My new Year Resolution

We are settling into a new year and it's hard to beieve that it's 2023. My new years resolution is to reduce screen time and increase "STREAM TIME"! You don't need to have a difficult resolution, a fun one is just fine.  Anyway, need a beautiful map of your favorite lake, river or bay? Well, not only do I love lakes and rivers and bays, I paint them too. 

My maps make great gifts and will bring back memories of those trips to that favorite lake. Don't forget to look for the hidden mermaid in the lake waters and other interesting things......

Check-out these other comments from our customers.

The map arrived right on time and it was a sensational hit.  Thanks so much, this was exactly what I was looking for and was even better than anticipated. Nate

I just received the map, it looks beautiful! Thank you for helping me put together such a spectacular gift and I will definitely keep you in mind for future gift ideas. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Arrived safe and sound this afternoon and looks great!  I can't wait to give it to my parents for xmas for their new lake house.  Thank you!

I must be doing something right! I'm finally getting my ten minutes of fame, sort of. Interestingly, I got a call from, now get this.......a major studio in California. They are filming a new tv series for mid-season. They want to use one of my big lake maps as a prop in the series. It won't come out for a few months, but I'm hoping that it will be prominently displayed in the series. I will have more news about this later...... 

Paddle over to website to see my Lake, River, and Bay Maps. I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

Lake Blackshear Map

 Beautiful Lake Blackshear

Folks are drawn to a Leo Lakes Treasured Map of Lake Blackshear like a crackling fire on a cold winter night...

I often get comments about the jumping fish in the waters of all my maps. Folks love to tell me about stories about fishing and love the jumping fish that I show on my maps. Also, they say the children really enjoy hunting for the tiny mermaid and are thrilled when they spot her in the waters. Oh yeah, some folks tell me that mermaid and fish move, but I'm not sure that I believe that. However, if you look closely, you may find her and the fish jumping around.  Paddle over to my website, I do beautiful Lake House Decor Maps... LeoLakes.com.

I add the local waterfowl and it almost looks like they are actually flying over the waters. Some folks add the location of their lake house or the place that they caught a trophy fish,

I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately 11 years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. LeoLakes.com

Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Make a great lake gift. Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

Bee battle in the studio

 A bee got into the Leo Lakes Studio. Some people see a wasp, but I see a big, ugly, rusty red, flying, killing machine! You see, I'm allergic to wasp stings. If I get stung, my throat will close-up and I cant breath. I have to down a healthy dose of Benadryl and take a trip to the hospital. I normally sit in the hospital parking lot hoping that the Benadryl will kick in, usually it does. When I get back home, the Benadryl will cause me to take a long nap. The bottom line is a very bad day! Anyway, I decided that I had too many maps to do and I had to battle the wasp, which is typically the case.

I got my Ninja on and grabbed a paddle. Just about that time I spotted the big, ugly, rusty red wasp. I swung the paddle toward the wasp and missed, but did three thousand dollars in damage to a bunch of frames, just kidding. I did destroy a map box. The big, ugly, rusty red wasp got away. The rest of the day, I nervously worked on maps while keeping an eye out for that big, ugly, rusty red wasp that actually could kill me. Luckily, the next day I found the big, ugly, rusty red wasp died. 

Enough about the wasp, check-out my Lake, River, and Bay maps! Here's a few, they look great in the lake house and make great gifts. 

Lake Erie Map                                  St George Island Map

 

Russian River Map                                                     Table Rock Lake Map

You will find much waterfowl around the lake such as eagles, geese, herons and gulls. To add more interest to the map, I add fish jumping and hide a tiny mermaid to the waters. Folks love to search the waters for hidden surprises. 

If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoLakes.com.  We have many lake maps that will make great gifts for the lake house. 

I just finished this beautiful family heirloom lake map of Big Bear Lake.  Check-out the Canadian Geese, they actually look like they are flying over the lake. 

After printing, I come back and high light the waterfowl to bring them to life. In all of my lake maps, I hide a tiny mermaid and a few fish. Folks love to search for her. 

Here is a recent comment from one of my customers: 

"Hi Larry, I received the maps yesterday and they are beautiful.  Thank you for shipping them so quickly. I’m sure the folks I give them to will treasure them.

