Think "Inside the Box"...

As I've said before, I have trouble thinking "outside the box"

...so I just decided to think "inside" the box...

the crayon box that is!

Having taught 1st grade for so long, I'm quite comfortable

with primary colors...

the inspiriation for this batch of my Santas.

I hope they "make a passing grade"!

Introducing First of 2011 Santas

Finally, I've completed the first batch of my 2011 Santas!

These are all hand painted on cypress knees.  For those who aren't familiar with cypress knees, they are part of the root system of the cypress trees that grow so plentiful at the edges of lakes and bayous in the south.  The "knees" pop up out of the water at the base of the tree.  Once the tree has been cut for lumber the "knees" are just useless.  That is until someone like me takes God's wonderful creation and gives it new life such as I did in creating my Santas.  Visit my website, http://www.wood-n-stitches.com/ to see more.

Here's a glimpse of before and after.

Before (actually "during" because I've already primed and basecoated)



After



It Will Be Here Before We Know It...

Yes, once again it is almost time for our annual HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE in Oak Grove, LA.   It will be held Fri., Dec. 3rd , 9:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. and Sat., Dec. 4th 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. at the Jason Thomas Lingo Community Center on Hwy. 17 just south of Wal-Mart.  This will be our 23rd year to host this craft show that features the handmade creations of 40 talented exhititors.  We'll have jewelry, Santas, snowmen, crosses, wreaths, windchimes, picture frames, ornaments, signs, yard decorations, shabby chic furniture, American Girl doll clothes, western decor, painted windows, bottle cap necklaces, homemade breads, cakes, cookies, cupcakes, pumpkin rolls, baby items, and much more!

Also, lunch and supper will be sold to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

There will also be a small town Christmas parade in town on Saturday.  Come join the fun. 

These are some of the latest Santas I've finished to take to the show.

Can you guess the colors of the local football team?  I can add the  team's name or player's number to the pennant.

Website Seems to Working Properly Now

The customers that were having trouble have since emailed me to let me know that they finally got the site to come up properly!  I don't what  was wrong or how it got corrected, but the "bugs" are out of it now.  I had put in a call for help to my website designer.  Maybe she fixed it for me.

Anyway, thanks to all of you who checked it out for me.  It was weird that it was working for some and not others across the country.  I would be on the phone with the customers and we would be doing the same things online.  It would go through for me, but not for them. 

Up and running with yet something else to be thankful for during this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Look What a Creative Customer Put Together!

I recently received an order for one of my cypresss knees on which I had painted two snowmen.  The customer was a former New Yorker who now lives in Flordia.  She called  the piece a "wooden sculpture".  Thinking that since she wasn't raised in the south she might not be familiar with the cypress trees that grow around all the lakes and bayous down here, I sent her an email with some information about cypress trees and their "knees".  I also  attached photos of them growing along the edge of a lake.

She, in turn, took the info and pics along with some snap shots of her purchase and created this great scrapbook page.  Now wasn't that cleaver?  Thank you Mary for sharing this with me and your friends on your forum.

Here Comes Santa Claus

I managed to get four more Santas painted this week in between babysitting a couple of my grandchildren. 
These are some of the cypress knees I had pushed to the back last year because I didn't have time to get the creative juices flowing.
They have a lot of lumps and bumps that I call "personality".  I have to look at them from every angle to decide how to paint them.

Santa and His Christmas Tree

Back View

Mr. & Mrs. Claus

Back View Showing Doll in Toy Bag

Santa's List of Good Girls & Boys

Elf & Toy Bag

Santa, Snowball & Puppy

Santa Claus Is Coming ...To My House

The first of my 2010 Cypress Knee Santas have been added to my website, http://www.wood-n-stitches.com/! 

Here's a sneak peek!

Santa even has some gifts for his feathered friends...
a bag of  bird seed and a new home!

Time out to build a snowman!

Can you see the tiny red circles on Santa's robe?  I was experimenting with a straw as my "paintbrush".

This is Santa and the Mrs. out for a stroll in co-ordinating outfits.

No Chimney, No Problem

If you don't have a chimney and your little one is worried about how Santa Claus will get into the house on Christmas Eve to leave all those longed for gifts, here's your sign! This is my original take on the familiar Santa's Magic Key. As it says in the note to Santa, just hang the key on an outside door so he can use his magic and this key to open the door. Then Santa can leave it by his cookie plate and you can keep it safe until he needs it again next year.