For the love of glitter . . .

I've always admitted that my main fear of paint is the "whatisitphobia." I know you know what I'm talking about. It normally lies in the domain of your children's art. But as an artist, it stretches into my own sometimes.


I love getting some ingenious idea and then try to put it on canvas.


Sometimes it works. And sometimes . . . well, let's not talk about those times.


I asked Hudson what he thought these paintings were. Either he sees them as I do OR he just might be a mind reader.


I actually started on them LAST year!


All year, they have been hanging on my wall in my little studio. And the only thing they needed was a small touch of glitter {by request!}


Tell me you see 2 ornaments hanging from a tree!

Tree is up . . .

. . . . And decorated! No easy feat with 4 little crazies running around!

Sorry for only a sneak peek - it looked the best in close up shots {and the fact that I still do plan to partake in the Christmas Tour of Homes with Ms. Nester herself on December 14th!} I have soooo many ornaments that they are dripping from the tree. I've always loved the look of the trees you shop from in a store. The ones that have more ornaments than limbs. Yeah, that's what I like!

Yes - that is a Mr. Potato Head.

I only have had 5 casualties this year {so far.} I'm sure the number will steadily grow as we encroach upon the Christmas season. It seems that 2 of my 4 little people really like to "touch" the tree and already have a sense of ownership over a few of the ornaments.


I really thought that most of the ones within their reach were UN-breakable. Not hardly. Even the SHATTER-PROOF ones are not safe . . . . they might not shatter but they make great BALLS to toss around the room!!!!!


Most all of the unexplainable "who-done-its" have been repaired, glued and sewn back together. Except for one Grinch Musical Sleigh - which states all over {the bottom} that it's "not a toy" - too bad my kids didn't see that. I'm sure they would have put it down {before dropping it} if they would have read that first. It is currently sitting beside me with all kinds of jimmied props supporting all the pieces that are waiting for the glue to see up. It looks flawless - except for one spot. I'm thinking if I can get it glued back, I'll worry with the clean-up next. One challenge at a time, people.

Giving Thanks During my Love/Hate Relationship with the Garbage Disposal!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We went to my Dad's house on Thursday and then they came here on Friday! That means I cooked and thankfully no one died from it . . . . except for my garbage disposal. I don't know if you want to hear this story, but I'm telling it anyways!

There are several stories floating around this blog of mine about my garbage disposal. I hate the thing and I blame almost all of my problems on it. You see, I've never had one. I grew up outside the city limits and garbage disposals and septic tanks don't mix. My only dealings with one is at my Grandmamma Tate's house. And let me tell you - hers ate everything! And when I say everything, I mean everything! Seriously people, she would put the whole dang chicken in hers {bones and all} and chop it up and wash it down the drain. It must have been a real disposal - if you know what I mean!

Well, from the beginning - Lonnie has told me to not put anything in ours that I wouldn't eat myself {uh, yuck!} And yet, I still try cramming most everything down it. It is a freakin' garbage disposal people! It should dispose of garbage!! Now, I'm not trying to stick aluminum cans or anything like that - but green beans . . . . it should dispose {properly} of green beans! Well, mine doesn't! Up till Friday, there has only been 2 times in the past 2 years that I have clogged the disposal. Green beans one time and the second time was bar-b-que {the whole roast . . . I cooked it and it was awful - so the whole thing found it's way down our sink!} And both times the choppers {definitely NOT the technical term} just wouldn't chop. And both times it about killed me to admit that I jacked up the disposal . . . after I had been given strict directions on how to use it. Of course both those times were food that I would eat!!! Which led him to ask each time "why" I didn't eat it . . . but that is another story for another post!

So on Friday . . . . I made mashed potatoes . . . the real kind {I love instant, too!} I peeled the potatoes in the sink and slowly chopped the skins a few potatoes at a time {like I'm suppose to!} Well, after the last potato - the hammers were still hammering - but the water wasn't moving. ??? Some how - I've now clogged the sink! I tried every way in my power unsuccessfully to fix it before admitting what I just did to "you know who!"

Well, had to call him . . . "can you bring home some drain-O, please."

"Why?"

"We've encountered a small problem."

"I don't want to ask what - so just tell me."

"It involves the kitchen sink and food that I would eat." {because I would eat potato skins . . . on a cooked potato!}

"KIM - did YOU clog the disposal AGAIN!!! I'm going to remove it this time! You can go back to using the trash can!"

hehe - Uhmmmm . . . no he won't!

My Dad, on the other hand, was stoked and ready to figure out the problem as soon as he got there! He kept asking to fix it! With a bucket in hand, Lonnie got under the sink with my Dad {so wish I took a picture!} and started taking it all apart. Oh yeah - it was a definitely because of the potato skins!!! It was a hot, nasty mess!

