My Secret Garden

This is my secret garden surrounded by a privacy fence and very few people get to see.

We live in an older home and the soil is very black dirt.  The yard at our previous home was hard clay and I had a very difficult time learning to garden.

I still don't know much about gardening, other than digging a hole and sticking a plant in it.  What I do know is that good dirt makes all the difference.

I love how my neighbor, Betty's, cottage peaks up over my fence in the photo below. 

I'm a lazy gardener and don't like to do a lot of digging to start a new flower bed.  Most of my beds were started by laying several layers of newspaper on top of the grass and covering it with about 3 inches of cypress mulch.  Next year the grass and newspaper will be gone and I can plant my flowers. 

We are still getting temps in the 30's on some evenings which is scary when so many of my plants bloomed so early this year.  How is your garden doing this spring?

Village of Stoney Point Tea Bag Box

This box was one of my projects from my first instruction book, The Village of Stoney Point.  It's one of my favorite pieces and was painted in 1993. 

Check out my eBay auction. 

 Side view below.....

The hinges for the lid are two wooden pegs.

The inside has dividers so you can sort your tea bags by flavor, or use as an office organizer for paper clips, rubber bands, stamps, etc.

This piece has been loved, used, and traveled to trade shows and seminars. 

There are a few blemishes and some small places where the painted has rubbed off or chipped. It only adds to the character of the piece.

Catherine Holman

Hand Painted Spaghetti Storage Container

I'm back with my latest class sample that I've decided to auction on eBay.  I listed it tonight if anyone is interested you can click the title(link) below to check out the auction.

"Folk Art Spaghetti Holder"

Made from tin, this folk art spaghetti holder is a decorative way to store your pasta. 

The scene is painted all the way around the tin.

Catherine Holman



Bringing Life to my Folk Art Painting

Remember when a customer asked me to personalize my Tea Shoppe print and make it into a Dog Treat Barkery?  That's where I got the idea for this new painting.

I was hoping to get this painting finished today, but I just couldn't stop adding more and more details.  I write the story in my head as I paint and then my brush just won't stop.

A lady walks her little dog toward the Barkery wearing her favorite red and white polka dot sundress.

The sign above the door and all the dog treats in the windows are creating quite a stir outside the entrance of the shop.

I still need to come up with a name for this painting when I finish it next week.

Hopefully that will pop into my head when I finish writing the story.  All suggestions welcome!

Catherine Holman 

Notecard Party

A Haven for Vee is having a "Notecard Party".  You just need to pick four photos that have previously been on one of your blog posts that might be suitable (none of mine are) for notecards.  Most of my photos are not worthy candidates, but here are four that I picked for this month:

(Notice how I blur the edges to try make them look better)

I'm ready to get my pillows out but it's been a little rainy, so I think I'll wait.  Have you gotten your pretty porch pillows out yet or made new ones?

I'm linking up this post with Vee's Notecard Party.

Icing on the Cake Begins ... My Folk Art Painting

I've started what I call the "icing on the cake" or the really fun part of the painting.  A quilt and bolts of fabric are part of the window display at "The Wooden Spool" quilt shop.

The scene wraps around the edges of the canvas.

Check back tomorrow for more "Icing on the Cake!"

Catherine Holman 

More Folk Art Painting Details Added

I didn't get any painting done yesterday because I had lots of gardening to tend to before the rain set in today. 

It was such a treat to have the day to play around with my painting and bring more of it to life.  It was a bad day to photograph though.  Hopefully you can tell from the photo what I've done compared to the previouse posts on this painting.  Folk art is so much fun because there are no rules and I can make them up as I go along.

All the buildings are close to completion.  I just need to decide what each building will be, paint the signs, and add the details inside the windows.  The rest is just icing on the cake and oh so much fun!

Catherine Holman 

Tea Room Napkin Holder and Salt and Pepper Shakers

This week I'm listing these two folk art projects that are book samples from my first instruction book, "The Village of Stoney Point".

"Wood Napkin Holder and Ceramic Salt & Pepper Shakers"

The chimney of the napkin holder also serves as a toothpick holder. 

Front of the napkin holder...

Back of the napkin holder...

Check out my eBay auction if you are interested.

I will be sharing the progess of my new painting tomorrow.

Hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Easter!

Catherine Holman

Jelly Bean Cupcake

Today I'm having my family over for our Easter dinner and tomorrow we'll be celebrating Easter at church with our church family, then heading to the  the nursing home to visit with my father

in law and grandmother.

He is our risen Lord and Savior!

How do you celebrate Easter?

Bringing Depth and Detail to My Folk Art Painting

After the basecoating stage in my previous post, I start shading to add depth and some details bringing the buildings to life.  I'm still working through what each building will be and I really appreciate all the help and comments. 

I love skimming through old photos that I've taken over the years of old buildings to get ideas for my little village.   Wouldn't you love to take a stroll down this sidewalk and do a little window shopping?

Catherine Holman

Moving Ahead With My Folk Art Painting

Basecoating has been finished today on the main buildings of this painting and the fun begins next!

It's so much fun to decide what each of these buildings will become.

This past week a customer asked me to personalize my tea shoppe print for her and change it to a gourmet dog treat shop.  The results are below.

This has given me a great idea for one of my shops in this new painting.  Keep watching and see what developes. 

I'm always open to suggestions too, so feel free to leave me a comment.

Catherine Holman