Adding to the Christmas List......

So I am a MASSIVE fan of the website/blog/addiction otherwise known as www.allthingscupcake.com .........on this site I have found some amazing recipes and some of the cutest cupcake *STUFF*.....thus the name huh?


Well one of the massively wonderful things I cam across were from the Etsy shop of Littleanu

She has several cute things, but her hand-painted cupcake pillows just take the (cup)cake! ha!

They range in size from "Snackie-Size (7"-8"), to Regular-size (13"-14"), all the way up to Large...otherwise known as "Be thankful it's fat free!" (16"-17")

Backed with recycled & cozy t-shirts, they are a sure fit for ANY cupcake lover.......and that is exactly why I have one headed MY way!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/littleanu <-------check her out!








Also worth mentioning is the CUTEST soap dish ever.....(GREAT idea honey for Christmas.....wink wink) from the Etsy shop Edwood.

Made from natural cedar & a mere 5"x5"x3/4", this cupcake soap dish is a MUST..........ok maybe not a must, but a "I really really want it!"










This will almost make standing at the sink fun!

Though it is is completely functional, I think I would have to display this on the wall......



To get one of your very own (and at a SUPER low price of $8), head here------>
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34381634

What a difference a year makes......

So,

This was something I posted right around this time last year.....

I am happy to say that my husband WILL be spending this Christmas at home with me & our boys.......but I know there are SO many military families missing one or more loved ones this Holiday season.

Please keep these families in your thoughts-----often time I have heard that people don't know what to say to someone who has a spouse deployed.....well, the right words aren't necessarily important. Just letting them know that they are not forgotten and that you are there to lean on, well that mean a lot.

*****Also, in case you are one of those 3 or so people living under a rock and you HAVEN'T heard about Toys For Tots....it is an AMAZING charity benefiting military families (should you feel so inclined), with donation spots as close as your local Recruiting Office or Wal-mart, it is also one of the easiest to give to.


Love & Cupcakes.....and you know what, MERRY CHRISTMAS! I'm tired of everything I see saying Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings.........it has ans always will be (to me and my family at least) CHRISTMAS! :)


Lauren

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful...........more like 53 and heavy rain!

Where has the time gone?? More importantly, where did all this rain come from? I thought it never rained in Southern California!



Over this last month in a half I have been:

Painting,
cleaning,
wrapping presents,
decorating for Christmas,
helping my oldest with school projects,
shopping,
baking,
working on Scentsy orders,
wrapping more presents,
cleaning,

....oh, and painting!


I have included a picture from the Marine Corps Ball that my hubby & I attended last month. Very big deal for the Marine Corps, and for us as well.........this was our 7th!

Seeing as he was deployed for the Ball last year and will be again for 2010, it was especially bittersweet.


As for all of my new and wonderful paintings......well you are just going to have to wait to see them! I painted most of the presents for family & seeing as they read this, well I don't want to give them a sneak peek! ::laugh:: Though I will say that a few of the items are rather different than what I usually tend to do, I am very pleased with how they turned out.

****As for all the cleaning mentioned above......my in-laws will be here in 4 DAYS! With all the painting and wrapping and such, let's just say that it was very much needed (in-laws or not!) We are thrilled to have them out here as I have not seen them (or my own parents :( in almost a year. My boys are also thrilled, it is always such a treat to have family make the journey out here.

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season, no matter how stressful things may get remember to always count your blessings........and to think of those less fortunate.

Love & Cupcakes,

Lo

December Preview------Candy Shoppe

Available starting December 1st.......and remember to get your orders in as this Holidays season will be CRAZY!!!



Love & Cupcakes,
lO

Snips, and Snails & Puppy Dog Tails.....

This piece was a true labor of love. As I said in an earlier post, my dear friend "J" and her husband just welcomed a new addition into their home this month, I had wanted to do something for the baby's nursery.......and chose to base it off of the bedding. With the deep colors & such a clear theme, it was a fun piece to do. Never mind that it is also going to some amazing friends...I hope that they enjoy it as well----------------Welcome to the World Baby Alex!












