fresh picked whimsy

Christmas Pop Up Wrap Up!

 

I know, I know...it's January and I'm just now posting pics from our Christmas Pop Up.  I'm trying to play catch up.  There's so much going on in the studio right now, but I don't want to bypass all of the great stuff that happened over the holidays.  So, I'm going to show you all of the fun things I made for Christmas and how amazing our pop up was!

I had never had my pop up over the Thanksgiving weekend, but I decided to give it a go this year.  I kicked it off with a midnight madness opening on Thanksgiving night.  It was insane! There were people waiting at the door when we opened and then in a matter of minutes, we were wall to wall customers.  Truly, the line to check out was to the door!  I couldn't believe it!

I asked Katie to decorate my front door.  I gave her the words I wanted it to say and just gave her free reign to do it up.  Seriously, she's amazing.  My niece Megan helped her fill in some little snowflakes.  How cute are they?

Then, I asked her to create something on my chalkboard wall in the kitchen.  I wanted it to say 'have a holly jolly Christmas', but again, told her she could do anything she wanted for the design. My jaw hit the floor when she was done. 

I loved it so much that I asked her to make it into a print. 

We gave the prints away to everyone who came for the midnight madness and then sold them for the remainder of the weekend.  They're also available in my etsy shop.  They are my favorite!!!!

I was incredibly inspired this holiday and incredibly busy! It was kind of nuts. These are a few of the fun wood signs I made.  They were all different sizes and shapes...

These were 2.5 feet long!...

and these were my favorite...made to lean on your front porch or entryway.

I found that yummy plaid fleece and it inspired me to make these...which I've made a few more of for Valentine's...again, in the shop!

I thought these were kind of fun...

We had a yummy hot cocoa bar set up for the weekend...

I invited my friend Jenny Elkins to join me for this sale.  We love working together.  I think our work complements each other.  We're both on the whimsical side, but definitely each have a unique style.  We had to capture this moment when we realized that Katie, Jenny and I were all wearing black and white stripes...

These were my new ornaments this year.  The wine glasses were a big hit!

Santa was a jolly addition to the collection this year...

and who doesn't love a giant candy cane?

I added a few new designs to my prayer candles this season.  Ones for your loved ones and ones for world peace...

I created a few new magnets/pin back buttons, too...

This guy came about because I had a piece of scrap wood sitting on my table and I sketched it out while I was on the phone one day.  He just makes me smile...

Phew! Last picture, I promise.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.  I told you I was inspired this year! :)  I'm already busy working on fun things for spring and summer.  This was the last sign I made before Christmas, but I think it works year-round.  Everyone needs a little sparkle in their everyday life!  Don't you think?

 

 

 

seeing stripes

Wow

These striped pumpkins were "the" item to buy at the pop up shop.  Who knew?

I've painted them for my friends in years past...just a silly little gift that i left on their doorstep each October. 

For the sale, i only made 7 ahead of time and left the black monogram oval blank.  My intention was to take orders for them and then they could be picked up next day.

and then i sold 37 of them.  what? 37?!

Some of those sales came from the instagram pic i posted (above).  I posted the pic, and then went into the middle school for an event for Griffin.  They have no signal in that school.  One hour later, when i came out...my phone was overflowing with messages and comments requesting pumpkins.  It was nuts.

The trickiest part was finding enough of the right sized pumpkins locally.  SO many places had pumpkins that were damaged, too small or had no stems.  Shout out to my sweet husband who went to a pumpkin patch on his lunch hour, in the rain, his work clothes and brought home a trunk full of wonderful pumpkins!  Whatta guy.  One night we were heading into Lowe's and i spied a few good ones at the bottom of a deep bin at the entrance of the store.  Again, still in work clothes, he reached in to lift the chubby pumpkins out and accidentally fell in, head first!!!!  My only regret is that i didn't get a photo of his feet flailing out of the bin.  We had a good chuckle after that.  So did the Lowe's guys who saw the whole thing go down.  ♥

It took me a week to paint them all.  Meanwhile our house looked like a pumpkin patch.  A very cute and preppy pumpkin patch.

Once again, thank you friends!  Happy Halloween!

hello you

are you still there?  i've been a bad blogger.  i know.  Seasons end and begin and i didn't make a peep.  Online that is.  i have been working like a crazy woman here, behind the scenes in the studio preparing for my first ever fall studio sale.  i'm calling it...

if you're local, i would love it if you would stop by.  The date is next Friday and Saturday, October 3 & 4th at my home studio. (details at the bottom of this post)  I will have special guests this time (another first!)...my friend Stacey of The Rusty Toolbox and my sister, Susan of The Gingham Chair.  Stacey is bringing her vintage and upcycled home goods and Susan is bringing her handpainted and reloved furniture.  I'm super excited to see our 3 styles merged together. 

if you follow me on facebook and/or instagram, you have seen my sneak peeks that i've been posting. 

