Happy New Year 2015

Happy New Year Blog Friends!

Hope your Christmas was special and you made many memories to hold dear. 

Now as we welcome the new year, 

I want to wish you all the best life has to offer. 

May your days be all that you hope for and blessed with good health, happiness and much love.

Thank you for your wonderful friendship, visits and encouraging comments. 

I'll be taking a little break for a few more days to regroup and ready my studio for a new year of fun and creating.

From my heart to yours, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Welcome 2015

Be Blessed,

Celestina Marie

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas
and
Many Blessings for a joyous celebration with family and friends.

Thank you for your friendship over the past year.

You're all the best blog friends and it's so much fun to visit with you,

share our journey and be inspired.

I'll be taking some time to be with my family and enjoy the week.
See you in the new year!

Merry Christmas

Celestina Marie

Away in a Manger

Many years ago my mother studied painting and found her nitch with ceramics. Over the years she designed and custom painted many gorgeous treasures. 

My favorite is her nativity set hand painted to look antiqued and old right from the beginning. 

That was over 35 years ago and now

 that very same cherished set, is old and loved as much today as ever.

The manger was painted with the holy family, the wise men and camels, the Shepard's and animals. The manger itself had 3 parts, but after our move here to Texas, the two side stalls had broken. However the blessing was the center manger stall was still in tack and for that I was thankful.

Simply elegant, it looks aged just the way mom intended it to be. Over the years, mom was asked by her church to display it for all to enjoy, which she so graciously did.

 These days, since mother's passing, it shows proudly here in our home with the reminders why we celebrate Christmas at all.

 The birth of the Lord Jesus and why he came to this world.

Without anymore words, I will just share the pics of a treasured keepsake that means so much.

                                                                           

May the true meaning of the season

 be your reason for celebration.

Merry Christmas.

XO

Celestina Marie

Postcards from France Front Door Porch Welcome

Last year I created this postcards from France welcome

for my front door urn and used this display again this year.

Filled with winter greens and berries, I made copies of the postcard graphics

courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.

Adding wood to the backs of each and a ruler size stem for placing in the urn, they stay perfectly.

One postcard has a red postage stamp,

and the other has green stamps.

I added lights to my porch trees on each side of the door, candles in the window above

and garland over the door and  along the sidelight windows.

An old wooden hand created sled leans on the house as you walk to the door.

It's hard to see these night time photos with the lights on, but I have a pair of wooden skates 

hanging inside the wreath.

Coach lights on each side of the porch hold an arch of winter greenery.

Two deer stand in front of the dining room window.

I have candles in all the windows around the house

 and wreaths with timer lights.

This is a daytime shot.

To view the tutorial for the postcards, visit HERE.

Thank you for stopping by today.

See you tomorrow with a special nativity.

Hugs,

Celestina Marie

Painting Santa

Many years ago when I started learning decorative painting,

I fell in love with the art form very quickly.

From the moment I began swinging my paint brushes, I was addicted.

I studied and learned all I could

and then I went on to teaching others the love of painting in a design school

for decorative artists.

I taught for many years before making changes to my journey.

However, still today that love of painting stays with me every time I pick up my brushes.

Christmas time was always a busy season for me once I began to perfect my skill.

I attended many shows, home interior features and  the list goes on.

Santa has always been a favorite of mine to paint and these several

below are from decorative design studies I attended along the way from 

artists I learned from many years ago on my career path.

This Santa is made from wood and cut by me on a scroll saw.

Sanded and then painted he stands nearly 2 foot tall.

The design is from Pumpkin Ridge.

His pack is filled with toys for good little boys and girls!

The next is also from the same artist from Pumpkin Ridge.

He is also cut from wood and stands 2 foot tall.

The next is once again from Pumpkin Ridge

and I painted him on a vintage plate.

Lastly this set of Santa's (so long ago, I don't even know what artist drew the design) are fashioned like vintage ice skates with Santa as the foot plate and

the blade runners made from wood.

I added them to a bough of winter evergreen and it hangs for display

on the wall or the door.

This is just a few over the years hand painted for Christmas.

I have many more that live in other homes

hopefully still giving joy to their owners.

Next year I hope to paint a few new jolly old Santa's.

Till next time,

Thanks for stopping by

 I'll be back with a couple more posts before Christmas.

Hugs

Celestina Marie

Cozy Library Mantel Forest!

Keeping with a bit of simplicity this year,

I chose to create an easy forest display in my library/family room.

This is the room we enjoy movies, reading, watching TV and relaxing year round.

To the mantel I added evergreen trees and a garland of lights.

Oh look, here sits a little fox cuddled by a evergreen tree.

Isn't he cute?

A single silver star tops the tallest tree.

Woodsy Santa carries a tree and trims to share with us right from the forest.

Winter tree limbs bend with snow.

Keeping warm by the glowing fire.

Knit stockings hang on each side in shades of cream and brown with fur and fleece trims.

On the coffee table I have a double nest and twigs that was fashioned on

a deer pelt with greens and berries.

I found this amazing piece of art last year in Roundtop, Texas.

The birds of silver sit in the nests and over look the cloche filled with vintage ornaments.

Snow globes sit about and always ready for a good shake.

Santa reads a story to this little girl.

Perfect for the library.

I didn't place a large tree in this room this year.

I have three others I've shared with you from other rooms.

However, I did add to the book shelves the vintage ceramic tree my mother created back in the 70's.

It's so beautiful and shines with pretty colorful lights and tipped in snow.

Across the room I always open my family bible to the story of the Christ Child's birth.

The bible sits on a Deacon's book stand my dad created for me many years ago.

I add winter pine around the pages open to the pictures of the nativity.

 Cozy evenings are spent here by the fire with a little woodland forest theme.

Do you have a favorite spot to enjoy and relax this Christmas?

Wishing you joy filled days as we approach Christmas.

See you next time with a few hand painted Santa's from the past.

Hugs,

Celestina Marie