SALE SALE SALE

Well I hope everyone had a great Christmas and hasn't spent all their money at the mall on boxing day sales. Because for the next three days everything in the store is on sale. Following is the list of discounts.

Paint 15%
Brushes 20%
Wood 35%
Packets 50%
Books 40%
Scrapbook Paper 40%
Stamps 40%
Tim Holtz 15%
All Mediums 25%
Xmas 60%
and Everything Else that's not listed is 30%

So don't miss out on stocking up.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas'

And we were all running around like fools trying to get the last minute things done. I am happy to say that all I have to do after the store closes is go home have a glass of wine and wrap a couple more gifts. I am very lucky to have a husband that is home during the winter so he is vacuming and cleaning today.

Here at the store things are in a bit of a disarray as my two organizing Angels, Sharon and Wendy have taken advantage of an empty classroom. They have emptied the back of the store and my office and are organizing me. Things are in containers and labelled, now the stress will be to keep it like that. I will post before and after pictures in the new year just like on those organizing shows.

Don't forget that next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the 28th, 29th and 30th everything in the store will be on SALE 10-60% off.

And now I would like to say to everyone have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. I hope the upcoming year is a Healthy and Prosperous one for all.

Hugs
Cindy

After the Party

Well finally a few moments to update the blog. What a great day we had at the store on Saturday. Everyone had a great time creating their cookie and gift boxes as well as the gift card holder and recipe card book. I am so blessed to have such a great group of customers and friends. As promised Paulette brought in the Olympic Torch which her husband Terry had run with the weekend before in Quebec. So as you will see a few of us took the opportunity for a photo op. The cookie exchange was a success, with everyone going home with some yummy goodies.

Tis the Season

For all you paper crafters out there have you seen Tim Holtz's Blog, he is once again creating his 12 Days of Christmas Tags. They are fabulous, I just want to drop everything and start making them. I have a link to it on here on my Blog, and don't forget that we carry all the Tim Holtz products. I know as soon as I finish up what I am working on I am going to get my stuff out and start creating.

We still have space available in the afternoon session of the Christmas Party, it's always a fun time at the store.

Christmas Party

I have finally finished the projects for the Christmas Party, I love this day at the store. It really gets me in the holiday spirit and everyone as a great time creating and socializing. Here is a picture of the projects we will be doing at the Christmas Party. As in years past the registration is on the house and you just pay for the supplies. We will be having refreshments, don't forget the Chocolate Fountain that I mentioned a couple of posts before. Also Paulette's husband will be running with the Olympic Torch on Dec 5th and she will be bringing it on the 12th for use to see and maybe get a few pictures with. If you are interested in joining in the fun just go to the website http://www.thepaintedpony.com/ under mini workshops and you can register either for the morning or the afternoon. Don''t forget it is a Cookie Exchange so you will have to bring a minimum of two dozen cookies or squares and the recipe so I can copy and share with everyone.

I have also added another ornament workshop on Dec 4th 6-10, the bonus here is that I am going to do the prep work for you. Go to the website under mini workshops if you would like to register.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and I look forward to seeing you in the next couple of weeks.

Trust

This morning my trust in people is being tested. It was brought to my attention this morning that last night someone tried to steal something from the store while taking a workshop. The product didn't make it into the persons bag but was on its way there when she was asked whether she wanted to purchase it. Of course she had a lame excuse.

I have had my suspicions about this person before but have never caught her with something in her bag. So what do I do? Do I go to the expense of installing camera's? Do I confront her? and then be accused of slander. Perhaps she has a problem and can't help herself if so get help. I am a small business owner who has enough paying the day to day bills I don't have a cushion for theft. Plus I don't want to have this distrust, I enjoy my store and my customers.

So if you are reading this and you know who you are then be aware that I and all my teachers are aware and will be watching.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I can't believe that the last time I blogged it was Halloween, where is the time going? So as you can see by the following pictures I am busy getting the projects ready for the Annual Christmas Party here at the store. This year I decided it would be fun to have a Cookie Exchange as well. So you will have to bring some cookies or squares. The date is Saturday December 12th 9:30-12:30 or 1:30-4:30. One of the projects will be a decorated box to hold the cookies and then there will be two other projects. The cost will be between around $17 depending on what I decide for the other two projects. I keep changing my mind about the other two. As in previous years there will be munchies and this year Paulette has kindly offered the use of her Chocolate Fountain. So if you would like to join us for a fun time crafting please email info@thepaintedpony.com or call 613-836-1361 to sign up.

