Monday Morning

Good Morning,

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and didn't indulge too much or maybe just enough. I know I indulged too much and had plans of going to the gym this morning before coming into the store. Notice I said had plans not went to the gym. It was just too darn cosy in bed.

My New Years resolution is too make more of an effort to get to the gym in the morning. There I've put it in writing for all to see and to make me accountable, so feel free to ask me if I was at the gym that day.

So right now at the store everything Christmas is 40% off (stamps, paper, embellishments, wood items etc.)

Happy Holidays

Well here it is Christmas Eve already. Everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas and the next schedule which should be ready by the first or second week of January (notice that I am not making any commitments). Be sure to check the website because I might just upload projects as they are ready.

I want to wish everyone a safe and happy Holiday Season and see you next year.

Cindy

All Cracked Up

If you were here doing the Open House Project then you get the title of the post. For those of you that were here on Friday night and suffered casualties, I truly am sorry, as I had said I didn't have any problems, but who knows. If you were wondering how Saturday went it was fine but we only stamped on the front of the blocks, except for one person who didn't listen and stamped the back (and hers cracked).

It was great to see everyone on the weekend and I had a wonderful time. By the end of the day yesterday I was zonked, went to bed at 9 and slept 12 hours. The teachers and I went out for a lovely breakfast yesterday at Wild Wood here in Stittsville. If you haven't been I would recommend it. We did a gift exchange also, everyone had to give something handmade. I am so lucky to have such talent people on board. I actually think that I have next years Christmas Party Project already thanks to Odette.

Have a great Rainy Day
Cindy

Congrats

Congratulations to Lydia who has made the cover of of the new Paint Works Magazine, if you would like a copy just call the store and I will hold it for you.

Well the In-Laws are home safe and sound from Italy, well at least safe not sure about the sound. Yesterday morning around 2am my mother-in-law fell in the bathroom and cracked her head open resulting in getting three stitches. At least it didn't happen during her trip, the poor thing. They had a great trip, drank lots of wine, went to a cooking class in Tuscany and did lots of walking. I am sure they will sleep for a week.

We still have a couple of spots left for the Christmas Open House, check out the website under Mini Workshops.

Have a great day.

Just In

We just received Tim Holtz's new Christmas Stamps in the store. We also have the Tim's Ideo-ology line in. We still have spaces for the Christmas Open House in the morning. Check out the website under Mini Workshops for the info.

So last night I learnt that I really should only offer two ornaments at a time for a mini workshop. All the ladies were really great and patient but unfortunately as easy as the ornaments always look they are fiddly. But I am sure I will not learn because usually the ornaments are grouped in threes that I always pick. I plan to continue doing ornament classes monthly, and card making workshops.

A Decision Has Been Made

Finally, I have decided on the projects for the Christmas Open House on December 13th, we will be the same thing for the morning and afternoon. Here is a picture of two of them, there will be a third which is an ornament. You can go to the website http://www.thepaintedpony.com/ to register.

If you are the parent of a teenage daughter then I am sure you have heard of the phenom that is 'Twilight'. My daughter and here friends went to the Midnight showing on Thursday, and then they all crashed at our house. Seven teenage girls, thank god I wasn't home and my husband got to listen to them all day yesterday. I think it was a fair trade since I was driving his parents to Whitby.

They were going with their son and daughter-in-law to Italy last night, to attending the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Ortona in which my Mother-in-Law's brother lost his life. In 20+ years of being part of this family my in-laws have never travelled and here they are going to Italy. My father-in-law was just thrilled at the red coats they were given as part of the group, on the back it said Canada and Ontario. They looked like part of the Canadian Olympic Team.

We got some new papers in the store the other day, well were always getting something new in because I just can't contain myself and am always shopping. Here they are.

Don't forget to come into the store for gifts or gift certificates for you crafty friends or loved ones. I am sure Odette or I can certainly help you put together the perfect gift.

Have a great weekend.

Cindy

Finished

Well I finished the Maxine Thomas piece I was working on. Here is a picture of it and I have put it in the schedule on Nov. 30, just go to the website http://www.thepaintedpony.com/ under workshops.

Now to figure out what to do for the Christmas Open House on December 13th.

If you haven't stuck your head out the door for a few rays of sunshine, get out there while the getting is good.

Painting

So here it is the time of year when we all start to get anxious about Christmas and shopping and getting things ready. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make everything perfect for our families. I find myself wanting to paint everything new thing that I see in books and magazines, I also want to make cards and do some scrapbook pages. I totally missed October, don't know where it went and here it will be mid November next week.

I am working on a Maxine Thomas piece to slip into the schedule at the end of November, probably on a Sunday. It is a oval piece on legs with a picture of a basket with a couple of ornaments in it, a snowman and a candle. It would be a great piece to put on the mantel. I can't tell you the last time I did a Maxine Thomas piece, so I am really enjoying.

Odette and I have been kicking around ideas for the Christmas open house, that's were the registration is on the house you just pay the supply cost.

There's the front door, have to go take care of the customers.

