Things have changed!

I have moved to Utah and have been working on lots of pieces for A Community Christmas Boutique in Highland on December 5. (Details to follow!) I have let my Etsy shop go, as it didn't work out for me and will be putting up a website after the first of the year. If you want to order a custom designed piece, email me directly at ootwdesign@gmail.com.
Here are a few of the pieces I have created:

Miracle Table

Last summer I devoted many hours creating a table to be entered into the 10th International Art Competition sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I entered this competition the last time it was held three years ago with my Temple Chest. It was an amazing experience for me and I was eager to do it again. This year's theme is "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus". This is the name of an old Primary song that our children have sung for many years. I gathered my family members' favorite stories of Jesus and tried to incorporate those stories in the design. I also asked family to help me with ideas of other aspects of the design. My husband, Michael suggested that the legs could represent the four standard works of our church: Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants/Pearl of Great Price. I thought that was a brilliant idea as that is where the stories of Jesus come from. My daughter, Gloriana and I designed the top of the table incorporating everyone's favorite story, and I designed the legs and burned and painted the table. In the making of this table, I received frequent and burning moments of inspiration as to how to proceed. I felt Jesus's spirit with me so strongly that I could actually tangibly feel his presence in the room with me, and members of the family could, too. I was especially touched with the olive branch and olive press design that my son, Murphy suggested. The olive branch symbolizes many things: peace, forgiveness, gladness, and joy. The olive press is a tool used to make olive oil and it is quite a violent process to glean the oil.  Gethsemane has been called the Olive Press in that Christ suffered and bled from every pore to atone for our sins. In a talk by Truman Madsen he said, "Jesus is the veritable tree and olive beaten for the light, and that there flows from Him unto this whole earth, and beyond the redemptive power of healing and soothing and ministering to the needy." The olive branch motif that is surrounding the top of the table was a particularly inspired design.

I was so pleased with the outcome of the table and I couldn't wait to enter it into the competition. I have been notified that I have passed the first round of judging from photographs and so my kids in Utah took the table itself to the museum for the second round. I should be hearing any day, so it is a very exciting time. But whatever the outcome, I will never forget the closeness I felt to my Savior as I created a table dedicated to Him. Here are some photos taken by my talented daughter Jylare.

Weddings!

I attended three wonderful weddings in the past couple of months and was so happy to have been able to make plaques for all of the couples. It's such a special feeling I have when I design these plaques with my friends in mind. 

This plaque was made for a special couple who have had a long distance relationship and were finally able to arrange a wedding in the Washington DC temple. You can find it on my Etsy shop here

 This sweet plaque was designed for two friends who were getting married after a long relationship. This cottage is their special place and from pictures on Facebook, I was able to design this plaque for their very happy occasion. You can find it on Etsy here.

I really love this nautical plaque I designed for my cousin and her new husband. A beautiful, young couple who were married on Cape Cod at a gorgeous wedding. You can find it on my Etsy shop here

Monterrey Temple Experience

My brother and his wife returned recently from serving a mission for the Church of Jesus 

Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Monterrey, Mexico temple. My brother wanted to give his wife a special birthday present and commissioned a plaque which included the temple, but also many of the natural wonders of the Monterrey area that they came to love so much, including Saddleback Mountain in the background. It was such a joy imagining the two of them experiencing these beauties as I was researching and painting them. I hope it will be a permanent reminder of their time there.

Cutest New Baby Plaques Ever!

My daughter and partner just sent these adorable owl name plaques to some friends who had new babies. I think they are so adorable. I love how they are both owls, but have their distinct personalities. Especially the hipster boy. The color palettes are so wonderful, too. 

She created this new fox plaque for another baby, also. It's a different take on her previous fox plaque, and so fun. Lucky babies, these.

New bathroom means new plaques

We have lived in a home for 29 years with a 1965 pink and gray bathroom and always said we would update. Finally, this month, we had the pink tub and trim reglazed and it looks amazing. So, removal of gross shower doors, a new paint job, new shower and window curtains and wow! a beautiful new room. So, of course, when I wanted some finishing touches, I designed some plaques.  "Choose Happy" seemed a perfect sentiment to wake up to every morning and to read before going to bed, so I created this fun plaque for over the light fixture.

Unfortunately as I was finishing hanging this happy plaque, I dropped the hammer on our sink and broke it. So, now we not only have to get a new sink, but get the guy who installed it for us to come back and install the new one!

But, that didn't stop me from hanging the other three plaques I had created for another wall.

Once I get my new sink, I will have the bathroom I have dreamed of for many, many years.

As For Me and My House

For awhile I have wanted to design a sign for our front door and have always loved the scripture, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". So I came up with this:

I'm pretty happy with it.

We are expanding!

