A Burst of Color!...

July 15, 2009 Johanna Parker

Well, there is certainly an upside to all of the rain we have received here in Colorado this summer! My perennial garden has exploded in color, and I thought you may like to peek in for a burst of vibrant hues.... Not only that, but the ladybugs are out in droves, and what fun that always is! ENJOY!....

* A ladybug climbs up the thick stalk of Red Hot Poker plant...

* Peeking cross the garden path and plants, you can see a glimpse of our garden shed...

* A pink rose rises up beside a rusty old ornamental garden gate...

* The garden arbor is disappearing under soft white clematis and lots of other bloomers...

* A zoom on an Echinacea bloom ~ aka: Purple Coneflower...

* Our garden Green Man welcomes all who enter...

* The garden entrance, overtaken by so many plants... the path is difficult to find now...

* Red roses climb up a peely old trellis...

* One more view of the garden's front ~ you can CLICK on all the photos for a larger view...

* A ladybug and an ant share one single Spearmint leaf...

* Color!...

* I love these magenta Clematis blooms!...

CATCH this Jack-o'-lantern on the loose!

July 14, 2009 Johanna Parker

I'm back and just finished a new Collector's Catch piece! He's now posted on on my website! "Carny Arny" a happy-spirited Halloween Jack-o'-Lantern is ready for adoption! GO TO my Website to see details. Once there, be sure to click on the image for more views and descriptions. Please send me an email if you'd like to adopt this cheerful one of a kind JOL, and later I will update the page to reveal who caught this collectible piece!....

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

UPDATE!.. A great collector and very talented artist friend of mine, Lory of Maneki Neko Markings quickly caught this fun JOL piece! THANK YOU Lory :-)

Surprise!!! ~ CATCH this!....

July 13, 2009 Johanna Parker

It's officially the 13th of the month and the day that Spooky Time Jingles updates their website with new, one of a kind collectibles from a variety of talented holiday artists. I was asked to be their surprise feature guest artist for their one year anniversary which is today! So, that means you can peek in and see what I am offering! I created 3 special original Halloween pieces, each benefiting the ASPCA in their efforts for animal rights. So, if you purchase from me, a portion of the sale will go to help animals in your name! CLICK HERE to visit my Guest Artist page to see what's up for adoption, and THANK YOU!

~ Johanna

UPDATE!.. A BIG THANKS goes out to 3 supportive collector friends for adopting these pieces and all to benefit a great cause!....

* "Witty-Boo Kitty" ~ an original black cat bust and quite the charmer!...

* "Ziggy", "Witty-Boo Kitty" and "Jackalin".... all one of kind originals up for adoption..

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

Stylin' Owl on eBay!...

June 30, 2009 Johanna Parker

Hoot Hoot! Just finished a unique owl for Halloween or perhaps any occasion for that matter. He's a one of a kind find, painted in an Art Deco motif and looking for a home. Take a closer look by clicking on his image below and visit his auction page. He's here and gone in 5 days, so best of luck, and THANK YOU all for your bids! I appreciate your interest!

~ Johanna

* Have you ever seen an owl like this before?... I've only seen them in my imagination.. hehe! Lift off his head to find a cup below to hide your secret stash, trinkets, or whatever you wish!...

Twin Boxes of Cheer...

June 26, 2009 Johanna Parker

It's the simple things in life that bring me joy. After JP constructed our beautiful custom potting shed last year, I put in my request for a pair of basic window boxes that I could fill with flowers. Of course, it wasn't a priority, but more like eye candy for me to peer at each day from our sun room window. Luckily, with his woodworking skills and a little time to devote to my "needs," he was able to make them this month! He painted them green, and I filled them with red petunias, purple lobelia and creeping jenny. Now, every time I glance out back, I get an extra dose of cheer! Thank you JP :-)

~ Johanna

* Creeping Jenny & Purple Lobelia blooms begin to cascade over the edges of each window box... I just love these cheerful colors!

