If you’re like me, you probably have ambitious goals and plans in mind for the New Year. I want to share a couple of mine with you… and I would love to hear yours! One of the first things I’ve done to kickstart 2016 is that I’ve started a juice fast. Today I’m on Day 4, and I’m already feeling more energetic, clearing my mind, and even dropping some unwanted pounds. Drinking all those nutrients definitely helps me feel better and ready to roll in this new year! Another one of my New Year’s projects is Reorganizing and Decluttering my…

I’ve had a super busy week at the Chalet – this year was much busier than usual… thanks to you, my wonderful customers coming out to visit me, and thanks to the unseasonably warm December weather! But now there’s finally just a bit of snow in the air, so it feels a lot more like Christmas, doesn’t it? The last day for the Holiday Market is on Wednesday, December 23rd. I’ll be there every day except Sunday. Santa John and I will be there to greet you, and I’ll help you out with those last-minute gifts for the ones you…

Hi, it’s Linda… Writing to you today once again live from my Chalet downtown at the Holiday Market in Market Square. I know I spend most of my time between Light-Up Night and Christmas down here, but I’m delighted to get a lot of visitors at my little Chalet, and I do get out and about a little bit! For example, I’ve been seen around town lately with a major celebrity – Santa himself! The paparazzi are having a field day! Just yesterday, Laurie’s Hallmark invited the Jolly Old Elf and me to appear at their store at Fifth Avenue…

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Every year, I take this time to reflect on how thankful I am for the blessings in my life. It’s also my time to give back to you for being there for me. As a special thank-you to my loyal friends and fans, I’m offering a special gift – for this weekend only, Everything on my website is 10% off with FREE shipping on orders over $100.00 for art prints and giftware! This is the perfect time to get started on your holiday shopping with a special gift that will remind your loved…

I’m taking a break to write to you now that I’ve just finished setting up my Holiday Market Chalet down in Market Square! Tom took this photo of me decking the walls earlier this week. Not only did we have to decorate, but we’ve also had to stock up on inventory for the coming 32 days! If you’ve been to the Holiday Market in Market Square in Downtown, Pittsburgh in the past two years, you would have found me on the end near the walkway that goes to the PPG Plaza skating rink. This year, I’ll be one chalet over…

It may just be a week or two after Halloween, but Costco and Target aren’t the only ones who already have their holiday decorations up! Because of the way my business operates, I have to get a jump start on the holiday season in early November, or it doesn’t get done! Since I’ve been participating in the Holiday Market show in Market Square for the last several years, I don’t get a day off from mid-November until Christmas Eve… that’s 32 consecutive days without a break. If I don’t get my home decorated for the holiday season before then, it…

Last Thursday night, I had the honor of attending the Oakland Catholic High School Gala at the Westin Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. If you remember, in the spring of this year, I was approached by their board to create a painting that would honor each of the schools that joined together to become Oakland Catholic – Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Sacred Heart High School, and St. Paul Cathedral High School, with Oakland Catholic itself as the foundation. Back when the dogwoods bloomed, I visited each of the former schools to take supporting reference photos. Love and pride was evident…

I’ve had a whirlwind week getting ready for the big day! Our church will be doing a “Reverse Trick or Treat” this weekend. Basically, we older folks will go from door to door, but instead of receiving a treat, we’ll actually GIVE one, courtesy of our friends at First Bethel UMC. The treats will include candy (of course), a note, and one of my notecards, personally signed by me. It’s a fun way to let our neighbors know we care. The notecard that will be included in the treat bags features my painting, “Celebrating Kennywood’s Fall Fantasy.” So today, when…

As I get ready for another fast-paced, show-filled Holiday season, I’m planning out the details of my jam-packed November/December schedule. It seems like just yesterday I was finishing up at the Market Square Chalets, and here I am stocking my shelves, ordering more packaging, and organizing my calendar for the 2015 holidays. Somehow the season is already upon us! Check out my “Calendar of Events” to find out more about my busy holiday schedule. Of course, the season has an early start for me because I have to prepare for shows, build up my inventory, and set up artist meet-and-greets…