Mini Halloween

For all my miniature horse lovers out there I have finally completed the sign I had mentioned in my last post. I think it turned out really well. I especially like the pumkin scarecrow on the horizon.
Mini Horse Halloween Auction

I'm getting more and more excited for Halloween. I bought several cool decorations at TJ Maxx this morning. I was in there looking for shoes for Zoe and found a ton of neat things. Have to go back when they go on sale! Also found out that the Halloween Spirit shop has opened. You know the place, there is one in every town in the fall, they sell mostly sexy witch costumes and such. This one must be run by some real Halloween lovers because they had several large animatronic displays set up. Zoe really liked the haunted hillbilly skeletons for some strange reason. I was impressed!
Now I just need to make a bunch of money so I can get that spooky lifesize witch stirring a cauldron and cackling!
Jen

Summer's End

Okay, summer isn't officially over yet but my husband went back to school today and there was a definate chill in the air this morning. I have been a little Susie homemaker the last two days making banana bread, freezing 10 dozen ears of organic corn and making sauce from 40+ pounds of heirloom tomatoes from my Mom's garden.
I didn't grow enough tomatoes myself but I did add this strange fellow to the pot that came from my small garden. You can see quite clearly that this Roma is most certainly male:)



So now that the hubby is back to work I don't have as much time to paint during the day. I will try and paint more at night but it's difficult when you are tired from chasing around a two year old. I have a few pieces started and a Halloween sign featuring a black and white miniature horse almost finished. After visiting the Munnings exhibit last week, all I want to do it break out the oils!

Well, the kiddo is finally down for a nap so I better get back to work!

Yard Sale Find

I bought this great Bethany Lowe Halloween witch at a yard sale this weekend. She was $15 but her box had an original price of $110! I'll call that quite a find. I've been searching the internet trying to find out more about her and haven't come up with a thing. If anyone knows about this witch could you please leave a comment?

Also have a pair of little black cat paintings on ebay right now. I don't think they photographed very well, they look much cuter in person.



Thanks for looking!
Jen

We have a winner!

The winner for my Halloween ornament giveaway is Joyce Stahl of Enchanted Productions! Congratulations Joyce I am so happy you won. Perhaps it was that second entry you got when you subscribed. For those of my readers who are not familiar with Joyce's work, please check out her blog to see her magnificent dolls. They will really blow you away!

---

In other news, we went to the Brandywine River Museum today so I could catch that Munnings exhibit before it closes on September 1st. Boy was I glad that I didn't miss it! I was in absolute heaven. To be able to paint like this man is my dream. This was probably my favorite painting...

It was such a beautiful day, we had a nice stroll by the Brandywine River.




For some reason I really like this photo. Click on it for a larger image. I like the plants under the water and the pretty yellows and purples in the flowers on the bank.

Goat Flower Farm

We made a great new friend this week, Carol Ellis of Goat Flower Farm. I took an oil painting class with her daughter, Kayley, and she invited us to come and see her beautiful critters which included several mini horses, a Paint horse, a lop eared bunny, two cats and many, many goats. Here are some pictures I took today. We look forward to returning - she only lives 2 minutes down the road!









I also managed to complete a Appy Halloween sign today. I should have it on ebay sometime tonight!




And one more photo of a folk art black cat box currently on Ebay...

Halloween Ornament Give Away!

I haven't had a contest on my blog in awhile and I've never had one for a piece of Halloween art. Today I felt it was darn near time:)
The winner will receive an original hand painted ornament made out of paper mache. Around the border is black and orange chunky glitter. On one side is a pumpkin and the other a moon and witch. It measures 4 inches across and is signed and sealed.

To enter the contest all you have to do is leave a comment on this post and this post only. If you would like to double your chances of winning, become a subscriber by typing your email addy in the box over on the right hand column.

One winner will be drawn next week on August 22nd at 8 PM Eastern time.
I will post the winner's name and try to contact the winner via email if I have it. Otherwise please check back to see if you have won!

Here are some photos of the ornament...

---

Don't forget to search ebay for "EHAG" this week to see what everyone has created for the Carnival Challenge!

Salem Riding Club

Just added to ebay for a 5 day auction...

---

Just added to our family, a 4 month old guinea pig...

Tuxedo Halloween

My newest sign creation came from a request for a tuxedo cat by one of my wonderful customers.
My model for the cat was actually my own dear Zazu. She is not a tuxedo but she does have the white markings and sweet face. She doesn't have a ghost blaze either but she has one brewing:)
I was also inspired by that famous vintage postcard of the black cat in the pumpkin.
I will be listing this piece on Ebay in a day or so.

