Hohoho! Merry Christmas and Happy whatever other holiday(s) you may celebrate during this time of year!

Watch for a new website selling the book of my friend & collaborator, Shari Blackman. I designed the cover of the book and also did some small interior decorations. I'm currently designing a website to help promote this and some of her other ventures. Check it out, it should be online soon, at: www.crazydanceproductions.com

The book cover is modified from my painting, "The Beauty Myth", and here it is. I scanned a photo of the painting, hand drew the crown of leaves and scanned, trimmed and pasted them, then added text, and picked up the colors from the front to carry around the back of the cover.

I'm currently working on some matchbox shrines, but won't include photos of those yet, since *shhhh* a couple of those will be Christmas presents... maybe I'll remember to upload those after they won't ruin any surprises.

We are busy with holiday preparations and family activities. I've found that the show "Creative Juice" on DIY and Home and Garden channel is one that my kids enjoy at least as much as I do. Their projects are very manageable, and they had a great show "Creative Juice for the Holidays" which got the kids all wound up today. My husband ended up running to the store and then whipping up an "experimental" (and I call it this because we all know that it will not make it into anyone's gifts - instead, it will all quickly disappear into US) batch of Peppermint Bark. Only 5 ingredients and it's pretty and yummy and would make lovely gifts. You can check out their website at: http://cathieandsteve.com Or go straight to the peppermint bark recipe at: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_holidays/article/0,2025,DIY_13761_4250391,00.html