Joy Hall

Hoping for this...

But not until the kiddos are home.

True Thanksgiving

An open home, and open heart

Here grows a bountiful harvest.

-Judy Hand

As I'm clearing the dining room table from all of the "things" that have been placed there during the year as storage (we seldom use this room), I start thinking about true thanksgiving and how we have so much to be thankful.  I'm looking forward to one of my sons coming home and happy that the other one gets to spend it with my brother-in-laws family in Tennessee.  The food is planned and in progress, the mantle is decorated for the season and candles of vanilla and cinnamon are wafting into the air.

When preparing for this Thanksgiving post I stumbled upon this writing from one of my most favorite of books, Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach.  If you following my blog, you know this is not the first time I have been touched by this book.  Enjoy...

“The turkey is in the oven, filling the air with the fragrance of anticipation, and my heart is glad. The pies are cooling on the rack, overflowing with the fruits of the earth, and my heart is full. Conversation, companionship, and conviviality transform the rooms of this beloved home, and my heart is at peace.

Soon dear ones – family and cherished friends – will gather at the table to rejoice in our bounty of blessings, and with us lift up their hearts in thanksgiving. As the table is set, my heart gratefully remembers the legacy of love and tradition represented in the talismans of freshly laundered linens, sparkling crystal, and gleaming china. The silver shines, the candles glow, the flowers delight us with their beauty.”

This is good. This is very good. Let us hold fast to this authentic moment of Simple Abundance. Let us cherish this feeling of complete contentment. Let us rejoice and praise the Giver of all good.

“Come, my thankful sisters, come. Offer grace for the bounty of goodness. Raise the song of harvest home, the glass of good cheer, the heart overflowing with joy. We have so much for which to be thankful…So much about which to smile, so much to share…So much, that in this season of plenty, we can embrace the season of relinquishment. All we have is all we need. O beloved Spirit, truly you have given us so much, an extravagance of riches. Give us, we pray, one thing more…the gift of grateful hearts. Hearts that will not forget what YOU have done.”

May you have a wonderful and special holiday!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Amanda!  Check your email for a link to download the Holiday Emergency Kit. Thanks to all of your for playing along and may you have a happy Thanksgiving!

For those of you who enjoy decorating your computer for the holidays, below you will find a desktop to enjoy.  Make sure to download the appropriate size for your computer. Remember, by downloading the December Desktop you are agreeing to the terms of PERSONAL USE ONLY!

Download 1280 x 800

Download 1024 x 768

Gifts from your heart

Giving a homemade Christmas present is so much more personal than a last-minute-run by-the-store gift.  Some of my favorite homemade gifts come from the kitchen.

Gifts from the kitchen can be given individually or combined with other elements and placed in a large basket wrapped with cellophane paper and ribbons. If you're giving cookies, for instance, tie a big bow on a beautiful basket and include several kinds of cookies along with some cookie cutters, a few recipes, and a cookie mix in a jar. Wrap up a few quick breads along with some beverage mixes, a few mugs, and a cutting board for a gift of breakfast in bed. And I really like the idea of giving a crockpot, filled with soup mixes and lots of different recipes.

If you know your recipient enjoys baking, prepare ingredients in food safe containers, and attach a “hang tag” with instructions for preparation.  If they are not one who enjoys baking, prepare the recipe, place in a decorative (again, food safe) container and include a copy of the recipe.

With everyone watching their budgets this year, save some money, unleash your creativity, and give a few gifts from your kitchen and your heart. Enjoy

Here is an interesting recipe for a mix in a jar… Christmas biscotti filled with cherries, pistachios and cardamom (I love cardamom!). 

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Click here for a larger downloadable version.

   The Giveaway!

I’ve put together a little “gift basket” of my own.  I like to call it “A Gathering of Joy”.  Ha! Actually, it’s a downloadable Holiday Emergency Kit containing gift labels, shopping lists, small gift bag bibs and festive papers to print.

To win, you need to leave me a comment.  A winner will be randomly chosen on November 24th.  Be sure to scroll down and find links to the other wonderful and talented artiists who are also offering something to make and win.

