Susan Winget

What I love about Joan...

2012-02-17T09:01:00.000-05:00

Today it is my delight and pleasure to introduce my friend Joan! Joan's passion for being creative combined with her artistic talents and eye for detail have made her a wonderful member of the Winget Art family since 2003.

Joan is an amazing woman who has done EVERYTHING! She is a talented artist who loves traveling, tennis, and almost anything you can think of. She is a devoted wife to Ralph, and mother to their daughter, Lauren. Have you ever seen the commercials for the most interesting man in the world? Well, Joan just might be the most interesting woman in the world! She has been everything from an airline attendant and a basketball coach to an art director for major department stores like Rich's and Belk. Joan always has a funny story from one of her past lives to tell! We tease her about all of the careers she has had, but it is actually just an indicator of her broad range of talent!

Joan is an amazing asset to our studio. She is a very talented artist and does incredible work down to every last detail. When Joan started working here she immediately jumped right in, learning photoshop and computer skills even though her background was in painting. She brings a fresh perspective to our designs and is a delight to work with. I have so much respect for her as an artist, but also as a thoughtful friend who listens and shares her heart so openly everyday.

Joan is an amazing portrait artist who does incredible work!

To see more of her paintings, click here!

Rudy is Joan's furry friend that likes to visit us at the studio sometimes.

We took this silly picture to say thank you to one of our clients for these beautiful flowers. Joan's expression on the far left always makes me giggle!

A quick interview with Joan:

How would you describe your job at Winget Art?

I take Susan's art apart and redesign it to fit products like dinnerware, flags, scrapbook paper, etc. I use photoshop to do this and it is very creative, interesting work.

Favorite color palette?

I am currently decorating with blue green, light green and accents of red.

Decorating tip?

Choose neutral colors for the large expensive items like the sofa and chairs. Use your favorite colors and patterns for the throw pillows and wall colors. Then when you decide you want to change the color scheme of a room, it will be easy and inexpensive.

Favorite Quote?

"The question is not what you look at but what you see." -Thoreau

Best piece of advice you have been given?

When I was young and complaining about my clothes or something else about myself my mother would say, "It will never be noticed on a galloping horse, and that is the only kind you ever ride." In other words - don't sweat the small stuff!

I am so blessed to have you at the studio and as a friend! I love you, Joan!!

What I love about Beckie...

2012-02-16T09:09:00.000-05:00

This morning I am so excited to introduce one of my favorite people - Beckie! Having been friends for a long time, I was so fortunate to have her became a part of the Winget Art family almost ten years ago.

Beckie is an amazing woman with many talents. Without her the studio would not run as smoothly as it does. She performs all kinds of tasks from preparing presentation boards and scheduling appointments to serving refreshments - and all with a wonderful spirit! Her quick wit and humor give us all a fresh perspective on whatever task is at hand. I often describe Beckie as my right - and my left - hand woman!

Beckie is a wonderful hostess and cook, a talented wedding director at our church, and she loves her family dearly. An amazing daughter and mother, she is always there for her parents, 2 sons, and daughter-in-law. Being a true care-giver is definitely one of her spiritual gifts. She took care of her husband, Rob, with her whole heart and is the kind of friend anyone would be so fortunate to have. I am always amazed by Beckie's bright outlook and perspective during even the toughest of times. She handles every situation with grace and always thinks of others before herself. I think it all begins with her faith.

The studio benefits everyday from Beckie's amazing eye for decor. She keeps us decorated for every holiday and arranges all of our product displays.

Beckie is also in charge of a very important task that keeps the studio happy -

serving refreshments every afternoon!

(no we don't have as many refreshments as you see above EVERY day...)

Here she is with her family at her son's wedding - it was a beautiful celebration!

I can't write this post without mentioning her love for our four-legged friends... Beckie loves hunting dogs and has a very special one at home named Lucy. Here is Lucy with her best pal, Beckie's late husband Rob. This dog always has and always will live the good life!!

A quick interview with Beckie -

What is your favorite part of working at Winget Art?

The people I work with and the people I get to meet - I also enjoy serving refreshments!

Do you have a favorite Susan Winget Product?

I love the Keller Charles melamine collections - especially the beach themes. I also love all of the Enchante boxes at Jo-Ann Fabrics.

Decorating Tip?

I like to use something old with something new or modern. This is a tip my son Eric gave me!

Best Advice you've been given?

Always try your best!

Thank you for sharing yourself everyday, Beckie. Your friendship is so very dear to me. I love you!!

What I love about Stephanie...

2012-02-15T08:39:00.001-05:00

I have had the pleasure of knowing Stephanie since she was a little girl growing up down the street from our farm. We have been through a lot together and I feel so blessed to have her working in my studio! Stephanie is a wonderful mom - so devoted to her husband and children - yet "magically" seems to be in 2 places at once, as she manages to hold everything together at home and at the studio too. A woman of deep faith, I have always respected how much she cares for the people of her church. Her passion for the children's programs there is so inspiring to see.

Stephanie is creative and imaginative in so many ways! Simply put, she "gets it" and understands immediately what needs to be done for any project. I often think that she knows what I'm thinking before I do! Always coming up with new ideas for projects and in social media outlets, Stephanie has taught us to embrace the technology that is essential to the future of the studio. Stephanie is also a true "people person" who communicates beautifully with all of our clients through her laughter and sweet spirit. Years ago, my agent described her as the "heartbeat of the studio" and I could not agree more!

Since it is Valentine's week - I thought I would include this Valentine Stephanie gave Al and I. It has been bent, crinkled, and spilled on over the years - but is far too precious not to hold onto!

Stephanie first worked for me as a babysitter for my 3 kids!

I have said many times that she "raised my children" and I am so proud of all that she instilled in them.

Stephanie always knows how to strike a pose! She keeps everyone in stitches with her funny stories, expressions and wild sense of humor.

Here we are for a studio lunch at one of Stephanie's favorite places -

Cracker Barrel!

Our studio isn't too far from one of Stephanie's favorite places - Carowinds. I came back from an appointment one day to this picture of everyone "playing hookey." Did I mention Stephanie is an extremely talented photoshop artist??

A quick interview with Stephanie -

When and how did you start working at Winget Art?

I grew up on the same road as Susan's family and when I was 12, I started babysitting for her children on a regular basis. I can remember putting her youngest son Sam to bed in his crib and he would ask me to sing him songs about tractors and guns - such is life on the farm, I guess! After her children "outgrew" me, Susan asked if I would like to help out in her art studio tracing images on the light table. The other ladies in the studio called me "Tracy" since that was all I did! Little by little I began to learn the tricks of the trade on the computer and in graphic arts. When I graduated from college, Susan asked me to work for her full time - truly my dream job! I have loved every minute of my time here!

Do you have a favorite Product or Collection?

I love Susan's scrapbooking collections and all of the awesome little embellishments that come with them! I especially love her Botanical collection with K & Company. The purple, teal and green colorway has my name written all over it!

Decorating Tip?

Declutter, declutter, declutter! It makes everything (and everyone) feel better!

Favorite Quote?

"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thank you for all of your hard work over the years - I love you, Stephanie!

What I love about Mary Beth...

2012-02-14T09:05:00.000-05:00

Mary Beth is truly a one-of-a-kind friend! She is so very thoughtful and giving and I have always admired her love for family. A fabulous grandmother and devoted sister, she is the kind of woman that takes care of everyone. And I cannot write this post without mentioning the great chicken pie and lasagna that she makes... it defines comfort food if you're ever in need.

Did I mention that she is a wonderful artist too?? She has an eye for design and is so valuable to the early stages of each painting we create. Outside of the studio she stays busy with many creative projects... from calligraphy (I will always treasure her beautiful gift to my daughter Erin when she addressed her wedding invitations) to painting murals on her grandchildren's walls like the one below.

Mary Beth also loves to create hand-stitched quilts. They are wonderful and I think it ties her love for family and her love for art together in a beautiful way! Below is one of her Baby Bear quilts, she made this one for her first granddaughter Keenan!

The original gang!

Some things never change... pizza remains a lunchtime staple around the studio!

Mary Beth and her husband Bill are tried and true Panthers fans. Yes, she made the Panthers skirt that she is wearing on the far right!

A quick interview with Mary Beth -

What is your favorite part of working at Winget Art?

We laugh all the time!

Do you have a favorite memory?

Having our baby boys just 9 days apart, and then 30 years later having our granddaughters born 2 weeks apart!

What is your personal home dec style?

At my house we love comfortable, cozy, "roll around on the carpet with our grandkids" decor!

Somewhere you have always wanted to go?

Heaven, God willing!

Favorite Quote?

The Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen.

I love you, Mary Beth!

Thank you for all that you give to the life of our studio each day!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!!

What I love about Jeannie...

