Manic Monday

I think it is bad when I look forward to Mondays…to the sameness of my week.  This weekend we were much too busy…I didn’t mean for that to happen when I planned all the stuff but it did and now I am beat.

Saturday we had soccer, friends up to hang out, to the pool and to get Ian’s hair cut.  Sunday we had an awesome family photo session (which I can NOT wait to see the final results!), Toys R Us (we promised Ian a trip if he gave us good pictures…and 2.5 hours spent on pictures, the boy deserved a Toys R Us trip), lunch, pick up something off craigslist (I totally scored with some picture frames), home to meet contractor (starting stair project tomorrow!!), bike ride to library and DONE!!  YIKES – a lot.

But for your viewing pleasure, here are some fun pictures for your Manic Monday.

Here is a cute card I made for Marci's birthday (Marci don't look!)

These are some super cute color schemes I am going to use on upcoming canvases for girls rooms!

Via

Via

Wish me luck with the stair project!  Have a great day.

Day in pictures

Okay, here I go again…changing it all up on you!

I saw this idea on another blog (SORRY, I can’t remember who), but I really liked it.

Here is our day in photos!

Starting in the left upper corner and going clockwise:

1. Us at the swimming pool! Yes it is warm enough here in Austin to swim, No Ian wouldn't smile at camera.

2. Lots of paper boarders ready to use on canvases!

3. Got my paint on this afternoon

4. My order list!  I am still trying to figure out a way to organize all these orders...any suggestions are very welcomed!

 1. It was Eric's birthday and Ian wanted to throw him a surprise party in the morning!
2. Overnight oats and coffee
3. Ian with this sucker things from his Easter basket
4. Skylanders...my life is consumed with Skylanders

1. Sushi take-out

2. The best cupcakes ever.  Yes, I go off my no sugar for a cupcake every now and then!

You should try this - to document your day with pictures...it is fun to see the day in a few pictures.

A new hero

Okay, so I can’t do it…I can’t keep my schedule with all the same names…I feel too confined, and I don’t do well feeling confined. If someone tries to put me in a box, I will break out of that box as quick as I can…SO, out with the schedule!

I started taking this class by Jeanne Oliver and am in love with her, with her style, with her way of doing business, and her cute personality! I want my business to be like hers – I want to run it with the love and integrity she runs her with.

Every day I get more into the business side of it, I make more sales to people I don’t know (yes, I gauge success on selling to strangers because I think my friends and family only buy from me because they love me…not just for the art), I see other “normal” people doing it – making a living for their family, loving their job and finding themselves more everyday while at it all. I see that and I am learning that I can be one of these people…I am turning into one of these people…I am one of these people!

Tuesday Talkin's

So, I decided to ditch the Tuesday teaser – I need to write/talk to y’all more than I felt that was allowing me.  And for what it is worth...I have NO idea why I want the title to start with the same letter?!?!

I will still show y’all pictures on Tuesdays…now I need to maybe think of something else for Friday though…like I said, I reserve the right to change these at any time J

Here are a few of the canvases that didn’t sell on Sunday, but are now listed on etsy.

The “cancer love girls” went like hot cakes, the “In our homes” and mother’s day did also.

I am sending one of these to a friend who was just diagnosed with breast cancer for the THIRD time...I guess the 3rd time is a charm!  I want her to remember to hold onto to hope and that God has this!

I was surprised that only 2 Let God Grow You went – I honestly thought those would be big sellers.  Eh, I guess I am learning as I go!

Manic Monday

Aye, aye, aye…this was a busy weekend…which I didn’t really intend it to be…oh well, such is life.  Saturday we had Ian’s soccer game (which is SO funny to watch), I had to finish up some canvases for church show on Sunday, and went to a friend’s going away dinner.  Sunday I set up at church and rocked it!! Then we all went swimming…yes, it is April and we can swim here in Austin!

Check out these yummy pictures for the week.

