Countdown to Dallas

Some of the window chalkboards, waiting to be packed up



More waiting to be packed....



The one in the front has some cowboy boots on it...it will sell first!

And all the bags (1000 of them!) have to have tags tied on...

These are the GHS Enterprises tags I had printed. 

I said I was busy packing things up for the Dallas
wholesale show...well, here is
the proof!  I thought I would take a couple of pics of some
of it waiting to be packed up for the 5 hour trip.  I have ordered
some clear wrap that will wrap all the breakable items
(glass windows, etc), and I will load those in my
Suburban.  The booth set up will
be loaded in a U-Haul trailer that I will pull behind me,
along with all of the canvas bags that are in boxes. 
Some of my sweet employees are tagging all the bags,
even as I speak here (they took some home to work on!) 
I am still in the process of making some neat
one-of-a-kind pieces to take as well.  And this weekend,
I hope to pick up some unusual antique items to go
along with all this vintage-looking stuff.  The countdown
is definitely on...but I will be
ready!

Dallas Wholesale Market   January Show  Jan 15th-22

Our Greatest Need

"If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent
an educator.  If our greatest need was technology,
He would have sent a scientist....

...if our greatest need was money, He would have sent an economist.
If our greatest need was pleasure, He would have sent an
entertainer...

...but our greatest need was forgiveness, so He sent a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
Dr. David Jeremiah

I have been busy getting things together for my trip to the Dallas
wholesale market in just 2 weeks!  But I did take time to
worship today, and I hope you have had a restful and
peaceful Sunday.  I enjoyed the quote above from Dr.
Jeremiah this morning, and thought I would share with some
beautiful photos of Paris.  Enjoy!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Blue Baby Shoes

Just a little project tonight...a little porcelain pair of shoes to label.  It is a
Christmas ornament, and the Grandmother brought them to me to write on.
They come with a place to write all the info, and I used a waterproof pen.
too cute...

sheltongail@hotmail.com

New Year Bucket List

The sun finally came out today, after a stormy Christmas day.  It
lit up these white poinsettias by the window...thought you might
enjoy them. 
I am reading a little book I received.  It is titled: More Than a
Bucket List, by Toni Birdsong.  I have been interested in my
own bucket list for years.  This little book, however, deals with
dreams, passions, and faith, and how you can better yourself
and achieve goals in these areas of your life...thus crossing these
off your "bucket list" as well.

"You'd have a hard time proving this, but most of us agree that the
older we get, the faster time seems to speed by. As our time on earth
gets shorter, the list of promises we make to ourselves tends to get
longer.  This book will encourage you to view these accomplishments
from God's point of view and to make your bucket list matter
eternally along the way.  With each page, the dream inside you will
be drawn out-the higher dream of what God has purposed for you." 
Toni Birdsong

so as the new year approaches, I will be adding some things
to my list...hopefully improving my character along the way!

Christmas Tidings of Great Joy

We have enjoyed family and friends and Christmas feasts
over the last few days. Tonight, as the storm clouds approached, 
there was a beautiful sky and moon, displaying
God's glory on the birthday of His Son.  I hope you have had a wonderful time
with friends and family where you are. 
"For unto us a child is born..unto us a Son is given"

sheltongail@hotmail.com

The Lights of Christmas

The nativity scene on the Cane River in Natchitoches, Louisiana

More of the lights....

Skaters along the bank of the river....(ice skaters in Louisiana?!)

A trio of nutrackers with their reflection

We drove over to Natchitoches tonight to see the Christmas lights.  They
are famous for their light display on the banks of the Cane River
in downtown.  They add a few new displays every year.  There were crowds
strolling along the river, enjoying funnel cakes and fried alligator. 

I hope you and yours are getting ready to enjoy your Christmas
holidays.  Merry Christmas to all!
 

Duck Tape

Inside the back of the shadowbox...having to take it apart.

Where the print slipped...see how it is off in the corner.

After I taped it back, I used the point driver gun to
put the backing back on

Checking to make sure there is not lint under the glass, etc

Re-attaching the certificate to the back of the shadowbox

And the finished project waiting to be picked up.

I don't talk about all the framing I do very much.  But this time of year, I do
A LOT!  I thought some of you might like this piece.  It is the newly released
limited edition duck print sponsored by the Duck Commander group. 
It was brought to me already in the shadowbox...I did not do that part of the
frame.  It was shipped to the customer, and the print had slipped away
from the mat.  So, I had to undo the entire shadowbox, re-tape the print,
and then put it all back together.  
I have done shadowboxes before...mostly for brides with their keepsakes.
They are very time consuming and tedious.  I was glad I did not have
to do this one....just fix it!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

 

"Let it Snow!"

