An Artist's Tale with Esther Neal

Every fabulous space requires a special touch be it a favorite piece of furniture, an heirloom quilt, or a unique work of art. About a year ago my sweet friend Esther showed me some of her paintings and I was in awe of how she captured so much emotion in each of them. I am so excited that today she is sharing with us how she has used her hobby to bless her friends and family. Here is her story:

The first time I realized people would pay money for my art was a great awakening moment for me.  Until that point in my life, I felt that my talents were all intangible ones that could not be showcased or easily shared with others or enjoyed by them.  My senior year of high school, my Art IV class participated in a senior art exhibit.  For 2-3 weeks, several of my assignments were on public display around town.  Call after call came through from interested buyers for several of my paintings. 

During my college years, my art became more than simply a creative outlet.  It was a way this broke-as-a-joke college kid could give nice, meaningful gifts to family and friends on a tight budget.  I would plan months in advance for special occasions and would then thoughtfully consider something meaningful to my intended recipient. 

For more than 10 years now, I have given my art to others.  The real gift is mine, however, when I have the privilege of seeing how people respond when they receive one of my original pieces.  The ear-to-ear grin, or perhaps the tears welling in their eyes, provide me with tremendous satisfaction and make the countless hours invested in creating it all worth it.

This past Christmas, I wanted to do something really special and unexpected for my fiancé.  For several months, I scoured the Internet for ideas and decided I would make the violin the subject of my painting for him since he learned to play on a violin that belonged to his grandparents.  Each night when I would sit down at my art table to work on my newest watercolor creation, the anticipation I had of the smile it would bring to his face made my work even more fun and exciting.  It is one of the gifts he treasures most!

 Violin – 2012 | Watercolor (9"x12") | Private Collection

Esther Neal is a Southern girl raised in Mississippi and transplanted in Northern Alabama.  She is a Mississippi State University alumnus with a BA in English and Spanish and an MBA.  Her hobbies include painting with watercolors and oils, traveling the world and then blogging about her experiences (http://snapshotsofmercy.wordpress.com/), and spending time with great friends. 

Thanks for joining us today, Esther!

Packing Away, The Preparation Phase (Part One)

Well we are closing in on that time of year, you know, the end of the school year, the beginning of summer, and moving (again). How many times have I done that now? 68? Probably an exaggeration, but I certainly feel well-seasoned in the process. So let's talk about favorite packing tips. This is the beginning of a three-part series, so be on the lookout for the coming posts!

• Keep it fresh:

1. Wash things before you put them in boxes, especially if they will be staying in the boxes for a while. In my case, apartment stuff has a special corner of the basement in which it will hang out for a few months before I start my big girl accounting job in the fall! When I open those boxes in my new apartment I want to be delighted by the scents that smell like "home." So in preparation for this, I like to wash the items that are continually used: favorite jackets that are constantly being rotated up to bat (what? it's baseball season), accessories (scarves, gloves, hats, etc.), and dishes. For example, the fruit bowl would prefer not smelling like 4 month old banana residue. A quick wash and you'll be good to go.
2. For things that don't need to be washed, consider making them aroma-tastic too! (Here at Arranging Magnolia, making up words is a necessity when currently existing words just don't suffice).  When you are packing away linens (sheets, blankets, pillows, towels), slip a  dryer sheet in the box, too. On unpacking day, your cozies will all be smelling delightful, making your new place feel even more welcoming! This little trick also works for clothing that is being stashed away.

• Eliminate before you move:

1. The weeks before moving are the perfect time to pare down the items you just don't need anymore, rather than move them to yet another place. Take a quick look in your closets, cabinets, shelves, drawers, and under the bed. If you haven't used it in a year, you may never use it. Think about it. I have begun consolidating bottles of hand soap, and making sure to finish off the partial bottle of shampoo!
2. Keep a box in an inconspicuous place in your home/apartment, and place items in there as you clean out and pack up. You will enjoy having everything consolidated, and ready to donate, or disperse to your friends

• Make a list of move-out tasks:

1. Clean out the fridge, preferably by eating the current contents
2. Clean the apartment
3. Turn-in keys
4. Sign necessary forms

This is the beginning of the moving process. Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3!

3 Tiers of Cozy

As the warm weather eases in, it is time to tuck away your winter warmies: scarves, gloves, and hats. If you're like me, you spend the cold months bundled in layers. In fact, this year I had a warm-themed Christmas: my sweet mother surprised me with long johns, pink gloves, tights, and cashmere socks. And, to top it all off, she found me a three-tiered dessert tray. As an expert hostess, Mom is known for her Nutty Cheesecake Bars and innovative casseroles. She is always a step ahead when it comes to preparing for a pot luck, and I wouldn't be her daughter if I didn't grow up longing to play hostess too! Fast-forward a few years to when I was getting ready to start my freshman year of college, and Mom and I were beyond convinced that I needed place settings for six, because no girl should be prevented from hosting brunch!

Now, you are probably wondering what dessert has to do with wool accessories, so allow me to bridge the gap. Instead of stowing away my adorable serving piece, I use it as a fun display: hats on the top tier, gloves in the middle, and scarves rolled up on the bottom. It makes things easy to grab on the way out the door. I'm looking forward to picking out some spring items to display this season!

What ways do you make things fun and functional?


Placefully yours,

Allison