CATCH her if you can!...

My first Collector's Catch piece just popped up on my website! GO TO my Website to see details and be sure to click on the image for more views and descriptions. Please send me an email to secure "Valentina", and later I will update the page to reveal who caught her....

Thanks for looking!
~ Johanna
CONTACT: johanna@johannaparkerdesign.com

UPDATE!.. A great collector friend of mine, Sandy in PA, caught this piece in less than 30 minutes after posting it!... Thank You!... STAY TUNED for one more Valentine's piece that I hope to finish and post soon. Keep checking back!



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

A Spring Surprise!...

Whenever I see mom's cell number appear on the caller ID log, I know she usually has some juicy news! As much as I work, she gets out much more often to skim the various magazine racks for sitings as I call them. And, every once in a while, one of my product designs will make the editor's cut with a surprise appearance in one of our favorite magazines. This time, my "Spring Sign with Bunnies" is featured as a "country treasure" in the March 2009 issue of Country Sampler Magazine! How fun to see it in print and a treat to get a little complimentary exposure. I am grateful for that. Anyone interested in one of these whimsical signs can make their purchase through Primitives by Kathy, and as of today at least, they are selling for a super price.... just $5.00!....Snag one while you can!

~ Johanna



© 2009 Johanna Parker Design * Spring Sign in this post is the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.
SaveSave

Introducing "Collector's Catch!"...

For 2009, I thought it would be fun to start a new surprise feature on my website (www.johannaparkerdesign.com). I am going to call it "Collector's Catch!" where at random, I will post an original piece of art without any advance notice. Above and beyond my scheduled web sales, this would be a special one of kind available to the first person who sees it, wants it, and contacts me via email to adopt it. So, check my FOLK ART ORIGINALS page often as you might be the first Collector to Catch one of these originals..... And, I just added a way for you to stay in the loop here on my blog! You can simply click on "Follow this Blog" at left, so whenever I add new posts, announce new web sales, ebay auctions, fun news, and perhaps a Collector's Catch tease, you'll be one of the first to know! Thank you for your interest, and I'll be in touch!



PS.... Keep an eye out on my website for the Collector's Catch graphic above. When I have something made and adoptable, you'll see it revealed between the open curtains!
~ Johanna

More Happy Artist Photos in Atlanta...

I'm still buzzing a bit from my trip to Atlanta a couple of weeks back. Fortunately, I had the great pleasure of meeting up with a talented artist friend and mentor of mine, Sharyn Sowell. We met via email a few years back when I was seeking art-related advice, and we have kept in touch ever since. The three of us met for lunch at the Mart, and then she followed me up to Bethany Lowe's showroom to see my designs. Here are a few photos that she snapped, and thanks for sharing those with us!... You can tell that we were all having a great time! :)

~ Johanna


* There's Sharyn & myself standing next to my spring product line.. JP took this pic!


* Me smiling big and getting in that spring mood! It will be here soon....


* Me and my proud hubby....


* Another big smile for the Christmas goodies!...


* And who could forget Halloween?! I love how these various treat containers turned out!!!

BooFest Artist Signing @ Atlanta....

As promised, here are some fun pics from last Saturday's artist signing at Bethany Lowe's showroom in Atlanta! For those of us artists who could come, we were instructed to dress in costume and be ready to sign our names many times over. Since the theme was Halloween (my favorite any time of year!) I decided to dress myself like I would dress one of my Halloween collectibles.... big papier mache buttons, black & white striped arms & legs, orange ruffles and of course one of my illustrated party hats! I seriously looked like a dork, but those who knew my work, understood my silly costume. :-) Enjoy the pictures and thank you to all who left me very sweet comments from my Day 1 posting!... Glad you are enjoying the photos!...

~Johanna


* Me in my silly costume, doing the "ta-da" thing in front of my Halloween product line!...


* A basket full of Halloween character clips that I signed throughout the night....black cats, owls and jack-o-lanterns were all part of the fun...


* Buyers line up to snag a collection of complimentary goodies and autographs from all the artists present...


* A fun pic of me and Bethany, the "fallen dark angel" for the evening...


* A silly group shot.... there's me, Dee Foust, Bruce Elsass & Vergie Lightfoot - love her expression!....


* Me and Wendy (a Stepford Wife for the evening) pose for the camera... Wendy is the graphic design genius behind Bethany Lowe Designs!...

]
* A cute pic of my pal Vergie Lightfoot....She's wearing one of my Halloween hats and is ready to sign her autograph on some cute lapel pins...


* A festive group shot including Dee Foust, Teena Flanner, Bethany Lowe, me, Bruce Elsass, Vergie Lightfoot, Wendy Ahmad, Kathy Seburn & their friendly staff of devils...


