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! :)

 

 
  ( 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!! 

 

(Little Lady Loving Peace & Love, $45)

It is unbelievable that it is almost summer!! I just listed the above mirror in my whirleygirl designs etsy shop- a little free loving hippie seems summer-ish, n'est pas?

-Warm weather = ice cream and i think it is time to make the first batch of 2009 (i need to remember where i packed my ice cream maker first :( ...) These recipes look tempting: Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream w/ Pecan Praline (looks complex but delish) or Licorice Ice Cream could be interesting..(but then again, the black jelly beans are the ones always left in the dish..maybe i need to rethink..)

- Need some book suggestions - let me know what you are loving!

Just (finally) finishing up 10-10-10 by Suzy Welch - interesting concept....uummm, i could of used it 10 years ago ;)

- Click here for a great list of printable Memorial Day coloring sheets for your kids!

 (via www.examiner.com)

-Excited for this holiday weekend - looking forward to laughing with new and old friends, going to see a movie (it has been forever!!), doing a little shopping, finishing (perhaps) decorating my new-ish apartment...and of course, finding time to paint away..

HAVE A GREAT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

Happy almost Thanksgiving!

Running around like a turkey with it's head cut off but wanted to pop in and say "Happy Thanksgiving" to all of you! Be sure to give yourself a moment to think about all that you have to be thankful for.

Two thoughts for you..

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
-- Melody Beattie

"You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you."
-- Sarah Ban Breathnach

 

A warm and happy holiday to each of you!!! Gobble,Gobble!!

 

So you all know i love myself a good cupcake...so why not a cupcake magic wand?!?!  Deem yourself Queen (or Princess if you so wish) of the Cupcakes!! I love this wand - it's a lively piece  - bright and cheery and loaded with sparkle!! It's available here in my Etsy Shop. Wouldn't it make a fun birthday gift? I think so..

So on the topic of cupcakes...

 - For those of us in the Chicago area, I went to A Taste of Heaven Bakery in Andersonville over the weekend - had a delicious "Almond Joy" cupcake - very tasty...gave me inspiration to make a nice moist chocolate cake and mix flaked coconut in a nice neutral butter cream frosting...sprinkle some slivered almonds on top..mmmm - will report on the outcome of that creation!

 - I've been sooo hankering for pumpkin flavored pastries! Found this recipe from good ol' Martha for pumpkin cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting that i think i'll try - may try mixing in a few chocolate chips.. Also, discovered this recipe for Pumpkin Cookies that look good as well... any favorite pumpkin recipes that you have to share?

 - Here is a fun link to to some fun Halloween cupcake and munchie ideas. I love that picture of a the brain cupcake!

Have a day filled with sweetness!

It may seem a little early but before you know it, it'll be turkey time! The above apron was painted for my friend Renee Ferguson who is the author of "Talk Turkey To Me! " It is a great cookbook filled with funny anecdotes and delicious recipes that will ensure your role as "most fab holiday cook EVER!"

I'm so proud of Renee - she's been on QVC as well as Throwdown with Bobby Flay - how cool is it that she was wearing the apron i painted as she became a sparkling T.V. personality!!

She is doing some book signings in a few different places or you can just order her book online - you can get it at  www.turkeytools.com. (You can click here to see her in her sassy apron - isn't she cute!)

Gobble!Gobble!

I know Halloween and Day of the Dead are a little over a month away but they are my favorite holidays and i'm thrilled to present these two cute holiday wands to you!! They both measure about 14 inches long and each have sparkly details that add to their fantastic-ness. They both are also waterproof so you can take them out trick-or-treating with you and have no worries!

They are only with us for the 2008 Halloween/Day of the Dead season so get them while you can!

Available in the etsy shop here!