* Next on my list is to find some rusty salvaged elements that I can decorate the fronts of each box with and perhaps a wall ornament to live in between the two windows. I won't know what they may be until I find them!

* The stone path and "stage" as I call it was also created by JP which leads the eye and the foot to our fun potting shed...

Heartfelt for Dad...

June 20, 2009 Johanna Parker

Father's Day is tomorrow, and I feel extra grateful this year to have my dad around! He gave us quite a scare back in March. As JP and I were practically out of reach on a beach in Mexico, my dad was fighting for his life! His heart, as we knew was only ticking on one of three wires, but when that third wire began to fray, he knew something was wrong. Little did I know of the panic as mom frantically emailed me updates. Once I learned of the scare, I opened each note with one eye closed, afraid to read something dreadful. Fortunately, he had an emergency pacemaker implanted, and his heart began to beat to a steady rhythm again... What a relief and a blessing it was that my brother was able to take over the wheel and drive my dad to the nearest ER. Last week, I was able to visit with my parents as they stopped in to visit us here in Colorado. I gave my dad a big hug, so happy to see his smiling face and feel his warmth.

Of course, I only found it appropriate to make him a little something special and heartfelt.. Take a peek at the one of kind black cat shaker that JP helped me make. She too "ticks" so to speak.... You'll see what I mean. Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Love,
Johanna

* We're "cat people" if you hadn't noticed :-).. so I made this small one of a kind black cat appropriately holding a rustic heart for my Dad's Father's Day gift.... He loved it!

* Mom loved it too as I painted this little cutie in a redware motif, one of her faves. Give this kitty a little shake, and she ticks and rattles and reminds us to never take our hearts for granted...

* And she rattles because we filled her with little noise-making rocks and trinkets, and JP drilled 5 holes to release that fun, rattling sound...

* © 2009 Johanna Parker Design * Black Cat Shaker photos are the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.

Treasures, Found & Received...

June 19, 2009 Johanna Parker

It was a beautiful morning, so JP and I decided to follow the endless trail of garage sale signs, zig-zagging through funky old neighborhoods in search of treasures. While some sales were a lost cause, others proved a bit fruitful in our hunt. I found a few vintage goodies while JP searched for tools and the like. I scored, he didn't - but usually, it's the other way around! I also recently scored 2 delightful prizes from talented artist friends offering Giveaway treasures on their blogs. So, I feel fortunate and grateful for all of these treasures.... Have a look-see....

~ Johanna

* Jack fashions one of two old crocheted doilies that I found discarded in a bin.... I can only imagine the time and love spent on this.. I will drape it over a bench or prop for an upcoming holiday display....

* Buttons galore in a big bag for $4! They all seem time-worn and vintage. I'll put them in a glass jar and keep them handy, just in case...

* A pair of folding wooden stools will be just perfect for propping my folk art at various shows.. $1 each...

* I was attracted to the turquoise color and shape of this Lane pottery vase, a perfect vessel for my colored pencils.... $2...

**And as for the Treasures Received, I was given this whimsical "Pair of Twos" by the ever so talented artist Brandi Milne! She has a truly mesmerizing style, and I invite you to visit her blog, filled with eye candy: http://brandimilne.blogspot.com/

* How did Brandi Milne know that I love ladybugs ever so much?! Next on my list is the perfect frame to properly display these original drawings....

**And last but not least, Robert Brawley, aka "Halloween Fanatic" gifted me his stylized rendition of the Munny Doll in his recent Blog GiveAway.... He's an avid collector of folk art and obviously has the artistic touch as well! Many thanks to you both for sharing your fabulous talents here in Blogland!.... I feel so lucky to have won these special treasures!

* Robert Brawley's bold, graphic style in black and white makes this 'lil guy pop!

Calm Before the Storm...

