Ok - I am back - Merry Christmas!!!

I wanted to say T H A N K Y O U

TO ALL WHO MADE IT TO THE CHRISTMAS ART SHOW!!!

(even if the address was wrong and you drove around for hours looking for it :( so sorry)

There are so many that made the show such fun event. FIRST ALL THE LOYAL FRIENDS WHO CAME, then I had the BEST artisans in the business and I am so grateful for their countless hours of hard work to share their talents. I loved having it at the Old Holladay Elementary School (now Holladay City Hall) and Michelle who I worked with was fantastic!!!

I can't wait to be there again for the SPRING ART SHOW on March 25th and 26th. Thanks to my MOM, my SISTER, my family, and my cute husband JEFF (who thinks it all is pretty crazy but great!)

I have been sleeping for two weeks and am finally ready to start getting Christmas ready

(oh dear more sleepless nights) but I do love this season of good will.

My 15 year old Grace said she would like some shoes and to help the homeless - wow - we really are moving up in the world!!! I hope we can all see Christmas in the magical way a child sees it and remember that simple is better and that helping others is what gives us the true meaning of Christmas!!!

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE LEFT...

Not really "leftovers" but I have had many requests for gourds so I thought that I would put them up here and if you want them email me and let me know and I can send them to you or you can come by and pick them up.

Giant Santa is $225. and "I spy Santa" with the monocle in the front is $48, the elf in the back is $40 and little Santa is $28 and last - Santa with monocle in the back is $100 -

I hope that helps - sorry I wish I had a better selection!!

Ok...and here are the snowmen that I have left -

Big Snowy is $125. and the SNOWMEN heads are $39.

Thanks again for being so kind and supportive - I love having friends and family - you all bless my life in ways I can not express other than to say

THANK YOU!

MY CHRISTMAS ART SHOW - is TODAY
At the Holladay City Building at 4580 South 2300 East (the old Holladay Elementary on Holladay Blvd.

Wednesday, December 2nd from 9am to 9pm

(oops the invite address is wrong - it should have been 4580 SOUTH)

HOPE YOU CAN COME!!!

sooo sorry for those who drove around in the dark - searching!!

Tell me and I will figure out a treat for you...

Something Old, Something New Something, Something Borrowed, Somthing Blue?

I know this isn't a wedding but I have always loved that saying - the next line in the poem is

"...And a silver sixpence in her shoe."

Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride.

If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy.

"Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past.

"Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead.

"Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.
"Blue" has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true."
And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings.

(I got this all from askYahoo.com)

What does this all have to do with the CHRISTMAS ART SHOW - well I don't know but I do have some fun new items to show you...

SANTA is so happy to be debuting at the show -

he is my newest in the ornament collection -

and these Penguins are new too ...

The Ball Wreaths are "something old" - but not too old - I had them last year and back by popular demand I have done them again - I love that they looks like candy!!! (because you know I love candy.)

I am working on something blue and as far as something BORROWED - I am so grateful to all my family and friends who support me and like in the poem I am reminded, "that I(she) can depend on my(her) friends and family.

so here is the 3rd of many reminders - COME TO THE SHOW!!!

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1ST 6 TO 9 PM &

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2ND 9 TO 9 PM

see you there...and you might put a "silver sixpence in your shoe" and you will have "wealth and financial security." well it can't hurt...to try...

SURPRISE - I got to see DISNEYLAND decorated for CHRISTMAS!!

My best Friend, partner in crime and cute "Goofy" husband, surprised me last weekend and took my to Disneyland for our Anniversary

(which was in June) so I was totally surprised!

He told me a couple days before that he was taking me on a trip and to pack a bikini and a coat??? "WOW," I said, " I am scared" - first, I don't have a bikini - never did - NEVER WILL - and a coat? So I packed sort of "fancy" - or at least I took something other than my "uniform" (PJ's and a paint shirt.)

I thought we would go to New York, North Carolina ? I don't know EAST somewhere and then he handed me my ticket to Disneyland and I about died -

(I know - others would think this was some kind of practical JOKE but...I LOVE DISNEYLAND) so this was truly a gift for me!! We had the best time and if you haven't stayed at the GRAND CALIFORNIAN - do it!

It is a treat and they are running a special right now on room rates.

If you like Disneyland you have GOT to see it decorated for CHRISTMAS!!

We went on the Haunted Mansion ride 3 times - it is so great and totally different than the rest of the year with Jack and the Nightmare Before Christmas Decorations and it's a Small World is also magical at Christmas!

So...I have to say walking down Main Street with the song Chestnuts Roasting... filling the air I truly thought I had gone to "the most happiest place on earth" (to quoting a little guy telling his friend that on the Indiana Jones ride)

There were beds of poinsettia's planted of every color - i loved seeing them in the ground and not in a pot at my house dropping leaves!!

And of course Santa and his reindeer's were there - I actually think Santa has his second home in Disneyland - I am going to be looking for clues next time I go....

