All posts by Sue Banks

Commisioned Work, For Sale, Holiday items, New

Holiday Stockings with Cavorting snowmen

December 9, 2013 Sue Banks Leave a comment

These large personalized holiday stockings are created completely from scratch. I painted this first set of stockings for a family with two young daughters. The snowmen are having a lot of fun, one of them is very partial to pink boots!! Everyone loves the face on the little snowman on the old wooden sled. Chickadees, Holly and berries with red satin ribbon make for a sophisticated look for Mom. The houses in the snow references the Dad’s profession as an architect. I ended up updating it which is why there are two versions of the Jared stocking!!! I placed the painted cotton fabric on quilt batting and machine quilted around the larger areas, and stitched straight lines of quilting on the back side. The approximately 16″ tall stockings have a satiny lining and a cuff on the top with the painted name name of each family member.. A sturdy loop is stitched into the top back edge. If you are interested in having me paint stockings for your family please contact me through this site. Orders for this year’s holiday season must be received before October 31 of the current year. 4 stockings for $400, 2 for $250.

Featured Work, Stool

Sunflower Stool

December 6, 2013 Sue Banks Leave a comment

This small footstool is painted with a profusion of sunflowers! Of course there is a bee visiting the flowers. A few fallen petals are painted on the two longer side panels. The top of the stool is only about 12″ X 8″. I have included a ‘before’ picture to help you understand the transformation better.

Cabinet, Featured Work

Faux “China” Cabinet

November 17, 2013 Sue Banks Leave a comment

All this china is painted on the front of a simple jelly cabinet. There are teacups, teapots and lace doilies. The door has two panels each of which I divided into two faux shelves. I created some of the china patterns while other designs are from taken from well known patterns such as the teapot with the Cherub. Searching out china patterns was such fun! The Chinese spoons are part of my personal collection. The green and pink spoon is very old and I tried to preserve that when I painted it. I added a ‘real’ Hydrangea blossom for a change of texture. The jelly cabinet was originally found at a yard sale and likely started out life as unpainted furniture. It came to me in pieces, painted half brown and half red. Now its blue with gold edging and is “filled” with faux china! Open the door to find a surprise butterfly painted inside. This piece is currently a focal point in my own living room.

Featured Work, Small things

Wooden Trays with Floral Motifs

November 11, 2013 Sue Banks Leave a comment

These three trays are painted with three different and striking floral motifs. Deep purple tulips wave in the wind on one of them. Water lilies slick with water densely pack another tray. I painted the lilies with the goal of capturing the memory of dragging my hand, as a child, through the slippery carpets of saucer shaped leaves while on a canoe ride on a New Hampshire lake. The third tray is filled with delicately painted Hydrangeas. You may have noticed that this is a favorite flower of mine and I have done them in many styles over the years. Of course there is a bug on each tray!