Well hello adulthood.

Hey everybody!!

So big news. HUGE news. News I've waited SIXTY days to tell you all (which has been really really really difficult) and which happens to be why I am not at Alt Summit right now. (Speaking of, I'm kind of hooked on the #altsummit twitterfeed. Keep it comin' folks!)

Anyhow- the news.

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE. 

As in, we signed the paperwork THIS MORNING and officially have the keys in hand. Actually, by the time this post goes live I'll probably already be in the process of putting up painters tape since my lovely mom is flying in to help me repaint the house while J's at work. (Have I mentioned my mom kind of rocks? I mean, she's flying across the country to do manual labor. That's love people.)

So yep! We bought a house and I'm using anti wrinkle cream. We're so grown up.

Happy Weekend!

 playing in the snow with J and Bella via personal collection

This week has been amazing so far. I turned 27, launched a new shop for my original watercolors (I'd love to have to check it out if you haven't already. Or you know, again haha,) one of my best friends and her husband are here visiting, my husband (and his wonderful parents) surprised me with one of my favorite cakes ever (which also led us to discovering an amazing German bakery close by,) and I've gotten to catch up with so many people near and dear to me. I have a tendency to look too far into the future/plan what's next/etc and I'm really trying just to slow down and enjoy the life I already have. Any of you like this? Constantly looking ahead and having to remind yourself to enjoy today? I cannot be alone in this one.

So my wish for all of you this weekend is to work on that. To slow down, breathe, and find joy in all gifts you have in your life today. Happy weekend!!

announcement! courtneykhail on etsy

view of the shop via here

Today is my twenty seventh birthday (!) and I gifted myself two things. The first- anti wrinkle serum. (That's right. Prevention people, prevention.) The second? A shop. Confused? Let me explain. (About the shop. I'm guessing the anti wrinkle serum is pretty self explanatory...)

A few weeks back I announced that I was beginning to offer one of a kind custom paintings. And while I'm still in love with that idea, I couldn't help but feel like something was missing. So, in order to figure out exactly what that was, I started thinking seriously about how I buy art. Normally, J and I simply stumble upon art. Sometimes we find a piece via an artist we love, other times it's a piece we picked up while traveling, and other times it's just something we came across during an art festival or show. Rarely do we just get something commissioned though. (Mostly because the idea of endless possibilities can be paralyzing. It's like the moment you can have absolutely anything you'd like painted, you can't think of anything you'd like!) Now that's not to say it doesn't have a very important place in the art world, but I realized that while only offering commissioned work I was inadvertently ignoring an entire audience.

So I decided to change that and open up a shop featuring my original watercolors! I'd love to have you all take a look and let me know what you think. (If you enjoy my work, I'd really appreciate it if you'd spread the news!) It's been such a labor of love and I'm thrilled to be able to finally share it. Hope you all enjoy it!!

from the studio: a bouquet painting for Christmas

via courtney khail

Just looked up from painting and realized that it's already past 6p and I haven't said hello today! Time flies when you're having fun, right? Well that and the fact I have 90's hip hop playing kind of puts me in the "zone." (Speaking of, whatever happened to Lauren Hill?) Anyhow, back to the point. A little while ago my wonderful father in law emailed me about creating a painting of my mother in law's wedding bouquet, which of course I was ecstatic to do. Her bouquet has always reminded me of Christmas because of the lilies and deep greens and reds, so I agreed it would be a perfect Christmas present. After a few sketches and rough drafts, this is what evolved. What do you guys think?

A little bit about my in laws (who will celebrate another anniversary this January!)- They met in Germany at a wedding of a mutual friend. I believe my FIL actually came with another date, but once he saw my MIL he promptly ended the date. Of course, seeing as he was just stationed in Germany before heading to Vietnam, he wasn't exactly fluent in German. And by not fluent, I mean he had to ask someone to translate just to talk to her that night. (If I remember correctly, he learned by watching a lot of German T.V.) Regardless, after that night he just kept showing up at my MIL's childhood home, asking her parents if he could take her out on a date. Apparently it worked and the two were married shortly after in her hometown church. Oh, and in perfect German fashion they had a polka band. That's right, polka and beer. Sounds like a party to me!

Embracing change and what is to come (happy new year!)

