Head Case

Made a little progress on the hair and headband...more to come!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

This and That

Our jewel-toned Christmas tree in the gallery...ready for
Open House

My poppy design bags on display

The teacup bag with the trivets

This is our "Junk-a-Doodle" corner up in the gallery
There's the old bike I bought up in Arkansas, and some of our
chalkboard pieces. 

There are lots of goodies up here...a little of this...a little of that. 

Here are a couple of shots of the shop as we continue to get it ready for the holidays.
We have the tree finished, and the ornaments are really beautiful.  My bags are on
display, along with some other related items.  And then there is our junk corner,
filled with lots of goodies.
We are looking forward to next Thursday, and hope to see you then!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Trees, Toddlers and Toes

Woke up to another beautiful fall morning....some fog and some sunlight make a
great combination.  Can you see the little spider webs in the wet grass?

Still looking for some fall color...here are some sumac leaves turning red

More sun and fog and trees.  I never get tired of spending time
along this creek early in the morning (when I get up early in the
morning?!)

I did do a little art today.  I have this portrait to do for someone for Christmas.  This is the
second one I have done for this customer.  The drawing is large, 16 x 20 before the
mat.  This is the hardest phase...getting it all down in the right proportion, etc.  I think I have
a good start, so the rest should be easier...hopefully?!



And then this is the last "painting project" of the day...just
resting on the couch, waiting for them to dry!

We are still working hard on getting ready for Open House. 
Tomorrow, Nov 2, is a First Friday and we are giving
away a $50 Gift Certificate.  Come by the shop and
you can register to win!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Happy Halloween!

All the ghouls and goblins at Pharmacy Services...scary!!

These are all of my employees today..Happy Halloween!
I am a "fork in the road"

This is a dessert we served today in the cafe...a chocolate chip cookie
ice cream sandwich...yum

Cari and Crystal helping do the downtown trick or treating! (Minnie
Mouse and a Nerd)

Two of my favorite trick or treaters...Taylor Swift and Buzz Lightyear..woohoo!

    We had fun with all the Halloween activities today. 

They all dressed up at my husband's store today, and we did also. 

There was a costume contest this evening, downtown trick or

treating, and carnivals at the churches. 

 

Our heart goes out to those affected by the storm and not able

to celebrate today.  Some of us here in Louisiana know all too

well the destruction that comes with these storms. 

 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Rooming Options

Savannah and I working on her painting for her room.

Savannah and her smile

Jessica's finished piece!

Savannah's finished piece

I have been out of pocket, out in Dallas, picking up some merchandise for
 the shop.  While there, I had a great time helping my two great nieces
do a work of art for their rooms.  Savannah is the young one, and we
 did a combination piece for her.  We bought the cross already finished,
and the pink frame.  So we painted the canvas to match.  Savannah was a
lot of help!  I did paint the dots all by myself, and then we put it all together.
Jessica wanted a really contemporary piece for her "tween" room.  The
canvases are 20 x 20, and we lined them up and painted the strokes all the
way across.  Then we had fun splattering, etc.  The large orange metal
flower is mounted on the center canvas, and the whole thing is going over
her bed.  
fun, fun

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Pumpkins, Punch, and Presents

We hosted a bridal shower in the cafe today.  The hostesses did
 an amazing job decorating.  They used a black, white, silver,
and orange color scheme with lots of pumpkins (some spray painted
 silver or black)  The food was beautiful (and tasty!), and the
bride received some really nice things. Congrats to the couple,
and best wishes for a happy life!

For info on showers and parties at the Pea Patch:
email me or call 318-628-3560

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Printed Paintings

I have a friend who paints the cutest things!  She sells painted buckets,
boxes, and all kinds of things.  I did some printing for her this week of
these two designs.  She will collage them onto a painted board that
will hang with ribbon, and then she will personalize them.  Too
cute!  Good luck with them Cyndi...I hope you sell lots!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Pastel Pointers

Add caption

My children's art class explored a little pastel drawing this
week.  It is fairly easy, and most of the students usually
enjoy the bright colors.  But I had a few that didn't like
their fingers getting dirty?!  They did a little sunset
landscape scene.  They did a good job, dirty fingers
and all.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Colored Pencil Duo

Had a couple of commission pieces to finish up tonight...they are
both for the same client.  She is giving the cow drawing as a
gift to someone (I don't know why..I didn't ask), and I
decorated the invitation that will be a wedding gift for the
bride and groom.  I will frame it as well.
I have a few more things to draw and paint for people for
Christmas gifts.  I hope to get them done quickly, so
I can concentrate on getting my own Christmas gifts taken
care of!

sheltongail@hotmail.com
For info on Decorated Wedding Invitations
email me or call the gallery

Getting Ready for "Shop till you Drop"

Some of our fall merchandise

Adding in a few Christmas items...along with red things

This beautiful one piece nativity is out and ready for a home!

Some tall, bronze angels, and some fleur de lis canisters

We are still putting out a few new things for
Christmas Open House.  (I am sure you are tired of me
mentioning it!) But it is all we are doing right now until
then.  It takes us that long to get the shop all ready (it is a
huge job!)  And I do not want to wait till the last minute. 

