NEW YEAR-NEW PROJECT!

I saw a  small  hexagon quilt made with a "zillion: different patterned materials and some solid colors here and there   The hegagons were made in all different combinaions.  Each  six sided angle is sewn to another side of a hexagon.  I just loved  the multipatterned - old fashioned look! I will use a lot of primary colors and small prints and poka dots. It will probably be layed  over  arm of one of the rocking chairs  in the kitchen

MY HUSBAND MAURICE'S ARTWORK

This is my Christmas Present and I Just Love It! We open our presents over at our Son's House tonight, Christmas Eve and the sign is to heavy for that! Have a Wonderful Christmas Everyone!

GLIMPSE OF CHRISTMAS AT THE SNARE FARM HOUSE

In The Greatroom as well as all windows in the house the Red Wreaths Glow for Christmas

My newest Nativity. This Indian one has become one of my Favorites!

 Our Master Bedroom is decorated in Victorian which is a favorite of mine also!

 Pool room/T.V. Room has Patchwork Socks for family members, the sign was made by deceased son John

 One of my favorite Old Teddy Bears sets in a  handmade chair by his bed in the Greatroom. I'm just a child at heart!

 We gave This Victorian Doll House to Granddaughter Michail many years ago. She and I have made furniture and many furnishings for it. The House has a place of honor in my art studio until she has a home of her own with a place for it

 Our Dining Room Chandelier shines down on many parties throughout the year. Especially at Christmas!

 This old wine cellar was found in a dark cold bin in the house we purchased in Kansas City before moving to the Farm. My husband took out the front panels and added copper wire making it into a China Cabinet for our home. I Love It!

 The Jewelry Christmas Tree was made years ago. Several Woman of the church decided to make them also. They were used to decorate the Auditorium one year.at the Church.

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SNARE FARM HOUSE AT CHRISTMAS TIME

A Painting I did Of Mrs Claus in 1996. It always hangs in the Kitchen during the Christmas Season

A Cardboard Snow Village of the 40's and 50's. displayed on the Kitchen Seasonal Shelf

I Love the Clove Candle and Lantern Burning During the Winter Season

Red, Yellow and Blue my Favorite Colors All Year!

A Pair of Hurricane Ceiling Lights in the Kitchen Decorated in my Favorite Red and White Checks!

The Kitchen  Dutch Door which opens onto an enclosed back porch has it's own Cozy Fabric Wreath.

The Kitchen Sink Window Shelf is a Favorite Place for Special Items like the Miniature Tree and Ornaments given to me by my Mother..

OUR FARM HOUSE AT CHRISTMAS TIME

 Our Greatroom. a favorite place to visit as well as the backdrop for family and party pictures. Especially with a fire in the fireplace!

 In 2010 I painted a picture of the fireplace for our Christmas Card.

 Our Christmas Tree  is 46 years old! It hides it's age well!  We have some old bubble lights on it, do you see them?

 I found this little old stone house in an antique shop. Of course I had to have it!

One of the Log Cabin Doll Houses we got in Montana.  I love all 8 of mine!  Have made alot of the furniture and furnishings.  

 I did this Folk Art Painting in 2006  to commemorate our homes 30th Birthday.  

 This is the interior of one of the Log cabin doll houses. I can  just loose myself  in the fantasy of these little houses!

I embroidered this Grandma Moses picture in 1974 before we even stared thinking about building a house in the country! Little did I know I'd have my own red barn and farm animals some day! This picture hangs in the Entry Hall above and old family Bible Stand..

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS BOOKS

One of my personal Christmas Traditions is to re-read some of my favorite Christmas Books, Children and Adults. Here are just a few from my collection.which grows yearly!. I teach the 4&5 year olds in Sunday School and come Christmas Time after the Bible Story and Handwork is done they pick one of their favorites to have read to them too!

THE TABLE IS SET FOR THE CHRISTMAS PARTIES!

We love to entertain in our home, especially at Christmas!  Every room is decorated even the six dollhouses! The table has a collection of "Jim Shore" Folk Art Santas given to me over the last six years  by good friend Karen Grimes.The Red Goblets were brought from PA by a friend as a thank you for caring for her grandmother.The "Historic America" Dinnerware was from my Mother-in-Law. Each Season's table decorations start with a homemade runner and napkins.and then the creativity flows!  Let The Parties Begin!