Thanks again, Evelyn"

Makes a great Gift for the Lake House! I call my maps "treasured maps" because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. These maps make great gifts for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. I have over three hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes lake, river or bay maps, too. Here's what makes my maps so interesting.

• I hide a few fish and even a tiny mermaid in the waters of my lakes. They're hard to find, but if you look close you will see them. Folks just love'm especially the kids. You might even think they move around overtime.
• 
  
• I call my maps Treasured Maps because every treasure has a Ruby and so do my maps, each have a Red Ruby Meridian.
• 
  
• You will find no road names, county, or state lines on my maps. I have found that folks enjoy traveling the roads with their eyes, while trying to get their bearing. I call this the "Leo Lakes gaze."
• 
  
• I add a vintage plane flying over my maps to signify an adventure to your treasured lake, river, or bay.
• 
  
• You will find wildlife in all my maps. These signify the natural beauty of your treasured lake, river or bay. I use wildlife that is common to the subject lake, such as Canadian Geese, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagles and others.
• 
  
• Did you know that you can always tell if its morning or evening on a Leo Lakes map? Just look at the shadows cast by the wildlife, is the shadow on the east or west? If it's on the west, then it’s morning time. Oh yeah, I have had folks tell me that they change through the day, but don't believe them.

If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoMaps.com.

Lake House Christening

 I did this custom lake map a few months ago. As you can see, it tured out beautiful. It is a very simple map with few landmarks or landmarks, but I added as much interest as I could to the map.

First, I added the waterfowl flying over with the shadows. The waterfowl and shadows give the map depth. Next, I added fish jumping and ripples in the water to make you wonder what happen near the ripples. I also added a few sailboats because there is a yacht club near. Lastly, I titled everything that I know about the area. I try not to allow the map to become too busy. Interestingly, I add a tiny mermaid to the waters for folks to search for. Her name is Lois. LeoLakes.com

For years and years, folks have been christening boats as an invitation for the water gods to bless their vessel. Hanging a LeoLakes Map in a lake house, is kind of like chisining a boat. So, hanging that map is a call to the water gods to bless the lake house. Lake House Christening!

Paddle over to website to see my Lake, River, and Bay Maps. I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes  maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

   

Wedding Map

 I've been working on this special map of Watts Bar Lake. What makes it a special map other than being a Leo Lakes Map? Well, it's a wedding map.  

I have been doings, what I call, wedding maps for over ten years. Couples email me about painting a map of a lake that they either met, proposed, or were married on. Amazingly, more couples than you would think, have a connection to the lake and their relationship.

This customer asked that I add five special points of interest to this map. If you look closely, you may see them. The most interesting point is "She Said Yes". This definitely makes the map special. Hopefully, this map will become a family heirloom and passed down generation after generation. Hey, why not paddle over to LeoLakes.com and see more interesting treasured maps.

Elves Present to Santa

Santa has finally finished his job for the year and is relaxing at his Lake House, which was established a long time ago on Reindeer Lake. It's near Snowflake Mountain. The closest towns are Dancer City and Elf Town. The elves surprised old Santa with this beautiful Leo Lakes Treasured Map.....LeoLakes.com

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

Stay Safe

 Most of January, I was on vacation in Germany and Austria. Luckily we got back home before Covid hit. The Virus is shutting down lots of  businesses. It currently in Washington State and is spreading. Leo Lakes will continue, but not sure how much blogging that I will do. Stay Safe!!!

If you need a beautiful lake map for the lake house check-out my website: LeoLakes.com

Beautiful Lake House ideas

Folks love a beautiful lake map hanging in the lake house. Here's the proof. Believe it or not, I have a lot of customers that send me photos of their maps hanging in their lake or beach house. I think the best come from Leo Lakes Treasured Maps! I have added a few to my blog.

Hey, paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com for a beautiful lake, river, or bay map by me. We have lake maps from California to Texas to Georgia. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

Beautiful Cook Inlet

I'm going to Alaska in June and I'm starting to plan the trip. I remember doing a map of Cook Inlet a few months ago and thought that I would post about some interestingly features in Alaska.

