75 Painting Parties
2,661 Projects Painted at Parties
2015-2022
625 Painting Parties
16,003 Projects Painted at Parties
Our first parties on 2022 were in the Dominican Republic doing Painting Ministry with a new “Salvation Story” painting. Each color represents a time in our lives and how we can accept the free gift of eternal life in heaven with Jesus. It was so special to do these parties with my daughters and friends. We painted with 75 people through an interpreter.
We brought back Date Night and had large winter parties. March and April became our busiest months. We painted with 103 children at the Juniata Elementary School. In April alone, we painted with 457 people! May had our largest fundraiser party with 71 people, but that was topped in August with 78 people! Two more summer parties at schools netted almost 100 children each.
It was fun doing spring homeschool parties. A business did a collaborative painting party and will hang their connecting paintings in their office. A Mother’s Day party was held on a Thursday evening at the gorgeous Annsfield mansion! We painted wooden window frames with flowers. We filled the house with painters and the dining table with teas and finger foods. When we cleaned up from that party, I loved sitting on the porch with my mom and daughters and talking for about an hour. That was a special moment.
In June I brought back Plant & Paint and held it at the lovely Birch Hill Events. This is a new affordable venue for me and I’m excited about it. Plant & Paint is SO much work that I vowed never to do it again. (But, I probably will).
July was a fun month!! Although I didn’t have many parties over the summer, I was okay with that so I could spend time with family and in my garden. On July 4th we set up at the festival in East Waterford. I dislike outdoor events, but this was a hit. I had a nice tent and constantly had people coming to paint the small barn quilts. I had a ceramic tree party in July and it was nicely attended, but since it didn’t sell out, I wondered if the ceramics would be less popular this year (they were still popular!!!)
But my favorite party in July (and this year) was a Bus Trip Painting Party!! I had dreamed of doing this and finally got brave enough to make all the calls and plan the trip. It was a step of faith since I had no idea if people would like this idea. I had 43 people attend and it was SO much fun!! Our first stop was Meadowbrooke Gourds with a tour and shopping. It was a big hit. Next was the Historic Round Barn in Biglerville. Others received a tour of the farm and shopped below as we set up for lunch and the party. It was hot (I was hot!!) but it was SO special. We provided the lunch and after they ate, they gathered their supplies for painting their own wood barn quilt. I loved seeing all the color combinations. Next, we drove to Gettysburg for supper and a short visit to the Pennsylvania Monument in the battlefield. It was not a big money-making event, but it was so much fun and I hope to do another trip in the future. The trip was also a way to celebrate SEVEN years of painting parties. I feel so blessed and love what I do!!
I was honored that the Juniata County fair asked me to return to do another kids party during the fair. This year we painted a colorful cow head in honor of the new barn at the fair. We even had a real calf and cow suit come to visit the kids! Although I painted gourds in 2017, I decided to bring back this party for Goose Day. I had NEVER had success hosting a Goose Day Painting Party but I thought I’d give this one a try. It was a sold-out event at “At the Barnyard” and it was a blast!!! We were the first event in their new barn. It was a bit rustic, but the owners were great to work with. I had gone to two different businesses to get the gourds. I went to Smuckers Gourd Farm in Kinzers and to Meadowbrooke Gourds in Carlisle. I’ll probably do this party again.
Another new party was a Pumpkin Succulent Party at Lovetwo Eat Farm. I did several parties at Lovetwo Eat this year. I did the Pumpkin Succulents at LIFT in 2019 and was excited to offer something totally different like this. There was no painting although I had spray painted a few of the pumpkins and gourds before the party. I had fun shopping for the pumpkins with my friend Nichole. The succulents were from my friend Maggie’s greenhouse at Hunters Run Greenhouse, Port Royal. All the dried additions were from my garden or my mom’s garden.
I was glad to do several fall themed paintings this year before the rush of ceramics. Yes, ceramics were still a HUGE hit this year. Parties did not sell out as quickly, but they still filled. I hosted four ceramic parties and added ceramic trucks and trucks with trees to the choices. Having variety seemed to help. I had several work parties in our garage where I convinced family and friends to help me check and sort ceramics in exchange for a meal.
We painted:
253 Ceramic Trees 13” Tall
169 Ceramic Trees 11” Tall
144 Ceramic Truck with Trees
77 Ceramic Trucks
144 Snowman Ornaments
For a total of 787 ceramics!!!
As the year came to a close, I calculated that we had nine parties that raised over $1000. I know I sound like a broken record when I say how much I love doing Painting Parties. Although I dream of a studio where I can offer more variety and consistent parties and where my daughters can use their skills in the studio, I am okay with the fact that God had not opened that door yet. The door that is open is mobile parties. It’s getting more difficult for me to pack and load and transport all the supplies. Although my daughter Julia left us in the fall to go to school, I still have my daughter Valerie and my mom and friends that help at parties. I continue to dream big and constantly think about the next new thing. I give all the glory to God because I know I couldn’t do any of this on my own strength. Thank you for painting with us! It was a beautiful year.