In Disney's California Adventure - there is a new ride and it is awesome - it is sort of like Buzz Lightyear (for those who know Disneyland) - It is an arcade game and I killed "Goofy" (aka Jeff) - though he may have been letting me win? I will have to see next time we go - ha-ha

AND - this brings me to the biggest problem - I am having the hardest time getting gourds painted - soooo come early - if you want any because my stock is a little lean this year. However, I have sooo many fantastic vendors you won't even miss the plethora of gourds -

I did get a couple more Turkey's done - let me know if you would like one - and stay tuned for give aways at the show - spread the word!!!

Christmas ART SHOW - come and join the FUN!!

I hope you all will be joining us for our

CHRISTMAS ART SHOW -

we can't wait!! We are in a NEW LOCATION and the parking is fantastic!! We will be at the Holladay City Building at 4850 South 2300 East (Holladay Blvd.)

Tuesday, December 1st from 6pm to 9pm and

Wednesday, December 2nd from 9am to 9pm

Be watching this week for vendor pictures and give aways - SPREAD the word -

Christmas is coming -

p.s. HAPPY THANKSGIVING - i love "turkey day"

Happy Birthday SISTER Sara

Today is my beautiful sister Sara's birthday - I won't say how old she is but needless to say she gets better with age. I am so grateful for her kindness and willingness to always help me. I feel lucky that we are friends. So thank you Sara for all you bring to my life...

"There's a special kind of freedom sisters enjoy.

Freedom to share innermost thoughts,

to ask a favor,

to show their true feelings.

The freedom to simply be themselves."

Author Unknown

Aunt Sara is the favorite among the kids in our family -

because she loves them all so much they all love her back!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

i LOVE YOU

MONDAY morning and my advice is to NOT let the TURKEYS get you down

When I was sixteen I discovered Sandra Boynton's art work and have loved it ever since.

This week is crazy (although - it seems every week is crazy- why do we do it???)

Anyway, I should be painting Santas and Nativities but I am still spending time with a bunch of Turkeys - and though sometimes the "turkeys" in our lives get us down...these guys are pretty nice to me. However, I never seem to be able to get them finished - I am starting to wonder if they will be with me forever - and as a cute guy in a blog I read said
"chicken day is coming" so I better hurry.

Here is what I should be working on... the snowmen are coming but the Santas and Nativities are so sad because they are sort of naked - oh dear...I wish I could invent a way to not need sleep. Because when I go without sleep I get wrinkles, a grumpy next-day
and surveys say it will shorten my LIFE - wow that is a big price to pay!!
But I do love the quiet of the night and the feeling that I got sooooo much done at 4am!!

Santas and Nativites

Snowmen ornaments
As my 15 years old daughter Grace said for her daily shout out today,
"don't let the Turkeys get you down
and
remember all your STUFF!"
Yes, I couldn't agree more!!

DECEMBER A r T ShOw....SAVE the date!

I am still working on the location of the show
but the DATE is -
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1st
and
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2nd
Put it on your CALENDARS!!
The
D e C e M B e R A r T S h O w
can't wait to see you there...

TRUE " joy in the kitchen"

Hi folks...I wanted to tell you about my week of "TRUE joy in MY kitchen." My girls, Grace and Lucy, have decided to do a 10 hour project for their youth group in our Church, The Church oF Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

They planned a menu, went shopping and now have started fixing dinner every night for our family!!

It is fantastic! Monday nights dinner was actually prepared by Lucy, my 12 year old, and it was the BEST SOUP I have ever had.
(I know that I could be a bit biased but I am telling you it was PERFECT.)

Lucy informed us as we sat down to eat with 5 of our family and 3 of Will's (my tall second son) friends, that she had made a few changes and hoped that we liked it!!
It was amazing to see her smile and thrill as we each told her how much we loved it and then ate every bite and basically licked the pan!!!
She got the recipe from a new cookbook BLISS. - and JOY is the master chef behind the cookbook is as fun as the cookbook. The recipe she made was the Broccoli Cheese soup on page2 of the "entrees and dinners" section.

I hope JOY will be selling it at my Christmas show and you all can get a copy for you and a friend!!

One more HALLOWEEN NOTE (hee-hee)

Ok, I love finding my gourds in people's homes and offices and even more thrilled to find pictures of them!! It is like finding a long lost friend.
SOOO I had to do one more HALLOWEEN post because
Anne Marie Roberts posted her Spooky (fabulous) living room and I FOUND gourds - Yahoo!! She has a blog called MELT by amr and it is so fun to follow.
Thanks Anne Marie for letting me share!!
I will be watching for Turkey's....

GOODBYE HALLOWEEN!! until 2010

I am always filled with mixed emotions when HOLIDAYS end. Relief that I just barely made it through and all the mess is cleaned up! Yahoo -

Yet, I am always a bit sad to see how fast time flies -I loved all the funny, happy, frustrating and hair-raising events that have transpired over the last month.