2012-02-13T08:24:00.001-05:00

This week I will be posting each day about one of the wonderful women at Winget Art! Over the last two weeks I have had so much fun digging through old photos, reminiscing on the early days of the studio, and interviewing my staff for this series of blogs.

I'm so excited to share the stories of each of these ladies with you!

First up - my dear friend Jeannie who has been by my side from the very beginning!

Simply put, Jeannie is fabulous! She is an extremely talented artist who can paint and draw as beautifully as anyone I know. Her wonderful sense of humor keeps our studio happy and grounded. One of the things I love most about her is that she can always see the bright side of a situation or person. Jeannie is my friend, painting buddy, and travel partner. She always has my back and supports the studio in every way possible. I love how she tells me to "get over it" if I ever feel nervous or insecure and she meets me at the gym three mornings a week whether I want to or not!

Okay, get ready for some 80s hair, y'all... :)

Jeannie and I became instant friends when we met in 1979.

We always had so much fun with Halloween! Jeannie is an incredible seamstress and would always make our costumes herself!

Jeannie as Larry Johnson! Remember the good ole days of the Charlotte Hornets!??

Here is an example of one of her lovely watercolors, she painted this one for her daughter Ana.

Jeannie also has an eye for fabulous and creative home decor. She found this old fireplace mantle and made it into a beautiful headboard.

A quick interview with Jeannie -

How would you describe your job at Winget Art?

It's the greatest job EVER! Always fun and always changing - that's what keeps it interesting!

What's your favorite part?

The family atmosphere and the laughter that constantly surrounds us.

What are your interests outside of work?

Cooking, Wine, Music, Gardening, and Hiking.

Decorating Tip?

Less is more - keep it simple!

Favorite quote?

"The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration."

~ Claude Monet

I love you, Jeannie! Thanks for the many years of memories -

I can't wait to see what we get into next!

Bunny Basket at Cracker Barrel!

2012-02-09T14:24:00.007-05:00

I just got back from a wonderful lunch at Cracker Barrel with my staff! We also got to see our newest dinnerware collection in The Old Country Store. It is a collection for Easter, called Bunny Basket. I so enjoyed painting these sweet little bunnies, I hope you enjoy them too!

Be sure to stop by soon to see the collection for yourself!

Give them a Valentine Centerpiece!

2012-01-31T14:28:00.004-05:00

Celebrating Home has a wonderful item called a Gratitude Tree... I just love this idea! It is made to tie little thoughts of gratitude to as a home dec piece.

Why not turn it into a living Valentine this year!? Rummage through your craft drawers and pull out any scraps of different pink and red papers, cut out paper hearts of various sizes and write the names of those who you hold dear! Then tie them to your Gratitude Tree! What a beautiful expression of love this Valentine's Day for all to see! Now, let's see who can get the most hearts on their tree!! Let me know!

Mary's Baptism

2012-01-30T09:00:00.008-05:00

May the Lord give his angel charge over you, to guide you in all your ways.

Psalm 91:11

On Sunday, my precious granddaughter Mary was baptized at our church. It was a sweet, sweet gathering as we all made promises to love and support her throughout her faith journey. Mary was baptized with water my son Mac bottled from his trip to the Holy Land where he was baptized in the Jordan River. Afterwards, we had a little celebration together at the studio, what a beautiful day it was!

Beautiful Mary with her beautiful momma, Megan.

Megan's Family!

Megan and Mac cutting the fabulous cake from Ella Art.

Mary always lights up when she sees her Uncle Sam! So precious.

Mia and Grandpa :)

Grandchildren are one of God's greatest gifts - may we always remember and cherish the time we have together!

My signing at Jo-Anns!

2012-01-29T07:06:00.000-05:00

Below are a few pictures from my signing at the new Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store in Charlotte, NC. It was a very special day of meeting, greeting, sketching, and chatting. I had a blast!

Very rarely do I have the chance to do art demonstrations during signings. It was fun to share some of my newest paintings in the early stages of sketching and base paint. My hands like to stay busy so I was in my element!

Meeting so many artistic and crafty people was such an inspiration!

My studio also came out for the signing. Here I am with Mary Beth and Joan. Mary Beth's granddaughter Keenan even stopped by to say hello!

And what would we do without Denise!?? Thank you for helping to arrange this wonderful day!

Stephanie made a great video montage of the day :)

Thank you to everyone at Jo-Anns and thank you to all of you who stopped by to say hello!

DIY: Taking Scrapbook Paper Beyond the Book!

2012-01-24T12:43:00.009-05:00

Do you remember this post?? Well, I thought it was about time to share some other uses for scrapbooking paper. There are so many fun ways to use it (even if you aren't a "scrapbooker".) Below are some super cute DIY projects to try! Click on the names to see the tutorials.

Jewelry Rack /Organizer

Coasters

Tin Can Vases

Storage Drawers - this one is for organizing nail polish!

Mousepad

Have you crafted anything lately with scrapbooking papers? I would love to see what you have done! And if you are looking for some fabulous papers to use :) my latest K & Company collection Botanical is now available online. Happy Scrapping!

Scarves are the Thing! Here's how to tie them!

2012-01-19T11:36:00.002-05:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Neva on Pinterest

National Popcorn Day!

2012-01-19T10:45:00.009-05:00

Did you know that today is National Popcorn Day!?? This fact was brought to my attention by my friends over at Celebrating Home. In honor of this special day I thought I would share a fun popcorn recipe!

Popcorn Cake

12 cups popped corn (unsalted)

1 12-oz package peanuts, no paper skins

6 tablespoons butter

1 10.5-oz bag marshmallows

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 12-oz package mini candy-coated chocolate pieces

Generously butter a tube (Bundt) pan and set aside. Place the popcorn and peanuts in a very large bowl. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and marshmallows together, stirring constantly so the mixture doesn't burn. Add the vanilla and salt and stir to blend. Immediately pour the mixture over the popcorn. Butter your hands and mix with your hands quickly. Add the mini chocolate pieces and finish mixing, still using your hands. press firmly into the prepared cake pan and let stand for at least 1 hour.

This recipe is from our new Harvest House book called Sweet Comforts of Home.

Enjoy!!

photo credits: 1. http://lindathompson.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html

2. http://www.waymorehomemade.com/2009/11/popcorn-cake-my-familys-tradition.html

3. http://harvesthousepublishers.com/book/sweet-comforts-of-home-2012/

Atlanta Gift Show 2012

2012-01-17T13:12:00.017-05:00

Yesterday I returned from yet another fabulous show in Atlanta. The show was full of reunions with artist and client friends, meetings to see our latest collection samples, product signings... and best of all, there were design inspirations everywhere!! Scroll down for a quick recap of our trip (and to sneak a peek at some brand new items!!)

C. R. Gibson launched their Brand's New Day campaign, featuring our new line of casual entertaining items. video here! I was thrilled to be a part of their grand opening - signings are always a great way to meet new friends.

One of new collections with Keller Charles -

Another signing - Lang calendars this time!

Our latest dinnerware designs with Certified International were found in the Dugan Bliss showroom. Here Jeannie and I are with Vern Bliss himself!

Parisienne Fruit -

Merlot Sunset -

Winter Fun -

I am so excited about our new Christian inspiration line with Wilton Armetale! There are beautiful serving dishes, bread trays, and crosses.

Our meetings with Ne'qwa are always wonderful. We get to visit with our sweet friend Trieste who inspires us with her design vision. She is also one of the amazing painters of the beautiful Ne'qwa ornaments. Below is a picture of Trieste, myself, and Jeannie along with some photos of our new ornament designs.

Lastly I will leave you with a fun clip. This flash parade came RIGHT by us - you never know what will happen at the gift show!

6 Easy Ways to Update Your Home in 2012!

2012-01-16T16:05:00.007-05:00

Updating your home's style can be done in just a few simple steps! Below are six easy ways to freshen up your space this year!

1 - Cut the Clutter. You may think this is an obvious fix. But it is important to remember as new home decor items are brought into your home. Make a new rule that for every new item that comes in, an old one must move out...

2- Get a Bright Idea! Improving your room's lighting can make all the difference. Make sure you are using about 100 watts per 50 sq. feet. Also, try to have several types of lighting placed around the room. This will shed a new light on your space!

3- Bigger by design. If you have a room that feels small, paint it the same color as the adjoining room. This will make the space flow better from one room to the other.

4- The New Neutrals. For a fresh update of an older room, try going beyond just beige with warm tans, honeys, and soft blue-greens.

5- Vary Wall Hangings. Instead of hanging your paintings and pictures in the center of your walls, display them creatively. This way they will make a statement and show off your space.

6- 3 is NOT a Crowd! When grouping your accessories, stick to odd numbers (especially 3's!). Vary them in height, scale, and textures to keep your grouping interesting.

