A New Year, New Art and Good-Bye to the Holidays ~

Wow, December is a busy busy month, isn't it?

The holidays are nice, but I admit it...

I am always happy to go from this ~ 

to this ~ 

Although I love the golden Christmas colors we get here in Southern California...

and the peek-a-boo winter roses ~ 

I am looking forward to the confetti colors of my spring garden ~ 

Pinks and corals and oranges and purples ~ 

Did you have a lovely Christmas season and a wonderful New Year's Eve?

I wish upon all the stars that this year will be better than last.

I wish it for you and me both!

I started the new year by tidying up my studio ~ 

(This photo was taken before I finished)

And, I've finished and listed my very first art piece of 2015 ~ 

Meet Valerian and Tartarian, two lovely gals on their way to town. V and T don't get out much, but when they do....they can really set the town on fire! Everyone talks about their playful antics and sneaky ways. Of course, they mean no harm, they just get caught up in the moment. Before long, they are ready for home and a long cat nap.

In order to name these gals, I did research on plants other than catnip that cats are attracted to. 

Valerian and Tartarian Honeysuckle were 2 plants on the list. 

Sooooo....Valerian and Tartarian seemed like perfect names for these two kitty twin sisters

"Valerian and Tartarian Find Their Way to Town"

I've also listed 2 of my original character studies as a set ~

"Jubal's Huckleberry Heart"

This is a unique opportunity to own a set of 2 original character studies (not prints) created specifically for a children's picture book I am working on.

The book is titled: "Jubal's Huckleberry Heart." These are the original character studies I created for the book.

Included in the set is "Jubal's Gift to Lucy" and "Jubal's Huckleberry Heart." I am offering them together, as they truly do belong together. I do not want to separate them. 

All of these original pieces of art can be found in my Etsy Shop.

Here's to a bright, stress free new year filled with art and fairy tales and some good old fashioned happiness!

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

Warm January Days Are Good For The Soul ~

I know the weather has been so cold and snowy in many places this winter.

Here in Southern California, we have had an unusually warm January ~

and I have been taking advantage of it ~ 

Brisk.

Daily 3 mile walks ~

You see, it is so easy for me to be lured into my studio ~

And that's good.

I have deadlines.

But these warm and sunny days call me outdoors ~

Mountain view beyond the path ~ 

Fresh desert air (well, sometimes fresh, sometimes smoggy) ~ 

Walking and just being outside.

Daily sights...

A tree that encompasses a foreign object ~ 

Grown completely around the rubber ties that supported it in it's early life ~ 

Oh....hello tree that says "Ohhhhhhhhh."

You make me smile everyday ~

Happy tree.

Sunny days.

Fooling me into believing springtime has arrived.

After a brisk walk...

Eating healthy.

Craving fresh fruit ~ 

The puppies are frisky on these glowing winter days ~

Taking advantage of the morning rays ~

There are times when I wake up and grasp for excuses not to go for a walk.

There are all sorts of "things" I could do or need to do around the house.

But, I know.  

I know that once I'm on that path, I will be thankful that I forced myself out of bed.

This view ~

The sound of buzzing bees.

The smell of pine needles and sweet winter blossoms.

When I am tempted to stay home.

To be lazy.

It is this view that tugs on me and reminds me that there is a whole world beyond my own front door.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

P.S.  I am having a give-away on my facebook artpage.  I have 3 extra prints to share.  Stop by and leave a comment and you can be entered into the give-away.  You'll see it, it's right uptop, the first post.  I'll randomly choose 3 winners in a day or so.  

Gerushia's New World ~ the art of kimberly wlassak

Here are the 3 prints included in the give-away ~ 

"The Keeper of Odessa's Hymn"

"Jubal's Huckleberry Heart"

"An Unexpected Visitor"

Earthquakes, Heat and Busy Busy Busy ~

Hello There:

I am inside.  It is where I've been all week.  It's too hot to do anything outdoors.  I run out in the morning, water the garden and find my way right back inside.

It's hot....so, so, so hot.  It's hot and jolting and rumbling with earthquakes.  Not huge earthquakes, just big enough to make you stop what your doing and wait to see if this will be "the big one".  But no, just a hard jolt and a rolling shake and it's over.  Until the next one.  So...this is life in Southern California.

I have been crazy busy.  I am copy-editing a middle grade trilogy.  Each book is about 300 pages.  I am also keying in the revisions as I go.  It is slow work.  Slow but fun and I am really enjoying it, because I am a reader and a dedicated wordie!

I am also just starting to play around with the illustrations for a children's book about 'possums.  Just starting...but it is in my mind all the time.  I'm not the author, but I was asked to do the illustrations.

Through it all, I am trying to keep up with my own work and I have so many projects going all at once.  So, I work a little here and dabble a little there.  It's nice to be in the studio during these long, furnace days.  What more can a gal ask for?  

Even though I'm crazy busy with all sorts of bookish stuff, I decided to list a set of my Gnarly-Dolls yesterday.  

 Zeb and Essy

For those of you that are familiar with my Gnarly-Dolls, you can probably see that Zeb and Essy are more traditional than my normal doll-extravaganzas.  They were made because a friend challenged me to try and create a set of dolls that were more traditional.  This is what I came up with.  Yeah...not so normal, but it's the best I could do ~

Both dolls are completely hand-stitched.  I don't use a sewing machine.  I don't own a sewing machine.  I am terrified of sewing machines.  They're too fast and chaotic for me.  I prefer the rhythm of a hand-stitch.  It is truly meditation.

Essy ~

Zeb ~ 

You see, when I was a little girl, I loved the show "The Waltons".  I especially loved Grandma and Grandpa.  Their names have always stuck with me....Zebulon and Esther.   Zeb and Essy for short.  Yep, just a little nod to my childhood and to Grandpa and Grandma Walton.

Just so you know, Zeb and Essy have removable clothes ~ 

These two characters were really fun to make, and now it's time for them to go onward.  I am hopeful that they will find a new owner that will love them and take grand care of them.  

If you are interested in adopting Zeb and Essy, you can find them in my online shop.  Just click right HERE.  

Also...please note ~ Zeb and Essy are not toys.  They do have buttons that could be pulled off and cause a choking hazard. 

Well, I am off to bake a birthday cake.  We have a birthday in our house today and another one next Tuesday.

Like I said....busy busy busy!

Ohhhh....and the winner of the art print giveaway is comment #5 ~Jaybird.  

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World