June 15, 2009 Johanna Parker

It must have been an intuitive feeling that JP had early Saturday afternoon. My parents had stopped by to say farewell before they flew back to Seattle. I had placed my new camera on its tripod out in the garden, awaiting to take a few family photos. The weather was beautiful as we said our goodbyes. Then, JP suggested I "play" and take a few photos for fun. And FUN it was!... I snapped all sorts of close-ups which I will share with you here. Then, sprinkles started to fall and as we ran inside, torrents of rain and hail replaced the raindrops, and we watched our garden in dismay. Again, our garden was pelted on Sunday with heavier hail and rain after which flooding took its place. All is peaceful again, but the garden sadly took a beating. There is always hope, and we'll see if the plants will arise to the sun's warmth and rays. For now, the photos offer fond memories and an acute perspective on nature and its wonders...
~ Johanna

* A bee crawls up and over the bloom of a Bachelor's Button flower...

* A Green Lacewing stops to rest on a spent Alium bloom...

* These poppies just "popped" before the storms rolled in. We enjoyed their paper-thin blossoms for only a few hours, all of which have now fallen to the ground...

* A special peek at the life of a roly-poly in his armored suit as he climbs across the yellow bloom of a sedum iceplant...

* A bee extracts nectar from the violet blooms of a wild geranium...

* Yellow Yarrow, just beginning to pop, glows for the camera...

* A bee-like insect with a peculiar hovering habit searches for the center of this tiny Snow in Summer bloom...

* Tissue-light petals in brilliant red open to the skies... I'm afraid most of these flowers were lost in the storm...

* A bee grips the edges of the tiny Catmint flower in search of sweet nectar...

Please click on the images for a larger view. I cropped them all so you could see the intricate detail, but the subjects are interesting shown in their surroundings as well. I do wonder what became of these small insects and how they could possibly survive such a violent series of storms....? If the storms stay away, perhaps my garden will have a chance to recover ~ There is always hope.

Evolution of EHAG's Logo...

June 11, 2009 Johanna Parker

Well, it's official!.. EHAG * Eclectic Halloween Artists Group * has a new logo, and I designed it! Behind closed doors, or tucked away in front of our computer monitors, the moderators of EHAG, including myself have been thinking of new ways to put a fresh face on EHAG. Image is certainly key, and a new logo design was an obvious answer! With my graphic design experience and a few subtle nudges from our group's leader, I went ahead and started sketching. I thought it might be fun to share with you my process. However rough the sketches and initial graphics may look, it is a necessary step, at least for me in building a brand. Here's a peek at the evolution of EHAG's logo from a "closet graphic designer turned folk artist"... Hope you like it!

~ Johanna

* Here are extremely rough sketches just to get my thoughts on paper... I had a vision to blend the "A" of EHAG somehow with a witch's hat, and slowly it evolved...

* Next, a rough, line-art pencil logo was scanned, and then I made it into a vector-based file in Adobe Illustrator, pulling and tweaking the letters until they started to take shape... First, the thought was to place the logo over an orange rectangle.... But, then orange turned into pumpkin...

* As the pumpkin base took shape, I thought of applying script-style text in green as vines, but that did not translate so well when reduced in size. In the meantime, JP suggested adding a curl to the "H"....

* Finally, I shared this image with our EHAG mod's group, and they loved it! Phewwwwww...... It was a lot of work getting here. Just a few additions and a few more days, and I was ready to finish!

* And WaaaaaLaaaaaa, here she is! It's BOLD and it screams HALLOWEEN in a classy sorta way.... YAY!.... You can view it full size and see other various banners and badges I made at www.ehagart.blogspot.com.

Cheers to my fellow artist friends in EHAG! This is my gift to you :-)

Halloween Owl Kettle Cup on eBay!

June 5, 2009 Johanna Parker

Flutter flutter, flap flap, do not snooze and do not nap!
My original OWL in a cup, is hoping to be snatched up.
The clock is ticking fast, and his auction will not last.
So click on his image below, and best of luck you go!

