Give them a Valentine Centerpiece!

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!

Christmas 2011

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!!

Ready for Easter!

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!

Christmas Wishes

I would also like to invite you to send a special Christmas message this year to your loved ones with a FREE e-card from Winget Art Studio.
Click here!

Giving Thanks

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:7-8


Hello friends! It has been a while since my last blog entry – but, I thought wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving would be a good way to start writing again! I am excited to be spending tomorrow on the farm with our extended family, sharing food and fellowship, and embracing one of the things I am most thankful for – my wonderful family. I know I have so many blessings to be thankful for, but in Sunday school last week we were charged to think of Thanksgiving in another way. Paul delivers this message in the passage above from 2 Corinthians. Giving and sharing our time, prayers, and money with others is the best way that we can give thanks to God for all of his blessings in our lives. When we fully trust in God that he will provide for us it is easy for us to give freely to others, even in the most difficult of times. Tomorrow as I count the things I am most thankful for this year, I will also remind myself to thank God by sharing my blessings with those around me. Even a simple act of charity can mean so much to the glory of God!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy 4th of July!

I hope you all enjoy a fabulous Fourth of July tomorrow! It is wonderful to have a day devoted to celebrating our freedoms as Americans and the beauty of our country. I know July 4th is always a highlight of my family’s summer! This year we are having a large family gathering at our church for a barbeque and time of fellowship. We have so many blessings as Americans and it is always important to remember these as we celebrate together. Last week at our church, my friend Emily gave a wonderful children’s sermon. I would like to share it with you all now as we prepare for our country’s birthday. Emily talked about the significance of the colors of our flag. Red stands for the courage of the many men and women that have fought for our country. White stands for the purity and integrity of always trying our best to do what is right. Lastly, blue stands for justice, as everyone in our country should be treated fairly and with respect. The American flag holds a special place in my heart and I have had the pleasure to paint the beautiful red, white and blue several times for my Old Glory calendar, along with many other patriotic themes. I hope you all will take time to remember the flag’s significance in your own lives as you celebrate with family and friends tomorrow. Have a terrific Fourth!

For A Very Sweet Valentine...

Today I took a trip with the studio to Cracker Barrel for lunch. We shared a wonderful meal together (pecan pancakes for me!) and then perused the Old Country Store. We always enjoy field trips there to see our new product lines as they hit the floor.
Just in time for Valentine's Day, Cracker Barrel is carrying our latest collection, Chocolate. Everything from the dessert plates and mugs to the dishtowels and framed prints are adorable. Perfect for the chocolate lover in all of us! Here are a few photos, but I encourage you to go and see them for yourself.
Have a Sweet Valentine's Day!
Susan
For your nearest Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, click here!

Happy New Year!

Today Al and I celebrated the coming of 2008! His culinary specialty is breakfast so he made pancakes for us this morning… it was a comforting way to start the New Year! For dinner we had the feast of Hoppin' John, a traditional meal acclaimed by some as beginning in the streets of Charleston, SC as it was hawked by a man known as Hoppin' John. Miss Sarah Rutledge of Charleston is also known for serving this meal that everyone "came a-hoppin' for" and first published the recipe in her 1842 cookbook, The Carolina Housewife. Each part of the meal is said to bring a specific favor in the coming year. It is surely to be a good one for me as I ate plenty of black eyed peas for luck and pork for good health! ...pork for good health?? Not superstitious ourselves, we still always have a good time toasting the New Year with this traditional southern meal.

Happy New Year!
Susan

Christmas Day

This year, my family gathered for another wonderful Christmas. It is such a special holiday for us as we celebrate the birth of Christ. On Christmas morning all of my children were home early for breakfast – what a blessing to be together again! Then we spent the day visiting first with Al's mother and then with mine. It was a very special day with the family as we reminisced on Christmases past and made memories to cherish for Christmases to come.

Susan

Celebrating Christmas with the Studio

Yesterday everyone from the studio gathered at my home for a Christmas party. We all had a wonderful time together sharing laughter and conversation. Vicki's husband was kind enough to prepare a fabulous lunch for us – he is a wonderful chef! After lunch we spent some time walking around the farm… Jeannie even brought a pumpkin for the pigs. They were so funny to watch as they rolled it around and finally dug in! Then we gathered back in the house for our traditional gift exchange which is always fun. I was thrilled to receive a bird feeder and a birdbath from everyone. I have a perfect place for them, where I can view the birds as they feed and play every morning. It was good to celebrate the blessings we have each received over the past year.

Susan

Spreading Holiday Cheer through the Studio

The day after Thanksgiving is always bustling everywhere with holiday preparations and our studio is no different! My dear friend and member of my staff, Beckie, is our resident decorating virtuoso and on Monday she was already busy dressing up our workspaces! She helps everyone embrace the Christmas spirit with the additional touches of light and color. Our tree is up and beautifully lit, we have candles in each window and our wreath is hung invitingly on the front door. Inside the Farmhouse Studio we are fortunate to work on winter and holiday themed artwork throughout the year. It is especially a joy this time of year to spread cheer in our community and prepare for this special season of love, goodwill and spectacular wonders.

Susan

Thanksgiving at Winget Farm

I hope that each of you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with family
and friends! Mine was spent on the farm with family – we had a great
gathering and the day was filled with joyous moments. Thursday morning
Al and I visited his mother with our children. We shared breakfast and
were blessed in the time spent in conversation with her. Then, we
returned home to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner. Over twenty people
gathered in all, including my mother, two brothers and their wives and
children. I cherish the moments when we can all be together in one
place – we shared a lot of fun and of course, a lot of food! The
children spent time roaming the land on the gator and enjoyed loving
on all of the animals. My young nieces especially loved sharing peanut
butter with my son Mac's pigs, Grace and Henry.

I truly have so much to be thankful for, I'm glad that we have a day
devoted to recognizing our many blessings with those we love. I hope
that each of you had a special day of thanksgiving as well!

Susan