I haven't written in forever so there's so much to update you on!

I recently finished a few new pieces. Some are a bit different than my usual style. I have also sold a few pieces as well. This is called Dancing in Darkness

The idea behind this painting is to represent my life. I am pulled in so many different directions on a daily basis with my painting, whatever needs to be done around the house and the kids and hubby. There's also other things that I have either recently added to my already busy schedule or are on a temporary basis but it complicates things further. The heart being stretched on three sides represents my husband and my two children. Not meaning that they are all fighting for my love but that it is something that sort of happens when you get married and have kids. You tend to try to balance it all out with equal time and affection for everyone. I added the "body parts", I'll call them, because I felt like adding a psychical representation of the directional pull would give even more meaning to the piece.

Another new piece, called A Place in Time

This is a very small painting (5" x 12") done on a gallery wrapped canvas so there's no frame. I am experimenting with abstracts, playing with color and dimension.

I love how this one looks. It's very simple but in my opinion, very interesting. And can be interpreted to mean many different things. I will leave the meaning up to the viewer!

You Make Me Cry. Another very small painting, 5" x 12" as well. This one is a perfect painting for a small area in your kitchen that needs a little interest. I take many pictures while I'm out and about and this one was from our local farmer's market that we go to almost every Saturday for fresh produce and flowers. It was just the perfect photo and I loved the way the back onions are in shadow.

Favorite Places

I was again playing with color with this one. I love how the different swirls of color contrast with the black so I knew I wanted to do the free-flowing "shapes" in the background with bright vibrant colors and then lay the starkness of the black overtop. I had the thought of the bridges before I started this painting so I incorporated that into this piece. It's different bridges from some of my favorite locations. I also added some that I would like to visit as well, like a bridge from Australia. Some are very easy to identify, like the Brooklyn Bridge, other's, not so much. I love how it looks, especially framed. I like how the black of the frame really brings out the black in the piece.

---

I HEART ART I just had an event on October 29th at my home called I HEART ART. This was a rescheduled party, the first one was the same night we got hit with Hurricane Irene. I must have great timing because this one was snow. IN OCTOBER! Ugh. We had six artists committed but only 3 (including me) were here. All-in-all it turned out to be a really nice night. I was disappointed with the artists that didn't show up but we had about 20 people that came, during the course of the 3 hours and it was quite lovely. We had a singing duo that played from 7:30-8:30 and wine and finger foods. I had several of my neighbors that came and they actually bought stuff! Good for me since all I sold at the first event in June was one print. I put out a lot of money from my own pocket in addition to what the other artists pay to participate so that one print didn't really make a dent in what I spent for the event. This was much better for me but not so much for the other 2 artists. I sold these 2 original paintings that night

In addition I sold quite a few other items so I was happy about it. I ended up buying a piece from one of the other artists, Danny Dennison. I was eyeing up his work at the last event but since I didn't make any money I couldn't buy anything. This time I made the money to buy a piece. So this piece is now mine!

Melancholy #2

Once in a while my husband and I splurge a little for some art. I will usually only buy original hand made pieces from artists that I know and whose work I love. I just like to surround myself with pretty, interesting objects and this one has made me happy! So needless-to-say I have been extremely busy! I also joined a gym to try to get back into shape before the husband and I go to Punta Cana in a month. It's a scary thing wearing a bikini in December! I want to make it a little less scary! I have a trainer named Kenny. I swear he hates me and is trying to kill me slowly with each session. But I think all the work is staring to pay off. I can see some changes now and just have to keep up with it. It's tough because it just means less painting. Nothing else can be eliminated so that's what gets pushed to the side.

We are also finished the whole process for adopting a child (maybe 2). Long process that started about 8 months ago. So....that will be a new chapter in my life when that happens! Ha!

Coasters, coasters and more coasters! $20 for a set of 4!

