We interupt this regular news program....

...to announce the beginning of March!

Horray for March. I love green. I love wind. I love the clearing away of winter (or at least the start). Three cheers to St. Patricks, Easter, Spring, my brother's birthday, My cousin's birthday (tomorrow), my uncle's birthday, and to all the wonderful jitters I get from getting to be outside again.

Go fly a kite!

(a green one:)

Happy site friday.

Room Seven. I have yet to own anything from them, but I am secretly hoping to redo Addie's room in these colors and with this bedding. And OH! The colors! So much of my inspiration in my art comes from these colors. (Not all...I am still trying to incorporate these colors more, although it poses a challenge when putting these brighter colors on paper).


Room Seven is founded by Brechtje Olsthoorn, a dutch woman whose parents were the minds behind the dutch clothing brand OILILY. Her colors are crisp yet soft, and remind me of my own childhood.

I just love the ocean blue mixed with the pink and the red. My FAVORITE! Here is a taste of what inspires me, and what hopefully will inspire your friday!

Support in the Studio.

There are so many components to running a small business from home, and I am the first to say that I have not done this alone. I need to pay tribute to so many of you who have helped me and supported me this far!


My husband for believing in me and being patient with me when I choose to say up all night on a project. And for just being the most incredible husband on the planet.


My parents for supporting my ideas and always paying special interest. (sorry Dad, Carol and John...I coulnd't find a quick picture of you!!!)


My wonderful cousin Liz who has been my new "hired help" the past two months and can do just about anything!

My sisters in law Robyn and Megan for being my on-the-spot babysitter when I find my self in a mini-crisis and Ann for being an AMAZING financial advisor!


My dear new-found-friend Kelly for all her incredible advice and wisdom

My online friend Jaime for her support and advice about the details of running an art business

And to all of you who have offered up words of encouragement and support along the way!

This list could go on and on. I am just so grateful for all the help I have received! I could definately not do this on my own!

And that brings me to my next item of discussion:

PRICING MY ART

I am raising my prices starting in March. This has been a really hard decision for me, since I aime at making my art work affordable for all. I really "poo-poo" all the children's art work that is incredibly overpriced and seems to sell to the "elite" few who can afford hundreds of dollars in art for their children. But I also feel, that under priced art work isn't in any one's interest either. With needing more hired help these past couple months, and with the value of the materials that I use in the art making process, I am raising my prices just a bit to compensate. The challenge comes with placing a value on my work, and I have struggled over this one. But I feel that now is the time and I hope that you can support me on this one.

I mention this to you, because I want to give you a chance to buy before the weekend is out and my prices go up $5 per print. My prices will remain the same until Sunday March 2nd.

Once again, thank you to all of you who continue to offer so much support and encouragement! I just am a very lucky gal!

Save the Date.

In my previous life (BC: Before Children) I was an actress/singer/dancer. I know, it is sometimes hard for me to believe that I spent my evenings doing shows and rehearsals! I guess a lot of you don't know that I graduated with a BFA in musical theater. I taught voice lessons at BYU for 2 years, and still teach at home. I don't really miss it...other than my experience I had playing the lead role in this musical for three years. I actually haven't really done much on the stage since Addie was born...although we do have rounds of broadways performances every night on our couch with favorites such as "SHY" and "TOMORROW" and "STRONGEST SUIT".

The reason for bringing this up on my very mommy/artist blog is to mention to all you UTAH citizens out there that my husband and I will be performing in a benefit concert this Friday night at Lone peak High school.

Here is the excerpt from the the newspaper:

The Shari Warner Benefit Concert: A Lullaby of Broadway
Description: Friday, February 29th, 7:30-9:00 PM, Lone Peak High School, Highland, Utah. Shari Warner is a compassionate, kind, generous mother of eight children who is losing the battle with pancreatic cancer. Steve Wallace, Soni and Jodie Barrus, and 16 of Utah's top performers have put together a broadway revue-style benefit concert in her honor. The show includes songs from "Wicked," "42nd Street," "I Do, I Do," "The Scarlet Pimpernel," "Les Miserables," and other favorite musicals. There is no charge for admission, and the night is sure to be an up-beat, unforgettable one full of family-friendly fun!
Time:		07:30 PM
Date:		Feb 29
Location:		Lone Peak High School auditorium
Category:		Family Entertainment
Address:		10189 N 4800 W 84003 Highland

I tell you this, because I have seen what good it can do to bring the community together and support a family such as this. I don't know them personally, but I have met her children, and they are remarkable. Her youngest child is 12.

