Thanksgiving Greetings!

Jack and I would not allow this holiday to fly by without another fashionable photo shoot. With a little enticement from the "shake-shake-shake" of the Indian corn, Jack was game! I tore off a square from a roll of paper towel and began trimming his pilgrim's collar... He sat by my side as he always does when I prepare his seasonal attire, and we had fun!

Happy Thanksgiving to ALL from our family to yours...... I am so very thankful for your friendship and support, year after year!

Blessings and Abundance to you,
~ Johanna, JP & of course, Jack.....

A Peek at the Gifts for Yule!...

Well, the forecasters were right this time, as we had a snowy weekend for the Gifts for Yule show. I must admit, it was very nostalgic when the holiday tune "Let it snow" was singing along, across the speakers, and large white flakes were falling outside. Luckily, we had a pause in the weather as the doors opened on Saturday, and the chilly air and snowy roads did not stop many shoppers from attending this festive event! Thank you to all who bundled up and came out to see us! Below are a few images from this fun event, so enjoy! And if you were unable to attend, please mark your calendar for our 7th Annual Holiday Folk Art Show and Open House at our home in Lakewood!... It will be here soon :) ~ Johanna



* That's me smiling and pleased to be all set up and ready for a fun show to start...

PS... for those wondering ~ my left hand and wrist were hurting on Saturday, so I wrapped it up to protect it. I think it's from tightly gripping my art while I sculpt and paint with my right... (workplace hazard...!!) Luckily, the pain left on Sunday :)


* A pair of my Snowmen Bauble reproduction ornaments nestle in an old vintage white tree...


* My various Santa reproductions grouped together and awaiting to meet holiday shoppers...


* There's my cute hubby who safely drove me and our trailer filled with goodies to this holiday event during a winter snowstorm...


* Cute little snowmen heads dangle from a green feather tree in my holiday display...

By the way, the old enamel kettle was my great grandmother's, and mom tells me she made the best Norwegian coffee in it for the holidays!.... I've obviously found a new use for it... I wonder if Grandma Hannah would approve...?


* A peek at my booth all decked out in Christmas cheer....


* More fun holiday reproduction characters of mine stand in unison....


* A festive collage offering just a peek at what the other artisan vendors had to offer at this fun event...


* More visions of eye candy offered by local exhibitors....


* A glimpse at my holiday display....

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

Winter's Coming....

As I was putting the final touches of shimmery mica on some of my latest winter originals, the weatherman was predicting snow and chilly temps for this weekend's Gifts for Yule Show. Winter is coming...the cool gray skies will fill with magical white flakes, and hopefully holiday shoppers will sense the nostalgic spirit of the season. Until then, here is sneak peek at just some of the winter delights I have been finishing up for this festive holiday show. You may have to bundle up, put on those hefty snow boots and trudge through a blanket of white snow to see the rest of my latest goodies. Stay warm and see you soon!
~ Johanna



* © 2009 Johanna Parker Design *Photographs & holiday folk art designs are the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.

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...