Reindeer or Red Deer?

'The Holly And The Ivy'

I have spent the last two days slaving over a christmas card design. (Actually, that's not true - I have spent the whole of the past week working on it, but the first picture went in the bin because it annoyed me so much). In true Barlow style, I have finished it too late to actually print it up and send to anyone, so I guess it may have to wait until next year.....
My smallest son, at home yesterday, decided to make his own version of it. It only took him half an hour, and to be honest I think it totally outclasses mine as a card design!

In the meantime, the Fundraiser for Terri Windling, over on Livejournal, has been growing beyond all belief! It's drawing to a close now, with only a day to go, but do pop over and see what new treasures have been offered.
This Stag Beetle embroidery is offered by my sister, Angharad Barlow. The listing is HERE.

And I added another piece to the pot, or at least a potential piece. As well as a choice of 3 prints from my Transformations series, I am offering to paint a custom portrait of YOU (or someone else if you want) with your animal totem, as an addition to this series. I really enjoy painting these and look forward to doing another! If you want to bid, go HERE.

And thinking of these little portraits, brought me on a meandering road to this, which I discovered earlier. Charles De Lint is one of my favourite authors - not so well known here in the UK, I found his work a few years ago when I first started exploring animal totems and transformation in my paintings. A customer suggested I read 'Someplace To Be Flying', which I did, and was smitten! Things came full circle, because a couple of years later, Terri Windling bought the original of the little Crow Girl painting as a gift for Charles himself.

You can find more music by him, and MaryAnn Harris HERE (and CDs are on special offer until the end of the week!)