Basking in Victory

 Mike the Tiger and his fans

 A little swim and a little sip

I hope some of you got to watch the

LSU Tigers beat Alabama last night.

I got a treat today...as I passed through

Baton Rouge on the way to the

swamp to take more pictures, I

found Mike awake and performing inside

his luxury condo.  He was obviously

basking in the victory, and his adoring

fans were on hand to witness it. 

Geaux Tigers!!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Pecan Festival Weekend

 the bayou right outside of Colfax

 Greek food at a central Louisiana festival?  hum....

and I did partake of a chocolate

dipped cheesecake...yum

I know some of you must think I am never

still...I'm not.  I got up and drove around the

pasture early this morning taking those misty

photos; I went to the shop and taught 13 little

girls for the party; I decorated the shop all day

for Christmas and waited on customers; then

I drove down to Colfax to the Louisiana Pecan

Festival where they are selling my posters this

weekend!  And I took those lovely photos of

the bayou on my way home....all in a day's

work!  Boy, I am glad we get an extra hour

tonight...

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Birthday Party Fun

We host a lot of different events at the cafe:

showers, birthday parties, receptions, banquets.

This morning we were host to an "Art" Birthday

Party.   Haley, the birthday girl, told her mother

she wanted an "art party", so she got in touch with

me.  The 13 little girls did a collage art project over

in the studio, then had cupcakes and punch before

opening presents. 

You can call the gallery if you would like us to host

an event for you.  318-628-3560

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Another Misty Morning

These are probably the last of the misty morning

shots...the time changes tonight!  Don't know if I

will make it up early enough to see the sunrise

for awhile.

Thanks for all the compliments about the Louisiana

Life article.  I have yet to see the printed version! 

I have heard that the photos look really good.  I

can't wait to see it.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A BIG Canvas

As we continue preparing for Open House, I

thought it would be a great idea to paint some

more specific advertising words on the side of

our large building.  This side faces the busy

highway, and can be seen from far away.

This is Mr. Rockett, the art teacher at the

middle school and a former student of mine!

When you don't have time to do everything

you want to do, delegate! So I did.  His students

helped make the stencils for the words, and

now he is helping paint.  I made a contribution

to the school art department, and everyone is

happy!  Now we just have to fill up all that

space?!

Louisiana Life Article

Several months ago I mentioned that I had been interviewed

by one of the art editors at Louisiana Life magazine.  I was

delighted to hear yesterday that the article is in the November

issue.  I only have the online version, but the magazines should

be on the newstands this week.

We talked about my "Riddle Pics" at length, and he really

liked them, so here are a few more.  The first three people to

leave a comment with the correct answers, will receive

some "Riddle Pics" notecards and several postcards. 

Get busy!

Here's the link:

www.myneworleans.com/Louisiana-Life/November-December-2011/Pea-Patch-Gallery

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Morning Has Broken

I have really been enjoying these beautiful

fall mornings. Since I don't usually rise

very early (ha!), these late sunrises have

been wonderful. This morning was breathtaking..

the fall colors are warming up; the morning

fog was burning off, and the sunbeams were

dancing in the trees.

"Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of wonder, God of love."

Have a blessed day!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Welcome to my new followers! I am so

humbled to have you aboard. Stay tuned

for some giveaways soon!

Happy Halloween!

This is me with ghosts on my head, and that

is Crystal, one of my employees, having fun

handing out candy at our annual Trick or Treat

down Main Street! Oh, the things we do for

the community! Hope all your little ghouls and

goblins had a great time!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Sweet Home Louisiana

Here are some of the show pics...this is the "egret

wall"! I love the metal pelican sculpture (not mine...)

These are some of the black and white pieces

hung all together

And here are some of the collage pieces with some

metal accents.

And these all have a "kitchen" theme

The rest of of the gallery is decorated with

the "swampy" Christmas theme with

lots of burlap, greenery, spanish moss,

and cypress knees. We are just about done,

and will have time to spare before the opening

day! yea!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Sweet Home Louisiana Art Show

Opens November 10 5-9

During Downtown Christmas Open House

Something's Fishy

Thought I would try painting some fish on
some of these salvaged green boards...here's
a white perch. I am working on a largemouth
bass, but he needs some tweaking!