2,661 Projects Painted at Parties
2015-2022
625 Painting Parties
16,003 Projects Painted at Parties
Our first parties on 2022 were in the Dominican Republic doing Painting Ministry with a new “Salvation Story” painting. Each color represents a time in our lives and how we can accept the free gift of eternal life in heaven with Jesus. It was so special to do these parties with my daughters and friends. We painted with 75 people through an interpreter.
We brought back Date Night and had large winter parties. March and April became our busiest months. We painted with 103 children at the Juniata Elementary School. In April alone, we painted with 457 people! May had our largest fundraiser party with 71 people, but that was topped in August with 78 people! Two more summer parties at schools netted almost 100 children each.
It was fun doing spring homeschool parties. A business did a collaborative painting party and will hang their connecting paintings in their office. A Mother’s Day party was held on a Thursday evening at the gorgeous Annsfield mansion! We painted wooden window frames with flowers. We filled the house with painters and the dining table with teas and finger foods. When we cleaned up from that party, I loved sitting on the porch with my mom and daughters and talking for about an hour. That was a special moment.
In June I brought back Plant & Paint and held it at the lovely Birch Hill Events. This is a new affordable venue for me and I’m excited about it. Plant & Paint is SO much work that I vowed never to do it again. (But, I probably will).
July was a fun month!! Although I didn’t have many parties over the summer, I was okay with that so I could spend time with family and in my garden. On July 4th we set up at the festival in East Waterford. I dislike outdoor events, but this was a hit. I had a nice tent and constantly had people coming to paint the small barn quilts. I had a ceramic tree party in July and it was nicely attended, but since it didn’t sell out, I wondered if the ceramics would be less popular this year (they were still popular!!!)
But my favorite party in July (and this year) was a Bus Trip Painting Party!! I had dreamed of doing this and finally got brave enough to make all the calls and plan the trip. It was a step of faith since I had no idea if people would like this idea. I had 43 people attend and it was SO much fun!! Our first stop was Meadowbrooke Gourds with a tour and shopping. It was a big hit. Next was the Historic Round Barn in Biglerville. Others received a tour of the farm and shopped below as we set up for lunch and the party. It was hot (I was hot!!) but it was SO special. We provided the lunch and after they ate, they gathered their supplies for painting their own wood barn quilt. I loved seeing all the color combinations. Next, we drove to Gettysburg for supper and a short visit to the Pennsylvania Monument in the battlefield. It was not a big money-making event, but it was so much fun and I hope to do another trip in the future. The trip was also a way to celebrate SEVEN years of painting parties. I feel so blessed and love what I do!!
I was honored that the Juniata County fair asked me to return to do another kids party during the fair. This year we painted a colorful cow head in honor of the new barn at the fair. We even had a real calf and cow suit come to visit the kids! Although I painted gourds in 2017, I decided to bring back this party for Goose Day. I had NEVER had success hosting a Goose Day Painting Party but I thought I’d give this one a try. It was a sold-out event at “At the Barnyard” and it was a blast!!! We were the first event in their new barn. It was a bit rustic, but the owners were great to work with. I had gone to two different businesses to get the gourds. I went to Smuckers Gourd Farm in Kinzers and to Meadowbrooke Gourds in Carlisle. I’ll probably do this party again.
Another new party was a Pumpkin Succulent Party at Lovetwo Eat Farm. I did several parties at Lovetwo Eat this year. I did the Pumpkin Succulents at LIFT in 2019 and was excited to offer something totally different like this. There was no painting although I had spray painted a few of the pumpkins and gourds before the party. I had fun shopping for the pumpkins with my friend Nichole. The succulents were from my friend Maggie’s greenhouse at Hunters Run Greenhouse, Port Royal. All the dried additions were from my garden or my mom’s garden.
I was glad to do several fall themed paintings this year before the rush of ceramics. Yes, ceramics were still a HUGE hit this year. Parties did not sell out as quickly, but they still filled. I hosted four ceramic parties and added ceramic trucks and trucks with trees to the choices. Having variety seemed to help. I had several work parties in our garage where I convinced family and friends to help me check and sort ceramics in exchange for a meal.
We painted:
253 Ceramic Trees 13” Tall
169 Ceramic Trees 11” Tall
144 Ceramic Truck with Trees
77 Ceramic Trucks
144 Snowman Ornaments
For a total of 787 ceramics!!!
As the year came to a close, I calculated that we had nine parties that raised over $1000. I know I sound like a broken record when I say how much I love doing Painting Parties. Although I dream of a studio where I can offer more variety and consistent parties and where my daughters can use their skills in the studio, I am okay with the fact that God had not opened that door yet. The door that is open is mobile parties. It’s getting more difficult for me to pack and load and transport all the supplies. Although my daughter Julia left us in the fall to go to school, I still have my daughter Valerie and my mom and friends that help at parties. I continue to dream big and constantly think about the next new thing. I give all the glory to God because I know I couldn’t do any of this on my own strength. Thank you for painting with us! It was a beautiful year.
