Hats on Hand.....

It's that time of year again where my focus narrows in on this year's Halloween! The party hat illustration that I began a few months back resurfaced, and I refined it for print. I sized them up and down to various dimensions and just printed a batch. Saturday was spent with my hot glue gun in hand, and the tedious process of forming and creating these little marvels for my various folk art characters to wear, soon followed. I find pleasure in setting them all about and marveling at their various shapes and details once they are complete. Next, I will adorn each one with my signature wire swirls and chenille twists so they will be ready to be worn! OH, and I still have to create the sculpted folk art characters that will don these conical hats. Eeek! But for now, I had a little fun posing them on our bedroom dresser as the hues complement one another. Stay tuned this fall for the final look, when my illustrated hats will be worn by spooky-fun black cats, owls, witches and bats... and perhaps a few more. And so you see, I do have "Hats on Hand"......   :)  Curious what else I have been up to? Keep reading......



* Illustrated party hats, ready for their final touches, strike a pose and express themselves on my lanky fingers.....



* Various heights of hats in lines and stacks will be chosen for a variety of folk art characters for this year's Halloween collection of originals...



* My first "lumina jack" illustration graces the front face of this year's hat! I hope to design one more hat for this season, but perhaps I should have my fingers crossed...



* Yet another view of these delightful party hats stand tall on the bedroom dresser I painted many years ago in Halloween hues. (It's always been in my blood!)

On another note, did you happen to see the "Collector's Catch" blog badge image, here up top on my right sidebar? Well, instead of occasionally creating a blog post for the current Collector's Catch, I thought it may be more fun to just update my blog's sidebar when I have a new piece to offer.Yes, it's very spontaneous, and that's the point... You can either check here, or check my Folk Art Originals page of my website for these often rare sightings, when I have a piece available. The latest Collector's Catch, "Corndaisy Webster" was snatched by a Florida collector! (Thank you!)

Also, a lucky, "Lucky List" member said yes to "Lucky Lester" a few days back, and now he's off to Oregon to join a growing collection of JPD originals! (another Thank you goes out to you!) For those of you curious about my Lucky List, please click HERE!

I hope to spend the next week thoroughly focused on sculpting one of a kind delights for this year's fall shows, occasional Collector's Catch pieces, a few eBay goodies and beyond. So, keep checking my blog for updates.

**OH, and please don't forget that you have ONE week left to enter to win an original Ghost bust character of mine during my Zazzle Shop's Grand Opening! The prizes include 2 other collectible delights as well, so please visit the post below for the details..... Halloween is just around the corner, so snatch a sweet illustrated tote bag, T-shirt, coffee mug, etc.... ALL designed by me, for a chance to WIN!

Many Thanks for your interest & support,
~ Johanna


Photos & Designs, © Johanna Parker Design, LLC ~ Photos may not be used without permission.

Grand Opening @ Zazzle + Door Prizes!....

HOORAY! Finally the day is here and the doors are now open at my Zazzle Shop!  Zazzle is a unique, online marketplace that allows me to add my illustrative images to a VARIETY of goods and then offer them in a customizable way to you. SEE the examples below featuring just one of my images & how it can be applied to various shirts! These are just a few examples out of whole slew of products to choose from. And as a Gift of Thanks for your patience and support, I am offering 3 Door Prizes to my patrons! To celebrate the first 3 weeks of my Grand Opening, I will be tossing your names into a hat. For every $25 you spend (before shipping fees) your name will be entered for a Door Prize. For example, if you spend $75 in my Zazzle shop during these first 3 weeks, your name will be entered 3 times! At 11pm EST on July 6th, this contest ends, and I will be drawing the winners! The winners' names will then be posted here on my blog! What's there to win you ask? Just keep reading, and please scroll down for my Tips on ordering my products on Zazzle. Make sure you save and bookmark the JohannaParkerDesign Zazzle Shop and visit often. THANK YOU!




Yes, you're right! That's me flaunting my new Zazzle chandelier owl shirt! In surround, are a handful of styles you can choose from for the same design, and when you go to my shop, you'll see even more! For a peek at a recent At Home photo shoot, you can see JP and myself modeling a couple other designs of mine. Visit my "Gearing up for Zazzle" blog post.


.... And here's a collage of various products that you can choose to place my art on! This is just a small sampling of the items available on Zazzle!


Now for those PRIZES.........




1st Prize: 
Dear Patrons, You could WIN this ORIGINAL Mini Ghost Bust named "Boozazzle!" 
He is signed by me and dated, 1/1... and I just finished this little sweetie. 
Again, every time you spend $25 (before shipping fees) in my Zazzle Shop, you will be entered to win this unique guy along with the other prizes listed below!



2nd Prize: 
WIN this pair of VERY LIMITED Nut Cups that I designed for Bethany Lowe Designs. As cute as they were, they never made last year's catalog, and only 70 of each were made. So, the winner of this prize will win a pair of collectible Nut Cups, marked 1/70, on the underside of each.