Happy Halloween

What a blustery fall day it is today, hopefully it clears up for all the kids tonight. Here is a picture of the new workshop that I am teaching on November 29th. You can register by going to the website http://www.thepaintedpony.com/

As you know I am taking a photography course at Algonquin College. I thought I would post a couple of pictures, I know I am taking better pictures than I used to and I am enjoying it which is the main thing.

Time Flies

Wow, where has the time gone, it's been one month since I blogged and a month since I turned 46. My how time flies, I would love to say that it has been a action packed month, with lots of exciting stories. But sadly it has been a pretty mundane month. I did go on a field trip to the Experimental Farm with the Photography class, fortunately it was last Saturday which was an absolutely gorgeous autumn day. I took lots of shots there but then ended up going to Beechwood Cemetery, now there is a beautiful place. Beechwood is my Dad's final address and a more beautiful one I couldn't have asked for. I will post some pictures when I get them downloaded.

We've had some great workshops at the store and some great ones coming up. Right now Joanne Purdy is here teaching the Pakenham Bridge in oils. Last night I sat in on Wendy's Calendar workshop, of course I didn't finish. Too slow and too chatty. It is always fun though to work with the papers and metal embossing. Be sure to check out her upcoming projects, there is still room in them.

Just this past week there have been two deaths that while not directly connected to me or my family have stopped and made us think. First was this past Wednesday a boy that goes to my daughters school was killed while on the way to school, he was 18. It has really made Anastasia think about life and how short it can be. And this morning through Facebook I found out that someone that I had went to school with had passed away yesterday. So one young man who was just beginning his life and another man 30 years older who had lived his life but still had so much living to do. It makes you stop and think what is really important. It's not the housework or chores, it is getting out and doing things to make you and the people that you love happy. The housework will still be there but will the people always be there?

Have a great weekend.

One Thousand Four Hundred and Sixty

That is how many days from today it will be till I turn 50. So today was my 46th Birthday, and for those of you who know me you know what I plan to do on my 50th and where I plan to do it. I plan on being in Greece for my 50th Birthday, everyone who knows me is invited (you have to pay your own way), no husbands allowed. You might say I am a little obsessed, and yes I am but it is a place I have always wanted to go. So why not celebrate a milestone on some Greek Island hopefully with a Greek God or two around :0). So ladies, start saving your pennies now.

Tonight I taught an ornament workshop, some my say why are you working on your Birthday? I say why not. I had a great day and evening, my customers are my friends. Paulette, thank you again for the great fruit bouquet, it was beautiful, yummy and healthy. Donna gave me a Calendar of Greece, a Greek phrase book and a tour book of the Greek Islands (need to figure out which one to stay on). Sharon made me the most beautiful necklace and took me out for dinner last night. And Odette she is always listening to me and putting up with my messy ways, she got me gift cards for Starbucks, Chapters and Booster Juice. I am so very lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people.

Thank you all for making my Birthday Special and just think how much fun we will have in Greece!!!

Cindy

Just In

Just wanted to let everyone know what new stock arrived yesterday. We received the new Tim Holtz stamps and have already sold out of one style. We also received some new Painting books, Holly Hanley's newest and only book in print now 'Sunshine Kisses...and Warm Winter Wishes Vol.5, if your a fan this is a must have. Also in 'How to Paint Flowers in Watercolor' by Julie King, 'Santa & Company' by Renee Mullins, 'Realistic Wildlife' by William Silvers, 'Trim a Tree' by Laurie Speltz & Chris Haughey and 'Winter Beliefs' by Laurie Speltz. Also arriving soon Willow Wolfe's new book Painting Wildlife & Birds.

Sunday

Just here at the store, so thought I would post some pictures of the girls that are taking the Altered Words workshop with Wendy. They are having a great time and all their canvases are different, Wendy is teaching them lots of great techniques. As you see my pictures haven't improved, still have to get some classes under my belt.

Pleasant Surprise

What a beautiful day it is today, I hope everyone had a great long weekend and now all the kids should be back at school. The fall routine should be in full swing. As some of you know I signed up for a Digital Photography course at Algonquin College and last night was the first class. I am so excited to start taking pictures (good ones) and we will be working with Adobe Photoshop near the end of the course so that will be great. Anyways I had a pleasant surprise as I walked up the stairs to the second floor of the school last night. There sitting on a bench was Sally (previous owner of The Pony), she's in the same class as me. It was great to catch up with her, for all of you who know her is is doing great.

So as the weeks progress hopefully my pictures on the website and the blog will greatly improve. I am already checking out the prices of new lenses for the camera. Oh no!! another addiction.

Cindy

Hot Off The Press

I just went to the Post Office to pick up the mail and the new Paint Works was in. Our own Lydia is once again published in it. I also have some of the cards that her project is on.

