Despite my far fewer posts this past year, I'm very grateful for the time you take to check in and keep up. Thank you once again for your support and encouragement. I wish you and yours all the happiest and healthiest in 2011. I'm chompin' at the bit to get back to painting, looking forward to the peace that comes with working in my studio through the cold winter, with the music and wood stove that warms me from the inside out and outside in. My last image to post for 2010 is of "Bailey's Bees", 7"x5", oil on gessobord. nfs. This painting was my Christmas card this year and makes me look forward to having my own bees this spring. If you'd like a card send me your address and I'll put one in the mail to you. I'll actually be getting my Italian honeybees from Bailey. So much to look forward to this year. So be safe celebrating and I'll be back on the new side of 2011. Love to all.

Happy 1st Birthday to baby Alex. He's my second cousin and just adorable. Also Happy Birthday to my 11 year old grandson Gabriel! Wow, time is flying. Well here we are, coming down the Christmas home stretch. 99% of my Christmas cards have been sent and 99% of the gifts are wrapped. Cooking and then cleaning will be next after Gabriel's birthday party tomorrow. Danny's birthday is on Wednesday, so we're going to take him out for dinner. It's bitterly cold tonight, the "Real Feel" is 7 degrees. I want to go to bed, but I also want to stay up and see the lunar eclipse. The moon will turn a dark red. I asked Danny to wake me up when he gets home from work. I'm going to try to take a couple of photos. We'll see if my hands can stand it. The painting tonight is of Jo Hess's butternut squash and some beetles that I can't identify in my beetle book. Do you know what they are? Please tell me if you do. "Butternut and Beetles", 8"x10", oil on canvas, $150., framed. I've shown the frame with this painting, which is something I don't usually do. It's more metallic than it looks here. Keep warm and sleep tight.

Thank you to Noah Welch for recovering my archives and posting them on my web site. It looks like I'm pretty much finished Christmas shopping. I bought the dogs a lot of toys because its' so gratifying. It's so much fun to watch Bastone make the toys squeak--his specialty--he puts them in Lupo's face and does it, then Lupo grabs them and tosses them all around, then Bastone takes them from him and runs away with them and repeats the process. My favorite toy is "Mr. Bill" who cries "ooooh nooooo". That really gets Bastone going. Their busy bee was a favorite until they tore him apart. The Christmas cards are almost all finished. Look for yours soon. If I don't have your address, give it to me and I'll send one to you. It'll be a surprise, since I can't post it until after Christmas. The painting today is titled "Butternut & Acorn Squash", 10"x8", oil on canvas, $250., framed. SOLD. Enjoy your weekend.

The exhibit last night was so encouraging. A great turnout even in the miserable weather. Thank you to all who came out. I'm very grateful for your support. I had several requests for more koi paintings and more strawberry paintings. I'll get to them after the holidays. I'll try to get to marking the sold paintings on the blog tomorrow, or even tonight. Jay Jr. did a great job with the food. His soup was perfect for the weather. Believe it or not, it was vegan. Really delicious with chick peas and chestnuts. Everything was so good. I also need to thank the musicians; Eric Barbuscia, Eric Margolis, Ethan Kripke and my husband Jay. I was honored and proud to have all of you perform. Thank you very much. We went to Georges' after with Jeanie, the kids, Dan and Jeanne ("Gigi and His Majesty") Welch, Jay and Celeste, Danny showed up a little later. It felt so good to finally get the Welchs out with us. They're a lot of fun, plus, there are three of them with the same names as us! Jeanne, Dan and their son, Jonah. Coincidence? I'm not so sure. So the painting tonight is the other tomato painting "Black Prince & Black Oxheart II", 10"x8", oil on canvas, $250., framed. Sold. Stay warm.

Jay Jr. and I hung our exhibit on Sunday and I went back tonight to finish framing about 9 smaller pieces. Whew! what a relief. I don't know why I stress out about it so much. It's a lot of work to get it ready and takes about three hours to hang. I hung only one board with small paintings on it this year. There are over 40 pieces and at least 10 are 8"x10". Anyway, the reception is ~ this Sunday, December 12th, from 4p to 7p, this way you'll be home in time for the game. the place is the Gryphon Cafe' 105 W. Lancaster Ave. Wayne, PA 19087. 610.688.1988 Feel free to send me an email with questions, or for directions, or to RSVP, which would be very much appreciated. Bring the family, friends and kids. We'll be serving something Jay Jr. will be whipping up, plus wine/beer and you can get drinks from the cafe'. Since I've spent most of the summer painting the produce from our garden, I'll start with this painting of heirloom tomatoes, "Black Prince & Black Oxheart Heirlooms", 10"x8", oil on canvas, $250. framed. SOLD. I'm working on my Christmas card, but you'll have to wait to see it.

Jeanie Chadwick - Visual Artist