Illustration Friday - Savour

Lindsey knew how to Savour the season....

yummmmy, sips of hot cocoa....

Sunday Sketches - Card Ideas

I've got Christmas cards on my mind today,

for this week's Sunday Sketches.  

Here is one of the ideas, I have brewing up there in my brain for our card this year. Santa Claus and my two little ladies! I always illustrate our Christmas cards, and have lots of ideas, but always find myself waiting until the last minute. Usually I am sending my cards out on the 23rd!

How about you, are yours ready to mail out the 1st of December, or are you more like me, waiting until the very last minute...?

Sophia is our wonderful, creative host over at

The Blue Chair Diary,

a wonderful blog - you must go and visit!

 See you there!

Today I am Thankful For....

A Note from Santa

my 8 1/2 " x 11" original watercolor

is featured, here, on this Etsy treasury

Thank you for featuring this!

Also, I am thankful for you and all of your warm Thanksgiving wishes...

It was a success here at my house.

How about you? Are you still full, like me?

Well, we still have one more Thanksgiving to attend, tonight.

So, you might have to roll me into Sunday Sketches, tomorrow...he he he

See you there!

xxoo

Gobble Gobble...What You Are Thankful For?

Happy Thanksgiving from Me to You!

Dear friends, I hope you are enjoying a day filled with

Thankfulness.
I am so thankful to you my sweet friends!

Here's a fun last minute holiday craft idea for you and your guests to make, we make this every year at my house!

Tom The Thankful Turkey

To Make This Thankful Turkey you will Need

2 paper bags

sticks/skewers

construction paper

newspaper

ribbon

Fill large paper bag with newspaper to create the body.
Fill smaller paper bag with newspaper to create the head.
Tie together, attach with tape and or ribbon.
Cut or draw eyes, feet and beak out of construction paper and attach to Turkey's body.

For thankful feathers
Cut assorted colors of construction paper into feather shapes. Attach stick or skewer to back of paper with tape.
When guests arrive, have them write a word or two about what they are thankful for on each feather.  Then, stick the feather into the turkey body and voila! you have Tom the Thankful Turkey.
I am thankful for - family - health- friends - memories - and laughter, and Starbucks....they are OPEN today

 how about you? What are you thankful for?
Oh, and I am thankful for my centerpieces... they have arrived....

aren't they GORGEOUS?

I am so thankful for my florist....too!
Happy Thanksgiving, my dear friends.
I am off to cook my 2nd Turkey and it's only 7 a.m.....
xxoo
Heather

Creative Tuesdays - Heaven

To me, the holiday season is heavenly....
and even more heavenly when I am surrounded by my favorite things....

 To me, the first snow, is also heavenly

 

There is something about the quiet beauty of the first snow, 
that is just heavenly to me.
How about you?

Please join us over at Mr. Toast's Blog, for more Creative Tuesday art!
Hope to see you there!

I created the second image as a close-up watercolor
 of the little snow family outside my window....they look like they are in heaven, don't they?

Mr. Toast is also hosting a Christmas Tea. Have you heard?

You've GOT Mail and TEA


I got mail this weekend, from Mr. Toast! YES! I was the winner of a contest over at his blog Hot Toast and Jam. I correctly guessed the location of this year's Christmas Tea...We are going to the Isle of Mull in Scotland. How fabulous, a box just for me. I must admit my family was a tad bit jealous when the box came...addressed to ME! Inside were delightful confections of chocolate and a box of English Tea, a little Elf, and a hand written note from our host, Mr. Toast, himself.

Just look at all of these goodies!

While I had my tea, I sat and picked out a few outfits to bring along with me.

Vogue September 2010

Every girl needs a little plaid when visiting Scotland,

so this Carolina Herrera dress is perfect for my trip overseas.

New York Times Style Travel Magazine Winter 2010

and when I get there, I will need some time to relax after the long journey, maybe grab a cup of tea with the host - AND,   I have heard it can get quite blustery on the northern shores of Scotland, so I think this gorgeous dress and jacket from Roberto Cavalli will keep me nice and toasty while we explore

the lovely Torosay Castle.

Now...as for a date? Hmmm?

will, bradley or Jude?

what do you think?

So, thanks again Mr. Toast, for this wonderful gift.

You surely are a wonderful host!

XXX

Sunday Sketches - Pilgrim Cocktails

The Pilgrim Cocktail

Champagne

Cranberry Juice

complete the cocktail by floating

a few cranberries on top

Cheers!

