Queen of Hearts Doll

 A new Queen of Hearts to start the new year off right. She's looking for a new kingdom to reign in as she has grown bored with her current location.

 She's asked her personal maid to get out her best gown, complete with dotted swiss, embroidered flowers, and layers of sheer tulle under skirt.

 Many of her elements are hand created, with careful attention to detail. We wouldn't want to make the Queen mad you know.

Stop by my ebay listing to learn more about her. Search AHA art.

Angels Among Us....A Valentine Keep

 I'm making a mad dash in to share my newest creation listed at our American Holiday Artists Studios Marketplace.

 Her head is hand sculpted, with feather wings attached. She has a metal heart pocket, perfect for tucking little Valentines or treats in.

She is dressed up with antique buttons, lace, and a tiny rose necklace. Stop by our studios to learn more about her. I'm off to take care of the in-laws for a couple of days. Hope you have a wonderful Monday, oh and Tuesday as well. ;-)

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours a a very happy holiday season. May peace, joy and love fill your homes.

Two Heads.....WIPS

I left my sanding block at home so these fellows will have to wait on that before I can continue with them. A Santa and a snowman that will have to make their debut another time. What's the delay? Baking, wrapping gifts, helping friends, dinners, and well.... just life can be the roadblock or the slight delay depending on your mindset. So I'm preferring to look at it as a slight delay, and thus perhaps turn them into more than I'd originally planned. These will both be dolls which is exciting for me. I've always wanted to create a Santa doll so I'm taking the time to do it. What are you working on right now, or have you set aside creativity for the holidays?

What do a snowman and a Santa have in common?

 What do they have in common?
1. They both have to do with Christmas, at least these do...
2. They are both made out of gourds....okay these two are....:-)

3. They can both be found on ebay! These would make special gifts for that someone special, so if you're looking for a last minute gift idea you've come to the right place. Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you are enjoying the season.

Paper Snowflake Tutorial

 Paper snowflakes are so easy that I learned to do them as a child. We would start with an 8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper.

 Take a corner and bring it over to the opposite edge, making a square. Cut off the excess strip.

 I know this doesn't look square, it's just the way to fold  makes the paper sit on the tablecloth. Now,

 fold your paper over in half, hot dog style. Next you will fold this in half, hamburger style. See below.

 Now you have a smaller square. Next you will fold the square on the folded point in thirds see below. This is folded to the outer edge, but it's popped up.The upper edges should be open edges, no folds.

 Now take a peek inside and see the lower edge in there? You will want to cut the top off even with the shortest corners.

 Taa daah! Oh, that notebook in the background is hubby's day timer. It's his life, if it ever disappeared he would need therapy. ;-)

 Now you decide which edge will be your longer points and start cutting down into the middle of the cone shape, twisted and curving to your heart's content.

 Then you start on the other side and work your way down to the small point, but not all the way through.

 You should have something that looks like this. Now start on the outside edges and make little nips and cuts here and there if you like. Or you can stop where you are and open. I personally and detail crazy so I keep going.

 You can even cut the very tip at the bottom point of your shape.

 Now you are ready for the unveiling of your beautiful creation. Isn't this exciting??? I love to see them unfold and open up as a snowflake blooming.

 Whaalaa! So now, you may say, hmmmm I want the shorter points even shorter so go back and fold this all up, (good luck) and trim off the tips of the shorter points if you wish. Or, next time, make them short in the first place, ;-).

You can prick a tiny hole and string filament through one point to hang from a window, or tree, or where ever. I usually iron these flat with a dry iron after I'm done making them. Good luck, and have fun!

Snowflake Tree

The other night some friends had what they call a snowflake party. They invite several people/families to come over and help cut out snowflakes to decorate their tree. There are no other ornaments on the tree, just snowflakes. It was a nice get together, with food and chatting, and then they got to playing the piano and there was singing and a lot of fun. I LOVE cutting out paper snowflakes! Here's one that I did to show how my mom taught us to cut snowflakes. No two are a like, as in real snowflakes, and they turn out beautifully. Check back and I will give instructions if you are interested. So now, others know what Mom taught us, and her legacy lives on...... in snowflakes.