Wishing you all a fresh start in 2012!

photo credits: 1. http://widbox.com/benefits-of-decluttering 2.http://jameshurt.com/for-sellers/15-secrets-of-home-staging/ 3. http://feelgoodhomedesignblog.com/2011/05/ 4. http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/house-pictures/palm-beach-design-decorating-0411 5. http://jameshurt.com/for-sellers/15-secrets-of-home-staging/ 6. http://northernvarealestate.net/

Christmas 2011

2012-01-04T13:37:00.012-05:00

I just downloaded my pictures from the holidays and wanted to share a few! We had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by family and friends.

Jacob, Erin, and Al looking bright-eyed on Christmas morning.

Erin finishing up her quilt for Mary on Christmas Eve.

Megan showing Mary her new quilt. I am so proud of Erin's talent!!

Al and I gave Mary her first Jeep!

Cousins! Mary was all smiles sitting with Rachel and Sarah.

Getting some sugar from her Aunt Carol and cousin Suzanne.

Toni and George brought Erin's favorite - fried turkey! Her face says it all :)

Sweet Mary on our trip to Brays after Christmas.

Mary with her daddy, Mac.

Mary with her Uncle Sam.

She has this guy wrapped around her finger...

Can you guess who the star of our holiday was!??

I hope you all have a blessed 2012! Happy New Year!!

Announcing the 2011 Christmas Craft Challenge WINNER!

2012-01-02T12:38:00.005-05:00

I am thrilled to announce the winner of our 2011 Christmas Craft Challenge, Marie Sporrong!! When we received her entry we were simply blown away. It is called an explosion box and is a very intricate, amazing, fun, and interactive 3D scrapbook. I could not do it justice by words alone - please watch the video below to see for yourself!

Marie lives in the countryside of Sweden with her husband, young daughter, and blue merle Sheltie. It sounds like a beautiful setting for creative inspiration as she mentioned the birds and deer that visit her garden. Marie has a workshop in her home where she loves to craft. Currently she stays busy scrapbooking and card making but has done all sorts of crafting from quilting and doll making to producing clay tiles and painting. With her interest in interior decorating and upholstery skills, she and her husband also stay busy renovating and redecorating their home.

For the explosion box, Marie used my K & Company scrapbook collection, Glad Tidings. She explained that 40 pieces of 12x12 double sided papers are needed, plus extras for inevitable mistakes. Each box holds 20-30 small photos and 50-70 photos measuring 4x6! Marie loves explosion boxes because of the endless possibilities. They come in many different shapes and can be made for everyday occasions or any special holiday. She says she hopes to inspire others to craft, maybe even make their own explosion box as they are a beautiful piece of home decor. She also wanted to send an extra thank you to her caring husband whom she could not do without in so many ways.

After emailing with Marie a few times it was easy to see that her beautiful talent for crafting is matched by her beautiful spirit and love for her family. My entire studio felt blessed by the warmth and kindness of her words and heart! Marie makes beautiful crafts for personal use and for purchase. Be sure to visit her youtube channel, mariesporrong, and her blog for other craft ideas. Marie said she may create a tutorial for her explosion box as well!

Thank you to everyone who entered our craft challenge and thank you Marie for sharing your beautiful talent with us all!

Prepare to be Inspired!

2011-12-06T12:59:00.014-05:00

I have had so much fun today looking through different craft blogs and websites! All of my searching was in hopes to inspire YOU to enter my Christmas Craft Challenge. Today I was looking at paper and fabric crafts... our K & Company scrapbooking materials and Jo-Ann fabrics would be a great place to start!

Visit any Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store to find Christmas and holiday fabrics - below are some of the ones we found at the new store in Charlotte.

My holiday scrapbooking collection, Glad Tidings, from K & Company can be found here! Below are some of the papers, cut-outs, and stickers that would be great to use for cards and other crafts.

Everyone loves a homemade Christmas card! Find inspiration at Keepsake Crafts.

This cute paper wreath can be found at Inspire Me Crafts - with instructions too!

These magnet boards from Organize Your Stuff Now are awesome - perfect for a recipe holder in the kitchen or a picture in the office! I think they would look great made with some Christmas papers!

Who wouldn't love a homemade advent calendar!? I also love the little envelopes with numbers for each day... each one could contain a note for your loved one with the day magnet - maybe a little treat too! Find these and other cute decor ideas at Katie Bee Creative.

The following fabric wreath and balls are from our very own Jo-Ann Craft and Fabric Stores Blog! Instructions included!!

Another fabric wreath idea from Sticky Genius over at Etsy!

Christmas stockings of course! Find a tutorial for these at All You.

And... I would love, love, LOVE to see a Christmas quilt! The one below with the little trees from Katie May Too is too cute!

Or a quilted pillow or advent calendar quilt like these from Fabric Shopper Online.

Well, I know that I feel inspired! So... get crafty and give a special gift from the heart this Christmas - and don't forget to enter my Christmas Craft Challenge!

Rita's Pottery

2011-12-02T10:07:00.008-05:00

Meet Rita! Our beloved studio friend and cleaning technician. She has always loved pottery and has now started making her own one of a kind pieces!

The other day she brought her latest creation to the studio for us to see - a beautiful birdhouse!

Her attention to detail in the little leaves and vines is extraordinary... I also love the beautiful colors and variations of the glaze. Wow, she is so talented!!

Thank you, Rita, for inspiring us with your craft!

Mary's First Lesson

2011-11-30T13:28:00.006-05:00

I had to share these cute pictures of Mary from last weekend... her first time on a horse!

Mary was so calm and happy around Ben, it is definitely in her blood!

She'll be riding on her own in no time! :)

Thanksgiving!

2011-11-28T14:59:00.010-05:00

How was your Thanksgiving weekend!? Whether spending time with family, dear friends or even new friends - I hope you found many things to be thankful for and had a wonderful turkey day!

Al and I spent Thanksgiving on the farm with family. It was a fabulous day!

My youngest son Sam and his girlfriend Lauren - it was wonderful having them both here with us!

My mother joined us too - here she is with my brother's four children.

My little brother David with his three beautiful girls.

Of course I had to include a picture of the food! We had quite a spread...

Let us come into his presence with Thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2

So Very Thankful

2011-11-23T11:01:00.009-05:00

Can you believe it? Thanksgiving is tomorrow! I hope that you are all looking forward to (or have already started) the cooking and gathering with loved ones that this holiday brings!

This morning at the gym our workout instructor Donna lead us in a Thanksgiving devotional. It was a powerful message for me to hear as Donna challenged us to try and thank God for something new everyday - for something that we had never thanked God for in the past. So often I pray and thank God for my many blessings generically, or I find myself thanking God for the same things over and over again. While these are still meaningful prayers to me, this new challenge has already changed my outlook in just a couple of hours. This morning my mind has been filled with all of the other blessings in my life that I have overlooked or forgotten to acknowledge in the past. So, I am now passing this challenge on to you. Don't forget to look around this Thanksgiving for all of the many blessings in your own life - great and small!

I also wanted to share a few pictures from a recent farmer's market excursion... I am so very thankful for this year's harvest bounty!

I hope that you and yours will have a safe and happy gathering tomorrow! Also... don't forget that it's okay to have a little fun with your veggies this Thanksgiving too!

A Pie for Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T13:19:00.006-05:00

I love a pumpkin pie, I love a pecan pie... but around our house, the favorite pie at Thanksgiving is the vinegar pie!! It is a family tradition that came from our Aunt Sis who was Mr. Winget's sister. Give this recipe a try - you will not regret it!

Vinegar Pie

1 unbaked 9 inch pie shell (see Never-Fail Pie Crust recipe below)

1 stick margarine

1 1/2 c sugar

2 T flour

2 T vinegar

3 eggs

1 T vanilla extract

Combine margarine, sugar, flour, vinegar, eggs and vanilla. Blend well. Pour into the 9 inch pie shell. Bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes.

Never-Fail Pie Crust

2 t salt

3 c flour

1 1/4 c vegetable shortening

1 T sugar

1 T vinegar

1 egg

1/2 c water

Mix flour, shortening, sugar and salt with a pastry blender. Beat egg, add water and vinegar and mix well.

Combine the two mixtures a little at a time until all dry ingredients are moist. Mold together with your hands and chill before rolling out.

This recipe makes one 9 inch pie shell.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

To whom much is given...

2011-11-16T11:39:00.012-05:00

... much is required. This is a quote you have most likely heard in a number of different contexts. JFK used this sentiment that originally comes from a parable in Luke 12:48.

As Thanksgiving day quickly approaches, I have been thinking about this quote. I love that we have a holiday set aside to gather with friends and family to reflect on the many blessings in our lives. (Not to mention the fried turkey and Mrs. Winget's sweet potato souffle - yum!!) But this year I am also feeling called to take this holiday's sentiment one step further. To pay it forward as they say. There are so many people in each of our communities that cannot afford basic necessities for their families. And a Thanksgiving meal? Sadly, that may simply be out of the question. I am giving myself a challenge this week - won't you join me? Find an organization that gives back to your community - donate, volunteer, serve.

