Romantic Country Spring 2011

The 2011 Spring issue of Romantic Country will be available next week. Here's a peek at my ad. I can't wait to see the magazine.

And just in case you were wondering, yes, there is still time to order gifts for the upcoming Holidays at robinkingdesigns.com.

robinkingdesigns.com

Hello,

My website robinkingdesigns.com has been experiencing problems the last few days. My hosting company is working on the problem as fast as they can. If you have any questions of would like to place an order, please send me an email at robinkingdesigns@yahoo.com

Thank you so much for your patience and please do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions.

-Robin

A Paris Street Market October 2nd, 2010

The last Paris Street Market of 2010 in Littleton, Colorado is October 2nd. I will be there with all my latest creations, including the oval cow tray pictured above. If your attending the market, please do stop by booth #20 and say hello. If you won't be able to make it, you can always visit my website Robin King Designs. Hope to see you there.

It's Starting To Look A Lot Like Christmas

... at least in my studio.

The Holiday orders are arriving, so I am making many, many, many lists and checking them twice, at least.

So you can see what I am talking about, here are some pictures from my studio.

This collection is on its way to Missouri.

These petite plaques are in production and will go to California and

Texas after a little more work and a lot more varnish.

This basket is complete and heading to Kentucky.

The Santa canvases are staying here in Colorado, but when the bee

boxes next to them are complete, they will be flying off the shelf

to Missouri.

So yes, even though the temperature is still in the high eighties and the leaves are still on the trees, my studio feels just like Christmas.

And it's the most wonderful time of the year.

Bird, Paper, Scissors

I wanted to share some pictures of my booth from the September 2010 Paris Street Market in Littleton, Colorado.

Bird Tissue Box Covers

At each Market, I try to have a theme and birds took center stage this time.

Paperweights

I also brought a few paperweights. I usually do not work with glass to0 much but paperweights are small enough that even I can make them. I love the look of decoupage under glass but I miss my crackle effect too much. So as soon as I can figure out how to crackle and decoupage under glass, you may see a few more items.

Bee Note Cards

And last but not least, here are my Bee Note Cards. Just perfect for a little note.

The last Paris Market for the 2010 Season in October 2nd. Hope to see you there.

Just a Note

At the August 2010 Paris Street Market in Littleton, I introduced my latest creations - Note Cards. Ten of my favorite designs from Tissue Box Covers, Boxes, Canvases and Trays are now available on 4 by 6 professionally printed cards. I am happy to say the cards were very well received. More designs to come in the next few months. Here's a look at a few...

Girl with Dog note card with canvas design in background.

Leaping Rabbit in a wreath of flowers with canvas design in background.

The Note Cards will be available on my website Robin King Designs by September 1st, 2010. Happy writing!

Whatever things are...

Some time ago I came across the verse: Whatever is Noble, Bright, Pure, Lovely... think of these things. Although it is a popular verse, for some reason it really hit me one day so I wrote it on an old envelope and put it in my purse. That old envelope was moved to my desk and has been in front of my computer as I have looked and looked for the perfect artwork to create a plaque.

Well, I did find the artwork - a beautiful old French textile painting with flowers and a lace-like border. It was perfect, however since it was originally used for textiles, the entire piece was graphed by hand in pencil. I like to keep all my old papers "as is" so I did not try to erase the pencil but instead spent many hours in photoshop trying to remove each line. Once most of the lines had been removed, I decided to keep a few of the guidelines as they seem very appropriate with the Bible verse from Philippians.
My "Whatever things are True, Honest, Just, Pure, Lovely... Think on these things" is finally finished. I hope you enjoy.

Beautiful Things at the Broadmoor

Recently, I was lucky enough to spend a few nights at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO. The Broadmoor is a luxury hotel that first opened in 1918. The hotel and gardens are exquisite. Victorian-imagery and accents are throughout the hotel, so now you know why I love this hotel so much. I could post picture after picture, but choose just a few so you can see the beautiful hotel and grounds. There is also a spa, golf course, tennis courts, amazing swimming pools, shopping and restaurants to enjoy. If you ever get the chance to stay there, take it. It's simply beautiful.

Two cherubs and winged buffaloes greet you at the front door.

This sitting area is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon looking at the lake and mountains.

Flowers around the Broadmoor Lake and grounds.

Ever-Faithful Friend

A few months ago, I was shooting pictures in my living room, taking advantage of the natural light streaming in. As I looked around, I noticed my fifteen year-old pug, Jesse was patiently watching me. With camera in hand, I took this shot.

When I later looked at this picture, I could not help but remember all the times Jesse has followed me around the house, watched me work, sat next to me when I was sick and rushed to the door when I returned home.

I have been so fortunate to have him in my life as long as I have.

Jesse was the inspiration behind this tissue box cover design.

He is my Ever-Faithful Friend.

