Warm Wishes and Safe Travels to You...

Warm Wishes and Safe Travels to You...wherever you may be or are going this year for the Holidays. It's been a wonderfully busy season for me, but things are definitely winding down here. I have my last Pet Portrait pick up tomorrow (I'll share photos after all the gifts are given!) and I'll stick around the shop until about 3pm, hoping to help out any last minute shoppers! (Is it annoying that I sometimes say studio and some times say shop? Let me clarify, when the black cloth is on my work table it's a "Shop" and when it's not, it's my "Studio"...although I'm thinking of painting the table black then that all goes out the window!) Then we'll load up Izzy and Alice and hop in the car to head up to rural Warrens, WI to my my Mom's beautiful log house in the woods. It's the perfect place to visit at this time of year and I always have so much fun baking with my Mom, we will be creating our bi-ennial Gingerbread House.This is all providing that the weather cooperates... Before I go, I wanted to share this photo of Izzy from the other day...she is havingquite a rally lately, aside from the 'night time crazies' (a period of45 minutes or so every evening when nothing seems to appease her...Rich and I are working on a song). And here's silly Alice careening around in the snow...she loves the white stuff!
Merry Happy Holidays to You & Yours, Safe Travels, Peace and lots of Joy!!

Feature on Modern Cat Blog!

Thanks to MODERN CAT BLOG for featuring my work and hosting this great Holiday Giveaway for Feline Lovers:  Visit their site to see the package which includes a ‘Feline Tips Tree’Holiday Gift Mug with Candy, a Porcelain Cat & Wreath Ornament, oneCat & Wreath Magnet, a 5 x 5 inch Mixed Feline Notepad, a 4 x 11inch Mixed Feline Notepad, and one ‘Feline Tips Tree’ Holiday GreetingCard PLUS the winner will receive a $150 discount certificate toward acustom pet portrait box frame print!

To enter this giveaway, please visit MODERNCAT.net and leave a comment.The winner will be chosen in a random drawing on December 24.

8th Annual Holiday Open Studio Sale this Weekend!

It's hard to believe it's going to be my 8th year doing the Holiday Open Studio Sale! The good news is that this year I do not have to clean my house : ) since I'm hosting it here at my beautiful new studio in Roscoe Village. There is so much more room and my gift selection is bigger then ever before. I'm also offering some really great discounts on select paintings and prints. For those of you who cannot attend, I've posted many items in my Etsy Shop under the Holiday Sale category and I will continue to add to that over the weekend.

WHAT: Annual Holiday Open Studio Sale   

WHERE: 2040 W. Roscoe in Chicago There is Pay Parking on my block but free parking on all blocks west and on surrounding residential streets.

WHEN: This Weekend! Saturday, December 19th from Noon-7pm &  Sunday, December 20th from Noon-4pm

WHY: To Shop and Visit and Toast the Holiday Season! Take advantage of the SALE and pick up some great gifts and art for yourself or your loved ones.

And while you're in the neighborhood, enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the many wonderful cafes and restaurants and check out the other great boutiques!

Young At Heart...

This is Ginger, she was our guest of honor on Saturday for the Young At Heart Pet Rescue Adoption Event...

As you can see, she is a very sweet, laid back 10 year old Jack Russell Terrier Mix, just right for a family with older kids or senior citizens'. Her owner got sick and was no longer able to care for her, this is the plight of many dogs and cats that the Young At Heart Pet Rescue volunteers take into their homes to foster until new permanent homes can be found. Please visit www.yahpetrescue.com if you would like more information about Ginger or to see more dogs and cats available for adoption from YAH.

Noelle, a great customer and supporter of animal adoption...doing a little Holiday Shopping for her family!

With the wonderful crew of volunteers from YAH. Left to right, Matt Jans, Arlene Burkhardt, Dawn Kemper and Irene Tague and of course Ginger!

YAH Executive Director, Dawn Kemper, prepares for the Raffle Drawing...and below, Jay Hirt, one of our Raffle Winners! And Flipper! Jay's wonderful German Shepherd who is among the very first Pet Portraits in my Portfolio. I did his painting way back in 2000, it's called "Flipper's Full Moon".
If you would like to learn about YAH or to make a donation to YAH, please visit www.yahpetrescue.com

"Tucker" one of the many dogs visiting my studio lately, with so many holiday shoppers out and about. We so appreciate all the neighbors who try to keep it local with their shopping!

I've been in overdrive since the day after Thanksgiving, juggling the storefront hours, many Holiday Pet Portrait Commission Orders and deadlines, special events like Winterfest Weekend in Roscoe Village and this past weekend's event with Young At Heart Pet Rescue. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to be so busy...but know when it's time to take it down a notch. I've been taking double doses of Airborne (I swear, it works) and vowed on Friday that Monday morning had to be a sleep in day. It made a big difference, I feel good and ready to tackle these next 10 days leading up to Christmas and have decided to let go of all the 'should of/could of demands on myself. For example should of done a better job of decorating my storefront windows, there was simply not enough time!

Wanted to share a recent Custom Baby Announcement Plaque... Here is one of the new designs now available in the 8x8 Float Back Print or 12x12 Box Frame Print format. Holiday Cards that I designed for the residents of Roscoe Village: Holiday Cards also available for residents of Evanston, I recommend ordering the matte finish after seeing some a customer had purchased on-line, they looked great!

Lastly, these are some porcelain ornaments I made at Lill Street from a mold I created back in the 90's! the color seemed way off but that seems to be the story with me and glaze. Just ordered some DAS Clay that I can experiment with in my studio and paint with after seeing the gorgeous ornaments that Michelle Allen made with it, she is so inspiring!