Speaking of Baseball...

Santa has his own farm team. Future sleigh stars are being carefully scouted by barn cat for a coveted spot on Santa's team next year.

Tomorrow, Oct. 25th is the first show of the upcoming holiday season. It is a show benefitting the United Way and is located at 27 Allstate Pwy, Markham, from 9-3pm.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday brings the Durham Craft and Gift Show at the Health Sciences Centre of Durham College, Oshawa, http://www.showsdurhamregion.com/event_view.php?id=219

To see the whole collection of Christmas card designs, click on the Christmas link picture to the left.

Three Sheep to the Wind.....

On these crisp fall days, there's nothing like a drive along leaf-strewn back roads to take in the beautiful colours, stopping at a market stand to pick up an apple pie or some buttertarts for dessert later.

Note to self: try to keep wine consumption on the moderate side.

Giving Thanks

Nerves are strung a little tightly around the farm as Thanksgiving approaches. Mr. Turkey has taken to hiding behind the shrubbery and even Lucky Duck is lying low. The hens don't worry too much, they know their job is just to lay an egg once in awhile, not be part of the chicken soup. The horses wonder if their contract will be renewed for another year and the cows, well.....until we all go vegan..........

All that we behold is full of blessings -- William Wordsworth

Something for Ewe





We can really feel the change in the air; the nights are cool, the leaves are changing, and school buses on the roads all give us that feeling that fall is here. The hens are starting to lose their summer feathers and will be just about naked by the time the really cold nights get here at the end of October. I can't figure that one out...but I'd better get knitting!

Here is my "Just for Ewe" series; everything from Birthdays, Thank Ewe and Hope Ewe Feel Better Soon!





 

 

 





 







 





Horse Talk

I love watching the way horses interact with each other when they're out in a field together. There's a distinct hierarchy, a leader, a rebel, an easy-going middle child, and a trouble-maker. Throw a mare into the mix and really watch the fun begin. Old or young, all the boys want to show off for the lady....is this any different in any species really?

Dog Days of Summer

All I can say is thank goodness they are here...I've waited soooo loooonnnngg!! I can say this now because it is a sunny, breezy 23 degrees today, but I really do love it nice and hot. Also, after nearly five years of marriage, hubby is slowing being broken down and has consented to a bedroom window air conditioner. Last year it was bamboo window blinds, and really, those of you that have them know they don't keep out tons of light but do slightly help when the sun is shining in your face at 5 a.m. He is an early riser, but I like to sleep with a pillow over my head blocking out the sun, birds, trains and anything else that might wake me up before at least 7. I really think several summers of the evil Medusa stare at the crack of dawn are what caused hubby to relent. I always liked Greek mythology.

Through the Garden Gate

Tickets on Sale for the 12th Annual Artists in the Garden Event
Artists in the Garden is a fundraising event that features beautiful gardens located in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax and Greenwood. Local artists display their work for sale at the various gardens on the tours, while musicians provide entertainment.
This year’s Artists in the Garden event will be held on Saturday, June 18th from 10 am to 5 pm – rain or shine.
Tickets for Artists in the Garden are $15.00 per person in advance of the event or $20.00 on the Day of the Event at a Garden Gate.
Tickets are available at the following locations:
· Oshawa:
o Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre
o Lasting Expressions Floral Designs with Fair in Oshawa
· Bowmanville:
o Romancing the Home
· Whitby:
o Dyne’s Gift House
o Andrew’s Shoes
o Brooklin Home Hardware
All proceeds from the event benefit Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre in Oshawa. For more information about Hearth Place or Artists in the Garden, please visit www.hearthplace.org or call 905-579-4833.

What's Your Sign?

My unique and fun line of Horoscope cards is finally complete. Who do you need to buy a birthday card for?