37 YEARS OF MY HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS CARDS

Since 1974, two years before we moved to  the country, I  have been making our Christmas Cards. I always pick as a theme something that has gone on in our life this past year. In the early years of cardmaking I drew or cut out fabric for e.ach card.  But since 1995 I have been painting a 5"x7" picture and having Kinko make sheets of 8- 2 1/2"x 3 1/2" prints. so much easier! I then cut them out and make my cards from cardstock. In the early days I made about 100  but now it's about 225. I keep the collection on this banner and hang it on the pantry door in the kitchen during the Christmas season. The cards give me a great deal of pleasure as I see them daily.

26 YEARS OF MAKING SANTAS

Each year since 1985 I have made wooden Santas as gifts for family and friends. Usually 25-30 0f them. It's fun to see how the collections are displayed in other folks homes. I certainly enjoy mine!

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ON WAY TO BACK DOOR

New this year are the green bottles in containers. I liked the look this summer as I used them in pots of Hostas in the back yard. I collect birdhouses which I use in the yard, on porches and in the house. The angel was a Vacation Bible School Project from years past.

MAILBOX AT CHRISTMAS TIME

My folk art Father Christmas expresses our sentiments to those who pass by; "We Wish You A Blessed Christmas"  from the Snare's

SNARE RANCH HOUSE READY FOR CHRISTMAS

My Husband; Maurice built our home from scratch! He went to the library and got how to do books and did it! Even the windows and doors and wiring! He's my Hero! We always deecorate as shown. Many years ago I decided to make the sheep, angel and sherperds to show the real meaning of Christmas. I'ts especially beautiful with a coating of snow!

MINI QUILT TRADE FROM ELLEN WERY

What a Thrill to receive my Christmas Gift Box Trade!! See the previous post for a full description!

MY FIRST MINI TRADE QUILT GIFT BOX

How exciting from the first glimpse of my gift box where Ellen Wery of ellengetscrafty.blogspot.com had painted a big red poinsetta on it and printed my name so elegantly! As I opened the box shredded crinkled red and white paper overflowed with red sparklie tissue paper and Christmas wrap hid the treasures inside.Ellen had even selected a Christmas card with my name "Joy" on it! I was so anxious to see the Minin quilt Is searched for it first!  Oh My! What Perfection! I could tell she had done this many times before!  She is a good teacher for me! The Colorful and Cozy Winter Scene spoke to my Folk Art  personality. I just love it! The little red and green fabric Santa Red bird is precious,  it can reside in any room of our house. The litttle" Be Warm Inside & Out" notebook and Christmas Pencils speak to my love of Journaling.  And then lastly the beatiful Silver Box of Chocolates is a real treat  that  I don't allow myself very often! Will have to ration them out very sparingly relishing each bite!  Oh Elleen, I hope you will except my gift box to you as from a Folk Art Artist and less than Perfectt Quilter! I Thank Victoria Findlay Wolfe from bumblebeansinc@ gmail.com for organizing such a fun Christmas Trade1

READY FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER

I am so grateful for family! This year we will have 22 adults and 2 brand new babies around our table here at the farm. Our grandkids keep moving off but we still have one and the new baby and Daddy and Our son and his special friend. Thank goodness my sister Judy and her family are still around and like to come down.

MORE SOCK MONKEYS

Look what came home with me from the "Trade Fair Mall" 5 miles S. of Oceola, Mo. on Hwy.13. I'm going to set my collection of 18 Sock Monkeys on a shelf in the kitchen to enjoy! I will paint a picture of them after Christmas for prints and greeting cards. I really like these little creatures not only because they make me smile but my being Homemade, they are all different! 

SANTAS GOING TO THEIR NEW HOMES

These Santas are being delivered to some un-suspecting cousins while on a road trip this weekend.  My sister Judy and I will be celebrating her 70th Birthday. The other 30 Santas are still being completed in Sants's Workshop. 

"SNARE FARM" SIGN

My husband, Maurice finished and installed our new "SNARE FARM" sign on the corner of our 10 acres today Yeah! It will be seen as you come up the hill from The Sugar Creek Bridge. I've waited a long time for it, but the wait was worth it! I think I'll drape evergreen and red ribbons and poinsettias on it for Christmas

WORKING ON 2011 SANTAS

I'm hard at it working on this years santas, all 35 of them.. Our enclosed backporch table makes a good  place to spread them all out

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2011

This shelf features my "Homemade Black Baby Collection" decorated for Halloween. It is locayed across the room from the backdoor so we see it alot! I found the fun childrens lamp shade at a flea market!

