:::the c0LoRs of our life:::

We have successfully fit all of our school books into (or on top of) this little chest of rolling drawers. It is so handy! We pull it up the the table when we do our school work- pull the work out and when we finish a subject, back into the drawer it goes! When the kitchen table is clean again- that means we have completed the days work.

I know it is unfair to say that all of our schooling is kept in a box- that is not entirely true- we use the art supplies upstairs- and the book shelf full of books, and the cooking utensils, and the dirt and rocks outside- but you get the idea- the 3 r's are safely put away until tomorrow.

Where do you keep your school books?

Print Giveaway Extravaganza!!!!!!!!!!

8x10


11x14

11x14

11x14

11x14

8x10

In celebration of 150 sales in my etsy shop, I am giving away all 6 of these prints to one person --you would have half of your Christmas shopping done! Just leave me a comment and tell me which season you like best. I will pick a random name on Tuesday and post the winner.

Thank you, thank you to my very sweet customers! I love packing up your prints and paintings and sending them to you- hoping that they will make your house just a little bit happier!

You can probably tell I am not in church this morning- I am feeling a little better today- and feel even better when I do not talk (my family is loving this!). So I have been surfing around the web and found some great inspirational stuff. Not as good as going to church at all- but helpful and encouraging. Hope your Sunday is filled with worship to our great God!

The James Challenge

Elisabeth Elliot

Amy Carmichael quotes

Authentic living

I almost forgot to show you what I got in the mail box!!!

THANKS, Meg for the adorable pot holder!! I love it to death!!!!!! (she is the one who sewed the beautiful wonky houses quilt)

even the back is cute !

do you think Dave will let me paint our house red with white polka dots?!

saturday update and links for inspiration

*Happy Friday. We have had a good & busy week. I feel like we accomplished a lot. The boys got a ton of schoolwork done- you know when you first start a new grade- the books have to review. They have been able to really sail through a lot of work and thankfully they remembered a lot of what they learned last year.

*Some of you asked about the pencil snack- I posted about it here and there is a link to the recipe.

*Now it is Saturday and I am coming down with something- it feels like strep. Sore throat, achy, tired. I am a little relieved that it is probably a virus because I was really tired on Thurs and Fri evenings and I thought- Oh no! Does school tire me out this much??

*I am updating the sara's art* blog; looking through the 100's of photos on my computer for the lost files.

*Found some beautiful & inspiring things on the web this week and all I want to do is create!!! Here is a list of things to create and the inspiration behind them:

1. A patchwork scarf- as inspired by Little Bit Funky (ooh and look at this one)
2. A patchwork mobile (who says you need a baby to hang a mobile in your house?!) inspired by maggie & sparrow (as seen on spearmint baby)
3. Another colorful mobile
4. Alphabet garland- again spearmint baby

Have a wonderful Saturday! May it be as cozy as we are- wrapped in blankets, sitting on the couch, dog sleeping on the lap, children happily playing legos, husband making snacks...........

first day of school & a cake wreck

The art room is not just for me anymore. No! I am trying to share. So here is my little station.....


Here is the reading and CD center.....


Here is the door to the art center......




Inside the art center......(it's like a very large walk-in closet size)

We had our first day of school yesterday and thankfully everything went well. We read together in the living room- did all of the writing work at the kitchen table, and then came up the art room after lunch. I got to sit at my little station while each kid was at a different center

#1- art center where they can create with any of the supplies in that corner.
#2- book and CD center- I had a book on cd that they could listen to and a few other books and flash cards.
#3 -computer center- My laptop was on the bed where they could sit and play computer games. Each kid had 20 minutes at each station and then switched, until all 3 had done all 3 centers and MOM GOT TO PAINT!!!!!! Win-win-win! I am going to switch up the stations so that they won't get bored- make sure to get new books on CD from the library, put new art supplies in the art center every once in awhile, etc.

First day snack.

