GRAND AMERICA HOLIDAY STROLL

The Grand America Holiday Window Stroll is fast becoming one of my favorite art projects of the year!  Even though I have to start getting in the Christmas mood waaaay back in June to get things completed... it is so rewarding to bring the spirit of the holidays to those who visit the stroll. I love watching the families and children explore, and the sense of excitement I see on their faces.  The wonderful thing about the Grand America Window Stroll is that it is FREE, FESTIVE and FUN!  The Grand uses myself and my small team of local artists to hand-make and illustrate the 17 windows, rather than going to a corporate company.  Utah talent is most definitely on show! My team spans from Park City to Hunstville Utah, and is full of some of the most creative people! I can't wait to tell you everyone's specialty.

This years theme is " Sounds of the Season".  Each window represents a Christmas carol, and visitors will pick up a scavenger hunt card and try and guess which carol belongs to each window.  Fun for Everyone!  Plus there is a yummy life sized ginger bread house, baked right by the Chef at the Grand. You can basically follow your nose to find it! 

I'd like to show you a bit of the process and what it takes to get the holiday creativity going.  One of my favorite quotes is " Vision is the art of seeing things invisible". This is exactly what I get to do for my job...  Take a blank space, dream up and idea and watch it become something fresh and alive.  I start old school with a basic pencil drawing, conceptualizing the windows.  I then gather with my crafting team , we divide up and make these simple sketches into something, elaborately detailed, hand painted and hand handsewn.   

If you have not made this a holiday tradition yet, you should start!  The Grand America is lovely to visit and the window stroll makes a wonderful time of year simply magical!  The window stroll is open until NEW YEARS DAY!  Go Enjoy! 

GIVEAWAY: Follow me on instagram @jonniehartmanart Post a pic of your favorite window #jonniehartmanart#grandamerica @jonniehartmanart and be entered to win a handmade surprise!!!

More window details and about the:
JONNIE HARTMAN ART TEAM

coming soon.....

Last Minute Halloween Inspiration!

No Costume?  Need a fun last minute idea? With a hot glue gun and a little imagination you can create almost anything!  These costumes are inspired by the board games that everyone played growing up.   CandyLand -Monopoly- Twister -Clue!   These are currently on display at the Grand America toy store: Jou Jou in Salt Lake City. For all the Costumes I purchased the body of the dress or suit jacket and went to town, basically decorating and adding elements that would bring out the details of the board games. You can really go with something as simple as cut paper circles added to the Twister girl, or a little more complex like mod-podging monopoly money to a suit to make a million dollar man! These no sew options are simple, creative and original...so plug in that hot glue gun...get going... and in a few hours, you can have a costume that is sure to be a hit this Halloween!   Happy Haunting! Follow me on Instagram for fun art and photo giveaways! @jonniehartmanart

Putting the WONDER in WINTER....

Waaaay back in July I started this Sun Valley Holiday project in collaboration with STRUCK design. It was a tricky one...I flew up to Idaho several times ironing out the details, measurements and such. Every item that I used had to be shipped in a 40 foot truck, because there are not many resources in the small town of Ketchum.  I spent 14 days installing 13 windows & was away from my little family for probably too long. But the end result was well worth it...I do believe the wonder will be in winter this year at Sun Valley!
Each visitor gets a passport as they travel from country to country, window to window, learning how each destination says "Happy Holidays" in their own language.    After filling the passports with stamps from each country the visitors get a delicious holiday surprise!    Sleigh rides, snow sculptures and acres full of magical lights also add to the wonder of this entire event!
I am grateful to have a career doing something that I love...something that brings whismy and joy into other peoples lives. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!  Here are some of my favorite install the past few years....  JOU JOU toy store,  La BONNE VIE patisserie,  Grand America Christmas.

I am ARTIST hear me ROAR! Come & see the JOU JOU TOY STORE!

I just completed the Window Designs for the most amazing toy store in Utah!  JOU JOU will be opening Friday Nov. 25th, at the Grand America, in SLC! Check out THIS teaser! I teamed up with the Design firm Struck- Axiom, who's client list ranges from Dreamworks to Nike!  They always let me have my creative freedom and just do my thing:)  SO many wonderful artists were involved in creating Jou Jou. (Can't wait to tell you more about them.)  I just want to give you a Sneak Peak so you will go and see it all in person!  


Here are some of the highlights...an enormous candy organ that plays music and dishes out yummy treats.  Boys can build their own robot!  Girls can capture a fairy!   And there is a Monsterpiece Theater where you can interact with a variety of wild monsters!  This a truly a magical experience with toys you won't be able to find anywhere else!  There will be a Tree Lighting ceremony and a big to-do the evening of Friday Nov. 25th...all festivities are FREE!  Come check it out!

Branch Out....literally! WEEKEND Do It Your SELF!

This is my first WEEKEND D.I.Y .... fun design tips everyone can do to add whimsy and fun to any home!  When most of us prune a tree, we just throw the branches away. But with some creativity, you can recycle those tree branches into useful things that can give your home a one-of-a-kind look.  And the best thing about branches is that they can be $FREE.99!   All branches where gathered from my yard or neighborhood after spring pruning! You can check out what tools you will need and how to from my previous segment on  KSL STUDIO 5.  

1. HAND MADE BLOSSOM TREE

2. BRANCH JEWELRY HOLDER 

3. WILD THINGS... Stitched Leave Tree

4. TWIG LADY MURAL

5. STAR BURST TWIG MIRROR