It's that time of year again...The Creative Painting Convention is in Vegas!  Classes began on Sunday and will continue throughout the week.  My favorite part of the whole thing is the trade show floor.  It opens on Wednesday and runs through Friday.

 All the booths were full this year which was good to see.   I went yesterday on opening day.  The floor was buzzing with happy shoppers carrying bags filled with with treasures of patterns, books, paint, wood, tin and more.  I have to admit, I was one of them.  I managed to do plenty of damage to my check book but I won't need to purchase brushes for a year...maybe more.
I went by myself this year.  I think that was a first for me.  There used to be a group of us that went, my aunt and a couple of her friends would even come up from Texas for it.  The last few years my friend Diane went with me but she had a dentist appointment and didn't want to take off any more time from work than needed.   I have to admit, it's more fun when you have someone to squeal and giggle with.
Here are a few pictures of the treasures I accumulated at the show.

Well, I have all these new goodies so that means I will need to get busy and create some fun new stuff.

Spring Windows

Last Friday I painted the windows for Treasures from the Heart here in Las Vegas.  She wanted something to leave up past Easter so I think this did the job.  The picket fence can stay up all the time along the bottom and the upper section can be changed out when she chooses.  I drove by it on the way to church this morning and it really stands out from the street.  She loved it!  Be sure to stop by her adorable shop on Craig Road, just east of Decatur, west of Allen. 

Another Valentine's Day Full of Flowers

Since Sunday, I've been working at a local floral shop for Valentine's Day.  This is always a long week for us around here.  It's nice to hear that orders were up 15% by Monday...bad news is we were down 2 designers from last year.  This made for some extra long hours for the rest of us.  My longest day was 16.5 hours, most were 8-10 hour days.  One day I counted 68 arrangements that came across my table.  

I'd like to say I am enjoying a few days off but I picked up flowers for 36 arrangements for an employee appreciation dinner Saturday.  I think I'll take Sunday off  for myself.  

I hope all of you enjoyed your flowers and Valentine's Day.  It's great to serve others, especially when they appreciate it. 

Some January projects

Valentine swag 

Wedding for The Plaza at Whitney Ranch 

Halloween Swags

Halloween swags 

I'm trying to not be behind the eight ball for shows this year.  I'm working on getting a head start. 

A bigger mess than I remember...

So I finally started to clean out my studio so I can convert it to a wood shop.  There is so much stuff in there that's its an overwhelming and daunting task.  I decided to attack a single corner yesterday and see what I could do.  A window was left open so what should be just dust is feeling like dirt...yuck.
I started a couple of piles...one of items to just donate and part with, another to supplies I think someplace or someone could use, a large trash can...and the last one I have going is metalware.  I've been collecting metal pieces a long time to paint on... peculator coffee pots, pans, sifters, watering cans, new metal containers, rusty stuff.  Oh my gosh, I have a lot, I mean A LOT of it.  I know what I will be painting for shows this year.
I am embarrassed to  reveal what the place really looks like so after it's been sifted through, sorted, and organized a bit more I will give you a peak.  In the mean time, I'll be working on it to be something to be proud of again.