And it's off....

Thanksgiving is over. All that's left is the memories and left overs. For many, it's off to the malls early today for Black Friday. Most of my shopping is done. Sunday the tree will go up and the gifts that I've bought will be wrapped and under the tree. I can enjoy Advent and the real meaning of Christmas. Let's not loose sight of what the season is all about! Getting ready for Christmas is getting ready for the birth of Christ! Slow down a minute, take a breath and remember.







Available on Etsy...click here.

My New Passion

Ink on clear glass ornaments.

Alcohol Inks!  Several years ago, I took a class at a painting conference. It was using alcohol inks on dominos to make into pendants. It was fun and I bought a few alcohol inks but I did nothing with it. Fast forward a few years and a facebook friend of mine Riv posted some of her work. One in particular really got my attention so I thought, "hey I've got those inks".

I had plenty of porcelain and glass being a china and decorative painter so I pulled out a few pieces, the inks and alcohol and gave it a whorl. They turned out beautiful. I was pulling out porcelain, antique

Inks on porcelain ornaments enhanced with gold leaf pen.

glass, glass vases, you name it I experimented on it. Alcohol inks are for nonporous surfaces but I pulled out bisc just for grins. That too had interesting results.

The freedom I find in letting the ink do it's abstracted thing is exhilarating.  I have learned this takes a bit of skill but more than that it takes patience. I'm not much of a patient person. I generally like to have immediate results but this is good because it's teaching me to wait and watch as I frequently just do it one drop at a time.

No now I'm obesessed. The next thing will be finding that yugo paper to do larger frameable art! Life is good especially with art....

Making a List....

That's about all. I cannot believe it is this close to Thanksgiving and I'm not done Christmas shopping. I generally start in August. I guess with everything that happened this year loosing Mom and then Dad,

 Handpainted Porcelain

I am happy to say I have 2 people on my list finished but I'm no where close with the others! I may take the easy way out with the DH and just give him a check. I keep asking what he wants for Christmas and he goes "I dunno". Well that's helpful! LOL. I can always come up with a list.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Perhaps after that I will be more in the mood. In the meantime, I'm making a list.........

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The Santa pictured is available in my Etsy Shop. Light him with a mini Christmas light string or put a candle in him..either way he's adorable especially when lit. The photo doesn't do it justice...I'm such a poor photographer.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/62759169/hand-painted-porcelain-santa?ref=shop_home_feat

Craft Show Reflections

Well this year's Christmas Craft Show at Oakdale Circle Studios was a success. Interestingly enough, Friday (the work day) was busier than Saturday (the off day). Crazy stuff. But craft shows are always interesting. You can never figure them out or what sells from year to year.

This year I dabbled in Steam Punk. Now I'm a traditional kinda girl so Steam Punk was a little out of my comfort zone but you never grow if you don't push yourself do ya?

So I china painted a few pieces which are pictured here.  I did a mug, hand mirror, plate and vase. And I made 2 necklaces that I didn't photograph (shame on me).  Out of all that, all that remains is the luster vase with the gear on it.

I would have never imagined that the steampunk would have gone. Now if I do more for next year, it likely won't sell. But I might do one or two more just for grins.  I definitely will do more of the necklaces.  My philosophy is to paint or make things that I really like so that if they don't sell it can be an excuse to be mine!  It was sad the necklaces were sold because I really liked those necklaces.  Oh well that's the great thing about being someone who can make things. You can always make another one for you!

Student Projects

So my china painting students are starting early on their Christmas ornaments. This is the second project. The first series of classes were a wild rose plate. Every china painter starts with the wild rose.

This time they wanted to do ornaments. The first step was for them to trace the design & do the line work with pen. The powdered china paint is mixed with oil made to an inky consistency and they use a crow quill pen to do outlines. Line work is then fired. You can see from the poinsettia below how it turns out. The next class they do the painting "between the lines" as shown in their cardinal ornaments.

Then after that, they will do one more painting (and firing) where the colors are deepened.

The little dog is my ornament. It is not pen work. I just sketched it on with a stabilo pencil. This is the first fire for it. There will be one or two more paintings and firing, depending on how deep I get the color the next time around...Merry Christmas a little early! LOL

Paint Party Friday!

So lately I have been making cards. In fact I made all my Christmas cards this year. I made a bunch of  Get Well and Birthday cards and I've given most of them away.

The other day I made a bunch of Valentine's Day cards that I hope to get up on Etsy.

I have a ton of paper these days...I'm become quite the paper addict. Anyway, I was thinking one day when I was getting ready to paint these Angel ornaments that it would be cool to combine the paper and paint. So here it is. I just LOVE the way it looks. I painted the wings and faces but the dresses are scrapbook paper with embellishment. I also did some snowmen  but I did the hats in paper. And, I did some snowflakes that way. They are all in my Etsy shop. Go take a look: http://www.etsy.com/shop/JYWheeler?section_id=5261008....Happy Paint Party Friday!

