Hands and Hearts

Hand knit scarves



Hand made jewelry

And a cute hand painted Christmas sign

We had a great time at the craft sale today, our Merry Market.  There
were lots of hand made items,   We had a wonderful crowd...some locals
and some from out of town.  I think a lot of them had never been in
the shop before.  We did serve a light lunch, and several enjoyed lunch
while they did some shopping.  It was a fun time for all!

The vendors are interested in perhaps doing it again in the spring.
So, stay tuned...there may be a Very Merry Market Easter Edition.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Crafty Market

I finished this wreath today.  I added the handpainted canvas, and the
chevron ribbon bow.

And this is a new collection that I got in today.  Cute message blocks
and pillows, little birds, ornaments, etc. 

This wreath has a cute vintage star inside, and lots of
burlap ribbon.

Neat "family" frame

And here is a really cute burlap and Santa wreath.

We are still busy getting ready for the Open House.
But tomorrow!! There will be a craft sale at the
Pea Patch, from 10-3.  Cyndi Beaubouef, Karla
Davidson, and several others will have lots of
their cute crafts up for grabs!  There will be
jewelry, wall decorations, ornaments, etc.
You can go to Crayon Princess on Facebook,
and see some of Cyndi's adorable creations.
So, hope to see you on Saturday, the 9th for
the craft sale, and on November 14th for th e
Open House.  Whew...!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

 

Pillow Talk Times Two

Here's a couple of more pillows...one with "joy", and the other
has a layered poinsettia, with buttons and paint.

These will be for sale at the Open House, on Thursday
the 14th, from 5-9 pm.

Pillow Talk

I had a chance to get my paints and sewing machine out tonight.
I put together these two pillows.  They are made of burlap,
fabric, and paint, along with some rickrack. 

They would be really cute on a bench, chair, or sofa during the
holiday season.  Or they would be a great gift!
Come by the gallery and check them out.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Ready for T-Shirts!

Yea, picked up these t-shirts today!  They are short sleeved,
and this color green.  They are going to be $20 each.

If you would really rather have a long sleeved shirt, I will
be taking orders for them. They will be $30, and will have to
be pre-paid.  I will order them after the Open House, and
they will be ready before December.  Just let me know
by email or phone. 
These will go on sale on Thursday November 14th!

sheltongail@hotmail.com
318-628-3560
cell  225-229-3325

Autumn Light

There is something so different about the light in the fall.
I think I have heard that from other photographers.
I just really notice it more and more each day.  It has a
golden quality, and an intensity, and the angle is sharper.
It makes for some interesting photos. 
These are just some decorative grasses that grow in the front
yard...but in this autumn light, they become diamonds glistening
on their stalks.

And that is how God's light transforms us as well.  There is
something different about it...it can change our ordinary,
everyday lives into something beautiful...we can develop
golden qualities of kindness, patience, faith, and
goodness.  His light can shine through us, and
we can be light to others. 
May we all try to light the world around us this week.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Merchandising

 We have been working on getting all the
merchandise set up for the Open House.  This is our
"pink" section, with lots of cupcake items, tea cups, etc.
That's a cute little antique pink table, too.

Sale on Cupcake Bags: $12.50 each
Pink Table: $65.00
Moss Rose Demitasse Cup and Saucer: $8.50 each



And here are my burlap ornaments of the little tree
near the old red wagon.  Those are vintage Santas, too.
The wagon would be really cute on someone's porch,
fixed up with Christmas evergreens and ribbon.  Come by
and we can make it yours!

Burlap "circles of joy" ornaments: $6.50 each
Old Red Wagon: $45.00
Vintage Santas: $25 and $45



And here are some cute Christmas card holders...one with
a chevron bow, and the other one with a  country
Santa.  These would make a great gift too.

Christmas Memo Board: $25 each

It's just two weeks until the Open House.
We will be working every day on getting all the
new merchandise out.  Please make plans to attend.
It is always a great time in our little town.
Hope to see you there!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Boo!

Just a fun little project for the season.  My art students made
these in class yesterday...boo to you!
Happy Halloween!

Spread some Joy!

Hand painted gift tags...would be cute on the tree too!
I am still adding some red paint, and some
hanging ribbon.



And this is a 12 x 12 burlap canvas, painted with lots of joy!
It will also hang with red and tan checked ribbon.  It would
be a cute door piece, or gift for someone special!



And I call these "circles of joy"...cute ornaments that could be used on
a package, on the tree, on a wreath, etc.  I have been
hand stitching them, and then painting on the words.  I will probably do
some "peace" and "love" ones too. 

All of these will be on sale in the gallery starting on November
14th, the evening of our downtown Christmas Open House.  Be sure
and mark your calendar, and come and join us...for lots of
JOY!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Birthday Bubbles

oooh, I love surprises.  I haven't posted this, and I finished it a couple of
months ago.  It is a drawing of Molly, one of my good friend's little
girls.  She had wanted me to do a portrait, but had given me several
photos, and no deadline.  I knew her birthday was today, and I had
talked to her husband, and this was her surprise gift!  What fun!
She told me that Molly said I should have let her color it with
her crayons?!  Too cute.  Happy Birthday!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Gifts for the Season

More Christmas crafts:  tall burlap trees with
chevron ribbon and wooden hearts.  And
candy jars tagged with hand painted
gift tags....

