The Farm in Spring

We visited my family's farm in Asheville, North Carolina over Easter weekend, it was a visit just drenched in the beauty of springtime, now its already May and I've wanted to do a long-overdue post in pictures of the wonderful time we spent celebrating the holiday there.

The above view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from my aunt's house never gets old, and I love how it changes with the seasons, last time we were there it was Autumn, and this time the understory of the forest almost looks like it has snow on it with those white Dogwood blossoms.

We spent Easter day celebrating with friends and family by the pond, eating yummy food, hunting Easter eggs,

and having good old fashioned egg on the spoon races,

Can't get enough of that spring green!

And I was totally swooning over the spring flowers, everywhere!

Frank did this painting of the view from my Aunt's deck, I love the movement in it!

Whenever we are there so much activity is packed into blissful days spent mostly outside. My aunt takes the kids with her on all of her farm chores, feeding the cows, fish and chickens, along with collecting eggs and whatever else needs doing. Which leaves Frank and I with much appreciated time to hang out together. During this visit we even got to go into downtown Asheville for lunch at a delicious Indian restaurant just the two of us. We usually visit the farm in August, but with baby due this year in August we might try to squeeze a last visit in July, we'll see...but part of my heart is always there.

2012 Calendar

I hope that you had a lovely weekend!

I'm excited to share that my 2012 Calendar is in featuring one of my favorite paintings on every page. Most of them from this past year.
Next year, just cut off the calendar part and you have 12 art prints to frame or share.

Its printed with archival inks, spiral bound, the loop on top can be hung right on the wall.

Easter Egg Bread

One of my favorite things about Easter in my home growing up was the special, and super yummy, egg bread that my mother made and we devoured on Easter morning. Our Easter bread is one of those traditions that I love to continue with my own children. It is a great recipe to make with little ones, and it makes me so happy to see them enjoying the Easter bread as I have. I thought I'd pass the recipe on to you, maybe it will be become a part of your tradition!
First things first, we color our uncooked eggs, they cook when the bread is baking in the oven,

Easter Egg Bread
12 eggs in shell, uncooked
Easter egg coloring
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shortening
Grated peel of 2 lemons
2 packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees F)
2 eggs at room temperature
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour (about)
1 egg beaten
tiny colored candies

~Wash 12 uncooked eggs, tint the shells with egg coloring and set aside.
~Scald the milk;add sugar, salt, shortening, and lemon peel. Cool to lukewarm.
~Sprinkle yeast on warm water; stir to dissolve. Add to milk mixture with the 2 eggs, slightly beaten, and 2 1/2 cup flour. Beat until smooth.
~Stir in enough remaining flour, a little at a time, to form a dough that is easy to handle. Turn onto lightly floured board and knead until smooth and elastic, 5 to 8 minutes (this is the kids favorite part and for us can go on for 15 minutes or so). Place in a lightly greased bowl; turn over to grease top. Cover and let rise in warm dry place free from drafts until doubled, about 1 hour.
~Punch down (the kids other favorite part); cover and let rise again until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.
~Divide dough into 12 equal parts. Form each part into a ring around a tinted egg.
~Cover; let rise until doubled.
~Brush evenly with beaten egg. Sprinkle with tiny decorating candies.
~Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 15 minutes. Serve warm.
Notes: Easter Egg Bread can be baked the day before. Refrigerate. At serving time reheat at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.

They are so scrumptious,

they don't last long around our house!

Happy Easter!

Huge shop update!

Hhhhhhhhhhhhhm. That's me exhaling deeply. Frank was away last week, so being alone with the kids had me running around like a wild woman doing the job of two parents, but we made it through, and I'm so happy to have my sweet man at home again! Somehow this past weekend I completed a huge shop update...and now my shop is full to brimming with pretty things. One of the the things that I'm most excited about are these prints on canvas, that are GORGEOUS!

I put a bunch of them up with my show at Swallow, I love that they look practically just like the originals but at a fraction of the price (spreading the love)! The sides are black all around, and the company that I found to print them just does a wonderful job, I'm so pleased with them.

I had them made in editions of two each of my favorite paintings, you can stop by here to check them out!

OK, another drum roll please....

Also, new to the shop are prints of four brand new paintings, all but one include deer. The piece that I have the biggest crush on currently is this wintry one called...

 Hiding Place 

along with, Close to You,  Faith and Courage, and Traveling Mercies. They are all pieces that I finished the week before my show went up. I usually like to wait and release each piece into the world on its own...but with the whirlwind and thrill of getting my show up I just went for it and added them all to the shop! To top it off I've also added a few more new small originals to the shop. There are this sweet Mama and baby in Little One, that I think is so perfect for a child's room,

and this gentle doe in Tender Footing,

As always, all of my prints are available for custom mounting on a wooden block with a key hole in the back for hanging, this is such a lovely way to see them displayed, it is as if they are just floating on the wall or bookshelf,

I am also totally getting caught up in the holiday spirit, probably something to do with my kid's excitement this year, Jasper is just at the age where he is starting to really get into the excitement of anticipating something. I think that it also has to do with the fact that this year we are planning a Florida Christmas, we are heading to Florida next Monday, away from the cold, to enjoy a warm holiday with Frank's family at his parent's house. Since we have already been having freezing temperatures here in Brooklyn this past week, I am more than ready for some sunshine. Warm thoughts are definitely keeping my spirits buoyant, and with that I would like to share with you that I am  offering a friendly 20% off of everything (even originals) in my shop using coupon code SEEKPEACE until I leave on the 19th, at which time I plan to close the shop for a whole week and simply relax. 

I hear myself deeply exhaling again, ahhh.

P.S. There are only three of my 2011 calendars left, get them while you can...

Giving Thanks

This past week was full to the brim for us, as I'm sure it was for all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving, with family, food and celebrating.

Here are some glimpses into our time. The highlight of our week was the visit of my dear brother and sister in law from England with their baby daughter,

Not since my own children were babies have I felt that a baby was so sweet, so cute, so dear, as this little girl. We are all completely in love with her, and her precious smile!

Frank (my hero) cooked up a huge feast on Thanksgiving day, with my mom's assistance,

My mom fell in love with this beautiful apron that has been on heavy rotation since I won it last month over on BananaSaurus Rex, such a pretty combination of soft cotton fabrics.

My painting Joy was chosen for the cover of our church's bulletin for the Advent season and this past Sunday was the first time it was on the cover, so that was fun to have it in everyone's hands...

After bidding a fond, and sad, farewell to our guests, we cleaned up the house and then went out and bought our Christmas tree! Yippee! We were all so excited to decorate it,

And I've been working on a felted Angel tree topper that is almost finished (I'll share pictures when she is done!), the kids have been loving having her sit up on the top of the tree,

With my opening this Thursday, and another good friend from afar coming to visit this week, things are feeling very festive! I am feeling very thankful for everything, and everyone, that I have in my life.