This message of sharing has been put on my heart this week by an organization that is very near and dear to my heart - Crisis Assistance Ministry. It started in Charlotte in 1975 and continues today offering financial assistance, and "free stores" of clothing, furniture and other household items. Their goal is to compassionately serve those in need by restoring dignity to each of their clients. I was fortunate this week to have Carol Hardison and other CAM staff come to the studio for a luncheon. It was a wonderful blessing to have everyone there, see the video below to see what I mean!

Thank you to Carol and everyone who works and volunteers at Crisis Assistance Ministries. You are truly an inspiration for this season and all year long!

Costco Signing

2011-11-15T13:19:00.011-05:00

Thank you to everyone that came to see us at Costco on Saturday! It was wonderful to see some familiar faces and to make some new friends as well!

I was so glad to have Stephanie, Jeannie and Mary Beth there from the studio to greet everyone.

I met Linda at the signing (in white above) and found out that we share the same birthday!

Don't YOU need a 2012 Calendar!??

The employees at Costco were so helpful and set up this beautiful display of calendars. I signed special edition 2012 calendars in the styles of Heart and Home, Nature's Grace, and Proud Rooster. Only Costco is carrying this version of the 2012 calendars, so visit soon before they run out!

Thank you again for stopping by, it was such a fun day for me. I hope you all enjoy the 2012 calendars as much as I enjoyed painting them!

Comfort Food!

2011-11-10T16:12:00.005-05:00

Today's weather is a little less than fabulous... Cold. Rainy. Yuck. Especially after the warm front we have had I find today's weather rather unpleasant.

Yes, today is a day that calls for comfort food! I love this definition:

Comfort food - the gastronomic equivalent of a warm sweater, a kiss on the forehead, and a favorite blanket.

So - that had me thinking about one thing... Well, maybe two things...

1. Paula!

and 2. Macaroni & cheese!! I will have to make this soon -

Crock Pot Macaroni & Cheese

1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese - shredded

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese - save 1/4 cup for the topping

1 (16 oz) box elbow macaroni

1 large can evaporated milk

1 c. milk

1 can cheddar cheese soup

1 stick butter

1 egg - beaten

salt and pepper to taste

Cook macaroni and drain. Mix all ingredients together in a crock pot. Sprinkle 1/4 cup parmesan cheese on top. Cook on low for 3 hours. YUM!

This recipe is adapted from my high school alma mater's cookbook - Cooking Down East II. Go Eagles! Also - it makes A LOT... perfect for a potluck supper.

The quote above came from The Meaning of Food - they also share favorite comfort food recipes from chefs and food writers - check it out!

As Paula would say - I wish you all love and best dishes from my kitchen to yours!

Shadrach, Meshach - AND Abednego!

2011-11-09T16:25:00.002-05:00

As promised here are more pictures from our weekend at Brays!

One of my favorite things to do while we are there is to ride our horses - there are so many beautiful trails and places to explore.

And as for the title of this blog entry... Meet my new friend Ben (short for Abednego). He has been visiting with us at the farm lately and is a wonderful horse to ride! Isn't he beauiful?

Happy Birthday, Al!

2011-11-07T16:07:00.009-05:00

Last Friday was my husband Al's birthday! To celebrate we headed down to Brays and had a fabulous weekend!

We went on a boat ride navigated by Bruce and Brian. It was a little cold out on the water but it was beautiful!

I made an apple cake for Al - and I must say it was delicious! You may remember this cake from the first time I made it...

We spent the weekend in the place we love, doing all of the things we love! Best of all, it was a time to relax and celebrate the man I love! Here are some other photos from our weekend - I'll have to post more of them later - back to painting for now!

Halloween Treats!

2011-10-26T09:47:00.013-04:00

Looking for some Halloween snacks to make this weekend? Look no further!

One of my designers had a pumpkin carving party this week - below are the recipes she used for pumpkin sugar cookies, pumpkin dip, a pumpkin cheese ball, and what she calls Trick or Treating Trail Mix!

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

When you are decorating sugar cookies, it is best to start from scratch - it's not that hard, I promise!!

1 c. butter, 1 c. powdered sugar, 1 egg - beaten, 1 1/2 t. almond extract, 1 t. vanilla, 1 t. salt, 2 1/2 c. sifted flour

Cream butter, add powdered sugar. Blend in beaten egg, almond extract, vanilla, salt and flour. Chill dough until firm - at least 30 min. Roll into 1/4 inch thickness on a well-floured surface. Cut with cookie cutters, place on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. Cookies should not brown. Let cool completely before frosting. This recipe will yield 40 cookies (less if using large cookie cutters!)

Royal Icing is great for decorating - I would suggest doubling this recipe -

4 c. powdered sugar - sifted, 2 Tbsp. meringue powder, 5 Tbsp. water

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on low until icing loses it's sheen - 7 to 10 min. Transfer icing into air-tight containers. Add food coloring and go crazy! Add a little water to make the icing looser, or a little powdered sugar to make it stiffer. These recipes and a great tutorial for royal icing can be found at Annie's Eats.

For the party favors, Audrey made little bags that included a cookie with the first initial of each child's name!

Pumpkin Dip

8 oz block of cream cheese - softened, 2 c. powdered sugar, 15 oz can of pumpkin pie filling, 1 t. ground cinnamon, 1/2 t. ground ginger.

Beat cream cheese and sugar on medium until smooth. Add pie filling and spices and mix well. Cover and chill for 8 hours. Best served with apple slices and ginger snaps. This recipe is from Southern Living - 2001.

The Great White Pumpkin Cheese Ball

2 (10 oz) blocks of extra-sharp white cheddar cheese - shredded, 8 oz block of cream cheese - softened, 8 oz goat cheese log - softened, 1/2 t. pepper, braided pretzel & grape vine/leaf for decor.

Stir together cheeses and pepper - shape into a ball. Use a knife to smooth the edges and make vertical grooves to look like a pumpkin. Use pretzel for the stem. Best served with crackers and assorted veggies. This recipe is also from Southern Living - 2009.

Trick or Treating Trail Mix

Audrey's mix above is made of dry roasted peanuts, candy corn, and dried cranberries - but you can add any of your favorites to the mix. I think pumpkin seeds would be a wonderful addition!

And here is a new picture of Audrey's pup - just because she is so very cute :)

Four Generations

2011-10-10T12:22:00.005-04:00

This weekend, my daughter Erin and her husband Jacob came to visit! They live in Georgia now so it is always a special treat to have them back on the farm. Of course Erin was excited to see her little niece Mary once again. Our sweet little Mary is growing so fast! My mother also came over to see everyone so we took advantage of the moment and took a picture of the four generations of Arant and Winget women together!

Aunt Erin and Uncle Jacob!

Proud Great-Grandmother!

A Recipe for Fall!

2011-10-06T09:28:00.008-04:00

Now that the temperatures are getting cooler I am very excited for fall! Pumpkins are starting to pop-up on neighbors' porches and sleeves are reappearing on arms everywhere! :)

I try my best to think seasonally when preparing meals for my family and autumn is a great time to do that with the pumpkins, squash, and other root veggies growing in and around the farm.

My father-in-law, Mr. Winget, loved his garden and always had a beautiful array of vegetables for every season. He grew butternut squash every fall and Mrs. Winget would slice them in half and roast them in the oven with a few pats of butter and a sprinkle of brown sugar - delicious!

If you are as excited as I am about the autumn bounty of vegetables, here is a healthy recipe to try soon!

Harvest Veggie Tacos

- makes 10 small or 6 large tortillas

Ingredients:

2 c butternut squash, cubed

8 oz fresh baby spinach

1 Tbs vegetable oil

1 small onion, diced

1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1, 15 oz can black beans

1 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp cumin

4 Tbs cider vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

goat cheese, crumbled (for topping)

soft tortillas

Directions:

Steam squash until fork tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and set aside. Steam spinach until wilted, about 2 minutes. Set aside. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion, jalapeno and garlic. Saute until the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. Stir in the beans, oregano and cumin. Season with vinegar, salt and pepper. Add the squash and spinach. Wrap the tortillas in damp paper towels and microwave for 30 seconds. Fill the tortillas and sprinkle with goat cheese.

Don't substitute the goat cheese - it makes the dish!

Enjoy!

Conference at Brays!

2011-10-04T15:36:00.012-04:00

Last week Al and I took my staff and our wonderful agents to Brays Island! We had an amazing time relaxing and reconnecting in a beautiful setting. We enjoyed a nature hayride, kayaking, skeet shooting, a river cruise, croquet... and even managed to get a little work done, too! It was very special to share the place that so inspires me with all of the people that so inspire me. Here are some photos from the trip.

To see more photos from our trip, visit us on facebook!

Do you know the way to Santa Fe!?