Okay, the little trailer is AWESOME.  I mean, seriously…I would love to have something like this to travel around in that could be a studio/store and go to different craft fairs with my boys…a girl can dream!

Via

How fun is this little house? I would love a garden like that too, but I sure don’t want to be the one taking care of it! Not.my.thing!

Via

Swoon. The whole picture…I Love It!

Via

I hope y'all have a great week.  Stop by for some fun new canvases this week.

Food Good, Laundry Bad

Evin, from Food Good, Laundry Bad was one of my first winners of a custom canvas...honestly, I can't remember which contest she won, but she did and here is her canvas!

She wanted one to reflect her life motto which is also her blog...Food Good, Laundry Bad...I think we can ALL relate to that!  She went through my flickr pictures to pick out the aspects she liked off a few canvases and here we are!  I hope she loves it!

Y'all have a fabulous weekend.  I have treatment today, Ian's soccer game tomorrow and my show at church on Sunday...I really hope I sell a lot to help the girl's mission trips!!  Wish me luck.

Mother's Day

I am getting my inventory up for my show at church on Sunday and then to stock my etsy store!

Here are some Mother’s Day Canvas that any mother would love to have.  I always struggle with what to get my mom and mother-in-law for mother’s day – they have everything.  I think I know what they will be getting this!! J

These are 6x6 canvases and will sell for $25/each.

I am also working on graduation canvases! 

If you have a favorite quote that could work for graduation, let me know!  I love new quotes.

And I am taking an on-line class by Jeanne Oliver...it is GREAT!! If you are wanting to start a creative business, you might think about this class.

WOW Wednesday

So, I realized last week doing a post EVERYDAY was too much for me.  I am going to interchange Wednesday and Thursdays – I feel like I can keep it fresher that way and I won’t feel so pressured to have a post daily.

But for this WOW Wednesday, I am going to share with you an email a girl from high school, sent me now a friend from FB wrote to me that literally made me cry:

“Honestly ... YOU wow me! I read your blogs, I look at your pictures & I see how you radiate through the crap that is going on in your life & I'm awe-inspired by your strength & how you make cancer beautiful & amazing. I could honestly say if I was standing in your shoes I would be a complete mess inside & out. I love your spirit, I love your candidness & I love how open & raw you are about the "ICKS" of cancer. You are truly an amazing example of beauty!! We weren't friends in school & I'm honestly sorry about that. Sorry I didn't make an effort because I adore the Renee I know on FB! I missed out on getting to know the Renee before. I pray for you & your 2 gentlemen daily. I pray that if I EVER have to walk this path .. That I can be as courageous as Renee!!”

And I kind of chuckle to myself when people tell me we weren’t friends in high school…honestly, I was pretty b*tchy in high school. Looking back I think...I know...I was insecure with myself, my faith, my everything and it was just easier to put up walls and keep people verses making myself venerable…thank goodness I am not like that anymore…I am venerable all over the place these days!

But here is the thing...I honestly believe every single person could be the way I am with cancer because I believe God gives me the grace daily to be this way. Yes I have a choice everyday when I wake to think, OH boo hoo stage IV cancer is such a bad thing, poor me, poor situation, wah, wah, wha - blah OR say what I do say – whatever…it is what it is, put my big girl panties on and pray that God gives me the grace to make it through the day. We can all pray for that grace and accept it with an open heart.

Here is a new picture...I believe each one of us color the world in our special way.

Tuesday Teaser

How cute was that photo frame wall yesterday?  SUPER cute! I can’t wait to do.

Oh, I am also super excited…I have my first shows coming up this Wednesday at Ian’s school from 9:30 until a little after 10:00.  I know, not very long there but it is just for drop off to let the mom’s browse. Then I have a show at my church on Sunday at Unity Church of the Hills before and after both services (9:30 & 11:30).  50% of those proceeds will go to two mission trips this summer.