So many great lines {wish I could have remembered them all!} But when the pipe came off, one of them said, "Wow, you're not going to believe what was in it, stopping it up?!" Of course I asked thinking it really was something unexpected. "Potato skins," the choir said!

But I learned my lesson!! And it now works! So, we are going to act like this never happened! But it was a great time!

My kids were exhausted after all the fun!

Lawson

Hudson

Emme

Carson

Can anyone guess what they are doing?!?

That's right people - we got a TV!!!!! We are back to living the life of luxury! To include garbage disposing in the sink and a TV that hangs on the wall! We are living like fancy folks!!! Funny is that we only have been without it since the first part of August this year. I'm not lying when I tell you it feels like it has been August of 2006 since we watched TV! Only 3 months?!? Seriously!? I could have went longer, except of course - LOST {February 2nd} and Big Love {January 10th} will be coming back on soon. Nothing like watching scifi-time traveling lost islanders and a polygamist family on TV!

Manning . . .

It is taking me forever to get on the computer these days! I'm determined to get better at blogging. Starting today! {Let's hope the determination lasts!} haha.

After the "Boone" painting - I got a TON of requests for the design. Since this next room had alot of fabrics with similar patterns - we went with it!


The owl fabric was a crack up and I love it! But, we didn't want owls on the painting . . . which I completely agreed with. So, we used it for color matching purposes only!


The wall color was this awesome color - Cool Rain - a Valspar paint! When I saw a picture of the room, my mouth hit the floor after I saw the richness of this color. Looks fantastic!


I can't wait to see a picture of the painting on that wall color. {*hint*}

I didn't take a single close up OR side picture? And it is now wrapped and boxed up? I don't know what I was thinking? But the circles do wrap around the sides and there are also small dots in some of the stripes.

I have another one completed, I'll try to get it up here tomorrow!

Speaking of owls - I have 4 to paint! Stay tuned for those!

She is finally complete {for now!}

I know - it is amazing! This project was literally stretched over a year - haha! I have no problems with committing myself to time consuming assignments . . . my 4 kids do though!


I was too excited to put things back on the shelves before I took the picture . . . okay, actually - the poly was still wet! And I still put the drawers back in. And added the knobs and drawer pulls. I just couldn't help myself!! I had to know what she was going to look like!

BEFORE

AFTER

See the difference {besides the drawer pulls - I put them on the rightside up this time!} I bet you want to know how I did it?!?!

I'll tell you tomorrow! Just kidding!

For now - check out {some} more of the story at (in)courage . . . because I did a guest post!!!

I know, I know! I'm going back and forth with "I can't believe I was asked to guest post" and "What were they thinking, asking me to do a guest post!?" So one can only imagine what you guys are thinking!

You'll see the skinny of what I did for this look on (in)courage. If there are anymore questions, leave them in the comments and I'll do a post of "how to do it" and answer them all then!

thanks!

Bria . . .

The color combinations for the funny bones collection are endless! Here is another one {that is new to me!}


It is to match the ABC bedding you see below. Fantastic bedding for when you do NOT know if you are having a boy or girl!!! That is the story here. They took full advantage of one of natures last true surprises and they waited to find out. {I would have went crazy! Just let me get that out there . . . . again!} The walls are very neutral, so the goal was COLOR on the canvas!

picture credit - Babies "R" Us, My First ABC

You will notice this is not the usual font on a funny bones. The original is just a little too "boyish" and I needed something a little more "girlish!" I'ma thinkin' I like this font for the FB when ordered for a girl!!!!


And check out baby girl - you have to know this warms my heart in so many ways! This girl was about to start painting! Check out that tiny smock - home-girl was R-E-A-D-Y! I can't wait till we get our little masterpiece {I'll be sure to post!}

Boone's art . . . .

I've been up for well over 24 hours and have officially finished 2.86 paintings during that time {haha!} Okay - so I'm really close to completing the third one! Hudson's biopsy is this Friday at 9 am. And I'm on over drive already. The thought of it just looms. And makes sleep impossible. As overwhelming as my business gets sometimes, I'm soooo very appreciative of all the work. I seem to work better as my creative outlet explodes when I have burdens! ???? I don't really get it either - but I promise I'm really calm about the biopsy and currently have a huge peace about it. But then, my mind has not had time to think about it.

On to some art!

These have to be my absolute favorite fabrics that I have ever painted for! This momma knows how to work it! I love each swatch and they fit fabulous together, yet they are all soooo different!


Don't you love the custom window treatments??



So I got this thought in my head literally the other day. I had not looked at the swatches in few months {yes, I said months - I'm really backed up!} As soon as I pulled them out to get an idea as to where to go with this one {because I was given free will on it,} it hit me - layer the patterns!