If you're not local, no worries.  None of those new goodies are available in the shop yet, but will be after the sale.  There's so much more, too...new prints, and all new items!  Can't wait to share it with you all!

i promise to get back to blogging regularly after the sale.  My life becomes a swirling tornado of paint and paper and chaos leading up to one of these events.  I'm so lucky my family supports me and this little studio of mine.  i couldn't do it without them!

i couldn't do it without your support, either.  Thank you for all of your sweet comments, messages, tweets and for pinning my art on pinterest.  whimsy studios fans are the BEST fans.

Have a great week, friends!

xo,

Lori

 

 

cosmic cash

i know, i know...graduation season is just about over.  But, i wanted to share my graduation cash card anyway.  I had to come up with something clever that wasn't too cutesy for all of Riley's close friends.  

The quote on the card is fitting as Riley is going to Purdue.  Neil Armstrong is Purdue's most famous alumni!  I bought pre-made blank brown craft cards and envelopes at Hobby Lobby and a bunch of scrapbook paper.  The only other supplies needed are scissors and a glue stick!  Oh, and cash.  It looks like a lot, but really it's just a $10 and a $20 folded to look like more. 

I've made a free template download that you can find here and always on the sidebar under the "free stuff just for you" button to use if you'd like to make your own.  Cash not included, LOL!

Simply print it off and cut out the shapes and trace them onto the scrapbook paper of your choice...

i used a fine point sharpie to write the quote on the card and used an exacto knife to cut the slit at the bottom of the rocket to insert the cash. 

 I did have to play with folding the cash to make it look right, but it wasn't difficult.

and that's it! 

Download your free template here and your grad gift will be one that is out of this world!

 Congrats to the Class of 2014!

 

Drama in the garden

I gave my clay pots a sassy make over...

and now, all the other flowers are green with envy...

who knew flowers could be so cheeky!  Simmer down ladies...

it's all about mom

 i had a lovely Mother's Day, how about you?  i spent the weekend planting flowers and getting our yard all prettied up. 

Everyone pitches in and helps Mom...spreading mulch, cutting in flower beds and power washing the deck and nobody complains...happy Mom's Day to me!  i look forward to this weekend all winter long! 

Katie came home from school.  She's out for summer!  The boys only have 3 weeks of school left and we are gearing up for a graduation party, too.  Lots going on around here!

Aside from the yard work help, my kiddos know the way to my heart is something handmade...

Riley made this sign and set his alarm for super early Sunday morning so he could hang it up on the front porch.  He was so bummed to discover it had rained overnight and everything was wet.  So, he hung it over the fireplace, instead.  ♥

Katie made these cuties...

I made something homemade for my Mama, too.  I was inspired by this on Pinterest. 

Those are all of her grandbabies...

Katie, Riley & Luke

Griffin & Ben

Sam, Megan & Cole

It was a pretty simple DIY

• I searched high and low for flower pots that were smooth without a lip and finally settled on these simple paint cans from Lowe's. I think they were $2.99 each. 
• They were silver metal and i simply spray primed and painted each one. 
• My hubs drilled 3 smallish holes in the bottom of each one for drainage.
• I asked my sisters to send me face pics of the kids and asked them to fill the frame with their faces.  I had the pics printed at CVS and cut them out. 
• I trimmed the top of their heads off below their hairline
• I applied mod podge to the surface to adhere the picture to the pot and allowed it to dry. 
• Then, i covered the picture and entire pot with mod podge, using horizontal strokes around the pot.  Again, allow to dry thoroughly. 
• I sprayed them with an acrylic clear coat.  Dry.
• I filled them with potting soil and succulents. 

My Mom has a VERY green thumb and loved these little additions to her porch and gardens.

Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful mom... (i have always loved this picture of her!)

and to Mark's Mom in heaven...we sure missed celebrating you yesterday.

to mommies everywhere...you are awesome!

My friend shared this with me yesterday.  So cute...and true.

 

art is love

i have really missed working in the studio.  there are truly a million new things that i'd love to be making...they fill the pages of my sketchbooks and on scraps of paper all over my desk.  i am so anxious to get back to it full time.  As i was uploading pics off of my phone, i discovered that i had actually made quite a bit of new art over the past few months.  I guess it was just the sporadic nature of it that makes me feel like i've not been very productive.  Most of it has been custom requests.  Thought i would show you what i have been up to. 

i painted that sign to put over my desk, to remind me...

the wallpaper on my monitor is also an original painting of mine...made for a sweet friend.

i used white water based sharpies to leave these messages for Mark and the kids...

I made 30+ of these lucky signs for St. Pat's...

a custom request from a dear friend, for her home...

My nephew needed a raccoon mask for the school play...coming right up!  I painted it on acrylic paper and attached it to old 3D glasses from the movies...

another special request...client supplied the bucket.  But, i'm thinking this might have to be a new item from whimsy studios.  Can't you just see it filled to the brim with icy cold beverages or rolled up beach towels this summer?  Ahhhhh, summer...