If you have any inclination to see an AMAZING review of all your favorite broadway songs, please come. It will be a wonderful night.

Other performers include Natalie and Jared Haddock, Skye and Ben Cummings, Jillette Dayton, Jennifer Latimer, Gerry Graves, Michelle and Ross Boothe, to name a few.

See you there!

Inside the mind of a 3 year old.

Addie's prayer over her vegtable dinner last night:

"Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this day.

Please bless Mommy to find the ice cream.

Amen"

dollhouse.

I gain so much inspiration from other mothers who are figuring it out as they go just like me.

But today, here is some inpiration from Grandma.

She is the mother of 10 (no twins) and a do-it-yourself / make-it-yourself kinda gal. I could write a book on this woman, for the sake of writing time this morning, lets just say that with a small house, not a lot of money and a lot of kids, she leaned on her creativity day in and day out.

You all notice how the true wooden doll house has made a comeback. Well folks, this is the REAL thing.


I just have to share how awesome this house is: it was built like framed house...beams and everything...a miniature house in every way. I remember playing with it with open walls in it's "pre-finished" state. We got to imagine so much with it!

My grandmother has since added foam core walls (some rooms are still a little makeshift), carpet linoleum and even finished the roof by breaking off the leaves of pine cones, placing them carefully in rows and painting a thick coat of paint to make it look like terra cotta tile. Oh...and notice the stucco siding.
We all love looking at ingenious ideas from mom/craft/parenting blogs. But this my friends, is from grandma. And it has lasted for my own kids to enjoy.


Now Anyone want to build this for me?

Tagged.

Ok...I think I have been tagged about a jillion billion times (wow! That is a lot!) by my cousins, and so now I am giving in to the blog-peer pressure.

But before I do: Note the picture above. Mica, Me and Hannah (we are the oldest girl cousins of 50 on my dad's side). And between us three gals, we have 6 kids!!!! And, even better...we still fit on one bed like we used to at sleep overs when we would talk about the day we would be Mommies. Oh how time flies.

Speaking of which:

What I was doing 10 years ago......FEB of '98: Falling in love with Kenneth. 10 years ago was my freshman year at BYU, and Kenneth and I had all the same classes together (except for one). Let's see... In feb I think that Kenneth and I were choreographing a musical production at a local private school together.

5 Things on my "To-Do" list:
JUST 5?????
1. Dishes
2. Update my Business finances
3. Finish my "march" print
4. Practice music for a benefit concert coming up in a week.
5. clean my office.

3 bad habits I have:
1. Putting off housework
2. Late library books
3. I always put off making phone calls
(do you see the procrastination theme here?)

Day of choice? Fridays

Places I've lived: (in order)
Utah
Orange county, CA
Wellesley, MA
North Potomac, MD
Orem, UT

***I am adding: Places I wish to live:

Provence, FRANCE
Wales
Tuscany
I want to retire in a cape style cottage in New England.

Marriage date: Dec 16, 2000

Favorite indulgence: Sleep. reading magazines. hot baths. hmmmmmm:)

Phobias/fears? I have nightmares about being on stage and not knowing my part. So, does that mean I fear not being prepared?

Reason to smile: Blue sky, ocean, my kids' laugh, my husband's hugs, travel, fresh flowers, when I am in a cycle class, my family being together, good food on the table, going on a spontaneous adventure, art museums, and just the joy of being alive.

Season of choice: I actually love every season. Change is always a good thing.

Vegetable: asparagus, artichokes and sugar snap peas.

Oranges or Apples? crisp braeburns...unless we are in CA, and then oranges for sure.

# of brothers/sisters: 1 sister, three brothers.

Ok! It's your turn Becca, Mica, Sasha and Cait! Ya, ya. You can take a month or so like I did.

Perspective.

My Laundry is piled up to my knees in my laundry room!

But it is piled high with dinosaur and footie pajamas.

I have cleaned Addie's room 3 times today!

But we played zoo and trains 5 times today.

My head hurts from all the yelling!

But the yelling was because there were pink and purple monsters on the hallway ceiling and somebody had to scare them away.

There are paint stains on the kitchen table!

From painting the "ocean at nighty night"

My eyes are tired from Addie waking me up too early this morning.

But "I just want to snuggle my mommy. I love my family!" she says.

There are ripped up drawings in my office.

But then Ian gives me a kiss and his puppy dog eyes say "I'm sorry, Mommy"

There is snot on my sleeve.

"I want my mommy tissue."

My bathroom floor need disinfecting

But Ian looks so darn cute on the potty when he pretends to be like his big sister.

Addie is still awake.

