Thanksgiving for all my Blog friends Giveaway

Originally called the Macy’s Christmas Parade, the parade started in 1924. It initially featured live animals, but they were replaced by larger-than-life balloons a few years later. The first balloon was modeled after Felix the Cat, photo c. 1932
Just as the Thanksgiving Parade at Macy's announces Christmas and the joy of little children's illustrations like Felix the Cat and Garfield. I am giving away one of my Ornaments that feature a illustration from my in process childrens book on a Christmas Nisse.

I want to know of all my friends who visit me on my blog. I am so THANKFUL for you. Some of you I know because I hear from you in the comments. So as a thank you for coming I am having a mini giveaway.

Please leave a comment on any post up to Dec. 4th 11pm est. I will pick a name out of the hat to find the winner. Please be sure I have a email or way to contact you.
Thank you so much for making my blogging experience so wonderful these past two years. And thank you for all of your encouragement and love. I think of you and hope my little art works and musings bring you joy. I have grown in confidence so much from your support.

May your this years Thanksgiving be a real Blessing!

Christmas Blog Party!

We Love Christmas Coco and I!
A sneeky peek. We decorated for the Christmas Blog Party...listening to Christmas songs and making it all glittery snowy Christmas at our house.

Coco cordially invites to you to the Christmas Party.

We can't wait to visit your house too!

Gabrielle Coco doll

Using Marionette arms it makes it so fun to move them.
Still using Coco for inspiration for clothing.

COCO BEFORE CHANEL: Coco and her Hat

"COCO and Her Hat" a 1912 Coco Channel Art Doll
Posted on Etsy today click here


I saw the most wonderful movie this weekend. The scenes were so beautiful. Coco Channel used black and white as her signature colors. There is a key at the beginning of the movie that tells you why. I wear black and white the most when I want to look smart and think it is so elegant.

The gorgeous scenes have been dancing through my head. So it inspired me to rework a couple of my dolls. Their clothing touches my heart deeply. I were lace as much as I can as well. Antique lace is so very romantic.

She is inspired by the movie about Coco Channel. The scenes from the early 1900's had beautiful clothing. Black and White where signature colors for Coco as well as pearls.

She started her clothing company by making hats so her straw hat is befitting this little Coco doll.

Here shawl is antique lace. And the pearl on her neck is from my mothers button box and came off a elegant 1960's dress that would have been from the height of Coco' 60's Classic Jacket period.

Snowflake Princess Christmas Ornament

You can't see it but the netting over her face has a lovely crystal glitter embedded in it so that she has her own little magical winter world.

I used a wonderful antique gold thread so that she will sparkle even more on the tree.

I placed her on Etsy this morning. I looked at the Holiday Ornaments on Etsy yesterday. I think everyone in the world put on ornaments yesterday! There were 500 or more just listed on Nov. 14th. I guess everyone is thinking Christmas this weekend.

Christmas Gnome Tomte Nisse Etsy Post!

It is Christmas at my house! I didn't want Christmas to come before Thanksgiving but it just seems to creep up anyway! But I love Christmas and this little Gnome is a big part of my Christmas. I have been painting Gnomes or rather Tomte or Nisse since my son was born in the 70's. I was enchanted with Snow white as a child and was so delighted by her little 7 dwarfs. When I went to England I discovered Gnomes and finally found Scandinavian Tomte and Nisse. So this little guy is a part of my Christmas tradition.

I took an old beloved illustration I paint several years ago while developing my children's book character. He he is not the little boy Nisse in my story but I like him so much. I think he would be a great Christmas card. Some day I need to send him to a card company.

I wanted to paint on him a little more. I decided to use my new digital skills. I have learned so many magical things using digital painting techniques. So I took the drawing and added fun star sparkles and snow and such that makes him ever so much more lovely. I put him on Etsy for sale as a print today.
Next I was asked by some artists friends to be part of a very small ornament swap. So out came these little Ornaments. I used all the wonderful things I learned Art Fiber Fest this past June. (Many from Ruth Rae)
It was so cool to go to the fabric store and find Glitter netting to lay over my Gnome and give him his very own little snowstorm! You can't see it in the photo but they sparkle and glitter and I look forward to seeing them on the tree when the twinkle lights hit him!

I will post the rest of them each day as I put them up on Etsy. I have 3 more different ones.

Klimt Inspired "Austrian Musician in a Red Scarf" finished

I finished the painting. I wanted to use gold leaf but couldn't find mine. So I used gold oil paint. I thing it works because the gold doesn't fight with the figure.

It was fun to push my self. And of course my sweet brother "Sir Harald" from Wells Austria loves it. He lives very close to were Klimt spent his vacations on the lake. Isn't it interesting that we my husband I are blessed to have friends in Austria. I never dreamed I would get to go to Austria and have friends in Klimt land!