Seasonal, Holiday, Christmas Cards

 I'm giving up buying and sending out Christmas cards this year because like a lot of people, I simply can't afford it.

Instead I'm devoting my time to designing new ones for my zazzle stores so that I will be well prepared for next year.

The bright side of this is that once I submit the new designs to zazzle I can send the prototypes and mockups to some of the special people at the top of my Christmas List.

I'm just getting started with a warm holiday beverage.

I'm going to use the middle of this cup for holiday designs that I already have on zazzle. Which should save time and energy on drawing.

This image was cut out by hand and mounted on red construction paper to make my first card.

This second design never saw print. I wasn't quite satisfied with it so I just painted it up and mailed it.

Sorry friend, it doesn't mean that I love you any less, I'm just too thrifty to throw it away and I have to get back to work.

Christmas tree practice didn't go well so I'm off to zazzle to use the Christmas trees that I had drawn and painted in better days.

Wish Me Luck,

Julia

Sunday Afternoon

It's been a quiet weekend, tending the tomatoes, doing a bit of painting and designing for zazzle.

Watched some Holiday Movies, did a bit of texting and e-mail and of course took a nap. It was pleasant but dull.

The most exciting thing was the appearance of the first tomatoes.

There are more details on both the tomatoes and the sweater project on the old posts by those titles.

Feeling good about the week

I finished making 3 hats and donating them to a program for the homeless.

I finished the painting I'm doing for my sister's Christmas present.

I finished more drawings to base designs on.

I designed 100's of new products to go into my stores at Zazzle and Cafe press

I made a lot of amazing mail for the special people in my life that keep me going through all my troubles.

I'm sure there are things I've forgotten to mention but these are the things I'm proudest of and I'm looking forward to an assortment of projects next week.

Starting a Christmas Drawing

I started in this in watercolor pencil. I scanned it in at this point so you can see how much difference it makes whether you add ink and outline or not.

When I completed it I went to Zazzle to see how it would work as a repeat pattern on paper and fabric.

I'm having lots of fun with it on all sorts of products. It's amazing to see how the same image looks in an assortment of sizes, angles and arrangements.

I'm hoping others will like the way some of these have turned out and that I'll be able to write soon and let you know that there have been lots of sales of this simple image

Holiday for the worktable

 I'm sure this doesn't look like much to most people but the candle ring is from my sister in law,the fabric was from my Mom and the imari pattern china is from the very first set of dishes I ever picked out back in the 1970's. Of course guys don't generally like to use tiny teacups so the mug is from our product line at Zazzle. The image on it is from a Christmas stocking I made about 20 years ago. These are the things that make it special to us.

I was surprised to discover that almost all of the thread I have left around here is heavy hand quilting thread so the sewing machine wasn't an option which of course explains why I was only able to hem the table topper in time for Christmas. In the background you can see that there's a LOT more of this fabric I can do things with for next year. I think it's time to ask Mom "what were you thinking?" and see if she'd still like to have any of the things she wanted to make. I'll do that today before I make any plans for the rest of it.

As you can see, most of my projects didn't go very far but it helped to make that list and set some priorities for them so I'll tackle the most important ones first when I get back to work
.

In the meantime I plan to enjoy things, how about you?

Fast, Easy and Cheap

 A lot of public spaces don't let you put any decorations up but there happened to be a hook on that wall just perfect for an old wreath. All I needed to do was make a quick bow to brighten it up a bit. This time of year you can find a lot of decorations on recycling sites for free. Even without cash there's ALWAYS something you can do to brighten things up.

Crocheting can be useful. I made the afghan we tossed over the organ and a friend crocheted the mats under the centerpieces. Yes, in the background is one of those old fireplace videos to help set the mood in the room.

The centerpieces themselves are just made from chunks of birch bark, bits of ribbon and holiday greens.(these are cloth and plastic but you can use anything you've got) There's a small hole drilled in the top for a battery operated candle. The greens are stapled on the side and a bow is tied around it to hide the staple. They're 3 of my favorite things: Fast, Easy and cheap.