Update

So it's been a few days since I last posted on the blog. New stock is arriving weekly and everyone has been busy getting their projects ready for the Fall Schedule. We have some great projects coming up, something to appeal to everyone and some great gift ideas.

On Sunday a friend and I went to Petawawa to visit another friend who I hadn't seen since I lived in Germany, so that was about 25 years ago.

Yesterday I did a workshop for Retailers using some of the new products in the Scrapbooking world.

We have lots of new stamps in the store, here is a few of them.
And last but certainly not least the website is updated with the new workshops www.thepaintedpony.com.

Graphic 45

It's here, the new Graphic 45 papers are in, and judging by the response yesterday by just two customers they are going to fly out of the store. If you want to see the line here is the link to there website http://g45papers.com/. This is one of the most beautiful paper lines I have seen so far, they put out a beautiful quality paper line. We also have new stamps in and the new schedule will be on line next week. I will be sending out an email when the website is updated.

New Books

Well the rain is back, it's pouring as I look out the office window, hopefully it breaks the humidity. We received new books in the store yesterday, also in stock is the new Quick and Easy Painting Ornaments magazine.

New Products

It's been a couple of weeks since I have written anything, nothing much new has been going on. But now we are starting to get new stock in. First we should be getting Jamie Mills-Price's new book in within a couple of weeks, so if you would like one held let me know. Also there will be a new one from Holly Hanley in the Fall and our own Lydia has been asked to do another book. That one will be next Spring probably. I am still waiting to finalize dates and projects with Shirley Wilson, send me an email if you are interested in this Seminar, I do know it will be next June and there will be three, one day projects.

On to the new stuff, unfortunately today I don't have my camera to upload pictures. We just received the new Cuttlebug Folders, if you go to Provo Crafts website http://www.provocraft.com/index.php you can see them. I have also gotten some new stamps from Stampendous and Rubber Soul.

The new schedule will be out beginning of September, lots of great project. Don't forget to check the website now www.thepaintedpony.com because there are still spots available in the workshops listed. I will also be running a Beginner Class starting mid September in the evenings if you or anyone you know is interested in learning the Basics of Decorative Painting.

Well I'm off to Oshawa/Toronto tomorrow with Anastasia and her two friends for visiting, shopping etc. So I hope everyone has a great weekend and come in and visit Odette tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Cindy

It's Saturday Again!!

Well here it is Saturday morning again, seems to be my day to blog. What a beautiful day it is and a long weekend to boot. Nothing really exciting happened this week, no rainbows, leaks or speeding tickets.

I am anxiously awaiting new stock on the Paper and Stamping side of things, it will be just like Christmas. On the Painting side of things I will be putting a new ornament workshop in for August 28th, the pictures will be on the website today. Also there are still a couple of spots left in Lydia's Tabby Swirl in September. I was over at Lydia's for coffee the other morning and she has finished the Geisha Girl, it is gorgeous 24 x 48", don't miss out on this workshop when it goes up. The new Quick and Easy and Paint Works Magazines are in the store now.

We compared to last week this is short and sweet so I will sign off and have a great weekend everyone.

Cindy

Saturday Again

Seems to be that Saturday morning is blogging time for me. Lydia is teaching her beautiful pansies today here at the store and so far it hasn't rained yet. This week has been pretty uneventful except for a couple amusing things in the past couple of days.

Ordered new product this week from Ten Seconds Studio, Graphic 45, Seven Gypsies and a couple of stamp companies. Some really nice papers will be coming in soon. Yesterday I finished a new set of ornaments which I am going to put in for August. I know what your thinking Christmas ornaments in August? everyone is so busy when it gets closer to Christmas that it is nice to get some finished.

So let me tell you about the last 24 hours of my life. Yesterday wasn't too bad was a bit tired in the morning because Abbey (my Jack Russell) wouldn't go to bed. Anastasia's friend slept over and Abbey feels that she should also be allowed to sleep with the girls, so I was up to 2:30 with her. Had breakfast with Donna and Giselle at Broadway, that was nice, waitress wasn't the most pleasant but oh well.