Love & Cupcakes Everyone-----My husband will actually be HOME this weekend....shocker I know, so I will be out having some much needed family time with ALL of my boys! Have a great weekend ya'll!


Lo

FINISHED....for now :)

The beginning of my Holiday pieces.....


I have been collecting Snowmen for several years.....a collection that started rather reluctantly I might add.


First I was given a Snowman for decoration...then the boys picked out cute Snowmen ornaments.....and well, downhill it went until it turned into a big ball of Snowman love :)


This one is one I had in my sketchbook for a few weeks now & I decided it was time to bring him to *life*.......and what would one of MY snowmen be without a cupcake to offer??



A 16x20 wrapped canvas, painted with acrylics, sparkle and a little bit of magic*


















This was also a idea in my sketchbook that I am pleased to have finished. A trio of 5x7 canvas boards to prop up for decoration or hang.

The first set being for the more Traditional, and the 2nd for people like myself & my Sister-in-Crime, Jess.























My new addition to my otherwise red/black/white "Fat Chef" kitchen......as you can imagine it matches marvelously :)


Will hopefully learn to take my advice by reading this each day.








A 5x5 wooden square painted with acrylics (what else?), and about 3 coats of high-gloss varnish for a shiny hard finish.














This I had actually seen elsewhere on shirts, etc.......but when I came across this perfect 16in round canvas, well, I knew that it was time that the Hostess cupcake paid a visit to MY kitchen :)


Painted with acrylics and a high-gloss varnish, I even tried to see how it would look wrapped in cellophane....(you know, like the REAL thing).....


Let's just say that didn't go so well! I am planning sometime soon to take my friend Rosa up on her idea to paint another......that way it can have a pair like it should :)










Of COURSE it belongs between an ice cream & spoon painting.........what else would you expect my kitchen area to look like?















SOOOOOO, that is it for now, but my wheels are still turning I can assure you. If there is something YOU would like to order for someone for the holidays (or yourself.....:) Just send me a message and we can get started.



Love & Cupcakes Everyone...and TGIF!
Lo

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like.......

......though it may be 75 degrees and sunny here in Southern California, visions of Christmas trees and snowmen are already dancing through my head :) If you didn't know, before we lived out here we were residents of New England for 3 years (Maine to be exact).....therefore I REALLY got to see what all the fuss was when it came to having a "White Christmas".




While a "White" Christmas may not be on the nearest horizon, I have already started to get into the swing of things and have been working on several Christmas & Winter pieces. My husband was not here for the holidays last year, so I guess I am just trying to get a jump on things to make this one A*M*A*Z*I*N*G.....




I have these pieces finished minus the coats of varnish so pictures will be up shortly. Also, a piece I have done for a dear friend and her newborn son. This couple consist of two of the most amazing people and I could not be more thrilled that they have now added a beautiful new son. (Hey Alex!)




So hold tight, grab a cozy blanket, get snuggled in by the fire (for those LUCKY ones who have a fireplace...), and get ready........here comes Winter!



Love & Cupcakes,
Lo

Cupcakes & Autobots....what a fun combination :)

So, this week I finished up a very wide variety of projects lol

First up -------> This is a painting I finished for my husband. He always has complained that I don't "paint him anything"......he better be lucky that I didn't make a whole SLEW of cupcakes for his office!


He has just finished up the majority of a course that has been his toughest yet, I wanted him to know I was proud of him & that we as a family (me & my boys) support him.












The final 2 paintings are each done on 8x10 canvas boards:

One is the Autobots logo from the movie "Transformers", it is a gift for my son, as his 5th party (being celebrated today!) is Transformer themed.


The 2nd is another one of my "Monogram Cupcakes", done for a close friend to give to her cupcake :)

November Warmer & Scent of the Month!

Available starting November 1st, (along with all the new Holiday Warmers!)------pre-order your today!

