Here is the painting I was commissioned by Jess to do of Scott and Grandpa; for Scott's Christmas present.
Jess chose this photo because it was a GREAT photo showing off grandpas big hands!...I agree; therefore I felt a lot of pressure to do those hands perfect (which was scaryyy because hands are my weakness!)
This painting was fun and new for me to bring out my creativity and my coloring skills. Because this is originally a black & white photo; I had to make up a whole color pallet. I wanted to do this old time muted photo feel... as if it was a black & white photo that had bee painted, like in the olden days.
Uncle Scott opened it the day before I left to St.George (the whole family wanted me/the artist to be there when he opened it). He LOVED it...(I was relieved) and he made sure to let me know it wasn't "Cock-a-doodle"...(a word he uses to describe someone's crafts that he thinks is crap or pointless (hahah Jess, says all her things are "Cock-a-doodle" according to Scott....which is sooo NOT true).
I truly love this painting and loved painting it...the subject matter alone is something that is dear to me. It was inspiring and I admit I may of cried when I was painting his chin :)
I hope you all enjoy!
Love you all!

(p.s. sorry the picture quality isn't that great....I may have to have Jess take better pictures...also the colors are a lil' off...his tie in the picture of Scott is the true color)

December 18, 2009

Family @ Whitney's Wedding Reception

Whitney Marie Brasher & Joshua Russell White

18 December 2009

Bountiful LDS Temple

Hey everyone Stephanie Toland here....
just wanted to show everyone what I've been up to this semester in school.
This is my newest Beauty series and it's going to be shown at the Kayo Gallery in downtown SLC in January
(I will post details about my show when it gets closer).
I hope you enjoy! Love you all!

Self portrait

Hey everyone I am doing a
12 days till Christmas giveaway
on my blog!
I am giving away cute lil' oil paintings everyday till Christmas.
If you want a chance to win one...
go check out my blog--->HERE!
Happy Holidays
and Love you all!

(here are the 1st 6 paintings of the giveaway....last 6, coming soon)

Mom (or Grandma depending on whose reading this) is moving to Kissimmee, Florida in January 2010. She has purchased this lovely little home down the street from Dean & Maria and is looking forward to her new life in the sunshine state where it is seldom cold but rather warm and muggy just like she likes it, but best of all, will finally be close to her favorite child. All are welcome to visit her any time at your earliest convenience.

Me and Maria at the Gaylord Palms Hotel's Annual Ice Fesitival. Very fun and very cold. (9 Degrees...we didn't stay too long). Had a great Thanksgiving Dinner and actually celebrated ON Thanksgiving (cause I am normally flying on the actual holiday) so that was nice....and then we were ready to move on to the next holiday so we decorated the house for Christmas. Maria wanted to put up the Christmas decor while handing out the Halloween candy to the treat or treaters....but I insisted that was way too early. Christmas in Florida...divine. (even without the snow.)

Maria wanted me to make her pumpkin pie. So here is my first attempt. I mixed it up a little bit and add my own flair. So I added a layer of dark chocolate ganache as a bottom layer so it kinda tastes like pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. It turned out great, Maria loved it. I did however forget to cover the crust edge as it overcooked. Next time it will be perfect.

Opening Day for Lady Danburry Tailoring & Design was a triumphant success! It all came together because of Sheila's brilliant spacial reasoning in constructing every table I needed, Scott's amazing kindness in transporting everything & telling me what to do, Claudia's generosity in a truck-load of fabric, and Drew's immense love and patience.

I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!

I don't want to steal any thunder... but I can't help be excited for Lynette and Drew's new adventure. (No - she's not pregnant)

Check out Lynette's blog over in the sidebar!

from Rhett, Jessica and Rhett James! Hope everyone has a great Halloween this year! We'll be with the in-laws this year. I'm excited he's old enough to trick-or-treat a little this year.

Whitney & Joshua White (her future husband on 18 December 2009)

visits Orlando Florida.

An update from Summer:

Our end-of-summer trip in August was to Southern Portugal.

We had a spectacular time.

Go here to see more.

(email me if you want to be invited to our private blog at crlygrls@yahoo.com)

********

On the way home, we stopped by Eric & Carma's for some fun.

Field trip to the Library of Congress;

then headed sown the pathway to the Botanical Gardens.

We relaxed, told jokes and ate our picnic lunch.

We all had such a blast together, we stayed an extra day.

They are fabulous hosts!

That night for the family talent show Ivy won the cute contest.

*******

We wish you all a Happy Fall!

We carved pumpkins last night. It was fun and messy.

*******

Ems showing off her new darling, handmade backpack made by Jessica.

Go here to check out her other creations.

Ems is in love with her new pack.

Thank you Jessica!

Beach at Tanjong Jara

View from restaurant at breakfast

Me

Beach, during Monsoon season this disappears and water level goes to the trees!

Dana, David, John at Traders Hotel Penthouse Bar, view of Petronas Towers

Batu Caves, nice outfits huh!?

Elephant Sanctuary, they were a bit smelly!

Petronas Towers

Hi Everyone!

We are back from our amazing trip to Malaysia and settled into our lives back in Geneva. Weather is starting to become more fall-like, however, today's forecast has a high of 80, then tomorrow high of 68, weird I know!

Anyways, we spent 6 nights in Kuala Lumpur, after the 1.5 hour flight to London, then the 12 hour flight to KL, we arrived. Our friends Tom and Annie and their lil baby George came down from Hong Kong for the weekend and we also hung out with John's brother David a bit. Didn't do much as far as sight seeing, lounged by the pool and ate loads, but that is about it. We stayed at the Mandarin Oriental which is right next to the Petronas Towers, so had nice views of those from our room.

We went to the Batu Caves and the Elephant Sanctuary to tick off some culture! Batu Caves is a Hindu Shrine and the Elephant Sanctuary speaks for itself. The Asian elephants are different to African elephants though, their ears are much smaller and they are just smaller in general because they would not be able to roam through the jungle and trees in Malaysia.

Then we flew to the east coast of the peninsula and stayed at a beautiful resort on the beach, Tanjong Jara. A lot of eating, lounging by the pool, reading and going to the spa. We went diving one day and that was about it. Was so nice and relaxing.

We are really looking forward to the winter this year, John and a few other partners have hired out a ski chalet for the season in Morzine, France, about 45 mins drive away.

Hope everyone is enjoying the fall! Happy October!

Dana and John x