the wit and "wisdom" of whirleygirl

Ack! We have had NO rain here in greater chicagoland (aka the burbs) for what seems like an eternity - seriously - take one look at the lawn and you can tell there has been NO rain! (my thoughts are with your guys in Florida that are getting TOO much rain today- be safe!!!) Not that i don't love the beautiful shades of brown that a lawn and all the lovely container plants can turn but i do much prefer the lushness of the color green. Well, i 'm sure it will rain soon enough...until then, we must craft our own garden-ey beauty! Get the kids ready for these crafts and you will have color-full flowers and greenery all around...

*Button Flowers - Who doesn't think a vase of button flowers is cute? These can be as simple or ornate as you'd like - here is a basic how-to.

* Happy Plant - This project makes me smile - it's kinds like a DIY ChiaPet...  Craftown.com calls it a Happy Plant and it looks like it would be an amusing afternoon project.

*Balloon Plants - this one seems a bit bizarre - radishes growing in a balloon ??- here is the how-to. Let me know how this one goes!! :)

(Asian daisy personalized wall hanging  shown above is available here )

ohhh my friend summer, why are you running off so fast? It seems like you just got here!

*sigh* As much as i hate sweating and getting a sunburn while going to get the mail, i do love how many hours of sunlight we get each day, i love that all the neighbors are out and about, and i love the excuse to eat more ice cream.

With all the back-to-school ads all over the place and hearing the question "when does school start? " over and over, i am here to remind the world...SUMMER IS STILL HERE! As of today, there are 17 days till Labor day soooo...there is still time for summer fun (and to wear white pants!)

I know,i know, kids are getting ansy and parents are getting ansy for the kids to get back to school. This is the perfect time to get crafty - the mind gets involved as little picassos focus on their creations and hands are kept busy.

FamilyFun.com has a great list of summer crafts that look fun. Here is the link.

My faves:

Bug Hotel (it just sounds funny)

Colander wind chime (if anyone asks, just say it's a great piece of outsider art you found in Atlanta)

Message in a Bottle (what grandparent wouldn't love to receive that in the mail!!)

Have a creative weekend!

 

Have you been watching the Olympics? I love the fact that there are those that are so stoked that the summer games are going on and then there are those that don't even realize they are going on. I'm a definite fan. Wasn't always but I was sent to work at the 1996 summer games in Atlanta (don't laugh but i was security AND i drove IOC members around....the fact that i was any sort of security is humorous enough - but if you have ever driven in a car with me you know that is a sitcom segment waiting to happen!!) Anywho, after that summer i had a totally new appreciation for the athletes - their determination, their will, their strength - absolutely awestruck. I love the mindset of an individual who puts themselves out there and tries their very best no matter what the outcome may be. What is even cooler to me are the Paralympic games that follow the regular games - these games  don't get the same coverage but I feel these athletes are even more inspiring (if you can imagine that!) Keep your eyes open for whatever t.v. coverage they may get this year - time well spent!

I know i shouldn't be encouraging children to watch more t.v. but i think there is so much to gain by a child understanding all that the Olympics are - from unity to achievement - and everything in between.

Parents magazine has a cute idea for an Olympic themed party for kids  - here is the link.

Or...make your own gold medal..here's a link to a snazzy how-to!

Personally, if i were to have a medal made for my achievements, i think i'd go for one made out of something deliciously edible and sweet - perhaps a chocolate chip cookie...hmmmm...what would your medal be made out of ? :)

Gold medal or not - we are all superstars!

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain

Isn't that a good quote? It was in an email from someone to me that i opened right after a very discouraging phone call. Perfect timing i would say, SynchroDestiny as Deepak Chopra might say. Any which way, it was a good reminder not to let others get us down ...especially when you are reaching a personal goal. ( and running a small but mighty business ;) )

So get off your booty, go live your dreams and make life happen - no matter what another might think or say - you CAN do it!       You know why?  Because...............................................................................................

YOU ARE FABULOUS!!!

Speaking of fabulous, congratulations to Mary J. for being the July giveaway winner! Your fortune cookie painting will be on it's way shortly.........

Oh, hello again....

It has been way too long since my last post! I'd like to thank those of you who have noticed this and checked in on me to see if all is OK - you are sweethearts! All is fine, life has just been all about change, change, and more change lately and dealing with this change is eating up my time!!

So here is the news...(drum roll please - and no I'm not pregnant ;)  )...Mr. Amanda got a fabulous promotion (crowd cheers) but unfortunately, it is in Boston (crowd boos). We found this out a few weeks ago - he has accepted and his first day was this past Monday. We have not decided how quickly the rest of us will be joining him in the city of baked beans but plan on making a decision this weekend. We have spent the last two weeks decluttering, repainting, and staging the house (i call it "blanding" the house - too many neutrals for my taste) and have been emotionally and physically drained. Most likely, i and the fur babies will be here till we put the house on the market in the spring (with many trips to Boston planned in between). So no worries, all scheduled murals will be completed!! :)

It is sad to think about moving - all the great friends we have made here, ALL my great clients (I'll miss going out for pancakes and running into a family with a 3yr old, that i painted the nursery for as a newborn!!), the quirky check out lady at the grocery store that always tells me bizarre stories about her family because she is convinced she know me from somewhere, all of Gilbert's playmates and their masters at the dog park, and just the comfort of knowing a shortcut to the coffee shop. Thank you to so many out there that have helped us make Illinois our home!!!

