From Better Homes & Gardens: Christmas Ideas, 1956. Illustrator: Roy Mathews. Image from Ward Jenkins’ Vintage Christmas set

I was supposed to draw something in time for the coming holidays as a greeting card to send out, but as you can see I never made it. To compensate, I’d like to propose that you have a look through Ward Jenkins’ fabulous Flickr stream and get a feel of some vintage Christmas illustrations — the theme that I wanted to go for if I wasn’t the biggest procrastinator on earth. Oh well, there’s always another year no?

2009 was a busy year here at Pikaland — so I’m going to do a short recap of what I’m thankful for in 2009:

• YOUR support for cheering Pikaland on — we’re going to be 2 years old in February!

• The launch of the Good To Know zine that brought illustrators, artists and designers together to discuss creativity, life and business (or the lack therof, haha!)

• I started accepting advertising on Pikaland, and many of you sponsored that loaf of bread I put on the table, and I thank you tremendously.

• I put the PikaPackage Project on hiatus, but you’ll be happy to know that it will be up and running again early next year with NEW projects in tow. To sign up for news about that, subscribe to the newsletter , and;

• There’s too many to list down here, but I’m truly indebted to the many wonderful blogs and people who featured Pikaland on their websites and publications!

Happy holidays and a big cheer for 2010 — here’s wishing you lots of joy, happiness and warmth from our family to yours.

xoxo
Amy

Face it, it’s too late to put together good gifts for everyone. Not because of time, but because of the sheer amount of wonderful work floating about that leaves your brain bursting at the seams of what to get for the people in your life. So Doodlers Anonymous’ first colouring book ought to do the trick — there’s 29 different artists’ works for you to colour in. Pop in a box of crayon and you get instant fun!

Also, I question the part about giving gifts EXACTLY on Christmas Day. I mean, it’s to be expected that you’d hand someone a gift on the day itself. Want to be different? Send someone a stocking full of gifts AFTER the big day and see the look on their faces. Or better yet, send presents just for fun — it can be Christmas all year round!