I am working on a few commission pieces at home, but nothing
worth posting yet....just the outlines.  I have several things I have
to get done for people before Christmas, and time is running out!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

All the Best-Christmas T-Shirt 2012

I was excited to receive the proof for the Christmas shirt
for this year. I think it looks really good on the black
shirt.  I was hesitant to use black...didn't seem like a
"Christmassy" color.  But I think it turned out nice.  We will have
them in time for the Open House, and we will start selling
them that day at 5 pm. 

Downtown Christmas Open House  Nov 8th  5-9
Winnfield, LA 

sheltongail@hotmail.com
Christmas Shirts  $30 each

Windows for the Soul

I have been working on some more windows.  I have picked up quite a few at
flea markets and junk shops in the last month.  First, I have to wash them,
scrubbing off grime and dirt, and clean the glass.  Then I measure them,
and decide what design will be the best for the size and layout.

This window had two sections that were long and horizontal.  I decided to put the
cupcakes along the top section, and add a chalkboard in the bottom section.  Here
are the cupcakes as they are drying...there is Modge Podge painted under and over
them to seal them onto the glass.

I picked up this piece of old blue iron work a long time ago, and I have been
waiting to use it.  It fit really well on the top of this window, so I screwed it onto
the top edge. 

The blue sunflowers looked great and picked up the blue piece of iron.  So, I added the
flowers across the top, and then there will be a chalkboard across the bottom.

I finished this cupcake one.  I put the chalkboard all the way behind the
glass.  The window needed some extra bracing, and that will provide some
strength for the piece.

Here is a seashell one that I finished also.  I really like the
format of these kind of windows.  I like the
square shape of each section.  I bought several of
these up in Arkansas.

And here is a poppy one too!


I have been having fun putting these old windows together with
my artwork.  I have all the mess out on my patio (and believe me,
it makes a mess).  I break some of the glass out of some of the
windows.(broken glass)  I use a jigsaw to cut the masonite for the
chalkboards (lots of sawdust).  The modge podge drips on the
concrete..yuk.  Anyway, my husband is very patient and understanding.
It also helps that he leaves in the dark, and gets home in the
dark!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Bee Happy

I thought this would be a good image for today. 
I have been guilty of wishing my life away at times,
waiting for circumstances or timing to be just right.  We all tend to
believe that the grass is always greener somewhere else,
and that we can be happy only when everything is perfect. 
We waste precious time under-appreciating
(is that a word?!) our lives as they are.  I love the words written here:

The time to be happy is now
The place to be happy is here

I saw this somewhere years ago in my life, when I needed
to see it, and it really spoke to me.  I thought it would look
good with this "happy" sunflower, and
the contented bees.  I hope on this God's day, you can
appreciate your own life, and embrace your circumstances,
and be grateful.  I will try too!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Art for Sale

"Rolling in the Deep" tiger print

"Glory Bee Graphics" on display up in the gallery


I am very proud of some of my recent artwork, now for sale in the
gallery.  We are getting ready for the downtown Open House coming
in November, but everything is for sale now also!  The tiger prints
would be great for any tiger fan in your family.  And the inspirational
photos make good gifts as well...or they can brighten a corner in
your own nook and cranny.  I also have the notecards of some of
the photos: the Grace one with the white flowers; the strength one
with the trees; the blue flower one (be not afraid) and the song
sparrow photo.  We have 5 notes packaged up with the envelopes, and
they make great stocking stuffers. 

I was pleased to have the new Huey P. Long Vo-Tech College here in Winnfield
use some of my Louisiana swamp photos to decorate their banquet hall for
their recent function.  And the word is they may want to own them
permanently!  woohoo...hope so

sheltongail@hotmail.com
Downtown Christmas Open House  November 8th
5-9 pm  Winnfield, LA  71483

There will be a drawing for a sleigh full of goodies from
each shop participating.  It will be on display at
Bank of Winnfield sometime next week.  You may register
the night of the open house.  We will draw a winner that
night at the conclusion of the evening...good luck!  The more
shops you visit, the more you can register.

Tie Dyed Birthday

Emily hard at work on her pumpkin t-shirt

"Tie Dyed" pumpkin t-shirt

Cyndi adding the finishing touches

We had another "Art Birthday Party" today in the cafe.  It was
a girl's party for an 8 year old, and they made tie dyed t-shirts with
cute pumpkins on them.  Mrs Cyndi Beaubouef was the art teacher today,
and this was the cutest idea.  They used small plastic cups and rubber
bands to section off 3 round spots on the front of the shirt.  Then they used
sharpie markers to color in the circle.  Then, Cyndi used some alcohol on
the marker, and it made the color blur and appear "tie dyed".  Then
she added the black lines and the cute faces.  The girls LOVED them,
and it was a real hit.  Happy Birthday Annie...I am glad you had a good
time.

For info on Art Parties...email me or call the gallery:
318-628-3560