* ( And thanks to Mandy of Maygreen Fairies for the "Your Blog is Fabulous" award :) *
I'm glad you enjoy it!....
SaveSave

AmericasMart ~ Atlanta, Day 1...

I have just returned from an eye-opening experience at the international gift and home furnishings market in Atlanta! Wow! I only saw a teeny bit of what 4 downtown high-rise buildings had to offer, filled with showroom after showroom of vendors offering their wares for the new year. Our main purpose for the trip was to meet the kind and talented folks of Bethany Lowe Designs, see their fabulous permanent showroom which now includes my new product line and be present for a Halloween artist signing party! What fun!..... I have to say that I was in vintage eye-candy heaven upon entering their space. Everything, including the rare antique props were perfect for product placement and really a treat to see in person. Of what I saw, it was my favorite showroom, and I am so honored to be a part of that beautiful collection today! The following are photos from our first day's visit.... Stay tuned for images from the Halloween artist signing!....

~ Johanna


* Me standing at one of 3 entrances to Bethany Lowe's Atlanta showroom... This entry lead to my spring collection...


* A portion of my spring line greets buyers.... yummy yellow and blue birds serve as containers and bowls while bunnies dressed for spring sit and admire their surroundings...


* Meandering through, we encounter all of the various collections for Christmas... I was enamored by all of the vintage-inspired beaded and glass ornaments and garlands that looked so old and so loved....My holiday display was up and around the long harvest table where the black and white checkerboard floor began....


* Here's a peek at my Christmas collection, and be sure to click on ALL these images for a larger view. It was obvious to me that BLD had really taken the time to prop and display each collection. My Christmas nook had been painted a lovely soft hue of green to complement my pieces and allow them to pop!...


* More Christmas displays welcome guests and truly capture that holiday spirit no matter what time of year...


* Another entrance here invites folks with a love for all things Halloween to enter!.. As you pass through the glass door, you quickly come upon my collection of orange and black delights!...


* Here I am just thrilled to see my largest collection displayed so beautifully! My pieces were sprawled across the bottom shelf / counter of the large black cupboard, and my hats and ornament clips decorated the black feather tree...


* One of my 3 Halloween party hats festively perches on a tree branch. What a fun way to display these hats!...


* My papier mache candy cone characters with removable heads looked spooktacular hanging around amongst their friends...


* Another view of the various Halloween collections offers a chair to rest those tired bones...


* A pair of my Halloween candy containers await the trick-or-treat-loving buyers...


* My Halloween owl bowl proudly stands in front a pair of my illustrated Halloween plates, perfect for eating sweet treats. I am so excited about all of these fun and festive products!...


* And another one of my party had designs rests atop a feather tree branch...

This is only a glimpse into their most amazing showroom. They have so many visual delights to offer that I could spend my whole day in enchantment within their space!
What a treat to see it in person and feel so very welcomed! Thank you Bethany Lowe Designs!..... Please check back to see me and several other BLD artists in costume at the Boo Fest signing.....
SaveSaveSaveSave

Christmas R & R Retreat...

This holiday season we did something completely different for Christmas... With such a busy year behind us, the idea of getting away to a quiet and beautiful destination was sounding more and more appealing. So, we decided to take a spontaneous road-trip down south to one of northern New Mexico's hot spots, Ojo Caliente.. or "hot eye." It's a rustic resort with several hot mineral pools and perfect for warming those bones on a chilly winter's day. There's something about that hot mineral water bubbling up from the earth that's both therapeutic and healing.... After 3 days of soaking and taking it easy for a change, I feel much more relaxed... I highly recommend spending the holidays in this way :) Here are a few pics from our journey and retreat.....

~ Johanna


* A breathtaking view of the Sangre de Cristo mountains (I believe...) overlooking Fort Garland, Colorado....


* As JP tipped his bottle of Berry Izze and took a sip, the sun captured the hue of the ruby red liquid and caught my eye!...


* We were blessed with blue skies both to and from our destination.....


* JP leans against the adobe style fort-like flats we stayed in for a few nights....


* I roast chocolate-filled marshmallows over an aromatic pinon log fire in the courtyard area....


* JP sits in the hottest nook of the iron pool, Ojo Caliente's oldest soaking pool on the premises...


* Me again at the fire with rustic adobe buildings surrounding the scene...


* Me showing off the latest winter hot spring fashions....


* The journey back home is just as beautiful with the distant mountains over Taos freshly blanketed in pristine snow....


* Stopped along the way, JP throws a snowball right at me! Luckily I ducked just in time!...