Without further ado, here is the Tuesday Teaser.  I made this for my first winner of “blog followers.”

You will see the whole thing on Friday.

Fab Friday

Hey, hey – it is Friday!  Well, really Fridays really aren’t my favorite days anymore since I stay at home (and every day is like a weekend – NOT!!) AND I have chemo on Fridays…boo.  Eh, whatever!

Without further ado, here is the full piece I made for Eric.

It is SO hard for me to keep it not too girly – hey, I am a girly girl.

I can't wait to start making these custom pieces!

And how about a drawing to kick off the weekend? Why, yes thank you please.

I am on a mission to get more Facebook likes! Eventually I will post specials, new items, etc. only to FB, so this will benefit you in the next few weeks!

Here is the deal – I am at 73 FB likes right now. At 100, 200, 300, 400 and so on until I get to1,000 I will give away a custom canvas!! Now how do I plan to get all these likes?  Well I am hoping y’all will help!! Share my Facebook page with your friends and ask them to share with their friends…the more you share, the quicker you will have a chance to win a custom canvas!

When I hit these certain “milestone” likes, I will draw a name for a custom canvas!  You WILL stay in the drawing for every “milestone” number.  At 1,000 likes, we will do something big!!

So, let’s get to sharing!  Have a great weekend!

Thankful Thursday

“What does it mean to be thankful? I'm not talking about being polite after someone's opened the door for you. I'm talking about feeling thankful for the true blessings in your life. '"True Blessings" mean the things in your life that resonate importance in your life - the things that touch your core.”

Via

What are you thankful for?  Who are you thankful for?

Have you told that person that you are thankful for them?

Here is a fun idea I got from here – write a letter to someone in your life who has changed your life.  They may not even have a clue that they changed your life, but something they did or said made you change and the dominoes started to fall in place.

Not ready to write a whole letter?  Write a post card….that is what Project Sending Love is all about – telling those in your life that you are thankful for them and why.

I have had two friends who I sent postcards to tell me that they carry that postcard around with them and read it when they are having a bad day – WOW.  To have someone love my words that much truly touched me.

So for this whole week, try to write 3 things DAILY that you are thankful for. It will change the way you look at things.

What am I am thankful for today?  My family, my health and my creativity

What are you thankful for today?

WOW Wednesday

Wow: an exclamation of admiration, amazement, etc.

What wows you?  Who wows you? Do you ever look at someone and think, “wow, they are amazing, how do they do that?” or read a story of so much love, it totally wows you?

WOW Wednesday is going to spot-light things that wow me – and if you would like to share a story or something that wows you, please email me here.

For the first WOW Wednesday, I would like to tell you about this book I recently read.  Praying In Color: Drawing a new path to God by Sybil MacBeth.

This book has seriously changed my prayer life and therefore; my life. Like so many people, my prayer life would get interrupted by me, my crazy thoughts & my crazy to-do list and before I knew it, I was no longer praying, I was trying to figure out what to do next – not really the “talk to God” relationship I wanted.

SO, I when I noticed this book at my church bookstore and thought, why not? Well, there is NO reason why not – this book is great.  It shows you how to put your prayers into doodles and with this, while you are doodling around your prayer, you are praying for that.  Here is a picture of one of my journal pages.

Oops...it is upside down..odd.

It.IS.AMAZING to start a journal page, and look up 30 minutes knowing you were just in prayer for a full 30 minutes – it seriously cleanses my soul to talk to God like that for that long.

If you feel stuck in a rut with your prayer life, don’t have one but want one, or just want to try something different, I would 100% perfect recommend this book. 

On an exciting side note, I finally got my business cards!! 

Front

Back

Tuesday Teaser

As promised, here is a teaser of a canvas I just finished for my hubby - it was for our 7th anniversary present.  We heard of a cool idea that we did this year - every year of marriage has a modern and traditional yearly gift.  The 7th year traditional is copper or wool and the mordern is a desk set.
I got him a copper sign for our front year that says The Sendelbach's, Est 2005 - it is really cute.  And I made him this canvas for a desk set - to set on his desk?!?!