But she is singing lullabies to her measuring tape (from dad's tool box) that she is currently snuggling with in her bed right now.



Sometimes I cry. But really, I just love being your mama.

It's a good hairday.

Ok. Here they are folks. Now, I hope that you can find what you are looking for! I get so many requests to change the hair color on my prints, and I have had to say no in the past. But, it looks like now there are some choices for you, so I hope you can find just the right one!

I've got sunshine.

Yesterday, Addie, upon seeing the sunshine outside, ran into her room and grabbed her flip-flops (we call them slippers in our house) and demanded to go play out in the sun. There she was, pajama shirt, princess underwear, and beach shoes...ready for the 20 degree cold outside.

So, I said "OK" and with a chuckle, opened the door.

20 seconds later: "OOOOOOHOOOOHOOOHOOO!!!" She ran to the couch and burried herself in blankets.

Well, she was determined to enjoy the sun.

So, she pulled out a couple KIDS chairs, put them in from of the window, and informed me:

"Mom, I need to take a belax (her word for 'relax') on the ocean."

So, with feet out, head back and eyes closed, she sunbathed. In her underwear. In the middle of February. In the middle of our family room.

When life gives you cold weather, find that sun and bathe in it!

(Even if it is in your underwear!)

Happy Site Friday

Well, Friday is half way over, but I only get on the computer when my kids are asleep (or happily playing by themselves...but that really only lasts 4 minutes at a time).


Today, I wanted to share with you Sheye Rosemeyer Photography. I refer this with mixed feelings, since so much of her blog tears my heart. Sheye is a mother of 4 in Australia who lost her little 3 year old girl a year ago this month due to a terrible accident. I just can't even begin to imagine the loss...and I don't want to. But with great love comes great worry and trial, and she writes about it. But the reason I read Sheye's blog, is for the joy that I feel when I visit. Sheye is an INCREDIBLE photographer, and she captures in my mind the complete innocence and joy of childhood and childrearing. She is so gifted and has captured images of her own (stunningly beautiful) children in a way that almost captures my own children to a T. When I look at the photos of her children, I think of mine...now that is talent.

Sheye loves being a mother with all its joys and aches mixed together. She has shared her grief with so many, but also her desire to hug and kiss and love a little more because of it. And I think in the process, more mothers are loving motherhood just a little bit more.

Little boys are made of...

Well, Here we have it. My first official 'boy' set. This has been a longer project than expected, with 2 color variations, 3 prints, and 4 hair colors. Whew!! We'll see if I do that again!

These are a tribute to little boys who love to be outside. Well, wait. That's every boy!!!

These will be available in the shop later this afternoon. This is the stormy blue color, and there is also a green version with green tree and orange shirt. Stay tuned!



But now I am off to put something together for my husband for Valentines day! (Shhhhh...don't tell him:)

Hugs and Kisses,

Sarah

My future me.

I think that I may have just found the coolest new site ever.

I am a goal setter. I am a list maker. I have found that if it is written down...it will get done.

Eventually.

I used to write letters to myself about where I was and where I wanted to be and open them months or years down the road to see how far I had come in that amount of time. It really is amazing what can happen when you take the time to get that vision out of your head and in front of your eyes. Even if you don't look at it for a year.

Future me is a site where you can write a letter to yourself and it will be sent to you sometime in the future...you choose. A month. A year. Whenever.

Who do you want to be in a year? What does the future hold? You decide. Write it down, and see if you are right when you get the letter from yourself.

Fun, eh?

Lunch Quote.

Reading Sara and Abraham this morning, I remembered how much I loved opening up my school lunch bag every day and reading a quote from my mom. Sometimes it was a thought, a sweet "i love you" and sometimes it was a profound quote that took me out of my teenage mind and on to bigger and better things.

Today, I leave you with a lunch quote.

"TRY NOT. DO OR DO NOT. THERE IS NO TRY." --Yoda

I was reminded of this quote this week from my favorite site Zen Habits, and it was just what I needed. Life is not a dress rehearsal. Live every moment like you really mean it, and make every choice deliberate in creating and building your world.

Have a great day!

That's what little boys are made of.

Little boys. I just love little boys. Here are two prints that will soon be three. Can you guess what the third one will be?

I love nursery rhymes. I loved them as a kid, but even more so now. I see how they have helped Addie and Ian with their vocabulary. I just love hearing Addie walk around the house saying

"Little boy blue, come blow your horn..."
"Sing a song of sixpence..."
"Lucy Locket lost her pocket..."
"Polly put the kettle on..."

