December 10th brought a MUCH needed vacation for my wonderful hubby and I.. We were off to Disney World for 8 full days with NO kids!! Boy was it a real treat but I will say that painting was still very much so on my mind as Christmas was rapidly approaching!! I even took a pendant to work on in the plane and in the room!!  I made it through Christmas with all the orders. Finishing as many as I could. In January I started fostering rescue dogs taking in up to 6 at a time!!Yes you read that right.. 6!!  Things did not go as planned so I fostered and found homes for all the dogs that arrived from California all on my own. Boy was that a LOT of work. Between home checks, Meet and greets, taking care of the many different dogs, my art took the back seat. Now things have finally slowed down and I am taking a break from fostering for a while so I can get things back on track.. So I truly am sorry for the extended waits but the lives saved I think were a good trade for a little longer wait for paintings :)

We are now into MAY.. Wow I really have slacked on the blogging. I am on a new mission of getting myself healthy so I can last longer painting and so I can feel good about myself. So far so good!! Only been really going full steam for just over 30 days. Found a wonderful program to help me and so far I have lost over 11 lbs and over 28 inches!!  I am finally starting to really see the difference and am loving my new healthy living program.. I am much more energized these days and feeling AWESOME.. Besides these new allergies that just kicked in HIGH gear!!!  

When it comes to painting.. I have created many new paintings that I truly enjoyed painting. My work is getting tighter and more detailed as I really do take each painting seriously and make sure that it is my very best going out. My goal with each painting is it for it to be better than my last. Pendants are VERY popular right now.. More popular than my ornaments which is a nice little break and so rewarding when I complete the tiny little detailed painting. I am really wanting to pursue the miniature art and hope to one day get busy in the miniature art show scene.. Though I find it challenging to get everything organized and ready and work in a painting that is not in the books since so many are waiting so patiently for their paintings. One day I will get serious with the contest thing.. Right now I just dream about it. LOL I am a big dreamer.. One day I hope my dreams will come true. For now.. I paint. I and I put my heart and my all into each tiny hair or eye sparkle I paint.  On to the next painting!! CHEERS!

Keeping up with demand has been a fun challenge. More orders are coming in than I can finish. But that's ok! It sure keeps me on my toes and keeps me more focused on the task at hand. I am having such a blast painting that it certainly does not feel like a job. Just wish there was more time in a day for me to paint!! I have, however, started having a bit of trouble with my tennis elbow and carpel tunnel coming back.. It's been a good 2 years since I have been bothered with that, but all these tiny paintings where I have to have the painting close to me to see it is aggravating it for sure! I have started wearing my brace to bed and when I am not painting in hopes that will help. I need to look into exercises I can do as well. Had to go back in to see my knee surgeon to see what else we can do for my right knee. It has been nothing but trouble and frankly it's getting rather old! I am going in on Aug. 12th for my 5th knee surgery (3rd on the right knee). Fingers crossed he finds out what is going on in there! Should be a quick recovery though. This time it is just a minor arthroscopic search and screw removal. Need to get it done now so I am ready for Disney World come December!! 

This month has been an eye opener for me. I have watched as two different artist spoil their business by looking only at the $$ aspect of things. Doing whatever it takes to make money as an artist and to get that they throw all morals and ethics out the window. I have always been one that believes in what goes around, comes around and certainly that is happening in both cases. All I can say is that if you believe in your business, run it the right way. Get business because it comes to you and because people respect what you do. Once you throw that away you have nothing left to stand on but a tainted name in the art world which is not a positive thing! So many artists out there, you will be passed by and a full recovery will very rarely be made. I have always strove to have quality products no matter what it is I am doing. I used to make gourmet dog treats, handmade collars and leashes.. Always using only the BEST supplies I can find. Certainly there is no difference with my art. I will spend countless hours creating a detailed special painting no matter how much I am making from it. Donated painting, paid painting. It is all the same to me. Each has someone's special companion that needs to have the same amount of love and detail put into the painting. My love for detail and having the pet come to life in my paintings will always be what drives my art. You can be certain that no matter what, I will put 100% of myself into EVERY painting and I will never let the $$ side of thing take over my morals or ethics. 

Cruising right along, I hope to get at least a small painting done almost every day this month (besides surgery day and probably the day or two after of course). I need to get peoples Christmas orders done and shipped before vacation so I am on a mission to paint until I drop :) Can't let people down!! Well I think that is enough from me for today. Time to get to painting! 

I want to say a huge thank you to those of you that have been supporting me and my artwork whether it be to following me on Facebook, ordering a painting, sharing my work with friends. I would not be here with out all of the support from each and every one of you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  

Orders seem to still be pouring in so I think an increas in my prices will be happening before long. Being new to the art world, I find it very difficult to price my paintings but am finding myself getting more and more detailed with each painting which in turn has increased the amount of time on each piece drastically. My hope is that people see the amount of love and attention to detail goes into each and EVERY painting I create. No matter how long they take me I make sure I bring the painting to life. Hopefully I will have the whole pricing dilemma all figured out soon.. Feel free to send comments or questions regarding this issue or any other questions or comments you may have :) Thanks so much!

I have placed an order for a Kindle cover that I will be personalizing for my husband. If all works out as planned they will be another item offered to clients. I have also ordered a iPhone cover to try to personalize that as well. I will let you all know how that works out for me. I have found a couple of artisans that will be creating custom urn boxes for me to start offering to clients that need that special item memorial for their beloved pet(s). More items I will be offering are aprons, wood plaques, key or leash holders, vases, portraits on granite, new ornaments in metal, slate and wood, treat jars, purses and wallets, mailboxes, wind chimes and MUCH more! Have something you would like to see painted?? Just send me a message and we will see what we can do! 

So back to what I have been up to.. Well since opening my Facebook fan page my orders have sky rocketed!!  I am having to stop taking orders soon so that way I can make sure everyone gets their orders in time and in the best detail I can provide! I am currently at about 80 orders and that number grows daily!! These are orders for full portraits as well as rocks, slates and MANY ornaments!! I have a portrait going to a celebrity even!! More details on that later! 

I have found away to make my clear ornaments shimmer, sparkle and look completely AWESOME!!  So now my ornaments can be ordered in almost any color!! And boy are they stunning!! 

It seems as though I may be going full time artist way sooner than I had originally thought.. If orders keep rolling in like they have been I will get to fulfill my dream of being a full time artist! I truly love sharing my art and passion with so many people. I have heard so many touching stories recently of beautiful pets that have touched ones heart and left the earth far to early. It is such an honor to be able to create a memorial piece for them to have and cherish forever. I get so many praises from my clients after they have received the paintings. It sure seems to ease some of their pain. Makes doing this even more special!!

So I thank you all for all your wonderful orders! I can't wait to get to each one.. As one gets finished another one is just starting.. A whole new challenge.. A whole new special memory. Thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart!!

These tiny little canvases with easels have gotten to be quite popular already. I have one more in the works and receive many orders for more just yesterday. These tiny little creations are WONDERFUL to have on your desk at work.. In fact each person that has ordered one so far has stated that is where they are putting them :-) This one in particular was a gift for my clients boss.. I was told she LOVED it!!