3rd Prize:
Straight from this year's product line of via Bethany Lowe Designs are these 2 illustrated cardboard cone hangers that I designed for Halloween.

Remember, this Giveaway ends on July 6 at 11pm EST when the winning entries will be drawn. Please check back in July for the list of lucky winners and THANK YOU for celebrating my Grand Opening by shopping at my new Zazzle Shop and spreading the word to your family and friends!

* Tips when Shopping on Zazzle.........

PLEASE READ: 

Now that I have had a few chances to order and purchase some of my items via Zazzle, I have learned a few tips that I would like to pass on to you!

First of all, please be aware that you can "Choose your style and color" on any of my products. For example, if you see an image that you like, preferably on a different style of shirt, just choose another shirt! This option appears once you have clicked on any product. To the right of the product, you will see several thumbnail images displaying a variety of options for the particular illustration you have chosen! Take notice that many products come in a variety of colors too. If you want something other than white, I recommend choosing a lighter hue so that my images show nicely on your product. Click and preview your top faves and click "Done" once you are satisfied. And do take note that the price will fluctuate depending on the type of shirt, type of keychain, etc etc....

For the advanced user, you can also choose the orange "Customize It" button on any of my items! Under this option, you can resize and position the image. The magnifying glasses allow you to enlarge or reduce the image, but be careful not to enlarge the image too much as it will be cropped off at the edges. Also, the four arrows allow you to move the image up or down and side to side to your desired placement. Once all is looking right, PLEASE click on the "Design" Button right above the image and then click the magnifiying glass that sits to the right of the "Design" button. If the graphic stays within the dashed boundaries and no clipping is occurring, ALL is well! But, if you see that part of the text or graphic have disappeared, then resize it or move it appropriately so that this is not an issue. Otherwise, it WILL print that way ~ trust me! And for apparel items, you can click on the "Model" button above the image to see how it looks on a model! Now, if ALL of this seems too complicated, don't click the "Customize It" button to alter the image! You can certainly leave it as is, and you should be pleased with the results.

Also, when ordering apparel, please scroll down and read Zazzle's sizing guidelines for each style of clothing. You'll notice that they offer NOTES on some of the items and may recommend that you order one or two sizes larger depending on the specific shirt, etc..... If you do receive an item that is not sized appropriately, etc... Zazzle has been very accommodating in replacing items until the customer is satisfied.

And to simplify your shopping experience, I have organized my products into Store Categories. The row of folders going across the top of my shop help to guide you to specific products. Use the left and right arrrows to view all of the folders, and do take advantage of this feature in case you get a little lost as you scroll down the main page of products.

Again, if you see an image that's not offered on a hoodie or perhaps as an infant's creeper, you can simply create what you want by clicking on they varying options in the "Choose your style and size" area. Fortunately, Zazzle offers you a preview of how each product will look! And if you have any troubles, please feel free to contact me or the Zazzle Team! Also, If you have any recommendations for illustrations not being offered on certain items, again let me know! I can certainly take note of your requests and update my shop as soon as possible with your favored suggestions. Thank you for your support!
Spread the word and tell your friends that Johanna Parker Design now has a Zazzle Shop!

~ Thank you & have FUN shopping! ~
( And check back often for NEW items! )

~ Johanna :)

A Collector's Spring Inspirations...

Tucked away in my mailbox last week was an overstuffed envelope from a dear collector who lives locally in town. She has been supporting my creative endeavors since I first started showing my wares at outdoor flea markets 6+ years ago! I believe Karen Z. discovered me at Denver's Ballpark Market, which I believe is a thing of the past these days. My whimsical holiday characters lit a spark in her collective passions, and she has been acquiring a piece here and several pieces there ever since. Before she put her "Johanna Parker Spring" collection away this year, she snapped a few photos and mailed them to me! What a treat :) I thought I would share them with you..... Enjoy, and thank you Karen for your thoughtfulness and for believing in me! It's always a pleasure to see how my collector friends display their cherished collectibles in their personal spaces....

~ Johanna



* Here, Karen has my Spring characters grouped in front of a mirror for a magnified view. (Great idea!) She has included a pair of my illustrated spring party hats that complete the spring family.



* These few original spring characters take me way back! The sunflower girl and large spring chick were some of my first spring creations, and I believe the little spring egg cup was one of my first from this series of cup characters....



* You may recognize this sweet pair from my Spring Gallery page...... They are some of the few spring originals that I have created over the last few years..... I admit, I took this year off from creating spring as time just flew by. Perhaps next year I will release a few more one of a kinds.....



* Another close-up reveals a spring chick candy dish design that I licensed to Bethany Lowe Designs a few years ago. This piece is now retired, but it looks like Karen snatched one up at one of the last Spring Flings!


Spring Designs © Johanna Parker Design ~ Photographs courtesy of Karen Z.

Welcoming 40 West Arts District!...