I have been working very hard on these coasters to perfect the process and make them as beautiful as the original paintings that they are made from. There is a resin finish on each, they are a standard coaster size (4" x 4") and they are great for cold beverages (not hot). They come in sets of 4 and the sets are below. They are available singly for $6.50 each or a set of 4 for $20. Just send me an email with your order: Tracie@funkshonalArt.com.

"Summatime!"
[clockwise]
1.Let's Play 2.Looking Up
3.Palmer 4.Balance

This is a close up of one of the coasters to see the glossy finish on them.

"Abstraction"
[clockwise]
1.Leaves 2.Pool of Blue
3.Gram 4.Growth

"Local Color"
[clockwise]
1.Swinging 2. Oh Char
3.Reaching for the Sun 4.To Philly

"Botanical"
[clockwise]
1.Tulips from Dad 2.Yellow Lily in Bloom
3.Black and White Daisies 4.Orange Hues

"Great Memories"
[clockwise]
1.To Jess and Justins 2.Freedom
3. Reaching for the Sun 4.To Philly

"Romance"
[clockwise]
1.Chianti 2.Meet Me
3.Key to My Heart 4.Friday Night













I would love to hear any comments to what you think of the new coasters. Please also visit my website, http://wwww.FunkshonalArt.com, to see the original paintings that inspired these coasters and also all of my other work. I paint children's stools, murals, custom portraits and more!

New painting and COASTERS!! yay!

This is a new piece called Grandma's Vase. It's acrylic on canvas and comes framed. It is 16" x 20" and is $125.

I started making my coasters today with my paintings on them and what a project it has been! I first had to figure out how to print onto tissue paper (or tracing paper). I find that with these kinds of goofy things I usually have luck with youtube. So I watched a video on how to print on tissue paper, tried it myself and failed. Doh! Had like 4 paper jams before quitting. So I had to sort of just figure it out. Success! Finally! So then I took the printed tracing paper and sprayed adhesive on the back and then mixed some liquid resin and poured it over them. Just waiting for them all to dry now. They look really nice. I already got an order for 3 sets (of 4 coasters) from a neighbor who came by to see what I was doing. Yay!

So I was trying to get these done in time for my 2nd Saturday showing in Collingswood tonight but the ones I did yesterday didn't exactly work out so had to make more today. Well, they turned out great except the resin basically glued them to the plywood I was using under them to sit them on. So today I rested each one on a can of veggies. We have lots of cans of veggies! I ended up making a total of 22 of them. And 1/2 were sold before they were done so I'll be making more this week.

If you would like to order a set they are $20 (set of 4). You can have a mixture of different ones or 4 of the same. I have them categorized by subject; Food, Wine & Travel, Botanical, Americana, and Fun Colors. Please email me if you'd like to see specific pictures in each group. Tracie@funkshonalArt.com

Man, life has been so hectic. But that's a good thing!

I have been so busy trying to generate business and get my name out there and generally just sell paintings that I haven't been actually painting that much recently. I needed to get back to what I love to do but the business side of me is constantly going on in the back of my head.

This piece is called "Let's Play". It's very textured and very loosely done. I tried to pick a photo to use that was fairly simple in order to be loose with it and still have it come out looking like a beach ball in the pool.

It's 24" x 30", acrylic on canvas, original, signed and framed. It is $175., which, in my opinion is a great price for the size of it.

"Reaching for the Sun". Original, 11" x 14", signed acrylic on canvas, comes in a black frame. It is $60.

I had a great photo to use for this one of my orange day lilies that are on the side of our house. They grow so tall and are always leaning towards the sun so they look like they're trying to reach for the sun.

As you can see there's loads of texture to this piece as well.

"Friday Night". This piece is 11" x 14" also, acrylic on canvas. It is an original, signed piece and comes in a black frame. It is $90.

I really wasn't too excited about this painting mid-way through but thought that turned out great. The color combination is just stunning in person. Not as much texture to it as the last 2 but it's still there.

I had a friend who posted this picture on facebook that she took. I asked her if I could use it for a painting. I loved the placement of the items. Couldn't have set up the still life better myself!

