Looky Looky. More canvases!

Well, well, well. What do we have here?! I see glitter. I see polka dots. I see fun little Christmas trees! And I see NO counter space! Sooooo....
We had to mail a bunch of these suckers out today!
Most of these are the little ones that are going to people who took me up on the five or more deal for teachers' gifts, etc.
This one flew away home about a week ago to Minden, LA.
I usually don't do the names on the cross, but I just had a wild hair up my butt, I suppose.
And THIS is what the rest of my kitchen presently looks like. My husband is about to kill me DEAD!
There.... Looks a little better dimmed. You know, mood lighting!
Along with the Johnsons and Osbons (did I mention I knew Kayla?!), the Merritts are also getting a big Christmas surprise.
That is unless the Merritts read MoJoy! Then, not much of a surprise at all!
It is always fun to work in some color in a "neutral" palette. I typically choose lime green, red, or turquoise.

This one hit the highway today with special orders of "I Believe"...

Like the little glitter touch?! I was a bit glittericious when I was painting this past week.
And most request a green background with the ornament. In this case, she requested a red background. Again, feeling a little froggy, I added some new kind of texture.
If you look closely, you can see where I added some chipboard under the texture medium and paint. I can't believe how different these things look in real life and in pictures. I think they lose a lot in 2D!
Hey Marque. Oh lawdy be. I just looked back and saw old emails and saw where you wanted "tomato red" as an "accent color"!! Wellllll... I think we have more than an "accent" here.
But look BEYOND my mistake! And I think your grandmother will love it. I have SIX of the circles outlined in black, representing her SIX great grands! and...
I made Jacoby's circle in glitter to represent his need to FEEL his circle since he is visually impaired.
Hope you like it. I always like getting the "story" behind the canvas so I can better understand the person I am painting and WHY I am painting it.
As for you, Shari....I FINALLY got yours done too!
Shari's 40 year old sister, Lyn, passed away at too young of an age. She sounds like a free spirit and was a musician and song writer. She wrote a song with the title "I Once Knew a Butterfly. She was Free."
I love that. I think it is so appropriate for a memorial canvas! And look... I added "Lyn" in the wing.
I certainly hope it was worth the wait!
And can you EVEN believe this?... TWO people who have ordered "Mann" canvases with Texas Stars?! Seems too crazy to be true!
Tracey, here ya go. I hope the other Mann family enjoys this!
These are for Ally! Ally, who just got the call about a baby girl. As in a baby girl to ADOPT!! WOoo Hooo. I loves me some adoption!
Ally, I did your snowman and made it all swirly like.
and then, the Santa was as you described... plain little Santa with no words. Pretty cute! Love it.
Ok, and now for Anne. I really, really liked doing this one too! Anne's sister lost three babies The babies were 23-24 weeks old gestation age, and were all born. But soon thereafter all passed away.
I guess you can tell, there were two little girls and a little boy! I have an affinity to this story, because, well... I bet I have never even told this little part of my story, but... Todd and I had IVF also. Twice! ANd both times, we had three little zygotes growing, and we even had teensy pictures of them when they were only 16 cells big! In IVF, every day they are alive in you is a big day! I was implanted, then the sperm/egg (2 cell), became 4 cells, then became 8 cells, then 16. We never knew really why they couldn't grow. They just couldn't.
So these three little babies flew away to Heaven together.
Maybe they met my little babies there!

And this one was a canvas I did waaaaaay back when, when I first started painting!
It was done for Chloe! Chloe earned her little angel wings, and this is a gift for a special "aunt".
It was originally done in purple. But as has happened on a couple of occasions, it was el-lost-o!?! WHo knows where? When I was recontacted by Christy, she decided it was meant to be because she really wanted it in a neutral color anyway. Sooooo.....
Here you have it!
Oh, and Anne. This one is going to live with you too.
I had it inspected by Inspector #10.
I think she approved!

And if it is a little sticky, sorry!
Janette bought SIX 16x20 and two necklaces that went out a few weeks back.
She also wanted one for herself that had her family name on it.
For some reason, I have trouble getting fired up to do the 24x36. I don't know why. Once I start them, I love doing them! But I suppose that big scary canvas is just intimidating!
Carri, maybe that is why you are still waiting, huh?! I actually pulled them out to start. Contact me please. I have some questions about the words you want. Did you want a cross on each?! ANd making sure... horizontal or vertical?!
I thought I could convince Todd the Bod to pose for me to show you how big these canvases are. THIS is what I got!
Amy T. I am also FINALLY getting around to yours! I did three "neutral" crosses for you.
Look at the Inspector in the background.
Your small ones are a little similar which is really a rarity. I guess it is because I was painting them all at once, so my palette had the same colors on it. I just changed the tones on each one.
One also has a little more green on it.
I hope you are happy with them.
Todd the Bod is taking over my "shipping department". All complaints should go to him!
I needed to get some of these OUT of my kitchen! I feel like Kacy Acree! NO kitchen space!
Amy... LOOKY! I had to repaint the Teeples from the TEMPLES that I had on there last time. I didn't know if I would be able to pull it off, but I think it looks just fab!
Ever wonder how I do it?!
Well, I just grab that sucker and get after it! Meagan, this is me working on yours!
I got the first layer of the two BIG ones done last night. I use a modeling paste to create the texture. So many of you have asked. And now you know. I try just about all of them that I find at Hobby Lobby. .. the sandy kind, the glossy kind, the pebbley kind. I just try them! This one is just modeling paste.
I went to a fundraiser last night for TEAMJAKE in Homer, LA. While there, I sat with Suzy who said, "I wonder when I see your painting if you are just in there free painting them all." Well, yes. Yes, I am. ANd that is why I asked TOdd to take a few pics of the process. I just START!
No pencil lines. No particular plan per se. Just freely applying the stuff! And then, similarly the paint!

Cindy. I think the Believe with a cherry worked into it turned out pretty cool!
I really love how neutral the colors stayed, yet the red cherry blends in just fine!
There is enough red across the canvas to make it all do just right.

This is your other "neutral Believe". Looks a little like the other, but has some corners on there and a bigger word.
Also, I think, a wee bit browner.

And finally, your request that I do this verse on "love" so that she can hang it with black and white photos... hmmmm....
I tried. In fact, I really do think it looks like a black and white photo.
I put a black border around the frame to make it go with black frames around black and white photos! I still owe you a zebra striped canvas with some hairdresser flair!

I think these are going to make fun little Christmas presents. Definitely personal! Susan, I almost have you covered! What? Like 10 or so?! I am so on it!

Emily, Kaitlyn, Krista, and Patsy, I have started yours too!

Sheridan, I loved your story and can't wait to paint yours from a good place of inspiration.

Sarah, I started your elf and will get Hallee Grace's going SOON!

ANd Tricia, you KNOW I am going to have fun with the Christmas Story's infamous lamp!

I have a big, huge zebra print with coral that I cannot for the life of me remember the name to look it up in my past emails. It is for the teenage daughter's new room. If you are reading, contact me!

Almost caught up! So, can only take Christmas orders for about another week or so. So, if you are interested, better let me know. mgroves11@comcast.net

Thanks for your support, peeps.

Mo