Just in time for the holidays!

Can you feel it?! The excitement is brimming! It's a busy fun time - a red, green, white, and sometimes silver - time, a bursting into Christmas Song at any random moment time. I feel the child inside me giggling, enjoying the suspense like a well placed pregnant pause, so full of anticipation. Many of my Christmas wishes have come true - family is here or on their way, gingerbread messes have been made, fits have been had, and the ground is laden with fluffy sparkling snow! 

        Making candy with my mother and grandmother until we all got tummy aches,

shopping and crafting gifts with my mother-in-law, wrapping presents...Christmas seems to be the only time I can keep from spilling the beans - and it is an odd addicting mix of excruciating excitement to patiently wait for the day when we can shred all that pretty paper and put bows on our pets. 

The Christmas tree. A plastic monstrosity; a relic covered in sweet vintage thrift store finds, too many lights, and some of my favorite local artist ornaments.

Star thing, all time favorite, blazing in it's glory near the top of the tree. Thrift Store Score.

New addition to the tree this year, an encaustic ornament made by local artist Terry Burkes

A gift from a friend made with his daughter - it smells so amazing, made almost entirely out of cinnamon

A Pyrex beauty created by Trevor Kizer. You can slam this guy on the floor and it won't break. I have seen it happen! Definately cat and kid friendly.

Oooo and the paint. I can't escape the season without administering Christmas Cheer to windows! This year's winter window painting adventures included the Vapoligy electronic cigarette stores! This is the Overland location - to see it in person (and perhaps kick the habit for the new year?) go to 8495 W. Overland Rd, Boise, ID 83709

This next set is a "sneak peak" of the inside of the Chinden store's windows. I shall return some day soon to capture it from the outside and post more pictures!

The Season has kept me busy; when I get a chance to go back to the Nampa location I will post more photos for your viewing pleasure :)  

Post "Just in time for the holidays ©2013 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved. 

My Christmas wish to you is full bellies, lots of hugs, warmth, and much joy!

Happy Holidays to You!

Too Early for Christmas? Plus Events

It feels that way, too early for Christmas. It's the first week of December and normally I wouldn't pull out the decorations for a week or two. But this happened.

And now I am raging with the Christmas Spirit! It might have something to do with a family member returning to Idaho to stay and the beautiful prospect of a family reuniting for the holidays! It might be ingrained from my mother's Christmas tree always sparkling with family ornaments. Or it may just be that it is, in fact, NOT too early for Christmas! I have one more task to complete, and I will be all sorts of excited to share it with you next week :)

On to other news! 


If you are in the neighborhood of 8th and Broad St. downtown Boise, you might have noticed the Chickens in the Snow on the windows of Solid. Yup, that was me.

For the past 4 years I have participated in the Downtown Boise Association's Winter Window Gallery. Fears of working in public have to be put aside, the scale is much larger than I am used to, and hey, it's stinkin cold out there! I have acquired new skills and techniques over the years (reverse painting is awesome if it's downright cold out) and what paints work best. It's been a challenge and a unique experience that I am grateful for. You can view all the windows painted by the different artists chosen for this year's Window Gallery simply by walking around downtown! In the comfort of your own home you can view the collection of images and even vote for your favorite on the Downtown Boise Association's Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Downtown-Boise-Association/39879270738

Thursday, December 5th
First Thursday at The Crux

The Crux's curator (and artist, Tony Caprai) has the unique ability to bring together some very talented established and emerging artists into one fabulous exhibition! Come out and see what is on the walls this Thursday during your First Thursday Art Walk adventure! The Sesqui Shop is showing a collection of art prints just a few doors down, the Nebula Shift (609 W. Main St) is showing Esau Kessler's New Eyes Exhibition, and Art Source Gallery is just across the street. Too many awesome events to name them all!
Free, All Ages

Friday, December 6th (opening reception)
Art in Traffic; Boise Utility Box Artists
Visual Arts Collective

An exhibition including over 50 artists whose art is found on utility boxes throughout Boise. This should be a unique opportunity to see the kinds of works that have translated through to a utility box. Celebrate our home grown artists from 7 -9 p.m. at the VAC - 3638 Osage Street, Garden City, Idaho, 83714
Free, 21+

Friday, December 13th
Treasure Valley Artists Alliance presents "Foray"
Boise State Public Radio Offices
5-8 p.m.

Opening Reception for the 3nd Annual TVAA Foray Exhibit.

Treasure Valley Artists' Alliance announces the Third annual Foray Exhibition, opening Friday, December 13th in the offices of Boise State Public Radio, 220 E. ParkCenter Blvd. in Boise. Foray will showcase the work of members of the artists' alliance. The exhibit does not have a theme, but if it did it might be "Hey, World! Come and see what an amazingly diverse and talented group of artists we have in the Treasure Valley!"

That wraps up my events currently for December! Here's another treat -

Are you the proud owner of a Lauren T Kistner original, giclee print, or creation? Post an image of it in it's new home or gracing your wall on my facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lauren-T-Kistner-Arts/125512144198683
and you will be entered into my Holiday Giveaway for a chance to win a Giclee print of your choice! Drawing will take place on Thursday, December 12th!

There are new items on my Etsy Store!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LTKarts

My website has had a makeover, please let me know what you think -
Is it user friendly?
Is there anything you would like to see different, more of, ect.
http://www.laurentkistner.com/

I hope you can make it out to enjoy Boise's talented artists. Happy holidays to you, and thank you for supporting your local artists.