I'm loving the fact that I can use other people's pictures (with their permission, of course) to do more versatile stuff.

I hope you like all of them. Leave me some feedback about any of the items. Would love to hear it!

"Bounce" is done.

I got a little side-tracked after I got about 1/2 way through this painting but got back on track and now it's done. I absolutely love it.

My husband said he thinks it's my best one yet. I don't know about that but I'll take the compliment anyway.

I don't know if you can figure out what the background is....hmmm....take a guess....come on..

It's a trampoline. Ah, now you see it. I had this picture that I took of my daughter at a birthday party where the color of the dress and the lighting and everything was just great. Then I thought, well how the hell am I going to make that look like a trampoline with a screen around it? But it was critical to include it since her right hand skimming the screen was such an important part of the photo. That, and her left foot skimming the trampoline bed were the most essential points of interest in this photo. Oh, and I just knew the colors would be awesome in paint.

So let me know if you like it. Do you miss her whole face not being in it? Framed? Or not framed?

Wow, it's been a while.....sorry!

So I've finished so many paintings since my last post. I've been so damned busy with getting that last art party (at our house) together on June 4th, painting, trying to save a dying computer and transfer to a new one, and yes, being at least acting like a full time mom that I've not had any time to blog. Oh, and keeping up with advertising and press releases and all kinds of stupid crap. A lot of stuff I'd rather not be doing. I'd rather just be a mom and paint but I need to do more if I want to make any money.
So.....here's some recent pics:

"BasAsses" is now done!
I am thrilled with how it turned out and it just makes all the stressing over it seem so silly now.

The next painting I think was "Balance". It's of my friend, Val, on a balance board. She is vacation (if you can call it that) in Panama for like 5 months or something crazy like that. On facebook she posts all kinds of pics and this was one of them but it was straight on and not cropped. I cropped it and turned it and then painted it. So happy with how it looks and she's happy too!

The next one I'm working on is called, "Bounce". It's of my daughter on a trampoline but I don't know how many people will get it. Here it is so far.

Matted prints are now available!!

I'm so excited. I have wanted to order prints of my work for so long but every time I saved a little bit of money it ended up going to something that I needed more. Like paint or canvas or brushes or whatever. So with my money from my last job I promised myself I was going to spent it on prints. So happy with how they came out. Only 2 of them I didn't like but it was due to my photography, not the printer. So I know which ones to retake and have printed again.

So you can order almost any of my paintings in a fine art matted print in 8" x 10" for $45. or 16" x 20" for $69. The look so good!! And it's a less expensive alternative for people who want a piece of my artwork.

Visit http://www.FunkshonalArt.com to order!!

Helloooooo Kitty

My daughter, who sees me painting things everyday, asked me to paint her a Hello Kitty. I couldn't say no.

So here is her "special" painting.

I couldn't just do hello kitty on a white canvas so decided to do hot pink with zebra stripes. Why not? And I thought she would like it if I added her name since she just recently learned how to spell her name.

I finished the painting (she never saw any start of it) while she was at school. So when she came home it was done. She was thrilled, to say the least. Her face lit up. After five minutes she said, "mommy, I think you should paint a Thomas train for Axton next". So glad she thinks of her brother sometimes.

"Shattered"

This is called "shattered". I was going to name it shattered dreams but didn't think it was appropriate since the eye is smiling underneath the "cracks".

This is my son's eye. He's 2 and he's a complicated little being. He is the love of my life. Of course my daughter is as well but he has my heart. So this one was for him. I wanted each of them to have their own painting. I painted one of her when she was a baby, probably a few months old. This is hers.

So I could make up some kind of story about how the eye is smiling but it's shattered so this represents hopes and dreams being squashed and all that crap. But I would rather you make up your own story and figure it out. Please tell me what you think it means. Or what it means to you. Thanks!

New pics for the "Badasses" painting

So excited to start my next painting. This is the one I took some pictures for about a month ago but I decided that the clothing and the lighting weren't right. So I had my husband take a few pics today. Had to bribe my daughter with chocolate to cooperate. It worked!

