portrait for a wedding

A portrait for a wedding, NOT a portrait of a wedding. Cool huh?




In 17 more sleeps this fine looking pair will be getting married!

They wanted a casual family portrait to have on display at their wedding; a rustic, country, vintage wedding. (Just the way I like 'em.)

Along with their beautiful little girl and their beloved dog, I placed them on the creek which runs through their wedding venue, set the backdrop to the one they will see from their wedding location, and wrapped them in a vintage doily, (like the ones they plan to have there).

Mel and her daughter came to my mothers group for a wee while before moving away to another state. So when she looked me up and asked me to do this for them I was so honoured. I feel so lucky to be able to have something I've painted for them as part of their special day.

PLUS, I'm giving them the lampshades we had hanging from the trees at our wedding, to hang at theirs.. so I feel like I'll be there in spirit in more ways than one. :)

It's going to be a veeeery beautiful wedding! Wishing them the most splendid day, and magical life beyond!

calendar fixation

Every year I spend hours and hours online, searching high and low for just the right calendar. I’m lost without one, but I’m very very fussy about them, I mean you’re going to be looking at it for a whole year right?!

For me it’s not just about the pictures, though obviously that does play a big part. My scrupulous list includes:

• I like the pictures to be predominantly hand painted artworks, not photos, not digital.

• I like the theme to be original, not done to death a thousand times before

• It needs to be cheerful, not gloomy

• The whole calendar has to fit in my "spot" in the kitchen

• I like the days to be laid out in a grid, week by week, not a long list. I like to be able to identify a week in a very quick glance. (I LOVE LOVE LOVE Camilla Engman's calendars, but they fail in this point).

• The days each need a big spacious square/shape for me to write lots of stuff in.

Umm, I think that covers it. The secret is out, I'm cale-anal. 

Last year I found a great free, customisable, printable one online at My Owl Barn.

The year prior to that I got it from Be Happy Now. (Actually I got one from her two years in a row because I loved them so much.)

Anyway, Lalaland have put together a 2013 calendar featuring lots of great illustrations. And upon first look it seems to tick all of my boxes. Good job Lalaland! And I'm not just saying that because one of my pictures is in there.

You can buy it online now for just shy of $20, right here!