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!