Sun, Sand & Wedding Wishes...

So this painting has been a true labor of love. It was commissioned by a very dear friend of mine, as a wedding present for a couple close to her getting married.

The couple preferred neutral colors, but were getting married in Mexico. I was also given their kid's names & the wedding date to incorporate into hte painting. Other than that I was basically let loose & told to do what I thought would look best :) One of my favorite requests ever!


This is a 16x20 inch wrapped canvas, textured for both sand & water, painted using acrylics & sealed with a high-gloss varnish.


I hope their wedding is amazing, and I am so honored that I was asked to make this for them......with proper care it should last for years to come!



Love & Cupcakes!
Lo

NEW art :) Orange is for Carrot......

So, as you have read prior here on my blog, my oldest has started Kindergarten this year, and this is what has come of his inspiration :) These are 2 matching 18x24 in canvas & painted using acrylics. This song is to introduce all of the colors, and here are the lyrics:

Orange is for Carrot,
Yellow is for Pear,
Purple is for Plum...
and Brown is for Bear.

Green is the Grass,
Blue is the Sky,
and Black is a Witch's Hat...
and Red is Cherry Pie!


This is a picture of the custom crayons I made to use as favors for Ethan's birthday party. They were made of previously used crayons broken up & then melted down into new shapes. I thought they turned out great & it has opened up a whole avenue of other cute ideas (and shapes) that can be re-purposed.

Love & Cupcakes!
Lo

Exciting News :)

That's right! Scentsy has just unveiled their new Holiday Collection--------available to view on my website (www.scentsy.com/laurenbowen) on October 15th, these warmers will be available to PURCHASE starting November 1st.

The upside? You have time to *save* to get all of your favorites....as well as get a jump on your holiday shopping!

The downside? They are available for purchase on November 1st WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! You will have to get these ASAP, as last year they were sold out within a week!



*******Also------as you all know I have not has a LARGE amount of time to paint lately.......well the girls and I all sat down for a painting session today & I have gotten SO MUCH done! As it stand I have 3 projects about half way done, and FOUR that will be finished tomorrow :) As always, when I finish I will post pictures. Hard to believe it, but my soon-to-be 5 year old was the inspiration for one of the largest projects I have done thus far......and is turning out to be one of my favs!


Good night everyone-----12 hours of almost solid painting and I still feel hyped up.....but would like to at least have *some* energy to finish things up tomorrow LOL----until then

Love & Cupcakes,
Lo

Cupcake Love

So while I have been super busy these last few weeks...that does NOT mean I haven't been painting! :) This is one I actually had started a little while back & finally got around to finishing. As one person pointed out to me, "hey, that cupcake isn't perfect on both sides!".......

nope! You get a gold star for noticing! lol I actually drew out the cupcake & then used the drawing as a reverse stencil. Could I have made it identical on both sides? Sure.....but when in real life have you ever seen a perfectly symmetrical cupcake?

Though speaking of desserts, here on Camp Pendleton I HAVE seen some amazing cupcakes & cookies from an extremely talented woman named Yazmin, you can find her & her goodies at:

http://www.yazminscreations.com/

*****My work looks beautiful....but hers you can eat! ::laugh::

For those of you wondering what I am up to next...I have several things up my sleeve getting ready for the holidays! Snowmen will be a recurring theme as I happen to collect them. Also icy blues/whites & silvers...........my home is quite divided at Christmas-time. Most of my home is a traditional red/green & gold (last year my tree was red/blue & gold and had a yellow ribbon for a topper as my husband was deployed..........this year he is home so it will be very special)------but getting into my kitchen and dining area......well, then you get into the are of Blue & white and snowflakes. What probably helped this obsession was our 3 years spent in New England while my husband was on Recruiting Duty. It also spurred my love of the Fall with the visable sweeping into Fall with leaves changing and brisk weather.

I am starting to now begin work on holiday orders, so if there is something that YOU would like to have made for a loved one (or yourself...:) Please let me know. I haven't updated my Etsy shop that recently because of how busy things have been, but I am still taking & working on custom orders!

