Just Couldn't Bear to Say Good-Bye

Christmas was somewhat anti-climatic for me this year.  I was swept up in creating inventory for Halloween and Christmas sales since early last spring 2011 that by the time Christmas arrived, the only icon I could muster was my little pre-lit 3-foot Christmas tree.  There it stands, twinkling every evening since mid-December, trying its best to brighten my spirits.  It has become such a wonderful, comforting friend as I sunk in the bog of post-holiday doldrums.

Well, here it is late January and I can't bear to part with my little friend.  We are expecting the entire neighborhood in for an HOA meeting this week and I had to think fast about what I needed to do to save my little friend from any embarrassment.  Sooooo .... I decided to make some little Valentine decorations by taking wooden circles and decoupaging mini vintage ephemera of Old Valentine's Day cards on one side and little glittered hearts on the other side.  I wired the ornaments after sugar-coating them with a glistening of diamond dust glitter.  The little tree already had mini red glass balls and little angels.  I grabbed two favorite sweet rag dolls and placed them side by side in doll chairs.

Next I quickly wrapped a miniature box of Russell Stover chocolates with 1/8" red ribbon and placed an ephemera Valentine envelope in the little boy doll's hands and a miniature Valentine card in the little girl's hands for a romantic gift exchange by the now Sweetheart Tree. 

Now my little tree can continue to bring me joy every evening when at 5 p.m. it blinks awake and sparkles throughout the rest of my evenings and I can change out the decorations for celebrating every upcoming holiday.

Sooooo ... wishing you a romantic, Love-ly and Happy Wintering .....

Sweetheart Tree

Heart Ornament

     

Sweetheart Valentine Exchange

Sweets for my Sweetie

With All My Love

Mini Vintage Valentine Ornament


 

Bewitched, Bothered but Never Bewildered ... not in this Neighborhood!

Tis the month of haunting and enchanting and trick and treating .... and in step with the festivities, a wonderful site for all Halloween fans and collectors, EveryWitch Way Lane,

http://www.everywitchwaylane.blogspot.com/ is the must-see first stop for this holiday of thrills and surprises and all round good fun.

I am happy to announce that I have been included in the Cre8or'sTouch team of artists.  My little wooden vintage Halloween art cards and a few more surprises have been included in the glorious shop of horrors and chills where there are many delights to enchant the hearts of even the most persnickedy witch or wizard collector.

So come one, come all to the greatest Halloween block party ever!!!  From life-sized porch-sitting witches to sparkling Halloween tree ornaments and dazzling gift ideas, the galleries are packed and you'll want to visit Every Witch Way Lane  ... you may never wish to return .....

WOOOO-HA-HA-HA!!

Thrills and Chills ... It's Not Magic, Charlie Brown!!

It's not magic but a lot of fun .... start a new tradition and decorate your Halloween tree, wreath or garland with these vintage art ornaments!

  They are one-of-a-kind and two-sided miniature works of art featuring Halloween vintage art from the early 20th century.  They are sparkled with a fine dusting of glitter and will look magical with your Halloween decor.  These little treasures are featured in my Etsy shop.  So treat yourself to a sneak peek  There are only 11 left: 

www.etsy.com/shop/pollywogpatterns

Another Halloween treat is a stroll down Every Witch Way Lane :  www.everywitchwaylane/blogspot.com ... a delightful jaunt down through this  neighborhood will haunt you with thrilling and chilling artistic creations for the collector's Holidays ...

Beware .....  Patrick Gill and his masterful artists' team will cast a spell of enchantment on all who dare to enter there ....... 

WOOOOO-HA-HA-HA !!!

Just Hear Those Sleigh Bells Jingling .....

With Christmas Day only 97 days away (that's three months and a week, Gang!), my studio has been humming away with a combination of Halloween and Christmas projects in all stages of  production.  In preparation of my upcoming Christmas Home show, the usual designing of dolls and doll-related items have been popping off the drawing board and into reality.

However, my Christmas show partner suggested that perhaps there also should be a consideration of making not only one-of-a-kind items but more affordable and stocking stuffer varieties that could be added to my line.  Well, it was hard to shift gears but the challenge was out there and had to be attempted.

So, here is a suggestion (my version) for all you out there who are in a quandry as to what to make that is artistic, classy and yet affordable as well as desirable for all ranges of those holiday shoppers we are all vying to attract.

I love ephemera and especially Christmas ephemera.  So a variation of an art trading card came to mind.  I designed a wooden card that I sawed from 4 foot planks of poplar, painted and decoupaged the beloved ephemera to the wooden card.  With holes drilled in the top and brass jumprings inserted, I added sprinkles of diamond dust glitter, artificial snow and gilt them with gold paint along the edges.  The back of the "card" has a written wish and when sparkled with a Christmas ribbon at the top .... Voila!  A beautiful gift has appeared ... to be used as an ornament for a Christmas tree, wreath or to embellish that very special Christmas gift.  Need a gift for a special teacher or school nurse or a hostess gift?  Here's your answer.

Mind you, they do take a little time with several steps but believe me, it's worth the trip.  I have even started collecting family Christmas pictures, reducing them, labelling them on the back with names and date of the individuals in the pictures and here is a special ornament for the Christmas tree or start your own "Holiday Family Tree."

Here are some examples to help you start brainstorming:







Back side of ornament









If you're still nervous about starting Christmas before Halloween projects have been completed,  just shift gears and use Halloween vintage ephemera and these little ATCs can be delightful dangling from a Halloween garland or dancing in the boughs of a Halloween feather tree!!

Have fun ...  I'll be posting a mini tutorial on how to create these  shortly.

That's the Spirit II - Boys will Be Boys!!

In an earlier post, my mini pumpkinhead girls made their premier appearance.  Well, we didn't want to shortchange the boys for one of the greatest holidays .... So as an exclusive for you .... This is Where the Boys Are !!!!!!! ....

Introducing Porky PumpkinHead (a 6" mini rag doll) .......  He is soooo excited about gathering candy and introducing PeeWee to the fun of the evening.



Porky

Porky has a younger cousin, PeeWee, who just isn't as confident in the whole concept of Trick or Treating and seems to be a bit hesitant at fully trusting his cousin, Porky, to be looking out for his best interests on this spooky night .....  Here's poor little PeeWee out for his first Halloween:



PeeWee





PeeWee's First Halloween with cousin Porky





Phoebe and Little Polly


The boys will join the girls, Phoebe and Little Polly,  for a night of fun and and frolic, very little tricking (much to Polly's and PeeWee's relief) and much treating.

These little rag dolls are handpainted and ready to join in the Halloween celebrations. 

[Note:  Porky strongly feels that a little pre-holiday tricking is in order so that the younger cousins are properly oriented. ]