fine feathered friends

Spring is finally in the air! My fingers are crossed that the warmer temperatures and sunshine will stick. This winter seemed so long, frigid, blizzardy, gloomy, sickly and overcast that I am having a hard time actually believing that daffodils are poking up all over my backyard. I have decided not to put my winter clothes up just yet. Not because I'm being pessimistic but I just don't want to jinx spring!

So in honor of birds chirping, trees budding, and sky blue-ing, I've put together a little montage of tweets!

oh so happy day to you all!

little e

More love...

I am not sure what sparked this new heart series (is it February 14th looming just around the corner?), but I do know that i heart it!!!

Now, as a disclaimer, hearts have never been a favorite of mine...something to do with growing up in the 80's with lots of country blue, mauve and peach and heart motifs in everything. However, I have to say, I seem to have changed my own mind about them with fresh new colors and texture out the wazoo!

Check out this scrumptious new color palette...dove gray, soft yellow, chocolate brown and creamy white! Love it!



Enjoy!!
little e

I heart 2011

Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past. I am doing a New Thing! See how it springs up? Can you not perceive it?
Isaiah 43: 18-19

One of my first entries on this blog was entitled New Things. The past three years have been jam-packed with new things. I left a career of 13 years as a learning specialist. I had a child after 15 years of marriage. I started painting. I don't take any of it for granted, nor do I take credit for any success I've had as a mother or an artist. This is not the vision I had for my life...it is far greater than anything I envisioned, trust me.

Left to my own devices, I am plagued by a chronic lack of self-confidence, fear of failure/change/unknown, social awkwardness, anxiety, insomnia, loneliness and doubt. I hide it well. I'm not saying that I'm a hot mess all the time, but I could be easily. And I have been in the past. This verse spoke to me three years ago, telling me that if I just let go of all the stress of my career, if I stepped beyond the known, if I cast aside the anxiety that ruled my daily decisions, if I "forgot the former things," God had something better, much better, in store. I never wanted to be a mother. I had no training as an artist. Yet, here I am today, a mother overwhelmed by love for her baby girl and an artist overwhelmed by passion and potential. I could not have imagined any of it, but God is creator and author and comfortor and healer. Thank goodness!

So for my first painting of the year, I did this little heart, entitled I heart 2011.



It is my reminder of the other part of this verse, "Do not dwell on the past." I am a huge mega-dweller on past things. I want to embrace 2011 and all the new New Things God has in store for me!

Happy New Year!
little e

Merry Christmas from little e studio!

It's been a busy few months since I last posted. A house on the market. A baby turning one. A husband turning forty. Frigid temperatures in my adorable but not centrally heated studio. Not super-conducive to painting, I'm afraid, but with Christmas orders pouring in, I kicked it into high gear. In a true Christmas miracle, I managed to finish some well-deserved teacher gifts and a few other commissions in time to gloss on the day before the snow and single digit temperatures began.

I have been so blessed this month to have received so many custom orders. It is so humbling to me to be chosen to create something special enough to be given as a gift to a loved one...whether that be a teacher, friend, mother-in-law, boss, or sister.

This little red tweet was bought as a gift for a special mother-in-law to remind her of her mother who had recently passed but who loved red birds.



The tiny tweet on the top row went to a mother-in-law who loves turquoise. The flowers went to another mother-in-law. The yellow cross to a mother who recently redecorated in fun, bright colors. The trio of crosses went to a trio of friends who have been instrumental in the life of another friend. Each one was picked with love and care and thoughtfulness.



I even sold my first gift certificate, given as a token of respect and love from a group of teachers to their beloved boss.

On top of all that, I reached 200 fans on my facebook page (www.facebook.com/littleestudio) !!! I'm still in shock!! All I can say is that I am grateful, grateful, grateful for your support!

Thank you all for letting me be a part of your Merry Christmas!
Peace and Joy,
little e

one tweet led to another

This cheery 24x24 was special ordered by a sweet client who is getting ready to move to a new home. She also picked up a huge green cross and a small yellow cross. I have to say I'm honored!

Originally, she just wanted flowers with a red background, but I got a little loopy late one night and poured too much brown paint on my palette. I hate wasting paint, so next thing you know there is a bird on her finished painting. Thank goodness she loved it!

Since this piece and its owner are headed for a new home, I thought it seemed right to call it "Happy Landings."

Enjoy!

little e

my first tweet

Ever been really, really busy....so busy that you decide to ignore certain tasks completely and focus on something entirely optional and frivolous? Well, that's how this little painting came about. Distraction can be a good thing sometimes!

Happy Day!

little e

bright and cheery

After many days away from brush, knife and canvas, I finally found time this weekend to do a little more experimenting. Food poisoning does nothing for the creative process, by the way, unless hallucinations from weakness count. So after several days of recovery and catching up on non-artistic ventures, I was ready for something bright and cheery!

If you are thinking about Christmas at all yet (which is completely insane, I know!), now is the best time to get your orders in. November will be a busy month with lots of big events at my house (Baby's 1st and Hubby's 40th). To make sure you get your paintings in time, order early!

little e