Spring has definitely sprung at my home and studio. All the beautiful perennials I planted last year are returning again this year. My only problem is that being fairly new to gardening, I don’t really know exactly which ones are flowers and which ones are weeds! So if any of you who are experienced gardeners would like to stop by and offer some advice, I would be happy to listen. But in a way, it would also be fun to just sit back and be surprised at what pops up. I do love a good surprise, and that’s what has…

Looks like Punxsutawney Phil was right! Spring has come early this year, with warmer days and more sunshine than usual for March. In fact, I feel like this is my best Spring ever, with a great Home and Garden Show and the introduction of my new line of collectible candles. You might even say I’m on fire… Okay, I’ll spare you the candle jokes… but I want to tell you the story of how Linda Barnicott Collectible Candles were created. My husband Tom is a fanatic about burning candles in our home – he really enjoys the warm glow of…

Well, it’s a wrap! Another Home and Garden Show has come to an end, and my booth has been dismantled and put to bed until next year… but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped or even slowed down! Even after the endless preparations getting ready for the show and the frantic schedule of the show itself, there’s no time to rest… I still have lots of art to create! I also have a lot of work to do to get my new line of collectible scented candles out the door to my customers and up on my website. So if you…

I don’t usually reach out to you twice in one week, but I couldn’t wait to share the news… I’m launching my newest product line – beautiful high-end, long-burning scented candles paired with some of my most popular paintings. Each candle comes in a glass jar encircled by one of my paintings so that the beauty of the art is illuminated from within by the candle’s glow. These luxury candles (created in partnership with the Sugar Creek Candle Company) are 100% soy with a clean-burning 100% cotton wick and will burn for 150 hours… yet the price is considerably less…

Still here at Booth 3146 at the Home and Garden Show until Sunday. What an exciting week I’ve had here at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center! It’s been a treat to have so many of you visiting me at my booth! One of the highlights of the show this year for me was having had the honor (and fun) of meeting Pittsburgh Dad! As soon as he realized who I was, he immediately shook my hand and told me that his mom had my paintings in her home! There was definitely some “Pittsburgh Chemistry” going on! If you’re a…

In case I haven’t mentioned it lately, my husband Tom is the BEST. The week before the Home and Garden Show is my busiest week of the year, and I couldn’t do it without Tom! He’s my greatest helper/partner despite having to work double time with his church duties. Those last few days before the show are pretty rough, getting everything moved, set up, and organized, and I can always count on him to support me every step of the way! And it’s not just Tom that I rely on. Once we rented the truck on Tuesday, my wonderful friends…

I’m pretty good at painting Pittsburgh. I’m also pretty good at painting portraits and landscapes. But when it comes to painting things like my show displays and staining woodwork… my skills could use some work! After 20 years, my booth display is getting pretty old. Every year some pieces break or just look a little shabby after another year in storage. Thank goodness for my friend from our old church who helped freshen up and recreate some of the broken pieces. And with a lot of help of my son-in-law, Jon (not to mention a big assist from the spring-like…

Ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? It’s been a busy week, and it’s about to get even busier! Recently, Tom and I attended an event for United Methodist Bishop, Tom Bickerton, to wish him well as he moves on to his next adventure. The Bishop is a huge baseball fan, and I was truly humbled and honored when my painting, “Let’s Go Bucs at PNC Park,” was chosen as his farewell gift! Not only that, but the Home and Garden show is only two weeks from today! It’s all hands on deck at the Barnicott household!…

Sports enthusiasts sometimes say, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” I was reminded of that earlier this week, when my friend said something that really resonated with me: “It’s all about the hunt!” In other words, we all work toward goals that we want to accomplish, but some people find the journey itself even more satisfying than the end result. My friend loves to sew. She told me how much she loves going out and finding just the right pattern for a new project. Next, off she’ll go, looking for the perfect fabric…

Even though I’ve done it 21 times now, I’m still feeling energized and excited today after exhibitor training for next month’s Home and Garden Show! In fact, at this point I think I could recite the entire program from memory. But I still go to the training every year because it inspires me to try new ideas and think of new ways to bring you my artwork at reasonable prices. This year I brought my daughter Brittany and her friend Breann to the training with me – passing the torch to the next generation! Here are some interesting facts about…