From the Porch - The Achy Artist's World

🍂 Leftover Thanksgiving & Vintage Florals

This year’s Leftover Thanksgiving came with a twist — two turkeys, too many potatoes, and plenty of laughter. Martin showed up with a 24‑pound bird stuffed with lemons (yes, lemons!), 20 pounds of mashed potatoes, and a “unique” stuffing recipe. Meanwhile, our table was already full of the feast we’d prepared. Collin walked in first, cheerfully calling me “Mom,” and our friends were stunned, thinking Martin had changed so much — only to realize it was Collin instead.

Even with the mix‑ups, late arrivals, and unusual stuffing, the night was porch‑perfect: full plates, full hearts, and stories we’ll retell for years. That’s the beauty of traditions — they grow, shift, and surprise us, but they always bring us together.

And speaking of traditions, I’m excited to share my entry in Spoonflower’s Vintage Florals Design Challenge. Voting is open now through December 9, and I’d love your support. My design celebrates timeless blooms with a touch of Southern charm — the kind of florals that feel right at home on a porch quilt or a cozy holiday table.

👉 Vote for my Vintage Florals design here
👉 Share the link (https://bit.ly/vintagefloralsvote) with friends who love art, fabric, and porch‑stories

Thank you for cheering me on — whether it’s at the Thanksgiving table or in the Spoonflower gallery, your support means the world. 🌸

I love painting roses. For years, I painted them on anything that would sit still — furniture, flower pots, even stray scraps of wood. My husband used to tease me, saying he feared I’d paint him if he napped too long. He joked that he might wake up covered in roses!

At Christmastime, I paint ornaments with hand-painted roses and give them to friends and family. One year, I gave my best friend a rose-covered ornament. She looked at it and asked, “Where’d you get the sticker?” That’s when I realized I’d gotten too good at it — so perfect, it looked machine-made!

Pink hand-painted rose ornament with glittering German glass and cream lace bow

Since then, I’ve focused on making my roses look more hand-painted and less like something printed off a factory line. I lean into the charm of imperfection, hoping folks notice the brushstrokes instead of mistaking them for stickers. That’s the heart of it — soulful roses, painted by hand.