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Since it seems I'm venturing into some new creative territory, (and maybe going back to sign painting when the time is right) I thought it might be a good idea to share some things I've made on tumblr. I'm exploring and getting to know it so it's a bit um, plain? sparse? bare? at the moment but if you're curious, check it out: http://www.sunnygirlsigns.tumblr.com/
Hope you like it and thank you!

hi again- it's been far too long

I suppose I could spend time here writing on and on about the crazy world and why I haven't been in the studio, blah, blah, blah but I think I'll skip that and attempt to summarize my thoughts this morning (which is quite difficult for me)-

1. I have a new studio and there it is!
2. Missing painting like you wouldn't believe!!

Not bad! ha! So, really just wanted to write a little since it seems as though Sunnygirl Signs is long gone when looking at this blog. I'm musing on starting a new blog for this new chapter- if so, I'll leave directions.
x  elizabeth
p.s. When clicking around on several links here, I'm realizing that I have some updating to do- thanks for understanding- If you have a question, please let me know! sunnygirlsigns@me.com

renovations-

Clearly in this photo- my kitchen is, well, not really there. I've been working in my new little place whenever I can and the kitchen demolition/renovation is taking much longer than I thought but I sure am learning a lot. I had hoped to be back in the studio by the first of December but without a functioning kitchen, it's a little difficult to stop to sit down and paint (although sometimes I really want to!) I was showing a friend some sign photos last night and realized even more how much I'm missing painting Sunnygirl Signs. So I'm working and hoping that I will finish- sometime soon-  My goal now I think, is to be ready for the Fox School show in May- if it's before then I'll certainly write. and I'll write more along the way anyway just so you know I'm still around. Really BIG thank you for your patience and understanding-  xxx

p.s. I'm planning on returning to Ashland Coffee and Tea as well but for now, Shelley Whittington has some beautiful paintings there-

longing and hoping

As you can see by the time of this post, things continue to be hectic, busy, boxed, but wonderful, refreshing and coming together all at the same time.  The photo here is of the front door to my new building- it also symbolizes new beginnings and a new life!  I have spent the last couple of months moving from my small town and a very big house, back to the big city to a very small house!  It has taken more time that I could've imagined- it seems it's been quite the year for that.  However, it means that I haven't painted in months- I miss it terribly and as I unpack the boxes with my brushes and paints and store my wood lovingly down in the basement storage, I realize how much I am ready to work again.
So, thank you for your patience and understanding.
I will be back in the studio just as soon as I can!

wishing for the studio

Wishing for the studio-yes, absolutely.  As you can see by the date of my last post, I unfortunately haven't  been painting for some time now-the photo posted here are two signs- in progress and so, I suppose that's the place I'm in as well.
I've had to take a break from painting for a little while and in fact, missed two favorite spring art shows. I'm moving from Ashland and as you can imagine, things have been incredibly busy BUT, I will be back in the studio again-I'm hoping by August.  I still have a couple of special orders to complete but until then, I won't be taking requests as I will be packing, moving, renovating, decorating and hopefully sleeping just a little!  You're welcome to order if you like but it may be a while.  Just wanted to share.  Thanks to all of my very favorite and patient customers. oxoxox

Multi-colored letters!

So, I've taken a tiny break (only lasted a couple of days!) from all of the special orders, to let a little of my own creativity show again-I've missed it although I do love painting for others, clearly!
What do you think? How do the multi-colored letters feel instead of all one color?  The 'fun' sign will be auctioned as a fundraiser for John M. Gandy
Elementary school in mid-April and 'vivacious' is currently on the wall at the Ashland Coffee and Tea, or at least it was when I was there on Sunday! Happy Spring!

Working, working, working!

After working to catch up on some special orders (and they're not all finished yet!), I figured I'd better work on some ideas of my own for the Sunnygirl Sign wall at Ashland Coffee and Tea.  It's been almost empty for far too long now-so I'm here in the studio on this beautiful sunny day, music playing and painting as fast as I can in hopes to hang at least a few on the wall before tonight's music begins.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions for new words, I'm always interested! Some new words on their way: vivacious, zany, lucky, melodic, industrious, debonair, dashing...send me some of yours, won't you?

