Thoughts for the New Year

Still drinking from my Santa mug...and wondering

when I will find the energy to take down the

Christmas tree.  Every year we joke about making

it a Valentine tree...

Linking up with Elizabeth's Tea Tuesday party

and having some green tea.

Best wishes to all for a 

Happy and Prosperous New Year!

◘  ♦  ◘

Artist Trading Cards - Halloween Edition

Artist Trading Cards from past years...

'Murder of Crows'  -- 2012.

I think this may be my favorite --

'Old Crow'  -- 2008.

I see a theme emerging...  From year to year,

a vintage-style pumpkin is featured in them all.

Above, a tri-fold atc.

Inside the tri-fold.

Another version of the Goblin Queen.

2008

Above, vintage-style pumpkin with

witch's hat -- 2007.

Above, 'Jolly Halloween' -- 2006

Above, another 'Jolly Halloween' -- 2008.

I drew and painted the pumpkin with

watercolors. Background is scrapbook paper.

Button 'moon' and sequin leaves dangle

from embroidery thread.

I love old vintage-style Halloween decorations.

Do you decorate for Halloween?

Do you like vintage, cute or scary?

Jolly Halloween Blog Party!

WELCOME
to my Halloween Blog Party!
I'm so glad you stopped by...
Many thanks to Collage Diva for the invitation to join the Soul Journal Halloween Blog Party!

The Jolly Halloween sign above, in watercolor and calligraphy, and the three Halloween ATC's, will be given away to someone who leaves a comment at the end of this Blog Party entry. Please leave a comment and your email address. I will randomly draw a name by Nov. 1st and contact you via email.

Come in...
enjoy the Art, crafts, and colors of the season!

Pumpkin Head Jack, the paper doll, is hanging out
with his buddy, Skinny Legs Squash.

A vintage-style cat and pumpkin grin as you walk by...
they're painted on paper mache' boxes.

Jack is happy to spend time with
the Country Angel doll and the Crow & Goblin Queen atc's.

The Art dolls are joining the party too...
painted & stuffed "cocoon" dolls on each side of the clown paper doll.

Jack has lost his ghost costume!
He's dancing around the candles...
good thing they're not lit right now...

In another dark corner---
Don't worry if the drawing doesn't make sense...
it's surrealism.

-W-I-C-K-E-D- tags

The Egyptian party girl is wearing her party hat...
a witchy woman is lurking in the haunted house
with a bat and a raven...

Do you think the paper doll realizes that she
could be in danger?

Egyptian party girl...

Swirls and glitter...
Do you believe in MAGIC?

Mini-pennant tag...

BOO!

It's turning into a black and white Halloween...
Art journal pages, acrylic and collage.

behind an elaborate wrought-iron gate
swirls turbulence of...?

...a darker time...the origins of our quirky, fun, Jolly Halloween are thought to be from the Druids' observance of Samhain...

If Druids Spoke From the Dusts of the Past...

Beneath my feet, layers of time passed,
scented by dry leaves and rich earth,
they cushion my way as I walk
in misty darkness.
The sacred oaks embrace my Druid sisters and I
as we approach the hidden place of our secret rites.
The clouds discourage the moon's silver swath
as she welcomes our worship of her glory.
The Seer whispers to our mother, the earth
who birthed all mysteries
and cradles the graves of the dead.
We are priestesses of life,
believers in the cycle of the seasons.
The music of rustling leaves
floats above us in the violet darkness
as the hour of midnight approaches.
The creatures of the night search for prey
and the owl glides through the vapor of the night.
The flight of birds on the wing
points us to primeval prophecies.
We are one with the forest and honor
the gods of sun, moon and earth.
Our praise of creation is here recorded
on the stones of our alter.
--DBC

Enough of darkness...come into the light...!

Embrace the future
Learn from the past
Enjoy the present!

Thank you to all who visited!
Please leave a comment so I will know you stopped by...
leave an email address with your comment to be entered in the giveaway.JOLLY HALLOWEEEN!

Halloween Blog Party!

COME TO MY HALLOWEEN PARTY ON OCTOBER 26TH!

I will have vintage-style Halloween art & decorations to share, and maybe some spooky things as well...if you want to be a part of the Halloween fun, visit Collagediva.com to get the details, or click on the spooky red Blog Party logo in the right margin.

I have not done a blog party before, but I understand that a list of participating blogs will be posted, and then on Oct. 26, you are invited to visit the participating blogs to enjoy the fun! I am looking forward to seeing everyone's decorating ideas and autumn art. Also, I am going to have a GIVEAWAY --I will create some Halloween art to be given to someone who leaves a comment, a random drawing...

So visit my blog, Art Beneath the Cottonwoods, on Oct. 26 to see Art Journal pages, ATC's, vintage Halloween paper dolls, decorations, recipes and other treats. This will be so much fun! I hope you will join me...
Have an artful day,
Dianne