Till next time, enjoy this great weather we are having.

Saturday at Store

So here it is Saturday already, where did the week go? It's a lovely rainy day here in Stittsville but here in the store or as we are now calling it 'The Painted Pony Nursery' it is all warm and fuzzy. As some of you know Lydia fosters kittens from the Humane Society, well today she is teaching and needed to bring her newest as they are only 2.5 weeks old and need some extra TLC.

So as I said in my last post Sharon and I went to Maureen McNaughton's Studio in Belwood. We had a great time, shopped all the way up there then shopped some more at her Studio. So I am all fired up to teach stroke work in the store, so get ready girls.

Here's a picture of Maureen and I (not my best, but Maureen is looking fabulous) and one of the studio.

Friday Night

Well here it is 7pm on a Friday night and I am sitting here in my office, could be doing paperwork but don't want to get in trouble for not blogging. So here I am.

Lydia is teaching our first Batik workshop, I think when everyone is finished they will be surprised at the results. If you haven't yet tried Batik, do so it's fun.

Well the weather is definitely starting to change, there was frost on the windshields this morning. I just hate the thought of wearing socks, shoes and coats...

Recently I got a shipment in from Tattered Angels, Wendy took one of the book kits and made it up. Here is a picture of it. We have a Winter Book and the one that is shown is the Nature Book.

Well tomorrow Sharon and I are off to Maureen McNaughton's Studio in Belwood. We will be doing her Colour Theory Workshop on Monday and Tuesday, if you haven't been up to her studio you are certainly missing a great weekend. Sharon and I used to go every fall, but since I've bought the store I haven't had a chance. She has a beautiful studio with television screens at everyother table (no I'm not getting them for The Pony), wonderful catered lunch (again no). We stay at the same B&B which is a Century home, it's a great getaway for the Girls. Of course we are going up early so we can shop our way up, Toronto, St. Jacob's etc.

I will post pictures of the project when I get home, so have a great weekend, I know I will.

Hugs Cindy

For Paulette

As was pointed out to me on Tuesday, it has been a month since I last posted anything. Now I haven't been sitting around eating Bon Bons (okay I've had the occasional one). I have been busy, first with the Tracy Moreau Seminar, all the girls did a wonderful job. Tracy is quite the story teller, she certainly kept everyone entertained.

Wendy's Mom and Me CD Book turned into a impromtu Birthday party for Sandy's daughter Mimi. That was lots of fun and all the little girls did a great job.

This past weekend I taught a couple of workshops, we had a great time both days. I am also in the process of putting together some Ikea furniture for the store. Last thursday I put together a buffet which I am going to use to store scrapbooking stuff in the back corner of the store. My vision is to have the corner as an area that people can go to use all the gadgets that I have. Did I mention that I put the buffet together by myself, I am putting a smaller one together today.

Occassionally I take a day off and as I discovered when I downloaded the pictures from my camera "When the cats away the mouse will play".

I will try and be a little more consistent with my blogging, so I don't get told again :0)

Home

Alot of you might not know but Tracy Moreau is Canadian, actually her and I are both Military Brats and went to High School together in Lahr, Germany. Here is a picture of Tracy welcoming her son home from Afghanistan. Glad to see he is home safe and sound Tracy. My heart goes out to all those families who have lost loved ones.

Fall Schedule

Good Sunday Morning,

All the projects are in the store and things are filling up fast. We have a great selection for the painter and the scrapbooker. Wendy is teaching some very unique books, a clear album and an album that is made up of old 45's. What great christmas gifts these would make for someone in your family.

I am also going to be doing a crop night on October 10th. For the scrapbookers in the area when you go to the website www.thepaintedpony.com if you click on workshops and mini-workshops you will find the scrapbooking and card making projects.

Fall Workshops

Hope everyone had a great Labour Day weekend, the weather certainly was beautiful. I hope everyone that sent kids back to school today was able to take a little time to enjoy the peace and quiet. I know I enjoyed that second cup of coffee knowing that it was just me and the dogs in the house, nothing like having the house to yourself for a few hours.

Today I have been busy painting Christmas ornaments for the schedule, which will be online Thursday evening. Friday all the projects will be in the store for you to see and register.

To celebrate 20 years, we will be having refreshments, free make n' takes, and a store wide sale on Friday and Saturday.

See you this weekend.

Hot off the press

Not to miss anyone, just in are 9 new books from Bob Pennycook, Laurie Speltz, Renee Mullins, Karen Wisner, Lynne Andrews, Joan Dixon, Jeanne Filler Scott, one by assorted Artists such as Debbie Cole, Leila Lundberg, Maxine Thomas and Bob Pennycook which is actually a calender.

This month we've had more new decorative painting books in than the whole year to date. These books have something for every skill level. Holiday Beliefs by Laurie Speltz is a great one for beginners or if you just want a few quick gifts or to items to sell at the upcoming craft sales. Festive Collection would be a nice gift for a painting friend a calendar and instruction book. As always Bob has put out a great book, though for those of you who are fans of Bob's you will be surprised to see that he is using Deco Art paints instead of Jo Sonja's. Does this mean that he isn't using Retarder? I'll have to sit down with a coffee and read through the books to see.

