Inspiration

Christmas cookies

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but boy is there a lot to do. I wasn’t able to finish painting my cookies (day 3 of my Christmas countdown) yesterday because the day was filled with Christmas preparations – buying a wreath and tree and other outdoor decorations, decorating inside, shopping for gifts, and seeing the Nutcracker at a local college.

I was very excited to see the Nutcracker as I’ve just designed my first pin – a Nutcracker – and I didn’t remember that much of the story. The production was a blend of amateurs and professionals and I really enjoyed it.

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Interested in buying a pin? Click here to purchase through PayPal (U.S. only). I appreciate the support!

Today’s prompt is ornaments which is perfect because today we will be decorating our tree. Want to paint/draw along with me? Here is my prompt list. All mediums are welcome! Use #adventmcr when posting.

Marion is doing a great job, see her adorable day 3 drawing here. On Instagram see moxiemisfitblues’ posts here. Jill Kuhn created mixed media sugar cookie sprinkles.

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30 Days of Food In Watercolor

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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Pomegranates – Day 30. Thank you to Charlie of World Watercolor Group for the food November prompts. I didn’t think about it when I started, but painting food everyday is out of my comfort zone. I would never have painted a turkey or a plate of mushrooms or leeks! But I was often happy with my results. It’s good to have a push in a different direction sometimes.

Here are my favorites from the month:

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I’m excited to really get into the spirit of Christmas and created my own prompt list to follow in December. Everyone and all mediums are welcome to join in. Use the hashtag #adventmcr when posting.

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Of course Charlie is inspiring everyone with a December list of prompts. Click here to see it. I’ll definitely be painting a Christmas sweater from his list!

BTW if you haven’t read it, I had the pleasure of interviewing Charlie, founder of the World Watercolor Group. You can read the interview here.

Creative prompts Advent Calendar

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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I’ve been on a roll the last 2 months creating everyday. In October I participated in InkTober, drawing in ink in my sketchbook. By the end of October I was adding watercolor to my sketches. This month I followed the World Watercolor Group’s November prompts which were all food. I was so happy to be back working in watercolor. Other than fruit, I don’t really paint food so it was out of my comfort zone. I appreciated the push because other than my pathetic brussel sprouts, I was really happy with many of my paintings.

For December, I’m getting into the spirit of Christmas! I created this prompt list for myself, but welcome anyone who wants to join in! All mediums are welcome! Let me know if you do and tag your work #adventmcr so I can see. I’m on Instagram too @eileenmckenna.

I’ve done holiday countdowns before – Valentine’s Day (twice) and St. Patrick’s Day. The challenge with those was always what to paint. This time I’ve created a prompt list to follow. I’m a little nervous about committing to creating everyday in the busiest month of the year, but I know overall I won’t regret it. In both October and November challenging myself has led to some pieces I’m really proud of.

My watercolor cherry pie

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A fall ink illustration

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15 products you’ll love if you’re nuts about Nutcrackers!

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

15 products you'll love if you're nuts about Nutcrackers! #nutcrackers #christmas #holiday
1. Nutcracker Enamel Pin. My first pin design! The perfect way to show your holiday spirit on your hat, scarf, sweater, coat or bag! 
7cf60d45-e0e1-4084-8eea-87499dd2f017-13176-00001234aac66115_tmpNutcracker enamel pin
Click here to order a Nutcracker Pin.
Currently shipping only in the continental U.S.

2. Nutcracker patterns available through Spoonflower as fabric, wallpaper or gift wrap. I used gift wrap to line the shelves in the photo above! Click here.
screen-shot-2016-11-09-at-11-53-25-am show_imageNutcracker pillow. Fabric by Eileen McKenna

3. Finished products available through Roostery. Don’t want to sew? Order finished pillows, tea towels, placemats, duvets, chairs, and more through Roostery.
34-80-52-52-2600-2600-1024-1024-l-1 34-80-52-52-2600-2600-1024-1024-lNutcracker sheetsNutcracker duvet cover

4. Nutcracker canvas by Ryan at Native Vermont Studio. Elevate your decorating this holiday with this gallery wrapped canvas.
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5. Nutcracker cookies by Heidi. Beautiful sugar cookies made with the finest ingredients.
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6. Paint your own Nutcracker Kit. Create your own nutcracker!