Anything you've got leftover can be tossed into a vase to add a festive touch just about anywhere.

Surprise packages

Just as I was in the middle of making a batch of cards to answer my mail and get started on Christmas a package of my newest designs arrived from Zazzle. My work is improving and I've got plenty of things to send out for the season.

That being the case I may pack up the card making supplies and use that table to start on the slipcover I want to make for one of our kitchen chairs so that it can be used in the living room.

Of course there are so many projects going on here that it's anyone's guess which one will hit the table first.

The other wonderful package that arrived today was a box of wrapped Christmas presents from a friend. They're the only things under my tree this year so whatever they turn out to be they've already brightened the season and improved my mood.

I'm so grateful to everyone that's helped us through the years, the art couldn't happen without them.

Thanks again to all of my "art angels"

Before and After Recycle Challenge

Tiny Trees

Quite a makeover from the burlap bag to the gold flower pot, isn't it?

Reindeer Rehab

 Paper mache reindeer with a broken antler glued back in place.

 The repair was painted over and then I began adding ribbon and bows to make them a bit more festive.

 They look happier already.

3 for 1 Christmas Special

Making the most of your images with a computer and scanner:


1. Scan your Christmas card or envelope just as you've drawn or painted it.

2.Add branches, pine cones, holiday greens or holly and berries.

3. Scan again.

4. use permanent ink to add outlines and details.

5. scan again.

You've now got 3 very different images from the same piece of art work.

Would you like to see examples? If so, be sure to check one of the boxes at the end of the post or leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

Exit the Knitting Machine, bring on the Holidays

 Don't worry, it's just been packed away a while so that I can focus on other things. It was impossible for company to stop by with that much equipment filling up the room and I was getting a bit lonesome.

 It was nice to have everything out long enough to get it all sorted out again. I sold a few pattern books I didn't need anymore so it helped with my plan for organizing and downsizing around here as well.

 Doesn't this look a bit better? We made some hot, spiced cider and settled in for some holiday movies. Yes, that sofa has seen better days but then again so have we...OK, you can stop laughing now...

Yes, I made the afghan. I'll be drawing and painting the flowers soon. You'll be seeing the new work as soon as I finish each piece.

Working with Fresh Holly around the house

 Tossed in the scanner

 Sitting in the livingroom

 Tossed on the sofa

Out in the Kitchen

I had SO much fun! More Christmas Stuff

 I had so much fun "playing" with our Christmas stockings yesterday that I pulled this tote bag out of storage (I'd been trying to sell it for a couple of years and had given up on it). Who knows, this may look nice on products too.

 This is a detail view of the back of the bag.

 These are detail views of another couple of Christmas stockings.

 I'm feeling more hopeful this year thanks to the support and kindness of so many of you. It may be a Happy Holiday Season yet- Thanks SO much!!!

Special Thanks to those of you shopping my stores this season. I couldn't do this without you.

Crazy Christmas Ideas

 We threw our Christmas Stockings into the scanner so that we can see what all of the patchwork, embroidery and bead work that I did all of those years ago will look like on products at Zazzle.

 How's this for a green Christmas idea? It's fun to see the things you love in new ways, it's my favorite way to recycle this season and I'm hoping that everyone else will love it too.

Believe it or not that "quarter" is really a button, we thought it might bring us luck. One of my sisters made all of the little plastic charms so this whole project is full of positive energy and good wishes-no wonder it makes me feel good.

Sunflowers for Christmas

 The idea of sunflowers for Christmas sounds pretty crazy but I had just finished a big acrylic painting of sunflowers and was trying to switch gears and start designing some Christmas cards. These are watercolors and it's probably no surprise that as I began working the shape of the Christmas tree, I found myself continuing to paint sunflowers.

I kind of like the way it turned out but as you can see see I scanned it at a couple of different stages in case I overworked it. Scanning your project each step of the way is a great back up plan. I wish I'd thought of it years ago and it's the best tip I can give anyone to save them from frustration and disappointment.