I am still working on my camera skills - I think I have the lightening figured out...now I need to figure out the focus! HEY, I didn't take this with my phone, so that is a step up!!

I still don't know what I am going to do for WOW Wednesday...any ideas??  What would you like to see??

Manic Monday

I am still getting into the swing of having an art/business blog along with the cancer/family blog.  I am striving to strike a balance between my art to let y’all see what I am creating and not talking about myself the whole time…I really don’t like to talk about me. I am also seeing that I need a schedule of events because left to my own devices – well, stuff either tends to not get done because I have too many things I want to get done and I am all over the place or I do completely random things and nothing seems in synch.

I think I am going to try this for the next few weeks and see what y’all think about.

I will have a schedule of events (and yes, they can change as I see fit J

Manic Monday – to help ease the pain of your Monday, I will find some awesome eye candy for you look at.  More than likely it will be crafts of some sort, but you will never know what is waiting for you here on Monday to make it a little better!

Tuesday Teaser – I will show you a little snippet of a canvas I am working on.

Wow Wednesday – not sure yet what this will entail, but I couldn’t resist the name!

Thankful Thursday – what are you thankful for? I will have a prompt to help get you thinking of what you are thankful for and ways to share it.

Fab Friday – HA! Again, I could resist the name – yes, I am a big dork – the more you stay here with me, the more you will realize this! And yes, I totally laugh at myself all the time. You will get to see the whole picture I showed you a snippet of on Tuesday and I will announce what drawing/winning/something fun will be going on next few days.

I hope this “schedule” works – like I said, I am just going to try it out to help me have some structure – yes, I need structure and a to-do list to actually get anything done.

SO for the first Manic Monday, check out this great stuff:

Via

I SEW (HA HA) want these pillow cases…however, I can’t bring myself to pay that much for them..YIKES! I think I am going to find someone on Etsy to crochet me a small border and just sew the border on already made pillow cases – too cute!

And beauty! – I have to make. 

Via

I am going to put on wall right when you walk into my house. I can’t use a door though because the wall isn’t long enough, so I am going to have hubby build me something to look like old door and my mom told me she would distress it for me when she is here in May – score! I will show you pictures of finished project – hopefully soon!

Have a great Monday! I hope you are out of your sugar coma from all that Easter candy!

Sweet 16 custom canvas

My sister had me do this canvas for a Sweet 16 for a family friend - I LOVE how it turned out. I love the colors so much I am making some just like it for mother's day - check back Monday for those pictures!

And YES, I am going to figure out to take better pictures!  These pictures really don't do the canvases justice!

Two new non-profits!

I am so excited to announce that BCRC and b club accepted my offer to be a part of my sweet charity program where Embracing Life Love & Art will donate a % of ALL sales to their organizations.

BCRC Breast Cancer Resource Centers (BCRC) of Texas is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals affected by breast cancer and their families, caregivers and friends.

Staffed by breast cancer survivors, we are a professional organization that eliminates barriers to quality treatment and provides support and information in ways that are as unique as the individuals we serve. Our services are offered at no charge and are available regardless of age, income, race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

With information that empowers, a community that understands and help where—and how—you need it most, breast cancer is a journey you don’t have to make alone.

B club
Breast cancer treatment or electric bill?
Imagine having to make that choice. When you’re done shaking your head in disbelief, help people complete their treatment by hosting, sponsoring or volunteering with the b club. Every single dollar we raise goes to the Breast Cancer Emergency Support Fund (BCESF), providing short-term financial and social service support to Central Texans living with breast cancer.

b club. Because no one should have to choose between cancer treatment and basic necessities.

For more information on both of these great non-profits, check them out here.

B club

BCRC