Off To A Good Start!

My first job of the new year truly exemplifies why I love this job. When I first met Mary, at our initial consultation, I immediately liked her.  She was a referral from a former client, her sister.  Mary was eager to bring a little life into her small kitchen and new powder room.  She gave me free reign!  After much discussion, we decided on some assorted fruits in the kitchen, a small spray of flowers over the mirror in the powder room and a few birds between the 2 rooms. 

When I returned to do the work, Mary kept me entertained with her life stories and a constant supply of herbal tea.  At 75, this remarkable woman has had quite the life, raising 4 young children alone when her husband was killed in active duty, early in their marriage.  Mary's many interests and activities had me in awe of her energy and enthusiasm.  What a fun day and an half of painting!

Cherry design by Royal Design Studios

Grape Cluster design by Royal Design Studios.

Orange design by The Mad Stencilist.

Far shot of Pears stenciled over bay window. This design is by Andreae Designs Stencils.

A closer look at the pears.  This clock features a different bird for each number.  Each bird has it's own chirp, and does so on the hour!

This fruit tree was created using the Free Form Fruits stencil by Royal Designs Studios.  I used the Painterly Ivy stencil, also by Royal Designs,  around the base of the tree; and Andreae Designs Bird in Flight. The wicker basket for the pot is a free hand design.

A close up of the Fruit Tree. The leaves with this stencil design are beautiful and I use them often to make trees or garlands.  The Painterly Ivy is one of the quickest stencils to work up.  A few embellishments with a liner brush results in a vine that looks like you spent hours on vs. minutes!  It's a 1 overlay design.

This design uses Royal Designs Large Nest as the focal point, with some Sweet Peas, Trumpet Flower Vines, and more of the Painterly Ivy.  Three small Hummingbirds from the Stencilled Garden fly about a the top of the spray.

This bird is on the adjacent wall in the powder room.  The bird stencil is a free stencil that comes in The Artistic Stenciler magazine.