I am a Shara Reiner fan!  I have her books, I’ve ripped projects out of magazines for years, and find myself drawn to her designs when I need to paint a special gift or something for a donation.
Each year, I make a donation to our local Children’s hospital, by painting something that is “auctioned” off at a fundraising brunch.  I’ve done baskets, candleholders, signboards, and this year, a big birdhouse that’s been in my stash for a very long time.  One of the big reasons I chose it this year, was because it was already basecoated, and all I had to do was trace the pattern and paint!  Since I was pretty much standing on the deadline to have it to the committee, this was very good news!
Shara’s designs are great on the pieces she paints them on, but I love taking one of her designs and adapting it to a surface.  For the big birdhouse, I took the pattern that Shara painted on the Angel Clock in her new book Shara’s Funky Folk Art 2, added a few additional flowers, and wrapped it around 3 sides of the birdhouse.  I added the checkerboard to the edge of the roof, and I had the project completed.  It’s still sitting there waiting to be varnished, but most importantly, the painting is done!