Our downstairs school work area. (otherwise known and used as a kitchen table)


Here is the cake wreck!!! We made the cupcakes and had leftover batter- so we made a large green apple cake. Then we took some icing, made it pink, and tried to create a little worm......Dave said it looks like a big wad of gum, and I have to agree- gross. But the kids all fought over that and wanted to eat that worm. We should have saved that piece for uncle Mark :) If you have never seen the cake wrecks blog- it is really funny.


The cupcakes tasted really good- we made spice cake- the taste made up for the looks :)

Artist: Meg [wild child] and awards

Meet my new friend, Meg who has a blog, Wild Child! We are so much a like- we both LOVE color, we both had to cover our laptops with something colorful, and we like to paint. Don't you love the old windows with the scrapbook paper? Sarah (Blue Castle)- that is right up your alley.

I love this mirror she decoupaged with candy wrappers and candy- adorable! and fun.

Here she is!!! Meg and her son- notice the beautiful painting in the background.

Love it, love it, love it!

cute idea....the whole family could put their prints on a canvas.

Thanks for making our world a little brighter, Meg! You are a fun person and I am glad we are friends! (check out her etsy shop)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Thanks, Amber (striving for 31) for the kreativ blogger award! You are an inspiration and good example of the Proverbs 31 woman!

Thanks, Christie (Just the 2 of Us) for the fabulous award!!!! Your blog is fun and colorful!!!


Thanks, Sarah (Mama Canon) for the Honest Scrap award!!! I love your blog- you are a creative mom and decorator!



When you get these awards you are supposed to list things about yourself. I cannot remember all that I am supposed to list- so I am going to make my own list.

3 things that have completely changed my artistic life:

#1 blogging- what fun to share my art and enjoy other's art. Getting and giving feedback, meeting new people, having you come to visit here at the art house everyday- wow!- it has amped up the creative process for me and made it even more fun.
{2} my digital camera- I cannot even remember a time when we took pictures using film- although it has only been 3 years ago! To create something and then to instantly share that image with someone else - amazing!!! Not to mention all of the other fun stuff- editing, cropping, picnik.com.
3* my art room- to have a place to spread out my work and not have to clean up- -wonderful (except this makes for a HUGE mess). I love that I can be in the middle of a project and leave it there and just close the door. Remember when I had to paint in the kitchen? That had it's good points- but no matter what- when it was meal time I had to clean up and put all arts & crafts away.

What has made the biggest impact on you and your creative process??

doggie daycare {and a painting}

Riley came to stay with us for the day. Poor thing is being terrorized by Sadie. He is telling her, "fine, Dear, whatever you say--just get out of my personal space!!"

"please, Aunt Sara, get me away from that crazy female poodle!!!"

Who can resist those eyes?!

A painting for a sweet friend who gave me the below art to use for inspiration. And the verse- awesome words! Our Lord God is with us wherever we go!!!

**OK, so if you are serious and you want to have a contest to see who can lose 10 pounds first - e-mail me -sara mincy @ g mail.com (no spaces). That would be fun!

it has to stop

BurGers & CheEse Fries with baCon......

iCe crEam

That's it- I have 10 pounds to lose. Just 10 pounds- how hard could that be?? It has only been 3 1/2 years that I have been trying to lost the 10 pounds from baby #3. Now to decide how to do it.....

options:
count calories
the cereal for breakfast, soup for lunch, and salad for supper diet (I just made that up).
the olive/dark chocolate diet (sounds good :)
and lastly, {the best option, in my opinion} have Dave promise to give me a prize for each 5 pounds I lose (it has worked before...)

Anyone up for a little competition?? Who can lose 10 pounds first? And whoever loses has to give a prize to the winner?

red & orange

Red&orange is my favorite color combo. My house is FULL of it.

The sun shining on these soap bottles- and even dirty dishes can be pretty (especially when the husband washes them :)

school supplies- we got em! Aren't they colorful. And cheap! .30 cents for a box of crayons!

Even though it is still hot- fall is in the air for me. An applecidercandle makes the house so cozy & fallish.

Red hair, coral & white hat and a pink shirt- beautiful.

What is your favorite colorcombo?