a couple of new items at my shop!

I listed two new items that are ready to ship at Molly & Gordon this week. Click on their titles below to check them out and please share with friends!

Teal Birdie

Little Owl

Thanks!

it's STILL fall!!

On our way home from church tonight, I noticed a neighbor's Christmas tree shining through their front window. For a split second, I felt silly as we pulled into our driveway and were greeted by our scarecrows and mums. Then, I snapped back to reality, because we haven't gotten to Thanksgiving, yet! It's okay to have our scarecrows and mums out, and our turkey hanging by the front door! I'm happy my kids are learning about Thanksgiving and pilgrims and Native Americans at school. And I know we're already two weeks past Halloween and I really should have posted on it closer to the actual event, but I didn't want to just neglect to post those pics even though the neighbors (and the big box retailers!) are trying to force us into the Christmas season early.

Sooooo...

We had a GREAT Halloween season this year! The kids were quick to choose their costumes this year picking non-purchaseable items, so I had to develop a plan to create a walking cheetah and a walking grape popsicle! I was pretty pleased with the outcome:

There was of course pumpkin-carving,

and fun events at school involving crazy socks,

and pumpkin-painting at the neighbors,

and face-painting!

We also enjoyed a night at the school/parish Halloween party that featured games for the kids and trunk or treat in the school parking lot, so I've been a little overloaded on Halloween candy since these lucky kids got to go THREE times (campgrounds in Harbor Beach, school and around our neighborhood).

There, now that that's taken care of...let us continue with our fall celebration and prep for THANKSGIVING! Sam has a school program coming up, so my next costume creation will be a Native American!

another first

Thanks to the kids' beginning of the year school schedule, I had two days of dealing with the emotions of sending Sam off into the big, scary world of Catholic school (haha) before I had to send Grace off for her first day of preK. On Sam's first day, I had the day off of work, so Grace and I planned a playdate in the morning and then spent the afternoon painting her school tote. She did a great job with it, painting her own name and self portrait and only needed a little help with the flowers she wanted to include. She still has plans to also paint the back of the bag, at some point. She's thinking of including the whole family, including the dog and cat :)

Again, I of course documented the morning...

Our two Catholic school kids...

Sam, being the old pro who had already been attending this new school for two days, filled Grace in on where everything was as we were walking to his classroom to drop him off.

Grace's first day was a short one, but she is really looking forward to tomorrow, when she gets to take her lunch in her new iCarly lunch bag (I'm still trying to figure out if she's 4 or 14). Just like her brother, she was also so proud of herself that she did not move to yellow or red on the discipline chart. And while it was heartbreaking to send two off to school that morning, when I picked Grace up at 11 and asked her what her favorite part of her first day was, she at least gave me this: "When you came back." Maybe they do still need me a little bit, at least. :)

Relay for Life 2010

Team Sherwin-Williams did awesome this year raising over $10,000 for Relay for Life! The campaign wrapped for the year with the walk at the middle school in Richmond. We took the kids to show our support and participate in the fun activities for an excellent cause.

I did a couple of paintings for the silent auction for that night that I'm hoping added a little to the final total!

Before I left with the kids to meet Kris at the walk, I tried to explain to the kids what cancer was and why we wanted to raise money for Relay for Life. I tried to put it in kid terms that they would understand saying that cancer is a disease that makes people very very sick and we want to raise money so that scientists will be able to continue trying to find new medicines that will help the sick people. They had a few questions which I answered and we left to drive down to Richmond.

When we got there, we met Kris in the parking lot and Grace grabbed his hand and said, "Hurry up, Daddy! The disease is about to start!"

Oops...guess something was lost in translation there. We stopped and tried to explain it a little further. Then, as we were crossing the track to go to the Sherwin-Williams tent, Kris warned Sam to not kick over the luminaries that were lining the track. To which Sam responded, "yes, because they are full of diseases."

That's when Kris turned to me and said, "What the hell did you tell them?!"

So, I guess I failed at getting the meaning of the event across to the kids this year. I'll try again next year with them when they are a little older.

The meaning is certainly not lost with the two of us, though, as we walked in remembrance of so many family members and friends who have lost their battle and in honor of so many others who are battling now.

Like I said...fun event for a great cause. If you have a team in your area, please get involved!

recent work

A recent order for a friend...
Little Huston has yet to be born, but I hope he loves this when he arrives!

my first sale!!

I've decided that Facebook is a beautiful tool. The day I posted my status update there to announce that I had opened up an Etsy shop, an old high school friend contacted me to place an order for her daughter's room! And I couldn't have asked for an easier first customer. DeAnna e-mailed me pictures of Reece's new big girl room and bedding and basically said "go for it". After having her choose from three rough sketches, I got to work on the finished product. It shipped today and I hope Reece loves it! I'll be adding it to my shop tonight to make it available as a customizable piece. If you'd like to see my other available pieces, click here.

what I've been up to...

A few new pieces...

meeting my goal

Anyone remember this? Yes, last May (2008), I set a goal for myself to open an Etsy shop in the fall. Okay, so I'm a year late...but in my defense, I did not indicate fall of what year in the original goal! Well, I finally did it!


mollyandgordon.etsy.com

It's still in the beginning stages and I plan to add a bunch of items to it, but I'm happy with the start. Please check it out and, if you like what you see, feel free to pass it along to everyone you know (or maybe even order something yourself...I'm just saying). Thanks!

recent work

A few paintings from the past few months...

recent work

I've been in a painting mood, lately, so any child's gift we've needed as of late, has been painted. Below are three recent pieces. I have a couple more to post sometime in the next week after I know they have been received.

recent work...

I recently completed a this pair of paintings for the Brining Babies, Audrey and Lilly. Click here to see a photo of them hanging in the nursery.


This past weekend, my nephew turned two. In the coming weeks, he will be moving into his big kid baseball room to clear the nursery for baby brother or sister. I completed this painting as part of his present. I'll post pics soon of the trip to Chicago Sam and I took for the birthday party. It was a lot of fun...and a little wet...who knew hurricanes hit Chicago so hard. More to come .

recent work

Recent work done for a friend's baby...
Brining Babies, yours is coming soon!