Christmas Gallery Update!...

It has been ages since I have spent the time to update my Christmas Folk Art Gallery! With show season winding down, I have finally had a moment to sift through some current images of my work from this season to share with you. This year flew by much too quickly for me, so my collection of holiday one of kinds was smaller this time around. But, here is a peek at a few of the fun characters that I was able to create. Below is a tease of a few originals featured in my Gallery. You can always find a link to my various Folk Art Galleries by clicking on the text links on the top right-side column of this blog. You will then be redirected to my Website. Items featured in my Gallery have all found loving homes, but if you are interested in adopting a holiday original from me, please send me an email to join my e-mailing list for updates!
Contact: johanna@johannaparkerdesign.com

Cheers!
~ Johanna


* A jolly Santa candy egg cup boasts his classic "HO HO HO!"



PS: If you click on "Christmas Gallery Next" at the bottom of my first Christmas Gallery page, you'll find yourself looking at holiday creations of mine from 2008.... It's interesting to compare the quality of photos from an old point and shoot camera I often used to this year's crystal clear images from our DSLR by Nikon.... Makes a BIG difference!


* Both Santa above along with this sweet girl, dressed for the holiday season, are wearing felted mittens. To see more, visit my Christmas Gallery!




* You just want to squeeze this snowman's chubby cheeks!




* A sweet winter kitty up close ~ one of the few winter-themed kettle cups I was able to complete for my holiday show season....




* A closer look reveals a trio of holiday owls hand-painted on the spherical base of a red-feathered owl named "Holly Hoot Hoot"

Photography & Folk Art, © 2010 Johanna Parker Design - Images may not be used without permission.

Farewell to the Gifts for Yule....

The 13th Annual Gifts for Yule was certainly bittersweet for all of its vendors and attendees this past weekend. We set up booth on Saturday morning knowing that this was the last show in a sweet tradition for Denver that lasted over a decade. Sam Robinson's vision for a vintage-inspired holiday fair grew into a wonderful event that so many of us looked forward to each November. I especially loved the unique blend of artisans and antique dealers that she included in this show as it was quite evident that we all shared a passion for nostalgia and the like. But with all things, nothing is permanent in life, and when the beautiful Phipps Tennis Pavilion sold to a private owner, the decision was made to bring this event to an end. We will always remember the merriment in the air, the sparkling eyes of excited shoppers, our vending friends that we anticipated reconnecting with and on and on. Thank you Sam for yet another memorable show and a history of enchanting events that none of us will ever forget. I was proud to be a part of this unique group of exhibitors that all had a passion for vintage holiday delights!

Included below is a collage of images we took right before the doors opened. With the glass ceiling and sunlight streaming in overhead, it is always a challenge to capture photos in the pavilion, especially when we have only minutes to spare. Regardless, I hope you enjoy!

~ Johanna


* A whimsical tree displays a series of my new holiday charms as ornaments...


* This festive grouping of winter characters greeted shoppers as they entered my booth...


* That's me in action right before the doors opened! JP has a bad habit of taking too many candid shots!!.... (delete, delete, delete!!.....)


* The wire frame from an old lampshade made for the perfect display to hang my "charming" necklaces on... I have to say, the price was right and these flew out my booth!


* Atop, my new reproduction snowman candy bowl proudly perched!


* A peek at my display reveals a fun variety of snowmen characters including the cloth snowguy at bottom left, designed by my mom!...


* After the first wave of shoppers rushed in, I had a moment to rearrange. Again, JP was snapping those candid shots! Look how lovely and dramatic the arched ceiling of this old tennis pavilion appeared!


* More snowmen and a few Santas added their festive cheer to my display...


* One of my illustrated charms is the focus here with other happy snowmen characters of mine awaiting adoption in the background....


* My snowmen lollipop ornaments dangle from a red feather tree....


* Again, more snowmen...


* And there's me stopping for a quick photo next to my cupboard of one of kinds....

Thanks to all who saved the date and joined us for the last of many wonderful Gifts for Yule events! We truly appreciate your support over the years and hope that this string of special shows will remain near and dear to you! Happy Holidays!

Take a Peek Inside...

Ahhh, show season is now officially drawing to a close for me this year, and what a wonderful way to end it with our 7th Annual Holiday Folk Art Show & Open House. Despite the arctic cold snap we experienced all week, Saturday's skies were clear, and luckily, many of our friends were able to join us for this fun event including some that even flew in from CA! It was a joy to reconnect with many of you, and we were so happy to send you off with smiles on your faces! Many thanks to all for taking a moment out of your day to join us and support my folk art habit :). And for those of you who missed out on the festivities, you can peek at some fun photos below.
**IF you entered our Raffle, continue to scroll down to see if you WON!...

Cheers! ~ Johanna


* A festive front door welcomes guests on a chilly winter's day...


* That's me laughing at the 5 minutes I had to spare for a moment to sit before we opened the door...


*A cheery table display of my reproduction Santas, belsnickels and snowmen attracts shoppers as they arrive...


* A quick snap of JP sitting on the arm of my favorite red 1930s mohair chair.. "Lusheba".... Yes, I name some of my favorite furnishings :)


* A zoom on some of those delightful holiday folk designs of mine, offered by both Primitives by Kathy & Bethany Lowe Designs...