The only main request I got was the birth date . . . . AND I really like the idea! Small and inconspicuous was the goal!


Something new and completely different! Definitely falls in the simpatico line.


I hope you guys love it!

She has done it again . . .

That Krista . . . she rocks!


And finally, for the first time ever . . . .

A family picture!

Thanks Tumas for letting us enjoy your farm for pictures! And yes, that is an outhouse behind us!

Beef with Sherwin Williams and Porter brand paints . . .

*** This post as well as all my post fall in the "my opinion" category. Hence the reason the blog address is kimwheeler.blogspot.com. Since there are a ton of products out there to choose from, it's safe to say that each person can have an opinion about each one - positive or negative. If you don't agree with that or with me, that's okay. Really, it is.

by the way -

we did take the can to be shook up. And it was banana yellow after the shake.

I store my paint inside my house. With me. And my kids. Pretty sure that's a safe place to keep it.

I said the guy at the counter of Home Depot gave the poly knowledge - is he the paint god . . . I don't think so.

thanks - back to the post . . . .

I've made no secret how I have a strong dislike about these two brands of paint.

And I've figured out the cause!!!

But first you have to hear the story {Come ON . . . you didn't think I would have a story??}

I recently changed up window treatments in my kitchen. I went from a long curtain rod to treatments attached to a board. Amazingly enough . . . I actually dropped the curtains from the previous spot {I know, I know - everyone says to raise . . . but I wanted them all the same level and cabinets hindered the "higher is better" standard on one window - so they all are at the lower level!}

The previous rod left some undesirable holes in the wall. No biggie. Just fill them and touch up the paint! Well, we did that - we filled the holes, then touched up the paint. The same paint from the same bucket that was used to paint the kitchen just 2 years ago! Now, my kitchen is a gold color {Deep Pongee - a Porter Paint,} the color in that gallon was a banana yellow. And if I'm lying, I'm dying!

Did I think to take pictures? Uhmm, no! All I was thinking is how I was 8 shades of red, because I was one hacked off person! I HATE Porter Paint! This same thing has happened with us on Sherwin Williams. So, it's not just Porter!

It took me a few minutes to figure out what to do. Thankfully, one of my kids pushed over a chair and the top of the back went through the wall {the whole reason we were trying to patch up the walls!} My husband literally ripped that piece off the wall and went straight to Home Depot for a color match!! Oh, how I love Behr paint!!!! We took the chip so they could clarify that it was NOT satin {that we paid and extra $2,500 for} but was indeed eggshell {YUCK!} that we argued with the guy during our walk thru when we closed on our house {YES - our builder filed bankruptcy - one can only imagine why?!} and so that we could get a perfect match of the color. Due to 2 years and some fading, we were afraid the paint swatch we had from Porter would NOT match what was currently on the wall.

It worked - it matches perfectly!!!! And 2 years from now, when I want to patch up more spots - because I have 4 kids and that happens - that exact same small quart of paint will match - I positive!! By far the number ONE thing I learned when we renovated our last house!

Fortunately, my hubs thought to ask while at the paint counter about the more expensive paints and why they fade in color so bad. His explanation {which totally makes since,}

The expensive brands, such as Sherwin Williams and Porter, use alot of polyurethane in their paints. Over time, to include 2 days or 2 years, the paint and the poly separate. And it is impossible to mix it back together.

So, all you folks that have those left over gallons in your garage after they built your house - THROW THEM AWAY. They are taking up space and you won't like the color if you tried to use it.

My advice is to make sure you do have the color swatch saved somewhere. Unless of course you can rip a chunk of your wall off for color matching! Home Depot and Lowe's can color match just about anything. I've not found anything they haven't been able to so far. Behr is Home Depot's brand as Valspar is Lowe's.

Because I'm just that dang cool!

Soooo, . . . I asked about your timing of Christmas decorating. I normally don't go out this early for mine . . . but I have 4 kids who have been obsessed with the Christmas decor at Hobby Lobby since they came out with it 2 months ago! In honor of my babies - I let them each have a choice in trees - lucky for me, they all went with the same kind, but different colors!!


They even picked out their own decorations {which I limited to only "strings" of something.} This is Carson's - he went on the wild side of "blue on blue" which is more like aquamarine on aquamarine . . . . but you can't tell a 3 year old that and he understand {unless it was Hudson - he could give you the recipe on how to come up with this color at 3 - I'm not kidding.}


Okay - I actually bought Em's tree last year - and good thing, they don't have anything like it this year at the HobLob! And yes, I picked out her beads, too! Don't worry, she was pleased as punch with my choice!

I swear that is all I did - these 4 trees! No lights. No busting out the big tree. Or the stockings. Nativity. Nothing like that!! I've got a few more weeks before that! And I'm not going to show anymore with the hopes that I might join the Nester's Tour of Homes this year! I said might! That takes some planning!

