After a full day of organizing and packing, we are leaving tomorrow (today) for a long-weekend camping trip.   The pile of totes, bags and boxes piled in my dining room looks more like  two week’s worth than the “stuff” of four days!  We are prepared for late summer days and early fall nights (and everthing in between, by the looks of things!).

I love camping with my children… these are memories I know they will hold onto as they grow up, mostly because they talk about these trips alll the time.   “Big brother” has been counting down the days (for weeks!), with his backpack stash of Lego and other treasures ready and on standby for almost as long.  “Little brother” has been reminding everyone and anyone of the bee sting he got last year… within about five minutes out of the car!     Poor wee babe, only three at the time, couldn’t understand why that mean ol bee would want to go and hurt him like that! LOL

This year the “little princess”, just 12 weeks old, adds a fun twist to the whole camping scenario…she has three times the “stuff” as the rest of us!  Ahhh… all is well in the pecking order around here.

I’m looking forward to this time away and although I won’t be painting I know that I’ll return with recharged creative batteries…just something about the pine and the water and boys playing with glow sticks. ♥

Well, as with all of the best laid plans sometimes something out of our hands reworks them into a new plan! LOL We’re having some server maintenance today and so far I’ve been unable to upload the goodies! Stay tuned! LOL *Ü*

OK- We made it!  Enjoy!

Wow, I can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve posted here… yikes!  It’s not that I’ve been lazy or anything… I’ve labored, LOL.  Lydia Joy was born into our family on May 27th at 7:45 pm weighing 6 lbs 4 oz and a tiny 18″ long.  I adore my two sons, but I must say, there is just something about a daughter. ♥ 

I won’t unfold the mile-long photo sleeve, but here’s a pic of our princess:

First Sunday

 OK… you’ve twisted my arm… maybe one more… *wink*
One month old… wearing her “dancing dress”.

One month old... wearing her "dancing dress".

 Getting ready for a new baby is always filled with excitement and a million things to do.  Purchasing a new infant car seat was one of the things on our list… after much research a we bought a car seat… a boring grey car seat…  purchased on the merits of safety alone.  The artist within me couldn’t resist “prettifying” Lydia’s new ride in girlie-girl style:

From pttthhhh to pretty... a brush-stroke of magic!

Car seats aren’t the only thing I’ve been painting!  Now that we’ve settled into somewhat of a routine around here I’ve been able to find time to work on new designs… I hope to have SEVEN new ePackets loaded on the site this week!  Wahoo!

Here’s a sneak peek of a few of them…

Here's a sneak peek at some of the new designs I'll be adding to the site this week.

Thanks for letting me share… new babies of all kinds. ♥
Paint with a heart of JOY~
Lorrie

As a full time designer it is so rewarding to be able to be home with my children and still work a “job” I love as much as this! I paint almost every day, and when I’m not painting I can still be found surrounded by heaps of art and craft supplies while working on scrapbooks, creating cards or other paper projects… in other words, I pretty much have some kind of creative MESS around me all of the time! *grin*

Spring Bunny Treat Holder

 New PaperCraft pattern for ToleTown.com.  This is an ink and wash box perfect for holding those Easter goodies we’ll soon all be sharing!

Sometimes I think that bouncing back and forth between painting and paper arts is an elixir of inspiration… my creative juice!

What things do you find yourself caught up in that just stir your passion to create? A trip to the art store? A favorite website? An awesome magazine? Whatever it is I hope you are finding yourself filled to overflowing with creative energy that fuels your passion and your paint brushes this week!

Here in upstate NY we usually have snow by the end of October… would you believe that after a fabulous fall we are just now getting our first flakes!?! I don’t really enjoy the snow when the banks are still piled high in April, but THIS is the time of year when we have fun with it! LOL

To celebrate the snowfall, and to share the newly posted designs and surfaces with you, I’ve set up a special 15% off discount for you PLUS a second bonus savings opportunity!

Just enter the word “snowflake” in your cart and you’ll receive 15% off of your order, PLUS- if you purchase three ePackets you can take a fourth one FREE just by entering the name of the packet in the comment field of the cart… buy six and get two free!

ALSO- Susan and I have set up a little shop at ToleTown.com called “The Painting Pack Rat” and there are tons of neat things there, including my new canvas surfaces… scoot over and check it out and you can use the same discounts there, too!

Happy Snowy December!
Love,
Lorrie

Even though the awesome beauty and Autumn colors of the Adirondack Mountains are all around me, as soon as the air takes on that certain “nip” I can’t help but to feel excitement over the coming Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons!

Usually I’m a bit of a grump when I see Christmas decor in the stores before Halloween because I really DO love fall, but this year? Well, I’ve seen ornaments and candy canes on the shelves in *September* and felt…could be it be…yes… a giddy joy! Maybe it all stems from hearing my two sweet boys practicing Christmas songs for their music classes. Maybe it’s that we’ve already had snowflakes in the air. Maybe it’s just that in getting older I’m getting even more sentimental. Whatever it is, this year I’m in Holiday mode and loving it.

I have some fun new designs on the table, including scrapbook patterns, that I can hardly wait to finish and show you… so with that, I’ll bid you farewell for today and wish you snowflakes of creativity like fairy dust falling on all of your projects! ♥

Fall has arrived, bringing with it all of the things we adore about life here in upstate NY… leaves dressed in vibrant colors, fresh apple cider, freshly cut corn fields full of Canadian Geese… and SNOW!  Wait, snow?  Yes.  Snow.  Ahhh… the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains… Happy Octo-brrrrr!

        This month I’m posting a free packet for you here on my blog… this is a “golden oldie”, one of my all time favs!  If you are a  member of ToleTown you already have access to this in the “Quick Paint” archive area, however you might want to nab it here in the one click pdf format.

        I had such fun with this project!  Using a small gourd and paper clay the pieces are rolled and molded, glued and painted… it’s just like grade-school again, but you don’t have to wait to use the easel! *grin*

       To receive this packet all I ask is that you share my website/blog with your painting friends!  They can come pickup this SPOOK-tacular FREEBIE project too, sharing the Vintage Grins!  It’s honor system, please leave a comment to let me know that you shared my link with someone, then click to download the ePacket.

It seems like an eternity since I took my website down to ready it for a move to a new server… in reality it has been three short months which have passed in the blink of the eye. 

The decision to make several upgrades at ToleTown.com turned into a monumental task which was accomplished in the same way you eat an elephant… one bite at a time, of course.  Combine the TT work load and the call of my children (”Mommy, look out the window, it’s summer!” – LOL) occupied enough of my life that I just became content to let my personal website lie sleeping for “just a little longer”. *smile*

Three months and one summer season later here comes September in all of it’s glory.  I’m not sure, but I think the blaze of new color lights a renewed creative spark within me.  I could design and paint all day and all night when I feel like this!  I COULD… but of course I can’t… for September brings with it another fresh start, that of a new school year (much to Big Brother’s dismay, and Little One’s delight).   As a homeschooling family this is the source of a special joy, even if Big Brother is a little slow to admit it. :)  ♥

So with all of the “newness” of the season I’m slowly getting my website back online… as with many things, a fresh start is bittersweet.  The blog is being started from scratch and to be honest there is sadness in what was lost… but they were only words and we all know I have enough of those to make up for the lost while getting caught up in the excitement of all this “new” anyway.

Today why not let your spirit be lifted by the thoughts of sunflowers, maple leaves, pumpkins and monarch butterflies.  If you aren’t lucky enough to enjoy these sights from your window, close your eyes- you’ll be amazed at the the beautiful colors you can see through the window of your memories.   I hope your fall is off to an inspiring and fabulous FRESH start!