Winter's Tranquility

This little fellow is all finished now and ready to find a new home on ebay. For all who stop by here's a lovely poem I found in a 1968 Ideals Christmas publication that goes with this wintry scene.

 WINTER'S TRANQUILITY

Ned Nichols

The snow has fallen gently

On meadow tree and brush

To create a tranquil silence,

An almost sacred hush.

 To view a winter landscape

At such a time as this

Is to know a deep contentment,

An unearthly kind of bliss.

It serves to make one humble

To feel His blessings flow

When God speaks in a whisper

With the lovely silent snow.

Glitter or not, here he comes.....

 Sometimes it's a wrestle I go through to decide whether to glitter or not. The dilemma is the fear that if I glitter it will take away from or cover too much, the painted scene on the snowman's "globe".

I've wanted to do some stencil style paintings on a piece or two, and yet, I'm wondering if I'm completely done with this piece now.

The other dilemma is the red pom pom, does it belong, or should it go? Either way, I will be posting this fellow on ebay tonight, depending on whether I get him completely finished or not. So here's a call out to my fellow artists, what do you think, glitter or no, red pom or should it go?

A Blue Christmas.....

 The first time I saw a color theme for Christmas decorating that differed from the traditional red and green was when I was in 2nd grade. We had come back from Taiwan earlier in the year where we had bought a living room set made from Teak wood with dark turquoise cushions. The drapes had a peacock feather pattern with a white background and again had the same shade of dark turquoise throughout. So Mom gathered some paraffin wax, candle wicking, our broken crayons, and empty frozen juice containers. She created, with our help, the prettiest column candles to put on her brass dragon candle holders we brought back from Taiwan as well. After the candles were firm, she took more melted paraffin and whipped it with her hand mixer until it resembled snow. She topped the lovely candles with the "snow" and sprinkled on glitter. They were so beautiful we didn't want to burn them, so we didn't....lol. That year we had a turquoise colored Christmas, with other turquoise and white decorations to go along with the candles she made. It was so pretty!

 After I set up homemaking and and tending my babies I bought several books and such on Christmas and found that there are many color schemes people like, such as blue and white, purple and gold, maroon and forest green, white, or white and pink, the possibilities are endless!

For those who like the blue and white theme, I've created this blue and white Santa, made from an empty Caesar's Palace shampoo bottle. He's only 5 1/2 inches tall, so he would tuck in anywhere. Right now he's available on ebay .

What color scheme or theme to you like for Christmas? Do you change each year, or stay the same with an addition or two? I'm traditional, but I can see that having different themes in each room might be fun!

Saying goodbye to Thanksgiving

With a bit of sadness I put away Thanksgiving yesterday. The weekend went by way too fast and now it seems as if we are hurdling toward the end of the year at lightening speed! Where has the time gone? Into the tote went the Indian corn and hand carved log pumpkins that I made a few years ago here in Utah, the Indian string doll family that was created almost 20 years ago when we lived in Alaska, went in the box with the hand carved Indian maiden gourd ornament from Diane McNaughton, as well as my new pumpkin ornaments for my new feather tree from Willow Springs Family Farm. I had just barely got the new ornaments done and now they are put away until next year..... already. The ceramic turkey condiment set I got in Alabama this year is stashed in the buffet and all is ready for Christmas.

Gee, when I think about it, my Autumn/Thanksgiving decor is a gathering of memories and times in nine different homes. Next year I hope to have more ornaments created for my feather tree. Perhaps some bluish green pumpkins, some beeswax turkeys and some tiny Indian corn.
It's certainly looking like Christmas outside right now, with skiffs of snow on the ground and dusting our desert peaks. So tonight I finish setting out the Nativity, getting the tree ready to decorate, and hanging the garlands with lights. The Santa collection is out on the breakfast bar already, and the wreath is on the door. The ribbons are hung on the cabinet doors in the living room, waiting for the first Christmas cards of the year to arrive. The wind is much too cold to be outside in, so decorating the porch will have to wait until things get warmer.
So goodbye Thanksgiving, until next year. Things will be different then, they are already changing. Let's hope and pray it will be for the better......

Thanksgiving Day preview and well wishes for a safe and happy holiday.