Capricorn - Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

Aquarius - Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

Pisces - Feb. 19 - Mar. 20

Aries - Mar. 21 - Apr. 19

Taurus - Apr. 20 - May 20

Gemini - May 21 - Jun. 20

Cancer - Jun. 21 - Jul. 22

Leo - Jul. 23 - Aug. 22

Virgo - Aug. 23 - Sept. 22

Libra - Sept. 23 - Oct. 22

Scorpio - Oct. 23 - Nov. 21

Sagittarius - Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

If you are ordering a special card for someone close to you, let me know some of their own quirky traits and I'll put them around the border to replace some of the more traditional ones.

These are a few of my favourite things...

Three Cupcakes

Cupcakes and roses and flowers, topiary and birds, gardens and hens..these are a new series of card designs I'm working on...along with a new horoscope line which I hope to have finished in time for he summer craft shows. I made cupcakes on the weekend with my daughter Emma, with little easter egg nests on the top. Cadbury eggs in a Flake-bar nest, most of which made it onto the cupcakes and not as a pre-baking snack. I forgot to take a photo to post..next time!

Is it Spring Yet.....now, now is it spring yet?...ok now....is it????!?!

Today the sun is shining and I think it will be above zero for most of the day, once the morning frost has melted. I dream of going out at night somewhere without shivering, sitting on the deck with my coffee in the morning, and perhaps even wearing SANDALS again! There are signs of crocuses coming up in the garden and the tips of tulips peeking out. The horses have rediscovered the joy of rolling in mud, dogs have proudly arrived home bearing assorted animal carcasses, fur skins and bones for us to admire, and the hens are in heaven digging up whatever they can in the garden and all around the barnyard...Happy Spring, I think it's here this time!

Be My Valentine

Now that the Christmas holidays are over and deep winter weather is upon us, it's time to start looking forward to our next and my personal favourite holiday, "Chocolate Eating Day!"...ok, no...Valentine's Day. I need to be banned from any drug store, supermarket or department store during the days leading up to Feb. 14th because I cannot pass up the beautiful, colourful, aromatic isles of chocolate, candy and marshmallow hearts. Our newest family member, the 'treadmill' has been installed in the downstairs tv room and until it looses it gleaming newness, all of us have been giving it a turn regularly. I shudder to think of the day that it may become a huge and expensive coat rack or storage platform...but until then, I'll be walking and watching Rick Mercer, Modern Family, Oprah...

Here are a few Valentine's Day inspired cards for anyone who is close to your heart.



Mouse Courtship



Valentine Heart

Puppy Love

Happy New Year

2010 was a great year for UglyChickenFeet Designs. Thank you all my friends, family and customers who gave positive feedback and wonderful support.

I'll be doing lots of custom work this year; pets, children, homes and cottages...so if you need a special birthday card, party invitation or one-of-a-kind thank you card, give me a shout.

If there is anything you'd like to see more of (say, more dogs, hamsters, budgies, etc.), let me know that too.

I'm also going to be selling ink and watercolour originals, prints and greeting cards from my Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/UglyChickenFeet

Hope you have a fantastic 2011 and talk soon!

Jen

Custom Designs

Custom Designs make great unique gifts. Here are some of my recent commissioned works.

New Master Mechanic in Keswick

Logo for Cake Designer

 

Georgina Arts Centre & Cori's Kitchen

 

 

Hounds Gate Farm

The childhood church of a client's mother

Children's Book Illustrations

Custom Christmas Cards

Business Cards

Any name can be added by me to this cheerful card, making it an extra special birthday greeting. The inside can be customized for the occasion as well.

This would be a perfect print to hang in a little girl's room. It is printed on 8.5 x 11 high quality photo art paper with non-fading pigment inks. The colours are really beautiful!

This client wanted her two lovely boys and their 'Nanny Dog' golden retriever as a Christmas gift for her husband.

A beautiful little girl and her cat was another commission this holiday.

A wonderful thank you gift of a friend's holiday home.

A Firewood Supplier's Christmas Greeting Card.

This client wanted a summer and winter painting of what her century schoolhouse may have looked like originally.



The cover of an invitation created for an Herb Farm's anniversary party.