Finished painting the ornaments in the afternoon and then we got that torrential rain, so I am sitting in the classroom and I hear a dripping - the window is leaking - fine I deal with that. Go into the bathroom and the ceiling is leaking in the tub - deal with that. Go to spray varnish something I had just finished painting and the ceiling is leaking above the door of the classroom, okay time to email the landlord. Sitting at the computer in the office emailing the landlord hit the send button and hear a drip, ceiling is leaking in office - send off another email. So I have to try and clear the area in my office where the drip is, no easy feat as those of you who have seen my office know. Get that done and get ready to close the store in 10 minutes because I am going out to dinner with Jo-Anne and going to see The Ugly Truth (great movie, highly recommend it). A customer comes in the poor lady had been waiting in her car for 10 minutes for the rain to let up, which yesterday it wasn't doing. So all is good close up the store run to the car which is just outside the door and get soaked, it's just water so who cares. At this point there is a beautiful rainbow out and its really sunny but the rain is still coming down in buckets. Oh by the way I am here to tell you for a fact that I was at the end of the rainbow and guess what "No Pot of Gold" sorry another let down in life LOL. Anyways dinner was good, the Margarita was great, movie was excellent. Had a couple of hours to kill waiting for Anastasia to get off work at so sat in the car playing on my Ipod and watching the blanket lightening and rain again. My poor daughter comes out of work carrying a Dairy Queen paper bag filled with her soaking wet clothes and tells me that she had grabbed one of Katherine's work shoes and one of hers in the morning so for 6 hours at work she wore one size 6 shoe and one size 9 and she is the size 9, her foot was killing her.

So we get home at 12:30 last night, and guess who is still up Abby again, I guess Brian (husband)feels that we need to see her before she goes to bed. So get her into her crate and get to bed at 1am. Up at 6:30 to do 4 contracts for Brian so that I can leave the house at 7:45 to get to the store. All this time I have been wondering what will greet me when I get to work, will a ceiling have caved in from the rain? (building is old so this could be possible), will all my papers etc be soaked? So I leave the house and started zipping my way up Dunrobin road and I see this grey boring car coming towards me pull over. You know where I am going with this, I slow down because I just know that it was a Cop, he turns, follows me and then on come the lights. So I was going 109 in an 80 zone, it's a straight road in the country early Saturday morning! (I know no excuse). So the upside to this is he was hot, finally I get pulled over by a good looking cop and he split the difference with me so that I didn't lose a point (how generous). I forgot to tell you that before I sat down to do contracts with my husband I was coming up from the basement and fell up the stairs, scared the ... out of him because he was sitting on the other side of the door and I basically fell through it bursting it open. Did I tell you that I hadn't had a coffee before any of this happened.

So that was my life in the last 24 hours or so, sorry for the rambling but just felt the need to share. You know you need sleep when your at the corner store getting advice from a random guy about which Energy drink is the best. Another plus all the ceilings in the store are intact.

Have a great weekend.

Rain, Rain Go Away...

Okay, enough is enough, not sure who did the rain dance but it is time for the sun dance. The only good thing about the rain is that we don't feel guilty about staying in and creating. Wendy is teaching the Metal Embossed Canvas today, I wish I was in the studio working on one as well.

Just in case you are new to my blog or aren't familiar with The Painted Pony here is what we are all about. The Painted Pony will be 21 years old this month, originally it was just Tole Painting but now we are doing Altered Art, Card Making, Book Making, Oil Painting, Tin Embossing and still the original Tole/Decorative Painting. I carry a nice selection of Scrapbooking Papers, Stamps, Inks, Metal Embossing Products from Ten Second Studios, Tim Holtz's Stamps and his Idea-ology Line. So if you are in the neighbourhood drop if for a visit, the hours and workshops are posted on the website www.thepaintedpony.com .

Have a great weekend
Cindy

SALE SALE SALE

What a great day today, beautiful sunny and not a drop of rain to be seen, I was starting to get a little water logged. So in honor of today I just decided to have a sale starting today and ending on July 18th. All scrapbooking supplies, paper and stamps with a few exceptions are on sale for 25% off. Let me add the exceptions are very few Penny Black Stamps, Tim Holtz products and Ten Second Products. All Books and Packets are 25% off with the exception of Lydia's new book "Pause for Painting 3". All wood will be on for 25% off also, select paints and mediums also on sale.

We also have room in our workshops so drop in for a visit, don't forget we are closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Happy Day

Fate? Luck? Or an Angel?

So as many of you know my daughter works at the Dairy Queen in Signature Centre, she was supposed to work this past Tuesday till close but switched with someone because she had plans. This is where I have to believe in the title above. When I picked her up from work on Wednesday night Canada Day she told me that they had been robbed at knife point on the Tuesday night 10 minutes before closing. The young girl that had the knife to her was the girl that Anastasia switched with, fortunately nobody was hurt and they didn't get anything but I am sure that the girl will be traumatised. I know I would certainly be shook up, Anastasia says she is nervous to work nights now. I have always said that there is someone watching out for us (I believe it is my Dad) and it is when things like this happen that my belief is reinforced. Someday I will write here about my Raven experience a couple of years ago which further adds to my belief.

