I'm having a sale!

Are you still full? I am.
And is it STILL snowing here on my blog. My, my. The weather in BlogWorld has been something else.

This is just a quick post (between leftovers) to let you know I am having a little etsy sale. Everything in my shop is 15% off. Just enter the code MERRY2011 upon checkout (good through December 1st).

Here are a few new things:

Gerald, a jester from the Enchanted Forest

Frida
Josephine

And I couldn't break up Nanette and Roger.

I think I ate an entire pecan pie over the weekend. I mean, there is only one little slice left, and I didn't see anyone else eating it. How did this happen? Is there such a thing as somnambulism pie-eating? I think I slivered it to death. You know, a sliver here, a sliver there. Now if I could only sliver into my jeans.

HO HO HO!

Thankful

It's that time of year! We get to eat like crazy (stuffing, cranberries, pie!) and think about our lives for an entire day. How cool is this?

There are no gifts to worry over, or wrap - just hanging out. That's my favorite part. I get up early and spend the day in the kitchen. People wander in and out. We eat. We talk. We sip coffee. We switch to wine.

I LOVE this holiday!So, about that thankful part...

I am very thankful to have 'met' so many of you fabulous people here in Blog World. Maybe I haven't seen your mugs in person (yet!), but I feel like I know many of you. I am very thankful for your visits. You make me like human beings more.
I'm thankful for the friends who put up with me year in and year out. Furry friends included.

And for my family (who I suppose COULD act like they don't know me, but they haven't so far).

For income, health insurance, and a safe and beautiful place to live.
And while I am being thankful, I'd like to thank Lorna for my lovely blog prize.
You know I like skellys, and this one is really beautiful. I was very lucky to win it on her blog giveaway. Look at this!Where would I be without art, or writing, or story, which always inspire me?

On Thanksgiving, I hope that you are with people that you love, and that there will be food aplenty. I hope that laughter and memories will be passed around the table with the mashed potatoes and gravy.

Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you!

Play time...

This is the view out my bathroom window. I think it's the best view in the entire house, which is kind of funny. Now, all the leaves are gone, but last week it was stunning.
I'm going to take a couple of days to catch up on stuff. I have stuff piling up all around me. Writing stuff, art stuff, library books, laundry, life stuff. And there is stuff piling up in my head (mine is currently chanting CHRISTMAS IS COMING! Make gifts NOW!).

I know this time last year I was threatening to give Kraft mac n' cheese in a box as gifts to save money - but this year I am going to make some little gifties for my family. What they are, I have no idea. Maybe I will use Kraft mac n' cheese in a new and artistic way!

So I'm taking a little play time, I will come visit you all, and I will be back with some WIPS in a few days. Be good and slothful.

Strange new paintings..and a strange new doll

When I was little, my mom used to doodle doll faces when she talked on the phone (she also drew bunches of grapes, but those weren't nearly as interesting). I remember grabbing them after she got off. Her drawings always had ringlets and bee-sting lips. I loved them. So, of course I suppose it makes sense that now I scribble dolls on bits of paper.Sometimes they become dolls or plushies. Sometimes they become grocery shopping lists. But since I have been on a painting kick, I thought I should try painting a couple of them.

Inspiration-wise (for art and for writing), I bought a book called "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern . I haven't read it yet, I'm saving it for my DH to give to me for my birthday. Do you do that? Buy things for your DH (or significant other) to give to you? I am doing it more and more. Pretty soon, he'll be out of the loop completely! But I digress. The book flap (I allowed myself to read that much) got me to thinking about circuses, and mysterious carnivals, and so these little images popped up.

Anne Marie, from a French traveling circus.

Paisley, wandering through a strange garden (perhaps on her way to the circus!).

Lydia with a tree in her hair.

I'm not sure where Reynard, the Fox Prince came from.

Charlotte, with her circus tent skirt.

And of course, Frida made an appearance or two. What can I say? It just happens.
So there are my strange circus-inspired pieces with some added Frida love as well!
Happy November to everyone - I hope you are having a productive month, or at the very least least buying presents for yourself that other people can give to you.