Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!

 Have a great New Year's Eve!
Party responsibly 
and don't drink too many saucers of warm milk.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Merry Christmas one and all!

Merry Christmas!
 My family arrives tomorrow
and I am so excited to give each one a hug.
Joyfilled blessings to each of you!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
everywhere I go...
Well I haven't been anywhere 
as I have been busy cooking
fudge, 
cranberries in brandy for the brie wrapped in phyllo,
cranberry orange cookies drizzled in orange sugar,
candied walnuts,
balsamic croutons,
Italian beef stew tucked in the freezer,
and chicken enchilada casserole...phew...
so I would be ready for a full house on Thursday.
I can't wait and my heart is pounding just thinking of the fun we will have!
and I took some closeups of the the holiday festivities
being played out in my rooms...
I wish you each a blessed Christmas
filled with family and love and peace
and good will towards men.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

still gift hunting?

There's still time to please that special person on your list
who is so hard to buy for...
May I suggest a pack of gnomes filled with 3 cards, a bookmark and a journal
to put a grin on the receiver's face.
You can get it here.
 And for the crafty person in your life...
 the artist's giftpack comes with 3 cards
and a journal.
May I suggest you keep the journal 
and give the cards to your crafty friends?
Get them here.
I am so thankful that I don't need to fight the shopping crowds today -
bought most of my gifts on etsy
and it was so easy and the gifts are unique and heartfelt.
Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 16, 2011

walkin', prancin, and flyin' in a winter wonderland...

Stepped outside today and discovered these beauties.
 If I was a gnome I would so live here.

 with these lights nearby
and this guy could come visit anytime.
Well school is now out for the Christmas break and
before it was over the art clubbers did a little 
prancin' in a winter wonderland...
 only chose 2 to include here, 
but the rest were adorable too.
 and I got to teach all 19 in my during school time class
with the same theme -
here to stay is a new bird...
 again I couldn't choose them all,
but aren't they precious?
 The students happen to love angry birds so
I knew these would be a hit.



Borrowed the idea from pinterest and it took me to this great art blog.
Don't you just love how the blogging and pinning communities share,
and the whole world gets to be enriched from a project
done in one small classroom,
and before you know it,
another class gets blessed creating a similar one?
What a wonderful creative world we live in!


Friday, December 9, 2011

one little two little three little fishies...

Our last lesson was a lesson in trust for the art clubbers.
First they painted their entire pieces with warm colors and designs.
That was easy enough.
 But then I asked them,
"Do you trust me?"
 and I told them to paint out most of their paintings with cool blues 
and only leave at least 3 fish shapes.
 "What, but why didn't we just paint the fish shapes to begin with?", they asked.
 A hard lesson to take, but they had the 'ahha' moment finally
when they saw those hidden fish come to life before their eyes.
"Hello there little fishies!"
 I first learned this technique with Jesse Reno at art fest...
 and it was torture -
 covering over your art and not knowing if what you put on top
will be better than what is there.
I still think about what I covered up in one of my paintings 
and wish I had let it be.
I think these guys are more adaptable 
and not yet set in their ways like us adults.
If only they could keep that trust and spontaneity through out life.
I like to think I am helping with that just a little.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

let's merry!

well I am trying at least.
showed up to the gallery opening
(see the previous post) 
to find 3 of my 4 paintings were missing.
hmm... we hunted for them.
looked high and low...
and discovered they were already SOLD!!!
I really couldn't believe it -
oh me of little faith.
I can't tell you what that did for my spirit. 
I was thinking if they did not sell here this month
then I might as well give up.
so now I have a renewed joyfulness 
that I can be me!
you know what I mean?

and there is lots being prepped in the studio
 for the art clubbers
 to play with
 and you gotta have some bells
and here is one of the samples they will be making 
to reflect this advent season.
I will share them all later.
hope you are having a blessed season!