This girl is just getting cuter and cuter. She seems to think she is big enough to keep up with her sibs and likes to chase Sugarwings now.
And when all the big kids got balloons at the ice cream shop, she had to have one too.
She likes hanging out at her parent's new business, Holding Space. There is plenty of room to crawl around, a big mirror she can meet another baby in, and lots of bright colors.
I painted the rooms for my son, according to his feng shei designs. The entry is all metallic, the treatment room is blue and purple swirls for water. This room is "fire", so I did my version of a sunset.
We painted the top 1/3 of the wall red, the bottom 1/3 yellow. Then I brought up some yellow rays into the center, and around that, I painted the middle of the wall orange. (I saved money by mixing the red and yellow to make the orange, instead of buying another can of paint)
With a torn up tee shirt, I dabbed on, and blended some bright colors of acrylic craft paint.
The lower part of the wall is very colorful, but as I worked my way up, I changed to accenting with just a couple of colors.
There are high ceilings with a skylight, so its the perfect environment for plants.
The whole place is so inviting, I love the bright colors, even if they are the opposite of what I do at home. I used to do murals and faux finishes for a livng and kind of miss getting to lots of things that I wouldn't do for my self. Its fun to experiment with the bright side.
I gave up doing this full time because it is such hard work, and I felt like I was crippling myself doing it. But now that I rarely do decorative painting, and have a son who is a massage therapist, it isn't as painful as it used to be. After i finished this work, my sweet boy gave me an hour's treatment on my neck and shoulder and I felt better after that than I did before I'd even started painting.
Kind of makes me think his business will be a success, since he is so good at making aches and pains go away!
If you are in the area and need to feel better, give him a call.
We still have work to do, at the Habitat resale store, we bought a $5 window to put in this opening to give the massage room more privacy. After that, we'll paint the trim. Around the doors, I painted the trim with bronze glaze in a dry brush technique. For this, I'm not sure yet. I'll have to see how the window turns out, we are going to paint the glass with a mandela pattern.
Canvas drop cloths are waiting to be dyed and made into curtains and Sugarwing's Daddy has some other green/low cost decor planned too, but the space is already functional and open for business.
I gave them one of my favorite lamps, made by a friend. I hated to see it go, but it looks so good here, I just had to. I've got some hand blown glass lamps that I'm sending over too. I love them, but right now, they are just hanging in my shed, which is a silly waste of their beauty.
His Gypsy Beloved will be making her "Freaks", for sale. She makes funny little fairies and sock dolls too. Plus, she will be doing guided meditations. There is already a good following building up for her Wednesday night group sessions.
And my boy will be selling his silver wrapped jewelry. He has some skills, doesn't he? I love seeing the detail in his work.
Of course, I think these are his best creations.
He also travels to festivals to do massage and energy work, so I made a sign that he could easily transport. Its an old door panel, that I painted blue, flicked with white, then did some swirls on. This looks complicated, but takes only moments to do.
I dip my rag in multiple colors and do quick swirls with it.
Over that, I did some lettering, making the "o" a planet. My writing is far from professional, but suited the theme.
To get the watercolor look on the lettering, I let the white dry, outlined one side with black, let that dry, then outlined the other side with blue. While the blue was still wet, I used a brush loaded with water to bleed the color over the white paint.
I hope to do a larger, more permanent sign for the business too, but need to wait till I get caught up on a few more projects. Tag books for one… a painting of my grandma for a family cookbook, some decor for Jenn Hayslip's event in the fall, and about a billion more things. If you were wondering why I hadn't been making my little pretties or adding new goodies to the Boutique that explains it!
Thank goodness this is still selling each day! Thank YOU to all of you who are signing up for the $15 online classes. And I'm sorry I haven't had more kits to list, the ones I put in the Boutique went fast. I'll try to make up some more, I have a table top of supplies set up to go…. But- there is only so much time in a day. And not quite enough of it.
If you have any questions about the classes, feel free to ask. And I'd love to see what you make. Maybe we should have a linky party and show our creations? No two turn out the same.
