Holiday Show Time...

* Above, "Happy Stack Snowman" raises his wiry arms up to the winter skies. He's one of my latest primitive reproduction designs offered through Primitives by Kathy...

Is it just me, or do the days go by faster and faster with each year? I have my first Winter Holiday show in just 3 days, and part of me is still wondering what happened to summer and perhaps even spring! They say "times flies when you're having fun", so perhaps that is the attitude and excuse I should use... It makes sense I guess, as I do have FUN making my art, and I find myself consumed daily with design and creation. But sometimes, I look up with paintbrush in hand and the day is over! Yet, I feel like I've only just begun! Tell me I'm not the only one?! I think time can be cruel to an artist, as I could truly spend years on just one piece. It is difficult to say "enough" and move on, but the clock is always ticking and forces us to forge ahead. Speaking of "ahead," I'm often dreaming up designs one year in advance as well. As a product designer for two companies, part of my role is to imagine trends and designs that people will like in the future, a year later and so on. I'm often designing spring concepts for two years out during December, and well, you get the drift. And then, there is that other part of me, creating one of kind works of art for the upcoming season, and that part of me is always behind... It's no wonder why I am a bit surprised and bewildered that November is upon us and the holidays, well, are just around the corner. It sneaks up on me every year, and here we are again!

I do love this time of year though as there is a spirit of whimsy in the air that I can connect with. And, there will be plenty of that whimsy to go around this weekend at Denver's Gifts for Yule Show. Once again, (ready or not) I will be there with my holiday collectibles, both originals and signed reproductions. So, bundle up with your scarf and mittens and stop by for a dose of holiday cheer! We will be looking forward to seeing your smiling faces and catching up. In the meantime, wish me luck while the familiar face on the wall goes tick-tock-tick-tock....................

Cheers,
~ Johanna

Last Call to my Collector Friends!...

For those of you collectors who have been accumulating my Halloween folk art designs, don't forget to snap a few fun photos of your Halloween collections before you wrap them up and pack them away for next year. I would love to peek in and see my imaginative characters all happy and settled in their new homes! I am also saving your images for a future Collector's Corner page that will be featured here on my blog. If you would like to share your Halloween decor here with others who share your passion, please send me your photos to this address: johanna@johannaparkerdesign.com
* I have received quite a few fun images so far! Thank you to those who have already shared your photos with me! Here is a teeny peek at just a few Halloween collections out there... More to come later :) ~ Johanna ~


* A wonderful cupboard of Halloween collectibles enjoyed by Matthew in Wadsworth, Ohio. He has amassed a wonderful display of vintage finds along with both my Halloween reproductions and originals and even a few pieces made by the collector himself!...


* Just a peek at Sandy's growing collection of my Halloween originals now residing in Beaver, Pennsylvania. She also collects the delightful work of Lori Ann Corelis.


* A sneak peek at local collector friend, Gay's wonderful wall display of both my original Halloween sculptures and my reproduced Halloween party plates now residing in her cozy home in Arvada, Colorado...

Again, I would LOVE to see more! Snap Snap those photos before the seasons change!
Thank you!


Halloween Night...

Well, it's a new day and a new month, but I will always have fond memories of Halloween night! JP and I went out on the town with the best-est of friends and enjoyed a late dinner at Vesta along with some fabulous (and belly-busting) people watching. The imagination certainly runs wild on October 31st, and that is why I love it so very much! We scrounged up an old costume from years since past, bought some face paint and morphed into the Halloween Monarch! What fun it was! Here's a peek..... I hope everyone had a spooktacular Halloween and enjoyed the sights and scenes as much as we did!..... ~ Johanna ~


* There I am, hurriedly applying orange and black paint to my face.. The doorbell kept ringing with anxious trick-or-treaters awaiting their candy handouts!... Once I finished with my face, JP was next in line...


* And voila!.... The Halloween Monarch strikes again! We had the tripod set up, snapping our photo as we oddly posed for the camera. We could see folks in costume stopping to stare from the street at our strange image in the window...