With that being said, I hope everyone is enjoying the walk into Fall........this is my first Fall actually spent here in California and I have to say that, though there are no leaves changing colors, the weather actually reminds me of Georgia here lately. In the mornings it is in the 50s-60s, but by the time I go to pick my son up from school I have already changed into something short-sleeved. Also, I hear that in California you DO get the Fall colors......though instead of yellows, ambers, and golds on the trees it generally come sin the form of *FIRE*..........Our fire season has started, so just say a little prayer that they won't be as bad as in years past.

Will be updating with Scentsy news soon as well, I have just recieved the sneak peek into Scentsy's CHRISTMAS COLLECTION! That's right, 6 new warmers and 4 new plug-ins just in time for the holidays. So if you are a fan of Holly, Snowflakes, Snowmen, Santas or Angels.....well you are in luck. That collection should be available to view online at my site on Oct 15th (if I don't sneak it on here earlier :) And will be available for purchase on November 1st. There is one major difference with these though......they will be WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

www.Scentsy.com/laurenbowen

SO............, stop on by the site (it has had a COMPLETE makeover as of October 1st) ... and if you see something you love PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact me here or on my Scentsy site so that I can pre-order yours. Last year the Holiday warmers were sold-out within a week.....................likewise our super cute Jack O'lantern warmer is sold out now & is back-ordered through the end of November (so if you missed it I'm sorry!!) If you "have to have" our fall warmer "Plymouth", you need to let me know or go on my site and get yours ordered----------------getting into the holiday seaso nthings are picking up and they are running out!

***Scentsy is now available in CANADA as of October 1st!

Love & Cupcakes Everyone!

Lo

School Time, School Time.....

So....... for those of you that are parents, you KNOW what an exciting time of year this is! My oldest has started kindergarten.....and while this alone is a amazingly wonderful thing, well, it has left me feeling a bit out of sorts.

For starters....it has been a great chance for me to spend one-on-one with my youngest......but it has also been tough seeing as their daddy is away for training, and he is missing more and more as each day goes by. For my art this is a wonderful development.....seeing as I rarely sleep while he is away......for my boys it has been tough.

I'm sure most of you have noticed that lately my blog has focused more on Scentsy than painting....I really didn't plan it that way, I have just genuinely fallen in love with the company! Plus, since my time has been limited that last several weeks getting ready for school.....well it has just been a more worthwhile venture. That being said, I have felt something missing for awhile.......art is just that release for me. Relaxing and stressful at once, there is just nothing like the feeling of working and working on something........and having the most brilliant product at the end to show for it. (Kind of like having children :)

So I DO have several projects that are in the midst & once completed YOU will be the first to see them. I started this blog & my shop with the hope that someone make take notice & like what I do........but it has done so much for me, and I am ready to get back to the basics of what it is all about. So if YOU have been interested in having something made for your home, a friends', a Wedding/Birthday/Day of the Dead.....let me know, as I consider myself now back in business :)

I hope each and everyone of you have a wonderful week, take time to pause and find the beauty in something that would ordinarily pass you by.....

Love & Cupcakes,

Lo

*****And should you have fallen in love with Scentsy, be sure to check out their new Fall/Winter catalog available on www.scentsy.com/laurenbowen The holidays are fast approaching & Scentsy really is that company where you can get gifts for anyone in your life! Included is a photo of the upcoming "Warmer of the Month" for October.......our Jack O'Lantern for September was the fastest selling yet & is now on backorder......so if you see something Snatch It Up!

****Also----please note that though the warmer above looks matte in appearance, it actually has a very high-gloss finish. Not sure if you can read that little piece of info in the photo----they used a matte version for photography purposes, but it will be a high gloss as are much of the warmers we offer :)

NEW NEW NEW!!

There are LOADS of great new products being introduced, available for purchase starting September 1st!