2011-08-26T10:14:00.023-04:00

Hi friends of the studio! My name is Audrey and I am one of Susan's designers. Susan asked if I would write a guest post on her blog of my recent trip to Santa Fe.

If you are a lover of nature or art, or both (like me!), this is the city for you! I left Santa Fe with a calmed mind and an invigorated, creative spirit. In this post I hope to share some of that inspiration with you!

New Mexico's landscape is breathtaking - driving across west Texas and then into this state, we quickly understood why it is called the "Land of Enchantment." No wonder Georgia O'Keeffe fell in love!

The plants and flowers that grow in this cool and dry climate were also beautiful. The streets were lined with sunflowers in bloom and the sweet scent of lavender greeted us at every corner.

I also fell in love with the adobe architecture. The brown and terracotta tones with soft curves and corners mimicked the landscape perfectly. It was amazing to look over neighborhoods that blend into the mountains with such purity.

And, did I mention there is an entire street devoted to art galleries!?? Canyon Road is a must-see for any lover of art!

Needless to say I am anxious to return to Santa Fe! I hope you have enjoyed my photos of this beautiful place!

Atlanta Gift Show 2011

2011-07-19T12:49:00.009-04:00

Hi Friends!

Sorry I haven't blogged in so long - we have been busy, busy bees around the studio lately!

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Atlanta Gift Show once again! It was a whirlwind of meetings, new products, signings, and lots of fun along the way. Every year I leave inspired by the new color and trend directions of the industry.

Here are a few photos from the trip!

I love my agent Sam! He always guides us in the right direction!

Our new Christian line with Wilton Armetale made its debut in Atlanta. I could not be more thrilled about this collection!

This is our friend Trieste from Ne'Qwa where they hand-paint beautiful ornaments from the inside!

We are so excited about our new "Holly Days" collection with Keller Charles and Magnet Works!

Thank you to all of our friends for a wonderful trip!!

A Potter in our Midst!

2011-06-15T12:23:00.004-04:00

My friend and amazing cleaning technician Rita is a woman with many gifts... and now we have discovered yet another one of her talents! She is amazing on the pottery wheel!

Rita has always loved pottery and has given me several pieces over the years from other potters in the Carolinas. I am so excited for her to now be making her own works of art!

Family Vacation!

2011-06-13T13:06:00.011-04:00

This past week I had a wonderful time on vacation with my family! We spent a few days relaxing, playing and just enjoying each other's company. It was so nice to have all of my children together again!

Erin loved reuniting with her horses!

... and trying to convert her husband Jacob into a horse man!

Mac chasing our dog Olive around - they both had a great time!

... and then they came inside and crashed.

All of the men folk decided to cook!

Pancakes and Grilled Cheese?? They just went for the kitchen so I didn't ask any questions! :)

Olive got a lot of love on this trip!

All of my children together! Left to Right - Mac, Megan (and grandbaby #1!), Sam, his girlfriend Lauren, Erin, and Jacob.

I hope we can all get together for another vacation soon!!

We love you, Joni!!

2011-06-10T09:44:00.008-04:00

We have been blessed this summer to spend a few weeks with our favorite intern, Joni! She is a light around the studio with her perky personality. She is smart and funny and always enthusiastic about our studio projects. Joni's joy for life and for the Lord are simply contagious! Oh... AND she is also a student at UNC - Go Tarheels!!

Joni is also handy in the kitchen and has shared some of her sweet treats with us this summer. Our favorite are her oreo balls. Below is the recipe to try for yourself - BEWARE... they are delicious!!

OREO BALLS

25-35 Walnut size candies

1 pkg regular size Oreo cookies, crushed

1 (8 oz.) pkg cream cheese, softened

1 pkg white almond bark

1 pkg chocolate almond bark

Using a blender, mix Oreos and cream cheese together.

Roll into walnut size balls.

Chill for 35 minutes in the fridge.

Melt 1/2 pkgs white and chocolate almond bark together.

Stick a toothpick in an Oreo ball and dip it in the melted white almond bark.

Allow to harden on wax paper.

Takes about 15 min.

** If you want to make them festive, add colored sprinkles or an M&M at the top after dipping to cover the toothpick hole.

YUM!

For now, Joni is off to her next summer adventure. She is heading to India with UNC's business school! As the trip coordinator, she has planned visits around the country for herself and fellow students to learn more about the cultural differences in the world of business. We are so proud of her and excited to hear about her trip when she returns!

Have a great time in India, Joni! We will miss you!

A Visit with Claude

2011-06-09T15:45:00.014-04:00

Claude Monet that is!

Well, not really (obviously)... but Joan, a designer at the studio, recently visited his home and gardens in Giverny! Her daughter Lauren is living in Paris, so she went to visit. Their pictures are so beautiful - see them below, and you too will feel like you have just visited with Claude himself!

I can just picture him gardening and walking around setting up his easel here and there. What a heavenly setup! I have read that he was a master gardener who loved flowers and let them grow untamed into lush, organic landscapes that outgrew their beds and created natural volume around his home. Simply gorgeous!

I know I am feeling very inspired - thank you for sharing your photos Joan!

A Baby Bear Quilt!

2011-06-07T09:31:00.004-04:00

My friend and painter at the studio Mary Beth has just completed another quilting masterpiece! She has made a few of these bear quilts through the years for new babies in her family - the quilts are always so cute and I know they are cherished keepsakes!

This one is extra special because it is for her first granddaughter Keenan who will be here in August! She took the quilt to her son Dave and his wife Sarah last weekend - it matched their nursery perfectly!

Also, a fun little tid-bit about our families... Mary Beth and I were pregnant together with our sons as they were born in the same month. Now, Mac and Dave are both expecting their first children in the same month - and both are having girls! We are all so excited!!

New at Jo-Ann Stores!

2011-06-02T10:22:00.006-04:00

Hi Friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

This morning I wanted to share some of my new fabrics with you. These are now available in Jo-Ann Stores and online!

First, in honor of Memorial Day, is the Patriotic Collage collection -

I have always loved creating patriotic art. I love the stars and stripes and I love the rich history and symbolism found in our flag, the eagle, and other monuments of our country.

Next is the Natural Impressions collection -

The simple, warm colorway of this program would make for a beautiful quilt! I like to think my love for nature comes through in the delicately woven florals and vines.

And lastly, one of my personal favorites, the Humble Bugs collection -

The bright colors of this collection would be fun to work with this summer! I love the soft greens and purples that accompany the florals and the bugs as they seem to play across the fabrics.

I can't wait to see the quilts and other crafts that come from these collections - please share your crafts with us here or on facebook!

Grandmother Winget's Quilt

2011-05-26T10:28:00.014-04:00

As I may have mentioned before I love quilts and everything about them. I love the fabrics and the patterns. I am amazed by the care that goes into every single stitch and I love them as precious works of art and family heirlooms. I even have the great privilege of designing quilting fabrics!

The quilt featured on this post is one of those treasured family heirlooms - it was pieced together by my mother-in-law and her sister-in law. It was passed down to my cousin Martha Ann who recently gave it to my daughter Erin at her wedding. Even the fabric holds precious memories as it was cut from Momma Fan's old dresses (my husband's grandmother).

I love the cute vintage fabrics!

Erin said this is now her go-to quilt for hanging out around the house. Maybe it reminds her of the love and prayers for her and her husband Jacob that are being sent daily from NC!

And of course our dog Olive had to be the center of attention!

California Dreaming

2011-05-24T10:41:00.009-04:00

Well, it's not "such a winter's day"... but, we have been California dreaming at the studio! Our summer intern, Joni, has just returned from a fabulous trip to the west coast with her family. They visited Monterey, Big Sur, Cupertino, Muir Woods, and San Francisco. She took hundreds of great photos and said I could share some with you!

The "Lone Cypress" along the 17-mile Drive.

A shark at the Monterey Aquarium.

Can you see the sea horse? Joni said this little guy is called the weedy sea dragon because he blends into the seaweed.

This is a photo taken on their way to Big Sur. The west coast cliffs are so beautiful!

Baby sea lions at Point Lobos State Park.

Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos, Joni!

Our friend Lorrie & Relay for Life

2011-05-20T10:44:00.007-04:00

Our friend Lorrie Lawrence recently lost her courageous five year battle with cancer. In the words of her friend Gail Abernethy, "Lorrie was our cheerleader, and our safety net. She blanketed us in love and warmth. A beautiful testimony of God's grace and love, she was beautiful, generous, witty, unselfish and determined." Everyone at Mount Holly Elementary School, where she was a teacher's assistant, loved her and have continued to raise money in her honor for the Relay for Life event happening tonight.

Please join us in honoring our friend, by contributing to her relay team. Lorrie's joy for life will continue to encourage us all as we find hope in each new day.

