I'M IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. Order a custom pet portrait by Dec. 5 and get a free pendant version of it as well.

I have been SO BUSY this weekend, but not the complaining-about-the-laundry kind of busy; rather, the I-might-get-tendonitis-from-all-this-painting kind.

It seems everyone is doing their Christmas shopping (buy handmade!) and thanks to a couple of reviews and blog posts in the past couple of weeks, I have received a good number of orders for custom name paintings. I love doing these because each one is unique. I love hearing what themes and hobbies people choose to represent them.

The top picks for girls:

• flowers
• princesses
• butterflies and kittens

Top picks for boys:

• planes, trains and automobiles
• camo
• dinosaurs and the jungle

Most unique requests, so far:

• crawfish
• fat chefs
• dog crate
• stroganoff

I can’t make this stuff up.

What has been fun about this last slew of orders is that they have not all been for kids. There have been a few orders for surnames (what do I get my in-laws, they ask?) and dogs’ names. Since Thanksgiving, I’ve done nine name paintings and have two more to go. That’s sixty-three total letters, each one a tiny little piece of art.

I’ll have to wait until after Christmas to post the finished products, because I don’t want to spoil anyone’s surprise. (Again.) Here however, are a few of my favorite letters excerpted from this weekend’s work.

Sales pitch: There’s still time to order for Christmas!