Hello, 2012. It's a Give-Away!

I was trying to think of a nice way to kick off the New Year, and giving something away seemed like just the thing. And as I'm currently elbow deep in creating a new cast of Wonderland characters, and I'm hoping 2012 is a Wonder-full year, Alice seemed a fitting candidate. So we're giving away a hand-painted Alice dolly that can be a necklace or an ornament.

And since giving something away seemed good,

giving away three somethings seemed even better! 

3 chances. 3 winners. 3 tiny Alice dollies.

Just leave a comment for a chance to win your very own handpainted Alice.

If you spread the word (blog/twitter/facebook/whatever) leave another comment for another chance.

If you're a follower (or become one) leave another comment for another chance.

We'll randomly pick 3 winners on Friday, January 20.

Good luck!

May the new year bring
The warmth of home and hearth to you,
The cheer and goodwill of friends to you,
And the delight of a childlike heart to you.

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All done now.

And the winners are here.

Thank you all for playing!

So long, 2011.

I can't tell you what naked anthropomorphic pigs and a little mushroom house 

have to do with the New Year, but how could I resist their undeniable charms?

Don't forget to kiss your sweetheart at Midnight.

If you have no sweetheart, kiss yourself.

Christmas, Time, and Goodbyes

 It feels like it's been a month since I last visited this here blog space. This past week just slipped away. So much has been going on. Christmas morning came and went, as Christmases always do.

Unfortunately, there was a certain sadness that hung over the festivities. I've debated whether or not to share this with you all because I try to keep this blog arty and happy and positive, but in the interest of reality I'm sharing anyway. We had to say a very sudden and unexpected goodbye to one of Boy Kid's oldest and dearest friends. 

When College Girl found out that Joe had died she was as shocked as the rest of us and pretty much summed it up when she said, "But he was the best one!" He was such a nice kid. We've had the pleasure of knowing him since the boys were eight years old, and he always had a certain peace about him, an old soul kind of thing. I was remembering Boy Kid's 11th birthday party. It was a camp out. Campfire, tents, lots of running around getting dirty and whatnot. Joe was there along with maybe 10 other boys. Boys + Vast Quantities of Sugar + Fire tends to easily turn crazy, and sure enough chaos was beginning reign. I distinctly remember being all parent-like and thinking I'd better do something to diffuse the situation before it got completely Lord of the Flies when I looked over at Joe who was standing just outside the shenanigans looking quite amused. He looked back at me and shook his head, smiling, in a distinctly "boys will be boys" sort of way. He looked downright wise. Such a funny look from a little kid. We miss him already. And as we say goodbye to 2011, we say goodbye to Joe.