* My one of a kind holiday collectibles traipse across our mantel and below on the funky make-shift shelf I put together with odds and ends...


* Original snowmen sitter ornaments express themselves....


* A gathering of my one of a kind holiday characters await collectors...


* Me once again after a big sigh of relief as it certainly takes hours upon hours to prepare for this holiday event...


* More one of a kind holiday collectibles - each finding a unique home...


* A fun collection of my one of a kind bell ornaments dangle from a happy green feather tree...


* Jack nestles himself in basket filled with feather trees - how funny & rather fitting!


* A wide angle showing the various holiday displays in our front room...


* In the corner, I set up a sweet setting of my latest spring designs offered by Bethany Lowe... These goodies were marked down for the season, many finding new homes...


* A glance from our kitchen into our back sun room where I always display a double-sided rack of all of my illustrated notepad designs...


* A pair of reproduction candy containers frame a vase filled with aluminum tree branches and old glass ornaments. The beautiful cabinet which I named Deca was built by my husband JP years ago... I just love this piece!


* And a sweet original snowman egg cup whistles a holiday tune - or at least he does in MY imagination! He too found a new home this weekend.....

AND, NOW for the WINNER of the RAFFLE...................
I closed my eyes and tossed and stirred by hands around in Grandma's old coffee pot, and picked:



Vera Thorne! Congrats to you!!!

Happy Holidays to ALL :-)

And don't forget to join me on My Website this Saturday December 12th for my annual holiday Web Sale! I will have a dozen-plus originals to offer and an assortment of holiday reproduction collector's sets, so stay tuned. Please email me to join my mailing list for start times and details!

Holiday Hoot Hoot!...

For all of you owl lovers out there, I just posted a special one of a kind owl kettle cup on eBay! He's the only holiday-inspired owl kettle cup I made this season, so enjoy, take a peek by clicking on his image below, and thank you for your generous bids!

Cheers!
~ Johanna


* © 2009 Johanna Parker Design *Owl Kettle Cup design is the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.

The Art of the Matter & GiveAway!...

FaaaLaaLa.........



I know it is still October, and we are ALL feeling that Halloween spirit in the air. But, I have been anxious to share with you some very exciting news! Turn to page 18 in the current November / December issue of Country Sampler Magazine. It has been out on the stands for almost a month now, and I urge you to pick up a copy for yourself as soon as you can because my mother's holiday folk art and colonial-style decorating are featured in a 10 page article! It is just fabulous! We are both so pleased as the editors included so many fun images of our Christmas folk art along with all sorts of wonderful decorating ideas from mom. To continue the excitement, both myself and my mom are contributing signed, holiday folk art in a special GiveAway Contest offered by Country Sampler! Keep scrolling to see the Kathy Parker original folk art snowman that will be awarded to a lucky winner! As for my contribution, I am offering a signed Santa candy container from my Bethany Lowe Designs line, and a signed belsnickel from my Primitives by Kathy line - both appearing in the magazine! Below, you will only find a tease of what is featured in this inspirational article. ENJOY, and please find yourself a copy, a cozy chair, some hot chocolate and a little time to just pour over all the delights! Many thanks to the very kind staff at Country Sampler for sharing this article with so many. And, another big thanks goes out to my friends “photographer/stylist/writer” duo Donna Pizzi and Philip Clayton-Thompson of Blackstone Edge Studios who did my mom's photo shoot! It looks wonderful and so very inviting..... ~ Johanna


* A primitive wooden washtub holds a live tree, decorated with all sorts of handmade ornaments...


* One of my original Santa candy containers marks this page showing my parents' living room filled with holiday folk art collectibles...


* An earlier Snowman original of mine adds a festive touch to this page featuring my mom's colonial mantel and hearth, beaming with holiday spirit...


* A trio of my papier mache belsnickels offered by Primitives by Kathy proudly stand at center between two inviting pineapples... To order my belsnickels, CLICK here!


* A fun grouping of snowmen that both my mom and I have created over the years... Some go way back!


* Page 25 features our trio of GiveAway items! Sign up today by visiting the image and links below ~ Good Luck! :)


* All entries must be received by November 30th, so hop on
over to Country Sampler's contest page and sign up to WIN!

Hope you enjoyed the tease! As this is a 10 page article, there are lots more photos for you to enjoy, so look for your copy today :)

PHOTOGRAPHS, © 2009 Emmis Publishing LP

Holiday Tease...

'Tis the season for visions of Santa and jolly snowmen! So, it's the perfect time for a little 2009 teaser... I've been waiting all year it seems for my holiday product line with Bethany Lowe to debut next month. Here are few close-ups which will hopefully entice you to come back for more..... Cheers!

~ Johanna


* A peek at my Santa illustration which will find his face on fun paper cone candy boxes...


* Another Santa, this time in papier mache form...


* What in the world could this jolly snowman be looking at?


* A cheery message in script dances across another sculpted design....


* Another illustration to match a sculpted ornament in the line will find himself on whimsical candy boxes too...


* Another fun Santa, Ho-Ho-Ho-ing along.....


* Sure looks like a snowman up to mischief to me!... hehe!.......
© 2008 Johanna Parker Design * All contents on this site are the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.