Sunflower Mural on Fence - Redo

If you've followed me a long time, this might seem familiar.  The fence that I painted five years ago had to be replaced, so I got a do-over!

Ladies arrive at Welcome Home Retreat ready to both relax and get to work on their projects. Last weekend there were 5 quilters, 3 scrapbookers, and me...I just had one painting project to accomplish... a big one.  My sister was there to keep me encouraged and entertained.  

I had to let a few happy friends join.

Thursday night- Sunday morning schedule:

When it's not raining, keep adding to the mural.

When it's storming, stress over whether the rain will make any paint run.

Besides that... rock in the chairs on the porch, eat wonderful meals, visit with my sister, and relax.

Ta-da!!! 

Just like that, a plain fence is a colorful mural.

Sunflower Mural on Fence #2

This is the backyard of my sister, Karen. 
What a fun project!  Since it was my second time around, I felt pretty confident and carefree with the sunflowers.  Of course the best part was figuring out how to hide the names of her grandchildren.
Her (real) flowers are always fabulous, so I can't wait to see this view again after they all begin to bloom in front of the fence.

It was kind of tricky painting over all the cross boards since this was on the back side of the fence. But, it didn't take long to learn to ignore them.

Can you find Gentry's hidden name?  

*** Hint - It's in the third flower.  Look at the white part of the petals.

There's also a little blue dragon fly  on this panel.

Did you find Annabelle's hidden name on this one?

*** Hint - It's in the fourth flower.  Look at the yellow part of the petals.

There's also a little red ladybug  on a leaf of her flower.

T.J.'s name is a little different. 

*** Hint - It's in the stalks and leaves fifth and sixth flowers. You'll also find his monogram in the center of one of his flowers.

And there's a little pink and purple caterpillar on the last flower's leaf.

Nothing hidden on this one, just a little blue butterfly that makes Karen smile.

Nothing hidden on these two. But there are a couple of lady bugs and a K.J. + T.J. heart just for fun.

I'm thinking fence painter might be my next career! 

Wouldn't that be different!

Sunflower Fence Mural - Hidden Surprises

The sunflower fun began last summer with my dad's sunflower field then the whole sunflower harvest adventure that followed.

I mentioned in the last post that I'd hidden some surprises in the mural.  My goal was to make them unnoticeable, yet once discovered, impossible to miss. What fun!

Zoom in...
Can you find them?
Need a hint?

The mural was Sheila's idea. It hides the pool equipment at Welcome Home Retreat.  

I think she loved the surprise... having her grandkids' names in the flowers.

See if this helps.

Oh, my goodness!
What fun it was for me to see these little ones searching for their names!

I think they were pretty proud.

And another little surprise in the grass of the other side.

I hope the guests at Welcome Home Retreat enjoy it too.