* And this time he chases after me on the open road.... The chocolates and coffee we enjoyed earlier were obviously kicking in!...
SaveSave

Best Wishes!....

Well, I guess this jolly snowman is a keeper after all. I was making him as a potential adoption piece for those who missed out on my web sale. While I was adding the final touches and trims to "Snowy Joey," JP walked in and insisted that we keep him! Guess he didn't have to twist my arm too much, and well, since I rarely keep my own creations, maybe it's best that I did. So, he's a keeper! And now Snowy Joey, JP and myself wish you our best for a very merry holiday week! Cheers.....

~ Johanna



* "Snowy Joey," a one of a kind shelf sitter snow fellow waives high his mitten hand to you! :)
© 2008 Johanna Parker Design * All contents on this site are the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.

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.

Let's Play Pet Dress-Up!...

I am so very grateful for all of the thoughtful gifts I have received from my collector friends over the years! When I'm least expecting it, a box will appear on the front step with my name on it, and what a treat!... I've received some wonderful treasures like vintage horns, antique postcards and that fabulous kitschy-style wreath now on my front door. Well, last week, a package arrived for "Jack!" If you don't know by now, Jack is my black cat who often appears here on my blog. Well, my collector friend Theresa out in PA often sends me adorable pics of her farm animals. Recently, she dressed up her goat Zinny in the most festive attire and emailed me a photo. Judging from my response, she made a smaller version for Jack! OH, it's soooo cute! Take a looksie....


* Is this not the cutest?! And look, he even gets a little dangling name tag!....


* And here's Zinny, the goat and the inspiration behind all of this silly fun!...


* There he sits so proud in his new, handmade holly collar!...


* Uh-oh.... there he goes again, munching on that old aluminum!...


* And Zinny again.... I just want to squeeeeze her!.....

So, THANK YOU Theresa! I don't know about you, but these festive critter collars are pretty darn cute, and I think they would be a hoot in all sorts of holiday themes.... If you want Theresa to make you one for your furry friend just send her a quick note at:
Getsmacked35@aol.com ....

PS..... Another BIG thanks goes out to ALL the folks who stopped in for my web sale today and adopted a special piece!... I wish I had had even more goodies so no one left empty-handed, but I appreciate your efforts as it means so much to me!..... Happy Holidays to all!
SaveSave

Last Web Sale of the Year!...



Yes, it's this Sunday, and I will have a total of 15 one of a kind Holiday Goodies to offer including folk art snowmen, owls, Santas and cats! Please refresh my Folk Art Originals page after 2pm MST on the 14th to see my latest and last collection of holiday collectibles for 2008. I appreciate your interest and hope you enjoy the sale!

PS... If anything calls to you, simply email me with the name of the piece, and I will let ya know if its yours!...Your patience will be appreciated as I update my site after the sale begins. Thank you :)

~ Johanna

Scenes from our Home Show...

Fortunately, it was a beautiful weekend for our 6th Annual Holiday Folk Art Show, and we opened our home to many special friends. Our 1939 cottage home smelled of holiday spices and yummy cider to warm our guests as they mingled about. Thanks to ALL who made a little time in their day to stop by, visit and support my holiday art endeavors. I hope you enjoyed the event! We enjoyed seeing all of your smiling faces! Here's a peek for all who missed out on the festivities.... (Of course, there is always next year, but you must be on my local events e-mailing list in order to receive the official invite....) Enjoy the photos!....

~ Johanna


* Santas in various heights surround a focal arrangement of vintage silvery decorations...



* A cheery table of snowmen delights welcomes guests as they enter...



* An old drawer is the perfect display for my latest holiday notepad designs...


* Morning shoppers fill the house in search for treasures, some to keep and some to share...


* A retro tree from my mom's childhood now lives with me... perfect for displaying my Santa ornaments...


* A quick photo of me smiling big as the clock strikes 10am, show time!...


* And a quick snap of JP, my "money man" who handles all the numbers and money exchange during my sales.... Luckily, my job is to chat, wrap and sack!...


* And we must not forget Jack showing off his tinsel red collar!.... Cute cute!....


* One of a kind snowmen ornaments dangle from silver painted branches....


* A sampling of sweets await shoppers as they meander through the kitchen...


* A snap of my vintage fridge and a colorful collection of 40s pottery above...


* Cheese and grapes anyone?...


* Through the kitchen and into our breakfast nook you'll find a double-sided
stand displaying many of my illustrated notepads, perfect for the gift-giving season...


* Another peek at the kitchen...


* One of my original snowman candy containers reaches out to collector friends...


* One of a kind snowmen traipse across the mantel...


