Sunday, December 12, 2010

Everyday Gifts...


Everywhere, everyday, there are gifts.  Sometimes big, sometimes small...but they are always there.  Sometimes you receive a gift and sometimes you give a gift...and sometimes, giving IS the gift.

The gift of color ~

Reds...


and yellows...


With the passing of time, the jewel-like leaves will wither and fall to the ground ~

                                                        

only to reveal another gift ~


The structure and bones and life-giver to the leaves ~


Gifts of anticipation ~


Gifts of smell and taste.  Homemade goodness.  Cinnamon rolls my daughter made for my birthday ~


The gift of memories...of passing time ~


Small gifts ~


Spicy gifts ~


The gift of friendship ~



and common interests ~


The gift of creating ~


 The gift of giving ~



The gift of meeting new people ~


and making new friends ~


The gift of Art


There are gifts that warm the heart ~


and excite the eye ~



The gift of simple man-made light ~



and vibrant God given light ~


from Heaven above ~


The gift of Johnny Appleseed skies on a warm December eve ~



Gifts.  Big and small.  They are everywhere in our Everyday. 

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Thursday, December 2, 2010

"Visiting"

Well...I can hardly believe it.  I managed to finish a new piece in the midst of my Christmas decorating frenzy.  I'm almost impressed with myself!!

The new piece is entitled "Visiting" and will be listed in Gerushia's Etsy Shop tonight at 7:00 pm pacific time.  Normally, my 4" x 6" pieces come along with a story...and I did write a story for this piece, but I'm not going to include it.  I want everyone to have their own take on this one.  However, I will say that in my story, the girl on the bench is named :  Fanny Wenell Blanchard.  Look closely and you'll understand!!

I hope you like this new piece, as it has some elements that are meaningful to me.  I hope you enjoy looking and wondering and making up your own story.

Please note:  I must give a photo credit to Chantal Menard for the gorgeous image of the headstone.

Thank you ever so much for stopping by. 

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Friday, November 26, 2010

Has Anyone Seen Kim?

Good Morning to All:

Okay...it's confirmed, I am a bad blogger.  I wasn't always a bad blogger.  There was a time when I blogged 5 days a week, but somehow, I've fallen off that path.  I want to blog more...I love to blog...I feel better when I blog, but I just can't seem to find anything interesting to blog about anymore.  However, I am still trying.  I haven't forgotten my blog or my blog friends.  I've been gone so long that blogger has added all sorts of new things to make my blogging life even more complicated.  So, I shall need to re-learn how to blog!!

In the meantime...I do want to let you know I am having a huge Black Friday Sale in Gerushia's Etsy Shop.  Now thru November 28th you will receive...50% off any order with coupon code 42448.  This sale includes everything in the shop!  When checking out, all you need to do is key in coupon code 42448 and the 50% will automatically be taken off.  Isn't that fabulous?  Etsy is now offering these fantabulous "coupon codes" which makes having a sale much easier. 

I hope you are able to find a few art goodies to give as gifts.  Lots of prints and a few originals are being offered.  Don't forget ~ ACEOs make fantastic stocking stuffers, and at 50% off....you can buy ALOT of ACEOs!!

I hope over the moon that I will be back sooner than soon!!

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Halloween Days and Studio Time...

It is truly a lovely day outside. A bit gray and blustery with a chill in the air. The first day that's really felt like Autumn. The days are getting shorter, which always makes me sad, but can sometimes be a good thing. Shorter days have a way of forcing me to slow down and "get back to work". I actually finished two watercolor/collage over the weekend and they are both listed in Gerushia's Etsy Shop.
"Guardian of La Llorona" 
 
This piece has been "in the works" for quite some time. I've been fascinated with the legend of La Llorona since I was a wee girl. Growing up in Southern California, La Llorona was a legend that ran strongly within the Mexican culture. She is rumoured to walk through many of the cemetaries through the desert region.

