HAPPY 2018!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I hope you have been enjoying your holidays. I definitely have. One of my most favorite weeks of the year is the one in between Christmas and New Year's. I don't know why, but I feel like I'm allowed . . . no entitled actually, to lie around and do nothing! Nice attitude, eh? I love just basking in the twinkle lights of my decorated rooms, usually in my pajamas.  

Although I did a lot of lounging and hunkering down in the cold weather, I did manage to get some painting time in.  I have a commission that I'm finishing up and another one that I've begun. Not to mention the remaining paintings for my Little People calendar (which is extremely late - gaaaah!) that are finally completed.

 

Because I'm not officially "back to work" until Tuesday (yes, I am taking every last second of my vacation very seriously) I will share with you some images of the little corners of my world that I've been enjoying these past few weeks. 

Santas were aplenty as you can see . . . hiding in many nooks and crannies around the house.

Whoa!  Who's that peeking out from among the greens?  And of course the stockings were hung, by the chimney with care . . . 

Fresh greens mixed with faux greens and various bits and bobbles found their way inside and outside the house, including this package of retro Christmas lights. Aren't they cool? My sister-in-law has a great sense of design and decorating - these are from her.

 

Don't you just love battery-operated candles and twinkle lights?  Some of the best inventions ever!

I have a thing for cheese graters, don't ask me why. But they make the most lovely luminaries. Well, my friends know my about my obsession so my cherished neighbor, Annie, brought me these lovely greens in these hanging graters . . . along with more twinkle lights! Yippeee!

I haven't done a big tree in a couple of years because I'd have to do a lot of rearranging and I just haven't felt like it. So I place little trees all around the house instead. I hope to add some more to my collection. Below are a few left-over presents that have yet to be delivered. This room was packed with gifts on Christmas Day.

My dear friend June bought me the beautiful glass cabinet below and filled it with some "snow" and various delights . . . including more tiny lights. Oh how lucky am I?!

We're in the middle of a cold snap, so I don't suppose I'll be taking down my outside decorations just yet. I'm a real wimp when it comes to the cold. But I am curious to see if Santa received any mail.

 

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and may 2018 bring you health, happiness, peace and prosperity!

Gift Tags and Stickers & A Throwback Thursday Painting

"Christmas in June" - 6 x 6" original watercolor on paper
package of 24 gift tags with envelopes
sheet of 24 "Jolly Old Elf" stickers

I just mailed out the door prize from my Holiday Open Studio. The prize consisted of this original holiday themed watercolor on paper (a bit of a throwback from a couple years ago), a package of gift tags and a package of stickers. I think this was a good gift don't you?

I have a few packages of gift tags and stickers left over and have just uploaded them to my website. I think they'll really make a splash on packages and holiday envelopes. Zoom on over to my site for a closer look and to purchase.

one gift tag measures 2" x 3.5" and comes with envelope

package of 24 gift tags
$2.25

Click here to purchase.  (scroll down for tags)

on "Jolly Old Elf" sticker
measures about 1.5" in diameter
comes in sheet of 24 stickers
$3.25

Click here to purchase.  (scroll down for stickers)

Hope you all are getting in the spirit of the season!

Throwback Thursday -- "Nantucket Christmas"

"Nantucket Christmas"
9.25" x 5.5"
(matted and framed watercolor on paper)
$185

Click here to purchase.

This painting served as one of my Christmas cards last year.  This year I'm hoping that the original painting will find a good home so I can make room in the studio for some new paintings.  As a little extra gift, I will throw in a box of 10 of "Deerfield Wreath," this year's cards, with the purchase of this painting.

"Deerfield Wreath"
2017

`Tis the season and thank you for all your kind comments and support throughout the year.

Holiday Open Studio

Come join me on December 2nd and 3rd at my studio and start your Christmas shopping!  There will be a door prize . . . Christmas cards, original paintings and other gifty items. My friend, Karen Healey  of The Dappled Ewe will be here too with her amazingly beautiful hooked rugs, patterns, and wool. And just up the road is June's Bakeshop, an absolutely charming shop full of fancy holiday cookies, cakes and other tasty confections. 

Also that weekend the town will be abuzz for its White Christmas celebration and is sure to get you in the Holiday Spirit!  HO! HO! HO!

Switching It Up . . . Again

work in progress
14" x 11"
(watercolor on aquabord)

Hello All!  My posts have been spotty at best this summer, but that doesn't mean I haven't been painting. Although I admit I've been spending more time working outdoors, reading and traveling around collecting photos for inspiration. 

In typical fashion, I've bounced around from painting to painting. I must finish the images for this year's Christmas cards, so I put my Baby Lilacs aside to again continue making progress on this little ditty. It's getting there . . . 
I hope all my Northern Hemisphere friends are enjoying your summer!