{ Thanks for looking and for each & every bid! }
~ Johanna

WoW!!!... & the Winners Are.....

June 3, 2009 Johanna Parker

Wow, I am blown away by your 323 comments! I never expected such a grand turnout! Before I announce the winners, I just want to say THANK YOU! You have made me smile, laugh and feel so good inside... YAY!.... So, let's get down to business shall we..... ***DRUM Roll Please...................

1st Prize goes to: Cat (darklingwoods) ~ http://darklingwoods.blogspot.com/

2nd Prize goes to: Identity Seven ~ Jen Osborn http://www.identityseven.com/

3rd Prize goes to: jandofabrics ~ http://twitter.com/jandofabrics

OK, so I know there are a LOT of you who wanted to win, but you are ALL winners in my book!... I'm sending each and every one of you a cyber-HUG for supporting me, sharing your kind thoughts about my art and for energizing and inspiring me to continue creating what I do. I guess we'll just have to do this again sometime as I think it was a smashing success! Toot Toot!

Winners - you Lucky folks you!!... the gods of numerology must be shining on you as it was a complex series of drawing numbers "0" through "9" to find you! Well, cheers to you, and please contact me with your shipping address so I can send off your prizes!

Thanks again to ALL for participating and making this a very special Blog Event!
Cyber-Hugs,
~ Johanna

Original Art GIVE-AWAY!...

May 27, 2009 Johanna Parker

I just realized that this is my 111th blog post, so it's about time to host my very first Blog Giveaway! Why not, everyone's doing it, right?... In the spirit of Halloween, I have created a special one of a kind white jack-o'-lantern fellow to offer. His name is "Lucky Lumina" and someone out there will be the lucky winner of this sweet Halloween ball character. He's pictured below, so firmly visualize his image in your head, think positive thoughts and cross those fingers as he may soon be yours! Of course, you'll have to enter, and there are plenty of ways to WIN!.. The more ways you enter, the better your chance.... So, look for those details below. BEST of LUCK to you!

HOW to ENTER to WIN:

1.) Simply become a "Follower" of my Blog by clicking on the "Follow" button at the upper right column of this page....

2.) Leave a nice comment for me here at the bottom of this post by clicking on the "Comment" button ( and no worries, you do not have to create a Blogger account in order to leave a comment - you can simply click the "Anonymous" option when leaving your message, but just make sure that I can somehow identify you if you are chosen! )

3.) If you have your own Blog and would like to spread the word about my Giveaway on your Blog, then I both thank you and welcome you to leave a 2nd comment here for a double entry! Oh, and you're welcome to include my photo of Lucky Lumina in your post....

4.) Follow me on Twitter by clicking on my candy cup crow image with the Twitter logo, right column of this page. Then, add your name to my list of Followers.

5.) Join my e-mailing list if you are not already a member. Just click on the "Email Johanna" link, top right of this page. (PS... the kind folks already on my e-mailing list need to enter by doing one or more of these 5 steps. IF you are unable to leave a comment here, you can email me, and I'll add your comment to the list below! THX!)

{ johanna@johannaparkerdesign.com }

OK!... So, as I said, there are LOTS of ways to enter!..... I look forward to reading your comments and hearing from you :) I will be posting the winner of Lucky Lumina in a week!.... Stay tuned and spread the word, and a big thanks to all of my loyal collectors and artist friends who have supported me through the years. Cheers to you!!

* Signed & dated by the artist.... 1/1 original.....

SURPRISE!!... Due to your overwhelming response, I am feeling extra generous and have decided to add 2 more prizes!

2nd Prize is this fun set featuring my illustrated party ware:

* These fun melamine dessert plates debut this fall through Bethany Lowe Designs, and the paper candy boxes are offered through Primitives by Kathy...

3rd Prize is this handy set of my illustrated notepads and a jack-o'-lantern pen to write on those festive pads:

* The autumn inspired notepads and pen are all offered through my Primitives by Kathy line...

