Hi, everyone! Welcome to my ‘happy place’ here on the internet! I have found that the best way for me to survive this crazy, mixed-up world is by creating. The fact that you are here and stopped by probably means that you are thinking that as well. Let’s enjoy this journey through life together!
A little bit about me . . .
I grew up on the south side of Chicago, and moved to the southern suburbs in my teens. Coming from a large city offered me the diversity of many cultures, traditions, and ideals (not to mention some really great authentic food!) I feel very privileged to have spent the earlier parts of my life in such a wonderful place. I have two beautiful (now grown) children who still live in the Chicago area and are thriving. I also have a beautiful granddaughter who lives there as well.
In 2004, I came to Nova Scotia Canada at the request of a painting group to come and visit and maybe share my love of painting. It just happened to be at a time in my life when I was able to go and perhaps looking for a change. To make a long story short, after a two-week visit here, I decided to move to Canada permanently and make Nova Scotia my home. I now live in the beautiful, rural area referred to here as the French Shore. It is quiet, serene, and with loads of small lakes, forests, and the ocean just minutes away, I am never short of inspiration.
I live with my partner Keith Fenton who now creates most of the scroll saw patterns for my Sheila Landry Designs website as well as manages both websites and much of the technical and computer work. I had met Keith in 2009 and we have been together ever since. It is rare that two people can live and work together successfully, but we always like to say we are ‘the exception’. We have a good life and are very happy.
Professionally, I had started my online business a couple of years before I came to Canada. I was a contributing editor for the All American Crafts group of publishing and contributed regularly to their magazines for woodworking (Creative Woodworks & Crafts), painting (Paintworks), and general crafts (Craftworks) and have been published over 100 times through those publications. Unfortunately, they are no longer in business, but I learned a lot from the nearly 20 years I worked with them and I feel it helps us make the best patterns available. Each pattern I offer is like a full lesson – geared for any level of painter with full-color photos and easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions.
After the magazines folded, I decided to change my own focus more on the painting side of my business. Keith had been enjoying doing the scroll saw patterns and is a very prolific designer. I felt the need to create using more colors and mediums. In order to avoid confusion, we split the business into two websites: Sheila Landry Designs for our scroll saw pattern side of the business and Tole Painting Designs for the painting patterns and surface side of the business. This helped our customer have a clear picture of what to expect from each site.
So that is the short version that brings you up to date.
My goal for the website here at Tole Painting Designs is to offer the best painting patterns and painting surfaces available. All patterns are available in both PDF format for instant gratification and paper patterns. There is a drop-down menu on each product page for you to choose. Paper patterns cost slightly more for printing cost and shipping fees are charged for them. PDF patterns have no shipping fees.
I still love cutting wood and I offer both general wood surfaces as well as take on special orders from time to time. I realize that quality wood pieces are difficult to find and I love to help out those who are unable to find pieces for a particular project. All of my wood surfaces are hand-cut, sanded, and packed by myself. I don’t use a laser or have a work force to help me. I use only the highest quality wood available and because of my long experience cutting, I am very accurate. I take a great deal of pride in what I do and I feel my work shows that. I work with several popular designers and carry wood pieces for their designs.
Because I do everything by myself, I have taken to cutting one batch a week, as orders dictate. I may finish up and ship by Wednesday or Thursday, but if there are many orders it may take a day or two longer. Usually, if I get an order on Wednesday or later in the week, it will be cut the following Monday. Of course, if you need something for a specific time, let me know and I will do my best to help. I just want you all to be aware of my timeframe.
I am shipping from Canada and things can take up to three weeks or so to get to you depending on where you are located. It usually doesn’t take that long, but if customs snags a package (which we don’t have control over) it will take longer. Please be patient. Most feel I am worth the wait.
As always, if you have any questions at all, feel free to contact me via my email. I check daily and will be happy to answer your concerns.
Finally, feel free to join me on social media. I have a Facebook group called “Let’s Paint (and CREATE!) with Sheila Landry”, a YouTube channel in which I post instructional and promotional videos, and an Instagram account. I also write a weekly blog on WordPress and you can read about lots of different mediums, supplies, and my designing process and thoughts. You can join my mailing list as well to receive my monthly newsletter which will highlight my new patterns and surfaces.
I hope you enjoy your visit to my website. I am very grateful for your support and appreciate you all allowing me to do what I love best!
Thanks for stopping by!
Sheila Bergner-Landry