Christmas 2012 . . .

I’m still kicking for those wondering what has happened to me! I thought it was a great time to tell you guys about the “hows” of the Christmas 2012 paintings! And yes, you hear Christmas music in the background!

Christmas 2012 orders from Kim Wheeler on Vimeo.

First thing is first …. LIKE small words on facebook!

Second thing . . . . let’s get all the facts straight -

  • You must “like” the small words fan page.
  • The art is a 12×24 canvas, $100 + 15.95 for shipping.
  • No colors, major design elements or fonts will change.
  • Orders will not be accepted until Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 at 8 pm central time.
  • You can only place your order when you comment under the ‘Let the Christmas 2012 ordering start’ status {or something like that!}
  • Only 1 order per customer – meaning, 1 canvas per customer.
  • I’m only selling 25 Christmas 2012 personalized and limited edition paintings.
  • I will give away a Christmas 2012 personalized canvas from all the small words facebook likes after all 25 canvases sell.

41 – Ella {not}

Well, let’s get these posts started! I feel like I need to post some reminders about some things. And since I’ve been MIA, I’ve been making tweaks and changing things to keep things rolling over here at Small Words! First thing –  the number you will see in the title will be the original number given from the original list. I hope it doesn’t confuse anyone since I posted the updated list a week+ ago. I have been fortunate and everyone has been so patient. So far only 1 person has not responded to their “are you ready to get started on your painting” email. And I even found the person on facebook and messaged them just in case their email address changed or they didn’t get the email! Still no response!!! But seriously – only 1!! That is fantastic!

I also want to remind you that I try to keep 5 orders going at a time. Most of the time, I’m only painting 1, sometimes 2 at a time. But the emails are going for the others. This way, I have all my information ready to start the next one and hopefully, I have no down time waiting for the information for each painting. Unfortunately, there are many, many times that this plan fails miserably and I’m waiting on 5 people to email me the next bunch of answers to my questions. And I wait and wait and wait. Now, let’s be frank – I’m horrible at getting back to people UNLESS I’m working on your order! I have 30 something emails right now asking me questions and about future ordering that I’ve not responded to yet because of time, so I get that sometimes you don’t have the time to get back to me right away – totally understandable. But I really need to be painting at least 1 canvas, so I move to the next number in line. And sometimes the next and I’ve even went 3 people “next.” Then my squatter moves in – “Murphy.” He has probably moved into your joint a few times as well. When Murphy Brown is here, every single person I was waiting on will email me on the same day. Every single one of them. And especially if it is 10 people!

It really is funny. And it happens every time.

Soooo, I’ve tried doing something different by working in local people OR siblings during this dead time instead. Basically because I can get all the info I need from locals immediately. Clients with siblings know how my process works since we have worked together in the past and have always been super quick to get back to me {thank you!} I tell each of these clients {locals and siblings} what the stipulation is. You must have all the info I need asap or I can’t do it. This has actually helped me so that I’m not waiting with nothing to do. BUT I wanted to let you guys know so that when you don’t see a number beside the name at the top of the post, you will understand. Other than that, I promise I’m going straight down the list. I hope this all makes sense and no one is going to be hacked off at me thinking I have some line breakers! Because it really isn’t like that.

Now after I said all that, let me reiterate that I totally understand that it takes time to get back to me with the details! And, again, my inbox is ugly with people waiting on me to respond to them. I do ask a lot of questions that need answers you are not going to always immediately know off the top or your head. You might be sending me swatches and that will take time between getting them together to the delivery through the mail. Finding links to the bedding, especially if it discontinued, is fat pain for you. One of my favorites – the time it takes to clean your kid’s room before you take pictures to send to me – hahah! {Don’t even try to act like you don’t know what I’m talking about!!} Digging up the name to your wall color isn’t always as easy as looking in your garage and finding the paint can. And even if you know exactly what you want, your brain will start going crazy with so many other options as soon as you get the email from me that I’m ready to start. It is very rare that when I email someone I get a response back with all the specifics and wants that I can immediately start painting.

RARE.

Please, nobody start freaking out on me when it is your turn and you are not answering immediately or you are indecisive. It is like that for most. Just understand that I will either go to the next name on the list OR if I feel I have too many “waits” on that list, I’ll hit up my sibling list or my local people.

okay?!

