A Beary Good Birthday

Two weeks ago we traveled back to south Mississippi and Memphis to celebrate the kids' birthdays with family.  Their birthdays are just four days apart, and I love planning something special for them every year.  My favorite part?  Designing their little party invitation.    

I spend all of my designated "art time" in December filling and packaging orders that come through my Etsy shop, so come January, sometimes it's hard to get back into my painting groove.  A fun, no-pressure watercolor for their birthdays is always the perfect creative kick-starter!

Saturday morning at my kitchen table. Follow me on Instagram to see more works in progress!

"Birthday Bear" 5x7 watercolor on paper by Holly B. Johnson ©2018

When we were down in Mississippi, we took Seth and Sawyer to their very first movie, (which also happened to coincide nicely with my Bear theme) Paddington 2.  It was a really cute movie.  Lots of that slapstick comedy that my boys think is just hilarious.  The plot was simple enough for even Sawyer to follow, but Robert and I, plus his parents, still found it entertaining too.  

Paddington 2. They're first movie theater experience!

Sawyer hogged all the popcorn, stinker.

​We also had a great experience at Build-A-Bear Workshop a few days later in Memphis.  We had just enough cousins to book the party package, and it went really well (much to my relief).

Florescent mall lighting, you are not my friend.

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​I mean, I have to admit- I was a little nervous about taking a 3, 4, 5, and 7 year old into what is basically a toy store.  BUT- the party leader was great, the kids were completely content with following her directions, and I was totally off the hook from navigating through that whole minefield in general.  In fact, the kids were so satisfied when we left the store with one camo Stormtrooper bear, one camo Cardinals baseball player bear, one cheerleader bunny, one football player Grizz bear (yes, you read that right), and one white unicorn with pink hooves in a rainbow tutu, that not one of them even thought to ask for a single one of the 22,000 accessory items that filled the store from floor to ceiling.  

If you've ever contemplated a Build-A-Bear birthday party for your kid, I'd say go for it!  In fact, I have a couple $25 OFF coupons for a Build-A-Bear party, and I'd be more than happy to stick one in an envelope and pass it along to anyone who wants it.  It's good through April 30th.  Just contact me if you could put it to use!  

"Birthday Bear" Signed, Limited edition 5x7 art prints, $16 each.

​A limited number of signed Birthday Bear prints are now for sale in my shop.  They're 5x7 inches, just right for easily popping into a frame and adding a little pizzaz to your next birthday celebration!  

I've also printed up some note cards because I figured they'd be great for sending out Happy Birthday wishes throughout the year or adding to the top of a wrapped gift.  No more scrambling to the store for a card every single time!  

$12 for set of 8 cards + envelopes

And, currently in my shop, most Christmas and Valentine's themed work is on SALE.  Check it out and SAVE!