Most of these rhymes have a tune, or if I didn't know one I made one up. Nursery rhymes as well as Dr. Suess have really helped my children to learn new words. I love it!

So, I will be offering TEXT in these images. But as always, it is an option. But I really do hope that the text is kept. I just love to see little ones learn new rhymes!

And also...DUN DUN DUN...I will be offering 4 hair colors and other background colors with these prints. I get so many requests to change the hair color, etc. that this time, I am just going to make it an option at purchase. Black, brown, red and blonde. This way, every little boy can see himself in the pictures. The third will most likely be out tomorrow...but my "boys" have been waiting so long for their grand entrance, and just couldn't wait any longer! Enjoy!

Happy Site Friday

It's the weekend, and the sun is shining! Granted there is about 2 feet of snow on the ground, but with the blue sky...it's heavenly out there!

I am going to start a Friday Tradition: Happy Site Friday. As an artist, I am CONSTANTLY saving swatches of color I find on the internet, as well as the sites they come from. So today, I leave you with a happy little site : Honeybunch. Be prepared for soft, simple and vintage colors that will take you back and wish you were 7 again.

Happy Friday!

Three.

Who knows...maybe more will come. But for now, I am settled. Time for the boys.

My kids come FIRST...

...first class that is!

Running a business while running after children is always an exciting adventure! The other evening I was tending to Ian, and Kenneth was in the kitchen. Addie came up to me wanting to play with Ian, and this is what I found. "DO NOT BEND" right in the corner of her mouth. I instantly searched all over her body for any more tatoos, but didn't find any! Going into my office though, I found a few bubbled mailers completely covered in "DO NOT BEND" stamps. "I was doing my work, Mama." She is such a little mommy.

The irony in this is that Addie doesn't really bend! Two days ago, she claimed that she had a papercut on her finger. (I still don't know if she really cut herself, or if it is pretend). I put a bandaide on her finger and that was that. Well, after a hand washing, the bandaide began to peel. She needed another bandaide to keep it "stuck." After a bath, both started peeling, so she needed another. (For whatever reason, that evening wasn't one to fight her on this). Well...I am really not kidding when I say this...we haven't added any more bandaides since, but going on TWO DAYS now, she has had her left hand clinched in a fist to keep them from coming off!!! Last night I woke up at 2 am and went into her room to make sure her hand was relaxed. (I was too tired to think of taking it off while she slept!) We have tried all the little games to get her to open her hand, but to no avail. We even went out to play in the snow yesterday, and she wouldn't wear a glove because her hand was in a fist. She has ALWAYS been my stubborn and determined one. Addie was my colicky baby...the one that could only sleep in my arms while bouncing and when her head was in a certain position in the crook of my elbow. Oh, some days I wish I had the mental energy to have blogged then!

On Ian's side of the table, we had a big first yesterday!!! Ian went to the potty...kind of. He kept getting out of the bath tub, telling me he had to go potty. Well, after the 4th time of my slippery seal covered in bubble bath sitting on the porta-potty, he went....but because he is a boy, I realized maybe sitting on the potty isn't the best choice! He ended up spraying all over the floor and all over me! Oh we had a good laugh...and a good celebration. It may have been messy,but Firsts are Firsts!!

Speaking of firsts, Horray for all of you who took part in my first "BUY TWO GET ONE FREE" deal! So fun! I will be sure to do more of those! But I am going to stock the SHOP with some more goodies first!

ONE MORE DAY.

Don't forget...BUY TWO GET ONE FREE ends tonight at Midnight (MST).
Have fun in the SHOP!

Shhh....button up. It's a secret!

Well, I will tell you what ISN'T a secret:

RAINYLAKECHICK who said "I love the "This Much" the best!" is the winner of my very first giveaway! Congratulations!

But here is the secret:

I am INCREDIBLY happy that so many of you left such great comments! As an artist, a new business owner and a new blogger, it is just really great to see such a great response from all of you! Thanks! I really take to heart the comments that you leave, and I just love getting meet new people (in the blogging sense) along the way. Thanks!

As a THANK YOU GIFT for all your wonderful comments, I am offering a BUY 2 GET 1 FREE to all my blog friends. Yes, that is YOU. I am NOT going to post this on my ETSY page. Just here. This is a little experiment. So, play along!

Here are the rules:

From NOW until Tuesday Feb 5th at Midnight MST (mountain standard time) when you purchase TWO items, you can receive the THIRD item (of equal or lesser value) for free. Please DO NOT purchase your free print. Only MENTION it in the "message to seller" box at the time of purchase. The shipping price will be the same as if you had purchased two.

Good luck, have fun, and see you at my SHOP!