So I picked this one out of like 30. The only thing I'm going to change is that I'm going to make Suzie Q (the pink bear) facing forward. Other than that it's a pretty good shot.

I'm having an endoscopy done tomorrow so I'll be out of commission all day (the anesthesia wears me out!) so I'll be starting on Tuesday. Yay! So excited!!

"Gram" is finished. Dedicated to my belated grandma

Gram

This is a painting that I did from a photograph that my grandma took while visiting Europe years ago. She passed away on the 23rd of Dec, 2010 and I miss her so much.

Funny thing is that I don't really know what this is a picture of. I like to take all my own photos as research if possible but I just felt like I had to do this one.

Butter in my Popcorn

This was a commissioned piece for Denise, the owner of Tru Blu Tatu. It's her mom and her son. She wanted it done in the same style as the other ones I did in the series, "what you are to me".

Butter in my Popcorn

So "you are the butter in my popcorn" is done. It looks cute. Hope she likes it.

Sorry, I don't have much else to write...I'm so tired. Gotta get some rest now!

You are the butter on my popcorn

This painting was supposed to have been started like a month ago. It's a commissioned piece that the person ordered back in December but said she didn't need it until her mother's birthday (it's a gift) in March. So of course I took my time starting it because that's what I do. So I started it today. Worked about an hour on it. I hope to finish it tomorrow but that means I have to move things around and workout while Axton is awake and not napping. Ugh....wonder how that's going to pan out.

I decided to reshoot the picture that I will use for my Bad Asses painting of my girl and myself. It just needs to be done in different clothing. I need to have on like black tights, a better bra (not a sports bra) and maybe some kick ass thigh high boots. Then, I was thinking of dressing Lyla in a frilly hot pink skirt, black combat boots (maybe some black tights ripped up a bit) and a cape blowing in the wind behind her. I would also like to have a huge gun (like a bazooka looking thing) and maybe a round of amo going across my chest. Just a few things I've been thinking about! ha! But if I'm doing it I'm doing it right. I bought a three foot by four foot canvas for this, for God's sake.

I will, of course, post these pictures when they are done.

New painting with a futuristic look (very bad ass) of Lyla and I to be started soon!!

My friend from art school, Dave, came over today to take some pictures of me for this digital painting stuff that he does. I was so excited that he agreed to do one of me. Here's an example of his work. You can see all of his work at www.paintbynumbers.com.

It's just really cool shit and I feel honored that he agreed to do one of me. To turn me into a futuristic fighter chick is awesome. I can't wait to see it when it's done.

While he was here I asked him to take a picture of Lyla and I posing like we're two bad ass chicks fighting in some futuristic world and we have only ourselves to rely on. I wanted her looking up at me like we were in agreement that we were giving out asswhoopings and lollipops and today we were all out of lollipops!! But I liked this one shot that is her looking right out at you instead of up at me. It's just a nice look on her face. and I think still bad ass enough.

So this is the shot I settled on for the painting. So, so, so excited to start this one. I think it's going to look great. But, see again...my ADD...I was going to finish the one I am currently working on and try the oils next week. Now I'm not. I gotta do this one. And I don't think I want to try this in oil. I would like to stick to what I know for this one.

I asked my husband's opinion on what size and he thinks HUGE. It didn't take much to convince me to do it really big. So I have to go get another canvas that is 3' x 4' for it.

Damn it...can't wait.

Probably not going to have time to paint today

The boy and I went shopping at AC Moore this morning and then to the park because it's such a beautiful day today. And the first it's been this warm since fall (too many months ago). So I got some oil paint at the art store and I will attempt to start using it next week. I think I tried oils in art school but that was many moons ago. Can't remember if I ever used them so of course don't remember if I was any good. So I might use one of the new pictures of Ax for my first oil painting.

Is this kid the cutest, or what? Man.

So instead of painting today I have to work out. I missed yesterday so really can't skip it today and I can really only do it when the boy sleeps. So I have a date with Denise Austin and Jillian Michaels and hopefully neither tries to kill me today.

