A Cabin Commission

I met Maya Weinstein virtually through Durham’s Patchwork Market in April and was thrilled when she asked me to help her create a special keepsake for her fiancé Andy for his birthday!

We worked together to make the perfect plan to commemorate his family cabin in Colorado, and then I got to work to make it happen. Maya surprised Andy with his painting and it was a hit!

Read more about Maya’s custom painting in the Q&A below!

Q: Why did you decide to gift a custom painting?

A: I wanted to preserve the memory of a place that is very special to my fiancé, as a birthday gift to him. We had won one of Sarah Jane’s pieces (sunflowers) through an Instagram auction and loved it so much and had such a positive experience with her. I really trusted her to make the vision a reality.

Q: What was your favorite part of the commission process?

A: Since it was a surprise gift, there was a lot of sneaky coordinating and planning. It was fun to get updates on the commission throughout its progress and get excited while my fiancé had no clue! When she sent a photo of the near-final product, I was floored.

Q: Do you have any advice for someone considering booking a commission?

A: Do it. I went back and forth on acrylics versus watercolors and then canvas versus wood and Sarah Jane was super helpful in guiding my decisions. The commission turned out spectacularly, and I was beyond excited to gift it! We based this commission off of a photo, and while I could’ve just printed and framed the photo, having it made into a dimensional work of art is just way more special and long lasting.