Happy New Year

tick tock...

Happy New Year to each of you.

Wishing you a bubbly New Year!

May this year be full of good health and happiness.

happy

2 ~ 0 ~ 1 ~ 1

necking

Gathering a few new projects to add to my list for the new year and one project is to knit lovely neckwarmers fashioned like the one above. Who needs the hastle of a long scarf when one's neck can be kept warm and tidy! If you are a knitter - what sort of new projects are you working on?

photo contest

The first time I met Bentley Waters, I immediately knew we would get along as my dog shares the same name, "Bentley!" Well, hop on over to Bentley's site and fall in love with her photography and cast your vote on her blog for her photo contest. There are lots of goodies for the winning vote. Simply vote for your favorite photo and leave a comment on her blog below the photo contest post. You have until December 31st.....

chair lift

Sitting on the chair lift - listening to the quiet of the snow and observing skiiers swoosh down the mountain....

looking at the branches covered in a blanket of white.

Taking this week to enjoy time with family and friends -

Reflecting on this year and looking forward to the lift of a brand New Year 2011.

A Gentle Christmas

A Gentle Christmas greeting to each of you. One thing we can all agree upon is that music can provide a sacred and gentle touch to bringing the true spirit of Christmas alive. May each of you have a harmonious holiday. Let each of us prepare room in our hearts for a gentle time and carry this courteousness throughout the year. As my Father loves to say, "Christmas is not just one day a year."

Enjoy the break, I plan to be back in the New Year with a kinder and gentler heart!

holiday style

It is time for holiday style. Giving, wrapping up the last minute gifts, delivering goodies and enjoying the holidays. Let the festivities ensue.

Wishing each of you a holiday that rocks!

Go ahead and enjoy yourself.

Our son will be home friday for Christmas (from the hospital) and that is the best present yet!

Enjoy the holiday break~

wee three

All I can envision

are these wee three bowls

bearing gifts from afar - found over here on etsy.

The wise men surely must have had something with flair like these vessels.

Thanks for all your kind comments - My son is resting although he is a bit cranky.

I am trying to be like a wise woman (and mother) and bear little gifts from afar.

I wish I had these bowls to bear gifts.

Did I mention, I am starting now for next Christmas.

Life is always better with wee little wise gifts.

Dear to me

How dear is this deer?

One "dear to me" twin son and I went to the emergency room early this morning and he was having abdominal pain. Mother knows best and he had surgery for appendicitis.

We are in hopes that he will be able to come home for Christmas.

Pardon me while I take care of my dear son, other stuff, along with making a Merry Christmas for our family!

dear santa

Dear Santa,

Just wanted to make sure you had my list.

Arches paper.

paints.

new brushes.

Hurry down my chimney with this.

or through my studio door.

a new shelf for my art studio.

I promise, I will create new artwork.

More micron pens , please santa.

tree from parthenia paper etsy (little-augury)

You can leave the presents under (my new) tree!

(due to arrive before x-mas)

kayce hughes

Anything polka dotted, I love.

an easy to spot bag for holding my pens.

Pigtown design

A vessel for my brushes.

Love to take Summer classes here.

That's all Santa.

I know how busy you must be!

Good luck with all the letters and lists.

~

pve

little christmas

I have always admired the special touches and those that can rally to create or mimic a special setting for youngsters. There is something wonderful about setting a little christmas table for children. Do you set a little christmas table for wee ones or do you dine at one big table?

for the present

There is something special about bestowing and bearing gifts.

The pleasure of the hunt and finding the perfect gift is truly the best part.

I think LEB would love this chic estate tray.

For my thrifty blog friends who moved to London.

I bet Summer is a verb would wax poetic if this little bangle

were stuffed in her stocking.

or better yet, an original pve work of art.

Giving gifts that last all year long...

like a flag or a bunting or an everlasting bouquet.

or a Diane James HOME candle to light and fill the air with a heady scent!

Happy giving, bestowing and scouting for the perfect present!

I am happily offering "pve design" gift certificates toward artwork for 2011!

you better not cry

Just the other day while decorating the house, I broke down and had a good Christmas cry. It happens every holiday season. Does this happen to you during the holidays? Nothing like a good cry to feel all better. Domestic Ease had a good cry too. So much for, "you better not cry~"

When was the last time you had a good old cry? I am adding this book to my list for a little humor.... laughing and crying, that's the spirit!

amaryllis

If I had another daughter, I would name her "Amaryllis" - you know the origin of the word, Amaryllis, name for a country girl in pastoral poetry.

My holiday favorite is one simple Amaryllis bulb waiting to blossom!

Do you have one?

glitter and gold

the above cardie by philip limm

Every time holiday parties start, I wish I had a little glittery sparkly sequin cardigan to add to my holiday wardrobe. Just look at the mix of sequin fashions here. Chic with jeans or slim trousers, non?

Do you have any festive fashions that you don during the month of December?

good tidings

my holiday tidings

the paper is perfect for attaching a photo or a special little original work of art.

After illustrating so many holiday cards, when it came time for my own, I found such lovely letterpress over here at bdr-studio. (found on etsy mind you!)

Given that our twins will be heading off to college next fall, (we hope) we thought it best a holiday photo card was best. I am thrilled with the small size and the simplicity.

Danielle has lovely cheery designs.

I know many send e-cards or do not send any at all.

I still love getting cards in the mail, be it a photo or some hand made greeting.

Do you still send out greetings?

honeysuckle pink

Surely you have heard that Pantone announced "Honeysuckle" pink as the color for 2011.

Did you know that Honeysuckle tea is made to energize and the cleanse the skin?

I love how an herb, a flower or even a color can lift one's spirits.

or lift one's tutu.

Especially if they are pink.

Love how "honeysuckle pink" lights up a room!

...or a table.

Pretty pink cloth napkins for a special girl's celebration from Kayce Hughes.

Dining in style.

Eddie Ross uses pink.

Excuse me, while I powder...

my nose here. Pretty, non?

Grant Gibson uses pink.

A pink dahlia that I snapped at the end of the season, just a few weeks ago!

So how about adding some honeysuckle pink to boost your spirit.

Game on Ladies and Gentlemen!

Will you be in style with honeysuckle rose?

Perhaps a pink poinsetta is just the perfect color for now.

joy

Josef Albers

Joy is many things.

Ellsworth Kelly

Have you had time to find joy?

Is it color, the lights, or the holiday decorations?

For me, I find joy in ART!

Ellsworth, you and your work have always made me merry and bright.

Fresh, modern, a bit loopy, but I love the curves.

My children say, Mom, I can paint that.

But I tell them, that they did not.

But, they could.

Maybe it is the squareness of it all.

I imagine boxes wrapped and stacked.

Hope your week is chock full of JOY!