MY CHRISTMAS DECOR

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So many blogs are now posting beautiful photos of their Christmas decor.

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I have to be honest, I haven't decorated.
In fact, I haven't done much decorating for years.
I'll hang a couple of wooden snowflakes above my windows,
and a little wreath on the front door.
Maybe I'll put a tiny tree in a silver bucket on the front steps
and set a couple of bottle brushes on a shelf and then I'm done.

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This year, like almost everything that happened this year.
has me way behind and no time to catch up.
But I've made the decision to make major changes next year
so that I'm not always behind and stressed about it.

I just really feel like 2017 is going to be my YEAR.
I've made the decision that I'm not moving.
I'm not moving to a different house
and I'm not moving to a different state.
I will do a different post about how and why I reached this decision but
today's post is about Christmas decorating.

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Because of my decision not to move
I've decided to work on my house and make it like exactly like I want it to be.
And that is a simple, white but colorful, farmhouse, folk art, modern style.
LOL!

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What kind of style is that?
I don't know and don't care what it's really called
but I call it my HAPPY style.
Yep, I want to pull in the driveway and smile
and walk in the front door and feel HAPPY!

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I'm a HUGE fan of PINTEREST.
It never feels to inspire me.
I've created "boards" of things I love
but I found that some are very unrealistic.
So I've decided to go in and start deleting some of my "Pins"
and just keep what I really truly need for inspiration for MY life.
Not my fantasy life.

So since I don't have anything set up for Christmas to show THIS year,
I thought I'd share some of my Christmas PINS.

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Yep, that's what I like.
That's my HAPPY STYLE!

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UPDATE on my ART.
I pulled my little canvases from the place I blogged about.
I gave my notice 60 days ago as my "contract" said I must.
But the owner asked me if I would be interested in leaving some seasonal pieces
on a commission only basis.
Meaning I wouldn't have to pay for a "space"
but rather she would just set them around the shop
and maybe now and then, something might sell.
She wanted only seasonal items and that sounded good to me.
I did a big group of "Vintage Christmas" photos and mounted them on canvas.

We'll see how that goes.

I also am trying to fill up the vet clinic with little canvases
in hopes that people will buy some for stocking stuffers and gift exchange type gifts.

But with Christmas so close now.
I'm starting on Valentines Day.

Yep Valentines.
Several years back I made Valentine's cats.
Some were painted fabric cats.

And some were made of PaperClay.

I sold them on eBay back then.
I remember that a blogger friend had messaged me and asked why they all had broken hearts painted on their chests.
To be honest, I did that kinda halfway subconsciously I guess
and was surprised at the question.
I mean, of course they had broken hearts.

So I'm starting to work on that NOW
because that's my PLAN for next year!
To be AHEAD of the game and actually get my IDEAS created and ready for sell.

THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST ONE.

Someone that I know, a client from the clinic, asked me to something with a photo of her two dogs.

They are both in Heaven now,

So how could I refuse?

I sent this to her for approval -

Her response was that she was crying.

Crying happy tears.

Her husband liked it too.

Especially their eyes.

Instead of my usual 4x4 size

This one is 5x7 and I've mounted it on a 1 1/2 inch thick canvas with the sides painted black.

While I was at it, I did Doc's two dogs.

I watch them whenever he goes out of town

so I took the opportunity to take their pics.

I'm giving them to him as a small token of my appreciation for him saving Blue.

So, THESE might actually be the last ones in this style.

Maybe, I mean who knows. I might do more if there was a special circumstance.

Other news, the place that I gave notice at?

She's currently using my prints as a header on her shop's Facebook page.

Yep. Too little too late for me though.

I did get a phone call from her yesterday in regards to someone asking if I'd give a discount if they purchased 10...

Or maybe even 20!

I had already dropped the price to $10.00

(For Halloween pieces only)

But I went ahead and said yes.

I authorized a 25% discount if he purchased at least 10.

The owner said she'd call me later so I would know what he had bought and what I would need to replenish.

She never called so I stopped down to look for myself today.

Turns out he hadn't purchased any of them.

Oh well.

Definitely time to move on from there.

UNCOMMONGOODS

So I got an email the other day from Uncommongoods asking if I'd like to do a sponsored post.

I was at work at the clinic at the time and when I went to the website I instantly loved what I saw.

I went up front and showed my friend/co-worker and we laughed and commented how funny the cat things were.

We laughed when we saw the cat scratchers!

How cute!

What a cool idea.

Then we looked further. 

We both picked out different items that we loved.

Of course I wanted all the different things for my cats -

and then I wanted the cute donut toys for the dogs

or the pillows for my sofa! I LOVED the pillows!

They would look so cool in my house.
Check it out HERE.

Then I came across the ceramic bee feeder!

OMG! my sister would love that.

She's all about bees.

She even has a little bee tattoo! That's how much she loves them.

And...I want one too for my garden!

Then I found a mug with a lid that holds your tea bag!

My oldest niece only drinks herbal teas. What a great Christmas idea!

I found Owl hand warmers for Lily

and Alpaca socks for my brother-in-law,

the hardest to buy for person in the world!

My middle niece loves handmade items and she loves to bake.

She's a wonderful baker, She's been one since she was little and she even worked at a bakery while going to college.

Maybe she'd like the egg separator 

or the bundt baking dish

or the batter bowl!

OMG! so hard to choose, I could have my Christmas shopping done in one swoop!

and here's another really cool thing.

They are one AWESOME company.
Read about them HERE!

They care about the environment and about their employees.

They are all about handmade, recycled and organic.

They sell nothing that would harm animals.

No leather, feathers or fur.

They try to do most sales online in an effort to save paper and are very conscientious about using recycled paper or paper from FSC forests, when they do mail catalogs.

They "give back" and even include the option to donate at check-out to a selection of non-profits.

and they are a B corporation, the Certified B Corporation seal means that a company has undergone and passed a comprehensive screening questionnaire, which evaluates areas including company governance, environmental practices, and impacts on the local community.

I've been trying to stay away from the big box stores.

The stores with almost everything made in China.

I try to buy gifts at Art/Craft shows.

Or pick up cool items at estate sales and such, as a way to pass on a treasured item and recycle.

The more that I read about Uncommongoods, the more excited I got.

I love what they are doing.
You can read their blog HERE

They are the kind of company that some day, when I've got my Art business up and running and I feel like my work is ready, that I would happily summit my work to!
They have a great selection of Art - HERE
Here are two pieces that I think have some similarities to my work -

Hopefully they would feel that my Art would fit in well with the other work that is offered.

So please take a moment and look at all the amazing things they have to offer.
HERE

I'm thinking I might need to get the Sari Bag for myself!

It's handmade from recycled saris in India

or maybe the hand-crocheted shoulder bag handmade by a fair-trade collective in Guatemala.

or maybe the cat/ mouse garden statues,

or maybe.... LOL! 
Seriously, so many cool items!
Check them out!
What's your favorite?