I{HEART}ART: Inspiration: In the Garden

"Garden Roses" By Tina C. Wells, acrylic on canvas

For me, painting is often a solitary endeavor. I’m an introvert by nature, and my time painting is usually a wonderful escape for me. I can think, and dream. I pour out some creativity, and in turn, I magically get filled up. This is true most of the time. But sometimes, I am fortunate enough to spend time painting with a friend, which fills me up in a different way. One lovely afternoon, my friend Gracie and I set up our paints outside, picked some roses from my garden and placed them in an old silver pitcher, and painted. We laughed and talked and played with our paints. It was a wonderful change for me.  Less focus, less pressure, more freedom. I look at this painting and it makes me smile at the memory.

SIMPLY CREATIVE: Fragrant Herb Bundle

This week I was visiting a friend who I hadn't seen in quite a while, and wanted to bring her a little something. I clipped some herbs from my garden and tied them together, along with a rose bud and a tag that gave a use for each herb. Clipped herbs stay fresh in a vase, or wrapped in a damp paper towel in the refrigerator, or hang them to dry. Enjoy!

MY FRIEND, THE WREN...

Little Genevieve tries to sneak a peek at the baby wrens

When I was a little girl, my grandfather made this adorable, hand-carved bird house for me. It used to hang outside my window growing up, and now hangs in my backyard. Through the years, many little birds have made their nests and had their babies there. This year, none other than a wren (this variety is called a Bewick's Wren) took up residence and had a nest full of babies! What a winsome cottage my old bird house made for her.

I{HEART}ART: Inspiration: Genevieve's Giraffe

Giraffe and Butterfly Mural

My daughter Genevieve has just turned 3 and at last I have finished decorating her room! It has been an evolving process that started with a small nursery in a temporary space. At one year old, we moved her crib into her bedroom. Her big girl bed came a year later...and finally at 3, the room is complete. This very slow process has made me question myself; why did this take so long? As someone who has been part of designing countless nurseries and kids rooms, ideas for my daughter’s room seemed to spin around my brain and never land. When I finally made my decisions, executing the plan then took months (although painting in your toddler’s room is logistically challenging). But, alas, it is finished.

Butterfly mural

I just couldn’t go with pink, even though Genevieve, already opinionated at 3 years old, has informed me that pink is her favorite color. In fact, when I asked her if she liked her butterfly room, she said, “yes, but orange is not my favorite...pink is!” Oh well, what’s done is done. 

Genevieve’s room has many special things. Her bed (headboard and footboard) and vanity were my grandmother’s. Purchased in New York in the 30’s, I love the beautiful carved wood. The walls feature hand painted butterflies which are beautiful, graceful, and represent new life. Genevieve loves giraffes, so I wanted to include one in her room to add some fun and whimsy. The gallery wall has repurposed items that were all painted white. The tea set was my mother’s, a wedding gift, hand painted from Norway. The words above her closet are from the book of James in the Bible: “Every good and perfect gift comes from above...” She is here today because God stirred in the heart of my friend Daphne, who after having 4 of her own children, offered to be our surrogate. Genevieve is biologically ours, but Daphne carried the pregnancy. She is surely our gift from heaven above! 

Mother’s Day Keepsake

Last Mother’s Day, we started a new tradition in our home. I had recently read a magazine article about a woman who had started a celebration journal. Every holiday or special occasion she asked her children to put an entry in the journal. As small children they scribbled with crayons and wrote their names. As they grew, the entries changed. In some, there was elaborate art work, in others, memorable words. I absolutely love this idea! Instead of a card for birthdays, mother’s day, etc., I ask my kids to put something in the special journal. It is so nice that years of memories to come will find a place in this book and will be a treasure I can keep forever.

Blessings to you, Moms everywhere...and may you enjoy a few quiet moments to yourself on Sunday!

I{HEART}ART: Inspiration: BIRTHDAY!