I am almost finished setting up and hanging
the Louisiana show. It is all coming together;
you always hope it will, but until you get out
the hammer, stepstool, and nails, you really
aren't sure! I will try to post some photos
tomorrow of the show as a whole.

sheltongail@hotmail.com
fish plank acrylic/wood $45.00

Start to Finish

Finished collage with some Royal Street

motifs....from New Orleans. It is the street

known for its' antique stores and quirky shops.

I mounted a small canvas between the old

beaded ceiling boards, and then painted the

canvas. I collaged all the papers and photos

onto the canvas and the beaded board.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Royal Street Collage 16 x 16

$65.00

Raw Materials/Finished Project

Just finished working on this Cafe Du Monde

sign. It is painted on an old drawer front,

complete with old green knobs. And there

are several more pieces of the old dresser,

drying after getting a good scrubbing. I plan

to do some more before November 10th.

The sign can be used to hold keys, etc in

your kitchen, entryway. Would be great in

a bathroom to hold hand towels...just a few

ideas.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Cafe Du Monde sign $50.00

Signs of the Times

Two more little Louisiana painted signs:

Fresh Crabs and Tabasco. These are painted

on wood salvaged from an old green dresser.

The dovetail section of the drawer is across

the top. I will attach a hanging wire and they

will be ready to go. Look for them up in the

gallery with all the Louisiana stuff!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Finishing Touches

Finally got around to painting the words on

this Community Coffee sign. I will distress it

a little more (looks pretty distressed already?!)

and then I will seal it. It is for sale, and will

be on display up at the gallery.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Community Coffee Sign

28 x 20 inches

Distressed Wood/Acrylic

$100.00

PreView

Just a glimpse into the work we have been

doing at the gallery, setting up for Open House....

here's a few metal pieces....

The tree is coming together...


and here are some great little twig
deer all dressed up for the holidays!

Downtown Christmas Open House
Winnfield, LA
November 10 5-9

Canvas Photos

I heard from my printer this week, and these

canvas photographs are ready. I will have to

go up to Monroe to pick them up. The top two

photos are about 30 x 40 inches. But the bottom

photo has been divided into three sections...a

triptych, and each piece will hang side by side,

completing the whole image. I can't wait to see

them...it is always fun to get to see them printed

so large. They are the last large pieces that will

be included in the upcoming Louisiana art show.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Sundown at Saline

I stopped by Saline Lake the other day right

about sundown, and took a few pictures of the

lake. I have been waiting for the cypress to

turn that beautiful rusty red color, and they

are not quite there yet. I will have to plan to

go out there in another week or so. In the

meantime, you can enjoy these sunset shots.

I am participating in the Mentor program

again this fall with a high school student

interested in photography. We are planning

to go somewhere tomorrow and take some

pictures. This might be a good destination

for her as well.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Community Coffee

I had put together these boards, and thought
I was going to paint a brown pelican on them.
But then I thought this coffee sign would be
better, so I am in the process. I have the
lettering to finish, and then I will add it to the
show.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Fall at the Arboretum

I saw an article in Southern Living magazine about

the fall displays at the Dallas Arboretum. I came to

Dallas this week to pick up some things for the shop.

Here are just a few pics of the many pumpkins on

display...

That's a hungry squirrel...hopefully he doesn't plan

to nibble on that big one!

Lily pads in one of the water features...peaceful





Part of the pumpkin village..too cool

I had never seen white pumpkins before...

here were lots of them!

There's a princess looking out of

the window

And this lovely visitor ignored all the

big round orange things, and went

for this orange and yellow petaled

thing!

The Dallas Arboretum is located on Garland

Road, north of the State Fairgrounds, and

south of Loop 635. If you are in Dallas in the

near future, be sure and come by and

check it out. Or make plans next fall to

come and wander among the fall bounty. It

will be worth the visit.

sheltongail@hotmail.com