Another BIG thing is your the number of canvases you have listed that you want. First off, if you have 3 listed – but due to some crazy, unforeseen “tragedy” {because I’ve had some really horrific reasons} you don’t need 1 of those, just let me know. You are not obligated to order 3 canvases. Let’s go to the other extreme …. say you have now found out you are pregnant since getting on my list for another child. If you know the sex, name, bedding, etc – YES, you can get that baby a canvas at the same time. Another example is the Christmas painting you see throughout this post! Because  I have received a few emails inquiring about it after yesterday’s post, I thought I would skip to it and then pick up where I left off with the other paintings on the next post.

Number 41 was suppose to be “Ella” but she changed her mind and decided to go Christmas. She told me what she liked and I went with it. The only thing I will change about this painting if I paint it again {other than the name} is the design on the ornaments. BECAUSE I love this one so much that I don’t know what else I would change up to make it different! The font will stay the same. The colors the same. Seriously, it is a really good balance!

I hope I’ve explained everything. If you have more questions, please just email me or comment to this post.

It’s a New Year!

I hope everyone had a great December, a wonderful Christmas, an awesome New Year’s eve and a fabulous start to the New Year! The month of December flew by. And I can’t believe we are already in the new year. It’s funny how the idea of a new year is so exciting. The belief of a fresh start – when really the fresh start is every day you wake up. But just like everyone, I do love the new year. I’m not big into the resolution thing, but I do try to line up things for change in my house. It seems every year that I change up stuff around here – how I clean my house, work my business, how much time my kids spend with the tv – things like that!! And this year will be no different. I think it is because of December. Everything is thrown to the wind that month. With all the craziness that comes with the holidays, chaos always ensues. I need a new year just to give me that sense of calm.

But no matter how crazy the month of December is, I love it. A lot. I did great this year with gift buying. I had it all taken care of by December 1st! And I came in under budget! {Always a plus!} I had a plan and it fell into place. It was really nice. I enjoyed it all. My kids were awesome. Emme tried hard to convince us that Jesus is a baby on Christmas – every Christmas. She gets that he is 2000 years old, but on Christmas . . . he is a baby! Except from midnight to sunrise . . . then he is Santa Claus. “Because he is amazing and he can do things like that.” haha! Still cracks me up when I think about it! Lawson has every Christmas song memorized and is still singing them. Carson loved the Christmas lights – and has decided that we are keeping the lights in his room. Hudson, . . . well just know that he has been watching Christmas movies everyday since June. That boy has been “in the spirit” for months. He was disappointed when he woke up on December 26th.

Em is on a Lala Loopsy kick – anyone else out there have an obsessed child?

Lawson’s favorite toys are all educational. Seriously, this dollar toy is one of his favorites! And his absolutely favorite was a president puzzle. {And my OT friends, I don’t let my children sit like this. I specifically remember asking him to sit the correct way after this picture!}

This is the fake smile. Everyone with kids have at least one kid that has the “fake” smile! haha! This really is probably one of the most hysterical expressions ever. And he is going to kill me one day when he knows that I just posted this for the world to see. {Sorry babe, this is what happens when you keep doing it!}

And Hudson with his beloved Innotab. He is in his serious mode here. And on top of the world.

I’m fortunate to have taken a few pictures. Normally, we are so wrapped up in the excitement that we don’t even think to pick up the camera! But the one picture I get every year is the after math . . .

This is my happy picture. This is what I dreamed of Christmas morning looking like when I was a kid. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Grinch said it best when he said, “It came without ribbons!… it came without tags!… it came without packages, boxes, or bags!” But with a 3 gift minimum + each child gives each sibling a gift in the $10 and under range + Santa’s gift = a lot of gifts! My kids don’t get toys other than at birthdays. Don’t get me wrong there are times they do receive little things. But I knew before I had children, that toys were not going to be given all the time. And I’m glad we have stuck to it because it makes times like this unbelievable! Nothing like seeing a grateful heart on Christmas morning.

And because I know you want to see my Christmas card for this year {although I’ve not sent them out yet!} Like last year, they will be a “New Year card!” I already have a caption for this – I will tell you in another post. BUT I want to know what you guys would put on this! haha!

Again, I hope you all have a fantastic new year! And blogging is on my priority list for 2012!