La Llorona is Spanish for The Weeping Woman. She is believed to have drowned her own children in order to be with the man she loved ~ but, she was rejected by the man. When she reached the gates of Heaven, she was asked, "Where are your children?" and she replied, "I don't know, my Lord." She was not permitted to enter Heaven until she found her children. She now wanders the Earth for all eternity, searching for her drowned offspring.

As you can see, I've used images that conjure the idea of La Llorona...a Lady in White, a woman in mourning at the headstone, and children....

*Photo of headstone courtesy of Chantal Menard.


"Bedelia's First Date"

What a glorious day!! Bedelia is going on her first date AND she's going with Mr. Bruce. All the gals in town just love Mr. Bruce. Well, he's just about the most handsome man in the whole county ~ so strong and proud...oh, and his eyes make all the women swoon.

On this day of Bedelia's first date, she woke very early, took a long, luxurious bath and spent all day making herself look pretty. She decided her blue hat was perfect for the evening. So...Bedelia put on her little black dress and her lovely blue hat and she looked gorgeous!!

Bedelia's family was so happy for her. They hugged her and complimented her on her beauty. Everyone waited on the front porch for Mr. Bruce to arrive. Of course, Bedelia was a bit embarrassed about that, but the family insisted. Anyway, Mr. Bruce arrived precisely on time. He looked smashing in his new golden collar. Oh, he's so polite! Bedelia's daddy shook Mr. Bruce's paw, gave him the rules and wished them a good time. Just as Mr. Bruce and Bedelia were leaving, the sky boiled with blackness and the air turned to static...."OH no ~ not again" Bedelia cried....

Now, the end of the story belongs to you!!

I just adore writing little stories to go along with my art. Both of these pieces can be found in the shop in print form as well as the originals.

And...although I have been busy in my studio, we managed to get the house decorated for Halloween. I get almost giddy over the thought of pumpkins and ghoulies and all that sort of silly Halloween fun...




Meet our newest Halloween addition...Mr. Tolliver.


I posted a photo of Mr. Tolliver on my facebook "fanpage", and just by accident, a silly, spontaneous poem was created. I started with this basic photo caption: "Poor Mr. Tolliver fell in the pot, then fell into a terrible rot!!"...then, someone else chimed in and left a short, poetic verse, then another person added another verse...and I added a few verses myself as well as my brother, Robert.  In the long run, this accidental, spontaneous poem took on a life of it's own ~ a bit of Edward Gorey and a splash of Dr. Seuss...

"Poor Mr. Tolliver"

Poor Mr. Tolliver fell in the pot, then fell into a terrible rot!!
Did he slip?
Did he trip?
He took a terrible flip....

He fell in the pot
Graceful? He's not...

He got stuck in the pot and couldn't get out,
Despite all the hours he spent giving shouts.
His neighbors were wondering where he was about...
Poor Mr. Tolliver couldn't get out...

He scratched and he clawed and screamed till he cried,
All the while wondering..."am I going to die"?
Will I croak in this pot...give up my ghost?
Before I have a chance to eat my morning toast?

Was he drunker than snot when he fell in the pot?
Yes, yes he was, he was drunker than snot
And that's what caused him to fall in the pot.

You see, Mr. Tolliver had a bad cold,
That's what happens when you're fragile and old.
He coughed and he hacked and he blew his nose,
Till the snot was a drippin' from his head to his toes.

Slippin' and slidin' in his puddle of snot,
Caused old man Tolliver to fall in the pot!

Isn't that a silly poem? But, it was so much fun.

Oh, and I've had a terrible time fighting with those yucky, plump green tomato worms the last few weeks. They give me the chills...ick!!
And...I will leave you just knowing that if there are any of you who are battling the "candies"...I'm right there with you. I am not a big sweet eater, but this time of year, those evil little sugar morsels just call my name ~ I simply can't resist...

Candy Corn



Chocolates


All so tempting!!

