I loved doing this giveaway, it was fun to read the comments and see your favorites. Erik, Christi & Gayle, you are the winners! Message me your addresses and I will get these babies out in the mail for you… one step closer to a cleaner office – awesome! Look for more giveaways soon….

It doesn’t take much to make a small party a little bit extra special. I got word of a get together after hours at my kids’ school, to celebrate a much loved couple, a teacher & administrator. I put together some small posters and stickers to coordinate with the cake and Ta Da – instant party! (I am all about the cheesy puns, how glad am I the school staff has the same sense of humor?)

Dear friends & family,
This is Abigail Smalley daughter of Dave and Caroline. My parents suggested I write to you because I am planning on going on a mission trip to Mombassa, Kenya at the end of May for two weeks. The mission team is a group of teachers, parents, and 17 students from my high school. We are going to Mikindani Royal Kids School. The kitchen that the school is using now to feed the hundreds of students is in terrible conditions, so that is the main project we’ll be focusing on. Also, the team will be helping teach in the classrooms, playing games and sports with the kids, performing skits, teaching Bible stories, etc. We are bringing donated sports equipment and guitars to leave with the school.

As some of you know my grandpa passed away a couple of weeks ago. He was an Ambassador to Lesotho for many years. During that time, he selflessly helped others. He was an incredible person and I think it would LOVE to leave a legacy like him (and in his honor), so this is my first step! I am so excited to be going but I still am in need of funds for my trip. The travel expenses are very high. If you could consider donating and praying for my trip I couldn’t thank you enough! Our team has a motto of “Love One, Give One.” Every little bit helps and is greatly appreciated, no matter the size of the donation.

If you are interested in contributing you can mail a check to me at home (108 Cleremont Dr, Fredericksburg, VA 22405 with a check made out to my school, FCS) or you can donate with a credit card through paypal with this link:

Gratefully,
Abigail Smalley

P.S. Feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be willing to help!

I don’t know why but for as long as I can remember, ever since I was little and cranked up The Carpenters on the AM radio, I have had a soft spot for a great sad song. Whenever I hear this song, I get a kick to the gut. Not much can get to me like a melancholy Michael Stipe, a mandolin & harpsichord.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elqj3I7HspIR.E.M. Half A World Away live

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Happy March world! We have had some crazy weather here in Virginia. It was 70 degrees over the weekend and then a quick batch of snow kept the kids home from school yesterday. I do love March, it is the gateway to Spring, my favorite season.

This winter and now, moving on to the spring, my daughter is working on a big undertaking. She is planning on joining a group of 17 students from her school on a two-week mission trip to Kenya. They will be helping with a group called E3 Kids at the Royal Kids School. A school that is in need of many hands, hours and dollars. The students will be helping to build a better kitchen to serve the 600+ meals that are made each day as well as working to build a library for the eager students. I put together this logo for the team to use in fundraising, Kenya Help – get it? (Sometimes you need to say these things out loud to giggle). There have been yard sales, pizza sales, babysitting and more to raise the $2,000+ each student needs to get to Kenya. There are car washes and t-shirt sales coming up, too. I am posting a link to a donate if any of you are interested in helping. Please feel free to comment with any encouraging words, those mean as much to her as the donations. Thanks for reading.

Sweet Reasons card pushtheenvelope.net

Kellia's card pushtheenvelope.net

farmers daughter carb by pushtheenvelope.net

Considering the recent state of the economy, there seem to be a lot of small businesses popping up. I am optimistic these are businesses that will thrive since they are backed by tons of enthusiasm and lots of hard work. I am posting some recent logo designs of mine. I am always happy to get behind someone with a dream and a lot of drive. I hope these new companies will be around for a long time.

Adele lyrics, pushtheenvelope.net

Adele lyrics

Really, who doesn’t love Adele? She is an incredible talent. A singer, songwriter, classic beauty. I have played the heck out of her most recent album and I am not even close to putting it away for a break. Enjoy this recent watercolor, feel free to print it out and enjoy.

Happy New Year everyone! I am still working on packing up Christmas. It is tough having my busiest weeks for my business running from Thanksgiving weekend through to Christmas. We got our decorations up a little late this year, so I am not too eager to pack it up right away. Just wanted to let all of you know I will get back into the Music Monday series. It was great fun & it seems lots of you like they paintings so far. We’ll see what is in store for next week. feel free to continue to send me suggestions here or via Twitter & Facebook.

Santa stuck some cute earrings in my stocking this year. I was happy to wear these babies all day on New Years Eve to bring in the good luck for 2012. {I think Santa did a little shopping at Furbish this year!}

Bob Mould pushtheenvelope.net

Like many, I was so sad when Hüsker Dü broke up in 1988. I was a sophomore in college and their music was the soundtrack to so many of those days and nights. When Bob Mould’s solo album, Workbook, came out the next year, I was full-force into art school in Boston and he had me from the first glance of the cover. I was working on some Joseph Cornell-inspired box collages at the time and was taken with the similar artwork on his CD. Enjoy this little trinket. It is also the title of Bob’s recent memoir, I just finished it and have put it on my gift list for a few friends this Christmas. Feel free to click on the image and print your own. If you are interested in buying the original (approx. 4″ x 15″) just let me know. As a few of you have asked, I would gladly paint out a favorite lyric or quote for you. Maybe a wedding song as an anniversary gift? Favorite quote for a new apartment wall?

I am ready with week 2 of Music on Mondays. I was on an Oasis kick while working this week. They had their highs and lows as a band but always came through with clever and inspiring lyrics. I am also loving Noel Gallagher’s new solo songs. Feel free to click on the image and print your own copy. Email me if you are interested in buying the original watercolor. Cheers!