These would make great gifts for teachers, kid's friends, secret sis,
neighbors, friends and family!  There are three different sizes of
jars, and they can be filled with peppermint, m and m's,  kisses,
etc.  Let me know how many I can make for you and yours this
Christmas!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Crafting Time



I have had the sewing machine, glue gun, paint brushes, etc
out...crafting some Christmas goodies for the
upcoming Open House.



I have had lots of "joy", because my daughter has been
home, helping me put together some things.
She is quite crafty herself!

These are hand painted gift tags.  I am also making some
burlap ornaments, pillows, banners, and signs.
I hope to get a whole collection done by the 14th! 
Make plans to come in and check them out.

Christmas Open House  Thursday Nov 14  5-9 pm
Pea Patch Gallery  Downtown Winnfield

sheltongail@hgotmail.com

"Journey to China" Art Show

I have been printing some of my China photographs to include
in the Chinese art show at the gallery.  These are some of my
favorites. 

The red door was in Beijing at the Empress' garden complex.  I like
the design of the window screens, and the complimentary color scheme
of red and green.  I framed this today.

The dragon boat was one that I took a photo of from

the shore as it came in.  I loved the lone man sitting in the

front.  Makes a nice composition.  I used a couple of filters

on it, and I will frame this one also.

 

The dancer in yellow is a cropped portion of a larger

photo of the whole stage.  This is the show we saw in Xian,

and where I took the pic that I drew of the dancer in the

green satin dress.  This would have been a super hard drawing,

so it makes a better photo!

 

The goldfish were in a tank at the pearl factory.  It was

neat to be eye to eye with them.

 

The old men playing majong were in the park on the way to

the Temple of Heaven.  They were so intense, and didn't

even know I was there.  I printed it in black and white for a

timeless look.

 

The tea ceremony took place without me.  I took this before it

started, and then I left!  It was our last chance to shop before we

left, and I took it!  So, this is all I know about the tea ceremony...

it looks great in the light of the room.

 

And the Great Wall.  I took two cameras that day; one with my

regular zoom lens, and the other with my wide angle lens.

This was taken with the wide lens.  It just gives a more dramatic

view, and I was practically lying down to get the shot.  That is

a shadow of my head in the left hand corner!

 

These bring back special memories for me of the trip,

and I hope you enjoy the stories behind them. 

 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

 

Journey to China

Works by Gail H. Shelton

Opening: November 14th   5-9

Pea Patch Gallery   Winnfield, LA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T-Shirt Time

It's time to design the Christmas t-shirt.  I have been
playing around with this tonight.  I wrote the
verse, and I think I will use a chevron tree in
the background. 



This is a practice one.  I think I will just use one font...I thought
it might be cute with several different kinds.  But now that I look
at it, I think just one will do.  I am going to put a yellow star
on top of the tree, and the letters will probably be red, black,
yellow.  I may put it on a Kelly green shirt, or maybe a light green 
one.  I am also thinking about just doing short sleeved ones this year
instead of long sleeved.  They are getting so expensive to do, and I think
the short sleeved ones will be cheaper.  If any of you have any suggestions,
please feel free to comment. 

Christmas Open House is November 14th from 5-9.  Hopefully the
shirts will be ready by then! 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Finished Hat

I think I am finished with this drawing of one of our guides in China.
We took a trip on a long tail boat, and this man went with us.  He
was in the front of the boat, and modeled the old traditional style hat that the
fishermen would wear.  He let some of the tourists try on the hat as well,
and we all had a good laugh.  I sketched him in my journal, and asked him
to sign the page.  He was very touched seeing my sketch and signing his name.
I knew I wanted to do a finished drawing of him when I got home.
So, here he is! 
 
sheltongail@hotmail.com



"China Hat"
original colored pencil drawing

$800.00 unframed

$1000 framed

Eye of the Tiger

Had another great time in "Death Valley", watching the LSU Tigers
defeat the Florida Gators!  Here are some of my favorite
pics from the day!

 

Slow and Steady

Still working on this...making a little progress.  The skin is
not just one color!  I have to layer some gold, pink, tan, etc....
and try to blend them together.  I work on the hat a little at a
time...it is nerve-wracking!  Hopefully, it will all come
together.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

"Headway"

Making a little "headway" on this drawing! 
That hat is a challenge...it was
made out of some kind of reeds, or dried grasses. 
I can't get it to look
like it is coming out toward us here in the front. 
I will keep at it..when I have a minute to draw!

A Working Studio

Busy day at the studio today.  My three little art students worked on
some little cups.  The paper insert comes out, and you can
draw a design on it, and then put it back inside the cup. 
Kate did a dance theme, Samuel did some baby ducks,
and Kate W. did a beach theme.  Cheers!

And I finished up a wooden tree that is going to be used as a
baby shower decoration on Saturday.  There are still some leaves to be
put on.  I cut it out of Masonite with a jigsaw, and then sanded the
edges.  I spray painted it with some brown paint.  And
then mounted it inside the pretty green pot.  I added the
burlap and some tulle, and tahdah! there it is!

sheltongail@hotmail.com