Hello Sunday Sketchers.

My friend, Kary, over at The Farmhouse Kitchen,

one of my favorite blogs, shared her recipe for Pilgrim Cocktails with me...

and I am delighted to share it with you.

It's so simple, and it makes a great cocktail to have when guests arrive on Thanksgiving Day.

So here's a toast, to my Sunday Sketch buddies,

I am so thankful to have met you all this year! This is such a great way to start a Sunday.

Sophia, our creative, thoughtful and always gracious host,

is the author of The Blue Chair Diary, home to Sunday Sketches.

Do pop over and say hello!

You will be thankful, you did!

Illustration Friday - Burning

Ginger knew she had to change jobs,

she couldn't keep burning Santa's favorite cookies, anymore...

Piece on Earth

Here's the finished version of Piece on Earth,

a holiday gift card that I illustrated for a client.  

The original sketch and idea is here.

Have you done your holiday cards yet?

 

Turkey Day Countdown...

I've started my Thanksgiving Countdown, I have a lot to do in a little over a week.

 It's so much fun planning a family gathering.

I begin with choosing some fun napkins and hand towels,

for the bar and bathroom. I always order from here,

These are my cocktail napkins,  and the hand towels are the same color.

This year, I have chosen black napkins with silver foil...they are GORGEOUS....

and I did find some Turkeys to decorate my sideboard with...
from here
Happy Turkey Day Countdown!

Sunday Sketches - Thanksgiving????

After a quick visit to Michael's on Friday, my girls and I got to thinking

What Happened to Thanksgiving???

We went to get a few Thanksgiving decorations for the house, and when we got there we couldn't find ANYTHING....not even one little turkey decoration.....

so I was inspired to create this little Pilgrim girl, for my Sunday Sketches entry...

...She even has a wishbone necklace

Should I go right to Christmas decor for Thanksgiving? 

What do you think?

For more Sunday Sketches, please follow me over to The Blue Chair Diary

See you there!

Creative Tuesdays - Little House

'Tis the season for warm and cozy little houses...

This little house watercolor illustration is for sale here,.

For more Creative Little Houses,
please do visit my friends over at Creative Tuesdays.

It's hosted by Mr. Toast, himself!

Come join the fun...

there is also a Christmas Tea party brewing there too....

come visit here...

Illustration Friday - Afterwards

They raked the lawn all morning, but afterwards,
Clare and Leo loved to play in the leaves!

Weeee!

Sunday Sketches - Autumn and the Sea

I am back...with a few Autumn faces for my Sunday Sketch buddies.

Here are just a few of the ideas I have brewing on my sketch pad....

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons, so while I was

here this past weekend....

I was sketching away, thinking about the joy of the upcoming holiday season.

(at one point, I was thinking, they are all getting nothing but COAL...ha ha ha)

Anyway,  Isn't this an amazing view?

Being by the sea, is so inspiring, for me.

The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient.

One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

My little ones, had fun, too!...and we will see about the coal...he he he

So, I am ready to visit all of my Sunday Sketch friends,

over at The Blue Chair Diary...won't you join us?

 

Illustration Friday - Spent

Percy Peroo had spent all of her allowance

on a shiny new bubblegum machine.

POP!

It's the Most Wonderful Time...

It's here...

The Starbucks Holiday Cup....

Now, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year....

People always talk about the "little things" in life that make them happy, so I am sharing with you all,

one of my "little things"

...It's the Starbucks holiday cup.

Yes, It's that simple.

How exciting! Yum, the delicious Venti Skim Misto

that I love so very much, just got that much better today!

What a delight!

Why, do I love the red cup so much? Well, to me, it's always been the way I kick off the holiday season. 

 So, with misto in hand,  I walked next door to

Williams-Sonoma, and began planning my Thanksgiving menu....

and picked out a few holiday gifts, now if it only it would snow!

How about you?

Is there something little making you happy today?

Gratitude is the Best Attitude

"Gratitude is the best attitude"

 - unknown

Today is the first day of November.

A wonderful month to celebrate what we are thankful for...

Not only on the 25th

but today and every day...

So, today I'm starting with -

Warm woolly sweaters

a cup of hot coffee

an unexpected hug

the crisp autumn air...ahhh,

and a crackling fireplace...

and of course, all of my bloggy friends!

I am truly thankful for each and everyone of you

that I have met along the way...

how about you - what are you thankful for?