Going to paint today. Should I paint the Germany pic or start a new one?

Yes, a lot of people think I have ADD. But I don't think I do. I just get bored. I was checking out all of these artists that came recommended last night and one just blows my mind. Her name is Alyssa Monks. Here is an image of her with her HUGE paintings.

Her work is unbelievable. Please visit her website and take a look.

It is seriously mind blowing. Anyway...I was thinking that I am going to try my hand at oils. As much as I love painting in a free, lose style, I really do love doing the realism paintings. And I think I can do a lot better if I do them in oil.

But here was my thoughts on doing work like this woman. I never get myself into something that will take more than two weeks. It's a random length of time but I think that's the time frame my mind is ok with and after that it just says, crap, just start something new already, would ya?

So...this is something I need to work on. If I want to REALLY push myself to keep getting better then I need to focus on my ADD issue. I need to start something that will blow ME away when it's done, whether it takes 2 weeks or 2 months. And just stick with it.

I think over the weekend I will go pick up some oil paints and start with the oils after the painting I'm doing now. Yes, sounds like a plan.

Trying something new

So you might think that this is looking way unfinished. It is. This is the first stage of me trying something new. Might work, might not...but I have a vision in my head and I'm trying to get it out.
















This, believe it or not, will be this when it's done. Interesting, huh?

Going to try to paint today

Target trip is out of the way and now the boy and I are going to go for a walk. Probably take the dog with us too.

Got to paint the canvas that is going on the other side of the TV and I just might start it today. It's been tough recently because I usually paint while the kids nap but I've been working at those times now. I realized that at the end of the day, after they are in bed, I have absolutely no motivation to work out. So I had to switch things around. It's working but I'm just not painting now. Think I'll just try to work out for 45 mins and then if the boy isn't up yet just start painting. I hate doing that though because I might only get to paint for like 15 minutes and then have to clean everything up. ugh.

I just didn't have the motivation to start the other painting today

I tried this new workout routine and Jesus, I am so sore today. So today I decided to do my taxes and update my sales spreadsheet from last quarter of 2010. I could not fathom working out today. My back and sides are on FIRE!

I have the gallery stuff going on and things with the hubby just came to a head. So he decided to make up with me this morning (Valentine's Day morning) and scrambled to get reservations for dinner and a sitter. ugh....love it when he does that. LOVE it!

We're going to Joe Pesce, a place in town that I've wanted to try for a while. But not until 8 pm. OMG....I just might fall asleep before we even make it out of the house.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Gallery's 2nd Saturday

Well, I do have to say I was disappointed to be, once again, not the highlighted artist for 2nd Saturday at the gallery but it was nice. Not a great showing but there still needs to be a lot more done to get the word out about the gallery. Gary, the owner, says he doesn't want to sit in the gallery when nothing is going on so he's never there. And the only opening/receptions that he has are on the 2nd Saturday of each month. So if a person never happens to drive or walk past the gallery on those particular nights then they wouldn't know the gallery had EVER opened. I keep telling Gary he needs to have at least one day or night with set hours every week but he doesn't like that idea. I tell him to get a sign that at least says something about the hours. He doesn't do it. So here we are. No one comes to the receptions except friends and family of the artists that have their work in there. It's a shame.
So here are some pictures.

So I will be pushing to have my work in the gallery either next month or in April. I'm getting tired of being pushed aside. I'm the Manager, after all.

Oh, and I will be ordering my glicee prints and mats this week. I'm getting a little tired of not selling anything either so hopefully if I order the prints I can start selling some stuff and making some money.

Crestmont Gallery

I will be at the Crestmont Gallery tonight from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm for a wine reception. Please come out if you are in the area. The address is 495 Haddon Ave, Collingswood, NJ.

There are 11 pieces of mine hanging on the second floor.

Done a personal painting. Leaves is now hanging in my living room.