Made these for my church's Mardi Gras silent auction...

Mini hand painted canvases for a baby shower...to match the bedding...

Finally, i had always wanted to create a whimsy studios sign to hang over my studio window.  This puppy is 8 ft. long...

 Making art is who i am.  it is like breathing for me.  thank you for letting me share with you, the gift that God has given me.  So much more to come, friends....

Secret pumpkins

It's a little fun tradition between myself and three of my friends.  I paint pumpkins and deliver them on their doorsteps "on the down low".  This year i made them for my mom and sister, too. {wish so badly i could've put one on my other sister's porch.  Alas, a 9 hour drive for a secret pumpkin delivery seems a bit extreme :( } 

We live in a town with TONS of roundabouts.  Roundabouts and not secured pumpkins = a big fat mess!  Secure your pumpkins!!!!

One of these friends is a HUGE lover of the color pink...

You can make these, too.  It's simple acrylic paint.  i didn't even mask out the stripes...i think they are cuter with wonky-ish stripes.  if you can't draw the black shape, a simple circle or oval would be equally cute.  i hand lettered the monograms and "boo!", but you could easily stencil them on.  Top it off with a gingham ribbon and a little tag.  Done! 

*keep in mind...These painted pumpkins don't like to get wet or frozen.  You'll want to keep them indoors or on a covered porch.  I bring mine in and out according to the weather.

this was last year's secret pumpkin delivery...

Give it a try! It's easier than you think!

You had me at "barn sale"

Indy area peeps....you have to get out to the Resyled Barn Sale!!!!

My sister Susan surprised me with tickets to the preview night last night and it was AMAZING! It was a beautiful autumn night with white twinkle lights everywhere and we were surrounded by so much creative goodness! 

{junkey monkey's gorgeous booth}

Our mom was originally supposed to go with us, but has just recently had hip replacement surgery and our other sister Kim would have wanted to be with us but she lives in Georgia!  So...because we wanted them to feel like they were with us, we got a little creative...and brought them with us in our own way!

People kept asking us about them and laughed when they saw us taking pictures with them.  We even scored two extra drink tickets just because the lady at the gate loved that we brought them with us...in spirit!  Love!  Thanks, Mom & Kim!

A couple of my friends had booths here and i couldn't wait to see them!  This is Jill Broadhacker of Jilly Jack Designs.  She has a letterpress lab and art studio.  Her work is fabulous!

i bought this print of hers for Susan's birthday...

i was also excited to see my friend, Lindsay Clark of Seven Lemons.  Her paintings and illustrations are so fun!  I bought this one for my own collection...

There was live music at the farm...performing on a haywagon.  Don't you love it!?

and the Flying Cupcake food truck, which is just too damn cute...

There were not one, but two mobile boutiques!  This one, which was made from a vintage school bus...

and this one, Bizzy's Boutique, which was originally a bookmobile!  Oh my gosh, how i loved bookmobile day in elementary school...

Tuns out, this beauty is owned by Amy of Bizzy Buckets...someone who i had been in a holiday pop up shop with a couple of years ago.  Amy saw me in the truck and said "hey, you look really familiar!"  I immediately remembered her. 

 She and her husband completely and adorably renovated this bookmobile and turned it into a mobile artisan market.  It's genius and i wish it were mine!  So so clever!  Amy asked me to get in touch with her about putting some of my art in the Bizzy Mobile Boutique.  I will definitely follow up.  I am so inspired by creative people!

The sale continues today and tomorrow and it's out in Westfield among some really beautiful farmland.  Get out there and support small business owners, friends!  I did buy a pretty fabulous new industrial work table desk for the studio, but let the gal who sold it to me keep it until Saturday because it was a major part of her display.  I'll share it with you when i get it all set up!  I'm so excited about it!!!

Thanks, Susan for such a fun night.  Love you!

ever grateful, ever true!

Last week was Purdue's Homecoming, Alumni Day, Family Day and AGD Dad's Day...all rolled up in one!  And, we had it all covered!

{i painted those pumpkins and surprised our favorite Boilermaker with them!}

We headed up to celebrate with Katie for the day.  I hadn't been to a Purdue football game in years.  It was so much fun.  We soaked it all up and loved every minute of it...except for the part where we lost...BIG TIME.

We walked around campus for a bit and got some great pics.  (forget you saw these if you're on our Christmas card list) :)

I adore this picture of our babies in front of the clock tower...

that one in the middle is in the college application process now.  He's hoping to join his big sis and become an official Boilermaker next year.  {prayers and wishes gratefully accepted, thank you!}

It was a really hot day and we totally crashed in the Union for an hour before dinner. 

 Mark seriously fell fast asleep.  Katie instagrammed him.  It was pretty funny!

We LOVE going back home to Purdue every chance we get.  Fortunately for us, that's quite often...thanks to our girl!

Had a blast, Purdue!  Same time next year!

HAIL PURDUE!