Lowcountry Fun

2011-05-17T10:52:00.007-04:00

Hi Friends! Sorry I have not posted in a while... Blogger was acting up last week!

Below are some photos of my husband Al and I on our latest lowcounty getaway...

Al has been training our German Shorthair "Olive" and she has been doing so well!

Checking in on a blue bird nest!

I love the Resurrection Ferns that grow on the beautiful Live Oaks. They create a beautiful green blanket along the limbs...

Being silly... this is my attempt at swinging on the vines!

We love visiting South Carolina's lowcountry whenever we can - it is so beautiful in the Spring!

The Mom Song

2011-05-09T10:50:00.002-04:00

One of my designers at the studio made this video for all of the mothers at her church. I know Stephanie worked really hard to pull it together (and keep it a secret!) - and I'm sure it was a highlight of the service on Sunday. It is so cute!

The song is by the GoFish Guys.

Celebrating Moms!

2011-05-06T09:40:00.004-04:00

I want to wish all of the moms out there a Happy Mother's Day!! This is a great weekend to celebrate all of the special women in your life - mothers, aunts, friends, and daughters, too!

I painted this image several years ago in a series called Everyday Angels. If your mother is an angel... be sure to let her know!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Inspiration from Texas!

2011-05-04T12:14:00.008-04:00

One of my studio designers moved to Texas last year. She and her husband went to the Dallas Arboretum a few weeks ago to see all of the flowers and took a few photos for artistic inspiration...

Aren't these beautiful? I know I feel inspired - thanks for sharing your pictures, Audrey!

Lang Visits the Studio!

2011-04-29T09:59:00.005-04:00

Our friend Kate from Lang came to the studio this week!

We have worked closely with Kate on the Lang calendars and other products for several years - and we always manage to have a lot of fun when working together. Believe it or not, we were going through new art for the 2013 calendars! Bouncing off calendar and product ideas in a room full of creative minds is so exciting and energizing for me.

Check out the mess we made sketching and going through all of our newest paintings - haha!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Happy Administrative Professional Day!!

2011-04-27T15:02:00.006-04:00

Today at the studio we celebrated our amazing administrative professional, Beckie!

Beckie is a one of a kind gem in our studio. She can do it all - from organizing artwork and handling shipping to decorating our studio and whipping up an amazing meal... and on top of everything else, she is a wonderful friend to us all! I do not know how we would function without her and I am so very thankful that she is a part of the Winget Studio family.

We love you, Beckie!!

Sprucing up for Spring!

2011-04-26T09:05:00.000-04:00

What do you do outside of your home to spruce up for spring?

This year I gathered all of the weathered birdhouses I have collected over the years and made a little colony of them on top of our outdoor picnic table. Tres shabby chic - mais oui?

If your home needs a little outdoor decor this year - try one of our flags or mail wraps from Magnet Works!

Below are just a few of the prints available online.

Happy Spring!!

Easter Surprise!

2011-04-22T12:39:00.006-04:00

My studio surprised me with an Easter gift this morning! Beautiful flowers and the most delicious strawberries from Springs Farm! The flowers are beautiful and will make a wonderful Easter addition to my home. Thank you!

We use the Lang stackable boxes all over the studio for so many different things - this time they have made wonderful flower boxes! ... and I can't wait to make something with these strawberries - shortcake? a pie? a strawberry mint mojito?? Maybe the answer should be all of the above!

Happy Easter, blog friends - I hope you and your families have a joyful Sunday, full of celebration!

Ready for Easter!

2011-04-20T10:26:00.008-04:00

Are y'all ready for Easter?

Stephanie, one of my studio designers, brought in some photos of her parents house this year - they have a beautiful yard and have used some of our Easter items to decorate this year!

A Wedding Weekend in San Francisco

2011-04-18T11:59:00.013-04:00

This past weekend I had the great privilege of taking a trip to San Francisco with Jeannie to attend her sister-in-law and my friend's wedding. Congratulations Lynn and Roy! The wedding was beautiful and we had a great time touring around the city as well. Here are some photos I wanted to share with you all!

First we did some sightseeing and took a ferry across the bay. It was such a beautiful day! We had a gorgeous view of the Golden Gate Bridge and also got to see Alcatraz.

At the ferry station we stumbled upon a wonderful farmer's market!

We had lunch on a beautiful outdoor patio. I loved the painted table!

This patio plant was looking a little rough (poor thing!) but the pot was beautiful.

And our little seagull friend was waiting for us to drop something for him... or maybe he was posing for our next beach painting??

Here I am with Jeannie at this amazing wine shop that was also an art gallery - the perfect spot for us!

And here are some photos of the happy couple - it was a beautiful, intimate ceremony and I feel so blessed to have been a part of the celebration!

It was an absolutely beautiful weekend in every way!!

Weekend Inspiration

2011-04-14T08:03:00.001-04:00

Al and I spent last weekend at Bray's and I wanted to share a few photos from our nature walk with Bruce. He is the resident naturalist on the island and we always learn so much from our time exploring with him.

First we checked on the blue bird nests - aren't these eggs beautiful!?

Did you know that blue bird feathers are not actually blue? They are grey, but the light reflections make them appear blue. Also we learned that it is only an old wives tale that mother birds will abandon nests if they are touched.... not to worry!

There are so many beautiful blooms this time of year! We saw iris and wild azalea (pictured above) as well as trillium, jack in the pulpit and other flowering plants. Of course there were butterflies fluttering around too!

We also saw some skinks! These are large lizards, that kind

of look like snakes with little legs. Our German shorthair, Olive, caught one and popped the tail off... can you find the tail in the below picture?

It was a wonderful weekend of inspiration! You may see some of the above pictures in future sketchbook paintings... well, maybe not the skink!

Visiting Mrs. Winget

2011-04-01T08:41:00.001-04:00

Last week, Erin and Jacob came to Charlotte and we all went to visit my mother-in-law who now lives in an assisted living community. She was unable to come to the wedding so this was a very important visit for Erin to share all of the wedding day events and pictures with her grandmother. It was so sweet to see their shared joy on this day. We also brought some of the Jumpin' Java cupcakes to share with her, the nurses, and other residents - yum! It was a very special day!

The Beautiful Stampede

2011-03-27T16:14:00.002-04:00

Every morning, I head out early to feed the horses. When the horses see me coming they race from the pasture to the barn because they know it is time to eat! The other morning as I was walking out there was a group of deer standing in the pasture between myself and the horses. They were beautiful! As always, once the horses saw me, they started running as fast as they could... and straight towards the deer. The poor deer didn't know what was going on, so as the herd ran up, the deer just joined them in their run. It was a beautiful sight to see the horses and deer running together. It was also funny as I am sure the deer were wondering, "What is going on?" and, "Where are we going?" As they approached the barn, the deer split off and ran the other way. I will have to start carrying my camera with me more often to capture these moments to share!

Oh the joyful sights to see living on our farm... It was a wonderful way to start the day!

Jo-Ann Quilt Contest!

2011-03-26T20:10:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago I had the great privilege to judge Jo-Ann Fabric's Quilt Your Colors quilting contest. There were so many gorgeous quilts! I was truly amazed by the variety of talents and it was very difficult to judge. Check back in May for pictures of the winning quilts!

Erin's Wedding

2011-03-23T07:51:00.007-04:00

At the end of last month, my daughter Erin got married! Below are a few pictures from the beautiful day. We had wonderful weather and Erin was such a happy bride. We are all excited to now have Jacob, and his entire family, as a new part of ours. The ceremony was held in the remains of an old church in Beaufort, SC. The church has a rich history as it was burned during the Revolutionary War, rebuilt, and then burned again as Sherman marched through the South during the Civil War. What is left are beautiful brick walls and pillars that open up into the sky. Above is the painting of the remaining church walls that I surprised Erin and Jacob with. I will carry the precious memories of their wedding day forever in my heart!

NEW Totes at Lang!

2011-03-04T15:18:00.004-05:00

I am so excited to announce our new lines of totes and wallets by Lang! The new lines of products are now available at Lang.com. Check out both designs below - Tree of Life and Blooms Noir. These totes and wallets are durable and made from high quality fabric - we had a lot of fun creating the fabric designs and colors too! Enjoy!

Nature's Garden at Dillard's!

2011-02-23T11:10:00.005-05:00

Hello friends,

One of my favorite subjects to paint are the birds, butterflies and flowers of nature. Many of these paintings can be found in my Sketchbook Calendar by Lang.

I know many of you enjoy these designs as well (thank you for all of your emails!) so I wanted to let you know that our latest dinnerware line, Nature's Garden, is now available at Dillard's. They also have coordinating table linens that can be found in-store and online.

There are so many cute serving dishes that compliment the dinner plates, salad plates, mugs, and bowls. Visit Dillard's website to see the deviled egg tray, bird bath compote dish, watering can pitcher, and bird house cookie jar.

Enjoy!