Leaves, size 16" x 20". I wanted this to have a very loose look to it (as well as be unusual colors) but still be able to recognize that it was leaves. I put the red and yellow and black in to match the colors in my living room. It looks very nice where I placed it in between the TV and the new cabinets.



If you're looking at it please let me know what you think. I'm going to start the one that will go on the other side of the TV tomorrow.



I am going to use this photo that my grandmother took in Germany. I hate doing buildings because even though i want it to look very loose it still will need to be drawn out to get the perspective right first.

What a hellacious day.

Two little kids that are sick really sucks. Two little kids that are sick for a whole frickin week is horrible.

Today was the first day in a week that my son didn't have a fever and his cough was sounding like everything was starting to break up in his little body. My daughter was feeling better too and so my husband took her to school this morning. On the days that she goes to school, which is only 3 days a week, it's just me and the boy. It's mommy-Axton bonding time. We do special stuff together and if it's icky out we just cuddle and watch TV together. He's a snuggler, which I never got with my daughter.

I don't know what kind of evil came into my son today but it was bad. Every time I turned around he was into something he knows he's not supposed to touch or trying to smack me or pulling stuff off of hangers at the store. This is not the kid I knew from just yesterday.

Then, I think thank God, it's 1:30 and that means NAP TIME!!! But I put him in his room and he's not sleeping. I hear noises from the monitor that sound like he's throwing things around his room. He's not even two years old yet so I know he's not going through his too-old-for-naps stage. This is not my child. And after about 45 minutes I tell him to come downstairs. I had started painting on a canvas and he is just into everything. Every two minutes trying to grab the lid to the paint, smushing my $20 brushes into the table attempting to ruin them and insisting on walking around the table that my water jar and paint pallette is on. OH MY GOD!

It just got worse when I picked my daughter up from school at 5:00. But I cooked, ate and cleaned up dinner by the time my husband came home and the kids were in bed by 7. Well, at least that's when I left the second floor and told my husband to take over and I was "clocked out" for the day.

Made myself a drink and I am now vegging in front of the boob tube.

It's finally done

Finally done. Whole thing painted and now varnished.

Nightstand job almost done

This is taking forever. I just want to be finished already. I don't like it when jobs take this long and really shouldn't. It's been delayed because I am spraying the outside, base of the night stand and it's been like 40 degrees here. Only place I can spray is outside. I put it off and off and then just finally sucked it up and said....I'm going to have to do it and take my chances that it won't ruin the piece or bubble. So here and there I'm spraying it and so far so good. But I'm not having as much patience with it because it's so damned cold outside so I'm getting drip marks. So then I have to sand it down and respray. It's just a nightmare doing these jobs in the winter when I don't have a spray area. This is one thing I am going to insist upon when we find our house in Florida. I want a real work area. Like a shed or barn or something to work in.

Anyway, I just have to finish the spraying and then paint his name on the top of the night stand. Then polyurethane and I'm done. Ugh.

I think it's looking great, don't get me wrong. It's just taking forever. Any thoughts?

Drawer #2 is done, I think

Football. So this will be drawer #2 (middle drawer). I think it's done but might end up touching up a little on it. Going to only work on the base of the cabinet (flat color) tomorrow while the kids nap because Zumba was canceled tonight and I need to work out tomorrow. Should be doing it now but I decided that I don't do too well trying to work out after my long days unless it's in the class and not at home. At home I tend to end too early and not push myself enough. So tomorrow I'm going to start my new Julianna Hough's dance DVD.
Gotta go and watch Grey's Anatomy now. It's not a rerun tonight....woo hoo!

Drawer number one of the sports nightstand is almost done

Drawer number one is almost done. I think I only have his helmet to finish and then that is done. I'm happy with how it looks, especially the baseball, but not happy with how long it is taking.
So the next drawer will probably be the soccer one. The other two drawers (middle and lower) are larger so it'll be interesting to see how it looks all together when it's done. I'll be starting one of the other drawers tomorrow when the kids nap next.

