Christmas Village

We went to Kosiar's Christmas Village last night with my husband's mother. He had been when he was a child. It was a first for me. If you go to their website and watch the flash intro, it's exactly what it's like when you approach. Over a big hill and then, voila, an amazing light display. 

 I like how the barn looks like a PA Dutch quilt.

(click on photo below for a larger image, I stitched two together so you could get the full effect)

As you walk around you see a lot of little houses with themed displays inside. 

Some are a little creepy for me but the kids like it. 

As you walk along the path, you see all sorts of hand painted wooden lighted cutouts.

Here's a Rudolph I set for a long exposure and them zoomed out. He's a light explosion!

The spinning propeller looks neat with a long exposure.

Zoe had a blast!

Andy Capp getting yelled at by his smoking wife... quite interesting.

We set up our tree this weekend too. 

One of my favorite ornaments...

I love my feather tree with vintage ornaments...

Foggy December morning...

Making Christmas

I've been busy as a bee trying to get some of my whimsical Holiday horse sign painted. 

I have several on ebay if you're interested. Act quickly though, many of the auctions are ending SOON!

Some of these designs will also be available on Christmas cards and ornaments in my Cafepress Shop.

I've also started trying to decorate for the Holidays. 

I made this the other day from pine cones I found on a hike and a vase I bought at the thrift store.

I saw the idea on Pinterest. I really need to buy a set of mini lights to tuck into the vase with the pine cones.

If you haven't checked it out yet, you have got to try it. Here is a screen shot of my Holiday pinboard. 

Pinterest is like a big, virtual, corkboard that you 'pin' things you find inspiring. It's really an amazing site with loads of great ideas, art, recipes, photography, crafts and so much more. 

Click here to follow my boards and see what I've pinned. 

Merry Christmas!

May the magic and wonder of Christmas be with your family throughout the year.

Here is to a joyous, healthy and prosperous 2011!

Peace on earth, goodwill to all!

Thinking Christmas

Can you believe it's almost Thanksgiving? I can't! I love this time of year. Halloween and fall leaves lead into a Thanksgiving family feast at my mother's house and then onto picking out the holiday tree, first snowfall, Longwood Gardens all lit up and Christmas morning gifts.
I'm accepting a few commissions of  these whimsical, mixed media paintings if you would like one made in your horse's color and markings (they measure 8" x 10" on canvas -$78 plus shipping).

You can find everything from framed prints, shirts, ornaments, water bottles, cards and more in my Cafepress and Zazzle shops! I've been working extra hard to add new designs.

Be sure to use my links with Cafepress, if you do a direct search through their main website, they will charge you more and give me less of a commission.

If you are planning on shopping this weekend (nov. 20-23), take $10 off your Cafepress purchase of $50 by using coupon code: Friend10

I will also be adding new items to Ebay as I get them painted (like this cute Christmas owl).

And always fun, hand painted pendants in my Etsy Shop! They make great gifts for the horsey gal with everything. Like wearing a mini piece of art around your neck!



National Christmas Center

Today we went to the National Christmas Center. It's only about 20 minutes away in Paradise, PA. You may have even seen this place on TV, on shows like Martha Stewart. It's a wonderful museum for the Christmas lover, young and old. This is a short video I took of one of my favorite rooms, the 5 and 10 store.

Some more pictures...

Display cases of old feather trees with antique ornaments.


Huge model train room is really amazing. I love the tree coming out of the center with hundreds of glass ornaments on the ceiling!


Zoe loved looking at all the old toys.


Santa's Workshop complete with animatronic elves and animals.


Old Toy Shop


German Santa in the Christmas around the world room.


Candy shop display.

O Christmas Tree & GIVEAWAY TIME!

We finally got our tree today. I found a place just down the road. Literally, 1/2 mile down our street that sells them cut or you can cut one yourself. I am a stickler for freshness and my husband was still in his work clothes and didn't want to get dirty so I cut our tree. I am very happy with our choice this year. It's so full and smells wonderful. I think it's a Douglas fir.
Most of our ornaments are old. Some we've had since we were kids. Some are antiques. Some I even made. There is nothing more fun that hanging each special ornament on the tree and remembering when you got it and Christmases past.
Since I can never find a topper that I like, I just hang a large ornament up there. Last year my husband's step mom gave me this cute one with kittens riding a rocking horse. My two favorite animals, how perfect! So I'm going to make you look at my tree pictures before I get to what you probably came here for, the giveaway:)






Okay, time for the giveaway!
I just painted this fun winter windswept tree pendant. I love bonsai and that is what it reminds me of (I had one once and I killed it -very sad). I added glass beads in white and cobalt blue and it has a silver plated toggle clasp. Here's the deal, to be eligible to win this pendant you have to leave a comment on this post. Not just any old comment, mind you. You must tell me what your favorite ornament is on your tree at home. If you don't celebrate Christmas please let me know what your favorite winter time activity is.
Contest will last ONE week. I will have my little Zoe draw a name on Friday, December 12th around noon. I will try to contact you through blogger. If I don't contact you I will leave a post and ask you contact me with your shipping info.
So good luck everyone. Thanks for stopping by!

Oh, if you don't win the pendant and still want one, I have one in my etsy shop.