Chilling Embrace

We've enjoyed some Spring weather here and there. Here, today, we are in the chilling embrace of the Snow Queen once again. Brrr.

Mary Engelbreit has such lovely charm in her graphics.

 All images this post © copyright Mary Engelbreit

Sparkling with Diamonds

This card by Mary Engelbreit seems appropriate for between Christmas and New Year's. And I loved the new Chekov in the last movie . . . oh waitaminnit . . . wasn't there a writer or somesuch with that name?

Thinking Homeward

Thoughts of home, all warm and comfy, are with so many people at this time of year. The ad below addresses the hopes of those in service, true today as it was in 1943.

Prior to that time, home was a holiday topic used with great charm, demonstrating that happiness is a warm chimney:

Below, a modern card by Mary Engelbreit, seemingly inspired by cards like those above.

Visions of Santa

Yes, Virginia, before Haddon Sundblom's portrayal of Santa, Santa was almost never rendered the same twice. Every artist had their own vision, and some were rather . . . peculiar.

Some were come hither . . .

Some were grandfatherly . . .

Some were gaunt . . .

Some were color blind . . .

Some were from the land of Oz . . .

Some from the holy land . . .

Some came from deep in the forest . . .

Some were kindly old eccentrics . . .

Some were definitely from the far north . . .

Some, Yoda-like they were . . .

Some were drawn by Mary Engelbreit, long before she was born . . .

Some were reindeer wranglers . . .

Some were bound to the ground . . .

Some gave up reindeer altogether . . .

Some were modernized . . .

and were in a hurry . . .

Some were blatantly commercial . . .

Some were secretive and sly . . .

Some were downright scary looking. . .

and some were a child's worst nightmare . . .

I, for one, thank Haddon Sundblom for his contribution to the mythos.

# 1 North Pole

Sometimes Mary Engelbreit's work can be a bit sugary, but sometimes it's sweetened just right. Another bright Engelbreit for Christmas, a season invented just for her to illustrate.

© Mary Engelbreit — # 1 North Pole

Happy Halloween!

Above, a greeting card by the ever bright Mary Engelbreit.

Below, talk about awkward family photos. That's me, with my brother on the left, way back in '57, trick or treating ('course my mom didn't get around to developing the film 'til the following January, which for us was perty fast). I have no recollection as to why my brother was inhabiting that particular persona, and let's not ask him as I feel it's a repressed memory for the guy.
I don't expect one person to pluck this photo, but it's cathartic for me to post it.