Although a little late, I wanted to stop in and wish you all a wonderful 2013. A lot of times after the rush of the holidays and the midnight kisses have been exchanged, we can get into a funk because it seems like everything is "over." Your decorations are down (well maybe yours are, mine aren't and probably won't be for a few more days) the gifts are opened, the radio is back to playing what it did before Thanksgiving, and maybe for the most part your mailbox contains more bills than merriment. But I guess I'm just a little different- the new year excites me. It may have something to do with the fact my birthday is only two weeks away, but for the most part I think it's the possibilities. The adventures that we've yet to have, the memories yet to be made, and the lessons yet to be learned. I used to think I was a creature of habit who was afraid of change, but when I took a hard, long look at myself I realized that wasn't true. Well I definitely have anxiety at times, change excites me. They offer new beginnings, new challenges, and a way to grow. Hell, we moved to Colorado-away from amazing family and friends and what we knew- just because it felt right.  And this past New Year's Eve, while I stood in a crowded house surrounded by new friends (and with thoughts of the new and old ones we weren't able to be with that night) I couldn't help but feel so incredibly blessed. I'm healthy, married to the most amazing man, have a wonderful family who always has my back even if they don't always understand my choices, have truly exceptional, loving, and supportive friends, live in paradise, and I get to create art for a living. I feel like the luckiest person.

So for this upcoming year- instead of resolutions like read more (though I do want to do that)  I'm going to do my best to remember all that I have. I'm going to do my best to remember that change -even something that may look bad at first- offers new beginnings and new opportunities. I'm going to do my best to be kinder, more understanding, and more appreciative. I'm going to try to compare myself less to others and stop fixating on doing "what I'm supposed to do/what they are doing" and instead do what my heart tells me. I'm going live more in the moment and try to let go of anxiety that might be holding me back.  This year is bringing a lot of changes (many this month) and to be completely honest I'm scared to death and so freaking excited at the same time- and I wouldn't change a thing. 

On that note, Happy New Year you guys! I wish you all a year filled with happiness, health, and amazing memories (and would love to hear what you're looking forward to this year if you're inclined to share.)

Merry Christmas

via dust jacket attic

Merry Christmas everyone!!

For the first time since our honeymoon*, we aren't spending Christmas with our families. Due to a complicated work schedule, it was best for us to stay in Denver and start our own family traditions. (One in particular: J. and I collect an ornament from each place we travel/an ornament to represent something from that year. It's so fun to see all we've done together!) And although a little strange to be on our own, it's also kind of exciting. After dinner last night, J. and I cuddled up and watched Home Alone (is this toothbrush approved by the American Dental Association?) while a blanket of snow fell outside. (It's our first white Christmas so I may or may not have continuously looked out the window, smiling and jumping up and down a little.) As for today, two of our other friends also couldn't head back to their parents for the holidays so they're coming over for Christmas dinner. I cannot wait to host our first "grown up" Christmas- feels like such a milestone. Have any of you ever experienced that?

(Oh! Also, there is apparently a house just a little while away that coordinated it's lights to a radio station that I'm going to try to talk everyone into going to see. If that goes well, I may even suggest an epic snowball fight.)

What about you all? Any big Christmas plans or traditions you're excited about?

*Since we were married so close to Christmas, we actually spent our first Christmas as husband and wife lounging by a pool with frozen drinks.

please excuse this interruption

Getting married in December you kind of expect it to be nice and cold. It was 70 degrees outside. (Photo via tim willoughby)

but it's our fourth wedding anniversary! I still sometimes have to pinch myself with just how lucky I am to have such an amazing husband. I whole heartedly believe in fate, in soul mates, and in God introducing you to the one you're supposed to be with and I know that six years ago (while dissecting a cat in college of all places) that's exactly what happened to us. J. encourages me to follow my dreams, believes in me, pushes me to be my best self, challenges me, makes me step out of my comfort zone, makes me laugh when all I want to do is pout, and on top of all of that, (at the risk of sounding really cliché') he loves me for who I am (which then gives me the freedom to just be.) I really feel like the luckiest girl alive and I am so grateful and honored that of everyone out there, he asked me to be his companion.

So.. Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart! Now that I've probably embarrassed you, thank you for making everyday an adventure, for loving me (even when I don't feel very lovable) and for always being by my side. You're the best gift I've ever received.

