A Year in Review

Phew, we made it through the first week of 2012.
For the past couple of weeks, everyone has been reminiscing about the past year while preparing for the year ahead of us.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't doing the same.  This week has been about analyzing, reviewing and planning for 2012.  The thing is, we can't help but look back on the past in order to plan for our future.  That being said, I am going to do my part and pay gratitude to all that made 2011 possible for Reenie Rose....it only seems right and a form of good karma for 2012.
So, here's a year in review for Reenie Rose:

Kara & Mike

Florist:  Kehoe Designs

Photographer:  Rick Aguilar

 Rachel & Jason

Carrie & Bill

Florist: Event Creative

Photographer:  Studio This Is

Kelly & Andrew

Florist: Grapevine Floral

Photographer: George Street Photo & Video 

Paula Jean & Brian

Florist:  Kehoe Designs

Photographer:   Stuart Rodgers Photography 

Laura & D.R.

Florist:  Elegant Creations

Photographer:   Brad Photographers and Video 

 Maureen & Kevin

Florist: Pistil and Vine

Photographer:  Darcy Demmel Photography

Sarah & Ernest

Florist: Blumen Design

Photographer:  Jaclyn Simpson Photography

 The paintings are lovely, but the vendors I work with are fantastic.  The people I continue to surround myself with are the ones that are helping to build Reenie Rose to it's potential.  

Just think, by the end of this year, I'll have completed a full calendar's worth...and then some.  2013 Reenie Rose calendars....I like that idea.  Is it too early to place orders?

Ivory Finish

 Jason and Rachel's painting is finished!  Jason will be able to give Rachel her anniversary gift in time and dry by June 16th.  Something to think about gentlemen, if you are giving a painting as an anniversary gift (which I just love by the way)....make sure you allow enough time for me to paint it and actually let it dry for a bit.  What a fantastic way to say "Happy Anniversary"!

On another note, the all ivory bouquets always amaze me when I finish them because they are anything but ivory.  By definition, the color white is "Reflecting to the eye all the rays of the spectrum combined; not tinted with any of the proper colors or their mixtures."  When I produce an ivory bouquet, it eventually does wind up having a whole rainbow of colors running through it.  Just when I think I have a simple white bouquet to paint, I find a challenge I never expected.  What are you thoughts on an all ivory bouquet?

The Start of the Finish

This is a beginning of the day post.  My plan....to finish this painting today.  Stay tuned for another post soon!

Weekend Happenings

Holding true to my promise of actually keeping up with the progress of my current painting, here I am writing to you with an update.  I was lucky enough to work at Magnificent Milestones on Saturday...painting!  While the storm rolled in and out, I sat in the front window and got some work done.

I think this painting would actually look really pretty in this space with all of the soft tones.

In other stories of Reenie Rose, I met with another florist last week that I am just loving!  Kelly Marie of Fleur is a seasoned veteran in the floral industry.  She's been in business for almost 10 years now and plays hostess to the cutest boutique in Logan Square.  Every time I've been in there to see Kelly, I say good-bye to her and then find myself lingering around for a few minutes after to take in all the goodies she has lining the barn-wood walls.

Love, love, love her work....and she's pretty great too!  Fingers crossed on creating a painting of one of Kelly's beautiful bouquets in the near future!

Back in Time for June

Has anyone been wondering where on Earth I have been?!  To all of the worried faces out there, have no fear, I am back.  While waiting for a few paintings to come out of limbo, I decided to take my summer blogging vacation a little early and skipped over the whole month of May....well, I am slipping this post under the wire.
This month has been full of busy things going on for Reenie Rose though.  Here are a few snippets:

My family and I attended a wedding in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, at the beginning of May to start the month off with a tan.  I love weddings, but a wedding in Mexico is a double bonus when it has spectacular weather and good friends attending.  Congratulations to Hannah and Jason...and thanks for having a destination wedding!

Upon returning from Mexico, mom and I got down to business and attended an all-day seminar hosted by Estera Events.  The New Black seminar featured Ann marie Houghtailing of The Houghtailing Group who shared with us a plethora of valuable knowledge about sales and growing ones business.  I am so excited for some of the leaps we are going to be taking and expect to have a lot more paintings to update you on in the near future.

Speaking of paintings, I've put my Dani & Michael painting on hold to work on a new project.  Jason came to me this month wanting to get the perfect anniversary gift for his wife....a Reenie Rose painting.  With his anniversary fast approaching (June 16th), I received a few images of his wife Rachel's bouquet and quickly got to work sending Jason a variety of compositions to choose from.

Jason chose this 20x20 inch composition for his painting:

So simple and perfect with ivory calla lilies and roses.
The painting has been sketched in and will be close to completion by the beginning of next week.

Besides new paintings, new friends have been made as well.  I will elaborate more on their work at a future date, but in the meantime, be sure to get aquainted with these fabulous vendors:
-Salvage One- Checked out this venue for a NY friend of mine thinking of getting married in Chicago.  It's an amazing antique/unique extravaganza that is able to house events with a fun style.
-Citygirl Weddings and Events-  Once known as Events by Sharokina, Citygirl is a new name in wedding planning with plenty of experience to back it up.
 -Stacey Shapiro- A calligrapher with over 20 years of experience, Stacey's website might be only one page, but her talent and personality are infinite.
-Sarah Drake-  You have probably heard her name all around the wedding industry for her stunning invitation line and monogram gifts, but getting to know her as a person is such a treat.

Sorry if you felt neglected throughout the month of May.  With Jason's painting getting started, and a couple of others waiting in the wings, you'll be sure to hear more from me in June.  Can you believe it's June already?!  What are your plans for this month?