A beautiful snow photo that I took a couple of years ago
while snowmobiling (is that a word?) in Utah with a good
friend.

Little watercolor of the scene

I am still mentoring my high school senior, teaching her to paint in
watercolor.  We did this painting yesterday.  This is the photo reference we
used, and that is my example for her.  She did well...but she still doesn't
like her trees! So she is going to work on them over the holidays,
and we will continue in January.  This would make a cute little
Christmas card!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A little Christmas Humor...Heaux, heaux, heaux!

I love this little design.  This is a card I did years ago.  I have since
used this on a Christmas t-shirt.  (No one "got" it?!)

This card caption reads: "Be naughty....save Santa the trip!"

I like using the holiday patterns on letters...this little version
is fun.  I did use this same theme, and did the word "Noel"
on a shirt years ago too.  (how long have I been doing
this stuff??!)  I used Prismacolor colored pencils and Pigma Micron 
pen and ink pens on cardstock.

Here's wishing you some Christmas joy this Monday morning...
have a great day!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Final Boots

I finished up these boots last night.  I will deliver them to the
customer today.  Merry Christmas!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

p.s.  She loved the drawing, and I found out more about it.  The boots belonged to her
grandfather.  He always had his boots custom made.  This was one of his favorite pair.
She is going to give the drawing to her grandmother for Christmas...her grandfather has
passed away.....pass the Kleenex!!

Work in Progress: Boots

Got to work on the other boot tonight...now all I need is the
background and surrounding grasses.  I should be able to
finish it up tomorrow.

I am doing a lot of framing at the shop for people, too.  I have
several more to do by Christmas.  But I think I will get
it all done.  Ho, Ho, Ho!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

More Boots

I have made a little headway on this drawing of the
boots.  It is Prismacolor pencil on Stonehenge paper.
I am using some of the Gamsol to loosen up
the pencil and help blend it.  The blue leather on the
shoe part of the boot has been very challenging....as well as
the stitching.  But it is shaping up, and I will have
it ready for the customer before Christmas.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

I sold some of the tote bags online and I am
shipping them to the customer.  Remember it is
free shipping during December!  So email me
or call the gallery, and order yours today.

A Visit from the Museum

I had some great visitors at the gallery today.  My good friend and travel
buddy and his wife (Mr. Bob Carroll and Dolly) brought the new
curator from the Alexandria Museum of Art to visit today.

Her name is Alyssa Fridgen.  She is originally from Minnesota, but has
lived in New York Ciry for several years.  She is excited about being in
central Louisiana, and meeting artists in the area.  We had a nice
time visiting, and they all enjoyed lunch in the cafe.
It would be great to be included in some kind of event at the museum
in the near future!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Joy comes in the Morning

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;of whom shall I be afraid?"
Psalm 27:1

Sunrise this Sunday morning...time to be in awe of God's beauty and
faithfulness.  A time to worship and reflect...a time to pray and
be grateful.  I hope you have had a wonderful day of rest and
reflection as well.  To God be the glory....

sheltongail@hotmail.com

It's All in the Bag

They're here!  The cupcake bags are now is stock, just in time for
Christmas gifts.  They are $25.00 and can be filled with baking
goodies, or real cupcakes!  The bags are burlap with brown
trim and handles.

This is the poppy bag and notepads

Teacup Bag

Seashell bag...ready to fill with beach towels, a bottle of wine? and
a good book!


All four of my bag designs are now in.  I am in the process of setting
up a new website for my wholesale side of the business.  I have a booth
space reserved in Dallas for the wholesale gift market in January 2013.
I hope these are well received, and that I sell lots of them!  In the
meantime, you can get one locally at the Pea Patch Gallery, or I can
ship them to you, wherever you are.  In December, I am offering free
shipping, so if you are interested, please let me know.

sheltongail@hotmail.com
 

Let it Snow!

Just a little Christmas craft fun....this is my class this past Wednesday.
We made snowmen out of paint stirrer sticks.  They painted them
white and the hat black.  We did the little face and tied
a ribbon scarf around his skinny neck!
"Let it snow, let it snow...!"

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A Horse of a Different Color

I get asked to do all kinds of things at Christmastime...like
"girly up" this rocking horse...

I had to sand the finish off before I painted it.  Then I
added the pink details.  I used some wood stain to touch up the
sanded areas, and then I sealed it all.  The customer will
be able to pick it up this weekend.  I think it is for their grandaughter,
Lilly!

sheltongail@hotmail.com