Changing Seasons and a Holiday Shop Sale ~

Did you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving?

I adore Thanksgiving.

Then....I am ready to take a long nap and wake up to find myself transported to January 2nd, refreshed and preparing for springtime.

I am not a winter-loving girl.

I am always shocked into winter reality when

Overnight....

the season changes....

from this ~ 

to this ~

Literally overnight.

But, I do admit, once all the decorating chores are done, I have learned to enjoy the season a little more than I did a few years ago.

Truly, I am not a scrooge.

I just NEED sunshine and longer days and a springtime garden.

I do find ways to keep busy when I can't work outside.

Of course, I love to spend the evenings in my studio...

planning and creating ~ 

Working on a nursery rhyme illustration for an art challenge.

"Hey Diddle Diddle"

I sometimes find my way into the kitchen.

Making and baking.

Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apple pie ~ 

The holidays allow me the chance to use my beloved china and depression glass collection.

Peeking into the china cabinet, remembering and planning holiday table settings. 

A vintage Noritake tea set passed down to me by my mom ~

Vintage green goblets and pink depression glass ~ 

Fun and crafty projects help to keep my mind off of the short, winter days.

Dyeing bottle brush trees in vibrant Christmas colors ~ 

Honestly, it is probably good that the short and slow days of winter are engulfing me.

If it were gardening season, I would be so frustrated because I am down and out with a bad knee....hobbling and bobbling.  

I would not be able to do heavy duty gardening work.

My knee is swollen and crazy sore ~ 

Like a big goose egg right in the middle of my kneecap.

I slammed it hard on our metal doggy gate on Halloween night.

Ouch!

Maybe I need this quiet time indoors to help in the healing process.

So, as I ponder the new year and re-introduce myself to the inside of my home...

the lights are twinkling ~ 

I have plans in the studio and even a cookie baking day.

I have plenty to keep me busy.

Including a holiday sale in my Art Shop.

If you fancy giving art for holiday gifts, now is a great time to purchase.

I am offering 40% off my entire Etsy shop with coupon code SilverBells40.

Simply use the code at checkout to automatically receive your discount.

I hope you are all enjoying the season and not falling into the chaos that sometimes attaches itself to the holidays.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

Sadness and Healing. Good and Bad. Light and Dark.

I can't believe it's been over 3 months since my last visit.

Life has been a roller coaster.

Has it ever been that way for you?

Up and down.

Up and down.

A whirlwind right in my very own home.

Life has been crazy ~

Awful, good, sad, creative and insane all rolled into one big unforgettable year.

My husband got a job....thank goodness.

He was hired at the end of July.

Then, my car caught on fire.

But, the worst, saddest, most heartbreaking thing happened ~

So horrible I can barely type it here.

We lost our beloved Kelly to a disease she had been fighting all of her short life.

We thought she was better.

She had not been sick for almost a year.

It came on so quickly and she failed so fast.

We weren't able to save her.

Of all the other craziness going on in our lives,

losing Kelly shattered our hearts the most.

Her brother, Kenan, had never spent a single day away from her.

He's getting better now~

Finding his own way, bit by bit.

Playing with his toys ~ 

They did everything together.

Nap time ~

Birdwatching ~ 

Studio visits ~

and playtime ~

Kenan sticks to me like glue.

He's my shadow ~ 

We are smothering him with love and attention.

Probably too much because he likes to set his own pace.

But, he's going to be okay.

He can hang with me all day in my studio ~ 

Losing Kelly hurt so much for so many different reasons.

Too many reasons to name right now.

But, somehow I had to stop crying.

I just couldn't stop crying.

So, I forced myself back to my art.

It is true ~ 

Art Heals.

Art and family and time and hope.

We are healing little by little.

But I know we will never stop missing her.

In the meantime:

I am finding bits of goodness.

Firelight sunsets ~ 

An unexpected visitor ~ 

Who now has his own chair ~

Freshly baked apple pies ~ 

And the lovely chaos of the Halloween season ~ 

So, life is a whirlwind.

Sadness and healing.

Good and bad.

Light and dark.

My friend Vanessa told me ~

 "This whirlwind of a life is like hanging on to your ruby slippers through a tornado."

Right now, I am hanging on tight.

And I'm happy to be back.

Healing and hoping.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World