The Purrrrrfect Halloween!...

It gives me great joy when I have the pleasure of experiencing bits of my wild imagination materialize before my eyes! As you may know, I have this fascination with placing conical party hats on the heads of my papier mache black cats. I know I am not the only artist with this urge to whimsify (if that's a word) the 4-legged creature companions we share this planet with. But, it is something I cannot resist! In fact, I just found myself making a mini party hat for my black cat, Jack! He is really a dear as you will see, and so, so kind to permit me to play out my silly fantasy. We had quite the chuckle as I dressed him for the occasion. He patiently posed on an old stool as we snapped shot after shot in utter amazement at his lack of concern. Perhaps, I am less of a loon than I had initially thought, for I have discovered that black cats truly do wear party hats! CHEERS to that, and may you have a purrrfectly HAPPY HALLOWEEN! ~ ENJOY ~ Johanna :-)


* Oh, look at that little dear in all his Halloween cheer...


* Picture purrrrrfect poser.....


* Loving that party hat profile.... utter cuteness!


* In the background... a glimpse of my original black cat firescreen, complementing the Halloween scene...


* No words necessary to describe this image.. hehehehehe!

* © 2009 Johanna Parker Design *Photographs are the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.

Vintage Halloween Gifts...

With my Halloween birthday just around the corner, I had three wonderful packages of goodies arrive this week! Each box was filled with antique finds, and knowing me and my passion for all things vintage, I was certainly thrilled to tear into each and cherish my new (old) gifts, for those are the best kinds. Here is a peek at the contents treasured....


R A T T L E RATTLE rattle!!!!

* The first birthday box was from Mom! She's made it a yearly tradition to seek out and adopt vintage Halloween collectibles for my collection of antique novelties. Take a look at this fabulous black cat tambourine!.... She found this wonderful piece during her recent visit to Vermont.... LOVE it!

C L I C K CLICK click!!!...

* Another treasure from Mom! Look at the intricate witch and broom graphics on this old Halloween clicker! What wonderful detail..... It's just a little gem!


* To top it off, Mom made me this dear hand stitched pillow from dyed wools and an old army blanket that my Grandpa used to keep folded up in the back of his car. Both nostalgic and sweet, handmade gifts may well top my list of favorites! I think this jack-o'-lantern pillow is delightful, and I encourage Mom to make many more... Don't you?? ~ THANK YOU Mom :)


* Another delightful surprise arrived from a very thoughtful collector friend of mine! I believe Celeste was snooping on my blog ~ hehe! ~ and noticed my love for colorful pottery as I have it lining the shelves in my 40s style kitchen. She boxed up this yummy yellow Bauer casserole bowl, once used and loved by her own mother, and sent it to me! It arrived, filled with adorable handmade packages containing Halloween treats! THANK YOU Celeste :) You are so sweet!


* And the last box traveled quite a distance to find me! A small package filled with delicious chocolates and this most wonderful floral bakelite brooch safely arrived from my sweet mother in law in Belgium! She found this amber colored pin in an antique shop and thought I just may like it... But, of course! It's wonderful! THANK YOU Mamy! :)


* Speaking of vintage gifts, I thought I might add this collectible Munsters postcard to the mix! My sweet friend and black cat art collector, Lyndy Ward of TODAYSGOLD sent this little gem to me! She was offering 3 of these vintage novelties on her blog as a generous Halloween giveaway, and her black cat, Magick chose my name out of a catnip-sprinkled pile of entries. I'm feeling lucky :) Thank you Lyndy and Magick for sending me this fun piece from the past. I always loved the Munsters :)

And THANK YOU to all who have sent me such fun Halloween cards! Some intricately illustrated, others stamped and adorned with whimsical cutouts and rhinestones and others hand-picked ~ I cherish them all and think of you fondly.... And, I hope next year I will finally design and print my very own Halloween greetings and send them off to you! Wish me luck.....

xoxoxo,
~ Johanna