Friday, November 7, 2008

In The Mail

This week, I sent away something fun in the mail, and I received something fun in the mail.

On Monday I sent a painting off to a client. I’m always nervous about sending art in the mail. I wrapped it three times in bubble wrap and I still wanted to crawl inside the box and go with it to make sure it got there okay.


I recently started offering custom dress illustrations. I love dresses (even if I don’t wear them much) and I realized women usually have at least one dress that has a very special event or memory attached to it. It’s a shame that after one wearing it’s usually stuffed in a box or banished to the back of the closet. The painting in the picture is one of my samples. My website is kind of a work in progress – I plan to make a few changes in the design and add to my gallery when I get the chance. If you’d like to see more, visit my site at Painting The Gown.


Now for the fun thing I received this week. On Tuesday, I got my prizes from Stephanie’s Title Contest! I was so happy to see that cheery CaféPress envelope in the box! Here’s what I got:



That’s Sheila the Zombie Cheerleader, urging me to be creative – or else! And next to Sheila is my new blank journal featuring The Leaf Napper, a sweet napping dog. Hmm…sometimes a good nap is just what I need to be creative! See more of Stephanie’s charming designs at her CaféPress store.

What’s in your mail? Have you sent or received anything fun lately?

23 comments:

Kelly Polark said...

What a lovely idea for a painting! The pink dress portrait is beautiful!!!! I would imagine brides might want their wedding dresses painted too (or prom dresses for teens). Love it!
Nothing fun in the mail for me lately! (I'd love good news about a manuscript though!) :0)

Suzie said...

Those paintings are a great idea

ICQB said...

I love your blog and your art! Your gown idea is a winner.

What wonderful prizes you won! I am looking forward to a couple of special things coming in the mail soon:

1. Some 1/2 ounce empty jars I ordered so that I can fill them with homemade salve to give as holiday gifts.

2. A little book I created just for my family on the lulu website.

Bish Denham said...

Happy anniversary. I do hope your breakfast date was cozy.

Love your dress illustrations!

C.R. Evers said...

What a neat idea to preserve the memory of a dress! I love it and that painting is gorgeous!!!!

I haven't got anything interesting in the mail lately, but I have sent out some books for the NaNo book giveaway marathon that I've been having on my blog. It's fun to send something out know that it may be the best thing that somebody has received in the mail in a long time. :0)

Christy

Anonymous said...

I adore that dress idea--very clever~!

Adrienne said...

Thanks all for the nice comments on the dress painting. They are fun to do, and I've always admired fashion illustration.

Kelly - I hope you get good news, too!

icqb - They were nice prizes!
I'm intrigued by the book idea, and how clever to order containers ahead of time.I wait too long and can't find the right size.
Thanks for stopping by!

Bish - Thank you! The breakfast date was amazing - a great change of pace.

Christy - Your book giveaway is such a fun idea, and I bet it helps keep you inspired, too.

Unknown said...

No I haven't: email is bad that way ... it siphons energy from the real mailbox.

PJ Hoover said...

How fun! And your dresses are beautiful!

3rdEyeMuse said...

the dress illustration is fantastic! those colors are brilliant - and worth clicking on to see in better detail.

congrats on the fun mail goodies - I especially like the Leaf Napper. :)

as for sending, I did a whole lot of sending this past Monday & the relief I feel for finally sending them all off is priceless! on the next big thang. :)

Adrienne said...

Robert - True...maybe the real mailboxes need regular care and feeding to produce...

PJ - Thanks!

3rdeyemuse - I always forget about clicking to enlarge...I do like to see some artwork up close... Congrats on getting those mailings off - it is satisfying.

Kimbra Kasch said...

Oh...Adrienne, those are soooo beautiful. Even the idea is creative. You could post fliers in high schools to promote prom dress purchasers - Just another idea.

And, does e[mail] count?

I am in North Carolina and I met a "cyber" friend in person and we connected through email while I was here to get together. Fun!!!

Rena Jones said...

Oh, I love that idea! I wish I could afford to have my wedding dress painted like that. Maybe when I sell one of my stories!

Beautiful work, Adrienne!

Brenda said...

Love the painting! What an amazing talent you have...

I also got a wonderful journal in the mail from Stephanie and Sheila is looking over my shoulder as I type this...I think she's getting ready to throw one of her pom poms at me because I'm stalling and not working on my NaNo story...grin...

Adrienne said...

Kim - In that case email counts - how fun to meet a cyber buddy face to face!

Rena - LOL, sounds like me! What gets me is that some people spend as much to preserve a dress in a box, but don't consider art worth the expense...(big sigh)

Brenda - Sheila is demanding...as long as it's a pom-pom and not limbs she's about to throw! :-0

Rena Jones said...

I know what you mean, Adrienne. My wedding dress is preserved in a box with my veil and shoes and such. It has a little window, but I can't remember the last time I peeked in it. I do have a wedding portrait on my wall, but what you do is awesome. I would LOVE to have my dressed done up as a painting. Maybe someday! :)

Adrienne said...

Rena - So true - still art is a luxury item - not something that easily fits in my budget! My husband and I have splurged on just a few pieces over the years. Thanks so much for your nice compliments!

C.R. Evers said...

pssssst! this must be your lucky week for getting fun stuff in the mail. I drew your name for the Skinny Bones bood drawing. My e-mail is on my blog. contact me w/ your address and I"ll mail it out to you.

congratulations! :0)

Carrie Harris said...

That painting is FAB! I want that dress, too. :)

I just got a bunch of stuff from Laini's Ladies. SO cute, if you haven't seen it.

Adrienne said...

Christy - YAY! You made my day :)

Carrie - Of course I had to check it out - what cute designs! Very whimsical.

sruble said...

I really like the dress painting, and I love the idea behind it! That's such a great way to preserve memories (way better than a musty dress in the back of the closet). I'm going to go check out your site to see more!

Yay for the Sheila postcard and journal. I'm glad you like them :) Thanks again for entering the contest and helping me name my novel!

sruble said...

I just went to your site, and WOW! I love the dresses. I love fashion illustration. It's nothing I can do myself, but I love the way it looks, and your dresses are really amazing. The background is fun too.

It's hard to pick a favorite, but I really like the blue cocktail dress (probably because I wish I had a dress like that and looked good in it too).

Paint instead of digital, right? These days it can be hard to tell.

Adrienne said...

Stephanie - Thanks, and yes - they're acrylic on canvas. Glad you like them!