2016 Christmas JOYS

With the 12 days of Christmas just beginning (Traditionally December 25th - January 6th), Michael's father arriving from out of town and just wrapping up 25 days of illustrating something every day, it seems appropros to take a break this week to enjoy family, friends and some good food!

During my time away, enjoy this fun collection of photos of some of our 2016 "Christmas JOYS"...from top left, moving across, to the bottom right.... 1) Michael and I on Christmas Day 2) My favorite Christmas ornaments 3) Our beautiful, magical Christmas tree 4) Our puppy and his new toys 5) Us holding the brand new grand-babies 6) Me icing my triple-layer red velvet cake 7) Me with my completed cake!

Happy Christmas Day 25: (Joy & peace to all!)

Michael and I would like to wish each of you a HAPPY Christmas! May your day be filled with unexpected joy, love and peace! We appreciate and love each of you! I'm postponing Sunday Sketches this week so we can enjoy our family and friends. See you back here next week! xo

Countdown to Christmas Day 24: (A Woodland Christmas Journey)

Ohhhh, it's just under 24 hours until Christmas morning! These little woodland creatures are on a special journey for Christmas Day. I wonder where they'll end up at? Well, just a few more pressies to wrap and then we'll stuff the stockings. It's looking and feeling quite Christmassy here. What's it like at your home on Christmas Eve?

Countdown to Christmas Day 23 (Hedgehog Christmas Dreams)

Quickly catching up with yesterday as today's (Christmas Eve) and tomorrow's (Christmas Day) are going to be utterly magical. Thank you for all of your lovely, sweet comments over the past few weeks regarding my countdown to Christmas illustrations. You've blessed this creative heart more than you know.

Countdown to Christmas Day 22 (Santa's Delivery)

Well, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a little visit from Santa! Uh huh. Let me tell you just how happy the woodland creatures were when he arrived with a present for each of them. (wink) Do you like a little surprise visit from Santa each year?

Countdown to Christmas Days 20 & 21 (More Christmas Magic)

Ohhh it's 3 days until Christmas and I'm finally catching up with my daily illustrations. Goodness me! Please enjoy days 20 and 21. Both sweet in their own way. Mr. Snowman looks like he's quite enjoying his bright colored, stripey scarf and who could resist a little family of English robins, making strands of berries to hang on their trees? Are you ready for Christmas? We're pretty much ready here.

Countdown to Christmas Day 19: (A Little Rabbit Christmas)

Here I am scrambling once again to catch up with my daily advent. Regardless, enjoy day #19 which is a darling wintry scene of a "Little rabbit Christmas". This one was a bit challenging as I had to do some work a bit our of my comfort zone, but I did it! I LOVE love how the frosty windows turned out. The entire piece feels Christmassy and utterly magical. Do you have a favorite wintry scene during the holidays? I truly enjoy hearing all about your stories and traditions.

Countdown to Christmas Day 18 (A Woodland Christmas)

While creating my daily "Countdown to Christmas" illustrations, I'm finding that this style is definitely my favorite. I've always been a fan of Beatrix Potter - a woman and children's illustrator who's been my main influence for the past several years now. Her work is filled with the most wonderful characters and captures the heart of children in every possible way. That is my heart's desire. Therefore, I'm feeling this internal creative itch to focus on this style of mine more often. It's certainly magical and captures the true meaning of this time of year.

Sunday Sketches Day 17 (Angel Snow-globe)

We're quickly winding down to just a week until Christmas! This week I wanted to share with you an illustration of a snow-globe that's been in my family for quite some time now. Admittedly, I almost tossed it out as I didn't really like how it looked when I finished painting it. After a few hours of "editing" it in Photoshop, then adding the snow within the globe, I'm now SO in love with this finished illustration.

Happy Sunday! I'm looking forward to cozying up on the sofa with a cup of tea in hand, to see what everyone has been up to this past week. Are you ready for Christmas?

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Countdown to Christmas Day 16 (Magical Mouse House)

Happy 16th day of December! This little guy is cosied up on the sofa with his stuffed bear, waiting for Christmas to arrive. This is how I feel pretty much every night during the Christmas season. I absolutely love this time of year. The magical feeling in the air, beautiful Christmas light displays, dreaming of wonderful things to come in the new year, and hopes for more love in the world around us. Do you have any special wishes during this time of year?

Countdown to Christmas: Day 15 (Mr. Owl's Tree)

It's hard to believe we're just over a week away until Christmas! Mr. Owl finally had a moment to put up his tree and decorate with colorful baubles and a bright shining star. Ohhh, how I love the magic this time of year brings. It's like being a child again. Every night I cosy up on the sofa and simply gaze at the bright lights, handmade ornaments and Michael's favorite...English robins. His collection is growing! What about you? Do you have a particular theme with your tree or a tradition for adding ornaments each year?

Countdown to Christmas Day 14 (Reindeer Kisses)

This darling little reindeer is waiting for his first holiday kiss. Won't you be the first to make his holiday wishes come true?  We've not had the tradition of hanging a mistletoe in our home but we're considering it this year. Have you? Do you have any favorite holiday traditions you do at Christmastime?

Countdown to Christmas (Gingerbread House)

Since I was already planning on doing a gingerbread house of some sort for my daily Countdown to Christmas Illo Advent, it seemed fitting to hop on board with the current theme of hubby's bi-weekly online art co-op, Creative Tuesdays. I had so much fun illustrating this idea and am quite pleased at how it turned out. From my gingerbread house to the candy cane fence...it's perfect! Now, I must give my hand a try at a real gingerbread house for the holiday season.

