New Mini-Magnets

Just want to drop by and let you all know about the 6 new mini magnets I'm listing in the shop today! Over Columbus Day weekend I was able to avoid the couch; I know, miracle, and instead I was able to create some new mini canvas magnets. Three of the magnets are more towards the abstract style I typically painted in college. I think I was afraid to attempt realistic paintings with oil paints in college, so I tried my hand in non-representational, abstract pieces and I must say I was pretty dang good at it. (Maybe in the future I'll post some pictures of my undergrad art show at James Madison University.) Anyway, here are a few pictures of what you can find in the shop!

You can find all of these new pieces over at Tulips&Lace Studio

Thanks for all of your support!

Stephanie

Tulips & Lace Studio: Custom Pieces

On Saturday morning I was a guest as the most darling vintage [double] baby shower ever. I wish I took actual pictures of the set-up, but I didn't bring my good camera and the phone just wouldn't do it justice.

Imagine a garden set up with lace-covered table tops and an eclectic collection of napkin rings all shaped like teapots. A hand crafted chandelier hung above the guests of honor's seat and vintage plates adorned the tables. The mother-daughter duo who created this garden escape are one amazing team. They had wonderful brunch quiches, french toast sticks accompanied with cups of syrup and delicious blueberry-lemon muffins topped with a lemon frosting. Not to mention a mouthwatering chai iced tea flowing from an adorable drink dispenser.

Deliciousness and entertaining conversations took place in that garden oasis.

Close to the end of the shower both moms-to-be set up to open gifts, which were placed in a vintage crib on the back patio. I wanted to gift these wonderful ladies with artwork for the nursery, so a little while ago, I asked them for their favorite Bible verses. Here are the two pieces I ended up framing and gifting. I created a first edition of the Psalm 127 piece, but my color choices were terrible so I started again. Live and learn. 

I'm planning on having a series of handwritten Bible verse pieces in Tulips&LaceStudio so be on the lookout for those! As I re-read the Psalm 139 verse below I can't help but be joyful that God didn't just make me, but he wonderfully made me. What a blessing to rest in that knowledge this week! 

 Have a wonderful week!

xoxo Stephanie

Art & Career

Okay, so it's clearly been quite some time since I've actually been on here [insert monkey covering mouth emoji]. oops. Let's just all agree that sometimes we get caught up in other things like baseball and wine working at home grading art projects.

I've also been slacking on Tulips&Lace Studio so my hope is to get some more pieces created and posted on the shop. I've been creating a few things, but I truly don't have a good excuse as to why I haven't been painting as often. Please keep encouraging me on that goal no matter how many sales I have or follows or whatever. I can't let my identity be placed in those things!

Made this poster because I am SERIOUSLY done
with seeing stick figures!

As for school, we are almost through the first quarter with only one week to go until the report cards go out! In no way what-so-ever did I think that I'd actually like going to work at this point. Let's just say that last year was a horrible year at school. Add together moving from elementary to middle school, disrespectful students whose parents don't care at all and not a Fairfax County Virginia art budget and you get a pretty miserable transition into middle school teaching. I honestly cried after school for at least two months and swore I would quit at the end of the school year - but that's a story for another time.

What I have to say is that I LOVE MY JOB. No, I don't get hugs everyday from Kindergarteners anymore, but I do have a huge impact on middle schoolers lives - even if they never tell me. I get to be really sarcastic and sassy (yes, sassy) to the students and they still like me. At parent-teacher conferences, one of my student's mother told me that she hears about me every day at the dinner table and that her daughter loves my class. Of course I will never hear that from the student, but man did that feel good to know I'm actually making a difference and leaving an impression on a student.

I wanted to share what my students have been up to! This year I started using Artsonia to display students work (also so parents actually see it… Last year I believe over half of my students just threw away their work. Thanks you lovely children.) Check out our gallery! All of our projects throughout the year will be posted online to the gallery so keep checking for updates. I've been making my TA's work their butts off to make Artsonia a success in my classroom.

Our Artsonia Gallery

Enjoy the students' work, their artist statements and feel free to leave comments! The kids would be so excited if they got extra comments on their work!

I feel like there's a billion other things I could tell you on here, but the most important thing right now is that the fabulous Orioles have had some BANGIN' 8th innings!

Also this handsome man comes home in a little more than month!

 Until later! xoxo