"tis the Season

Here we go!!!!

xo

Tidings of Joy

My wish for all of you this holiday is that your hearts overflow with joy and happiness.

That you are smothered by the warmth and comfort of family and friends.

And that the coming New Year brings you peace and love.

Happy New Year!!!!

A Happy Holiday and Grant Wood's Studio

What a merry Christmas we have had!

As always, the tree was adorned with what might now be termed 'vintage' ornaments.

By that I mean, ornaments that were mine when I was little.

A dear friend added to my Connie Roberts carved Santa whistle collection.

And my parents drove from Pennsylvania on Christmas Day.

Saturday was a gloriously frozen day to go to Cedar Rapids and visit Grant Wood's studio.

I found it astounding to stand in the exact spot, 

on the exact floor,

in the exact tiny house, 

that such spectacular artistic masterpieces were painted.

I thought about how much artwork I (gratefully) have to do right now, and how I find it

 nearly impossible to work when the kids are on break and home in the house.

So how is it that Grant Wood managed to work,

to paint, 

to create,

to concentrate,

in this tiny one room loft----

With his mother and sister living right there with him?

Did they peer over his shoulder at what he was painting?

Did they ask where the cereal was?

And to explain why that grumpy man was holding a pitchfork?

It was a spectacular experience. 

The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art has done a beautiful job of preserving and presenting

 the legacy of Grant Wood.

My parents left this morning, which always makes me sad.

But I'm grateful, for the warm memories of a wonderful visit.

Happy New Year! 

A Very, Merry Christmas!

Merry,

Merry

Christmas!

&

A

Happy,

Happy

New

Year!

xo

The Happiest Wishes

 My mother sent me this glorious old pin. So I set aside a few moments in all the chaos to make myself a little Holiday cheer. 

 It makes me think of her, and all things important this time of year.

Wishing everyone a very happy holiday season--- enjoy!

A Little Ho Ho Ho-ing

 I promised you, in an earlier post, that I'd give you a sneak peek at what's on my art board. I'm hoping to have some fabric made for a holiday project that I'm working on. How cool is it that you can make your own fabric? Check out Spoonflower for amazing ideas and inspiration.

 

I have some big plans for gift wrap sheets and (hopefully) some gift tags which will be available at www.JBReinhardt.etsy.com, but not tooooooo soon!

I don't like it that stores start to sneak holiday sparkle in so early. Back-to-School immediately morphs into Halloween and Christmas Season nips at Halloween's heels--- basically snubbing its nose at poor, overlooked Thanksgiving. Usually by mid-November I am forced into a brain-washed-panic that I don't have all my shopping completed, wrapped, and shipped. Catalogs are delivered to my door over a month before Christmas, trying to consol me by stating that, "It's not too late to still recieve your order in time!". 

I guess I'm really not much better, am I? Well, I can promise you that none of this will be in my shop that soon!

Bad Mommy Moment Number 1,498,256,003

While driving in the car with my daughter I said, "This has been a long winter break--- I thought you went back to school on Monday, but not until Wednesday?"

My daughter, "Yep, Wednesday".

Me, "Wow.... Wednesday?".

"Yep".

"Wednesday? Uch".

"Uch?????!"

"I didn't mean "Uch"".

"But you said, "Uch"! You meant "Uch!"

"No, no I didn't mean "Uch"... um... I didn't... really... ?"

"Uch."

A word of advice to all over- stressed moms who have had meals, and laundry, and company, 

 and santa, and, and, and...

choose your gutteral sounds wisely.

 Happy New Year!

Peace!

Joy To The World!

And Joy to you!

I wish you peace and happiness this holiday season and lots of laughs, love, hugs, and pleasant surprises in the New Year!

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit here!

This Busy Time...

Oh aren't we all just crazy busy?

Decking the halls and fa-la-la-la-la-ing?

I have artwork due and have been spending a lot of time in my studio. At least I'm not alone. Here's a picture of my assistant. It is his job to follow me to the studio, curl up like a large, puffy kitten, and sleep on his bed under my board. After all, he's very tired after a long morning of resting.

More soon, but for now I'm trying to...

Slow down.

Remember.

Enjoy.

It is what it is.

Tidings of Comfort and Joy...

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay, 

 
 







Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day,
 

 

 To save us all from Satan's pow'r

When we were gone astray;

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
 

From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came.
 

And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,

 

 How that in Bethlehem was born

The Son of God by name:

 O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Happy Holidays from,

Age Before Beauty.