Along with our usual great items, Scentsy now will be offering

-mid-size warmers (slightly smaller than the deluxe warmers) and only $25
-New Deluxe warmers with rub-on vinyls to make them your CUSTOM creations
-New Scentsy tins for the car (adjustable for how much scent you prefer)

As well as 9 new deluxe warmers, over 6 new plug-ins....NOT including the nautical themed ones (think seashells and starfish)...


...aaaannnnndddddHERE is the list of the new scents for Fall/Winter 2009 Available starting SEPTEMBER 1ST.....(Along with the scents come new catagories as well....think Spa, and the new "Scentsy Man" for more masculine smells :)

poinsettia pine
christmas tree
cozy fireside
holiday kiss
pomegranate ice
red chili masala
snowberry
spiced grapefruit
winter wonderland
caramel spice
coconut macaroon
cutiepie cupcake
key lime cookie
raspberry danish
african mahogany
bourbon
hemingway
casablanca
pretty in pink
satin sheets
taj mahal
mineral springs
boysenberry moss
mineral springs
mountain retreat
olive wood & cypress
coffee shop
green tea smoothie
holiday chai
grapefruit berry
mochadoodle
red berry tea


Feel free to message & see what Scentsy has for YOU! Also message me if YOU would like to become a consultant :)********ALSO, Scentsy is now available to ship to Canada!




*****************As a special from NOW until THURSDAY---if you place an order on my website of $50+ I will send you a bar of your choice from this new line!

www.scentsy.com/laurenbowen

Scentsy.......SO many items DISCONTINUED for 2009!

So......

As a Scentsy consultant I am always excited when we have nw items coming out.......well it is that time of year! Starting next month (September) Scentsy will debut over 38 NEW scents along with brand-new warmers!

The bad? They are filing away 41 SCENTS to be discontinued as well as 15 WARMERS! These items are still on my website ( www.scentsy.com/laurenbowen ) but will ONLY be available until August 31st at 11:59pm EST.

I will post the list below of what Scentsy is saying "Goodbye" to......just think of any of these that you love/wanted to try/would love to give as a gift....everyone knows *someone* who can benefit :)

******Also, in preperation of the new items next month, almost everything in the catalog is now 10% off & ALL orders of $150+ ship for free!

Discontinued Warmers:

Bombay

Brownstone

Classic Chocolate

Dandy – Black

Dandy – Brown

Dandy – White

Dragonfly

Jakarta

Luminous

Patina

Pressed Penny

Punched Tin

Raised Dot Black

Raised Dot Mocha

Raised Dot Turquoise

Retro Chic

Shabby Chic

Weave – Black

Weave – Brown

Weave – White

Discontinued Scents:

