Merry, Happy, Cheery, Christmas Seasons Greetings!

.... Just then there came a knock at the door.

It was a small package,

delivered by hand

to the house of Doctor Starbuck.

On the outside was written,

'For the attention of Miss Clara Starbuck'

Clara opened the package

and read the note inside.

This little gift may not excite you,

But remember,

all is not as it seems.

For it has the power

to invite you...

Into the land

of your dreams!

It's... it's a Nutcracker!

What a strange present.

Does it say who it's from? No. How mysterious. Oh, well...

Come on, everyone, there's lots of food and drink in the next room. I'd better put down the nutcracker.

As Clara bent down to put the nutcracker beside the Christmas tree... It seemed to twist in her hand!

Oh my! Sugar Plums, Gum Drops, Lolly Pops and all that is good... I wish to you and yours a very Merry Holidays, some Happy Season's Tidings, a Cheery Christmas Greetings to one and all and a Jolly New Year too! And BTW Congrats to the winner of my Giveaway, Tristan Robin Blakeman! See you all bright and early next year!

Play Time....

Now I know exactly what they mean when

they say "She has a porcelain like complexion!"

I have been working on this doll for a while, tending to her now and then when I get a free moment, here and there.

It's funny but the medium I use dictates the way in which I paint. If I am using watercolors... it's very light, airy and delicate, with acrylics, its bloppy, sloppy and smooshy and when I paint on porcelain I tend to be very heavy handed. But I'm happy with the way she looks!

She is going to be a lady doll, dressed in fashionable period garb from the 1900's, a little horse hair stuffed bustle, black stockings that sport tiny embroidered white flowers on them that will sit just above her knees, a wasp waisted silk gown and tiny handmade leather shoes.

An antique leather opera length glove was used to create

a beautiful, shapely soft body for her that will rival her faint complexion!

Old cotton stuffing to plumpen her bum,

and just a few stitches on the toes to seal her all up!

There, languid, long and lovely!

Two pretty, dainty porcelain hands with teensy painted accents to create a slight hint of realism.

I do love a fancy girl with a far away look in her eyes, don't you!

I can't seem to make up her mind... shall she be a dusky hued Brunette?

I think this little mohair wig makes her look very sophisticated,

but she might be need'n to wear

a pair of glasses with this choice!

Lets see...

Maybe an innocent, sugar sweet angel haired blonde?

See how much it changes her personality.

Or she could even be...

a strawberry fiery Redhead!

Which color to you think suits her personality best?

Well either way, one day very soon she will be a prim and proper lady and I will bring her back and share the finished doll with you.

And now, in the Spirit of the Holiday Season

and in salute and tribute to all of you Creative Women out there...

I'm having a Giveaway! Just leave a comment telling me which color hair you like best, and on the 19th of December I will announce the winner of my "Creative Woman" print, it is on a 9" x 12" canvas and finished out in delicate, blue clouds of smooshy dabs of acrylic paint! And just in case you are interested I do have 2 of these available in my Etsy Shop, see you soon!

Holiday Art and Artifacts

I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is next week and Christmas is right around the corner! Where has this year gone?! I am busy making lists of everything that needs to get done between now and then, food that needs to be purchased and baked, gifts that need to be selected and wrapped... I realized I needed a place to keep all of this info readily available. So here we are,

I just added these pretty little lined linen journals to my Etsy shop and just in time too! The covers on them were created using rare copies from my private collection of antique European fashion plate engravings.

You will find each has a hand sketched inspiration and personal message written inside the last page.

I have reconfigured and hand painted these engravings to give them a fresh new style and look.

They are approximately 6" x 9" a very convenient size and have 90 lined pages.

There are even a couple of designs well suited for the man in your life.

It's the perfect place for him to keep his "honey do" list!

I've also been working on some different types of Christmas tree ornaments for my Etsy shop as well.

I wanted to make something a little out of the ordinary this year.

I have a wonderful antique illustrated copy of

The Night Before Christmas, circa 1896. It is printed on linen pages and in beautiful condition.

I used some of my favorite images from that old book, along with the antique hot air balloon images, which by the way

has always been the way I imagined Santa delivering his gifts to everyone! In my Christmas "story" the reindeer are back at the North Pole having a big ole Christmas party with all of their little woodland friends! It sounds festively romantic to me and more jolly of Santa to give them the night off don't you think?!

I have also decided to celebrate the holidays this year in a not so traditional way.

These whimsical heirloom ornaments are rustic, peaceful, beautiful and meaningful.

I am imagining a simple, serene holiday, warmed by wooden logs and hot cider.

The glass orb ornaments are filled with memories

which are kept frozen, forever sealed within.

Placed upon a bed of excelsior are "her" trinkets,

scattered about... a ring she once wore upon her tiny finger,

a tattered scrap of rose colored silk flounce that belonged to her very favorite dress,

you know, the one she wore every chance she got!

Pressed posies she picked on a warm summers day when thoughts of Winters chill was far, far away!

There is even a precious braided lock of hair that still retains the color of her vibrant youth.

They also contain a few Victorian glass buttons and last but not least

an image of "her" a dainty little paper cameo peers out from within! So thats how I am imagining my holidays... How are you imagining yours? And Yes... to be sure, Wishing you and your a Festive, Fun and Happy THanksgiving too!