Everyone have a great weekend and hopefully it will stop raining soon.

Cindy

Back

What a great day it is, I am so glad that the humidity has broken, it's nice to be able to have the windows open at night. So Lydia and I have been back a week, I am just at the tail end of my cold and Lydia unfortunately is at the beginning of it. It was a pretty uneventful drive home last Sunday, it took us 15 hours with a couple of small stops and one for dinner. And for all of you who didn't think I could give the the car keys I did. It wasn't till the last too hours but I still did, my neck was getting pretty stiff so I didn't have much choice.

There are a couple of new books in the store - Finishing Touches 5 by Anne Hunter, Love and Laughter by Sandra Malone, Down by the Sea by Claudia Nice, and Homespun Touches by Mary Jo Tuttle.

Have a great weekend.

The End Is Near

So tomorrow is our last day, Lydia teaches at 8am so we have to be at the room to set up at 7am, so for all of you who think we have been having a holiday sleeping in , wrong. We have been up at 6 every morning. Today I helped Bobbie Takashima in her design class and then this afternoon my head cold had progressed so much that I had to have a nap. We have had a couple of major thunderstorms here. Yesterday early morning there was one and it actually blew the windows out in a room on the floor below us. I have never hear of the thunderstorm warnings telling you not to stand close to the windows but that is what they had on the tv today. We just got back from the banquet. Lydia decorated one of the tables and did a beautiful job, some of the tables were absolutely gorgeaous. I am going to try to hit the trade show once more tomorrow and then thats it.

Have a great weekend.

Greetings from Illinois

So Lydia and I arrived yesterday in Peoria. Seems like we've been here for a week. After checking in yesterday we went out for dinner then hit the Trade Show at 6pm by 8:30 we were pooped and had already spent alot of money so we went back to the room and relaxed. Of course I got a couple of good ornament packets also three great ones from Maxine Thomas. Today I had a class with Maxine Thomas, what a pleasant lady, I look forward to teaching a couple of her patterns.

I had a class with Mary Jane Todd, a sweet woman but to be honest it is not my style but I had to try it to know for sure. So Lydia and I went to a cocktail book signing party tonight and had a couple of Chocolate Martini's met a new friend Linda from Louisiana and then had a couple of drinks in the bar with her and then Shelley and Lynne who are also down from Ottawa. Now Lydia is sound asleep as I will be soon. Unfortunately I have gotten the cold that Anastasia and Brian had went I left so I am feeling a little bit crappy. Tomorrow it is up at 6am and off to help Bobbie Takashima set up for her class, then Lydia teaches on Saturday Morning.

Well off to bed.
Cindy

Greetings from Michigan

So we are settled in for the night in Ann Arbor Michigan, Lydia has her red wine and I am drinking Tuscan Orange Grapefruit Beer. Yes you heard right and it is yummy, I am not a beer drinking but it sounded refreshing after a hard day of driving. Nothing really to report, doesn't look much different from Canada so far. Hopefully will have more to report tomorrow when we get to Peoria.

Cindy

On The Road Again

Well tomorrow morning Lydia and I are hitting the road to National Convention in Peoria, Illinois. We have decided to drive, not sure how that came about and not sure if we knew that it was a 16 hour drive when we did decide. But it is going to be great, I am really looking forward to see some new places. Now, I know all you out there who know how I am about driving are probably wondering how I am going to give the the wheel, don't worry I'm getting better, I even let Anastasia drive once in a while. So yes Lydia will be driving...well I say that now. I'll keep you posted. I have intentions of blogging daily, and hopefully my camera will cooperate and I will get some pictures. Well I better start winding down now as tomorrow will be a long day.

Cindy

It's all over

Well after many months of planning and a few stressful days leading up to it the seminar with Bobbie Takashima is over. What a delightful lady and the stories she has, everyone had a great time and thank you to Edie and Marilee for helping out over the three days. It came down to the eleventh hour on Wednesday to get Bobbie's paperwork for her work visa faxed to her, but thanks to Sharon we got it done. I definitely have an angel watching over me and I believe his name is Ron (my dad). As Sharon and Odette keep telling me I always manage to land on my feet and everything works out.

Before I took Bobbie to the airport we drove around past Parliament etc. and she commented on how green and lush everything was and that she hoped we appreciated it. I guess once in a while it is good to look at things through another eyes to really appreciate what you have. Here are some pictures of the weekend, I also can't forget to thank Lydia's daughter Catherine for baking the wonderful cakes each day and delivering them. Next week it will be National Convention with Lydia.