Seems like this is becoming my "Summer Giveaway" too. I'm giving one away for each drawing I do. Leave a comment if you'd like to have a chance to win.
Karla, you are so creative! No doubt customers will flock to the new business – the decor looks lovely! That lamp is gorgeous!
My BirdSong tag book came — Love, Love, Love it! I love all the tags, your cover, the cute little birdcage charm – everything!
Thank you so much for hosting this wonderful swap!
Jane-Jacksonville
Karla…this was a super happy share
your art is positively gorgeous
i love love love that lamp
your whole family is so creative!
and last but not least…those cutie peeps
so adorable ~ you are blessed!
BEAR HUGS
~victoria~
The walls look gorgeous! I have a friend who is a housemother in lawrence. i will email her the name of your son’s business.
Karla, beautiful baby and of course Sugar Wings gets prettier in each picture. Love the walls and sign! Many blessings to your son and his work, I can feel the good energy here. If you would like I’m happy to put a brief blurb in my newsletter which will go out mid August, I don’t have a huge list but it is made up of those interested in such things, so is a targeted audience. I do have subscribers from all over so may be some in your area. I would just need a short description of his business by the 2nd week in August.
Karla, your son’s new space looks fantastic! YOu did a great job! His patrons will get more than a massage, they will get a fabulous visual experience as well!!! And those two sweet girls, so cute together!!! Loved seeing what you did, bet you will get many requests to do more from this….maybe if you did it in paintings or wall hangings, then you could sit in your lovely studio and do them instead of climbing up and down walls!!! That way visitors could have a little piece of the beauty to take home with them! You are so talented, no matter what the style or project, you make it so beautiful!!!
Been reading your blog for awhile just haven’t commented til now. I love how you painted the walls. Your family is lovely looking and so creative. I’m sure your son will do well. The space looks very inviting. Makes me wish I lived closer.
I so wish I lived closer! Your son’s business looks wonderful! Have a great weekend!
You and your family are so talented!!! Would love to have one of your son’s massages if I were only close by. I so enjoy your blog and hope to attend your next workshop.
Wow – your son’s space looks amazing and you’re so right ~ that lamp is perfect in there. How nice that you can help him out and he can fix you right up afterwards! I wish him well in his business.
Hi Karla,
I just saw the pictures of all the pretty dress forms. I love how they are all unique. I would love to enter your drawing for a class.
Danielle
Hi Karla, I finally purchased your mini dress form tut…I can’t wait to get started! I love your son’s shop. Wish I lived there, I need massages!!! LOL Have a great weekend…Becs
What fantastic eye candy you’ve shared!! An amazing space and I’m sure business will be fantastic. Your family is SO talented! Thank you for my Bird Song Tag Book…it arrived the other day and I absolutely LOVE it!!
xox
Karen
It’s all lovely — so wonderful that Adam’s business is already doing so well! Oh my goodness, that photo of Sugarwings and the baby at the mirror is beyond precious!
Adam’s business looks so inviting and relaxing. Sure wish it was closer! Love the painting you did for him, but I can see how painting big spaces like that would be way too hard (to do on a regular basis) for us ladies of a certain age. 😉 Hugs, Cathy
Karla, your sons studio is AMAZING! The sunset is beautiful! Your son’s jewelry is beautiful. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
I love the photo of Sugarwings and her sister. The baby looks like she’s look up to big sister in adoration and Sugarwings is looking down in pure love. So Sweet! You really do know how to capture a moment in time.
Love,
elaine
Everybody in your family is SO creative!
I really like the way you guys did the walls in Holding Space. You can tell from the pictures that it has a warm, sort of welcoming feel. The fact that the girls feel so comfortable playing there tells you everything.
Karla, Adam’s business space is absolutely beautiful, you and they did a wonderful job, I totally agree, that lamp needs to live there. That is an absolutely adorable picture of the the girls in front of the mirror, so very cute !!! Great job !!! Tell Adam good luck on the new venture. Debbie.