Best wishes to all for a very Happy New Year!!!

This is my latest collage "The Straight Gate". I made it for the laundry room because it needed a little prospective. I can't sell these because they have a lot of copyrighted art that I love in them they are just for my own enjoyment.

For anyone who is interested today is the fourth day of Christmas, so if you are someones true love, you need to round up four calling birds in a hurray.

I love this picture, it was ruthlessly stolen off of Sketchpot's blog because it is the perfect image of how I feel the day after Christmas, with my too much shopping, cooking, wrapping, rich food & candy hangover. Christmas 2008 is gone and hopefully a good time was had by all. I know we were very blessed, but now I just want to sit here and veg with no dip please.

May the peace and joy the Savior brings for each one of us be yours at Christmas and throughout the year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

GIFTS IN GODS NAME

When we give each other

Christmas presents in His name,

Let us remember that He has given us

the sun and the moon and the stars,

the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans-

and all that lives and moves upon them.

He has given us all green things

and everything that blossoms and bears fruit-

and all that we quarrel about

and all that we have misused-

And to save us from our foolishness,

from our sins,

He came down to earth

and gave us Himself.

Sigrid Undset

For some reason unknown to myself I have always been fascinated by Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" a wonderful tale of hope and redemption. Ebenezer Scrooge has been a favorite subject of mine and I have created my version of his image in almost every art medium I work in, this is the latest version, his crabby old face always makes me smile. I think it's because he renews my faith in our ability to change ourselves for the better. It's nice to see someone triumph over their lesser nature. Anyway to quote Tiny Tim "God bless us every one."

SOLD!!!

Take a moment from your oh so busy day, go to my playlist and scroll down with the roller on your mouse to "Angels We Have Heard On High" by Josh Groban, press play and just listen. Take time to enjoy the holiday and have peace in your heart. I love you all, let it be a happy day.

Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, Love Divine;

Love was born at Christmas,

Stars and Angels gave the sign.

Christina Rossetti

This is my newest ACEO it is titled

"Christmas Dreams & Christmas Wishes"

For somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the year through, The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.

John Greenleaf Whittier

What can I give him

poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb,

If I were a Wise Man

I would do my part,-

Yet what I can I give him,

Give my heart.

Christina Rossetti

The Blessing of Friends

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. Anais Nin

If, as Herod, we fill our lives with things, and again with things; if we consider ourselves so unimportant that we must fill every moment of our lives with action, when will we have the time to make the long, slow journey across the desert as did the Magi? Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds? Or brood over the coming of the child as did Mary? For each one of us, there is a desert to travel. A star to discover. And a being within ourselves to bring to life.

-Author Unknown

IMAGINE INNOCENCE.....

Sometimes it seems that we have completely lost the simplicity and innocents that Christmas used to have. The lovingly handmade gift, decorating with greenery from the yard. Everything seems so manufactured so artificial. We have such abundance it is mind numbing the prevailing attitude is bigger, flashier and more. The simple joys that used to belong to Christmas are gone. These are the kind of things I long for at Christmas, a true remembrance of the Savior, gifts from the heart, charity, carols, stories, poems, family traditions, homemade decorations, peace on earth, and good will to all men.

"St. Nicholas Headed Home" is the name of my latest ACEO.

DECEMBER

December sparkling crystalline December

a beautiful glowing hearth of a month,

filled with plum pudding joy, and twinkling pine tree dreams,

brotherly love, and candy cane mistletoe anticipation.

A carol, a prayer, a brief respite from a care worn world,

the promise of divine deliverance accompanied by angels and a star to follow.

All wrapped in a shiny gold package tied up with a great big bow.

Lovingly delivered by three wise men and a jolly fat elf in a red suit,

that's December.

D.S.W. 2008