2016 Business Resolutions

I can't say I was too sad to see 2015 go. I had started out in January like most people, excited about the prospects of a clean slate.  I wrote resolutions. Promised myself things would finally change. Well, change they certainly did, but not in the way I had intended them to. God had a different plan. Personally, my world was turned upside down. My life was significantly altered and all those "resolutions" I had penned in a small notebook at the beginning of the year, seemed far away, and almost childish.

But I'm glad to say, with Gods relentless help, I came through the other side and am now excited for the prospects of a year planned by God. That's the difference-it's how I approach it.

I know that God is in control and I'm going wherever he leads, BUT i also know it's important for me to take an active approach to my life as well, getting up and getting moving.  So, that's the direction I am headed in, onward & upward.  Just moving forward one step at a time and allowing God to direct my path.

That said, one of my steps forward is every Sunday i join my husband, (or soon to be husband on February 22, we are getting remarried after being divorced 14 years, lol, go figure, those are those "God has another plan" things I was talking about) in an "intentional work session". We go to Starbucks, grab a coffee (i get Hot chocolate) and we set up shop.  We work strictly on our businesses.  Coordinating schedules for the week, writing up estimates, writing this blog even.  Talk about dreams, goals and visions for what the plans are for the upcoming week, month, year and how we are moving forward business wise.  It started as a fluke but has now grown into a really rich time.  A time of focus and forward thinking.

So it is with that intension that I want to share the items I have done during the week.  If I have some creative ideas I want to share them.  As I keep moving forward with this, so does my business.  It puts things into perspective but also lets me see how far I have progressed.

Here we go.....

These are a couple items I finished this week:

I also painted and submitted two paintings that have since been approved and moved to our PaintNite library for purchase.  Magnificent Magnolia & Midnight Memories are the newest addition to my growing work in acrylics on canvas.

Come paint with me some night if you are in the Syracuse area! Go to Paintnite.com to find an event, use coupon code MARYM20 for $20 off and be prepared to relax and have fun!

I look forward to spending some time with you every week. Sharing some ideas I have percolating, projects I'd love feedback on and taking my business to the next level.  I am excited!

Please follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or here!

happy creating!

Mary

Grandma's Table: Stephanie's Remake

This is just a quick post on a recent redo I finally finished.  I forgot to take before pictures which KILLS me but I still wanted to share the end result with you.

We are moving into a new, larger studio, which has been so exciting and yet a tad bit overwhelming!  Who knew I had so much stuff.  Our house will finally be our home again and I can't wait.  We are moving into the Delavan Center in Downtown Syracuse.  

I have been taking a lot of pictures and can't wait to share the final reveal with my peeps!

In the mean time please come play with us on Pinterest or keep updated on Face Book!

Aymee & Lynette: A Love Story Remembered

Aymee & Lynette were each other's soul mates.  They met in the early summer of 2006 and felt an immediate connection. Although they faced adversity from outside forces, their union was the blessing they both had been searching for.  

On June 3, five years after they first met, the fun loving ladies were married.  Life was good.  They were inseparable and their union grew everyday.

Then tragedy hit. One day Lynette was riding her motorcycle, and the next day she was lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life.  Aymee was by her side every step of the way.  Despite severe complications Lynette was a fighter and showed signs of recovery.  The road would be long, but Aymee took her vows "in sickness and in health" very serious and would be by her wife's side, loving her through it all. 

Then, again without warning, Lynette was gone and Aymee was left to navigate life without her soul mate.

This past Christmas was the first holiday Aymee would be spending alone.  She reached out to family and friends and asked, if they felt moved, could they send small items that would help her memorialize Lynette.  That's when a mutual friend of ours reached out to me.  She really admired these two ladies and wanted to have me design a personalized gift for them.  After going back and forth on a variety of items, Marcia decided to have me create a memorial table for Aymee & Lynette.

Lynette's favorite colors were hot pink and neon green, so that would be the color pallet.  

Also, they would often say to each other, "Live everyday as if it's a gift.  That's why we call it a present." So this quote had to be incorporated as well.  

Lynette called her bride "sweet pea" and Amyee affectionately referred to Lynette as "babee girl". These would need to be represented too, but most of all she wanted butterflies.  

Aymee felt that butterflies symbolized freedom. 

"Therefor, we are free to love whomever we fall in love with." 

Butterflies would be the focal point.  

With all this beautiful inspiration I started to paint.  As I reflected on the memorial table set before me I couldn't help but feel so sad for Aymee's loss, yet inspired to create a piece that would represent Lynette's love of life, as well as, the love these two women shared.  I was emotionally invested.

The heart with wings is something that came to me one night when I couldn't sleep.  I often will find inspiration during these times.  I felt it was wonderfully symbolic of  Lynette and decided to include it, along with their wedding day.

I think Aymee was touched by her memorial table. 

 I know I was touched by their story. 

I hope you were too.  

I am so honored to be apart of people's lives this way. 

REMEMBER:

"Live everyday as if it's a gift.  That's why we call it a present." 

"chair" me up

I love painting chairs!  

They can be a great accent, to any room. No matter what the decor, if you use a coordinating color palette it can be a great way to add a bit of fun.

  

The above picture is the latest chair I had the privilege to redo; but more on that in a minute.

The first chair I ever painted was this one.  It was love at first sight!

 

The reason I love redoing chairs is the great curves, and various shapes that each chair provides.  Its cool how the same two chairs can be completely different by just changing the color combo, or use the same color combo on different chairs and make them match.

  Here are just a few  chair redos that i have done over the years.  Maybe they'll inspire you. 

So, now back to the most current chair.  

Jenny is a fabulous customer of mine.  She allows me great creative freedom in all the projects she hires me to do-LOVE her!  

For this project, she wanted me to paint a chair of hers to match a desk that her friend had painted for her a while back.

She had said it didn't matter if they matched exactly just use a similar color palette, so that's exactly what I did.  

Here they are together

I used Benjamin Moore colors in 

Fernwood Green

Terrapin Green

Magenta

Sundance

White Dove

For more pictures and inspiration please come and find me on Pinterest, Instagram, FaceBook & Twitter

And just a reminder that the Etsy store is closed until Dec 20th so we can get caught up on all of our Holiday orders!

Also, if things weren't crazy enough, we are moving into our new, larger studio Dec 1st!  I am so excited and can't wait to share it with you all!