America

This painting really is beautiful, isn't it?  But did you know it holds a secret?  Come on, take a closer look!

The grass and sand dunes are made up of people and things!  The people and things that have shaped America!

Mr. Potato Head!

R2-D2 and lyrics from a popular Post-9/11 song

A multitude of iconic people, and the Twin Towers

Martin Luther King Junior, Uncle Sam

Elvis

Santa Clause

250 people/things were painted into this painting!  Now do you see why it's our favorite?

Art Prize

We live about 30 minutes away from Grand Rapids, which hosts one of the largest (if not the largest) art shows in the world!  Art Prize hosts 1,582 artists from all over the world display their work in 164 venues in Grand Rapids.  Then, people can vote on their favorite piece!

This was the first time Mike and I have gone down to Art Prize and it certainly didn't disappoint!

Grizzlies on the Ford is one of the top 10 pieces and it looks so neat to see bears in the fountain!



This piece depicts a timeline from Creation, to the Crucifixion, to the Resurrection



Mike and I were both quite intrigued by this painting.  There's just something about the colors and the people, erie as they are, that grabbed us!

These flowers are made from water bottles!

We thought Rusty the dog was pretty cute!

Finally!  A chair fit for Mike! :)

We loved the monkeys hanging from the bridge...it was so whimsical, we couldn't help but smile!

This may look like chalk art, but it's really colored sand!  Each day, the artist creates a new work!

Men at Work was so neat!  2 of these men are real, and 1 is a statue...can you guess who the statue is?

This piece was our favorite!  Come back soon and I'll show you why!

Wall Expressions Party

Last year I went to a make-and-take Wall Expressions party and just loved it!  I couldn't wait 'til I had my own house to decorate so I could host a party of my own.  Last Friday I was finally able to.  I had a great group of friends come over, including Mari (you can read about the party on her blog too!)  Mandy, from Mandy's Wall Expressions, came to my house and led us in a great night of fun!  She brought along a ton of samples of her work, everything for growth charts, to cute sayings on blocks, to plates, to tiles!  Pretty much if you can imagine it, she can create it!  After she explained what her business is all about and all the great items she offers, we headed out to the garage to make our own word blocks!

We were able to choose between a 12 inch or 24 inch long block and then we chose our color to paint it.  

After our painted blocks were dry, it was time to apply the vinyl letters.  Mandy had many expressions that we could choose from and there really was an expression for everyone!  I chose: "Memories" and "Friends, Food, Laughter".

Mandy then showed us how we could sand the edges of our blocks to give it a weathered look; this was an optional step, some people did it and others left their blocks completely painted.  

And of course, what's a party without food?!?!  (I'll be posting the recipes on my recipe blog soon!)

The finished products.  Don't they just look fabulous?  I had such a great time and I know the other ladies did too!  Mandy is available for parties at your house too, so if you live in the West Michigan area, be sure to check out her site!

(Thanks to Mari for letting me use some of her pictures!!!)

Art Around the House

I love to decorate.  When we bought our house (actually, before we bought it!) I knew what colors I wanted to paint most of the rooms.  I wanted a bold and modern look.  I think my color scheme definitely achieved that!  After we moved in, I really started to be able to decorate how I pictured things.

I recently purchased and received more art and I think my dining room and kitchen are pretty much completed.  I do want to put some wall words up in the kitchen, but I'll do that after my wall words party in March.

Here's some of my favorite pieces.  Actually, they're all my favorite, so here's all the art in my kitchen and dining room :)

Mike and I saw this sign one day at my favorite store, The Seasoned Home.  We both loved it, but knew it was a bit out of our price range.  We figured we'd save for it and get it when we had the money.  But then for Christmas, I received 2 gift certificates (from my MIL and Grandma) to The Seasoned Home.  They totaled to the amount I needed for the sign!

These are one of my two newest sets.  I saw these on clearance at Meijer and I loved them!  I asked Mike if I could get them and he said yes; I went back the next day and they were still there.  I love how the group turned out!

These chefs are my second new set.  I went back to buy the wine bottle set and I saw these too.  They were just so perfect for my kitchen.  I couldn't decide between the wine bottles or the chefs so I bought both, figuring I could return one set if Mike didn't like them.  He thought they were cute too, and said I could keep both.  I'm so glad he did!

I picked this up at the dollar store before we moved into our house.  I wanted my kitchen to have a cooking and wine theme so this was perfect!  Funny thing though, I really don't care for the taste of wine!  Anyway, right now it's just sitting on my back-splash; I haven't decided where I want it so I keep moving it around.

This is a painting by someone in Haiti.  I bought from some people who went to Haiti.  It goes perfectly with the colors in my kitchen!

Mike and I have been wanting a kitchen mat/rug for a while now.  Last time we were at Bed Bath and Beyond I found this.  I bought this before my Chef pictures, but they go so perfectly together!

I bought this set probably 3 years again at an auction at my church.  I loved the European countryside.  I had it hanging in my blue bedroom~ I think it goes much better in my dining room!

My sister-in-law got me this for Christmas this year.  It goes perfectly with the set I received last Christmas (hanging on the opposite side of my dining room)

I'd been eying this piece at Bed Bath and Beyond for a long time!  I was thrilled to receive it for Christmas this year!

My mom bought this wall word kit for me for Christmas 2009.  I waited until I had my own house to hang it up as it's not reusable.  I had the perfect spot for it above my bay window in the dining room!

The rest of my house is still a work in progress.  Some rooms are more complete than others.

I know I promised a full tour of the "after" pictures of our house.  I still am working on that!  I just need to get each room clean for long enough to get a few pictures, but I promise it is coming!