Christmas at Home with Johanna Parker

A sweet tradition of opening our home and offering eye candy delights for the gift-giving season will see it’s 10th year this December! As such, a Colorado Christmas would not be complete without a visit to our annual Holiday Folk Art Show & Open House! Folk Artist, Johanna Parker (that’s me) and my husband JP d’Andrimont transform our 1939 cottage home into a cozy holiday shop each year. After weeks of shuffling furniture, decking the halls and walls and arranging my holiday collectibles, we are ready to open and share the spirit with friends!

Snow often blankets the ground and frosted flurries fall, creating a nostalgic winter wonderland for guests. Vintage Swing-style holiday tunes fill the house as collectors frolic in to see the latest curios I have created for the season. One of a kind snowmen, Santas, wintery owls, cats, mice and such traipse across the mantel and dangle from feather trees. These hand-crafted papier mache delights serve to both spread smiles and often can hold sweets. Guests arrive early from both near and far in hopes to acquire a one of kind character or more. Alongside originals, I also offer a fun medley of my licensed designs. Signed figurines, ornaments and illustrated notepads create a well-rounded blend of wares. Lights twinkle, candles flicker and the sweet scent of spice and hot cider fills the house. The mood is magical, and guests meander from room to room collecting special treasures along the way to give as gifts and to keep.

The festivities take place on the first weekend of December just outside of Denver in Lakewood, Colorado. Like last year, the exterior of our home is still undergoing an authentic facelift. A cozy vestibule addition is in the works and visions of an arched entry are slowly taking shape. Craftsman of many trades, JP has undertaken this enduring task to revitalize our old home. As we are both artists, the attention to detail and the desire to make custom each and every aspect can be a process indeed! While the visions of a storybook cottage unfold outdoors, the inside is certainly warm, whimsical, cozy and very inviting!

Folks interested in attending this year need only to join my Mailing List for the official invitation. Please visit my website johannaparkerdesign.com for more information on my schedule page.