I want to share a fun bit of exciting news that's close to home! It is looking quite favorable that a revitalizing Arts District is coming to town, and it's literally moving in to our neck of the woods! You can imagine my excitement as an artist. We live in an eclectic area filled with history, and our neighborhood borders Colfax Avenue, the original corridor that stretches from Denver, west to the mountains. It was the main artery for travelers heading west to the hills, and so you can imagine the history that dots its path, even today. Of course, with age comes wear, and many of the old motels, businesses and warehouses that still stand along this stretch are in need of repair. But, I have a feeling... that is about to change! With RMCAD (the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design) as a centralized anchor, and the new Light Rail station soon to be built close by, a need for connectivity and pedestrian-friendly zones is surfacing. The neighboring art college brings a creative spirit to the atmosphere, and suddenly there is a desire for change, rebirth and renewal.........



JP and myself are now members of the "Champions of the Arts District" board, and have begun meeting with a group of locals, passionate about pulling this concept out of our heads and into our community! With the creative help from a team of art students at RMCAD, an official name and logo were created to represent this district. Last night, 40 West Arts District was unveiled, and for those of you unfamiliar, our famous Colfax Avenue is also known as US Highway 40. We agreed that the name 40 West creates both a sense of place and also has a catchy ring to it! Thanks goes out to those clever art students who envisioned this concept and brought it to life....



The next step is to raise enough money to file for a non-profit status so that we can continue to collect donations and of course be a legitimate district. Last night, RMCAD hosted an Open House & Garden Party to announce the new name and to raise both awareness and excitement for this new venture! We were blessed with a lovely warm evening and a generous crowd of supporters..... Yay!



* For those of you interested in supporting our vision, we are asking for a donation of $40 for 40 West. In return, you will receive recognition on the 40 West website and advance notice of future events!

* If you feel inclined to give more, you can Join the Founding 40 for $500 and receive a profile on our website and invitations to Founding 40 events!  Of course, any amount, big or small is welcome, and your checks can be made out to 40 West Arts.

Please mail your donations to:

40 West Arts
c/o Lakewood-West Colfax 
Business Improvement Association
7125 W. Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80214



We met all sorts of local supporters excited for this effort, but of course, the news is still young and the word needs to spread. So, please tell your friends and neighbors about 40 West!



The vision for 40 West extends beyond the artist studio and gallery scene to include music, performance and dance along with an appreciation for traditional crafts and the like. The hope is to unite and enrich the community through creativity and allow this cultural spirit to reshape our region.



The unique history of this area allows for an opportunity to re-purpose existing structures into student housing, galleries, shops, eateries and studio spaces, breathing new life into some of our delapidated 50s-era motels and other buildings in need of a lift. Several parks that border this community will help to connect this Arts District through an arts walk loop, welcoming visitors to walk the trail and experience the art in the park and all the other destinations along the way.  Can you SEE it!.....  Are you EXCITED?



RMCAD and the City of Lakewood, were kind enough to invite me to show one of my works in their Shore Gallery during Inspire Arts Week. So, my "Owlbert Finestein" base chamber vase has been on display all week and greeted guests during last night's Open House event.



I had a chance to peek at him behind his glass box, and it was a fun opportunity for my local peers and supporters to see the style of art that I create. I think many were quite surprised!

Thank you for taking the time to scroll through this post and read about the vision for 40 West Arts District! I am obviously very excited for this effort and hope to see it manifest in our community. Perhaps someday I will have a studio space or store front close to home... Who knows, but the thought of living so near a creative, art-loving community gives me goosebumps, and I hope we can see this through! I appreciate your support and interest via word of mouth and donations of time, talent and funds. Keep the vision alive :)

~ Johanna

Gearing up for Zazzle...

I know I've been teasing about opening my Zazzle Shop, and yes, I'm STILL teasing you! But, I promise to open shop this month with a Grand Opening Event and a few Door Prizes to boot! We ordered some sample shirts and a coffee mug, all featuring just a few of the illustrations that I will be embellishing my products with. Finally, as the weather and our schedules lined up just right, we had a chance to model some of these shirts yesterday afternoon. I wanted to make sure that the shirts fit properly and the prints were to my liking. So far so good ~ let me know what you think! I am finishing up a series of whimsical illustrations that too will be applied to shirts, totes, mugs and the like! So, please stay tuned!  Enjoy the teaser for now........


* Me, modeling my classic Johanna Parker Design jack-o'-lantern logo!


* Pure silliness here as JP passes me my dancing black cat coffee mug!


* My chandelier owl image in black, boldly marks the front of JP's Halloween orange tee!


* OH, is that an owl on my chest?!  Hehe!...  Again, the same owl image as above, but this time filled in with Halloween hues atop a field of white ~ very striking!


* Why not get coordinated!  If you love black cats, go ahead and accessorize!  :-)


* Just another couple shot to show off our new tees...



Thanks for peeking, and I promise to open the doors soon to my Zazzle Shop. You can certainly save the LINK to my shop for now and become a FAN for Zazzle updates. If you'd like to see a few more images from our silly photo shoot, please visit my Johanna Parker Design Facebook Fan Page. Hit the "LIKE" button once there to stay in the loop about my Grand Opening, door prizes and more!

Thanks for stopping by,
~ Johanna