"Happy Birthday Cake!" art by Tina C. Wells

For a special birthday for my grandmother a few years back, I decorated a simple white cake with flowers, and later painted a small 12" x 12" canvas of the image. It makes for festive decor when celebrating a birthday. 

This past weekend, my little Genevieve left the 'terrible 2's' behind and turned three years old! Such a big girl now. We had a sweet celebration, all in an Alice in Wonderland theme...specifically a Mad Hatter Tea Party. With both boys and girls coming to the party, and Genevieve's love of tea parties, it seemed like a good fit.

Mad Hatter Tea Party!

Decorating for the party was great fun! My sister-in-law was a huge help (actually, I am sure I could have never pulled it together without her). That morning we attempted to transform my backyard into Wonderland! We strung paper lanterns, set the long table with tea pots, large mushrooms, bugs, a chandelier, topiaries, tea cups, etc. I stuck with a black and white color scheme and added pops of color. I dragged out every interesting chair and ottoman I had to put around the table. In the yard I hung a chandelier in the tree, propped up mirrors, frames, paintings, and hidden creatures in the bushes. I had painted the Cheshire Cat, and Absolom the Caterpillar on cardboard and tucked them in the shrubbery as well.

In search of costumes for the Alice theme, my mom and I found this dress packed away in a trunk at her house. She had made it for me when I was about the same age, to be the flower girl in my Aunt and Uncle's wedding. It was just Genevieve's size, and she thought it was a perfect party dress! The history brought a smile to my face and made it special.

Birthday Girl Genevieve in vintage "Alice" attire

A few hats, props, and costumes always make kids parties more fun (and a little champagne for the grown-ups never hurts either). I made a crazy hat for big brother Kenny to play the Mad Hatter. I rallied some party goers to dress as the March Hare, White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts, a Card, and the Cheshire Cat. And me...? A talking Flower, what else?

I served "tea" (ok, iced tea, lemonade, and punch...it was almost 80 degrees), and cakes. The kids were all seated and I announced that we were celebrating everyones Unbirthday, and Genevieve's Birthday! The cupcakes had mini playing cards stuck in each one, and Genevieve's had a flower with her face glued onto the center. The adults had their choice of chocolate heart shaped cake, raspberry-lemon rose cakes, or cupcakes.  

As I was baking away for the whole week prior, I decided to bake a little more and have an old-fashioned Cake Walk at the party. The kids circled the table while tunes from the movie played; they stopped at a numbered chair when the music stopped. If their number was drawn, they got to choose from 5 mini cakes. The next game was the old 'pin the tail on the donkey', except this was Pin-the-Grin-on-the-Cheshire-Cat! 

Then, just like in Wonderland, we moved on to Croquet!

I have to say that I had a ball planning this! Who knows how much time I spent, all for three short hours of fun...but no regrets, I'll make up for the lost sleep somehow. The memory of laughter and smiling faces makes it all worth it. Happy Birthday, Genevieve...and a very Merry Unbirthday to You!

SIMPLY CREATIVE: Tiered Platters

A while back, I was at Anthropology, where rarely can I afford to buy anything, but enjoy wandering through the shop and soaking up the creativity. That particular day I saw this amazing tiered dish with layer upon layer of tea pots and other dishes attached, together forming a wonderful tower. It was horribly expensive, and even if I could afford it, where would I store such a thing? I decided I surely could make something like it. I found an inexpensive white tea set and started stacking with my dishes. I certainly didn't want to permanently glue my plates to this contraption and started brainstorming other options...Ah-Ha! What if I used poster putty to attach the dishes together? It worked! This stack is held together with nothing but poster putty (purchased at Staples) on the tops and bottoms of each center piece. I finished it off by using the putty to attach tea spoon and small cocktail forks to the plates. When I was finished using it for the party, I carefully pulled it apart. It added splash and whimsy to my serving table. Give it a try!

I{HEART}ART: Inspiration: ROSES!

"Pale Roses" by Tina C. Wells

This painting looses its punch on the computer screen, as the size is what makes it unusual. It is quite large, 30”x40”. When viewed in person, each rose is about the size of a dinner plate!  