Blueberry Cheesecake

Cashmere

Eucalyptus

Exotic Vanilla

Falling Leaves

Fresh Cut Cantaloupe

Grapefruit Blossom

Grapefruit Pomegranate

Havana Cabana

Hearth & Home

Herb Garden

Irish Cream

Juicy Peach

Leather

Lemon Lavender

Lots of Lavender

Luxe Vanilla

Meadow Pear

Mediterranean Spa

Mulberry Bush

Mysterious

Nutmeg & Orange Zest

Pomegranate Orange

Red Delicious

Sandalwood & Cranberries

Sangria

Sheer Saffron

Silk

Spiced Orange Harvest

Spruceberry

Strawberry Sweetie

Sweet Indulgence

Sugar

Sweet Tea Magnolia

Tarocco Mint

Tea Blossom

Toasted Apple Butter

Tuscan Garden

Verbena Berry

Wasabi Ginger

Watermelon Patch

~~~~~~~~~Also included above are pictures of the current "Warmer of the Month"- Surf's Up, as well as a preview of September's WOTM "Jack O'Lantern"

MIA?

Hey there!

So I promise I haven't fallen off the face of the planet :) Due to some family issues that have come up I haven't really had as much time to sit & paint.....BUT I do have new photos of the newest piece I have finished!

This piece was not done for a customer, but for myself. Where I come from there are tons of cute little boutique shops just filled to the brim with hand-painted and handcrafted items. I really haven't found that to be the case so far here o nthe West coast.......but maybe I just haven't checked the right places?

Either way I wanted something fun, something colorful, and something one-of-a-kind for my home. Originally this was going to be somewhere for me to sit while I was fixing my make-up and hair in the mornings.......but I love it so much I may end up keeping it downstairs as an actual barstool. Who DOESN'T want to see a big strong Marine perched on a hot pink stool? :) Enjoy, and I will be sure to post more pics as I go along.......I really enjoyed working on furniture & have a feeling this will NOT be the last piece I do!

Love & Cupcakes!

Lo

Been awhile......

Hi there!

I am still here and working :) I actually have been finishing up some orders from my Etsy shop-------while not that many in NUMBER they were some of the most time-consuming of all I do!

I hope everyone had a nice 4th------it was very nice for us as a family as, this time last year my husband was on a plane for Iraq. It was WONDERFUL to be able to celebrate as a family-----and made me just as thankful to the other Marines (and military in general) that were NOT here with their families.

I have several projects in the works------some of whom I hope to have finished by this month's Vendor Fair on the 18th :) I also have been working on my business with Scentsy---- an AMAZING company with even mre amazing products. Check some of them out above!

You don't even have to go through me to place your order-----you can just order through the site, like with any online shopping! Keep in mind that the new catalogs come out in September, so grab your favorites now as some are being phased out!

www.scentsy.com/laurenbowen

My new Business Cards!

Yay! Finally have them ordered & hope to be recieving them shortly.......though "on or by 7/7/2009" doesn't really scream SOON :)

Half & Half Ain't Just For Coffee Anymore!

Hi Everyone! Thought it was time to post some pictures of the most recent things I have finished :)
This first painting was more of an experiment as I loved the sketch, but did not know if I liked how it translated in a painting.....
Turns out I loved it & I have at least 2 more in
that "style" in the works. Have also included a close-up to see the 3-D detail :)

<-----This was Cliff's Father's Day gift. Why am I posting BEFORE Father's Day you ask? Because apparently when you work with little ones, they CAN'T KEEP A SECRET!
Either way he loved it as did I, and it's a great way to "mark" where the boys are size-wise for years to come.

Finally, this was the latest cupcake I worked on----she asked to include the colors black/white/silver and blue to match her kitchen. I NEVER get tired of the cupcakes!

So there you go-------I have a few more things in the works....but it just takes fun out of them to post before they are finished! As a follow-up to my last post----I did attend the EWC meeting and had a great time. The women there were incredibly warm and welcoming, and apparently they have a scheduled "activity" at each meeting, what was this month's? Painting. :) It's like they knew I was coming. We all painted ceramic tiles that the Hobby Shop on base donated-------when mine is fired I will post a pic, because....what do you think I painted on it?

*****Also, I would love to ask for YOUR input. I want to make more of my "funny food" smaller paintings. So far you have seen:

Salt & Pepper "A Perfect Pair"

Bacon & Egg " Involved & Committed"

Donut & Coffee "A Balanced Breakfast"

Sushi "Me Love You Long Time"

Sushi #2 "Sushi For One"

I want YOU to give me your ideas for more funny foods------there are some I have planned I just haven't painted yet.....but I would love to hear what you can come up with! So just leave a comment with your idea, and if I use it I will credit YOU with the inspiration.

I am off to finish organizing my Scentsy testers (did you know there are over 80 SCENTS? There really is something for everyone!), and to finish planning my "Scentsy Launch Party" for June 30th here at my home. If you will be in the area, be sure to drop by! And remember-----we have a beautiful Patriotic Burner for this month (Coconut Palm is the scent of the month...and is also 10% off!).....and next month is a Baseball burner and bubblegum scent!

www.scentsy.com/laurenbowen

Love & Cupcakes Everyone!

Lo *CP's Resident Art Monkey*