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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

art opening tomorrow - come join the fun!

it may not be serious after all...

I should say that and 

then repeat it again and again.

 this newest piece is for sale here -

at the gallery, not the saloon btw

 along with  a sensible arrangement in the window

 see it in the middle below

 and it is kept company by the other four in the series

 and they could each come live with you for $45.

the opening party is tomorrow 

and the small 6"x6" pieces will be for sale all month.

might you suggest santa pick one up for you?

bundle of brushes

sorry my friends...

life has gotten a little too hectic.

here is a favorite photo to tide you over for awhile.

nothing makes me happier than a 

'bundle of brushes'

just waiting to be dipped in paint

to depict the best of 

our imagination.