* *If you've already entered to win the 1st prize, then you're all set... Your name will be entered for all 3 prizes now!!.. Don't forget, there are 5 ways to enter, and if you'd like to TWEET about my GiveAway, leave me your "tweet" & Twitter name in a comment here, and I'll add you in again :) Boy will this ever be confusing for me!!!!

© 2009 Johanna Parker Design

Thank you,
~ Johanna

Put on Your Party Hat!...

May 22, 2009 Johanna Parker

Cheers, it's Friday, and time to put on your party hat!... You'll notice that I sorta goofed off a bit today, but all in good fun. I just received the party hat samples I designed for Bethany Lowe's 2009 Halloween line, and what FUN they are!... There are 4 festive conical hats, each depicting an illustrated Halloween scene. Enjoy the silly photos and scroll down for more info on how YOU can have your own set.....

~ Johanna

* I'm looking a bit mischievous here in my dancing black cat hat!...

* What a goof I am, taking these photos all alone ~ at least I can laugh at myself!...

* Ahh, thinking about which hat I'll wear on Halloween..... maybe ALL of them!...

* Uh-HA, I can decorate with these hats too...multi purpose!...

* Hmmmm, what sorts of hats will I design next.......

So, you might be wondering where you can acquire your own set of these delightful Halloween hats.... Well, I know you can pre-order them from Christmas Traditions , Bayberry Cove and A Vintage Holiday, three wonderful websites offering a delightful array of holiday collectibles. If you are an online seller of Halloween collectibles, including these festive hats, please let me know, and I will include your link here too!..... Let the Halloween party begin!

PS... Remember my artist feature in Better Homes & Gardens Halloween Tricks & Treats Magazine?... Well the photo below inspired this current line of wearable hats. Originally designed to be worn by my sculptures, I adjusted them graphically to fit our heads!... Remember, they look whimsical both on your head and in your home for Halloween..... Love that multi-functionality :)

CATCH this Black Cat if you can!...

May 20, 2009 Johanna Parker

Surprise!... I just finished a new Collector's Catch piece and just posted it on my website! "Sprinkles" the Halloween black cat is ready for adoption! 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 if you'd like to adopt this flirtatious, one of a kind cat, and later I will update the page to reveal who caught this collectible piece!....

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

UPDATE!.. My collector friend, Celeste in California caught this kitty in lightning speed! She beat the record! Thank You so much Celeste, and I hope this kitty brightens your night!...

Blog Makeover!...

May 19, 2009 Johanna Parker

Well, it's a work in progress, but I finally figured out how to add a third column to my blog! Thanks to the Blogger Guide's online Tutorial, I was able to alter my "Scribe" 2-column Blog into a 3-column blog. YAY!... Anyway, that's the latest thrill with me. It doesn't take much to make me happy! :) OH, and I just added NEW pages to my Gallery! Click on the various Folk Art Gallery links, top right of this page.......... ENJOY!

~ Johanna

New Kettle Cup on eBay!...

May 12, 2009 Johanna Parker

As promised in my previous blog post, I just finished and posted my 2nd collectible Kettle Cup on eBay! This sweet black cat is looking for a new home... So, take a closer look at my Auction page to see if you'd like to place a bid. Perhaps you will be his new owner! Thanks to ALL for each & every bid, and best of luck!.....

~ Johanna

For my Halloween Mommy....

May 9, 2009 Johanna Parker

Yes, that's right, I have a Halloween Mommy! Out of all the days in the year, she gave birth to me on Halloween! "Ahhh, no wonder!" you exclaim... :) What a special day that is for the both of us as it rolls around each year. Mom brought me into her creative world and introduced me to the arts, nurturing my imagination and allowing me to express my talents. I feel very fortunate to have had an artistic upbringing, inspired by my mom's love to craft and share her handmade treasures with others. It's interesting to reflect back and see how I've gathered all of these favorite things into one big happy and creative bundle! Thank you mom for inspiring me to do what I love to do... I am so happy to have found my niche thanks to you :)......
Love,
Johanna

* Something new!... And the first one goes to Mom as a gift of gratitude!