Susan

Scrapbooking with K & Company

2011-02-15T14:30:00.000-05:00

Hi Blog Friends,

Sorry that I have been away for so long! Between our exciting schedule at the studio and planning for my daughter's upcoming wedding, I have been very busy!

Today, I wanted to share a couple YouTube videos I found. These women have taken some of our K & Company papers and stickers and made some amazing gift books.

Below is a gorgeous birthday album, made by Patty. I love how the papers pair with the old black and white photos for a true vintage look!

The next video I would like to share is a mini album made by Sue. I think she may enjoy scrapbooking with the birds and nests as much as I enjoy painting them!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-21T12:46:00.002-05:00

Hello friends!

I want to wish everyone a Very, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I have a special Christmas message to share with you all. One of the designers at the studio, Stephanie, gives a children's sermon at her church every Sunday. This Sunday she spoke about Christmas gifts - it is a sweet and powerful message for all ages!

Nature Scrapbook on HSN!

2010-10-04T11:23:00.003-04:00

Our studio was so excited to be featured on HSN's craft day!

Check out this video clip for some scrapbook page ideas and other crafts to make from our K & Company Nature program -

This package of stickers, borders, and papers can be purchased online from HSN

Atlanta Gift Show!

2010-07-26T10:48:00.006-04:00

Last week I returned from yet another wonderful weekend at the Atlanta Gift Show! As always, it was a great few days of visiting with old friends, meeting new friends, and best of all - getting a sneak peak at some of our new products!

Here are some photos of our new designs with Magnet Works and Ne'qwa ~

Our first night in Atlanta, we had the treat of going to a baseball game with

some of our friends from Leanin' Tree. Go Braves!!

Every year at the gift show I also have the great pleasure of meeting design enthusiasts from all over the country. This year I met Susan L riding in an elevator! She owns a gift store called

Mothers & Daughters in Denham Springs, LA - if you are ever in the area, be sure to check it out!

101 Uses for Scrapbooking Papers!

2010-07-21T08:20:00.012-04:00

Stephanie, a Winget Art designer and creative super mom, recently revamped her children's toy cabinet with our K and Company Nature Scrapbooking papers. Check it out!
Before...

And After...

Beautiful job, Stephanie! This got me thinking about all of the other creative ways to use scrapbooking papers. The K and Company papers are high-quality, thick-stock papers. They could be used for homemade greeting cards and origami. What about placemats for a theme dinner party? They could be used as mat paper when framing photos, or framed by themselves as wall artwork. Check out the creative ways blogger Jackie Anderson used our Nature papers. I'm sure together we could come up with 101 uses for scrapbooking papers - do you have any ideas to share??

Scrapbooking with Blue Moon!

2010-07-14T13:39:00.006-04:00

One of my friends found a video by Blue Moon Scrapbooking reviewing our K and Company Nature collection! Thank you to Blue Moon for all of your compliments and for carrying my collection at your online store!

Farmer's Market - New at Cracker Barrel!

2010-07-13T16:15:00.006-04:00

Our studio went to lunch at Cracker Barrel today and like always, it was delicious! We also saw our latest Cracker Barrel collection "Farmer's Market" in the Old Country Store. This collection embraces one of my favorite summertime activities... going to the farmer's market to find wonderful, fresh fruits and vegetables. Visit your nearest Cracker Barrel to see more!

Carole King & James Taylor

2010-06-03T15:35:00.006-04:00

Last night was a late night - and it was absolutely wonderful! Al and I went to the Carole King and James Taylor Troubadour Reunion concert. They were great together. The music was fabulous, the stories were great, and Carole looked amazing. We had a great time singing along! Here are some photos my friend took of the concert.

Nesting on the Farm

2010-05-17T15:49:00.004-04:00

Not long ago, Al and I discovered a killdeer nest on the farm. Killdeer are a very interesting bird. They get their name from their distinctive call, have you ever heard "kill-deer!" being screeched from above? They also play a wonderful trick on their predators. If they see an animal coming for their nest, they will move away from the nest, stick one wing up in the air, and flounder around like they are injured. Then the predator will go after them, thinking they are an easy target, instead of going after the nest. Clever birds!!

There isn't very much "nesting" to their nests, either. They like to lay their eggs on gravel - with a very thin lining of grass. So, the gravel path outside of our barn, with grass sprouts and hay, made a perfect spot for them. With all of the daily activity around our barn, we've had to be really careful not to disturb the eggs!

I'll keep you updated on the baby killdeer - they should be hatching soon!

Mother's Day Quilt

2010-05-14T08:29:00.003-04:00

As many of you know, my daughter Erin moved to Michigan this year to work for The World Race. She and her friends found a woman to take sewing lessons from and she completed her first quilt not long ago. She did an amazing job and it is beautiful!

Last weekend, Erin came home to North Carolina and gave her first quilt to me as a Mother's Day gift! I will cherish it always as a precious gift of the heart.

Susan Winget's Mother's Day Quilt 2010 from susan winget on Vimeo.

Smell the Roses!

2010-05-13T09:53:00.009-04:00

Earlier this week, our studio took a field trip to McGill Rose Garden - located right here in Charlotte, NC. The garden was gorgeous and the scent of roses filled the air. They have hundreds of varieties of roses - definitely a "must-visit" destination for rose lovers! Below are some photos of our visit and a video of our tour. Watch the video to hear the beautiful history of McGill Rose Garden.

It was drizzling during our tour - but it made the roses even more beautiful, with the look of fresh dew.

The garden is also full of beautiful sculptures and community art projects by different artists, schools, and organizations.

These benches were painted by the women of UMAR - an organization that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities that our studio has come to know and love over the years. How beautiful are these?!

Hay-Baling Time!

2010-05-12T12:42:00.014-04:00

Every May, our family gets together to bale the hay on our farm. As Al says - the family that hays together, stays together! Erin and Sam both came home to help, and our friend John Hammond came to help as well! It was a long day of hard work... but, we managed to have some fun too. And of course it was a wonderful weekend having all of my children in one place again!

Here are some photos from our hay-baling adventure!

This picture is so funny to me - my daughter woke up with a hurt eye so I made her a patch. She laughed and said that this is what you get when you have a hypochondriac-artist mother! ...the patch worked and her eye was all better in no time! Click here to read more about our baling on Erin's blog!

Apple Cake!

2010-05-11T09:48:00.009-04:00

Recently I received an email from Lori of Happy Bird's Crafting Haven. Lori found the coffeebreak page on my website and tried our recipe for Apple Cake. She was kind enough to send us a glowing review and photo of her cake - Doesn't it look delicious!?!

Check out Lori's Crafting Blog where she writes about all kinds of fun crafts, recipes, and more!

Thanks again, Lori!

JoAnn's Fabrics

2010-05-05T09:57:00.004-04:00

I am so excited to share all of my new JoAnn Fabrics with you - now available on their website! Click Here for fabrics from my studio with floral, nature, cupcake, and safari themes - just to name a few! Their fabrics are beautiful - I hope you enjoy them as much as we have!

Also available from JoAnn is a "Quilts Galore" project using my designs - Click Here to download the PDF and get started on your next quilting project today!

Thank you, Teachers!!

2010-05-04T13:12:00.004-04:00

Today is Teacher Appreciation Day! So, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of the teachers that are working hard everyday to make a difference in the lives of our children. Coming from a family of teachers - my mother-in-law, my husband Al, my son Mac, and my daughter-in-law Megan included - I know the sacrifices that teachers make everyday. It is truly a profession of love and I am humbled by the dedication and selflessness of the great teachers I have come to know personally. I cannot say enough about how vital teachers are to our communities - thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Stephanie, a designer at the studio, made the following video to show appreciation to her daughter Genevieve's 1st Grade teacher Mrs. Nichols. She is one of the wonderful teachers at Mt. Gallant Elementary School in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Check it out!

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T08:20:00.003-04:00

Today is Earth Day's 40th Birthday! Genevieve, the daughter of one of my studio designers, put together this very cool video about recycling - check it out!

Happy Earth Day!! Together we can truly make a difference for our world and our children's future - what are you going to do today to make a difference??

Baby Boda!

2010-01-27T13:27:00.003-05:00

I am happy to announce that Mary Beth is officially a Nana! Will Boda was born yesterday at 2:02 pm; weighing 7 pounds & 6 ounces! Isn't he beautiful??

Congratulations to Amanda and Billy from everyone at Winget Art!!

Scrapbooking with K And Company!!

2010-01-26T12:11:00.003-05:00

I am so very excited to announce that our first line of scrapbooking materials with K & Company is coming out soon! I had so much fun designing the papers, stickers, and tags with our Nature's Sketchbook Art. K & Company's products are beautiful, fun, and always of the highest quality; it is a joy to be working with them!

Check out the Sneak Peak of this collection on Scrapbook.com!

Fun at Bray's!

