Christmas Ornament History

German settlers in Pennsylvania are said to have started the Christmas tree tradition in the USA..
The Christmas tree was popular in parts of Europe for a long time before coming to America.. In England Queen Victoria made Christmas trees fashionable by decorating the first English Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1841. The first Christmas tree to appear in the White House was erected in 1856 by President Franklin Pierce.
Christmas ornaments to decorate the tree were imported from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was in full swing the U.S by the 1900's. Some people made their own ornaments out of fruits and paper. Each Christmas I design new Christmas ornaments to add to the many already available at my Fig Street Art Studio store on the web.
This Christmas I have created several new designs and some using classic Christmas images. Stop in the store on the web or locally at Bucktown Pharmacy to see them. See the many New Orleans centered ornaments and Christmas cards sold at the Cafe Press, Fig Street Studio store.

Fleur De Lis Tile

The several fleur de lis designs on tiles offered at Fig Street Art Studio made the news recently at TOPIX. Google has them listed high up in the search engine under 'fleur de lis tile". The many new designs are selling well both on tiles and t-shirts. The designs are specially made in a French style to go along with the French Quarter and French Market in New Orleans. Stop in and take a look at the at http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/1925039

Chicago My Town Shirt

I did a design for a shirt to celebrate Chicago, home to several family members. I was selling it and thought because the guys in Chi-Town I know liked it. Then I found out I won a little design award for it I did not know about, so here is the link and the notice it won an award http://www.zazzle.com/figstreetstudio/product/235076293369506326

Pet Portraits

A friend who is a veterinarian asked I paint the family pets as a gift for her parents. The idea on my end was to show how it can be done and how nicely they would look on tiles and other gift items available from my shop on the web. Above is my favorite of the three 'Dixie'. While painting it it became real to me and I would talk to her, after all she looks like she is listening. Here is the link to all of them and the many products they come on, http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/4159860 Her mother got the tiles, pillows, and clocks, her Dad a men's tie. All were very happy with the new idea in gifts. Here too is my web page about getting a pet portrait, http://www.figstreet.com/studio/petportraits.html