Sneak Peek!

EHAG is having a challenge this week starting Friday the 15th. Our theme for this challenge is "Halloween Carnival". I finished my piece tonight so I thought I would give people a sneak peek.
Here it is, my Sleepy Hollow Carnival Carousel!



Search EHAG on Ebay starting August 15th to see what all our wonderful members have created!

Chilly in August!

The morning has begun with a very chilly start. At 10 AM it is still barely 60 degrees. Thank you Canada for the nice refreshing burst of cold air!
This brisk weather has definately put me in the mood for painting Halloween. To further inspire creativity, I've made up a playlist of some of my favorite music.
I hope my friends and readers don't find it too annoying. Occasionally I will click on a website and the music is very obnoxious.
To start off my playlist, I've added music from my very favorite film, Amelie. I don't think you could find a more perfect movie. The cinematography, music, acting and script are absolutely amazing. It is whimsical, touching, funny, colorful, artistic, magical and romantic. It's one of those movies that if I see it is on TV before I go to bed I have to watch half of it even though I'm dead tired.

---

Since it is so chilly out and my family is wearing long sleeved shirts this morning, I thought I would marked down all sweatshirts and long sleeved t's in my Cafepress Shop $2.00. This week only! Prices will go back up next Monday.
I have added some nice new Halloween designs recently so please check them out.
Take care everyone and have a magical day!

Back from the beach...

When I'm on vacation my two favorite things to see are native animals and art.
The artwork that was my absolute favorite was a 1902 fully restored Herschell-Spillman carousel with 45 hand carved wooden animals of all shapes and sizes. The horses even had real horse hair tails! It is one of the oldest in the United States.
My 2 1/2 year old daughter was fascinated with the sea dragon and had to ride it twice despite my urging to try one of the animals that went up and down.

This gorgeous piece of history is housed in the Trimper
Amusement Park at the begining of the Ocean City, MD boardwalk.










The two other fun things at the beach are wild ponies on Assateague and sea gulls. I think I must be the only person that loves seagulls but I get a big kick out of feeding them and listening to their calls. I didn't have much time to spend with the ponies but I caught a glimpse of these two young stallions by the water.








Okay, now that the fun is over I am back to painting on Monday!
Jen

Every bunny loves Halloween...

Here are my new signs as promised! A bunny witch and a bewitched Paint horse. Just added to ebay. As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be way this week. Be back before the auctions end!
Jen

Fruits of Our Labor

1.25 lb. Brandywine Tomato

Red & yellow Brandywines, romas & Amish paste.

Okay, are you sick of my garden pictures yet? I can't help it. This is the first year that we've owned a house and had a big yard and the first year I've gotten to grow my own garden. Growing up we always had a huge garden so it's very important to me. My mom & stepfather have over 1,000 heirloom tomatoes planted this year not to mention an acre or two of Yukon golds and sweet corn.
My tomatoes are coming in like crazy and the Brandywine's are huge. The one in my hand weighs 1.25 pounds! 100% organic:)

Okay, now this will really make you laugh. I hate raw tomatoes (I like to make sauce). I know, sounds crazy right? I just do it for the joy of growing and giving. My husband is happy, he loves them. It's also a nice gift for the neighbors. Next year I want to expand the garden and set up a stand by the road. There is a stand near me that sells hum drum tomatoes for $2.99 and pound. I image folks would really love my heirlooms.


I will be out of town August 4th - 8th. I don't think I will be able to answer my email or update the blog but if I find myself infront of an internet cafe of some sort, I may pop in to check things. I am working on two hand painted Halloween signs to add to ebay before I leave. One is of an overo Paint horse, the other is a Dutch rabbit in a jack o' lantern with a witch hat on. Both are totally new designs and will be on Ebay hopefully tomorrow night.
Take care everyone! Jen

I have been wanting one of these plaques for ages and finally found one at TJ Maxx last week for $7.99! Isn't she pretty?

Farm Show Season

Click on photo for a larger view.






It's officially farm show season here in and around Lancaster County, PA. I am not big on the rides, food or carnie games. What I go to see is the animals. Unlike a horse, cat or dog show; nobody seems to mind if I give their cows, goats or sheep an affectionate scratch or nuzzle. I also love to see all the different breeds of chickens and rabbits. I think that there is no better place for a young child to learn about animals and to get to interact with them. Here are some pictures from the Lebanon Area fair...