For more wonderful Creative Tuesdays contributions, make sure to visit this fabulous online art co-op here.

Countdown to Christmas Day 12: Ugly Christmas Sweater

Countdown to Christmas Day 12 - Mr. Lottle is enjoying his "ugly sweater" given to him by his great aunt last year for Christmas. Hee Hee. What do you think of his fuzzy tree sweater? Do you have an "ugly sweater" story you would like to share? I'd love to hear all about it.

Countdown to Christmas Day 11 (Snowy Wishes)

Once again, catching up on my countdown to Christmas. It's been a crazy few days but here's Day 11 - Cynthia's wish for snow came true! 😉#children #kidlitart #christmas #snow #winter #illustration #artist #art #painting #watercolor #advent #fortcollins #ftcollins #Colorado #illo_advent #fox #quilt #book #dreaming #dream #sweater #hat #curlylocks

A video posted by Alexandra MacVean (@alexandrasillos) on Dec 12, 2016 at 8:52pm PST

I'm quickly trying to catch up with my daily Countdown to Christmas as I know many have left comments or sent messages, sharing with me how you love them. We had a pretty crazy weekend but all is better now. So, enjoy Day 11 - Cynthia's wish for snow is coming true! I created a little GIF to make it a bit more magical today.

Sunday Sketches (Day 10)

I'm dreaming of a (white) Christmas...and so is Mr. Fox. I wonder what he is hoping to find under the tree this year? It's amazing that we're just over 2 1/2 weeks until Christmas Day already! Goodness! Tell me, is there anything special you're hoping to get for Christmas this year? For me? Simply being with our family, children and grand-babies. I feel like we have all the tangible things we could ever want. So, celebrating life and love is the greatest gift when no one is promised tomorrow.
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If you're participating in Sunday Sketches, you can grab the NEW Sunday Sketches button HERE.

Submit your artwork by signing up below with a link to your blog. PLEASE make sure to visit each other! One of the biggest reasons for this co-op is encouraging one another in our creative endeavors. Thank you!

Countdown to Christmas Day 9 (Circle of Love)

This little family of bears are celebrating by dancing with joy around their decorated Christmas tree. What a lovely sight to see! Have you put up your tree, yet? If so, what is your family tradition for putting up/decorating your holiday tree? Enjoy today's Countdown to Christmas illo advent day 9.

Countdown to Christmas Day 8 (Grandmas House)

This little wintry scene developed from reminiscing about the last house my grandma lived in before she passed away in 2005. I loved spending time there. We had some of the most wonderful moments and every year at Christmas, I'm reminded at just how much she played such an important role in my life growing up. I spent a good portion of my childhood days with her, crocheting and baking cookies. Some days, it's still hard to believe she's gone. To me, she was invincible. Her love for me and others was/is something to always keep close to heart - a great reminder for this holiday season. Enjoy my Countdown to Christmas, Day 8.

Countdown to Christmas Day 7 (Holly & Berries)

It's hard to believe we've been home from England for just 3 weeks! Michael and I were chatting the other day at how it feels like it's already been several months. Crazy! So, how fitting to reflect back upon our stay this holiday season than illustrating one of the many, many English robins I saw, twittering around in the garden outside my studio in Scarborough. Happy Christmas....day 7!

Countdown to Christmas Day 6 (Puppy Love)

Today's Countdown to Christmas illo advent was inspired by our darling and sweet fur baby, Brendel Joseph. Who could resist these oober precious puppy eyes, begging to be loved on and cuddled with? ;)

Countdown to Christmas Day 4 and 5

...and here's to catching up with my Countdown to Christmas Illo Advent. Enjoy Hodge the Hedgehog doing a little caroling and Pieter the winter rabbit. What would you like to see me illustrate in my daily illo advents?

(Sunday Sketches) Countdown to Christmas: Day 3

Here's day 3 of my Countdown to Christmas illo_advent. This adorable winter (cat) scene came to life when reflecting upon our family Christmas tree hunting adventures awhile back. It was such a magical day - especially when huge snowflakes began to tumble down the moment we stepped out into the field to select our tree.

Well, I'm already 1 day behind. Day 4 will appear tomorrow, with day 5. We've been busy shopping for the holidays and celebrating our anniversary. Stay tuned for more advent illos!
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If you're participating in Sunday Sketches, you can grab the NEW Sunday Sketches button HERE.

Submit your artwork by signing up below with a link to your blog. PLEASE make sure to visit each other! One of the biggest reasons for this co-op is encouraging one another in our creative endeavors. Thank you!
 

Countdown to Christmas: Day 2

As Mr. Toast and I are celebrating our anniversary today, I thought it fitting to incorporate it into today's illo_advent illustration. This adorable artwork features our actual scarves and my hat. It was a lot of fun illustrating this piece and create a special memory for our 2016 wedding anniversary. For those of you who missed day 1, you can check it out here.

So, happy anniversary, Michael! I love you to the moon and back! Here's to many more years together! x

My Countdown to Christmas (2016 Illo Advent)

This year, I thought it would be nice to illustrate our very own Christmas Illo Advent. I'm joining others, along with Penny Neville Lee who started this tradition. In fact, I've created my first illustration for this brisk and lovely December 1st and also converted it into the 2016 Illo Advent Icon on my sidebar, so peeps can keep track of each day I post via Mr. Linky below.

MY 2016 Christmas Illo Advent Adventures: