Christmas time is here!!!

and I've added some beautiful little snowflake ornaments to my shop featuring mini prints of my winter girls trio of drawings. THERE ARE ONLY A FEW OF THESE TO GO AROUND!! Buy one. Buy all three. And, take advantage of the FREE SHIPPING still available until Friday, December 1st.
I. Love. Winter...and Christmas!

DECEMBER DISCOUNT DAYS...DAY 24!

Merry Christmas Eve from this little fire starter! 30% off Serafina all day long!

my heart....

those who know me know that i am a sucker for little kids. healthy ones, sick ones, underprivileged ones....all little kids. perhaps it comes from spending 16 years of my life as a preschool teacher, which is much more than just "teaching"...it's an almost maternal-like *job* (and i use the word "job" very loosely-as it never was anything of the sort for me).

ok, before i get too sappy here (happens with stories like this), if you could please take a moment and send this precious little angel a Christmas card, i have a feeling it would make the entire rest of her year! and please, feel free to share this link with everyone you know. the more, the merrier! :)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/girl-lost-family-fire-christmas-cards-presents/story?id=35675085

{one of the joys of painting for children....hope she loves them!}

DECEMBER DISCOUNT DAYS...DAY 5!

on this 5th day of December, the lovely Camellia is today's FEATURED PIECE.

an ORIGINAL DRAWING listed at 40% off....for ONE DAY ONLY.

{happy Saturday, everyone!}

DECEMBER DISCOUNT DAYS....DAY 3!

ok, so i love me a pink haired mermaid. enough said!

{today's FEATURED PRINT is this beauty...cute little turtle included.}

DECEMBER DISCOUNT DAYS....DAY 2!

this beauty is TODAY'S FEATURED DISCOUNT piece....an ORIGINAL DRAWING (and one of my favorites, if i do say so myself). 

click here to purchase the beautiful, Icelyn...and here to read a bit about DECEMBER DISCOUNT DAYS.

{check back tomorrow for Thursday's featured piece...}

detail of my painting "the wistful ones"
©the enchanted easel 2014

what's that you say, mr. polar bear? you'd like to take me away with you on an ARCTIC adventure? well, yes sir. i would happily oblige you, mr. polar bear...as we seem to have a true love and appreciation for the same type of climate. :)

{it's NO secret...i loathe summer, heat and humidity. not one bone in my little august born body likes this weather...especially once the numbers hit triple digits. add in the words "oppressive" and "heat warning" and yeah, nicole is not a happy camper. so.....

AC is pumped up, Christmas music is on (after all it is Christmas in july) and i'll be dreaming of snowflakes and Christmas lights while painting at the easel. speaking of "Christmas lights"...(sorry, couldn't resist attaching the video below) which leads me to some wishful thinking...perhaps a little Chris Martin under my preverbal Christmas tree. hmmm..;)}

***ps and btw, here's a link to the painting above...FOR SALE as a PRINT***

https://www.etsy.com/listing/180804870/the-wistful-ones-reproduction

it's that time of year again....

CANDY CANE TIME!!! and i am CANDY CANE OBSESSED (obviously...)!!!

i've decided to sell a LIMITED number of PRINTS of this cute little guy...the mayor of my fictitious (well, it's real to me) Peppermint Bark Park...where mountains are made from yummy peppermint ice cream and and trees made of peppermint sticks and candy canes...with scrumptious pieces of peppermint bark scattered here and there amongst the snowy ground. so, careful where you walk because you may just be tempted to stoop down a grab a quick bite. ;)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/172047607/peppermint-bark-park-limited-edition

how oh i LOVE candy canes and snowmen!

a link to the ORIGINAL PAINTING can also be found in my shop through the listing posted here.

random question/thought...why do you think candy canes are so difficult to unwrap? must be packaged by a dentist i'm thinking....;)

illustration friday~snow

dashing through the snow....

no horse or sleigh needed ;)

just a cute little helper named Pippa and her candy cane striped zebra friend Peppermint.

hey, he's just as good as any reindeer. 

but way cuter...;)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/116813241/seasons-greetings-love-pippa-and

~HaPpY HoLiDaYs~

love Pippa and Peppermint, the candy cane striped zebra :)

my holiday 2012 card featuring my alter ego (Pippa) and her adorable little Christmas companion, Peppermint.

since i have such a LOVE of candy canes and all things peppermint, i just couldn't resist coming up with this cute and festive little zebra.

proof that you don't have to be an elf....or a reindeer to deliver some good ole' fashioned holiday cheer!