My daughter has joined my business and I am very excited. Her work is beautiful, and it's so fun to share ideas and expand our inventory. Here is an example of three of her pieces:

Aren't they beautiful? You can find them on our Etsy shop here, here, and here.

Home is an anchor

I'm pretty tickled with this one hook coat rack with an anchor signifying home. You can find it on my Etsy shop here here.

Valentines, anyone?

Just calming down from the Christmas orders rush and on to my second favorite holiday. I have always loved Valentine's Day and everything that goes with it. I have designed some ornaments/gifts/gift tags and some small plaques which are perfect for gifts. Our family always gives gifts to each other on Valentines' Day morning at breakfast; do you give gifts to your loved ones? These would be very sweet gifts for anyone you love.

These can all be found in my Etsy shop here. Our shop is now called: Out of the Woods Company.

"A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship is for."

I've been wanting to design, burn, and paint this Lazy Susan for a year, and finally had time this summer while visiting with my children. I love nautical themes and I found a sentiment that is very fitting for this red, white, and blue design. You can find it on my Etsy shop here.

"The town that time forgot"

     I had the pleasure of meeting friends in a little town in north/central Utah called Spring City. This town is made up of original pioneer homes and out buildings that have been preserved and enhanced, filled with people committed to being a community of lovers of beauty. That sounds kind of lofty and the Spring City folks might laugh at that description of them, but they are artists in every sense of the word. Whether it is in their home, their garden, their oil paintings, their sculpture, their live radio show, their cooking, or their interactions with others, they have a love for art and its effect on people. I fell in love with this town and the people that I met.
     While there, we attended a live radio show that four people who have had this dream for many years made a reality this year. In a beautiful little theatre attached to one of their homes, a set which is a replica of the town graces the stage accompanied by local music and theatre talent who meet each week to air live on a local radio station, a program modeled after Prairie Home Companion. It's called, "Life Under the Horseshoe".  This is their website Horseshoe mountain is the backdrop for this bucolic town and a symbol for its residents. I enjoyed the radio show so much, and was so inspired by the creators whose dream this was, that I wanted to create something for them. So, I took their promotion logo and created a plaque which I am thrilled to hear is hanging in the lobby of their theatre. What a lovely moment for me to have received from my friend, a picture taken of them opening up my gift. Here is the plaque:

This a picture of the creators of the show opening up the gift. I love their faces.

This is a picture of us, our children, and our friends in the audience of the radio show. Notice the charming theatre and set.

This is a town, that someday I want to live in or at least paint in. It's magical because of the people who live in it.

It's all in the family

I just spent an amazing summer visiting my children and grandchildren. It was so wonderful being with them because they live far away. We were very busy doing great things, so I only was able to create a couple of pieces, but my children decided to create some of their own and I thought I would spotlight them here.
My son in law loves America and maps, so he created this fabulous shabby chic wall hanging. He loves it so much, he's decided to do one of every state.

I've included this on my Etsy shop here.

My daughter wanted to make a special gift for a friend who was taking a big step in her life. She identifies herself with a swan and it was the perfect image for a meaningful plaque. My daughter designed it, I burned most of it, and she painted it. It was so wonderful creating this special piece with my daughter for her dear friend.

I have added this to my Etsy shop here.

Latest pieces

I've had a recent flurry of activity with babies being born, friends getting married, and orders coming in.
 

I created a piece for my niece's new baby's nursery.  I love the name Penelope and the colors of the room, too.

I can't believe this young man is married.  He was just a little rugrat running around our feet!

This was an order from a woman who wanted to match the chevron pattern and colors on a quilt.  It was super fun adding all the colors.

Swing into Art!

Mr dear friend works with her child's school to help them emphasize art in their curriculum.  They culminate their year of art projects with a final offering from each class presented in an Arts Night. During the evening an auction is held to sell the projects and fund the program. I love this idea.  Anything to keep the arts alive in schools.  My friend chose the offering for her daughter's class this year and commissioned me to design and burn a swing seat for the kids to color. She said they had a ball coloring in the design using oil based markers.  What a great idea!  I'd never heard of them before.  It was a perfect medium to use for precise work on wood.  I love the way it turned out.  They did a wonderful job. I'm so glad that they enjoyed the process and I am thrilled to be a part of it by offering something that they can physically enjoy as well as artistically appreciate for years.

Owls!

My daughter just had her first baby!  Her nursery is adorable and one of the themes is owls.  So, I decided to make owl ornaments to hang on the banner she was planning.  I thought numbers were fun to add to the little birds.

Newest baby name plaques

Two dear friends who happen to be sisters had new babies last month.  I custom designed their name plaques to coordinate with the nurseries.  The "Otto" plaque may look familiar since I have designed two other plaques for this family here and here.  Otto and Jasper are sharing a room and Dr. Seuss is now firmly established as their theme.  ( I guess I forced it!)

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