Monday, December 20, 2010

Merry Christmas

6x6 watercolor on paper Mini Masterpiece Apples in Candlewick


 SOLD

Merry Christmas everyone!!!  I can not believe how fast this year has gone, sigh!  I'm sure you are all knee deep in gift buying, wrapping, and Holiday cooking,  I wish you the best of luck and the speed of Santa's elves:)  Things are in full swing here also.  My oldest son Steven (4yrs) has been in heaven.  He loves to decorate, go out of drives to look at the lights, and of course it's about to kill him to wait to open the presents under the tree, any present , even if it isn't his, he just wants to rip one open:)  It is such a fun time of year.  Steven was concerned this morning that Santa might hurt himself coming down the chimney so we have come up with a solution, we will be placing some pillows around the fireplace.  He's so thoughtful, I just love how kids minds work:)

Even with all of the Holiday hub bub, I have managed to complete some commissioned pieces and gifts.  This weeks painting is another 6x6.  And yes it does look familiar.  Since I won't be selling the larger version of this painting, I decided to paint a mini version as a commission for a special lady.  This is one of my favorite paintings and tackling it in 6x6 was a lot of fun.  I wanted to see how much detail I can get at that size, and so far it isn't driving me too crazy.  Painting larger is easier, but it's also a lot more time consuming, so got to weigh the pros and cons.  I am going to be pursuing this 6x6, Mini Masterpiece idea this year.  There is a great sense of accomplishment to finish one of these guys the same day I started it.
Our tree this year.  I like white lights, Brian likes colored lights, so we alternate years.  We've done this every year we've been married.  Oh, and it's Brian's year this year.
I'm sharing some of our Christmas decor pictures.  I also took on the task of  making the boys some stockings.  Let me tell you I'm not a seamstress and this is a pretty challenging endeavor.  But, I do want my boys to have Mommy-made stockings, or Santa socks (that's what Steven calls them).  And lucky me, both my boys names start with "S" so I only had to make one pattern:).  Inside of the "S" I used strips of their baby clothes.  I think it is a really good use of the baby clothes I just couldn't part with.  I still have some adorning to do.  I plan on adding sequins around the "S" and their names at the top.  With my sewing skills I'm just glad it resembles a stocking shape.
Our mantle, we have our Swarovski snowflake ornaments suspended above the mantle.  We've been collecting them each year that we've been married.  We have 10 this year:) Notice the Christmas picture to the left.  I love changing up art and incorporating Christmas pieces.
close-up of our mantle
My Mommy-made stocking WIP:)
Steven also painted some ornaments this year.  We did this last year also, so it may become a yearly tradition for both boys.  On last years ornaments I printed out a little picture of him painting the ornament and attached it with the year printed on the card.  I'll be doing the same with this years.  They were of course a hit with the Grandparents.
Steven's masterpieces this year.
Well friends, I wish you the Merriest of Christmases, and the best Holiday Season!!!  Take time to enjoy yourselves, and remember the Reason for the Season!

Carrie

23 comments:

  1. I LOVE your mini masterpiece! It's gorgeous. :) And your holiday decorations are gorgeous! So festive and fun. :) I make stockings for my boys too, but I never thought of doing the baby clothes thing. What a fantastic idea!

    I wish you the best Christmas ever Carrie and hope you have a great week! I'm so glad we're friends too. :)

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  2. Ooooh, there's that dark, saturated red again. Beautiful painting!

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  3. Merry Christmas to you too, Carrie, I hope you will have very good time with your family .
    Your Christmas tree is great ! Kind regards. Olivia.

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  4. Wonderful post, Carrie. I love the idea of having the children decorate ornaments. My grandson wants a big, real tree next year so I've been scooping up boxes of plain ornaments for the bigger tree and I think we'll add some glue and sparkles ourselves next year.
    Love your painting, too.
    Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas.
    God bless!

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  5. Get OUT! you did not comment on my paintings. YOUR paintings are unbelievable! Just BEAUTIFUL! Thank you

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  6. I am so amazed at the BIG look of this small masterpiece. Gorgeous detail. And that bowl! Exceptional!

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  7. Carrie, thank you for the beautiful posting, with your tree and decorations. I almost feel like I've been to your home!

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  8. That solves the mystery. I thought I had seen this painting earlier. And you could reproduce it on 6x6 so well. Thats really great. And Steves idea is actually wonderful. :)

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  9. I can't believe I missed this painting. As you know I have been eyeing the bigger one forever. So happy for you that it sold and so sad for me that I missed it. Ugh!

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  10. Stunning painting,intrigued how how you got such beautiful saturated colours with water colours, amazing.
    Your home looks beautiful so warm and inviting, good job on the Santa stockings too. You sound like you have a very busy life yet you still find time to comment on my blog! Thank you for that, I wish you and your family a very wonderful Christmas!

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  11. Carrie, your mini masterpiece is just amazing! I can't believe you could finish this in only a day! And your home looks so festive and inviting too! I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas :0)

    Steven - I just LOVE those baubles that you painted! I think they look so pretty! I expect Santa will be very impressed when he sees them :0)

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  12. Love the painting, Carrie! And your post has definitely put me into the Christmas spirit!! Merry Christmas! :)

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  13. just stunning! your work amazes me and you post is wonderful. what incredible decorations. i'm so envious, we haven't even bought our tree yet and are still painting walls! just stunning. the picture of christmas.

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  14. Oh Carrie, that painting is a jaw dropper. I love it!! Your house looks just lovely. You have a gorgeous tree! And your collection of ornaments are wonderful...How sweet that Steven wants to leave pillows for Santa!! Have a very, Merry Christmas!

    H.H.

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  15. Really amazing! I don't know how you can do this in one day! Love your photos of your Christmas decorations, especially Steven's ornaments. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas together!

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  16. Your work is stunning!!! Love the richness of the colors. I'll be checking your blog frequently.

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  17. Love your apples...just gorgeous. :-)

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  18. Hi Carrie! So nice to see your Christmas decorations and ornaments and Steven's contributions. You seem to make every day magical! And, of course, your latest paintings are stunning. Your energy and optimism are contagious! Merry Christmas!

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  19. Lovely painting again Carrie, love those dark tones! I'm not surpriesed that it sold so quickly. Wishing you and your family all the best for the Festive season and the New Year.

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  20. This is a very good piece Carrie.
    I know how hard it is to work with red watercolors. If one have a "heavy hand" that can become a mess. Yours are perfection.

    I wish you a very beautiful, happy, creative new year.
    ♥ Hélène Glehen - a French artist, fond of roses and romantic stuff ♥

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  21. Beautiful and rich. Just makes me happy.

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