For more Paint Party Features visit: http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/ 

Christmas Menu Planning

Every 4 years I get the rotation for the Wheeler family Christmas. It's always painful for me because I hate cooking, baking, etc. Not to mention that I burn things and have my Lucy Episode Kitchen Catastrophes!

Well this year on the menu is Turkey (of course), Honey Spiral Ham, Sausage Stuffing, Scalloped Corn,  Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, Biscuits, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Brownies, Rum Cake and pie. So what do you think My son is bringing another pie.  My daughter is bringing a sweet potato casserole. My sister in laws are bringing pie and a vegetable casserole and my brother in law is bringing mashed potatoes. You might laugh but my mashed potatoes are called Mashed Potato Surprise in my house. I just cannot make them from the real thing. It's either burned, watery, lumpy, or too thick. It's better left to someone else.

I generally make kielbasa and sauerkraut but the place I get my polish sausage from went out of business and I don't feel like driving to Baltimore to get it from Ostrowski's. I really need to find a place locally that has it. All sausage is not the same. I cannot stand the stuff from the grocery stores with the thick casings! Yuck!

I cannot wait to do the muffins. Here's the recipe...so easy:

1 box yellow cake mix
15 oz pumpkin pie filling
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Fill ups 1/2 way, Bake 350 for 12 min. Drizzle chocolate on the top. The blog I got it from gave a good tip. Melt the chocolate in a baggie, cut off the tip and then use it to drizzle the chocolate!   Here's the link to the blog: http://cheatdaycafe.blogspot.com/2009/06/chocolate-chip-pumpkin-muffins.html

Hope your menu planning is going well!

Paint Party Friday

Today's Paint Party Feature is my little tribute to our service men and women....it seemed appropriate now that the war in Iraq is winding down. 

Thank you for your service. I know it's very hard to be away from your families not to mention the danger. My heart goes out to your  families who miss you every day especially during the holidays. 

My prayer for this Christmas is that all our service men & women will one day all be home with their families & that there will be peace on Earth....


For more cool Paint Party Friday Features go to: http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/


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Link to this snowman  hand painted porcelain ornament: http://www.etsy.com/listing/87779301/hand-painted-porcelain-cammoflage

It's Getting to Look Alot Like Christmas!

Well at least it is in my shop! I have been adding more. Here's a selection of just the Christmas items. Speaking of Christmas...my OFG Team is doing a sale...search OFG Team on Etsy and put in OFGthanksyou2011 in the coupon code for 10% or more off (depending on the shop).

It's not looking like Christmas at my house yet. I generally put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving but my daughter is at her future in laws this weekend so we wont' be putting it up until Monday night! :(  But I'll get my Christmas tree decorating fix tonight because my son is continuing the tradition at his house with his son. You gotta love traditions!

My Christmas Prayer

Lord, in this holy season of  prayer and song and laughter, we praise you for the great wonders you have sent us: for shining star and angel's song, for infant's cry in lowly manger. We praise you for the Word made flesh in a little Child. We behold His glory, and are bathed in its radiance.

Be with us as we sing the ironies of Christmas, the incomprehensible comprehended, the poetry made hard fact, the helpless Babe who cracks the world asunder. We kneel before you shepherds, innkeepers, wisemen. Help us to rise bigger than we are. Amen. ~ Http://www.catholic.org
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To my Friends and Family, this Christmas and New Year, may God bless you with health, prosperity & happiness. I am thankful for each and every one of you. You have all touched my life in some way or another and make my life richer & fuller.  I treasure your friendship and love.

Took-ees

I'm thinking how much I am looking forward to going to St. Leo's in Little Italy this weekend to learn how to make Italian Cookies from a chef. I'm doing this with my daughter Jackie. Then we are going to find a day (ha ha ha...you are laughing if you know us and our schedules) to make more for Christmas. 

I'm hoping it's going to be nice Saturday so we can also have lunch while we are down there.

Oh and you are probably wondering why my post is called Took-ees -- that's because Mason, my grandson calls cookies took-ees. And he is quite possibly the cutest kid in the whole wide world...or as he would say 'out to outer space.'
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The Santa bell ornament is available in my Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/listing/54409514/hand-painted-porcelain-santa-bell

Found a cool site....

for my Christmas shopping!!! I saw this on one of those morning shows on TV and I started using it for my online purchases recently. Have you heard of Ebates?  I just got back a $10.98 check. I wasn't sure if it was for real or not but I figured what the heck I have to shop anyway . Here's the link if you want to check it out.
http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=MZMJOhUYthk%3D

There are sites like Penney's & Home Depot and some smaller companies. When you shop online you get a certain percentage back. The bigger stores give you less back. Some of the smaller stores have huge savings! They have coupons and free shipping, sales, etc.

