Holiday How-To for You...

The quick transition from Halloween to Christmas always catches me by surprise! Once November 1st hits, I have to kick it into high gear and switch from grinning jack-o'-lanterns to whimsical snowmen. With a holiday show in less than 2 weeks, I am certainly feeling the heat, or maybe I should call it the chill! And now that I have changed my seasonal focus, I find it most appropriate to share a couple of fun holiday How-To projects with you! The 2010 issue of Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Crafts Magazine features a pair of my snow-folk ornaments along with my instructions to create them! Included is a fun clown-like lollipop of mine and a ring-a-ling-ding snow-girl, both designed to hang from your holiday tree. I suggest you find a copy today as it's full of wonderful projects from both myself and many of my fellow crafty friends! Happy creating!

CHEERS,
~ Johanna


* Look for this festive cover at the store!....


* This easy, fun lollipop project makes a sweet & memorable gift....


* This little cutie also jingles when you give her a shake...

Project Concepts © Johanna Parker Design ~ Photos © Meredith Corporation

A Happy Halloween to You!

It's time to put your party hat on and celebrate another fun-filled Halloween! Wishing you many smiles, laughs, frolic and treats from our spooky home to yours....

Halloween Hugs,
~ Johanna, JP and Jack, our holiday poser!



* Jack proudly poses, wearing my illustrated party hat for Halloween 2010.... For my birthday, JP gave me a new lens for my camera that created this dreamy, soft blur effect that I just love!

Photography, © 2010 Johanna Parker Design - Image may not be used without permission.

Was it a Halloween Dream?...

Wheewww, we just returned from a whimsical weekend in Washington where the mood was all things Halloween! For weeks upon weeks, mom was preparing for our visit and decking the house in orange and black delights. Everything smelled of spicy-sweet Witch's Brew, and yummy treats made from the Parker cauldron were ready to be served. Naturally, we put on our festive Halloween attire to celebrate the season...



The spellbinding aroma of sugary delights filled the air. Chocolate bonbons, orange bark candy, iced cookies, ginger bars and Halloween cupcakes lured me in to take a bite....



Soon, I was under a Halloween spell and the Hobgoblin himself arrived to start the party. Bells began to jingle and the wild dancing began.....



Guests began to arrive, and all to celebrate my most favorite holiday with me!



Then, the Pumpkin-Patch King, dressed as a scarecrow, knocked on the door, and I let him in too....



Preparing for the party, he and the Hobgoblin smoothed my hair and the Pumpkin-Patch King secured my party hat with a bow beneath my chin...



We laughed and shared stories of Halloweens past. Giddy with treats and overjoyed to be together, the day swept by, and soon I was waking up. Was it a dream??

On the following morning, I asked my parents if we could go to the Pumpkin King's Patch, and so we headed down a winding fall road to visit his farm. Whimsy once again filled the air with smiles and silliness all about...



He had grown pumpkins of many colors and shapes, bumpy and smooth, mini to massive and all in between...



We visited the barn to meet the critters within. JP had a close encounter with a loud squawking goose and what looks to be a bright, dashing spirit which revealed itself within our lens!... Spooooky!



I posed with the pumpkins, and felt a wee bit nostalgic remembering those childhood days out at the pumpkin patch! What fun!.....



It was certainly a weekend not to forget, but it all flew by in such a frenzied blur! Was it a dream... ? No, I think it certainly did happen and what fun we all had.... I hope to reveal more of this whimsical weekend down the road, so stay tuned. For now, allow your imagination to soar! Happy Halloween!

~ Johanna

Just a Few Halloween Sets Left!...

Many thanks to all of you who popped in at the start of my Halloween Web Sale last night and adopted a special collectible piece for yourself! I appreciate your determination and your patience ~ I know some of you had trouble getting my Folk Art Originals page to load, including me! Sorry! I'll look into that for next time as I'm suspecting there was too much traffic hitting all at once. I feel so very fortunate that your interest in my one of a kinds continues to grow, and of course, I wish I could accommodate everyone's request. The good news is that my love for Halloween is a year-round passion. So, expect to see more from me after the holidays settle. :)

I do however have a few Halloween Reproduction Collector's Sets still available! If you love Black Cats or Owls & Bats, I may just have the set for you! Each item is signed by me, and I'll include an extra goodie in your box. Please contact me soon if you are interested in a set as I only have a few remaining.

Thank you so much for your support & Happy Halloween!
~ Johanna


CLICK HERE for more details on my "Cat Lovers Set"

( The little kitty, top right, sits on a little clip and can be attached to a tree, wreath, etc...

The hugging cat pail can certainly be filled with treats, etc and Shreik the cat looks great just standing around :)

CLICK HERE for more details on my "Night Flyer Set"

( The hanging owl and bat are double-sided and add great movement and fun to any room or window! The sitting owl is another clip ornament and can attach to a tree, wreath, etc... The owl on a stick is also a small rattle and can be shaken or hung. And the bat pail is ready to be filled with your favorite candy treats! )

To reserve one today, please email me at:
johanna@johannaparkerdesign.com

OH Bats & Celebrate365 Magazine!...

I had the pleasure of sharing some of my Halloween collections here at home in Connie Porcher's Celebrate365 Magazine! You can see a fun collage within an article of Halloween goodness around my house in her Fall 2010 issue. It just came out! From my own collection of Halloween originals, I promised to auction off a very special Bat Candy Bowl that I am pictured with in this fun publication. So, you can meet "Sweet Billy" the bat bowl and see lots more photos of him on eBay as his auction just listed tonight. Both functional and fun, you can place him on display, and he will literally hug your sweets! Fill him with candies, and expect years of giggles and grins to come as each Halloween approaches. The winner of the auction receives both the Bat and a signed copy of Celebrate365!
CLICK HERE to see more, and many thanks for your kind bids of support :)

Cheers & Good Luck,
~ Johanna


* A peek at "Sweet Billy"......


* Another look at "Sweet Billy" with the signed copy of Celebrate365 Fall 2010. You can see a glimpse of the photo where I'm holding him out for the readers to see!


* Cute profile, huh? His dimensional wings wrap from inside to the backside of the bowl....


* And another peek at Sweet Billy next to this fun Halloween Collector's issue!

Please visit his AUCTION page to see more! Thanks for looking..... and thank you Connie for sharing my love of Halloween collectibles with your readers!

* OH, and speaking of Halloween Collectibles....
Please Mark your Calendars for my Halloween Web Sale, this Wednesday evening! I will be offering about a dozen one of kind pieces, and will also have a link to a variety of Signed Halloween Reproduction Collectors Sets! So, if you're interested, but would like to know more, please join my e-mailing list by just sending me a quick message to: johanna@johannaparkerdesign.com

See you then!