Is anyone else having a battle with the "candies" right now?

As always, thank you so much for stopping by, as it is always appreciated.

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Finally Ending This Give-Away...

Well, I guess I'll go ahead and close up this give-away. Unfortunately, during the last few months, alot of folks haven't been able to leave comments on my blog. Blogger is looking into it for me, but at this time, nothing has changed. I received so many emails and notes from people telling me that they had tried over and over to leave a comment for the give-away, but my blog wouldn't accept them. Due to that fact, I can only count 13 people in the give-away.

My "randomizer" chose #8 ~ jdavissquared. I will contact her in an email.

Thank you so much for your patience. I think I'll hold off on anymore give-aways until blogger can fix this problem with leaving comments.

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

October Give-Away ~ UPDATED

Good Morning:

Just a quick note to let you know that I am going to keep the give-away going for another few days. Something is terribly wrong with my blogger account and many people weren't able to leave a comment. I'm working through the problem with blogger...so, until I know exactly what's going on, I'll keep the contest up. Unfortunately only 13 people were able to leave comments. 2 of which I left for them. Hmmmm...

Looks like it's that time again ~ time for another give-away. Oh how I love doing give-aways. It's always nice to sell and show your art, but giving it away is something that truly makes me feel, somehow, worthwhile! Maybe I can bring a brief bit of happiness into someone's day when the mail arrives....opening up their mailbox to find a pleasant surprise instead of the daily bills and junk mail!

So, in honor of the spooky-ish Halloween season, I've decided to offer 6 ACEO prints that all have a dark or eerie feel about them. For those of you who may not know about ACEOs...they are collectible, small format art. They can be any medium or theme, but they must adhere to the size requirement of 2-1/2" x 3-1/2". They are the same size as a standard trading card.

All you have to do is leave a comment in the comment section. The winner will be chosen at random by my personal randomizer...my daughter Ava.

The give-away will run until October 10, Sunday evening 6:00 p.m. Pacific time. The winner will be announced the morning of Monday, October 11.

Here are the 6 ACEO prints to be included in the contest:

Guardian of the Masquerade


Amelia Visits the Ghostly Orchards


Secrets Under the Blood Moon


The Lonely Ghost


The Adopted


Damien's Day


Ohhh...and I'll note here ~ the watermarks that you see here on the ACEOs will not be on the actual prints.

As always....thank you ever so much for participating. It is very much appreciated.

Until Sunday:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Monday, September 20, 2010

Candace in Wonderland (or Candace does California)...



Did I mention that I had a visitor last month? No? Well then...let me tell you a bit about Candace. You see, Candace is on a tour this year. She started in Alaska and will be travelling all over the world for an entire year. The tour is being hosted by Kimberly Rogers of Numinosity Beads. Kimberly was kind enough to schedule Candace to spend some time with me, here in Southern California.

Candace arrived in my mailbox on a warm, blue sky day ~



I asked Candace where she might like to go and what she might like to see. But of course....Candace wanted to see some local sights first ~



Then....off to Hollywood ~



If you haven't noticed, Candace is a wild and crazy red-head. So, naturally, she wanted to have her picture taken next to the star of another crazy red-head ~



Then...we were off to High Voltage Tattoo



Candace wanted to get a tattoo just like mine, but I was afraid Kimberly might not like that idea ~



Next, we toured Kat Von D's Wonderland Gallery~



Candace got to see alot of fantastical art. A whole show dedicated to the art of Kevin Llewellyn. Candace was a wee bit frightened by the art, but oh so curious as well ~



After touring Hollywood, Candace very much wanted to go to Disneyland ~



What fun we had.

Before we knew it, it was time for Candace to go onward. The night before she left, we hosted a "Pizza Party" in her honor ~



"Hey...get your fingers out of the picture...this party is for me" ~



All in all, we had a fabulous time...touring, sight-seeing, eating.

Bye-bye Candace. We'll miss you ~