Dear painting friends,

I have so much to tell you in this spring newsletter, from new packet releases, to seminar info and new products.

I hope you are enjoying your painting and learning new skills.

Don’t forget to introduce painting to someone new and share the passion that has brought so much joy to all our lives.

COAST TO COAST APRIL 15- 19 2009

As I write this letter to you, the show is still a few days away. I am looking forward to teaching the Special Event class on Thursday morning. This will be a strokework leaf study, and our sponsors are Coyote Woodworks, DecoArt Inc, PaintWorks and Art by Nature.

My good friend Judy McDonald will help me teach this class. Judy has been painting with me and teaching my projects for more years than we can remember!

It will be great fun and I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Trade Floor: Unfortunately I will not be having a booth this year. This winter has given me a few more complications with my ongoing back problem and my doctor has advised that I forgo the booth for this year. Good news, is that with continuing exercises and medical treatment it will improve again. This won’t keep me from seeing you on the trade floor though. How could I miss this wonderful Canadian show?!

Judy and I will be visiting the trade floor on Friday and I am quite excited to be able to see the show (for the first time) from the other side of the table. I can hardly wait to see what is new from everyone.

MAUREEN’S DVD
DRAMATIC STROKE ROSES
$24.95

We have waited a long time for a DVD class and thank you so much dear friends for your patience.

I wanted to give you a quality product where you could paint a beautiful project with me in “real time.” You won’t miss one stroke in this class, which is over two hours in length.

The pattern, printed instructions and colour picture are included in a separate disc, which you can print off at your convenience.

You can stop me, run me backwards and have me repeat a step a gazillion times!

Order Online Now

760 Bird in Flight and Friend
Strokes Starting with a Point
$10.95

This project is from the 2008 Brush Stroke Clinic.

Learn how to do strokes that start with a point as you paint this colourful bird, lady bug and leaves.

Companion projects are #761, #762, #763.

Companion projects are #760, #762, #763.

761 Friends and Fauna
Unusual Round Brush Strokes
$10.95

Learn strokes that are out of the ordinary in this project featuring butterflies, lady bugs, leaves and fern. part of the 2008 Brush Stroke Clinic.

762 Oriental Floral
Strokes Starting with Pressure
$10.95

This flower has an eastern feel and was the first project of four that I designed for the 2008 Brush Stroke Clinic seminar.

It is a perfect beginner project yet still has a sophistication that will appeal to the advanced stroke painter.

Companion projects are #760, #761, #762

763 Floral and Birds
Flat Brush Study
$10.95

Although the round brush is my favourite, we couldn’t have a Brush Stroke Clinic without a project using flat brushes. This brightly coloured fantasy flower is visited by tiny birds that are so much fun to do.

764 Water Lilies and Dragonfly
$10.95

This is the painting that I featured on the cover of my 2009 calender. I had wanted to paint a water lily for years and what prevented me was “ how do I paint the water????” But then I had an idea. . .

765 Red Hibiscus
$10.95

The unusual background technique sets off this large floral painting featuring a close up of a red hibiscus. It is probably one of my favourite designs and I featured it as the July design (my birthday month) in my 2009 calender.

766 Multi Floral Bouquet
$12.95

This large floral painting, 20" across, is a brightly coloured portrayal of my strokework roses, pansies, bell flowers and small cluster flowers on a dark background.

This beautiful surface from Coyote Woodworks, will be a table top, once it has its own glass top. Due to it’s large size, I’ve also included closeups of all the flowers.

774 Botanical African Violets
$10.95

I love the historical botanical style of floral painting.

This is the time before cameras, when the only accurate floral depictions were at the hands of skilled artists such as Pierre Joseph Redoute.

Purple violets are the provincial flower of New Brunswick.

775 Botanical Amaryllis
$10.95

The amaryllis is part of the lily family. It is a favoured gift at Christmas, made all the more special because each bloom lasts just one day.

776 Botanical Wild Roses
$10.95

This is Alberta’s provincial flower and grows from coast to coast.

It is a beautiful flower and one that I loved to paint and teach.

#777 Botanical Blue Crocus
$10.95

The prairie crocus is the provincial flower of Manitoba and this lavender crocus is what this painting started out to be.

But before I knew it -my crocus was blue!!! However, it is a perfect mate for 734 Blue Iris Latifolia and the pair look beautiful on a yellow wall.

So many of you have told me how you love bright colours on a dark background, and I know that the Jacobean project in the September 18 - 20 this year is a favourite.

It inspired this new painting in bright blue, turquoise and lavender hues.

The painting measures 18" across and would be lovely on so many surfaces - maybe a new lazy Susan or a table top - or just framed as mine is!

Now - onto the second project for this seminar - I can hardly wait to start painting it for you!!

MAUREEN’S WET PALETTE SYSTEM
$34.95

The size is 9" X 13" and you all know how valuable that extra inch will be when loading the brush. The palette will also include a chamois large enough for both palettes and 10 sheets of my 9" X 15" wet palette paper.

This is an amazing palette of the highest quality

I never expected that this new palette would be sold out in just two days.

But we are expecting the next shipment to arrive very soon.

Be sure to get in on this order and see what all the excitement is about.

The quality of the plastic is thick and flexible. It cleans up beautifully with hot water. The lid snaps closed with four snaps and has a gusset for a snug and leak proof seal.

The lid continues to double as a second wet palette and we will still include the plastic board to cover when you have both lid and base going at the same time as palettes.

