Ready or Not.....

Well, once again I'm down to less than a week to complete a collection of holiday originals for a folk art show, this time in Denver... Where did the time go, and why did I not manage it better I ask myself--well wait a minute! That's ALL I've been doing since early October--that is sculpt, sculpt, sculpt, sand, illustrate and the list goes on. Either I'm just too slow, or there is not enough time between Halloween and Christmas. I think it's a combination of both really, and it always catches up with me this time each year.... OH the life of a holiday artist!..............I whine to JP that the snowmen are not finished yet and that the hats are not glued, and oh why can he not paint like me as I certainly could use the help!! I am sure that the conversation sounds odd to those unfamiliar with my line of work! :) And now here I am whining to you when I really should be working!....... Well, it's too late anyway to go back to work...

A few days ago, I stepped away and glanced back at my messy workspace... A scattered crowd of naked snowmen and Santa heads peered back, crying out for paint to bring them to life. I ran off to grab the camera and snapped a few photos of my progressive mess... This behind-the-scene peek at my not-so-tidy craft room is quite common this time of year. Oh well..... You know what I'll be doing this week.. paint, paint, paint!...

Wish me luck ~ Johanna


* Unfinished sculptures crowd my counter space and leave me little room to work!...


* Rough idea sketches for this year's holiday collection jump off the page and materialize in three dimensional form....

© 2008 Johanna Parker Design * Designs are the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.

A Peek out Back....

Our Indian Summer has just been delightful with warm days and autumn leaves, rich in my favorite earthen hues. The sunny days allowed JP the opportunity to put the finishing touches on our custom-made garden shed which he built from the ground up! It's truly amazing what he is capable of creating...I can't wait till next spring when I can use it to its fullest with my very own potting table and a window that I can peer out and spy on the feeding birds. I find much inspiration in watching the critters out back. Here are some of my favorite snaps I recently took while watching nature in action...

~ Johanna


* An adorable flicker forages for ripened crab apples from our backyard tree...


* A cropped image of my beautiful garden shed just built by hubby JP....


* Squirrels munch on seeds scattered by the birds from the feeder above...


* An autumn-hued butterfly extracts the nectar from a dandelion flower...


* JP spotted this tiny mouse high above the ground, resting in a mass of bittersweet vines...


* Another view of our new garden shed which we enjoy glancing at each day... JP laid the mosaic-like stone foundation that surrounds the shed & tree... It has become a stage for daily wildlife viewing...

It's Halloween!

....And it's also my Birthday! :) Candies, cakes, costumes and gifts, ALL in one day! When I was little, I used to think that everyone had costume parties and masqueraded around on their birthday. Later I realized that I was just unique - he he!... Well, I'm not sure if I will be dressing up this year or not - sometimes these things happen at the last minute. But I did gift myself with a little handmade kitty that I just could not sell. I really like how her sneaky little grin adds mischief to her character! So, she will be staying home with us as we greet the trick or treaters....After that, who knows what may happen on Halloween night!..... Hope everyone has great fun!

Cheers,
~ Johanna


*...here's Trixie....

© 2008 Johanna Parker Design * Folk art cat is the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.

Ghoulish Giveaway on EHAG's Blog!...

You may be the next lucky winner of a spooktacular Halloween collectible from both myself and several other members of EHAG, the Eclectic Halloween Artists Group! EHAG now has a blog, and to celebrate Halloween and thank all of our generous collectors, we are giving some Halloween goodies away! Simply join in the fun by clicking on EHAG's Ghoulish Giveaway. Once you're there, just leave us a comment and your name will be entered!..... You'll have a chance to peek at our Halloween offerings as well as read more details about the giveaway and our artists. Remember to save EHAG's blog in your favorites, visit often to say HI, and see what tricks this eclectic group of Halloween artists is up to, year-round! Good Luck & THANKS for participating! PS... a sneak peek of my giveaway piece is pictured below... He's a signed piece from my collectible reproduction line!

~ Johanna


© 2008 Johanna Parker Design * Designs in this post are the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.

Colonial Halloween at Mom's...

As busy as this month has been, I focused my energy making Halloween fun for others rather than decorating my home... (hopefully next year, I will have more time :) However, my mom has been decorating her colonial-style home up in Washington state with her growing collection of orange and black delights!...On display this month at the Parker's house is a fun variety of folk art pieces that we both have made over the years. She sent me these photos recently, and I thought I would share them with you! ENJOY.....

~ Johanna


* The russet red-colored walls of their dining room is the perfect backdrop for a Halloween harvest theme...


* A fun collection of my Halloween ornaments dangle from a spooky grouping of twigs...


* A smiling jack-o'-lantern reproduction design of mine peers out of a cupboard nook...


* The jack-o'-lantern candle holder and black cat candy bowl are ready to greet friends and trick-or-treaters... These designs of mine are offered thru Primitives by Kathy...


* A work in progress hooked piece that mom designed and is currently working on... cute!....


* A pair of papier mache characters I sculpted a few years back join in with mom's yellow ware collection and her hand-painted Halloween lids...


* A cozy Halloween hearth welcomes all who enter... at second glance I ponder what is growing in the baby cradle??!!! he he...


* A pilgrim-style witch bust I sculpted a couple of years ago fits right in with mom's colonial home character...


* Another hooked piece mom made decorates a primitive tabletop in the foreground...


* Here stand two candy containers of mine that now live with mom... The one at left was my first owl piece ever and has inspired many more since!...


* Speaking of owls, this one is a reproduction design of mine, offered thru Primitives by Kathy...


* A grouping of Halloween pillows, designed and created by mom.. What fun!


* This piece has a history indeed!... Mom and I sat down to sculpt about 6 years ago, and I created this cat in a jack... In the process, I realized how much I missed the tactile arts for at the time, I was a corporate designer, working in TV news graphics... After adding the paint, my cat came to life and what a thrill! (today he seems pretty crude, but at the time, I was inspired) Of course, he needed a necklace to finish his look. Mom only had tin snips, so off I went to play with wire and.... Oouch! I sliced open my hand with those snips! So, needless to say, I was rushed to the hospital and stitched up like Frankenstein. Obviously, it didn't stop me though!... :)~