* And who could forget Halloween?.... A small collection of orange and black fall goodies, placed about my studio room, awaited my Oct 31st fans...


* Another peek at the Halloween with my drafting table in the distance...


* A fun photo of the 2 of us in my studio room, taken by a thoughtful guest... thank you!
SaveSaveSaveSave

Decking the Door...

Brrrrr, it's snowing today in Colorado, but luckily I decorated the front door and entry a few days back when it was balmy out! A spirited chill is in the air today as the flurries fall, so what a perfect day to take a photo of the holiday decor outside. It certainly puts you in that holiday mood.... hot chocolate mood is more what I'm thinking. But, I must get busy in preparation for this weekend's Holiday Folk Art show and Open House!.....Back to work I go.....
~ Johanna


* A funky old aluminum tree will greet guests this weekend, along with a very special wreath gifted to me..... See caption below!..


* What a surprise it was to receive this holiday wreath from a dear collector friend here in Denver! My friend Gay gave it to me for my B-day at the Trunk Show last September. It was such a thoughtful gesture to receive a handmade wreath displaying her collection of vintage glass baubles and kitschy-fun holiday novelties! I LOVE it!.....

Time to Decorate!...

I'm sitting here at my computer wearing a dirty apron all covered in glitter and mica dust... Oooh la la! As I multi-task in preparation for my 6th Annual Holiday Folk Art Show this coming weekend, I thought it would be fun to snap a pic of Jack. Of course he immediately stirred from his day's long nap to see what stinky old antique goodies I was unpacking for the event. And suddenly he was in the middle of the glass bauble action, sniffing the ornaments and chewing on the aluminum tree branches!... Anyway, I had to shooo him away so that he didn't munch on anything he shouldn't, but first I snapped a cute pic of him investigating my Christmas decorations. So, you'll know what I'll be doing the next few days!.... (I'm hoping Jack takes LOTS of long cat naps between now and then!) For those of you folks in the Denver area interested in attending but not on my invite list, please email me for details. See you soon!

~ Johanna

A Font, Named after Me?!!!...

Well, I must admit that this is certainly a unique honor! My Halloween collector friend and typeface designer extraordinaire, Jason Walcott of JAW Arts.com, recently designed a font and named it after me!.... He surprised me with the news over the summer, so I have been anxious to see the results. Jason designs typefaces for Veer and actually has his very own Font Foundry named Jukebox. The typeface he designed and named after me is appropriately titled "Johanna Whimsy!".... What fun! It's a beautiful font and what a special honor..... Thank you so much Jason as you certainly captured the whimsical spirit of my art and masterfully translated it to alphabet form..... Amazing!....

~ Johanna



To purchase this whimsical font, please visit Veer's Website.....
For more fun, tour Jason's Vintage Halloween site too..... No surprise, this is how we met!....

Images from the Gifts for Yule...

Last weekend we celebrated the 11th Annual Gifts for Yule Show in Denver, but with a twist! This show, rich in holiday tradition, had a new face this year as Sam Robinson hosted it for the first time at the Historic Phipps Tennis Pavilion. Wow, what a beautiful setting for any special event! You will see from the photos below that the artisans enjoyed a glassy rooftop above our heads as our showroom featured a fabulous arched atrium ceiling. There was no need for special spotlights or other lighting as the sun rays filled our booths with natural light. The character and history of this special place was quite captivating. Thank you all who spent your weekend shopping with us! As always, we appreciate your kind words, smiles and support, and I hope you enjoyed our new, yet ancient location :)

~ Johanna


* A quick photo taken the last hour as exhibitors put the final touches on their displays... Look at that amazing glass ceiling!


* A snap of me peeking through my display of Santas and candy ornaments...


* One of two entrances... like stepping back in time....


* A wide shot of my booth featuring a festive theme of red & white...


* Red Belsnickels in various sizes enjoy the company of whimsical snowmen...


* A peek out back on an unusually warm November day reveals a sea of brick patterns and architectural elements that intrigue the eye....


* A quick look about and you see a gorgeous climbing tree, sprawled across a time-worn brick wall... What a peaceful place to enjoy the outdoors....


* Back inside and after the intense lunch rush, a few shoppers rest and enjoy hot soups and muffaletta sandwiches created by the talented Erika McNeish... Yum!


* My tall hutch, housing a current collection of my holiday one of a kinds....


* A feather tree displays candy-inspired ornaments that I designed for Primitives by Kathy....


* More of my holiday reproductions, including snowmen candle holders were a big hit!...


* A snap of Sam Robinson's long table of goodies for the home...


* A comfy seat above the exhibiting space below offers a different perspective...
SaveSaveSaveSave

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.