I have roses on the brain this week as I am preparing for my daughter’s third birthday, Mad Hatter Tea Party, “painting the roses red”, etc...more on that next week. As I am planning, prepping, and baking up a storm, I thought I would share with you these fun Rose Cakes... 

RECIPE: Raspberry Lemon Rose Cakes

I borrowed my friend Shannon’s wonderful rose cake muffin tin. I used a recipe from the Cake Mix Doctor and then added a little food coloring and raspberries. I topped it with a lemon glaze. These turned out so very cute as individual roses, but this recipe would work well in a bundt pan with the glaze drizzled over the top.

Raspberry Lemon Cake

The KEY to using cake molds is covering every inch and crevice of the pan with Crisco shortening (using a brush) and then coating with Wondra flour (knock out excess). It works like magic, and the form will turn out perfectly!

Ingredients
1 pkg plain white cake mix
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Add a few drops of red food coloring until you get the color you want
Fold in 1 cup frozen raspberries defrosted, letting juice swirl through batter.

Mix all ingredients together (except raspberries) and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Fold in berries. Prepare bundt pan and bake 40-45 minutes in preheated 350 degree oven. Allow to cool and then release from pan. Drizzle with lemon glaze.

For lemon glaze, mix equal(ish) parts melted butter, lemon juice, powdered sugar. Adjust to taste

I{HEART}ART: Inspiration: HOME

"Chandelier" by Tina C. Wells, Acrylic on canvas

This chandelier makes me want to come inside, stay a while, relax with friends. 

SIMPLY CREATIVE: Redesign

A new look

My sister moved "home" from Michigan about five years ago. I say home, because even though she moved to Newport Beach, and I am in San Diego, it feels like she is home. Back in Southern California. She is a hour and a half drive away, not a 4 hour plane trip followed by a 3 hour drive...in the snow. I am ever so happy about this!

It took them nearly two years to find the house that fit all their criteria. They live in a great neighborhood, older homes, lots of families, walking distance to shops, restaurants, and the bay. When they first moved in they were happy that much of the house worked with their current furnishings, and so, they moved the Michigan household out of storage and into the new digs. A couple of years passed and it was time to start fresh...new colors, new furniture, new  style. That being said, the permanent features in the room would stay, such as the large, green, granite, moroccan-looking fireplace. 

Annette asked me to help her with this project, but I can't really take much credit because she truly led the way. I was more of a sounding board, but enjoyed being part of the process. We all need someone we trust to toss ideas around. 

Step 1: Walls. Annette wanted her room to "shimmer." I investigated some specialty metallic paints and found a wonderful, mildly metallic paint, in a taupe hue. The application was quite a process, but with fantastic results. The walls are rich and inviting and change drastically in different light throughout the day and evening. And yes, they do shimmer!

Step 2: Furniture. She was quite sure she wanted a new sofa or sectional in a charcoal color. She measured, shopped, compared and at last decided on a sofa and chair from Z Gallery. She added two fun upholstered chairs to her mid-century modern dining room set, that could be pulled over to the living room for additional seating. A new low wood coffee table and mini chevron print rug and she was almost complete. 

Step 3: Accessories. Pillows were the frosting on the cake. I encouraged her to over buy, take them home, and return the ones that didn't work. Turquoise and coral colored pillows added a great pop of color. Accessorizing can go on indefinitely as you shop and travel and pick up things along the way that work in the space.

BEFORE

AFTER

RECIPE: Annette's Champagne Cocktail

Love this recipe! Not only is it a delicious combination of flavors, but oh-so-pretty in the champagne flute. Great for brunch, appetizers...anything really. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, as they say.

Ingredients

Champagne

Pomegranate Juice

Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice

Pomegranate Seeds

Mix pomegranate and grapefruit juices together, equal parts. Add a splash, according to taste preference, to champagne in individual glasses, along with a few pomegranate seeds. For a pre-dinner cocktail, a splash of vodka may be added.

Cheers!