MY BUTTON TRADE QUILTIES ARRIVED!

I anxiously awaited the mailman and he brought my trade quilties today!  From top left to right are: "Angel With Crown" by "Queen Of Dreams" stephaniesuzanne.blogspot.com from Grt. Smokey Mts., Tennessee. Love It ! Did you hand dye the pink background? Next is "Boys Will Be Boys" by Kay Hocking in far away Melbbourne, Australia. http://www.shockinghocking.blogspot.com/.  How Fun! What a clever idea even using a mans business shirt and suit! And lastly "Pink Snail" by Kathy Grant again from Australia, Tasmania! Very interesting! The different materials, stitches and trim make for a cute and atttractive Quiltie! Thank You So Much For Making Our Trade A Fun Experience!   And now I'll be  looking forward to the Christmas Trade! 

"THE TOWN OF MITFORD" (Copyrighted)

"The Town Of Mitford" is a 22X30" painting I did after listening to Jan Karon's books, "The Mitford Series". I like to listen to audio books while I paint. This series about an Episcopal priest, named Father Tim, and his dog Barnabas, a boy named Dooley and the delightful neighbor  named Cynthia captured my heart! Her description of the fictious town, and the local residents was so enthralling I just had to paint my vision of Mitford.  I have won a couple of ribbbons with this painting and have also reduced it for greeting cards. I sent a 11"X14" copy to Miss Karon for Valentines Day that year and received a nice Thank You from her and her Secretary.

PAINTED SHOES

Sorority Party tonight. The theme is shoes.  Been thinking about trying this project, so in honor of Fall,, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and my love of Polka-Dots, this is what I come up with! It was easy just painted with acrylic bottle paint & sprayed with fixitive.

MY FIRST QUILTIES

I joined a "Quilties Trade" on Sandrakaydesigns.blogspot.com. First assignment was to make 3 different 4"x6" 3layer quilts of your own design with buttons on each one. These were my entries for trade. "Fall Button Bouquet", "Button Snow on the Pines" & "Dick & Jane at Play" I can't wait to receive my trade quilts. I couldn't stand sending off my quilties with out mmaking a duplicate for me. So now instead of making three quilties each time it will be six! I understand our next assignment will be a "Christmas Theme" . Even though I have been making "Fabric Story Boards" for a long time this is something new and exciting! Fun Fun!

JONI FROM "jONI fASHIONS" .

Joni was thrilled with the painting I did of her charming shop on the square in Harrisonville, Mo. She saw the painting at the recent Harrisonville Fine Art show and had to have it!

HARRISONVILLE FINE ART 2011 FALL ART SHOW

Yeah! I finally made it! Won the Kathy Ruth Neal" award for most creative wood entry in the 3-Dim. catagory. Did it with "Folk Art Is Good For Ya!". I think the bright Orange Ribbon is almost as exciting to me as the check! Also thrilled with 2nd place on "Mom's Art Car". A Good Night!

DAYLILIES IN BLUE AND WHITE VASE (Copyrighted)

My husband bought this vase as an early Christmas gift on vacation one year. I've always loved it, so naturally it end up in one of my paintings.

JONI FASHIONS since 1976 (Copyrighted)

This "Charming Boutique" is located on the square in Harrisonville, Missouri. My granddaughters and I both love this store! I bought one of the colorful dresses hanging outside, and recently bought a cute pair of  raspberry colored sling pumps.  I don't know what Joni will think about the owners dog I put in the painting, but it just seemed to suit!  This painting is one of my entries in the 2011 Harrisonville Fine Arts Fall Art Show in a couple of weeks. 

FABRIC STORY PICTURES

"Pumpkins for Sale" was inspired by the local farm stands in the area. There's one going out of town towards Louisburg that has a full spread along the highway. I worked on this on a 2 day trip.  Great fun!  I told how I  make these Fabric Story Pictures in a recent post. I have this one and "The Falling Leaves"  one on my Seasonal Shelf in the kitchen for Fall.