Old Fashioned Christmas Cards

I have to admit that I stopped sending out hard copy Christmas cards a long time ago. I transitioned to email Christmas cards several years back, then stopped doing that unless someone sent a card or greeting to us. I used to love helping my mother send her cards out. I would sit with her at the dining room table as she wrote the notes and then I was responsible for sealing the envelopes and putting on the stamps. When we moved to the DC area fifteen years ago I sent my college friend all the cards she had sent me over the years when we cleared out the house. It was like a time capsule for her. I don’t send cards any more because we tend to stay in touch so much more regularly on social media. There are those that do still adhere to the Christmas tradition. Today we received three hard copy Christmas cards from friends in Hawaii and Wisconsin. It was pleasant enough to receive them and now I will reply via email and text. That sounds almost impersonal, but worth the reply. Since we have forever stamps that are rarely used these days I’m not even sure what the postage is now. I have to give credit to the traditionalists and really appreciate the nostalgia. I wonder when it will end completely? 

Christmas Gift Wrap & Cards

I used to be the best gift wrapper around. I loved to wrap packages and would spend a lot of time getting them just right. And I would get my Christmas cards all sent out by this time every year. Things have changed! I no longer send out hard copy Christmas cards, and we rarely buy packages to wrap. The grandkids get college fund contributions for all celebrations during the year. I’ve been using my old stockpile of Christmas cards for putting money to give to some of our favorite people - like the gardener, handyman, hairdresser/hair washer and help staff at restaurants we frequent who already know what we want before we order. But I ran out of those. So this year we decided to get a couple of gifts and we picked up some Christmas cards and wrapping paper at the grocery store. It felt like riding a bike as I whipped up the presents - except this time I didn’t get any ribbon. We don’t want to overwhelm too much! My husband really isn’t in to any of this, but he did say whatever we got was very thoughtful. I’m looking forward to being Santa Claus this year. 

Fine Art America Sales

Every time I paint a custom pet portrait or scene on my iPad, I post it on my Fine Art America website along with photographs I particularly like from DC and places we travel. It's a nice way to display the work. Every once in awhile the site is used by a customer to print their finished portrait because they don't have a printer or don't want to deal with getting it printed at a local shop. Since all the work is digital, it can be displayed in many unconventional ways aside from the typical mat and frame. So there are a lot of options. What is less expected, but even more fun, is to receive a notification from Fine Art America that someone purchased a product based solely on a favorite  image. Yesterday, someone from Naples, Florida bought not only a pack of greeting cards, but a framed print, and a pillow of a little cockapoo. Sometimes someone will write a nice comment and I can share the fact it was sold on Twitter. The iPad has been a great little tool for me to create these portraits and has basically my mobile studio. I never expected for my hobby to get this far and this is a great way to share the art.