You need to know about this:

I am constantly looking for ways to save my precious four year old son's masterpieces of art.  He brings a new one home from school almost every day so I have to get creative!

When the amazing Sharyn Blond launched her new linen featuring your child's artwork appliquéd on to one of her fine linens, I about fainted because I adore her linens and I adore my son's art! This is the perfect gift for my mom, who is impossible to buy for, for Mother's Day!

Here's the deal:

There are three simples steps to make it happen but you must do it quickly!  The deadline for Mother's Day orders is Friday, Feb. 10th.

Three simple steps:

1. Email, Fax or Mail your child's artwork to
Sharyn Blond Linens
2718 W. 53rd Street
Fairway, Kansas  66205
913-362-4420
courtney@sharynblondlinens.com

2. Specify the product you want:
-cocktail napkins
-fingertip or guest towels
-bedding

3. Pick from your favorite linen color.  There are 40 colors to choose from!

Your little Picasso

I have such a hard time getting rid of any of my child's artwork. To me, every single work of his art is a masterpiece!  They tend to pile up on the table or overlap on the fridge in our house!  I think I have now found two solutions that might allow you to give each and every masterpiece it's proper respect!

Cuco Books are the perfect solution when you are trying to make space.  Lyssa Orchid takes your selected art works, has them professionally photographed and sends the images back to you in a beautifully bound book.  It is the perfect way to preserve and celebrate the art with out taking up any wall space!

The Great Remember offers another artistic solution.  You can send them the artwork, outgrown clothing,  or photographs and they will create an applique or mosaic suitable for framing!  Of course, if you are crafty, you could try your hand it and make it a family summer project!

Calling all Calligraphers!

If you love calligraphy as much as I do then I know you are going to drop your pen right now to head out to The Dallas Calligraphy Society's exhibit of original works in a varity of lettering styles.  Now, if you think you are going to head out to see a bunch of envelopes and invitations, think again!  The range of pieces is amazing!  Some of them are ancient.  Some of them are modern.  They are all true works of art though!
The free exhibit is up through August 29th at the Irving Arts Center Main Gallery.
If the exhibit inspires you to hone your calligraphic craft then check out the list of Kaligrafos Workshops and area classes listed on The Dallas Calligraphy Society's website.

BAM! A New Tablecloth!

I always knew that I loved setting the table but I must admit that our newest tablecloth has already brought us great joy!  I was so thrilled to meet local artist Beverly Ann Moore earlier this year and I adored the amazing tablecloth she made for our Easter Egg Hunt.  When I saw some of the samples for tablecloths that she created for other clients, I knew that I just had to order one right away.  

There were many reasons for my immediate order:

1. Beverly Ann Moore is one of the sweetest ladies around.  I loved the idea that she was going to put her heart, soul and positive energy into our creation.

2. I knew that this piece would be passed down for generations and would only look better over time. She uses acrylic paint on sturdy cotton canvas to create a design that can be spot cleaned with a soft sponge or gently machine-washed.

3. I loved the designs and I love the fact that it was being created just for my little family.

The process was a blast but it did take a few months.  Here are the steps:

First, I met with Beverly at our home so that she could measure our table and we could select the design and the colors.  Beverly really took the time to study our kitchen, make recommendations and gave me some fantastic input.

The second step was the most fun!  We talked about ways to personalize the cloth for our family.  I gave her a piece of my china so that she could copy it onto the cloth.  I also told her about the silver service that my mother-in-law gave us when Justin and I married.  It had a beautiful W monogram on it that I had already copied on some stationery.  She took a piece of stationery home with her so that she could copy the monogram.

Beverly came back for another visit after she had drawn out some design options for us.  She incorporated our china and our family silver!  She also used some of the curvy designs that she knew I would like because she saw them on my website!

Beverly is so kind and so involved in her creations.  Consulting with her on the design was so much fun!  We moved the designs, which were drawn on to tracing paper, around the table and played with various ideas.

After deciding on a design, Beverly sketched it out to scale and brought it by our home to lay it out on the table. She wanted to be sure that the scale, placements, and sizing was correct before she started painting.

Beverly told me that when she is painting, she is thinking about our family and how many great memories we will make around our table.  She puts love into every single one of her creations!

The finished product!  There is a place-setting painted on for each of us, complete with a personalized place card!  I love the clean white paint on the linen colored background but I also loved a cloth that she made with a natural canvas background black paint.  It was hard for me to choose but when I saw the finished cloth, I knew I had made the right choice for us!

A detail of my place setting!  Although it looks beautifully pale, it can handle spills and will not stain!  Beverly told me that she actually tried to stain one with red wine once and it came right out!

He is obviously thrilled with our new tablecloth!  That smile made the process completely worth it!

What I didn't predict is that my two and a half year old son would want to set the table now that he sees that everything has a place!


To order your BAM cloth today visit www.bamsart.com


Photography by Brian Coats  www.briancoats.com

Schoolfolio

I have to admit that I am running out of room on my refrigerator for my son's artwork masterpieces!  He is only 2 but his work is already starting to take over our home!  A girlfriend told me about this wonderful Schoolfolio that organizes your child's artwork and keeps it safe from fading or gathering dust!  There are single folios ($27.95) is fun colors and designs or the All-In-One ($84.95) which can store your keepsakes, from art to report cards, from Preschool thru 12th grade!  Their pre-printed labels allow to design and organize the folio as you like.  You could dedicate on folio to each child or they could share and you could separate their works with your labels.  I can't wait to get mine and get my fridge back!

Dwell With Dignity

I am head over heels crazy for the latest Non-Profit group I have discovered. Dwell With Dignity is made up of a group of Interior Designers who volunteer their time designing and installing all of the furniture, art, bedding and kitchen supplies that a family battling poverty could need. They even stock the pantry. All of their "clients" are dealing with major hardships (for some, they are finding a roof after homelessness) and DWD fills their new homes with great design. Their goal is to bring good design to those less fortunate inspiring them to maintain a standard of living they can be proud of and thrive in. They believe that changing their surroundings can change their outlook on life. Children especially see the standard of living and will most likely carry it forward. It is inspiring and provides a peaceful and cheerful home surrounding. I am sure that the fact that they have volunteered and provided for them inspires the recipients as well!

Here is how you can help: You can donate dollars to underwrite needed furniture, donate your gently used furniture (in many cases they will refurbish it or reupholster it) or you can volunteer. Volunteers on the installations do everything from making art and sewing pillows to hanging drapes and making beds! Click here to see some of their amazing design projects!

Art Gallery Hopping

I love taking a day to walk around and explore art galleries. It is always fun to see what vibrant, living artists are working on now! The best thing is that they are free! You can spend a day feeling like a European perusing a few art galleries and then have a long leisurely lunch and a cafe. I will admit that visiting an art gallery can be intimidating so here are a few tips to make your day a just like a European vacation:

• Timing is everything. Many galleries are closed on Mondays so that they can stay open on the weekend. They are typically busier on the weekends than the weekdays so if you really want to avoid the crowds, go during the week.
• Sign up for the mailing list to receive invitations to the gallery openings and events. It is a fun way to meet new people and mix and mingle in the art world.
• Take your time to make a judgement. Walk around and just look. After you have spent some time browsing on your own, ask the gallery staff questions. I always like to ask where the artist is from, how they grew up and where they live now. I often find that it influences the way I see their work.

The Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show

The inaugural Dallas International Art, Antique and Jewelry Show will take place Nov. 6th thru 9th at the Dallas Convention Center. It is a great place to learn, browse or even buy! For more information visit their website at www.dallasfallshow.com