On another note...I'm finally starting to see some results from zumba and my other exercising. I'm now down 5 pounds. Very excited. I have a little over 5 pounds left but I think I have plenty of time. Wearing summer clothes is about 5 months away. It took me four months to lose the extra 15 pounds that I had on me from being pregnant with my son. So I will try to be patient.

No word yet on my sister-in-law and what her treatment is going to be with her cancer. I think the plan (second hand info) will be radiation to shrink it and then surgery. Saying lots of prayers.

My sister in law just found out she has cancer

A few months ago my sister in law told me that she was having some issues with her health. But she had a baby in August so it wasn't like I thought much of it. And Stephanie tends to not make a big deal out of things. So a few days ago her doctor scheduled a colonoscopy to be done. We got a phone call from my father-in-law yesterday saying that my mother-in-law went up there two days ago and that she called him and told him that they found something. They were doing a biopsy on it and they'll let us know.
My husband called this afternoon and told me that they said it was colon cancer. I just can't get over it. She's 32 years old and just had a baby 3 months ago and have a little boy who is turning five in five months. It's just horrible. She's a wonderful, young person with a good life and no history of drinking, smoking or eating poorly. It just makes you think, why? Why would this happen to HER?
We're still waiting to hear what stage she's in and what the plan of attack is going to be. I just feel so bad for her.

Finished the new wiring for the sound system and then zumba, now wine o'clock!

We worked on this stupid wiring project all friggin' weekend. ALL FRIGGIN' WEEKEND. The black cast iron register cover came in the mail on Friday. We started about 11 am on Saturday morning. Took us like 3 hours to figure out how to and then build the framing around the new vent cover. It doesn't come with a frame so we had to figure out how to frame it out. I told my husband that the beautiful vent cover won't look right with just a plain little wood frame. So started the chaos. About 2 hours into it and 2 trips to Home Depot I thought I was going to throw it out the window into the snow. But we finally got it done with the help of an 8" x 10" black frame. This ended our Saturday.
The next day at about noon we decided to wire everything to make sure it worked before feeding all the wires into the basement and back up to the TV. We realized we needed some more wire. Another HDMI wire, an optical audio wire (to feed the sound from the TV through the receiver so that we can hear it in the in-ceiling speakers), and a red, white and yellow wire to so that, in the future when we buy it, we can hook up our WII. So I had to go to the store. After I got home we realized that the receiver we currently had that we planned on hooking up was too deep to fit into the cabinet. We wouldn't have been able to close the glass doors. So before the kids went down for their naps we went out to buy a new one. Problem, we went to WalMart and they didn't have the measurements on the boxes. So we bought one and hoped for the best. Low and behold....it didn't fit. Still too deep. So we looked online and checked all measurements and features and then looked to see where they sold it. Finally found one at Target. Of all places. So after the kids got up we went to Target and go that one.

Then, onto the wiring. We need to wire the verizon box to the TV, the new DVD player/receiver to the TV and then the TV wired back to the receiver. Then wire the receiver to all the speakers clips waiting on the wall. Just a mess.
But when we wired everything outside of the wall it worked. Now we get everything fed to the basement then back up to the hole in the wall behind the TV (so that you can't see any of the wires) not everything works. OMG. We put The Sound of Music DVD into the player and the picture is going in and out on the TV. Among other issues.

At 7 pm we gave up on everything. At some point I fed the kids heated up hot dogs and corn for dinner but neither of us ate dinner yet. At 7:30 pm we put them to bed, showered and I ordered dinner. My husband was a good boy and ate his chicken and salad from the fridge. We sat on the couch for about 2 hours then went to bed.
The sound still didn't work. So today I went out and got a new HDMI cable, an audio optical wire and a new coaxial cable (my husband ripped the end off the one we had on Saturday pulling it through the wall). I came home, put the kids down for naps and changed the wires out. I got it all working but the TV sound going through the speaker wires. While I was at Zumba my husband figured this out.
Now, it all works and everything is done. Just need to paint the baseboards and nail them in and start decorating. Ah.....