New to the Shop

I finally got mostly caught up today, listing supplies and paintings to my etsy. Thanks to the crummy coldness, I bundled up... and stayed inside. According to our local weather station, a new record low maximum was set. Today's high was 39 degrees which breaks the previous record low maximum temperature of 41 degrees set back in 1955. :( Not a record I was happy to see broken. Annnnnnnywho, I'm surviving through games, coffee, music, and painting. Thanking God for good food and the arts. And, because I'm so stinkin' nice and I need something to celebrate, I'm offering a 25% off coupon that can be applied towards anything in my shop, until April 10th (obviously does not apply to photo packages which are prepaid and then "bought" through etsy.) As if my stuff isn't priced cheaply enough already. But, hey, it's hard to get started and make a name for myself. I do SOOO-OO appreciate the encouragement, prayers, and kind words from friends and family. This code even applies to new things I list, supplies, etc. Yay! Just use coupon code JST4U, at check-out. And, if you're local, you can contact me to pick your item(s) up and I'll also take off the shipping fee. Go ahead, clap.

Here's some of the newness goin' on:

S is for Syrup

The Minister's Wife

Handmade Fairy Book C is for coffee

Three Wise Women

Hope it's warmer where you are!!

Artwork updates

I'm trying to incorporate more of my artwork into my decorating, which is fairly easy considering how eclectic I am! :) Anything bright, colorful, happy will fit in just fine.

Recent sketches:

The hymn on this page is "Lift Up Your Hearts."

And a recent painting:

All are listed on my etsy Nest in the Sun now. :D Thank you for the encouragement I've received; it means the world to me!

Get ready for a Give-Away!

How many amazing friends can one woman have? I'm so blessed!!

Let me introduce you to Suzanne Parker, of The Joyful Chaos.

She's a fellow Mom of MSC (many small children,) a fellow homeschooler, and a REAL mama. Which means she's one of the rare ones who says it how it is, shows the mess along with the crafts, and sometimes losses it. I'm not alone, folks!! :D

Actually, Suzanne P is the gal who inspired me to open up a little, share my thoughts more, and release the fear that held me back.

For her 5-year Blogiversary, she's hosting a week of giveaways, including a $15 gift certificate off of one of my Nest in the Sun etsy items. Go to her site, and enter to win the giveaways that will kick off tomorrow!

I need a hug Painting

Brrrrrr...it's been a-cold out 'dar!

Before Snowpocalypse, when the roads were still passable, we had sister J and the fam over, and she gave Papaw a haircut. Poor sleepy Pops couldn't manage to stay awake. ;) Gotta love him! If he took baths, I'd worry about him drowning...After the snow hit, we've been doing a lot more of this...

Perhaps I should tidy the Station Area in the playroom?

Or is that too much like shoveling a walk in the middle of a blizzard?

And more of this...

My 3-year old Little Lad whipped me.

and this...

~listening to Daddy read stories~
My two littlest monkeys, in the process of a hug. Yes, it's a process.

This was before they fell over.

And I've been doing more of this...

The Downcast King ~everyone needs hugs~

progress...

face done... crown done...

And he needs some hanging, lovin', lookin' action. Buy him a new home. :)

What I wore and what I painted

This is what I call layering! And, yes, I'm wearing black wool leg warmers. So sue me.
getting started...an accidental swipe of black paint across the page, thanks to the cat!

Good thing I love her.

I forgot to take more progress pictures {sigh}

Not much hair grows between the thighs, right? Trying to be true to life here... ;)

Who needs a hug?

And...I'm done. He's color-coordinated, although his better half had better start buying some longer shorts for this dude.

-I need a new home. Buy me on etsy. :)

Overbooked, yet overjoyed

I'm so ridiculously behind. I know.
Remember how I was trying not to overschedule? Yeah, well, the holidays totally cramp my isolation-style. ;) The calendar somehow filled to the brink.

How do you say no to so many wonderful things? I'm not good at that.

I said yes.

A lot.

Here's the lowdown on my last two-ish weeks:

Awesome home group with amazing people, singing, eating, playing games.

Jetta and Isabelle, two beauties!


See the line Tate drew? What would you guess?

The answer was "floss." :D

(We didn't get it.)

And Kate had her baby TODAY, two days after this picture was taken. The hysterical laughing helped, I'm sure.

Ryan and Nicole, I'm going to miss you.




My fantastic friend Rochelle had her beautiful blonde baby Jasper last week

Love this pic!

Papaw took us all to the Candlelight dinner and service. Amazing. Thanks to all who planned, directed, and sang!

And my Man had a birthday on the 15th (I won't disclose his age, but he does have gray hairs now...shhhhh!)

Lots of playdate fun with friends...
My awesome sister, Julie, dyed my hair. Thank you, woman of many talents!
Fire red streaks are making me happy.

My other amazing sister, Amy, turned ...umm...27 (? that's right... right?)
some artwork of mine, for girlfriends and for my etsy:

Plenty of messy indoor play--here the boys are playing cars in the snow (flour)

Last, but not least,

Amers bought a new house, and will officially sign papers in January!!

One of my other dear friends was finally able to move into her new home TODAY.

YAY Tracy!

We're missing Papaw, as he travels to California and Colorado to visit family over the Christmas season. How many 77-year old fly around here and there, hanging out with family?

And, most importantly, we've been together a lot as a family, able to talk, sing, and worship.

So very thankful for the Reason for the Season.

Oh, God, thank you for sending us Your Son.

Sewing Tutus

Gueeeessss what I found? Amazing patterns for 5 cents each at my neighbor's sale. Can't beat that!!

Don't those guys, above, look like they should be in the old Dukes of Hazzard show or something? And do you see the Holly Hobbie Fashion patterns?? Oh my!
I've been gone a lot lately, and playing games with the kids when I have been home...

but then they go to sleep...
and I sew.

I'm into pretend play right now. Dash got a new cape and then I started whippin' out TUTUs!
Fairy Princess here designed one for herself before I made any to sell.
These poor guinea-pig-kids have to try all my stuff out.

Check out the ones for sale, at Nest in the Sun! Happy end-of-summer-crafting to you!