Enough of all this sappiness!!Life is all about adventure, right??? 

P.s. - all orders will be filled as usual unless otherwise noted on the website or etsy shop. Please keep them coming - painting all my goodies for you guys is what is keeping me sane!!! :)

P.s.s - don't forget, there are still a few more days for the July giveaway! Just leave me a comment and let me know why you feel lucky and an original fortune cookie painting could be yours!

The nose knows...

that it is summer!!

I love the smells of summer - seriously - no "fresh cut grass" scented candle can mimic the real stuff. I lurve it....

I can't remember if i have put these nose-y switch plate covers in the spotlight before but they are a fave of mine - so fun to paint and i think the concept is pretty hilarious, if i do say so myself!! :)

Other things that are making me laugh these days:

* have you seen these high heeled shoes for babies??

*how to turn your ordinary hard boiled egg into a fish!

*the latest season of Kathy Griffin: my life on the d list on Bravo

*Mattels new Barbie inspired by Alfred Hitchcocks "The Birds"

Must try these soon: how to make a homemade ice cream drumstick

Have a happy summersniffing day!

Happy 4th of July!

Just wanted to wish everybody a safe, healthy, and happy 4th of July! One more painted sketch to go today and the three day weekend will be here for me - yay! Mr. Amanda is all ready to grill up his not-so-famous asian drumsticks( this is not his exact recipe but close to it) and I'm making my Portillo's knock off chocolate cake (in cupcake form of course!! To shake things up a bit i am going to do a coconut frosting - yummy!) Add some friends to those yummies and i think it's called party!

Do be safe, have some fun, light some sparklers,  and also take time to relax and rejuvenate. Celebrate your independence...be yourself!!

July Giveaway!

       

I'm feeling a little lucky today. Not really sure why but I am. It probably has a lot to do with the fact that i have made a conscious decision to look at all that is good in my life instead of what is not so good . I recommend that everyone try this.

To spread a little luck, for the July giveaway, the winner gets to choose one original painting from my fortune cookie series. (there is even a little sparkle action on this quirky piece ! :) ) Just comment on a post in this starlicious month of July and tell me one reason you feel lucky and you will be entered to win!

**There will be one winner chosen randomly from the reader comments posted July 2nd thru July 31st. One entry per person (but feel free to comment all you want!)**

Have a lucky day!

New Item - Children's Placemats

These placemats have been swimming around in my head FOREVER!

Current themes include: Bluebird, Starfish in both pink and blue color ways, Cowgirl, and Cowboy. There will be additional designs offered in the very near future - i was just so excited to get these out into the world. :)

Each one is completely painted by hand, sealed with three coats of water based sealant for extra durability, and for an extra kick of fun, the back is coated in chalkboard paint.

These little cuties are available here.

Any design suggestions - just let me know!

Buongiorno!

Well now that the jet lag has passed, and the fact that i no longer am walking up to strangers asking "Parla inglese? " utilizing a horrible American accent, I can mentally process what a great trip we had to Italy. Truly - it was a great 10 days. We ended up spending 3 days in Rome, about 6 days in the Tuscany region , and a day in Florence.  I could go on and on as each day brought it's own adventure but alas, some of my "favorito":

* there were murals and frescoes everywhere! Seriously...even on the ceilings of some of our hotel rooms. Art is definitely incorporated into life there in such a different way than it is here. Although still considered "precious" it was much more touchable there than i find it is here in the States. I love that!!

*Yes, all the ruins are spectacular and amazing but the Crypt of the Capuchin Monks, beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione is truly unbeliveable. It is a bit morbid but there is beauty in that i suppose. The link explains it all but PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THESE IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME.

* My American coffee drinking experience is now forever ruined. Italian "caffee" has changed everything. Seriously. This was in my inbox when we got home, explains it all, and brought tears to my eyes. MMMM. i can smell it from here...

Also, food wise, i  discovered fresh Asiago cheese (thanks Chris! ) ..I'm not even a huge cheese person but oh my goodness - YUM!

oh yeah, one word...gelato.  *sigh*

* If in the Tuscany region, Radda is a great place peruse and have lunch. The ricotta and spinich dumplings i ordered came served in the shape of the most perfect star sitting atop tomato puree - gorgeous! (yes, i am one of those weird people that take pictures of their food.) There were many vineyards/wineries to stop at along the way for tastings as well.

* In Sienna, we met a delightful artist,Silvia Tanganelli, whose watercolor landscapes truly capture the essence of Tuscany . Although her website is in Italian, you can see some of her work here. 

* I laughed when we got home and looked at all the pictures i had taken - they were of my meals, my espressos, or close-ups of all the carved stonework and door knockers that were everywhere! If i ever get around to starting a Flicker account, I'll share all the pics.

Well, that was a "piccollo" glimpse of our experience...hope I wasn't too long winded!! It is always good to get away, and then good to get back home. I had to start painting right when i got home because i felt like I had gone so long without. New creations being introduced to the world on Wednesday - come take a peek!!

Ciao Bella!