So you thought I would show you a fancy turkey dinner, huh? Not so my happy friends! Tomorrow is the update for American Holiday Artists Studios Marketplace so here's a quick preview of what I have to offer. Knowing that you will probably be busy tomorrow with family and or friends, I thought I would give you a little tease and hope to see you back on Friday. No, I'm not doing the Black Friday thing, we are already most of the way there in regards to gift purchasing and will just enjoy some time in Salt Lake City, and maybe a movie Friday night.

 From the Parson's home to yours, may you have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

A Johanna Parker Giveaway!

Okay, I'm in the mood to torture myself with dashed hopes so I'm sharing this link with you. The talented and oh so creative Johanna Parker is having a giveaway at her blog of this darling candy cane holder! There are many ways to enter, so let your fingers run, not walk to Johanna Parker Design to learn the details. I hope I win, I hope I win, I hope I win..........

Speaking of color....

 My beautiful Autumn feather tree I bought from Benita at Willow Springs Family Farm is standing naked since I took Halloween down and put it all away so I decided to put my red paint down and create some pumpkins to hang on it. These are a bit rough but I experimented with different ways to layer or wrap the clay around the foil balls and now they are drying. I can see that I want to use some great brown twig like wire for the stems the next go around and perhaps foam balls instead, but these were fun, and once painted will be great! Just like regular pumpkins, no two look alike which is what I like.

On the topic of color, have you ever walked into a room full of people and noticed that many of them have the same color of clothing on? I noticed that yesterday when I arrived at the twin's home. Mom and older sister were wearing the same turquoise blue although different tops. I asked Mom if they color coordinated and she laughed stating she hadn't even noticed. I pick up on this a lot. For instance the people on the Bank of America commercial playing on the Food Network right now all have a shade of gray on, whether it's a dress, shirt or slacks, each person has gray on. I wonder if it has to do with keeping the clothing tones subtle so you will hear the message and not be distracted by what they are wearing? It's the first time I've watched a commercial and noticed something like that. Often when I go to church several of my friends will have the same color on. It too is as if we all color coordinated. What is most interesting is that it's not always a seasonal color. I probably notice it even more now that I lead the music during Sacrament meeting. I can see everyone from where I sit or stand so I get to watch who's sleeping, (including hubby), who's wrestling with their children, who looks bored stiff and who is paying attention and enjoying what they are hearing.
Thank goodness for color I say! What a drab world we would live in if we didn't have the variety of color all around us. It's back to playing with more white stuff before I pull out my paint drawer and decide what color to paint my next creation. Taa Taa!

I've been told that red sells best....

 If it seems that I've been stuck in the "red" mode, I've been told red sells best when it comes to Santa figures. What is your experience? On ebay it can be a crap shoot of sorts, as I've had people go crazy over purple Santa pieces, and blue, not so much the antique white although I happen to like them very much. I've never done  a pink suited Santa or Belsnickle but have seen some very lovely ones.
Anyhew....the 3 Santa ornaments on the right are a commission for a friend. The other one is up for grabs.

This Santa is for my friend's mother so I have to keep her name a secret....:-). I'm so grateful for friends who are willing to give me a chance to create something special for their loved ones. It makes creating more personal. 

So back to the red thingy, do you think red Santas sell best or does it matter?

By the by, if you are looking for some great one of a kind pieces to give as gifts this holiday season, our American Holiday Artists Studios Marketplace still has a few highly collectible goodies to snag. If you have a moment please stop by and see what our artists have been up to. We will also be updating on the 25th of November so stop by then as well. Hope you have a wonderful evening.

I'm seeing red....

 I've been working on Santa figures for days so now I'm seeing red everywhere. Red in the kitchen, red in the studio, red in the computer room.... RED!!!! RED is my favorite color though so it's all good.

 I've got several pieces almost done for a friend as well as my AHA Studios Marketplace update pieces... no, no, no you can't see them yet... :-) The 25th will be the unveiling.

 This handsome fellow is now on ebay for your consideration. His hat is designed to use as the hanger so you don't have to hunt for a hanger every year.

He has vintage fruits and leaves from Blumchens as well as vintage mica "snow".  A one of a kind Victorian old world style Santa to add to your collection.