(I guess I don't LOVE all the frustrating parts, THAT much BUT without them I would NEVER have learned all that I NEEDED to learn - so I am grateful for THE FRUSTRATING PARTS after all) (?)

so....Good bye Halloween 2009-

I LOVE THANKSGIVING!!

START OFF THE MONTH WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE .

Christopher Columbus Interviewed Live...

Today I had the great honor to see "Christopher Columbus" interviewed by two news reporters from Mrs. Ross' 5th grade class. Jake, the caboose in our family, played the role of "Christopher Columbus", proudly telling his story of bravery and discovery. There was some heckling from the explorer Dias, who claimed that Christopher Columbus' discovery's were not nearly as "cool" as his discovery, finding the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of Africa. Which Jake, oops, I mean Columbus retorted, "oh now you've gone too far...your discovery was an accident - ha". Then he sent Dias away so he could finish his interview. I learned something today as well as saw that Jake may have some "sweet acting skills."

Here we have Christopher Columbus, Bartholomew Dias, and a Taíno - Indian. All basking in their success of their interview.

SNOW today - Yahoo!!

It is going to be a SPOOKY cold Halloween and I hate to say it.......BUT

it is helping me get in the mood to paint SANTAS.

GOURDS, GOURDS AND MORE GOURDS

I just got back from an incredible gourd buying trip in Pennsylvania with Jeff,my husband. We had the chance to stay in the home of an Amish family and meet their 6 beautiful daughters. One of the highlights was gathering around the family table and enjoying amazing meals prepared for us, with all of the ingredients grown on their farm. We especially enjoyed the grape juice straight from the vine, the homemade yogurt and the salad, picked that morning from their garden.

We spent our time buying, painting, learning about and hand picking gourds from their fields. We even attended the Pennsylvania Gourd Society meeting and met lots of gourd loving people - it was a Gourd Feast of info! Pennsylvania was beautiful and I loved learning about the Amish people and their culture and making incredible new friends.

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES:

You can see the family barn in the background -

Just like my husband said, a calendar picture everywhere we looked.

Here are the TURKEY gourds just picked from the field -

they look just as great in their natural form as they do as a TURKEY - I think...

This is a picture from the horse drawn buggy ride we went on. I ended up with swollen eyes and an itchy face (I'm allergic to horses). That part was no fun, but the ride was amazing...look at the color of the fall leaves. Esther, the second daughter, drove us around the area. She is only 16 and has been driving the buggy for years! Wow! I know it was a lot harder than she made it look!!!

It was a fantastic experience and I am back in the studio with excitment, ready to get Christmas going.....

Studio 5

Here is the clip from our stint on Studio 5 this moring.

WOW - we had a great SHOW - THANKS to all who came!!

We had amazing artists at the show with wares that your eyes could fest upon
and not even gain a pound!
This is Macy Wilcox's table - she always has a surprise when she brings her goodies
My couches are very scary with her "mummy pillows" adorning them!
...thanks Macy

We had suckers, soup and salsa (all fresh - so I hope you all refrigerated them or they may be spooker than you wanted them to be!!

If you missed the poison bottles you will need to
contact Sara Christensen to get a couple - they are a MUST in your Halloween decor!!
Along with a Raven painting and sack of Halloween "Boo-ble" gum!
If you want to contact Sara - write me a comment and I will hook you up...

OK...and of course there were GOURDS and GOURDS and more GOURDS!!

Autumn Art Show

Halloween Happiness

These little gourds are just dying to go home with you. 

These and much much more will be seen at the  Autumn Art Show

I wish I could say that right before a show my studio looks a mess but that is the state of it pretty much year round. Here are some works in progress: “JENIBEE’S TURKEYS” a very rare sighting. Catch one if you can.

mummies just need to be “burned” and “wrapped” up for their debut at the Autumn Art Show.

NEW white Jack’s just being figured out.

Mini Santa’s in their own workshop…

Getting Creative

A dusty box of 88 records are found in almost every basement – treasured keepsakes from our teenage years – or childhood years or for my kids their response is, “never heard of ‘em”   anyway, if you are not planning to buy a “retro” record player or wait till your ship comes in and your scratched 88 of “The Partridge Family Up To Date starring Shirley Jones and featuring David Cassidy” has yet to sky rocket in price on ebay.  How about make a WITCH HAT out of them.  I also read how you can melt them in the oven and make a bowl – (if you are really daring)

The other cool thing to do is paint on them - your FRONT DOOR RECORD WREATHS will be the spookiest edition “in record” to your Halloween décor.  And the bonus is if you get tired of them in a couple of years you can take them all apart and play such treasured titles as Pat Benatar, The Romantic Rachmaninoff, Waltzes For Dancing, The Mormon Tab Choir (several arrangements), Surf Punks Locals Only and Soft Cell Tainted Love.

More witch hats

Halloween is in full swing around here and we're gearing for the Autumn show. Here is a little sampling of some darling witch hats that will be available at the show. 

And there's a little surprise on the bottom!

Vintage Records