Hello friends,
I'm here to let you all know my newest art series, Blooming Botanicals,
is just about ready to launch on my website, The Turquoise Iris.
First, I'd like to share a short story with you.
This is my story.
is just about ready to launch on my website, The Turquoise Iris.
First, I'd like to share a short story with you.
This is my story.
Eleven years ago, this month, I turned 30 years old. This was also the year, my baby boy turned one and my big boy turned five. I told my husband that all I wanted for my thirtieth birthday were some paints and an easel. I had always day dreamed of being an artist. Creating beautiful things is all I'd ever wanted to do with my hands. I dabbled in makeup, decorating, fashion and gardening already but, it was time I really tried out this painting idea. I'll get back to that in a minute but I'd first like to tell you about that birthday in particular.
It was unusually warm and I'd been dying to get my fingers in the dirt so I decided to go to the plant shop and get some red begonias for the front yard. During nap time, I headed out to the front to begin planting. I'm down on my knees and getting those gorgeous blooms in the ground when my eighty four year old neighbor, Miss Margie, came walking over. We visited and I told her it was my thirtieth birthday. As she reminisced about her thirties, I continued to plant...my baby would only be asleep for so long, you know. Margie wanted to get me a little gift so she told me she'd be right back. Just as I finished up with the begonias, she came back over with a brown paper bag full of seeds...hollyhock seeds, actually. I didn't know what a hollyhock was at the time but I do now. Those things grew to be gorgeous! I always appreciated Miss Margie's simple yet thoughtful gifts of seeds and flowers. She was amazing. Little did she know how much of an impression she had on me. Her garden was simple but manicured, gorgeous but not extravagant, and I knew someday, I too, would have a garden like Miss Margie.
After my Holden woke from his nap, we headed to the arts and craft store to buy my paints. My husband was afraid he'd buy the wrong ones so he suggested I pick them out myself. I really didn't know what I was looking for but bought the cheapest started set I could find.
Let me tell you, I found out very quickly that painting is hard. I attempted a few canvases. It was a brief endeavor for me. I realized this wasn't the right season for me to begin painting. I wanted to leave my mess out and not clean up every time I played with paint, but, guess what? My little stinker also liked to get his hands in my paint. So, I packed up those paints and put them in the attic and decided I'd wait a little while for that adventure.
That thirtieth birthday of mine was the best one to date. I really couldn't say why but I knew I felt love and excitement about my future. My boys were happy and healthy. My husband and I had been married eight years already and were planning to build a new house. My mom bought me a gorgeous watercolor painting of blue irises that I will cherish forever. My best friend and photographer secretly took photos of my boys while at my brothers house and surprised me with the prints. My family showered me with love. What else could I ask for really? I spent the day with sunshine, flowers, paint, family and love. Yes, please!
Fast forward ten years to my fortieth birthday. My paints were screaming at me by then. It was time to try again and I knew it. Only this time, the boys were turning eleven and fifteen and very self sufficient. If you've followed me long enough, you know I've been painting furniture for several years and selling them locally and on my Etsy shop, The Turquoise Iris.
I've been painting canvases now for over a year and loving every single minute of it. It just feels right, like this was what everything I've ever done has been leading up to. This season of my life represents a blooming season. I've changed and I've grown. The seeds were planted in my youth. The roots dug in and held on waiting for this time in my life. Here I am doing what I always dreamed of and you, my loyal followers, are buying paintings from me. Not only are you choosing one of a kind pieces of furniture for your homes, but now art, art I created with my own two hands. I am grateful and honored and I cherish every single day I get to do this with you all.
It was unusually warm and I'd been dying to get my fingers in the dirt so I decided to go to the plant shop and get some red begonias for the front yard. During nap time, I headed out to the front to begin planting. I'm down on my knees and getting those gorgeous blooms in the ground when my eighty four year old neighbor, Miss Margie, came walking over. We visited and I told her it was my thirtieth birthday. As she reminisced about her thirties, I continued to plant...my baby would only be asleep for so long, you know. Margie wanted to get me a little gift so she told me she'd be right back. Just as I finished up with the begonias, she came back over with a brown paper bag full of seeds...hollyhock seeds, actually. I didn't know what a hollyhock was at the time but I do now. Those things grew to be gorgeous! I always appreciated Miss Margie's simple yet thoughtful gifts of seeds and flowers. She was amazing. Little did she know how much of an impression she had on me. Her garden was simple but manicured, gorgeous but not extravagant, and I knew someday, I too, would have a garden like Miss Margie.
After my Holden woke from his nap, we headed to the arts and craft store to buy my paints. My husband was afraid he'd buy the wrong ones so he suggested I pick them out myself. I really didn't know what I was looking for but bought the cheapest started set I could find.
Let me tell you, I found out very quickly that painting is hard. I attempted a few canvases. It was a brief endeavor for me. I realized this wasn't the right season for me to begin painting. I wanted to leave my mess out and not clean up every time I played with paint, but, guess what? My little stinker also liked to get his hands in my paint. So, I packed up those paints and put them in the attic and decided I'd wait a little while for that adventure.
That thirtieth birthday of mine was the best one to date. I really couldn't say why but I knew I felt love and excitement about my future. My boys were happy and healthy. My husband and I had been married eight years already and were planning to build a new house. My mom bought me a gorgeous watercolor painting of blue irises that I will cherish forever. My best friend and photographer secretly took photos of my boys while at my brothers house and surprised me with the prints. My family showered me with love. What else could I ask for really? I spent the day with sunshine, flowers, paint, family and love. Yes, please!
Fast forward ten years to my fortieth birthday. My paints were screaming at me by then. It was time to try again and I knew it. Only this time, the boys were turning eleven and fifteen and very self sufficient. If you've followed me long enough, you know I've been painting furniture for several years and selling them locally and on my Etsy shop, The Turquoise Iris.
I've been painting canvases now for over a year and loving every single minute of it. It just feels right, like this was what everything I've ever done has been leading up to. This season of my life represents a blooming season. I've changed and I've grown. The seeds were planted in my youth. The roots dug in and held on waiting for this time in my life. Here I am doing what I always dreamed of and you, my loyal followers, are buying paintings from me. Not only are you choosing one of a kind pieces of furniture for your homes, but now art, art I created with my own two hands. I am grateful and honored and I cherish every single day I get to do this with you all.
Thank you so much!
This series will be released March 30th, 8:00 a.m. cst.
Go to The Turquoise Iris to start shopping!
~Dionne