Perfect Lighting

This has been a rainy weekend in Colorado. As I looked out the windows, I could not help but notice how beautiful everything looked. We have an abundance of bright sunny days, but the bright lighting can wash out much of the color. So I took the opportunity to take a few pictures around my yard in the rain with what I consider perfect lighting.
I hope you enjoy.

Bee Beautiful

Every year I participate in about a dozen or so shows and come face-to-face with my clients and friends. I love hearing how much someone has enjoyed a piece they have purchased from me, or how it fits perfectly in their home, or what they think about each time they see it, or the thank you note they received after they gave one of my creations as a gift.

Selling online is a little different. There is always communication before the sale, but not always once the package is delivered.

Well, you can imagine how much it meant to me when one of my online clients not only sent me a wonderful note, but included pictures of how she was using the bee creations in her home.

I asked if I could share the pictures and she said, "yes".


My small bee box is a perfect fit for her exquisite bee ring.

My bee design tissue box and small plate compliment the beautiful large bee box, picture frames and accents pieces in this arrangement.

Her collection of bee items and how she puts them all together can best be described as bee beautiful.

A Paris Street Market 2010

It's Springtime and that means it's time for
the 2010 Paris Street Market season in Littleton, Colorado!

After every Market, I share pictures of my newest creations. Please make sure to check back or better yet, stop by and say hello. I am in space #20. The Market is the first Saturday of every month May through October - Rain or Shine! I hope to see you there.


Decoupage Strawberry Cake Plate


Decoupage Tissue Box Covers

Decoupage Plaques

Here's the link for more information on the Market. http://www.aparisstreetmarket.com/

Bees, Decoupage and Napoleon

One of my recent commissions was to create a few new French-inspired creations for an adorable store here in Colorado. The owner said that she wanted some items with Eiffel Towers and Napoleonic bees. Well here is one of my decoupage tissue box designs with a large bee that I think will work well.

But the word "Napoleonic" would not get out of my head. So I went straight to the source and created a new decoupage design with the proud Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte himself. I added a muted background and of course a number of varied sized fleur-de-lis. The wastepaper basket was my first creation.

What is more French than a Napoleon Wastepaper Basket? It's a perfect way to add a little French-style to a den, office, bathroom or bedroom.

But just like him, I could not stop with only one conquest. I then created a matching tissue box cover and continued on to boxes and then small plates.

I just love my new Napoleon Collection. And yes, it's available through my website Robin King Designs. I hope you like it, too.

Useful and Beautiful

"Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful" - William Morris.

This statement holds true regarding my favorite cast iron birds. I first fell in love with these little birds a few years back when I saw them in photos that graced the pages of Victoria and Romantic Homes Magazines. The duet has been moved around my home, but have finally found a place they can call home inside a large cast iron bird bath filled with French lavender.

The absolutely gorgeous bird bath was a gift from my mother and even though I loved it, I have had a hard time deciding the best place for it. Then it hit me, fill it with lavender, add my little birds and place in front of a sunny window.

By this time you might be asking yourself what is useful about this. Well, all I need to do is move the birds around in the bird bath and the scent of lavender fills the room. This is also a very fun task for little hands that are around the house that want to help out. So yes, it's both useful and beautiful, I believe William Morris would agree.

Too Many Flowers?

I was going through a file this week and came across these beautiful pictures. A couple of years ago I was the photo stylist on a shoot for a national print ad. The photo was to show someone tending to their flowers. It was early Spring in Colorado so an outside shoot would not have worked. I knew someone who had a beautiful garden room and that's where the photo took place. She had many plants already, so I added some fresh flowering plants. I also added garden props to enhance the shot. A few of the props were pieces I had created. I cannot find my copy of the final ad, but here are some of the photos taken that day.

Red Decoupage Watering Can

Beautiful Pink Roses

Black Decoupage Flower Tin

More Flowers

Tabletop

The ad was beautiful and it ran in a number of national publications. After the creative director saw the ad in print, he thought I may have overdone the setting a little bit. I replied that you can never have too many flowers or too many decoupage pieces. I do not think he agreed, but he smiled and then started discussing the next photo shoot.

Sunshine Blog Award

Daisy of La Petite Plume (who creates the most beautiful French-inspired stationery) honored me with the Sunshine Blog Award. Thank you so much Daisy.



With this award I have to:
Post the award on my blog.
Link the person I received the award from.
Pass the award on to 12 of my favorite blogs and share the link to their blogs.
Let the bloggers know I have awarded them the award.

So here's my list:

Debi Ward Kennedy

Planeta AnaIsa

Yapping Cat Studio

J.Covington Designs

The Beautiful Life

The Well Appointed House

Notes from a Cottage Industry

Capers of the Vintage Vixens

Vintage Bliss

Piper's Pen

Holy Experience

King of Tennis

Daisy, thank you again.