GETTYSBURG
My father in law is only slightly obsessed with that place.  He literally travels there at least twice a year all the way from Ottawa to hunt for ghosts, no word of a lie.  I'm pretty sure if he could travel back in time he would have a giant handle bar mustache, a horse, a musket and would definitely reside in Gettysburg.  That being said, he asked my husband to ask me if I could draw him a picture of a famous photo taken of 3 prisoners in Gettysburg a very long time ago.  I decided to surprise him and paint him the photo instead for Christmas.  Needless to say he was pretty friggin excited to see it on Christmas when he opened it.  There was a lot of little detail in that painting and being the procrastinator that I am left it, for the most part, until two weeks before Christmas.  There were times when I was going to give up, but I knew how stoked he would be to get it and that kept me going.  
So check it out!  I'll post a photo of the original as well.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL PHOTO

ONLY 4 MORE DAYS...free giveaway!
January 14th is quickly approaching and only one person is in need of a free baby hat!!??  All you have to do is check out my Etsy shop and tell me which item is your favorite item and become a follower on my blog.  It's really simple. 

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.....
If you want it...come and get it!

BACK TO WORK TOMORROW
I'm sooooo sad!!!  Best make the most of this day.  I'm going for a family walk because it is so nice outside.  Some laundry needs to be done and perhaps I can fit some crafting in before I hit the sac at 9:00.  
That's that! :(

REALLY OLD PAINTINGS....by me!
I was going through some files that my husband just compiled on to a massive server that he's been working on.  We sadly lost some precious photos recently, so we thought it might be a good idea for us to start backing up our stuff.   You'd think we would know better because it's not the first time this kind of thing has happened to us.  Anyhow...I came across some scans of paintings that I did many years ago.  16 years ago to be exact!  Wow, it's some what weird to think that it's been that long since high school.  These 3 paintings have been in good hands for years, and those hands would be my mom's.  She pretty much refuses to allow me to take any of my art from her.  Oh well at least I know where they are.  
So here they are.

Still life 1996

Still life 1997

Johnny Rotten of The Sex Pistols 1997 

KICKIN OFF 2011 WITH A GIVEAWAY!!! FREE! FREE !
So I was thinking what better way then to start the new year off with a lolospetals giveaway.  Everyone loves free stuff and it's really simple to enter the contest.  I'll be giving away this super cute little baby hat that I knit up for a 6-9 month old.  It's really bright colors and looks great on. Makes for a great little gift for someone's little one, or for your very own little one.

 Here are the contest rules:
1. Check out my Etsy shop at www.lolospetals79.etsy.com
2. Leave a comment on this post including your name, e-mail address and which item in my Etsy shop is your favorite.  
3. One last thing, add me as a blog that you follow!!!


Contest deadline ends January 14th, 2011 at midnight.  You may enter more then once, however only once per day please.  All names will be entered into a randomizer to see who wins.  Good luck!!

AND CHRISTMAS IS OVER...JUST LIKE THAT!
So I guess I can finally start posting some of the things I have been working on that were gifts.  This is a painting that I did for my brother, he is obsessed with anything wildlife, nature, and especially trees.  The painting is of an Australian gum tree and has a line from the Australian nursery rhyme "Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree" written on it.  
It is acrylic paints on a wood canvas.  I attempted to cover this painting in a resin coating.  It didn't quite turn out the way I had hoped, however it looked pretty cool the way it did turn out.  Mixing that resin was not a fun task.  I had plans to finish two table tops and this painting.  Lets just say the tables went to the dumpster and some how I managed to salvage the painting.  
Back to work for me in one week!  I can't believe it's been 7 months already.