Forever Gifts

   Mike's Valentine Gift

One of my all time favorite blogs, Dixie Delights, did a post on special "forever" birthday gifts she 

gives her sons on their birthdays rather than the usual toys.  We all know how our kids get plenty of toys from grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends.  She buys them a gift that they will carry with them and hopefully cherish and use when they have families of their own.  One of her gifts to her boys was 

a house portrait.  She linked an artist on etsy who does pin and ink drawings as well as watercolors.

Mike spends a lot of time taking care of our house, especially in the yard.  He's very proud of it and gets lots of compliments for his hard work.  As we age (don't you just love that expression) we are beginning to think more often about what to do in the future.  Do we want to downsize? 

Do we want to move to a new weather friendly location?  What do we want our future to look like?  We don't have all the answers yet but we know some point in our future we will have to make a decision.  When we first got married we lived in Mike's house for a few years but it was really never our home.  This house we had built.  We went through all the decisions of what we wanted and needed.  Some decisions we choose well and others not so much but I know this will be the house

 that always represents "our family home".   I thought it would be a great idea to have a 

painting so that we would always have it as a reminder should make to decision to move on.

I commissioned a watercolor and the artist did such an awesome job.  We were so happy with it.

The watercolor itself is 9x12.  It comes with a white matte which makes the portrait 12x16.  I thought I would easily be able to find a pre-made frame in that size.  After searching Michaels, JoAnns, Kohls, Walmart, Target and Hobby Lobby, I just could not find a frame that I was happy with.     In order to have a custom frame made it was going to cost about $140.00 which wasn't in my budget.  A very sweet employee in the framing department at Hobby Lobby suggested that I just get an 11x14 frame and have a new mat cut.  Now why didn't I think of that.  I knew a wanted a pewter color frame because I'm going to hang this in our bedroom and am planning on a "renovation" this year.   The colors will be grey, white, silver and an accent color not determined yet.   I found the perfect style and color 11x14 in frame at 50 % off from Hobby Lobby for 14.99.  I decided the have the matte ($6.00) cut in black to play off the future wall color.   So for a total of $21.00 I got the custom look I wanted.  

The artist, Paul Young has an etsy shop.  Not only does he do beautiful work,  he was professional and made sure I got my portrait in time for Valentine's day for my sweetie even though

I didn't make the order until January.

I want to thank A from Dixie Delights  once again for her constant inspiration
and resource list.  I just love her traditional and southern coastal style not to mention
her very sweet children and family parties.  Thank you for my new tradition of
forever gifts for my husband, children and grandchildren.