The Countdown Begins!

"Wandering Pointsettas" on a package

Two new Christmas designs are up for sale on my Spoonflower store site -- they make great holiday gift wrap, so check them out.  The prints are also available as fabric.

"Christmas Wreaths Stripe"

I'm busy cleaning and decorating for my first Holiday Open Studio next weekend.  Let the countdown begin!

But It's Still Summer!

"Winter Sunlight"
8" x 10"
(watercolor on aquabord)
starting bid:  $100

Click here to bid or buy now.

Why Winter?  Well, because I'm working on my annual calendar and Christmas cards so I can have them printed in time for my Open House in October.  I didn't have a very good image for December, so I adapted a reference photo I had taken a few years ago of this lovely, little porch in Spring . . . made a few changes and voila!  

(what this painting could look like when framed)

While this is going to be the image for December 2017, I think it looks more like February or even March . . . with a rather faded wreath that has yet to have been taken down.  That's pretty how I roll. I won't tell you how long my decorations are usually up for!  :)

Have a great day!  I'll be back with a few more finished commissions soon.

Finished and Accepted

"New Braintree Winter" - "July Geraniums" - Provincetown Path"

Lots going on in the studio these days . . .

I'm happy to announce that the three paintings I submitted to the Randy Higbee Gallery's "6 Inch Squared" show have been accepted. I'll be shipping those out today to have them framed and will have more details regarding how to purchase them in the weeks to come, so stay tuned.

I also finished up my painting, "Holiday Greetings."  It was tough to finish.  I was getting a little bored with all the final details and had to just push on.  Does that ever happen to you?  

"Holiday Greetings"
(watercolor on aquabord)
12.75" x 18"

I will be making these into Christmas cards, along with "Nantucket Christmas." They are $2 per card with envelope, so if you're interested in ordering any, email me.  There is an example of what the Nantucket card will look like below and I will be posting the finished "Holiday Greetings" card soon, along with their inside sentiments.

"Nantucket Christmas" card
finished card:  5.5" x 4.25"

I've included the work-in-progress shots for "Holiday Greetings."  

"Holiday Greetings" - wip1

"Holiday Greetings" - wip2

"Holiday Greetings" - wip3

"Holiday Greetings" - wip4

"Holiday Greetings" - wip5

"Holiday Greetings" - wip6

So that's all for now, thank you for coming by!  Have a lovely day.

Christmas Card #2

"Big Wreath" - wip4
12.5" x 18"
(watercolor on aquabord)

I thought you might enjoy looking at these progress shots of my next Christmas card.  I usually do one for us and one for my dad (unless he decides to purchase his at Ocean State Job Lot . . . it's tough to pass up a bargain!)  :)  

Cheers!

"Big Wreath" - wip3
12.5" x 18"
(watercolor on aquabord)

"Big Wreath" - wip2
12.5" x 18"
(watercolor on aquabord)

"Big Wreath" - wip1
12.5" x 18"
(watercolor on aquabord)

Christmas?!

"Nantucket Christmas"
9.25" x 5.5"
(watercolor on paper)

Click here to bid.

What am I thinking?!  I can't say I'm looking forward to winter, but I am looking forward, preparing for my 2015 Christmas cards.  So this is my first design for this year.  My Thursday morning ladies inspired me . . . the "beachy" window was their idea.  I'm so lucky to have such creative students!  

I haven't yet come up with the inside sentiment, but if you'd like more information about getting a jump on the holidays and ordering cards, please email me kkoz517@charter.net.  

2015 Christmas card - before folding
5.5" x 4.25"

(what this painting could look like when framed)

"Holiday Sparkle"

"Holiday Sparkle"
11.25" x 8.75"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

I'm starting to get in the spirit!! This is an old ornament that used to hang on our family Christmas trees way back in the 1970's.  I just love these retro decorations.  Have a great weekend and thank you for popping by!

(what this painting could look like when framed)

Hanging Christmas Holly

"Hanging Christmas Holly"
8" x 5"
watercolor on paper
starting bid:  $65

Click here to bid.

I'm teaching a 5-week class at Workshop13 in Ware, beginning tomorrow night and while I had described a "country Christmas still life" as the painting we would be tackling, I hadn't yet painted it --  Yeow!  So last week I started the still life below, hoping that we could paint that - but it's way too complicated.  So today (double-YEOW!)  I decided on just this sprig of holly dangling from a nail on one of my interior doors.  It's still quite challenging, but very doable.  

"Redware and Berries" - wip
6" x 6"
watercolor on paper

So for the next few days I'll be trying to finish up "Redware and Berries" and some others.  I need to work on some smaller paintings again and get them up on DPW -- it's been a while.  I guess this is a start.  :)

Thank you for viewing my work.