'Tis the Season.

Yesterday's to-do list, check.

Shop Small, Shop Local.

I'm in the gallery and everything looks so lovely so I started snapping pictures, lots of pictures, pictures of all of it.
Colorful paintings.

Santa slates.

More Santas, he's everywhere now 'a days.

an Octopus bag atop a handmade cabinet.

Cheese platters.

Hand warmers, scarves, and ornaments.

Fairies

and more fairies.

Handpainted Capiz Shells.

Handcrafted dragon puzzles.

Landscapes.

Fiber art.

Little Birdies.

Tree toppers.

Socks to keep your feet warm.

Batik bags.

And more ornaments.

Photos of an OU Construction site.

They're just abstract enough.

Festive garb.

Warm cozy scarves.

Beadwork.

Flowers in the middle of winter!

Love mugs.

Far out Santa Bells.

Pursettes.

Luscious luscious platters.

Each one more fabulous than the next.

A place to stash your jewelery.

Journals.

Salad bowls.

A wall of Owls.

Felt hats, so chic.

Salt 'n Peppers.

And if that's not enough, you could even win one of these baskets packed full of handmade items.

There's so much wonderful artwork in here I thought I'd share.  By the way, this lovely place is Starbrick Gallery on the historic downtown square of Nelsonville, Ohio. Come one come all!

Its real nice that so many people shop local.  The small galleries and shops appreciate you!

Take the Curlers Out First.

A morning watercolour.

Roots?  Flowers?

The Moon is a balloon.  A Malloon?

...dream with open eyes...


Here's this person.

There's a bug on his shoulder.

It needs more...

And her.

Good advice, after all, there's cameras everywhere.

Early Christmas Cheer and Grunge Sink Joy.

His belt's too tight, his hands are cold, and he's having trouble with the string lights.


This is a vintage-shop (junk) frame I painted bright red.  Had to do it, had to.

After working on that Santa and cleaning out my brushes I couldn't help but notice how happy the grungy art sink was.

Can't you just feel the happiness here?

Painting these Santas has put me right into the Christmastime spirit.
A lot of people complain about Christmas starting too early, but I'm in.  Let's get this party started.
Several years ago I finally succeeded in simplifying and spending less money.  It was the best Christmas ever.  I didn't think I would be able to ever do it.  Let's face it, we all want to give our kids the best biggest and brightest.  But it finally happened (after years of trying).  I cut way back on the gifting and the spending and the obligations and we simplified.  I made a list of the holiday happenings and then looked it over and really thought about it, about which ones we actually enjoyed and which ones we were just doing because it was tradition, habit.

I watched the teens trading gifts a few years back.  Small, inexpensive very sweet gestures filled with so much stinkin' love that it almost made me cry.  They were so happy smiling and trading goodies and laughing.  It sounds so stupid but it was a moment in time that I'll never forget.  They were the sweetest little gifts filled with thoughtfulness.  The feeling it gave me has never left me and I cherish that memory.  Time, love, laughter, attention, those are the things that make the gift trading so meaningful-not how much you spend.

One year my mother crocheted 4 afghans, one for each of us.  We live in a drafty old farmhouse so mornings are chilly.  We all got up on Christmas morning and we opened those first.  We all immediately wrapped up in our afghan and proceeded to open the rest of the presents all snuggled up in love.  Best gift ever.

I've never taken it off.