What's Inside the December 2007 Issue of PaintWorks

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Inside this Issue — December 2007

Countdown to Christmas

Hop on board and let us help you prepare for the holidays—a time for your home to glow with festive color and reflect the spirit of the season.

What is Christmas without all of the trimmings—fragrant wreaths and evergreen trees, twinkling lights, sparkling ornaments, shiny packages wrapped up with bows, home-baked cookies, and toy trains chugging around the tree. Speaking of trains, when Rosemary West's Gingerbread Express train set arrived at our office, we immediately knew it had to be our cover feature. Who can resist such a charming piece! I can remember years ago when my father built a train table with tracks, working lights, buildings, and more. It was truly a labor of love on his part, and today we still look forward to putting trains around our holiday tree (and I do mean "look forward to"—with three young cats and dogs in my house, it's been awhile since we unpacked the trains!). Even if you're not a train collector, you can enjoy this same holiday tradition by painting Rosemary's Gingerbread Express to display throughout the season.

Music is also an integral part of the holiday celebration. Here on the East Coast the Macy's Day Parade held in New York City on Thanksgiving Day serves as the official beginning of the holiday season. Bands from all over the United States take part in the parade, filling the air with those familiar holiday tunes. To celebrate this tradition, we bring you several projects, including Erika Joanne Frei's Bavarian Minstrel Cat (page 28), Cheri Rol's Holiday Trumpet Box (page 40), and Lina Ferrara's Four Calling Birds Ornament & Box (page 58). The best part is you don't have to be "musically inclined" to enjoy them!

We trust you will find something in this issue to bring a homespun touch to your holiday home. Christmas is a time for sharing, reflecting, and rejoicing—may your home be blessed with a joyous celebration.

Happy Holidays!
Linda R. Heller, Editor

Projects

	Stars and Stripes Ornament Trio by Lynne Andrews Celebrate the holidays in the spirit of red, white, and blue!
	Yuletide Sweets Cabinet by Kim Hogue, CDA Christmas Sampling — Use the holiday design as a complete sampler, or paint bits and pieces on surfaces of your choice.
	Williamsburg Ornaments by Barbara Franzreb Usher in the Christmas season in the spirit of Colonial Williamsburg with this ornament trio representing Grand Illumination, which is celebrated on the first weekend in December.
	Santa & Gifts Box by Mary Jane Todd, CDA This festive folk art box, featuring Santa preparing for his Christmas Eve journey, will bring an antique look to your holiday collection.
	Bavarian Minstrel Cat by Erika Joanne Frei Meow-rry Christmas! Let your imagination pounce as you create this whimsically unique nutcracker!
	Northland Santa Sled by Judy Westegaard, CDA A Jolly Old Soul! With a wink, a smile, and a heart full of gratitude, this sled is in honor of all those who make children's wishes come true at Christmas!
	Lars Christmas Plate by Pamela Gassman This little gnome on the piece is named Lars and actually lives on my living room hearth. He keeps track of children's good and bad deeds in the book he carries, and then on Christmas Eve he shows his tally to Santa.
	Holiday Trumpet Box by Cheri Rol, MDA Let this trumpet herald the good news of the season. Rejoice and enjoy!
	Poinsettia Teddy Basket by Linda McFadden Add this cuddly teddy to your Christmas collection!
	Santa Cookie Tin by Sharon Hamilton, MDA Here's a keeper! Baking cookies for the holidays is a popular family tradition. Begin another tradition by painting your own cookie tin and passing it down as a family heirloom.
	Partridge and Pear Tree Table Setting by Suzie Shinseki This project allows you to translate the traditional look of Della Robbia to your personal décor.
	Four Calling Birds Ornament & Box by Lina Ferrara This little ornament box is the fourth in a series celebrating the 12 days of Christmas.
	Tree Topper and Card Holder by Maureen McNaughton, CDA Paint an elegant holiday tree topper and a coordinating bentwood container to hold greeting cards.
	Victorian Christmas Robin by Yvonne Thomson Once Upon a Time...This design was inspired by a story Yvonne Thomson read to her two-year-old grandson.
	Winter Landscape Platter by Michael Cheek Being born and raised in the mountains of North Carolina, this is just one of many scenes you'll typically find during the winter season.
	Lavender Christmas Blossoms Box by Julie Polderdyke Keep your stationery supplies organized in this stunning Christmas blossoms box.
	Gingerbread Express by Rosemary West, CDA Nothing says Christmas like gingerbread. To use this wonderful little train for Christmas, fill the cars with painted gingerbread and candy!

Features

	Brushstroke Technique Guide: Fun, Funky Snowman by Deb Malewski Try this fun, new way to create fluffy snowmen.
	Different Strokes for Different Folks! Brush Choices & Brush Loading by Heather Redick, CDA Learn how to improve your strokework.
	The Inspired Palette: Contemporary Christmas Grouping by Kelly Hoernig This palette is contemporary yet subdued with a mix of metallic colors, making it great for the holidays and not the least bit traditional.
	RB Homespun Elegance: Mistletoe Ensemble by Rebecca Baer, CDA Sparkling embossed stenciling adds a festive, wintry touch to this round serving tray with its coordinating carafe and stemware glasses.

Departments

Coming Next! | Under the Tree – Great gift ideas for everyone on your list! | Product Palette

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