the wit and wisdom of whirleygirl

(Hand Painted Gingerbread House Picture Frame, $30)

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you!

I hope that this little blurb finds each of you with a full belly of bliss as you count all the things in your life that you have to be thankful for!

(Hand Painted Mr. Snowman Picture Frame, $30)
 

here's a custom order for a trio of frames that i have finished up  - yes, it's almost christmas! Speaking of that, i have a question for all you smarty pants out there - what design would YOU like to see on a holiday frame? I will be designing 2 for this upcoming season...i've been maybe thinking of a holiday cupcake or gingerbread house design...but then again a snowman is so cute! *sigh*

...please tell me what design YOU'd like to see on a holiday frame! :)

 

 

(fun mermaid wand custom order)

Tis the season for painting and painting and painting and....

*getting ready for D.I.Y. Trunk Show 09! 100+ vendors including moi! Sat, November 21st ,Pulaski Park Auditorium in Chicago.....check their site out for all the details and to preview the superfab designers involved.

*getting ready for Designer Spotlight the weekend of Nov. 28th & 29th at Kooky Children's Boutique on Southport. I will be sharing spotlight with the incredibly talented Elizabeth of Uniquery.Stay posted for details.

(last but certainly not least!!)

*am so proud of the amazing artist Anne Leuck Feldhaus and her amazing grand opening she had a few weeks back. If you haven't been to her open studio/gallery on Roscoe you need to get there soon! It is an amazing little space filled with Anne's amazing works. (originals and gift items) She has been such an inspiration to me - and her art really rocks! :) Thanks Anne for everything!

(jungle wall hanging, approx. 4 x 6, commission for nursery)

It will almost be a hide-and-seek game for the child,

there are so many animals big and small throughout this painting!

now for some close-ups!

(click on pics to see bigger :) )

 

 
 
 

 
  ( Hand Painted Witchy Pumpkin and Spider Picture Frame, $30)

Yay! It's my favorite time of year again - FALL!

 I have updated the shop with two new pictures frames for the holidays - a witchy pumpkin (pic. above) for Halloween and a fun sugar skull inspired frame for Day of the Dead.

 Thinking back about ALL that has changed since this time last year is absolutely incredible,  a little mind blowing really, but as i sip my hot caramel apple cider I am reminded of the sweetness of life - yes indeed! So much fabulous news to share - holiday shows coming up, a children's artist co-op that i have joined (we have a storefront opening this month!!), a bunch of new products, Good Morning America and my most recent public mural, some great new murals i've recently completed - ooohhhh so many good happy things to share with you....

It will be a busy week here on this little blog of mine!! 

(introducing hugo, 6 X 8, acrylic)

Meet Hugo! Isn't he cute?? This was a little gift i painted for a friend of mine who just got a new Great Dane puppy - Hugo! So fun to paint! You know in my opinion, if you don't have a dog or kitty yet, you really should get one (or both!) - what these beautiful creatures add to your life is incredible!

Chicago Canine Rescue is right around the corner from me, and Gilbert (the dog) and i pass by there as we take our daily stroll - we always run into the sweet volunteers that are walking the dogs that are for adoption - so cute! Go love an animal today! Woof! Meow! 

"The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration."

~Frida Kahlo

 

Oh, how i heart Frida Kahlo - as a woman and as an artist!

  

(Little Lady Loving Frida Kahlo hand painted mirror, $45)

Here is an ode to her from my

"Little Lady Love" mirror collection!

It is inspired by her self-portrait entitled "Self Portrait with Monkey and Parrot" as well as how i imagine her in my head....She has always inspired me as an artist - her color choices, her imagery, and most importantly, the honesty that comes through her work.

who inspires you?

YAY! Chicago Cares!

Last month, i took part in a really great day of service...the 16th annual Chicago Cares Serve-A-Thon!

"On the second Saturday of every June, thousands of Chicago Cares volunteers create positive and inspiring learning environments for Chicago's children at the annual Chicago Cares Serve-a-Thon - the city's largest day of service. 

At schools throughout the city, volunteers paint bright murals, organize libraries, brighten classrooms and hallways, create line games on playgrounds to encourage play and activity, and beautify school grounds with landscaping and planter benches. Children and community members are proud of their schools and volunteers see an immediate change in their community."

 (via www.chicagocares.org)

I was lucky enough to lead a GREAT and enthusiastic bunch of 11 volunteers in creating what turned out  to be a fun mural with a great message. The school we were all assigned to has a mission to remind the children who attend that they are "kids-at-hope" instead of the label "kids-at-risk."

Here is the before:

Here was my initial sketch:

 

The school was gracious enough to paint the wall a beautiful shade of sky blue and i went in a day ahead and sketched everything in. The super-duper volunteers showed up on a wet saturday morning and went to work!

 

  

 

 

and about 5 1/2 hours later....  voila!

(click on picture so you can see a larger,clearer version) 

Isn't it great!!!???

Seriously, this never would have happened without the great group of volunteers i was lucky enough to work with (you were each so inspiring!!) as well as the great leadership from Chicago Cares so a gigantic THANK YOU to each of you!!

 

 

(orange blossoms with zigzag vase, $35)

it was a great weekend - hope all had the same!

Chicago Cares Serve-a-Thon went great - i will share more details and pictures of the mural sometime this week - it was truly, without a doubt, a fantastic experience!

Went to Old Town Art Fair and wanted to share wit you some artists i am now very geeked out about!

(please check out their websites and drool away!)

- Purchased the most perfect "ninny" painting from and was so excited to meet Lynn Whipple! I have admired her art for years and it blew me away to meet her and see her art in person! seriously, i think i was a little bit of a spaz...

-Saw Heinrich Toh's work for the first time. !  I adored all of his pieces (and seriously regret not buying one there) and he was quite the character as well...he wore such fancy shoes! He also analyzed my dream and mentioned i might have been a prawn in a past life - haha! You will see for yourself on his site but his mash-up concept of collage and printmaking works effortlessly.

-My friend bought the most amazing bracelet from Connie Verrusio. She is one of those individuals that literally turns discarded materials into fabulous art in the form of jewelry. Bravo!

-Chris Plummer - very talented print maker focusing on hand cut wood blocks - has a hip edgy to his art and is a little moody as well.

-Lastly, Betsey Youngquist. Her creations are freaky and magnificent all at once -Fabulous!

Hope you are as inspired as i was!

 

(hand painted Mr. Robot picture frame, $30)

Due to the popularity of my nose-y Mr.Robot switch plate cover, i decided to introduce this Mr. Robot picture frame, stop over at the whirleygirl designs etsy shop and say hi to him!

(i am quite sure that a conversation with a robot could be quite entertaining !)