And don't hate me . . .

Check out this oil painting I got for the kids' bathroom! haha - unfortunately, it wasn't packaged correctly! Boo-hoo!! The creases are too deep and no amount of stretching will fix it. Now some poor soul has to paint me up another! But I love it so much - has got to be the funniest thing ever!!

Yesterday, I got the worst headache of all time! About 10 minutes before Lonnie came home, I was face down in the sofa. He had to complete supper, bathe the kids and put them in bed - without me! I slept for over 13 hours!!! That is about how much I sleep in a week! I'm sooo behind - I had big plans for finishing up things - emails - clean my studio/office - put away the last of the Halloween crap! Nothing - nada - not a single thing got done! Horrible feeling to start my Wednesday morning . . . BUT I have NO headache praise Jesus! So, I'm very thankful - I really thought my brain was going to explode. It was just that bad. I don't think it was sinus related {or flu for that matter.} I think I just had a migraine.

It's 6:15 and my day has to start . . . I just wanted to get this post up {since I had every intention of doing it last night!!!} Wishing you all a very productive day!

Halloween 2009 . . .

Let me preface this with . . . . .

No matter what you do, how you do it, the planning, the coordination, the before thought, the after thought, skills, talent, boy or girl, uptight, laid back, sensory integration disorder, talking about your expectations and, of course, the consequences . . . it just doesn't matter. My kids are crazy and expensive {and I love them for it!}

Let's do this in bullet form - easier for you to see the big picture.

* 4 Pirate costumes = $124.78

* 1 kid loving the pirate costumes.

* 1 kid loving his "bones" shirt.

* 1 kid loving an old costume.

* 1 kid thinking that he "wants to be Hudson for Halloween" - Uhmmm, yeah. Sorry Hudson, it just doesn't quite work that way?!

Ended up with . . . .

* 1 pirate {I guess that means his costume cost $124.78.}

* 1 skeleton {from the neck down to the waste.}

*1 shark {a 6-12 month costume from Hudson's first Halloween that some how fit Em.}

* 1 spider {that Hudson squeezed his steroid taking, 4 1/2 year old self into what was suppose to fit "up to 24 months" costume that was bought for Carson and Lawson's {technically} 2nd Halloween . . . but we never left the house that night so the costumes from that year made it to the 'dress-up box' only and never were worn.} I still can't believe he made it fit and he actually wore it.all.night.long. Utterly amazing!


I really don't have a great picture of the kids that night. It was simply crazy. And to keep 4 kids rounded up and try to take pictures, just didn't work for me!


Hudson was totally into ringing the doorbells. While Lawson would yell {really loud,} "Happy Halloween - ho ho ho!" {Don't ask - because we have no idea!!} Em loved the people that were dressed up - the scarier the better for her! And Pirate Carson refused to wear the boot covers over his shoes.


I don't think I laughed so much in my life. My kids definitely have minds of their own and keep us cracking up constantly!

And let me add that we got more candy than we can eat this year. I hope you had as much fun as we did!

A is for Ava . . .

I didn't mean to drag out the last sneaky peeky - just time really got away from me this weekend. Sorry guys! So on to the long awaited piece {at least for 1 momma!!}

image from Layla Grayce

I love this bedding!! That is all I can say about it - LOVE IT! Seriously - how sweet and dainty can it get!

images from Layla Grayce

And she threw in a few things that have the pink background as well! Ahhh! The walls are a pale, soft pink - I'm pretty sure this room is perfect!


I had to step it up a notch for this one. I knew what she liked of other paintings - scalloped edge and the dot roses. But I couldn't just stop there, I added a few things. MY FAVORITE THING is barely visible when looking at pictures {and still barely there with the eye} but it is there!! Look hard at the white . . .


Can you see it?? It is there - promise. Very subtle . . .


You can see 1 in particular here . . . DOTS! Oh yeah, a tone on tone white. Like normal - I have to say - this is about 200 x's better in person! The pink has a pearly finish and is more pink - not HOT pinkish/reddish - the camera just can't catch the true image! {Which drives me NUTS!}


I will admit - this is my favorite right now! But I do love this bedding and want bedding like that for ME! Just don't quite think Lonnie would go for it.

This is a 24x24 that I'm now offering. I have so many of you that want big - I'm trying to oblige! But with crazy shipping charges . . . it makes it seem ridiculous to pay so much to get it to you! BUT I've been working on something - so if you do have a large size in mind that I do not currently offer, let me know and I'll see what we can come up with!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween. I'll try to post pictures of our day later! First I have to get this Halloween decor put up - I'm sick of looking at it!

Question {and I really want to know so leave a comment} - when do you set out your Christmas stuff?? Just curious!