What's the interesting feature about Cook Inlet? The inlet stretches for about 180 miles with Anchorage located near the north end. There are two active volcanoes located near Cook Inlet, Augustine and Mount Redoubt. There is an abundance of  oil and gas deposits around the Cook Inlet basin and many platforms dot the land and seascape.

Beluga whales can be seen in the inlet. It's been determined that these are an isolated stock that are genetically distinct and are on the endangered species list. As you can see, there's a lot of interesting features on Cook Inlet, but to me, the most interesting is Tidal bores. What are Tidal Bores, bugs, holes, caves? Nope, but it only happens in a few places on earth, one of these being Turnagain Arm near Anchorage.

Check-out my decor maps LeoLakes.com. Most folks add a star to a special place such as a lake house, river  house or where they caught that big fish. I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately seven years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. LeoLakes.com

Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com

Toledo Bend Lake Map

Just finished this 20"x 40" canvas map of Toledo Bend Lake. Soon it will be hanging in the customers lake house in Texas. LeoLakes.com

Interestingly, I often get comments about the tiny mermaid hidden in the waters of all my maps. Folks love to tell me about the search for the mermaid. They say the children really enjoy hunting for her and are thrilled when they spot her in the waters. Oh yeah, some folks tell me that she moves, but I'm not sure that I believe that. LeoLakes.com

Most folks add a star to a special place on the lake such as a lake house or where they caught that big fish. I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately seven years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. LeoLakes.com

Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

Photos Lake House Maps

Believe it or not, I have a lot of customers that send me photos of their maps hanging in their lake or beach house. I have added a few to my blog. 

They are beautiful! Hey, paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com for a beautiful lake, river, or bay map by me. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

A River of Memories...

At five or six years old, I vividly remember our first "fishing rig". It all started when my dad came home with an old red 57 Chevy station wagon, just perfect to load up with fishing gear.  Not long after, we went to the local Sears and bought a new 14ft aluminum, flat bottom boat. Soon afterwards, dad added a 3.5 hp, Western Auto Outboard, which performed well on the little flat bottom boat. However, in later years, I remember him fine tuning it while in a large bucket of water and blew up the engine. Smoke and and water went everywhere. After the stream had disappeared, you could see a crack down the cylinder wall. Believe it or not, I still have that old motor in my studio. 

  

One last addition to the fishing rig, a dog. We called her Lucy, a white, long haired mutt that had little black spots sprinkled around her coat. She kind of looked like a chubby, long haired, dalmatian. Lucy, loved the water and would jump in for no reason, or just to get wet. She was a very special dog that always stayed near me and loved biscuits.

This is how we ran when I was a small child. Boy do I have stories to tell.

It's amazing that most of these items have survived my childhood. I still have the boat, tackle box, and outboard motor (even though it has a big crack in the side). I could have easily tossed these things out, but they are a river of memories.......Oh yeah, with all this talk about fishing memories, I almost forgot to tell you that I do lake, river, and bay maps. Check'm out at LeoLakes.com 

Water Dog...

While growing up, I had a dog named Lucy. Lucy was a white, long haired mutt that had little black spots sprinkled around her coat. We took her on all our fishing trips. She was a great fishing dog and would watch the bobber for hours. When I would get a bite, she would go berserk, knowing that a fish was soon to be near.    

This dog loved the water, she would often jump in the water while we were fishing. Then, come out of the water and shake, shake , shake..... water going all over near by fishermen. 

One time, when I was swimming in the river and Lucy was up on the bank watching. I decide to play a little joke on her to see what she may do. I acted as if I was drowning and called for Lucy to save me. You know what, she jumped in and swam to me. I grabbed her collar and she dog paddled back to shore. Amazing!!! 

One of my favorite things to do with her was toss her a biscuit after she had eaten. She would be too full to eat, but would take the biscuit to a spot and drop it, while sniffing around. She would dig a 1-2 inch hole and place the biscuit in the hole. With her nose, she would push the dirt back over the biscuit until it was completely cover. Funny thing, her white nose tuned dirt brown, so you could always tell that she had buried something.    

They sure don't make dogs like they used to. Hey, check-out my lake, river and bay maps at LeoLakes.com