So many people were asking me about the mural I did on my baby B-I-L, Randy's, floor, that I thought I would post more photos.
Here are a couple of snaps of it that I have in my scrap book.
This little fishy is drawn in the scrapbook too. He is a reminder of the one painted by the threshold in Randy's craft room, kind of like a Walmart greeter, for everyone who comes in. We named him "Wallerford" after the Walmart greeter and the beautiful crystal Waterford glasses we were sipping our champagne from while we painted. Randy does know how to treat his guests right!
Here is Wallerford in person. Please ignore the twig laying on him, and by the way, it is a good idea to sweep the floor before photographing it, if you don't want sticks in the picture.
Last year, I did a how-to on painting a concrete floor. If you'd like to read it, you can find it here.
Randy's craft room was painted in stages. One night, years ago, we started painting family and friends on his wall as fairies.
It became a tradition, every time I'd go to Jacksonville to visit him that we would listen to show tunes (we both love Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, and Dreamgirls), drink champagne, and add more paintings to the room.
Now, two walls are a fairy forest, this is what the rest of the room looks like, a garden wall and sky.
Little whimsical details are everywhere.
Like this frog chatting with a dragonfly while holding a champagne glass.
And one trip to visit was spent making the ceiling a sky.
After that, he HAD to pull up the carpet and turn the floor into a pond. What kind of magical, fairyland garden is carpeted??
Now, every inch of that room is all muralled up. I still add characters when I go now, there will always be room for a flying puppy, or Randy's best friend as an elf somewhere in the gardens.
While I had my photo album out to get these pictures of Randy's craft room, I came across these pics of "Jayhawks on Parade" and with the Kansas Jayhawks doing well in March madness, I thought I'd show you some of the work I did on the giant Jayhawk sculptures that were on display in Lawrence, KS a couple years ago.
This peacock represented team pride and was commissioned by the Art Center. It is painted in iridescent colors and features stained glass mosaic.
The "Marvelous Mosaic Floral Fantasy Joyous Jewelhawk" is the gaudiest thing ever! And you know I love gaudy.
Hand painted flowers, mosaics, beads, old jewelry, and more- this creature is one blinged up baby.
Over the top? Well, yep, just the way I like things.
Speaking of Blinged up, tomorrow (Thursday March 27) is our Bling your birdhouse day.
Hope to see you there!
Remember, I will be giving away one gaudy home for birds to someone who leaves a comment on the party post.
Oh, and GO Jayhawks!!
Hi Karla, You are an amazing artist. I posted my bling birdhouse early (today) 'cause I am away tomorrow.
Posted by: Lynn @ theVintageNest | March 26, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Karla, all of your mural work and the huge bird are amazing!!! oh, the jayhawk, excuse me...i will be back tomorrow and have three birdhouses finished to show on my blog...see you then:)
Posted by: Lori | March 26, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Love the gaudy jayhawks! The craft room is amazing. I've got my birdhouse all blinged out and ready to go!
Karla
Posted by: Karla | March 26, 2008 at 01:44 PM
I LOVE the room at Randys, sounds like you have fun every time you go. I also love Gawdy, and LOVE the Big gawdy Jayhawk! It's really right up my alley! Wouldn't it be fun to have one in your very own garden?!
Posted by: gail | March 26, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Wow! That is awesome that you got to do a Jayhawk!! They did pigs in Cincinnati and my kids loved them. And Randy's home is amazing. When I was little, there was a man who lived nearby to my grandparents and he had turned his whole house into rooms of different countries and then had a carousel of "It's a small world afterall" in his living room! I'd never seen anything like it! As a kid, it was heaven. Are you getting warmer spring weather yet??
Posted by: bethany | March 26, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Over the top, nah! I love your creative touch - those fish are just happy and lively! And the float rocks! Have ya noticed that bling is the new - much more politically correct - word for gaudy? Our secret, ok? :D
Posted by: Kelley | March 26, 2008 at 04:18 PM
you do such great work! I can not wait to see all the Bling-ed out Birdie homes tomorow! Yay! Hugz Grace
Posted by: Grace | March 26, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Karla, you are amazing. Since I have been reading your blog I am in awe of how much energy you have and what you can accomplish. This mural is sensational and OMG that sculpture. Over the top in excellence I would say. Karen
Posted by: karen | March 26, 2008 at 05:01 PM
Well, I love champagne (particularly w/ lobster!) and showtunes! And you're painting skills blow me away. I'll never look @ my Walmart greeter the same way (and I see him often since our WM is the only store in our small town and we're the county seat!).
Posted by: Cami | March 26, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Seriosuly Karla, you are one talented woman! I am so excited for tomorrow - I found an antique birdcage the other day while I was thrifting and it is OVER THE TOP!
Posted by: Joy | March 26, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Karla, Randy's room is amazing. All I can say is WOW!!!
Karen
Posted by: Karen Young | March 26, 2008 at 05:23 PM
Your birdhouse is looking GOOD! :)
Posted by: Siobhan | March 26, 2008 at 07:03 PM
Holy cows!! I've always wanted to mural a whole room but, alas, I usually got teh ceiling done and never got any further. I love how you paint - so lovely! Sounds like you have fun doing it too =) Blessings... Polly
Posted by: Polly | March 26, 2008 at 07:06 PM
That is one amazing room! wow! I am so looking forward to tomorrow when all of the bird houses will be shown! What fun it has been to Bling my birdhouse!
Posted by: Sammy | March 26, 2008 at 10:02 PM
I love what you painted. I also love the froggy.
Posted by: Irma | March 26, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Your BIL sounds like a fun person to be around! I'm looking forward to tomorrow and still making some last minute touch-ups on my birdhouse! I get a little nervous posting my work online sometimes.
Posted by: Jessica | March 26, 2008 at 11:13 PM
I am ready for tomorrow! Do I just leave you a comment tomorrow?
Posted by: michelle | March 26, 2008 at 11:43 PM
yep me again... Karla... I would be very interested in buying one of your birdhouses... Since I love them all, just surprise me and pick one out for me...
Let me know how to pay you... sammy
Posted by: Sammy | March 27, 2008 at 04:13 PM
so pretty, good luck to whoever who gets it :)
Posted by: M.Kate | March 28, 2008 at 03:58 AM
Hi-
Thought I better comment here as you have so many from yesterday. LoL I hope you get this. What a way to start my blogging adventures. I have tons of new blogging friends due to bling your bird house-THANKS! I just wanted to invite you back over to my blog.....In honor of my grand opening I am having a give-away.Just comment on the "friends are like Flowers and you will be entered. Hope to have many more adventures with you all.
Posted by: Sheri Ingrande | March 28, 2008 at 05:58 PM