* Oh take a look! It opens, and inside she will find an itsy bitsy scroll. I'm calling these candy containers, "Kettle Cups" perfect to hide a little love note in or perhaps some Halloween jewels or candied sweets...

* Unroll the teeny weeny scroll to find a special note for Mom.....

* And the underside is signed with love....

{ That's my Mom pictured above - she's "Mom" to me, Kathy Parker to others.. She lives far far away from me up in Washington state ~ otherwise, I would have given this special gift to her in person and you'd see me in that photo too! }
* I surprised her with a box on Friday, and obviously, she couldn't resist in opening it! The phone rang later, and she was very excited to receive such a special gift. Mom's been collecting my Halloween folk art for several years now, so this little guy will look wonderful in her colonial home, amongst her collection of redware and Halloween collectibles!.. Enjoy Mom, you deserve it :)

PS... I've created a similar black cat kettle cup & just need to add the final touches... He'll be listed on eBay within a couple of days, so stay tuned!...

© 2009 Johanna Parker Design * Halloween Kettle Cup Cat photos are the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.

CATCH this Cat if you can!...

May 8, 2009 Johanna Parker

Surprise!... A new Collector's Catch piece just posted on my website! I just finished this fun Halloween-Circus themed guy. 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 if you'd like to adopt this cute, one of a kind cat, and later I will update the page to reveal who caught this collectible piece!....

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

UPDATE!.. My collector and artist friend, Amy of OldBackThyme.blogspot.com in Tennessee caught this kitty tonight! Thank You so much!... This will be her first Johanna Parker original! I hope you like him Amy :)

EHAG's Skeleton Key Hunt Begins!...

May 4, 2009 Johanna Parker

Well, the clock just struck midnight, and the hunt now officially begins! What are we hunting for you ask?.... Ahhh, a treasure trove of Halloween delights from sixteen unique artists. But, the key to these delights can only be found on one of their blogs. First stop, is EHAGart's Blogspot where the official list can be found. Enjoy your blog-hopping along the way, and make sure to leave a comment for the Key Keeper! And, no, I do not hold the key, but I will be offering a trio of my illustrated Halloween note-papers to the lucky winner..... Have fun on your spooktacular search, and ENJOY the journey!

~ Johanna

It Starts with Black & White...

April 29, 2009 Johanna Parker

Today, I thought I'd mix things up a bit, and I don't mean papier mache this time! I spent the majority of the day designing, sketching and illustrating Halloween party hats. Like the title of this post states, it all starts with black and white! My ink pens and illustration board were my main focus, and I began illustrating fanciful jack-o'-lanterns, expressive moons and stylized bats. These whimsical images will decorate the one of a kind party hats that my sculpted Halloween folk art characters will be wearing this fall. It's all part of my signature mixed media look that I began dabbling in back in 2003. I was looking for a unique way to apply my love for illustration with my fascination for sculptural work. Now, it's a tradition for me to make 2 - 3 new illustrated hats each year. Stay tuned for their finished look in full color!...

~ Johanna

* A series of thin arched lines reveals the darkened wings of a bat....

* Jack-o'-lanterns from my imagination take shape on illustration board....

* You can see the hats slowly come to life, anxiously awaiting a warm wash of Halloween hues...

* I look up to stretch my neck after hours of intensive drawing.....

Hope you enjoyed the peek in my studio!.... By the way, I have good news! As a token of my appreciation for all of my supportive collectors and friends, I will be hosting my first ever Blog Giveaway soon! I'm working on a special one of a kind to share with one of my lucky fans... In order to enter, I ask that you do one or all of the following (for multiple chances to win) = Follow my Blog.....Follow me on Twitter.... Leave me a nice comment on the upcoming Blog Giveaway post. So, stay tuned and keep checking back. :)