Special Orders 2010

My first group of special orders for the new year  are done -terrific! I had almost forgotten the feeling of finishing a special order and then seeing my customer's reaction to it- their creation come to life-it's the most wonderful, the truest joy that comes from this little business.  It makes all of the late nights, blurry eyes, cold fingers and too many cups of coffee very worth it all. Oh yes, absolutely. So, tomorrow, I am super excited to continue on, to the eleven orders that are waiting.  I can't wait to see the next happily surprised face...

Hopefully,

it will be

very soon!

It's the New Year-back in the studio again!

How to begin this blog entry?  Wow-it's been too long, far too long since I've been in the studio much less updating this blog and as I write this, I realize how very much I've missed it!
At the beginning of December, a family emergency caused me to leave work, the studio and the routine of everyday life for almost three weeks-I'm just fine but now, catching up from being away has been more of a challenge that I could have imagined.  Time passes so quickly-
Nearly seventeen special orders on hold-an enormous thank-you to all of my very kind and understanding customers, some of you still waiting with only one cancelled order that couldn't be helped (to France-of course!). 
I am the luckiest girl on the planet.  Not to mention that the wall at Ashland Coffee and Tea looks very bare but...
Not to worry!  I'm back in the studio, painting furiously and wonderfully, trying my best to catch up.  
It feels amazing.

December is here already!

It was such an amazing long weekend-warmth in the studio, sun shining, lovely music and even open windows to paint beside.  Just perfect!  I spent most of the weekend finishing the first group of Christmas orders and then back to the barn to cut and sand the next big group of nineteen and only two weeks or so to finish those!  After bringing those in, I decided to photograph the signs I had just finished and learned a valuable lesson-take socks off prior to standing on a stool with camera-after a large crash and a large bump on my large noggin and few other scrapes-I did take my socks off... and got a few nice photos.  Dork status upgraded. That's good, right?!  Happy December!

skirt! magazine, Happy Thanksgiving, & Ava

The most exciting news to share-I can hardly type actually-but anyway, check out the December issue of skirt! magazine (cute green boxes all around Richmond and a few other places-there's also a link here and on my website) and on the 24/7 page, you'll find Sunnygirl Signs!  Isn't that the craziest thing-the bees knees, the absolute end?!  Thank you so much   to Phyllis Theroux, a wonderful local writer (with a new book coming out soon!), Constance Costas, skirt! Richmond editor, Agata Schoenborn, photographer and Nikki Hardin, publisher/editor and Ashland Coffee and Tea for a wonderful location for the shoot.  The December issue comes out in less than a week and I am so excited to see it! I hope you are too!  Happy Thanksgiving!  Rest, eat and laugh with friends and family- and then perhaps, take a walk and enjoy the fresh air.  It's so nice this time of year!  Oh and Ava, I just really liked this one.

Christmas Orders-it's time!

As you can see, Sunnygirl Sign orders for Christmas are already coming in!  Even though it's only the middle of November, the holidays will be here so quickly and the days seem shorter and shorter and busier and busier.  If you think you might like a sign or two for the holidays, just send an e-mail as soon as you can and we can get started!  Here are a few ideas to help with your order:*What word(s) would you like?  *Color preferences-background? lettering? dots?  *Size-4" tall, 6" tall, 8" tall or larger? *Pick-up or shipping date?  So, let your creativity soar and your imagination for different words and color combinations be free!  Anything is possible!  Wouldn't it be fun to give someone a present that you created? (plus I always attach a little note to those special order presents, that says 'This Sunnygirl Sign original was created especially for you by __________________.) You want to sign your name, don't you?

Numbers-who knew?

A few weeks ago, I was asked by a friend to paint some signs for a lovely group of women who were getting ready to run the Richmond Marathon for the first time!  Very exciting!  So, when I asked her what she had in mind, she thought 26.2 would be a perfect way to celebrate the race.  I must admit, a became a little nervous as I'd not painted numbers before-only letters and have had so much practice, I really had never given numbers much thought.  I'm really happy to say I'm glad I gave it a try-I ended up doing four of these, all free-hand, as always, and I think she's right-a perfect way to celebrate all 26.2 miles!
Go Runner Girls Go!

October and more swirls please!