2010-01-25T22:13:00.001-05:00

Al and I had another wonderful retreat to Bray’s Island last weekend – here are some highlights of the trip!

Can you spot the little herron we saw on our walk?

Here are pictures of the fox hunt we attended. The Middleton Hunt comes to Bray's every January. This hunt was not hunting live foxes – only following a laid-out scent. Here are our friends Pam and Cindy right before it started!

Releasing of the hounds!

The group leaving for the hunt! The main huntsmen are in the red jackets and lead the hunt.

Bray’s Recycles! Here is Al, doing his part!

New at Cracker Barrel!

2010-01-14T15:56:00.008-05:00

Our 2 latest Cracker Barrel programs are now available at the Old Country Stores. Go now to see our elegant new nature collection called "Blue Bliss" and the colorful new rooster collection called "Break of Dawn." As always, it was exciting to see all of the new products - and of course we stayed for lunch!

Blue Bliss!

Break of Dawn!

Nana Shower for Mary Beth!

2010-01-13T13:46:00.010-05:00

Yesterday we threw a surprise Nana Shower for Mary Beth. She will be a grandmother in a matter of days. We had so much fun setting up the surprise - and wow was she surprised!! The expecting parents came too!

Let the spoiling Begin!

A Diaper Cake!

Stephanie made a beautiful personalized scrapbook to document the baby's first year - all it needs now are pictures!

Last week Mary Beth painted a mural in the Baby's Nursery - Everyone is ready!!

Atlanta Gift Mart

2010-01-10T15:04:00.020-05:00

I just got back from another wonderful gift show in Atlanta! As always, we enjoyed catching up with old friends, meeting new friends at signings, and getting to see new programs from an array of companies. The new products look beautiful - here is a sneak peek at some of the new gift and home decor items coming out over the next year!!

Medici Dinnerware

2010-01-04T13:42:00.001-05:00

One of our newest dinnerware designs - Medici - has arrived! It is an exclusive design, available NOW at Dillards. I loved this program so much that I ordered a set for our new home on Bray's Island. Everyone at the studio knew I was waiting anxiously for the dishes to arrive, so they set them out on the table and had the camera ready to catch my reaction when I walked through the door!

A Real Christmas Miracle from 1949....

2009-12-23T23:03:00.001-05:00

Susan's dear friend, Lib English, wrote down this Christmas Miracle that happened on her Christmas of 1949 and Susan reads it to our studio group at our Christmas gathering!

Merry Christmas ALL!!

Winget Art Christmas Party!

2009-12-23T14:50:00.013-05:00

Yesterday was our annual Winget Art Studio Christmas Party! As always, we had a wonderful time celebrating another joyous year together. We started with a delicious spread breakfast treats at the studio and then moved the party to the farm!My daughter Erin is home for Christmas!
Mary Beth's necklace of tinsel and lights!
Why does everyone look so shocked?!?

Erin Made Bread!!

Christmas Lasagna :)

Kendall came too!Hangin' around the Christmas Tree...
Every year I give everyone Vaillancourt Santa figurines - they are made from old chocolate molds!

The whole crew together!

Deck The Halls, Y'all!

2009-12-23T14:31:00.014-05:00

I thought I would share some photos of our home decorated for Christmas. I have so many special treasures I have collected over the years and they each carry special memories of loved ones and holidays past. This year I also made a planter for our front porch using the bottom of our Christmas Tree and some of the vine decor from my neice's wedding last month. Of course I also have the table set with "A Christmas Story" china by Portmeirion- each piece has a different verse from the cherished "Twas the Night Before Christmas" poem by Clement C. Moore.
Enjoy the photos and have a very Merry Christmas!

We're Dreaming of White Christmas...

2009-12-22T09:16:00.005-05:00

Our friend Linda sent us the most beautiful pictures of her home in Tennessee. They have so much snow! We were hoping for snow in Charlotte last week - but only had a handful of snowflakes. But, we're still dreaming of a white Christmas... if only in our dreams!!

The picture also shows one of our holiday flags made by Magnet Works!

Christmas Shortbread!

2009-12-10T11:38:00.001-05:00

What better way to kick off the holiday season than with Christmas cookies!? I always say that if I had to choose one food to live on for the rest of my life, I would have to choose shortbread… Here is my recipe – Enjoy!

Cream 1 cup of butter by gradually adding 1/2 cup of sugar.
Cream until light & fluffy.
Stir in 2 1/2 cups of sifted all-purpose flour.
Chill several hours.
On a floured surface, roll 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
Cut with 1 3/4 inch round cutter.
Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 300 about 30 minutes.
Cool slightly, remove.
This makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

Sample Sale Extended!

2009-11-23T10:35:00.002-05:00

For those of you who might have missed the Sample Sale at the Winget Art Studio - there will be 2 more opportunities to shop at HALF PRICE!!!

The sale will be open tomorrow, Tuesday, November 24th from 3:00-6:00 and again Saturday, December 5th from 10:00-1:00!!!

We hope to see more of you then!

Sample Sale Extravaganza!

2009-11-17T11:07:00.006-05:00

Last Saturday, we held a sample sale for charity in the studio parking lot - and it was a huge success! I want to emphasis the word HUGE - check out these pictures! Our parking lot was full and we had many visitors. Thank you to everyone who came by to shop and visit - it was wonderful to make new friends as well as see many familiar faces.

My husband Al, ran shuttles of visitors - here is my mother getting the first tractor ride of the day!

Our new friends who came all the way from Tennessee!

Fresh Seafood!

2009-11-09T15:09:00.007-05:00

Last week Al and I were able to get away for a few days to celebrate his birthday. So, of course we headed to our favorite spot - Bray's Island. We had gorgeous fall weather and were able to relax and have some fun outdoors. Here are some pictures of the weekend - we went shrimping and crabbing... and then had a feast!

Throwing the net...

The Birthday Boy!

Fresh Seafood!

Haunted House Craft!

2009-10-20T13:47:00.003-04:00

Stephanie created this Halloween Haunted House craft with her daughter Genevieve. It turned out so well, I wanted to share it with you all! CLICK HERE for a step by step guide, so you can easily create your own! From the scrapbooking page, click on the "Halloween Craft" icon to print the house art and directions. Also, print out the Halloween Scrapbook Page for extra art to add to your house. Have fun and get creative like Genevieve, by adding your own personal touches!

Susan Winget Sample Sale!!

2009-10-09T11:34:00.008-04:00

Wondering why I posted pictures of this mess?? I wanted everyone to know that we are cleaning out our studio closets – and all of these boxes - full of Christmas cards, kitchen textiles, dinnerware, woven goods and MORE - will be available to you and your friends! We are having a Winget Art sample sale on November 14th.

So, mark you calendars – it will begin at 9 AM and finish when everything is sold. All proceeds will be donated to local charities that are dear to my heart.

ALSO, Hattie’s Antiques of York and local decorator Bonnie Thompson will be offering a variety of antiques, primitives, vintage and seasonal gift items for sale-with a portion of the sale proceeds going to charity. Many of the items are from private collections or estates and have not been for sale in the area.
Items offered include:
-Furniture-tables chest, desk, cupboard-Home decorative items-primitives, quilts, linens, glass,
-Lawn and Garden- chairs, iron, birdhouses, metal-Gift Items- scarves, socks, nightshirts, purses, ornaments
And MUCH MUCH MORE!

We hope to see everyone there! Spread the word!

Studio Critters

2009-10-07T14:41:00.003-04:00

We often have sightings at the studio of furry visitors - cats and dogs, deer and hogs... but this one I just have to share! Seeing a squirrel outside the studio is not rare - but this one was curiously lounging on our railing. Whether you are a fan of squirrels or not - this little guy was too funny!!

Christmas Quilting!

2009-10-06T15:12:00.006-04:00

Mary Beth, our resident quilter, saw a beautiful quilt in her Quilting for Christmas issue of The Quilter Magazine ! It is made from our latest Benartex program – “Once Upon A Christmas.”

If you would like to make this quilt for the holidays,

please visit the Cotton Capers Quilt Shop to order the kit and pattern.

To order other fabrics in this collection, visit our friends at Fat Quarter Shop.

Happy Quilting!

Butterflies, Barns, & Missing Pickles!

2009-09-24T13:39:00.012-04:00

I am overjoyed to announce that my daughter Erin has returned safely from her year of mission work around the globe. To celebrate her return, our family took a trip to Bray’s Island last week. All of my children were able to make the trip and what a blessing it was to have everyone together again! We relaxed and reflected on the past year that we had been apart. Of course, included in the family trip were our horses that Erin loves so dearly. It was wonderful having so much time for us to ride together around the island. We also went to the pool one day and were thrilled to see several beautiful butterflies fluttering around.

The last picture I wanted to share is of Erin reuniting with one of her most coveted foods – pickles! It was a wonderful vacation full of love, laughter, and long desired family meals.