Happy Holidays from the Netherlands 2011 ~ Fijne Feestdagen vanuit Nederland 2011

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painting copyright 2011 Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.

"Happy Holidays 2011" - December ~ Utrecht, Netherlands

W&N watercolors on Arches paper (digital lettering added)

approx. size of painting: 6"h  x 5"w

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays

and a Prosperous, Peaceful, New Year!

Thanks for visiting "Kats-in-Klompen" in 2011 :o)

We're taking some time off to enjoy the holidays

here in the Netherlands, and then a short trip to

Antwerp, Belgium in the first week of January.

We'll be back blogging in 2012 ~ see you then!

Fijne Feestdagen en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!

:o)  Judy & Sacha (the 'kat in klompen')

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It's Christmas Cookie time! ~ "Koekjes!"

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drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong all rights reserved.

"Koekjes! Christmas 2011"  -  4"h x 3.5"w approx.

colored pencil with pen & ink on recycled paper

Did you know that the American word "cookie" is really a Dutch word in origin? It's true!

Brought to America  in the 17th century with the first Dutch settlers of New York, the word "koekje", in dutch, means "little cake". Overtime, with the mis-pronounciation of the word by english speakers in the colonies, "koekje" became "cookie".

I think we should say "Bedankt, Nederland!"

(Thank you, Netherlands !) :o)

photo copyright Auke Nijholt. all rights reserved.

"Judy's Christmas Cookies, 2011"

Obviously, I've been baking this week. This is a box of cookies (or koekjes) that I sent to work with my husband to share with his colleagues (I'm American, it's what we do - at least I do!). By the time he came home from work, not a crumb was left ... lol! 

Looks like the Nederlanders (the Dutch) approved of my "koekjes". ;o)

Back to more baking!

Judy

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Random Silliness for Christmas ~ Naughty or Nice?

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photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong.

all rights reserved.

Sacha Looking for Santa

December 2011 ~ The Netherlands

Everyday, Sacha sits in the back window behind our Christmas tree, looking for Santa. She's a little worried that she's not been a good enough girl this year and perhaps she's not getting anything for Christmas! Really, she tells me that every morning, in her loudest, most whiney, voice. lol

;o)

Judy

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The Mysterious Gingko ...

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drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.

Fallen Gingko Leaves

approx. size: 10"h x 7"w

colored pencils, pen & ink on recycled paper

December 2011 ~ The Netherlands

At the end of November and the first week of December, we had some really stormy, windy, weather. Everything was blowing around, including the leaves of a Gingko tree. Each day, piles of beautiful yellow-gold leaves were landing in front of my house.

The thing is, I don't know where this Gingko tree is or who on my street owns one!?! Apparently, Gingko leaves really take to the air on a stormy day. They looked so pretty on the gray stones in my parking spot, as well as on the red cobblestones of my street, so I picked some up to draw and then went crazy with the cross-hatching for the background. I simply love to do ink cross-hatching, though it is time consuming. :o)

For this piece I used:

Faber-Castell Polychromos regular colored pencils

Caran d'Ache Pablos regular colored pencils

Sakura Pigma Micron Archival Ink Pens - sizes .005 and .01

Daler-Rowney "Earthbound" paper

tot ziens,

Judy

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Collections: Pinecone with Sumi-e brush & Ink

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From my collections ...

artwork copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong.

all rights reserved.

Pinecone in Ink - Dec., 2011

9.25"h x 7"w approx.  - India ink on watercolor paper

During this week of decorating my house for Christmas, I thought a lot about pinecones and how they seem to make a *grand* appearance in decorations at this time of year. So, I pulled out my box of nature "stuff", my tin of Sumi-e brushes and my bottle of Winsor-Newton India Ink (my favorite) to do this drawing. No pencils or pens were involved, just my Sumi-e brushes.

I think I picked up this rather large pinecone, years ago, in the forest of Lage Vuursche which is located here in Holland. However, I might have also picked up this pinecone on one of my vacations in France. In any event, I wanted to do a black & white brush drawing, so I did. :o)

I keep my Sumi-e brushes, Sumi-e ink sticks, Sumi-e ink stone and India ink in an old tea tin that I picked up at a Dutch flea-market. The tin still  has an old price sticker on the underside, with the price in Dutch guilders! Yes, I also collect tins, old and new; I enjoy the graphics on certain tins.

doei,

Judy

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Dec 5th! Sinterklaasfeest Pakjesavond, 2011! Saint Nicholas Fest Gift Night, 2011!

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It's the 6th year of me (the expat) celebrating Sinterklaas on
"Kats-in-Klompen" and tonight is pakjesavond (gift night)! :o)

photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.

Gifts From the Saint ~ December, 2011

Utrecht, The Netherlands

No drawings or paintings this year, but I have some current, wonderful, pics of Sinterklaas chocolates, cookies and of course, pakjes (gifts) for you! At the bottom of this post, I've included the links to my previous posts about Sinterklaas and this happy Dutch tradition.

(click to enlarge)

all images copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved

Sinterklaas Pics Mosaic ~ December 2011

Utrecht, The Netherlands

And here are the links to my previous years' posts about Sinterklaas (click on the titles under the small pics):

Dec. 2010 ~ Sinterklaas Pakjesavond ; Saint Nicholas Gift Night

Nov. 2010 ~ Set Those Klompen Out! Sinterklaas Has Arrived!

Dec. 2009 ~ Another Sinterklaasfeest and a watercolor painting!

Dec. 2008 ~ Sinterklaasfeest 2008

Dec. 2008 ~ Sneeuw, Snoep en Slaap - Snow, Candy and Sleep

Dec. 2007 ~ Sinterklaas Pakjesavond ~ St. Nicholas Gift Night

Dec. 2006 ~ Sinterklaas Might Be the Original Santa Claus!

(a detailed history of the tradition in this post)

Happy Sinterklaasfeest to everyone!

:o)

Judy

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No Matter How Hard I Try ...

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drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.

"Cup o' Colored Pencils" ~ December 2011

colored pencils on hot-pressed watercolor paper

No matter how hard I try to keep my drawing desk clear of clutter, it's obvious I need to do some clearing up .. again. :(

Proof 1:

photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong

Q: How can you find anything?  A: Well, I know where to reach...

Proof 2:

photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong

Q: Do you really need more colored pencils?  A: Always!

So, in another "brave attempt" to sort out my messy desk before the next drawing happens, I'm cleaning it up again this weekend (making this, oh, about the umpteenth time this year)! Notice that I'm not mentioning clearing up the rest of my studio. ;o)

tot ziens,

Judy

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Photo Friday: Late Afternoon Light ~ Utrecht Dom Tower & Canal

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We were in Utrecht's old city center this past Wednesday and the beautiful late autumn light on the Dom Tower caught my eye. I love this view of the Dom from Zadelstraat ...

photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.

Utrecht's Dom Tower In Late Afternoon Sun

Utrecht, Netherlands ~ Nov 30, 2011

After running some errands, we had coffee, tea and apple pies in a café at the foot of the Dom Tower. By the time we left the café, the moon was rising over the canal off Zadelstraat ...

photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.

Canal Over Zadelstraat in Utrecht at Twilight

Utrecht, Netherlands ~ Nov. 30, 2011

Lovely warm lights glowing from the houses along the canal ;

that is gezellig! (cozy)

:o)

Judy

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