Have a great Labour Day weekend.

Paper Pictures

As promised though a couple of days late here are some pictures of the new Graphic 45 papers. You'll have to come in the store to see the rest of the line.

More New Papers

I just popped out to the post office to pick up the mail and my order from Graphic 45 was in. These are the most beautiful vintage papers, they are so beautiful that I just want to frame them and look at them. I think they are just crying out to be put on a small table. I will take pictures and post them tomorrow. Just had to let you know about them.

Back to work now.

Monday Morning

I hope everyone got a chance to enjoy the beautiful weekend that we had. Now this morning it feels like a fall day. I have to say though I would take this any day over the humidity.

For any of you who were in my class on Saturday, my tailbone was feeling much better yesterday, thank you for putting up with my moaning and groaning. Thank God it was better because I spent the day going up and down a chair painting my daughters bedroom yesterday. Ralph Lauren Derby Red, if I never use that colour again it will be fine with me. I have to say the room is going to look great except for the fact that we used the wrong product to fill the holes and it didn't sand very well, so as my daughter says it looks like globs of gum stuck on the wall. I told her to put it on thin and spread it out, but I am sure as you know that teenagers know everything. Oh well I am sure a few strategically place picture frames will do the trick.

We received the new Cuttlebug dies in the store the other day and they are flying out the door. So email me if you would like any held. The fall schedule is shaping up quite nicely, something in it for everyone, whether you are a painter or scrapbooker.

New Books

Things are getting busy at the store in preparation for the Fall Schedule. There is going to be a great variety of projects in the next few months. Everybody is working fast and furious to get the projects ready

We received new books on Wednesday how exciting considering that there haven't been alot published lately. We have already sold out of a couple, so if you would like any I will be placing an order on Monday. Call or email me and I will hold them when they come. There are great projects in all these books. If you love Butterflies then Painted Butterflies by Assorted Artists is one you won't want to miss. Last night the girls that were here painting were having a friendly struggle for the last copy I had. Tracy Moreau is one of the Artists featured in this one. Another one that I really like is Nana's Collectibles by Ellen Rohne. I do have to say though that I am partial to all things Christmas. If you are a collector of St. Nicholas then Celebrate St. Nicholas from the Decorative Arts Collection is a must have. Lydia and I picked this book up when we were at convention in May. It is a truly beautiful book to leave out on the coffee table.

Have a great weekend and keep checking back to see what's new.

Sneak Peek

It's a beautiful sunny Saturday here in Ottawa. Did any of you get a chance to watch the Opening Ceremonies yesterday for the Olympics. What a fabulous show, the sycronization of the performers was amazing. I particularly enjoyed the drummers at the beginning and the painting on the paper was interesting.




The store is busy today with Lydia teaching one of Tracy Moreau's designs Orchids for Jane, everyone is doing a beautiful job. Don't forget to check out www.thepaintedpony.com for the projects that Tracy will be teaching when she comes in September.



Here is a little sneak peek at one of Lydia's original designs that she will be teaching in the Fall.

Also congratulations to Lydia, one of her designs was chosen for the Society of Decorative Painters 2009 convention in Peoria, Illinois.

Happy Thursday

A day and a half to go till the weekend, that is unless you start on Friday or are lucky enough to be on holidays. Speaking of holidays, it is just like Christmas here at the store. New stock arriving daily Yesterday I received some stamps from Inkadinkadoo which I had ordered while at CHA. Also received some nice Christmas ones but you'll have to come in to the store to see those.

New Papers

New product that I ordered when I was at CHA in Chicago is starting to come in. Yesterday I received a new paper line which I discovered, Mollie and Mac. It was the first time these ladies had been at CHA, their paper has a vintage feel to it.

Here is the Mac-ximum Fun Line and we also have their other line which is Just Johnnie and is in Blues.

Just received today Quick Quotes. This is a great line because they are all done in kits. While I was at CHA I took two of their workshops. If your the type of person that looks at the paper selection and starts to see dots in front of your eyes then this line is for you. All the guess work is taken out you just have to sit down and play.

I can't wait to sit down next week and work on store samples and projects for the Fall Session. Be sure to check out our website for upcoming projects http://www.thepaintedpony.com/.

Have a Great Long Weekend.

Welcome to my first blog post. As I sat here today, reading some of my favorite Blogs, I thought why not have one myself. So here it is.

A little background information on myself and what I do. I own a store The Painted Pony in the beautiful Ottawa Valley in Ontario Canada. This month the store turns 20 years old, though I have only owned it since May 2006. It was one of the best things I have done besides getting married and having a beautiful daughter. I am an Army Brat, travelling when I was a kid between Canada and Germany.

I do believe that artistic people are very special. I have been blessed to have such great customers that I consider many of them to be friends also.

Well back to work and brainstorming for the Fall Schedule of classes.