Joy to the World!

This project took quite a while to gel, but yesterday it finally came together! I started several weeks ago with an actual scale diagram, taking in to account the television, the cabinet, two framed pieces of art, and even the beam. Oh, the obstacles we face as artists...

The script-y words took a different form--couldn't quite pull off the ribbon look. Of course, with chalk one can keep "fixing" things forever... Unlike the signboards for the school, this is real chalk (not Zig Posterman); my guests tend to be better behaved than the preschoolers. It also doesn't rain inside my house.

My husband kept telling me to add color to the "illuminated" R, but I was curious how far it could go with just black and white. What do you think?

Happy holidays to all, and keep looking for the joy!

Christmas Past

Christmas chalk graffiti in the family room

The photos are a little impressionistic, just like our memories of last night:  twenty-four places set for family and friends...

The Gold Table

The Red Table

The Holly Table

...good food, good wine, good cheer...hugs and happy conversation...enthusiastic singing of carols...saying "farewell" to guests as they drift off into the frosty night...

...and before sleep, a few quiet moments to reflect upon these very special people in our lives, and on what it means to celebrate this beautiful season with them.  May the spirit of Christmas stay with you all year long!

This Year's Runner-Up

Though I seem to be in a New Year's card groove, I've always loved this snippet of lyrics from "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"--such a simple and universal wish. So when the November assignment at Ward Dunham & Linnea Lundquist's monthly Black Sabbath blackletter class at Atelier Gargoyle in San Francisco was to make a design with two or three seasonal words, I went back to this tried-and-true sentiment. To tie it all together, for the little words I took out my pointed pen and went for the ultimate contrast (blackletter--though in this case, whiteletter--and Spencerian), as Ward has encouraged me to do. ("Look to your Bickham," he says.) Guess I'll file this one away for a year when no inspiration strikes, or I break my shoulder again...