7. Nutcracker Nesting Dolls. A unique spin on nesting dolls.

8. Nutcracker Glass Ornament. This Kurt Adler ornament is a beautiful addition to any tree.
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9. Nutcracker Wreath. Perfect for your holiday door.

10. Nutcracker Pint Glass. Eat, drink, and be merry with these adorable glasses from World Market.

11. Nutcracker Stocking holders. Perfect for your mantle. Click your favorite to purchase.
  

12. Nutcracker Party Supply Bundles. Plates, napkins, tablecloth!

13. Nutcracker Card. 
Nutcracker Holiday Card by Eileen McKenna

14. Nutcracker Candles Holder. Perfect for lighting your holiday meal.

15. Nutcracker Table Runner by Teri. A fun and festive quilted Christmas table runner.
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Note: Items 1-3, and 13 are my own designs. This post contains affiliate links to products/brands I use and recommend. I earn a small commission whenever you buy using these links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Happy Thanksgiving!

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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I don’t think I’ve ever painting so much food, as this month. Following along with the World Watercolor Group’s prompts, I’ve painting a 3 course meal, plus dessert!

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Except for fruit and some sweets, food is not something I normally draw and paint. It wouldn’t occur to me to paint a turkey! I’m only painting one this year. I’m not the one responsible for cooking the turkey. I’m making the sweet potatoes and baking pumpkin bread and a dessert.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

The History of the Nutcracker

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

I’ve been drawing and designing Nutcracker patterns and now a Nutcracker enamel pin, but I realized I knew little about the history of the nutcracker. I set out to change that and am sharing with you what I learned. The following information is from the website of the Nutcracker Museum, located in Leavenworth, Washington.

“Standing wooden nutcrackers in the form of soldiers and kings were shown in the Sonneberg and Erzgebirge regions of Germany by 1800 and in 1830, the term “Nussknacker” appeared in the dictionary of the Brothers Grim. It was defined as often in the form of a misshaped little man, in whose mouth the nut, by means of a leaver or screw, is cracked open.

In 1872 Wilhelm Fuchtner, known as the father of the nutcracker, made the first commercial production of nutcrackers using the lathe to create many of the same design. The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum shows an 1880 miner of Wilhelm Fuchtner along with a miner presently made in the Fuchtner family workshops.

Image courtesy of the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum
Image courtesy of the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum

Today many wooden toy soldier nutcrackers are manufactured in Germany to meet the demands of the many collectors in the United States. This interest is renewed each year by the many productions of the Nutcracker Ballet. Collectors can now find designs in the characters from the ballet as well as hundreds of other designs.”

To read more on the history of nutcrackers click here.

You can purchase my new Nutcracker enamel pin by clicking the buy button below.
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Currently shipping only in the continental U.S.

My nutcracker pattern and other holiday patterns are available here.

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I Recall Central Park in Fall

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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Flipping through a magazine looking for something to draw, I came across a couple strolling with their dog. I drew them, added a tree, and had to pull out my watercolors and add some leaves.

That illustration reminded me of walking with my husband through Central Park in New York City. Having just watched “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” the lyrics “I recall Central Park in Fall” were in my head while I searched for an image of a couple in Central Park. I found a Getty Images photo to use as reference. It’s the lamppost that makes it Central Park.

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I’m always amazed how one idea or spark of inspiration can lead you down a path. Actually this was the topic of one of my early posts: The paths our art projects take us on:

“It’s funny, how a project can start us on a path. A path similar to the branches of a tree. The path may be fairly straight – projects similar to one another. Or the path may be twisty – each project taking a unique turn. The path can be long – each project sparking the idea for the next one. Or the path may be short – as we experiment with something that doesn’t work out or fails to inspire us any longer.
We follow a path until it ends. Until we have reached the end of that train of thought. At that point, we forge a new path, based on something different that inspires us. But each path we take, is related to the others, just like the branches of a tree.”