Whew... I can breathe again!!

For the past four weeks, I have literally worked day and night on my newest website design. I can honestly say that many days it was 9 am until midnight. I am happy to announce the birth (and in some ways it indeed did feel like childbirth...lol) of

NancyGordonMusic.com

Many of the graphics I "drew" on the computer, including all the little banners, buttons, and of course the background wallpaper. Her logo is designed by a very talented visual artist, Julia Azar, and she wanted her website to feel very much like her logo... a bit free, hand-drawn, and very welcoming.




So that was the look for which we were aiming. I incorporated a Blogger Blog, a separate "Gratitudes" (devotional) page, a Prayer Request page, and a Shopping Cart.... on top of the other five main website pages (Music, About, Contact, and Stories) . I know a lot of web design companies have different people in charge of doing all those different tasks, but there is only one of me. Which means, I get to do it all. Design is such fun, but it is not easy. There were times of extreme migraine and then times of delight. But, here we are with our new "baby" to share with the world (wide web).

I tell a short story about my relationship with Nancy and how her music has personally been a blessing in my own life HERE. Years before I knew who she was, her music was impacting my famiy. I would love it if you -- my wonderful blog friends -- would take a look around the site. (And while you're there, if you see anything that's not just right please let me know!) I hope that you'll be blessed because you visited.

Now it's time to get back to the drawing board.

Blessings,
Christi

Fall... ahhhh

Has it really been since August 4th that I posted last? Where does time go? These last couple of months have flown by in a whirlwind. Four commissioned art pieces and a massive website design, plus two weeks in another state, have made it seem like yesterday that I was telling you my in-laws had moved out. At least I have a little something to show for my time away. :) Here are some samples of artwork I have been doing...

Commissioned Work - Austin, TX

Commissioned Work - Dallas, TX

Commissioned Work - Enfield, CT

Commissioned Work - Chicago, IL

Commissioned Work - Thomasville, AL

And I must tell you that I am really excited about the new website I am designing for a friend and songwriter in the Christian music industry, Nancy Gordon. I have so enjoyed getting to know her through our phone conversations and e-mails. I hope that once her new site is live, you will go and visit. It is a really extensive site design, so I have been sucked far, far down into web code & design world. I am loving that I am getting to do this for someone whose business is writing praise and worship songs and lullabies. The neatest thing is that she found out about me and contacted me through a "friend of a friend," though she didn't really know much about me. But, I knew about her and actually sang her lullabies to my children while rocking them when they were babies. It just amazes me how God brings people together for His purposes. And if you have ever sung "Firm Foundation," then you have sung a song she wrote.

Lastly, I will share a couple of paintings that I have done in my painting class:

"Chateau" - oil on canvas (my attempt at really, REALLY loose)

"Blue Autumn" - oil on canvas

Well now you know what's been going on with me. I'd love to hear what's been going on with you!

Blessings,
Christi

In and Out

Well, the in-laws moved out about as quickly as they moved in. So many life lessons were learned during their stay, but none more meaningful than how to be an unselfish houseguest. What a blessing they are to me and my family! And I thought I would share a little artwork that I have been working on in class. My mother and I have the best time painting together, and it's really quite a wonder that we get any painting done at all. But here are a few...

This first one is finished. Not my favorite but my teacher thinks those of us (me) who are trying to paint too realistically need to loosen up. I really did try in this painting of a spot in Norway which he shot a photo of on his recent trip there.



This next picture is of a few bottles. Something in this photo just caught my attention, and I had to paint it. I am not quite done with it yet... still need to work on the table as it looks like the bottles are falling off the back.



And this one is really loosely done... about 30 minutes of work in it, so far. I am by no means finished with it... a field of wildflowers. Can you guess what is missing?



Hope everyone is staying out of this wretched heat. My car thermometer read 104 degrees today, for the fourth day in a row. I think I could stand that kind of heat if the humidity were not at 95%. I feel like a piece of steamed broccoli wilting my way here and there to my various errands. Surely this can't go on and on.

I am also busy with a couple of new commissioned home drawings and staying busy with website and logo design, too. Not much time to visit my friends during these busy days. Hope to come for a visit to your place very soon.

Love,

Must've been His timing...

