A Bit of Snow

I woke up this morning to it snowing outside.  The snow didn't end up sticking around but it was sure pretty to watch.  We had a wonderful, relaxing holiday.  My daughter and her husband came to our house Christmas Eve.  Of coarse our son was home too.  But, he lives with us so that was no surprise.  We have a big old house so, there is plenty of room for everyone.  Lois was happy to have company in the house and was busy keeping track of every one's coming and goings.   I'm lucky enough to still have my parents around and they were with us Christmas morning.  I don't know how everyone else does Christmas but, we open gifts Christmas morning and we do it one at a time.  For example, if my daughter is opening a gift, we all stop and watch and see who the gift is from and then someone else takes a turn.  It takes a long time.  So, we take a break at some point and have breakfast and then continue with the opening.  I know this may sound boring but it's not, and it's nice to see what everyone gets and also to see the reaction on their face is priceless.  When I was a kid, Christmas morning was mayhem.  So, I made a decision to do it different with my family.  When my kids were little I think they liked that the day stretched out and they got to enjoy every moment.  I mean it's just one day in our lives.  But, it is the most special day of the year.  

New Illustration

Well, I finished a new illustration.  It was created for the Tomie dePaola Award sponsored by SCBWI. Which is the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.  But, you guys know that already I'm sure.  So, I'm attending the 2011 conference this year and part of the goings on at the conference is the Tomie dePaola award.  It's a really good award if you are lucky enough to win it.  The winner receives a trip to the conference plus $1000.00 in art supplies.  OMG!!!!  Makes my heart pump a little faster just thinking about it.  Oh how I love art supplies!  So, this year the award was all about illustrating a paragraph out of the book Heidi.  Oh, how I love Heidi!  I'm thinking this is perfect for me. I used to pretend I was Heidi when I was a little girl.  I didn't have a goat or a friend named Peter, but I had a good imagination and I liked cheese a lot.  Anyway, it's a classic story and I'm happy that Tomie picked this story to be illustrated.   Okay, so here is my rendition of Heidi going up the mountain to soon meet her Grandfather.  Hope you like it and I hope Tomie likes it too.

Tis the Season!

Happy Monday everyone!  I worked all weekend long and finished 10 more small paintings.  So, this morning I hauled them all down to the little gallery were my holiday show is happening.  They are really nice people at this gallery but I'm tired of painting and want to decorate my house.  I didn't used to put any holiday decorations out until after my birthday on the 11th but I do now.  I like it.  I don't know why I had that rule.  I think part of why I didn't put stuff out early was because my kids went nuts over Christmas and just about drove me crazy.  But, they are grown up now and think I'm pretty nutty so turn around is fair play I say. This will be a wonderful Christmas I think.  Last year I was recovering from thyroid cancer surgery and just laying around trying not to move my head too much.  This year I get to enjoy and do what ever.  It's heavenly.  Although I am very thankful that all went well with my health issues.  I'm going to Portland Friday morning to see my surgeon for my one year check up.  But, I'm pretty sure I'm fine.  Well, I'm off to eat a candy cane.  You guys have one too!

A Happy Day

Well, I just wanted to let my 25 loyal followers know that I did hear from the fabric company I've been talking to, and they did offer me a contract.  I have accepted and I hope something fun will happen soon with my designs. I signed with Quilting Treasures.  Once again it just goes to show that if you work hard and hang in there, good things will come.  Also, my good friend Janet put in a good word for me too and that helped a lot.  So, thanks Janet.  I hope you know what a good person you are.  But, on another note.  I have to paint my weekend away.  My little holiday show went up on Wednesday and I've already sold 15 paintings. I was so happy to be finished with that show, but alas, I must not be charging enough.  So, I'm back to painting again, so the walls will not be empty.  I had painted a total of 32 paintings.  It's a good thing and I am very pleased that folks are liking my artwork enough to pay money for them. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Finished Projects

I did it.  I finished some fabric designs and also my little holiday show.  Well, the show goes up Dec. 1.  I'll try and take some photos to show all of you.  Really, I stopped painting holiday art on Sunday evening.  Just couldn't do it anymore.  I love the Christmas season and I thought if I don't stop soon I'm going to be sick of all this fun stuff.  So, I packed up my paint and brushes and put it all away.  Done.  I'm kind of like that, I give myself a deadline and most of the time I stick to it.  Seems to keep me plugging along when I need to.  Here is a peek at the main floral design and a couple more from the fabric I designed.  I hope they like it.  I would really like to have a contract in my hot little hands.  Well, now that I'm kind of caught up with most of my work, maybe I will think about Christmas and what on earth I will get for everyone in my family.  My daughter is pretty easy.  She tells me things she would like.  My son on the other hand.  Jeez, he is hard to buy for.  That sweet little boy is a sweet man now.  But, he won't tell me what he wants.  Oh, well. I'll figure it out.  Have a great week everyone and thanks for all the support.

Everything Happens at Once

Well, our Thanksgiving holiday is over.  This is the one time of year that my whole family gets together.  It's quite the group.  I'm talking all my aunts and uncles, cousins, their kids, babies, plus some stray folks we bring along cause they don't have a place to go.  Okay, their were 40 people at my aunts house.  The noise level was pretty high.  So, this nice day to see everyone turns out okay but I couldn't hear anything they said.  So, I think it was a nice day.  Not sure.
I'm posting this piece of art because I feel like all my projects are due at the same time.  Why does this always happen?  My holiday show goes up Dec. 1.  Fabric project is due Dec. 1.  All the SCBWI projects are due soon as well.  Oh, my!  I can do it.  I think.  Have a great weekend everyone!

It's Tea Time

What a cold Autumn day.  It's really cold outside and I think it is slowly seeping into my house.  So, I think it's time for a nice pot of tea.  Warms me up and wakes me up too.  What a bargain.  They said on the news this morning that it might snow by Saturday.  Now for some of you this is probably normal but we get a lot of rain in Oregon but hardly any snow.  Well, some parts of Oregon get snow just not my part.  So, I'm making a list for the market so if I'm stuck at home in the snow I'll have plenty of cookies and tea.  My favorite thing.

On a side note.  Lois and I met some other corgi's this morning.  Ollie and Jeepers, a boy and a girl corgi.  Their people were Juanita and Eric.  The people seemed nice but Ollie and Jeepers didn't seem to like us very well.  Now, I just have to say, it's not everyday you meet a Juanita.  I just like to say it over and over.  I kind of hope we become good friends so I can say her name all time in my regular conversation.  Hmmm, I'll give that some thought.  As my friend Doris Day used to sing, "what will be, will be".  On that note.  Have a great weekend everyone.