You're Invited to a Holiday Blog Hop!

Prior to moving to Pennsylvania, we lived in The Woodlands, Texas which is a very family oriented area. Weekends usually began with everyone gathering on the culdesac for a mini block party.  I miss that.  Every year at Christmas, a friend of mine would have a wonderful open house to showcase and sell the wonderful crafts she and her husband had spend the year making.  The house would be elaborately decorated with twinkling lights that illuminated  santas, snowmen, birdhouses and such. The smell of hot apple cider wafted through the rooms creating such a warm and friendly atmosphere.

The subdivision where we live now has a holiday progressive dinner... another wonderful way to share the holidays.  I love getting a glimpse into the festive homes.

This year I have been invited (and you too!) to join sort of a "blog" progressive dinner.  Here's how it works: (Explanation lifted from the very talented Joyce Shelton and Terri Conrad's blogs.)

Each of the talented artists below, licenses her art for a variety of different products.  There will be some fun projects, crafts, maybe a free pattern or "how to", and some give-aways on each blog for the next 9 days.  All you have to do is visit each blog and leave a comment.  That's it... then you're in for the  goodies!

Upon your visit to each artist's blog, you will learn how to create something fun & festive, cultivate new friendships (this is a fabulous bunch of women!), and communicate with each of us.

These ladies have some fabulous products in the marketplace, and we each want to give our guests an early Christmas present! 

Here's how to Play, Post & Win:

(1) Between today and the 22nd visit each artist's blog

(2) Leave a comment, letting each of us know you stopped by for a visit

(3) Post our "Blog Hop With the Artists" invitation on your blog with the links below, sharing the joy with your readers

4. On November 24th, (just in time to give thanks) each artist will randomly select a winner from those comments on her blog (including mine) and your very special gift will be on its way to you.

Feel free to visit and comment on each artist's blog - the more the merrier!

Terri Conrad  (November 14)

Brenda Pinnick   (November 15)

Tori Higa  (November 16)

Joyce Shelton   (November 17)

Phyllis Dobbs (November 18)

Cherish Fielder  (November 19)

Joy Hall  (November 20)

Barbara Johansen Newman (November 21)

Sharyn Sowell  (November 22)

Enjoy the fun!!!

Happy Fall Y'all!

It’s about 7:30 on Saturday morning and everyone but me is still asleep in our house.  Coffee (pumpkin spice) is brewing, Cinnamon Streusel Quickbread is in the oven, and I am in my studio.  It rained most of the night and now there is a heavy fog… so much fog that I can’t see the lights from the little shopping center that sits below our hill. All the leaves haven’t turned yet, but soon I will be able to look over the rolling hills blanketed in rich rusts, deep browns, vibrant gold’s and fiery oranges. This mornings fog combined with the cool air makes for a wonderful day in my studio…. Coffee tastes better and the creative ideas flow easier. All the leaves haven’t turned yet, but soon I will be able to look over the rolling hills blanketed in rich rusts, deep browns, vibrant gold’s and fiery oranges.

When I first came into my studio this morning, I lit a few of my favorite candles… cinnamon, pumpkin and apple.  The aromas took me to another place and time. It took me back to evenings playing in the neighborhood with my friends and hearing the local high-school band practicing for the upcoming football game.  That would have meant school had just started and I loved school.  Well…. I loved the beginning of school (new clothes, new shoes, new school supplies).  Our local drug store still had a lunch counter (how long ago was that!) and gave away free banana splits if you bought certain “back to school” products.  Umm…. Good times.

This morning I am putting the finishing touches on a calendar for 2011.  I have always wanted to do a calendar and was so excited when this opportunity presented itself.  I have just sent off two collections (fall and Christmas) to pcCrafter that should be available soon and have begun working on new apron designs.  On Saturdays, unless I have a really tight deadline looming, I allow myself to experiment with new projects…. projects that I haven’t been asked to do but just WANT to do.  This morning I am in a “greeting card” kind of mood… little pieces of art with warm messages.  Is there anything better?