A year and a half ago we put our house on the market. At the time we prayed that the Lord would help us to sell it if it was His will for us to move. It was on the market for 9 months. We showed the house over 50 times (no, that is not a typo and I have the realtors' cards to prove it). Not a bite, not an offer, not even a sniff. It's a lovely house, in a nice neighborhood, and was not over-priced. We took it off the market last summer.

A month ago my in-laws put their house on the market. They showed it twice. The first people who looked at it made an offer, and then in about three weeks' time they closed the deal. And just like that, they're living with us for a few weeks until they can get into their new place. We (as well as the two of them) have had a complete upheaval in a month's time. So there are seven of us living in our lovely home. Fortunately I dearly love my in-laws, and we are having a great time. Still, moving an entire house full of belongings/furniture and rearranging my own home were not in the plans for these past four weeks. And yet, they were obviously in His plan.

I hope you are all having a lovely summer and staying out of the heat. It has been fairly miserable here the past week or so. But, artwork is keeping me inside. I will post some pictures of my most recent commissions soon. And I am taking a painting class with my mother on Tuesdays. Here's one of my recent paintings from the class...



Blessings,
Christi

Unselfish Flowers

This beautiful snowflake hydrangea hangs its head so elegantly...



These Asiatic lilies have the most wonderful scent, very light and clean...




Is there a more unselfish flowering plant than a daylily? They require so little, yet give so much.







And now, most everything in my yard is green. Just green. Which is not so bad really. But, oh how I appreciate the generous flowers (that don't have to be sprayed, watered constantly, pruned, and generally tended) that bloom and bring such beauty and color to my home and yard.

Back to the drawing board...

It has been a really interesting spring, and I am looking forward to summer days. I have just completed one of the commissioned drawings that I have currently been working on. It is a beautiful local home, and the residents are moving due to job relocation. She wanted a drawing to remember it by. I was so pleased that she asked me to do it for her.

Hope you're all having a greatly blessed week!

Kidnapped by LIFE ... again

I suppose it will be this way for a while yet ...three teenagers, three cars, and one car in the shop... too many places to be ...all at the same time. Life has gotten so busy that it kidnapped me, once again, and took me away from my blogging adventure. I love blogging... I really do. But, I just don't have the time for it that I would like to. My family is top priority, and they have schedules to keep. On top of those schedules, I have had three new commissioned pieces to come up in these last few weeks. Yay! So my life is planning itself... and blogging hasn't been in its schedule... until now.

My beautiful daughter has been busy with ballet, and her mom has been busy taking her here, there and everywhere. The result was a spectacular performance of "The Battle for Lucinda's Heart."

Modern dance... "Merrymakers"



Traditional ballet... "Spirits of Darkness"

Then there have been more art shows and three new commissioned pieces... unusual this time of year. In addition, I have built an entire website for a new client since my last post, along with some unusually large updates to other sites that I maintain. Life is definitely an adventure!

Blessings to all my dear blogging friends,

Victorian Tea Party hosted by Cielo at The House in the Roses

Victorian Tea Party




Hosted by Cielo at The House in the Roses.



At Charm & Grace Cottage I have brought in some lovely roses to prepare for our party...





I have picked out an organza apron decorated with a rose, along with my silver service.



I have chosen to use my china... "Hermitage" by Noritake... teacups with my silver "Chippendale" by Towle.





I am serving "Paris" tea by Harney & Sons.







I have enjoyed having you to tea today! Please come back and visit again soon. To visit others having a tea party today, visit Cielo's House in the Roses.

Petals From the Past Nursery Tour

One of my favorite places to visit is a local nursery called
"Petals From the Past."


Their philosophy is to offer plants that are well established in our area and known for being hardy.



A visit to their nursery is like stepping into wonderland.



They are also set on offering plants like old fashioned roses that don't need spraying, feeding, and pruning unless you just want to. YUM!!









































Wysteria is one of my very favorite things... oh, to have this kind of arbor with those beautiful blooms hanging everywhere.



I wish you could smell the wonderful aroma of the air filled with wysteria blossoms.



It was a beautiful day and such a joy to get to view the variety of plants and flowers. Such loveliness in all of God's creation!