Murals of Magnolia & Quotes

Just before Christmas, a friend of mine commissioned me to add some warmth to her bedroom. She and her husband had recently reconfigured the room by adding a petition which allows her to have a studio just feet from her side of the bed.

She came to me with quotes she wanted to include and said she wanted to have magnolias on the petition. We worked together on came up with these designs to integrate into her existing color scheme.

The three quotes are:

It is not what we do, it is how much love we put in the doing. - Mother Teresa

Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments. - Rose Kennedy

Grow along with me. The best is yet to come. - Robert Browning

Welcome to my Home

It took me four years to find the right words to welcome guests to my home. If you were to visit my home and enter the side entrance, which is the entrance we use daily, these are the words I give to you.

New Humpty Dumpty pattern

In October one of my husband's coworkers saw the Humpty Dumpty I had painted of a police officer. He wanted one too and asked if I could paint a nurse so he could give one to his wife. This is what I came up with. They were pleased and so was I.

The Trees Live On

My home church built an addition a few years ago. In order to build we had to cut down some very large trees. I was compelled to have the logs from the trees saved to preserve them in some way. This Summer, during the two hottest weeks I took twelve of the rough milled boards from the these oak trees and sanded them with belt sanders and coated them with varnish. There are twelve panels, each averaging 20"-24" wide, that line the Sunday School hall. In some small way, I'm glad these trees could live on and be remembered.

Spotsylvania Education Foundation Awareness

For the past several months I've been working with the Spotsylvania Education Foundation to help develop an awareness campaign to inform the public of how they can get involved and help the community by helping our students. We produced two displays with the students artwork. These displays were at Muvico and Borders through the months of July and August.

Mural at Tabernacle

This past winter I was asked to "warm-up" the side entrance for Tabernacle United Methodist Church. With the approval of the Trustees I moved forward with an mural using earthtones. The Welcome mats and directory signs were also created and designed for each of three entrances.

Silent Crows

These crows won't make one single peep. They are only out for looks. I love the lines on these three and the highlighted wood grain really shines through.

Blue and Cooked Crabs

These two paint patterns show how different a little paint can make something look.

Take your pick or give me a new idea to paint, but I only have five more to sell.

Matching What Exists

These pictures show several pieces of matching furniture. A client of mine purchased a seat for her foyer and then found a table and mirror to finish decorating. The mirror and table were plain. She had painted them green to match the seat, but wanted some detail on the pieces to hold them together. In just a couple hours I was able to match up the colors and add some matching decoration.

Murals in Future Designs' Office

These are murals found throughout the rooms at Future Designs office.

The first three photos show multiple surfaces using an impressionist style painting with silver and gold leaf on a seldom used black background.

In this room a rubber stamped roller was used to create the green arches and the grass blades were added by hand. This wall brightens up the small one window inventory room.

Notice the floor - used slate shingles have been recycled, creating an unusual pattern.

Christmas is Coming

This does seem a little odd. I'm painting Santa's in my studio this week and while I'm painting I'm thinking about how to create a halloween costume for my son.

It's all marketing, right?

For the next few weeks I'll be painting these guys. Like the Humpty Dumpties from an earlier blog there are several of these carvings left from a company called Campbell Classics.

These carvings were produced in Virginia and are carved out of basswood and hand painted. They are painted by me of course. I'd love to know what you think of these. Let me know if you have a paint pattern you would like to see.

There's a Mermaid in the Bathroom

I was asked to paint something over the tub in a Master Bathroom last week. When I asked what the mural should contain the owner was undecided and asked what I thought would look good. I was stunned, usually when I'm asked to paint something there is a subject in mind.

Thinking quickly, I suggested a still life of sea shells on a beach. This seemed a little too subtle after the words came out of mouth so I then added, if you want a little fantasy why not paint a mermaid.

The mermaid was a hit. I went to work with several mermaid styles. This is the outcome. It suites the room and the owners well. There are several grandsons that visit and will certainly be entertained by this image as they splash about.

Kitchen Quote Mural

Follow along with the pictures to read the whole quote - Life itself is the proper binge. -Julia Child.

I recently painted this quote under the kitchen cabinets of a kitchen in the Fredericksburg area. The chef of this kitchen was very excited to find a quote that would suite her style and fit in the unique space available. I believe she did a great job of finding something that fits her personality and also works well in the space available.

She has room to put back her appliances and still be able to read the quote. Don't worry about the plugs and covers. I was able to find paintable cover and match the wall color. An electrician will be called to replace the plugs and switches with dark brown hardware.

Recent Murals

Enjoy some recent murals painted in local homes.

Wooden Humpty Dumpties

Wooden Humpty Dumpties

These guys are handcrafted out of basswood and are hand painted. They are part of a folk art wood carving collection produced by Campbell Classics. The company no longer exists, but I have several unpainted carvings and would be like to sell them.

custom designs upon request

for more info contact by email

fdesigns00@gmail.com