Happy October!  
It's such a beautiful time in the studio right now-there are three magnificent oaks just on the other side of my studio windows that are shedding their orange, red and yellow leaves much to my delight!  With the rain, some even stick to the windows and I can have a longer view of those, until they fly away to meet the others, and as you can probably imagine, there are plenty of others!  So, perhaps "goddess" is a perfect way to describe those majestic trees-"goddesses of nature"-yes, very fitting.  If this sign wasn't a special order for Helena (with extra swirls and glitter too!), I just might have to sit it at the base of one of those oaks...

Sunnygirl Signs-words on the side!

Have a look at the newest sign-I'm so excited! I suppose I'll call it Words on the Side-

How did it happen you might be wondering? A lovely teenager, whose mom has several Sunnygirl Signs, wrote to me and wanted a sign with 'I love you to the moon and back'-a special saying that she shared with her mom. Worried that her babysitter's salary may not be able to cover such a lengthy sign, Words on the Side happened! I'm so happy to report that her mom loved it and said it was "the grooviest birthday present ever". What's your favorite saying? It just might make a lovely Sunnygirl Sign-Words on the side!

Cooler weather!

It's so nice in the studio with the windows open and the cool breezes of fall blowing in to say hi! I'm surprised that it's been so long since I've written but I suppose all the adventures of fall have kept me busier than I thought! I'm so excited and grateful that things have been so busy and that Sunnygirl Signs continue to do well. Thank you so much for your support and lovely words. I'm currently working on ten special orders which seem to come in quite steadily now! A couple of weeks ago, I sent an order off to Georgia-to someone I've never met-and she was really pleased. It's the neatest thing- hard to explain but I just love it-packing things and mailing them off-exciting! Who doesn't love getting a big package in the mail, with signs inside that you created?!

Fall is here-wow!

It's almost here-fall weather!

I'm looking forward to long sleeves and jeans again-I have this pair of overalls that I've had for a very long time-they're perfect for painting-covered in patches (to hold them together!), sharpie drawings and now, paint- I'm wearing them in the photo on the right, in the barn! When the weather is so hot, they hang in the studio, just waiting for fall to arrive and now-it's here!

Painting is moving along nicely and I'm working to finish more new signs for the wall at the Ashland Coffee and Tea-hang on! They're coming soon I hope! Oh, and this photo-a custom order (think 'Reese')-it's a Sunnygirl Sign-with legs!

Wonderful Day!

What a wonderful day it was on Saturday! I knew that I wanted to spend a lot of time in the studio, working on special orders and more work for the wall at the Ashland Coffee and Tea. As I was preparing to do just that (strong coffee, i-tunes, phone, paint clothes!), the sky darkened, a cool breeze appeared and before I could make it to the studio, the most beautiful rain began. I could hear the trees laugh and see the flowers dance...truly wonderful. I opened all of the bamboo shades in the studio and as I painted, watched the rain on the barn roof and the grass turn green again. It's my favorite kind of day in the studio...I'm hoping for more as fall returns. Aren't you?

House Numbers

If you've read through my blog posts, you know that I love painting custom orders. A while ago, I wanted to paint something for our family and after lots of thoughts, decided to try a house number. I painted a few with numbers but wasn't quite sure about the look. Then it dawned on me to use words for the numbers and I'm happy to say, that I really liked the outcome! Since painting our house numbers (there's a photo on my website), I'm so lucky that others have ordered house numbers as well.

They're especially fun when there are zeros in the number and they can be painted with "oh"! They're interesting when you can hang them in a window above your door and have a word painted on the flip side! 'Salut!' is painted on the other side of this image, with 'good-bye' on the other side of mine! All signs for the outside are treated with Krylon UV so they'll last a really long time...let me know about your house number!

Summer Has Been So Busy!

Happy August! It feels as though it's been forever since I've added a post and in some ways, forever since I've been able to paint. Running the Bluemont Concert Series here in Ashland, previously scheduled summer trips, installing long over-due special orders, and painting the stage at our local Children's Theatre Camp has taken more time that I could have ever imagined. So, as I get ready to walk my girl over to theatre camp, I look forward to coming back for a few hours of painting. It's my focus this week. It will feel so good to return to the studio! Can't wait to post some new work too!