I wish for everyone a wonderful fall day.  May you have great tasting coffee and wonderful candles to enjoy!

Facebook

My older son had a few days off from college and spent them at home.  While he was here, he insisted I get on Facebook.  Well, I didn’t think I needed to, but he went ahead and set it up.  I am SO glad he did.  I have reconnected with friends that meant so much to me during my college years and before.  I had totally lost contact with so many wonderful people.

After getting acquainted with how to “move around” on  Facebook, I sent “friend requests” to my two sons….. I was rejected. (Curious, he thought I should be on Facebook but rejected me as a friend?)  Then, I noticed all of my friends had tons of pictures of their kids, grandkids and such.  I had one lonely picture of myself.  I emailed both sons and demanded pictures. (As they got older, they would hide anytime I brought out my camera.).  My older son gave in and kindly sent me two pictures. The response from my younger son was a clear and firm  "No".  "Why is this," I wondered.  I am very proud of my sons and wanted my friends to see them.  When I questioned him as to WHY he wouldn't send pictures for my  Facebook, he simply responded with this:

All I could do was respond “I understand”.

So now…. I will go through all of our old, old pictures and find a few of him I took when he was too little to hide from the camera.  He may have wished he had acceded to my request.

My Name Is Joy, and I’m a Creatively Blocked Artist

 I spent the whole day going in circles…. Creatively that is.  Yesterday I finished a project I had been working on for a while.  I went to bed enjoying my feelings of accomplishment and looked forward to starting today with a fresh piece of crisp, white drawing paper (so to speak… I’m a digital painter but still the same). 

I got up around 6:30, brushed my teeth, showered, put on fresh clothes, did my makeup and headed for my studio (not really, I stayed in my pj’s).  I DID have my wonderful  morning coffee and then headed for my Mac.

I dabbled in a little of this and a little of that… tried this out and tried that out… painted a little of this and then painted a little of that.  By the end of the day I had absolutely nothing to show for my 8 hours.  Ever had this happen to you?

This FREQUENTLY happens to me so I have learned not to fear.  I think what this is, IS, creative brain-drain.  In a day or two, a fabulous new idea will come to mind and everything will be clear as can be.  I will have my marching orders.

Until then… I’ll just enjoy my experimentation and hope YOU enjoy listening to my babblings.

To help ease myself out of this slump, I’m going to do what Julia Cameron, the author of “The Artist’s Way” advises one do.  I’m going to take myself on an “artist date”.  Julia writes, “An artist date is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist.”  Think of it as refilling your creative well.  One can only stare at a black piece of white paper for so long!

Off I go, so see you later…

Back Door Beauty

Thank you so much for all of your kind comments and emails regarding my last post.  I SO appreciate your encouragement and inspiration.

I thought I would show your what greets me as I come and go from our back doors.  I love to see them first thing in the mornings.  There is usually a mist that time of day since we sit high on a hill.

I'm working on the front door beauty... and it needs LOTS of work.  Soon I will show you it's "before and after" shots.

Why can't I...

Why can’t I keep up with my blog? Blogging is something I have wanted to do since before there were blogs.  I think I have come up with a couple of reasons…

Growing up, one of the hardest school subjects for me was grammar.  Things didn’t get much better in college with all of the essay writing. Perhaps I am looking at blogging as an area in which I will be harshly critiqued.  However, I really don’t feel that is the nature of blogging and that most people are kind souls who have walked down some of the same roads and are fighting the same battles.

Another reason would be, I live a very quiet life and just can’t imagine the little things that make up my day would fascinate anyone. I live a HAPPY life but feel sure that those of you reading this probably live a much more EXCITING life.

So for now… I have decided to ignore the little voices that warn me from sharing… the little voices that tell me no one is interested in seeing my little pieces of art (probably due to a few bad “show and tell” episodes), or hearing about me re-arranging yet another room.  I’ll just write what my soul needs to spill forth and hope that it speaks to someone.