CHAMOIS AND PALETTE PAPER SPECIAL
TILL MAY 1

25 sheets of Palette paper
and
13" X 20" chamois just $4.95

Due to the increased size of my new palette I have decided to increase the size of the wet palette paper to 9" X 15". At this size it can be trimmed to fit all the different sizes of palettes on the market today. I will not increase the price, the retail cost of the Palette Paper Package (25 sheets) will be just $3.95. Stock up now and take advantage of the savings in this special promotion.

MECHANICAL CHALK PENCIL AND REFILL SPECIAL
TILL MAY 1

I love this pencil - what a simple pleasure to have a sharp lead with just a few clicks on the end of the pencil - no more sharpening ever!!!!

This light yellow lead is water soluble and produces fine lines that easily dissolve. The pencil contains two leads.

The pencil retails for $2.95 and the refill package of 5 leads retail for $2.25. Now purchase both for just $4.85

Order OnLine Today

BEAUTIFUL BRUSH STROKE BOOK SPECIAL - - TILL MAY 1
$20.95 (Reg $24.95)

When they’re gone - they are gone!

My publisher just informed me that this book will no longer be printed.

So, if you were thinking of adding it to your collection, or replacing your worn out copy - now is the time. I will look forward to autographing your copy!

Order OnLine Today

SPEAKING OF BOOKS

My last book, “The Brushstroke Handbook” has been translated into Italian and just won an award in Italy.

Hopefully we can soon translate this book into other languages too.

MOTHERS DAY, BIRTHDAY,
“JUST BECAUSE” GIFTS

Please visit the Gallery Section of my web site to see my Limited Edition signed and numbered prints.

The signed limited edition prints (nine in total) are printed in high resolution on canvas. They make a beautiful addition to your wall, or a thoughtful gift.

To see my all occasion and Christmas cards and 2009 calendar please visit the micellaneous section.

This calender features my favourite paintings and each print would be lovely framed. The all occasion card sets (floral or butterfly collection) and the Christmas Card Collection were all favoured gifts for me to give this year.

NEW SIGNATURE

You may have noticed that I have added another name to the signature on my paintings and worksheets. Calvert is my maiden name, in fact my children Graeme and Laura also have Calvert as their middle name.

My Dad’s parents came from Ireland many years ago, and I am so proud to use their name again. I have used this new signature for the past year and you will see it on all new paintings and publications.

This signature is now registered with The Society of Decorative Painters.

Dear friends, this is a long newsletter and thanks so much for reading through to the end. I love hearing from you and many thanks to those who have contributed recipes and painting tips.

As always - I need more so keep sending them to me.

Until we paint together again soon - share this wonderful passion with everyone, whether through teaching or gifting.

It is a wonderful legacy and is one which will forever mark our time on this earth.

Love, Maureen

PAINTING TIPS

On my last teaching visit to Shirley Ruchong’s Studio Tole Country (Eureka California), we all brain-stormed and came up with the following great hints.

What great ideas can you share with us?

TIP #1
When packing brushes for travel, use chop sticks and elastics around them for protection. If they tip over in your suitcase, the chop sticks are longer - so brush tips will not be damaged.

TIP #2
Use an emery board to sand down a small paint imperfection.

TIP #3
Wrap fine sand paper around a nail and use to sand down tiny crevices.

TIP #4
Leave your old painting magazines in doctor’s office waiting rooms to encourage new painters.

Leave a sheet of your business cards in the magazine to attract new students.

TIP #5
When going to seminars or class, bring Sticky Tac with you to post your class notes on the wall and save valuable table space.

From Nancy Carney
Cool Summer Salad

3 cups cottage cheese (I used fat free) 2 - 8 oz containers cool whip thawed (I used fat free)
2 - 3 oz packets orange jello mix
1 can pineapple tidbits drained
1 can mandarin oranges drained.

Stir cottage cheese, cool whip and orange jello dry mix together until combined. Stir in pineapple & Mandarin oranges. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before eating.

From Diana Morrison

Sometimes we just have this as a meal – it’s got everything in it. I health it up by making everything low fat – makes up for the corn chips that are in it.

Taco Salad

1 lb. ground beef – extra lean 1 pkg.
Taco seasoning
1 small bottle ultra-low fat Catalina dressing
1 head lettuce
1 large tomato
1 onion (preferably Vidalia)
1 bag Doritos Corn chips
Grated low fat cheese

Brown the ground beef and season with Taco seasoning (follow directions on package). Let cool

Shred the lettuce, chop the veggies and put into a large bowl.

Add the grated cheese, cooled beef, the bottle of Catalina and the Doritos chips. Mix together and serve!

If you’re taking this to a party, add the chips and dressing just before serving

And our favourite family dessert – in a houseful of diabetics and weight-watchers. Guilt Free Trifle
(enough for 10-15 people)

2 pkg. instant, low fat, sugar-free vanilla pudding
Skim milk
2 pkg. sugar-free jello (use your favorite flavour)
1 angel food cake (if you make your own, substitute Splenda for the sugar)
Fresh or canned fruit (if you use canned fruit, make sure it’s not packed in syrup)
1 container of ultra-light Cool Whip

I always make this in a large, clear glass bowl—it looks so appealing.

Chop up the cake or rip into chunks and put into the bowl.
Chop up the fruit and spread over and through the cake.
Prepare the jello according to directions and pour over the cake and fruit.
Gently press the cake with a spoon until it is saturated with the jello – refrigerate until solid.
Prepare the pudding according to directions using skim milk, and pour over the jello mix.
Thaw the Cool Whip and spread over the pudding.

A terrific, variation: Use Chocolate pudding instead of vanilla, orange jello and canned mandarin oranges or fresh orange chunks.

Delicious!