2011 Highlights!

I am not gonna lie... it feels really freakin awesome to have your work showcased and featured on other people's blogs.  You know what I mean.  Especially when it's a pretty big ole blog!  So I'm thrilled to tell you that the Pottery Barn Knock Off Train Mural I shared with you all the other day is being featured
right now... at Knock Off Decor!
Head over and check out my feature there today!  There are tons and tons of other amazing knock offs to wow and amaze you as well!  Thanks so much Beckie!

This has been a pretty amazing year for me and the blog.  I could have never dreamt of how much I would love sharing projects, thoughts, ideas, and just silly random thoughts with all of you.  I had hoped I would gain a few followers but never imagined all of the friendships that would develope in return!  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart! 

To recap my 2011 I thought I would share the top 3 posts from this year with you.  Your picks (most viewed) are also some of my favorites as well; perhaps because they are somewhat personal and very special to me.

#1 Most viewed was the Formal Dress Recycle for my oh so special little Alexis.  I never ever dreamed that this post would be the most viewed... but leave it up to Alexis to steal the show!  God Bless her, she always shines!  The Lord knows you didn't flock to this post just for my sewing skills!

{we will be seeing more of Alexis in 2012!}

#2 Most Viewed was no shocker to me either...My God Sent Angel was the next place most went after seeing her in her dress!  With an open heart I invited you into my life as a mother of a special needs child.  Both of my kids are my inspiration.  

I am the disabled child. I am your teacher. If you allow me, I will teach you what is really important in life. I will give you and teach you unconditional love. I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you. I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted. I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams. I teach you giving. Most of all I teach you hope and faith. I am the disabled child.

#3 Most viewed was the Winter Sweater Wreath made just a few months ago from an UpCycled sweater and some dollar store berry twigs.  Never would have guessed that this project would have drawn so much interest either but I am so glad it did or I wouldn't have met alot of you.

I must say that no matter what post was your favorite, whether you enjoy the painting or the personal posts... I am so incredibly thankful to have you here!  Can't wait to share my 2012 with you too!

On Board the PB Knock Off Train

Christmas Day may be over now, but remember the spirit of Christmas can carry on!  My goal from now and into the New Year is to enjoy everyday life much more; to be happier and joyful in the midst of it all. I pray the same for all of you as this next week charges down the tracks straight into the 2012 New Year.

Now please pardon my lame train track metaphor as I share with you my knock off attempt of the PB locomotive wall decal.  I spent the most part of December painting this in bits and pieces between many other projects.

[post updated 3/8/12] added photo of painted train back to post!  I still don't know why they disappeared!

My inspiration came from the PB Kids Halloween 2011 issue.  I immediately thought of my parents and their love of all things rustic (trains, deer, browns & blues) and said to myself, "you can do that!".

{image via Pottery Barn Kids 2011 - No longer available product}

So I pulled out my humongo roll of painters canvas and a pencil and got straight to work.  Hand sketching the image as closely as possible to the white canvas.

It is hard to see, but the image was roughly sketched onto the canvas above.

The image was then filled in loosely with watered down blue acrylic paint.

Layers and layers of different shades of blue were added to create depth shading to the locomotive.  White, grey and silver were added in layers for some highlights and more dimension.  Honestly, it was bugging me to end that my little headlight was not 'right'.  I am my own worst critic as my family insisted it was 'fine'... 'fine' was not what I was going for unfortunately!  BUT, that is what is so great about paint... you can adjust and paint over til you get it almost right.

The brown background was added after the locomotive details were complete.  The train number was added along with some detailed bolt work on the face of the train.  The light looks more centered in the next photo from the retouch I made. (you can see the catalog used for reference in above photo)

The white steam and tunnel opening details were added.

To finish the painting, a rustic frame was constructed (thanks to dear hubby) from some wood and painted with the same brown paint as the background.

The perfectionist in me knows full well that some of my angles are a bit off, but all in all I am pleased with the way it turned out.  The best part is that the whole thing cost me under $5 to duplicate as all the supplies were on hand except the wood framing!  Thanks for the inspiration PB but you can keep your $99 price tag!



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