Anyway check it out. I'm also trying the groupon.com site the morning show also recommended. I'll let you know how that one goes too!

The "W" in Christmas - Moving!

So today is Christmas Eve....it's here finally. It seems like the year has flown by and not so long ago Christmas felt so far off. Today instead of featuring someone from OFG or DAWG Team, I feature some one from up above. This is a wonderful story borrowed from my DAWG Team friend Marlene (LazyHawk).

The "W" in Christmas

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations -- extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.

Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise. So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads.

Those in the front row-center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love." The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -- totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W."

The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"
And, I believe, He still is.
Amazed in His presence...
Humbled by His love.
May you have a Merry Christmas as you reflect on His Amazing Love!

Christmas is Almost Upon Us

and the year is almost over. I was thinking, I used to be so good at this blogging thing. Almost everyday I would post something but I've gotten out of the habit. So I'm taking a moment to blog today. Not that I could do much else with a couple of feet of snow LOL.

The snow is so beautiful but it is so deadly. I was watching the news at all the accidents caused by it. How can something so beautiful be so deadly. I guess it's just one of those mysteries of life.

Christmas is almost here and thank God I'm finished. Everything has been bought and most things are already here and wrapped under the tree. I am hoping that Christmas doesn't bring us more snow. I would like to be able to spend this Christmas with my grandson.  He's so cute. He's  just 3 and amazed that Santa knows he has 2 houses and he will get Santa gifts at both houses. And also that he will get lots of gifts from other people in the family.  His big thing is "Why".  I told him, "Why? Because everyone loves him and he's special."  This Christmas will be even more fun because the Christmas thing is really making sense to him now.

I'm hoping we won't have more snow for Christmas. Glenn is working and I have to drive to his Sister's house. I'm not a fan of driving in snow...I should have gotten 4 wheel drive in my SUV...lesson learned...next time I will.

But I'm ready for the next snow. I spent yesterday doing lots of online shopping and one of the things I ordered was a snow blower..it was worth the money. I'm too darn old to do that shoveling anymore. It's electric so it's light weight. That way if Glenn is working, it's not too heavy for me to do myself.

The moon santa picture is a metal plate. It has a hook on the back for hanging on the wall. Click the picture to go to the link at my Bonanzle Shop it is $25.

Merry Christmas!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch of their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.
I bring you good news of great joy that will for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:8-11

Today's feature on Bonanzle: http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/EclecticSpirit/items/Angel_Ornament___Handpainted

Babycakes.....

....now that gets your imagination going doesn't it. Well check out this blog:
http://babycakescornbreadkidsswapatccards.blogspot.com/ It's run by Sandra. She hosts a ACEO Art Card swap. I participated this year. It was lots of fun.

My swap card is featured on her blog. I received a wonderful one from Dolores who also participated. It's pictured here. I love the 3 diamentional cards......don't you.

So today on Ebay I sold my poinsettia card. I'm excited but also not, I loved that card. Well I will just have to paint another for me, huh? Here it is in all of it's glory. I hope the buyer loves it as much as me! Sometime if you are on Ebay, search for seller ID HeyLucy1...that's me!

As we approach Christmas.....

....I cannot help but be thankful for the most wonderful present of all, our Savior Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother who has the courage to say "Yes"...no art feature today...just enjoy the youtube video/song.

Christmas Reflection

Christmas will be quickly upon us. And as I was thinking what I should feature today I thought it's time to be reminded of what the real meaning of Christmas is. It is about the birth of Christ. The Lamb of God who came down to offer his life for our sins........so today I feature my watercolor ACEO art card called "Lamb of God"

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. This world needs your mercy. Merry Christmas to you and your family from me and mine! BIG HUGS!


Listing: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10182697

Luke 2:12

This is the last of my entries into the OFG Holiday Celebration. Called Luke 2:12. Size 7 1/2 inches.....acrylic on wood round plaque. Scene: Sheppard and sheep looking to the Star.

Around the edge reads: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes lying in a manger" Luke 2:12 Wire hanger.

I really need to take a better picture of this. It has a high gloss finish so the reflection of the light plays havoc with it! It's available on my esty shop..click here for the direct link.

It's getting to look a lot like Chrisssss....mus

every where I go...well not really but I wanted to feature something from the Old Farmhouse Gathering Holiday Celebration. I have 3 things in this season's promotion. One was the laughing snowman bottle and the next is this beautiful decorative Christmas Plaque. It's adapted from a Donna Atkin's free pattern. Mary, Joseph & Jesus under the Star of Bethlehem. It's available in my Etsy shop - click here Tommorrow look for the third........ and check out my entire Etsy Shop - JYWheeler.etsy.com for more decorative art, china painting & miniature art.