DIY glitter tree tutorial

Yep, I'm obsessed with decorating for Christmas. And thanks to last week's project, I had some extra gold glitter paper just sitting around so I figured I'd make something with it! You can make this with any thick paper you have (you know, in case you're not in love with glitter) and they literally take like 5 minutes. Maybe 10 if you cut really slowly.

1. Grab your paper and your scissors

2. Draw out a Christmas tree (excuse the wonkiness. This is what happens when you try to draw while looking through a camera.)

3-4. Cut out the first tree, trace it onto the second piece of paper, and then cut that out so you have two identical Christmas tree shapes (or if you're feeling fancy, you could do this whole tutorial with present shapes)

5. On one tree, cut from the top down about an inch. On the second tree, cut from the bottom up- stopping just a little more than an inch from the top.

6. Slide them together and adjust so they stand upright

7. Go have a cookie, pat yourself on the back for being so incredibly talented, and begin planning your future crafting empire. Or just eat the cookie.

Hold each other close

I sat down today completely prepared to share fun links, new designs, and pretty much general awesomeness I've seen around the web this week, but then I turned on the news. I can't even begin to put into words how I feel right now. I feel like I keep having to write these exact words and that's heart breaking. The shooting in Aurora, the shooting in Oregon, in Arizona, Columbine, Virgina Tech, and now in Connecticut... it's just senseless. We've all had to experience this too many times. The hatred that has to be in someone to shoot anyone- much less an innocent child- completely baffles me. No family should have to experience this kind of hurt and my heart and prayers go out to all those who are having to right now.

Custom Watercolor Paintings

For a while now, I've felt an urge to go back to my painting roots. I'm constantly surrounded by such beauty out here in Colorado and more often than not I'd catch my mind dreaming about various color combinations, compositions, and arrangements. My sketchbooks were filling up with ideas and sketches of paintings I wanted to create, but thanks to our already art filled walls and a lack of places to put anything else, those ideas stayed locked in my sketchbooks waiting on me to get my act together and start painting again. After a long talk with J. about how much I missed just painting for the sake of bringing joy to people's lives, he encouraged me to start it up again. Normally I would be terrified of starting something new (I'll be the first to admit to having anxieties about the unknown) but with this I felt a comfort and an excitement. It's as though deep down I knew this is something I really needed to do.

So that is EXACTLY what I'm doing now. I'll still be creating invitations and stationery (I still love doing it) but now I'm also offering custom watercolor paintings as well. When I started my company almost 4 years ago, my main mission statement was to bring one of a kind artwork to people and to keep it as reasonable as possible so people could actually afford it. For most of us, wandering into a gallery and buying what we like, just isn't realistic. With this new endeavor, I'm going to continue doing just that. If you've read my "Paintings" page on the site, you already know that I believe everyone should own at least one piece of original artwork. Artwork you love that instantly brings a smile to your face. And not just any piece of art, but one of a kind art that no one else has. And that is exactly what I create with my paintings. Completely custom, affordable pieces of art that you’ll want to hang up and show off.

It doesn't matter if it's a flower, an herb from your garden, a place, your favorite shoes- I want to create artwork that you'll cherish forever. (Okay, full disclosure- I'm not awesome at painting everything. Faces completely allude me. So rest assured if you happen to really want something that I just don't think I'll do a good job at, I promise I will tell you and we can come up with something I can rock, or I'll direct you to an artist who can help create what I can't.)

So how about it? You all in?

(Speaking of being in- because you all are amazing and have been so supportive of my work if you mention this post and order before 2013, you'll get 10% off any painting order you place. If you'd like to give it as a gift, I can also send a gift card your way.)

Happy Wednesday

 via stevenbeckly

Hey ladies and gents.

It feels like it's been FOR.ever. since I've written my last post- most likely because it has. Almost right after I announced the new site's launch (still can't believe it's up!) J and I had his parents visit, my best friend visit, and flew back to Atlanta for five days to celebrate the holidays with my family and see our friends. That (on top of some other really exciting, can't wait to tell you all about it things) has made for a very busy and very tired me so I hope you all will forgive the lack of posts over the past few days. All that said, I hope everyone has been doing great, that your Thanksgiving's were wonderful, and that you're all enjoying the beginning of the holiday season. (Our home is already all decorated!) Oh! And definitely tune in tomorrow for exciting news. I'm so pumped to tell you all about it!