HAPPY HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

LIMITED EDITION PRINTS (WITHOUT THE TEXT) SOLD HERE~

https://www.etsy.com/listing/116813241/seasons-greetings-love-pippa-and

WELCOME WINTER...MY FAVORITE SEASON!

to celebrate the wonderful winter weather that is ahead of us (my FAVORITE) i am offering 25% of all custom orders! perfect for Christmas/holiday gifts!

yeah, i LOVE winter THAT much! ;)***25% OF ALL CUSTOM ORDERS NOW UNTIL FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30TH. JUST ENTER THE COUPON CODE WELCOMEWINTER AT CHECKOUT***

http://www.etsy.com/shop/theenchantedeasel

a candy cane striped zebra named peppermint...?

you betcha ;)

just about done my painting for my holiday 2012 card. here's a little mug shot of pippa's buddy peppermint, the candy cane striped zebra.

only in nicole's world...;)

santa's little helpers....

here is my holiday 2012 card design (which i am currently painting).

it's pippa and her little friend peppermint, the candy cane striped zebra :)

yes, animals such as this exist in nicole's world for sure! besides, i have such a crazy love for candy canes and all things peppermint, that i just couldn't resist putting it into a little character ;)

so, pippa and peppermint....santa's little helpers for 2012. because you don't have to be an elf or a reindeer to lend a helping hand!

a preview of some Chrismas....

CUTENESS! :)

a sneak peek at my Christmas card design for this year. starring my adorable little Pippa!

~HaPpY HoLiDaYs~

love, pippa....and a *secret* friend of her's (not pictured here)
xxx

a little nutcracker vibe...in february ;)

here is a custom piece i just finished a couple of days ago...just took a while to post thanks to my UNCOOPERATE laptop....
if you're wondering why the whole Christmas theme??? well, the little girl was actually born on Christmas day AND is a ballerina. so....first thing that came to mind was my favorite ballet-the nutcracker.
can i say the little mouse is my favorite part of this....?;)
up next is the custom painting for her 2 little sisters (see sketch posted below). that is what i will be working on this coming week.

THEN....(so excited for this)...i will be working on a recipe for a contest from the wonderful nate and salli over at they draw and cook. the link here http://www.theydrawandcook.com/kraft-contest will explain all the contest rules and such. oh, and by the way, kraft...yes KRAFT foods has a hand in this one. so exciting.....:)

ok...so i'm a little late with this one....

but i still wanted to share it before the new year approaches in a couple of days!

i am working on my own little recipe "project" and this is a sketch for the month of december. i am such a sucker for the nutcracker ballet. the music, the story, the whole Christmas thing...just LOVE it!

so, here we have my little alter-ego pippa getting ready to serve some delicious sugared plums, dressed as clara from the nutcraker, of course:)

i was hoping to get this painted this month, but i am currently working on a few things, including another illustration for the wonderful stories for children magazine http://www.storiesforchildrenmagazine.com/ and some nursery art pieces. however, this WILL get painted in plenty of time for next december. but it was just too cute not to at least share...for now:)

happy new year to all my wonderful friends and followers! best of luck and many blessings in 2012!

signed,

nicole...and pippa:)

MeRry ChRisTmAs....

love peppermint...the little candy cane striped Christmas zebra:)

due to my crazy love of candy canes and all things peppermint, i just couldn't resist when the idea popped into my head;)

xxx

illustration friday~silent

when i saw this week's i.f. theme of 'silent', i couldn't resist bringing this older piece out for viewing. is there ever a more suitable time to be 'silent'...;)

"sneaky" illustration friday 11/19/10

an older piece from last year, but SO appropriate for this week's i.f. theme of "sneaky"!
me and my brother on christmas eve..."sneakin' a peek";)