so I'm not going to show any more than what you see but they are beautiful and I know the recipients will LOVE them!

before the turkeys were added. Doesn't it just look like you could walk on that path right around the corner into the woods. Love it!

Ellen's coming along nicely. She put several things together that all had meaning for a family member (they are getting it for Christmas)

Ann and her finished landscape ~ turkeys and all.
















Had a wonderful day painting with these ladies ~ we laughed, cried, painted and painted some more!

Hope you have a blessed day!
Sandy

 

More Window Painting

Today I painted the windows at JEWELS ~ an amazing jewelry store located at the Peach Shops of Byron.

The owner Joy is such a neat lady and she was thrilled with the windows!

She has the kind of shop that I could spend hours in and still not see everything!

For all my local friends - go over and check out the windows and SHOP at JEWELS!

 

Have a great weekend!!
Sandy

 Busy Busy Month!

Wow, can't believe I haven't posted since Nov.5th!!
Did two Holiday events, had a birthday, Thanksgiving and the month's still not over yet.

I've been busy painting and getting things done for a local Winery that is opening and then started painting windows at the Peach Shops of Byron.

Here are some snapshots of what I've been working on.

 

 

 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Sandy

Face Painting and Christmas Made In The South Show








Kendall and his girlfriend Jennah went Trick or Treating with some friends and she was a doggie ~ so of course I painted her face for her and then Kendall - just with a yellow face to match his banana suit which was hilarious!



 Nicole and I participated in the 20th Annual Christmas Made In The South Show - our first time ever and had a wonderfully successful show!
Everyone loved the ornaments, signs, tiles, etc. and we got lots of positive feedback from the vendors that have been coming for YEARS as well as the customers that continually told us we had the best booth there! That's always nice to hear!





Nicole's daughters Lexi and Katie work for us each year to set up, tear down, and work during the show but they also work very hard before all of that prepping signs, making bows and ribbons for the ornaments and well I just can't thank them enough for all of their hard work and all that they do to make our events such a success.  Debbie (the girls grandmother) worked for us taking all payments which really helped out!! We decided this was the year to take credit card payments and decided the PayPal swipe was the best for us - and it certainly WAS! Worked every time without mishap and the records it keeps for us is amazing! Inventory, sales history, etc. all right there.
Think it saved our sales as well ~ lots of people paying with credit card.



















Set up was one day ~ we had gotten quite spoiled with the two day set up at Mistletoe Market but everyone chipped in and knocked it out!! Lex, Katie, Andy, Mo, Steven, Nicole and I got it all up and ready in very little time!

The event was Friday - Sunday and we had an absolute blast! Laughed more than I think we have at any other show and the celebrity siting - we think Honey Boo and her family came through the show.



























Katie



Nicole & Lexi






































Katie, Me, Nicole, Lexi and Debbie


Now it's crunch time to get ready for Mistletoe Market in Perry, GA November 16-18. Hope all our local friends and surrounding states come out and see us! It's a great SHOW!

Have a great day!
Sandy

Hurricane Sandy & Holiday Workshop 2012

 WOW! What a storm Sandy has become huh? Not so sure that I like that it has my name though ~ teehee. Praying for all my family and friends in the path of this storm! My grandmother lives in Maryland by herself and just praying she doesn't lose power or have any damage/flooding. Y'all be safe!!

Holiday Workshop 2012

Had a wonderful Saturday painting and creating with these fabulous ladies. We had some that couldn't join us due to work, sickness, health, or hubbies health and we wanted to let you ladies (Beverly, Jenny, Patty, Ann, Barb & Sue) that we missed you all!

I am beyond busy getting ready for two events ~ the first one this weekend ~ Christmas Made In The South in Macon, GA. This will be mine and Nicole's first year participating in this show and we are ready but still busy getting everything ready for it!
Then we have a couple of weeks in between and then it's Mistletoe Market at the GA National Fairgrounds in Perry, GA. A show we've done for the last 5 years and we are super excited to be there again and see all our repeat customers that come and look for what we have new! We have lots of NEW signs this year that we'll have at both events and of course we personalize em on the spot for FREE!  Come out and visit us!

Have a wonderful day!
Sandy