Ready or Not....
Well, Dear Readers, here it is the Fortieth edition of my Annual Christmas Card.... every year since 1983 I have drawn and printed and sent to friends and family a Seasonal card! Yes, Christmas is long gone, but it takes a long time to get all the details right. And given the time constraints of employment and occasional illness it has rarely been completed by Christmas. And if it is Late as usual... then perhaps it is really right on time! At any rate, there are always dozens of additional tweaks and shadows and touch-ups that could be added, but I have to stop somewhere. So this is it! As always, it is 8.5 x 11 inches, pen and ink and watercolor on watercolor board drawn to actual size and color copied. The theme is always the events of the past year woven into an illustration, almost always with a letter to capture the theme.
Dear Betsy, the card is stunning! Such a joy ti see your artistry. I have no doubt that for every recipient it is well worth the wait.
ReplyDeleteAnd although all the christmasdecorations are stored away by now until next december, I feel that it offers a little Christmas sparke to anyone who sees it. I know I felt like that when I first saw it.
But other than that, every year since 1983? That makes it a grand jubilee. It is quite an achievement!
Huibrecht
It’s amazing Betsy! Such a great way to capture the events of the year and fun for your friends and family to recieve.
ReplyDeleteLovely as always and a wonderful tradition. ❤
ReplyDeleteBonito trabajo!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is the one thing I love the most about the beginning of the new year: It brings the big pleasure of enjoying your latest Christmas card!!! Hooray - it's finally finished and ready to be admired! You really made my day with this post and its pictures showing another masterpiece. And I suppose there's a reason why the letter for 2022 is "R"... I bet you had in mind that this is the ruby anniversary of the most stunning, awesome, gorgeous and beautiful Christmas card series ever. ;O)
ReplyDeleteAs always I had the biggest pleasure studying your latest edition in total and even more in detail. And as always I am in awe with your painting skills but also (as usual) with the quality of the card's composition (for example all this tiny Christmas folk in the corners). And of course I admire very much how you manage to show (as it feels) all of the important things happening in your craft- and in your real life. It was so touching to see the pictures of your sister's visit and the two of you crafting along and of course the picture of your dear Mom when you visited this botanical garden during your visit there.
And all of the Betsy miracles you dealt with last year show up in such a stunning and clever way: The dollmaker's studio with its two storeys, with the cherub ceiling, the wallpapers, the carpets you made which found their home there as well as the stool, even the Christmas teapot and the silver sleigh you bought are not missing and it's for sure always a pleasure to see the Secret Christmas House again in your drawings... both the *ehem* big one as well as the tiny version of it.
Oh, and the additional scenes... the results when you were rocking the castle... your stitching projects... the new Ravenwood project (not missing the impressive carpet on the stairs)... the creation of the teenytiniest reindeers (yes, I spotted one of them!)... the Maiden's tapestry together with the little Dreamers (who always need to be on your card)... ahhhhhh... I enjoyed all of this so much. And yes, I know you're waiting for me to make this confession and here it comes: It touched me to the fullest to spot the fairy beary gang and even Cloude while they were watching you to do your stitches right. *beams-with-joy*
Thanks for sharing this special piece of art with us once more... and as it is with Christmas itself I also find happiness in the thought that after the card is before the next card. *grin* And I'm really looking forward to see many of wonderful things happening on your blog this year which will make it on your next card for the next season. Until then I'm enjoying this one... the very special No. 40!
Hugs
Birgit (who isn't sure... have I been able to point out how much I enjoyed to see your newest card???)