Thus we conclude the conversation and saga of the Custom Christmas Ornament between Mr. Communicator (the customer) and The Artist (that would be California Artist Jana Botkin, in case Mr. Google is paying attention). Again, I ask you to overlook the size jumps because I really have no earthly idea how to force this blog to behave properly.

I almost typed a whole paragraph of excuses but got a grip!

Goose is more defined, porch posts and arches show, sunburst is white, side wings have a roof, ribbon shows more, oval is in front door.

When all this is dry enough, I’ll go over it again and tighten it up more and add more detail, and the first layer of the American flag.

Mr. Communicator:

I would have never accepted your excuses!  You’ve done magic thus far so I expect nothing less than miracles! No pressure 🙂

It gets more amazing with every picture.

The flag will definitely finish it off. And I’m glad you kept the goose. I’m waiting to see who points out the goose, flag and ribbon first – Mom or Dad. They’ll be touched by the detail.  You’ll finalize it all with your signature, right?

So glad your expectations aren’t too high – I might just collapse under the pressure. Be prepared – your Mom might cry. And I had thought I might sign it “Norman Rockwell”, but if you want my signature, your wish is my command!

Mr. C:

Don’t kill me. I noticed one small thing that had confused me and I only now put my finger on it.

If you continue to scrutinize the painting to this level, then we won’t ever finish! That’s because you will see that I have stylized and simplified much of what made that house so special.

Your life is safe. But now I am wondering if you are an artist yourself. Or an architect? Or an accountant, perhaps? Maybe a homicide detective?

Haha. I promise that is the last little change!

I swear this thing looks so much better in person! There all these reflections off the paint thicknesses in the photos that are just starting to tick me off! And please pretend with me as if there are stars and the correct number of stripes on the flag (eyes squinched shut, hands over ears, LA LA LA LA LA)

Okay, tantrum over.

Now that I am looking at the photo, I am making a small list of touch-ups.

1. rafter tail from porch on the right (it was too wet this a.m.)

2. show the bottom sill of the window directly to the right of the porch – got the far right one, but sort of lost it on the left.

3. even-up the blackness of the windows – can’t tell if this is reflection problem, degree of wetness problem, sloppiness problem or no problem

4. straighten up the left blue edge of the house

Do you see anything else?

I know: you are a micro-biologist!

Ha.  Now that we’re playing the “what do you do for a living” game, I’ll let you keep guessing.  I’m certainly not brainy enough to be a micro-biologist!

I love that you communicate like you’re a business woman and not an artist; you send lists and detailed updates!

BTW, I wasn’t even going to count stars and stripes.   I know you were joking, but I think you secretly thought I might!  ;P  And certainly, if this were a bigger painting, I would have counted and measured each stripe and star!

With each email I keep trying to figure out if you are going to hug me or slap me when we finally meet and this is all over.  The next week will be telling.

See you soon!

And I have been reading the blog. You’re quite the entertaining writer!

What a supreme compliment – “a business woman”! Always my goal to have a superior product AND to sell it well. Otherwise, I’d have to get a job, and I really don’t know how to do anything. Sigh. I can proofread pretty well, but no one cares about typos anymore except me. And with me it is sort of like Tourette’s, except instead of bursting out with obscenities, I shout “TYPO” in  the most inappropriate places. My poor husband just can’t take me anywhere.

But I do love writing and am having a blast with the blog. So glad you are enjoying it!

Microbiologist brought to mind microwave (“How fast can you do this?”), microscope (“What is that little thing right there?”) and micromanage never mind. . . JUST KIDDING!!

Now I don’t know if you will slap me or hug me!

Okay, enough blather. I’ve got some items to fine-tune on an ornament, and all I want to do is read a bunch of blogs while sitting by the wood stove with my 3 cats.