Triumph Services Art Show

My dear friend Rebecca Hughes works at a nonprofit, Triumph Services.  They have an annual art show to help create awareness for their nonprofit - a nonprofit that reaches out to those with developmental disabilities.  I have been asked to create/display/sell artwork for the event.  I am more than flattered.  I will be painting from now till April 28th, 5:30-8:00.  If any of you want to come with me, let me know!

City Grocery Returns

Tonight I decided to take a stab at an old painting in my art room.  This is after I tried to gesso (recover) two canvases I had started for something else to find out they cracked and look terrible.  I swear I have covered them before and they turned out just fine.  BUT now I won't start on anything until I finish this guy. I've made a promise to myself! Forgive the phone post but it is late and I am POOPED!

Shelley (sent via phone)

Spring 2011

This time every year I get spring fever.

This is a dogwood staked very obviously so I don't have to threaten the yardmen if they destroy it! :) Thanks to Bess' dad for delivering it to me while we were in DC.  He has babied it for well over a year for me.

I have been wanting one for years.  In fact, I had one planted 4 years ago when Caroline and Nancy lived with me.  Then the tree men came next door and took my dogwood with them.  Call this round 2.  There is one a few houses down so I have reason to believe it is doable!

I planted a camellia out my window.  I told myself I didn't need another plant but I had an empty spot and I love them.  As much as I love receiving flowers...I love cutting them from my yard just as much. Did you know Camelias are the Alabama state flower?  I didn't.

Remember what I was doing this time last year?  See my post, "backyard makeover."  It looks great this year.  (Shoutout to Dad, Lance and Matt.)  The sod even survived a dog, Julie (which I would have taken for dead grass any day).  Hopefully a new doggie will be arriving this year....stay tuned? (whoop whoop)

And this addition is thanks to Lance and Julie (and Costco).  We found it on the shopping trip to fill their new frig.  It's a mandevilla vine.  Last year mine died early on in the season.  Let's hope this one lasts through the summer!

I also have a tomato plant from Costco in my backyard.  Last year Julie had one that produced an AMAZING amount of fruit.  It well paid for itself. I am going to try my luck. 

Happy Spring!

Update: Planted my tomato plant and thought a video would be fun on this beautiful day.  (ahhem procrastination)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ouR_s2HSmY

(I couldn't get it to load so click the link above.)

Easter Coloring Contests

Do you know what seems to be missing these days?  Easter coloring contests at the local drugstore.  I passed one of these bunnies in the grocery this weekend and remebered these coloring contests. 

They would provide you an Easter picture to color. Once completed you would bring it in and they would hang them around the store.  Harco was our local drugstore.  Jill, Carol, and I loved these contests.  I think it is safe to say we dominated the Harco coloring contests every year.  I remember one year getting creative and making mine 3 dimensional with a cotton tail.   Mom, you probably remember this better than I do.

Why did the chocolate bunny remind me of these contests?  I remember winning and receiving one as a prize.  I also remember the disappointment when I bit in and learned it was hollow.  Even so, it was chocolate so I got over it pretty fast.  Bring back the coloring contests!!

Update: Baby Henry's Room

The Smiths were kind enough to show the painting's home.  Read more about the painting here:  http://shelleyhodgesart.blogspot.com/2011/03/baby-henrys-shoes-completed.html

Baby Henry's Shoes - Completed

Introducing Baby Henry’s Shoes! It took me awhile to complete due to life’s events BUT, it will be dry in time for Baby H’s arrival.  I will have to take a picture of it in the nursery.  The nursery is absolutely perfect and now it will be completed. Yeaa!

I am thankful this morning for the bright sunshine that allowed me to finish this painting.  (My power has been off and on since last night.  It’s been more off than on…on the weekend I have dedicated to catching up with schoolwork!)  

New Toy

One thing remains the same...I love electronics and gadgets.  It took me a solid month to get this pico (mini) projector due to a mix up in shipping (my brain has not been fully functional). 

No doubt, this will be a great investment! A few weeks ago I didn't know these existed or that they were so affordable.  (I guess the secret is out...I have been known to use a projector on a tough painting.)

Update:  They sent me a dud.  It won't hold a charge when I turn it on.  Little did I know when I took these pictures.  BUT that is indicative of the month I am having so it toootally doesn't surprise me.  Now to wait another week for a new one...