cider and faun: where ada shares

gearing up and getting ready...

2012-01-19T10:18:00.000-08:00

I am almost eight and half months pregnant and I am definitely beginning to feel the weight of all of it (and I don't just mean the physical part of it, which of course, goes without saying)! I am feeling the need to clean up, clear out, minimize and nest for our new little one. Thankfully I have had support in doing this when my body is not feeling at it's optimum. Last week, my friend generously gave of her time to help me put a new shelf in Nettle's room and to tidy up what had become a pig's pen in the last few months.

The girl still has a lot of things (try as I may to consolidate!) but at least it is looking orderly and organized now. It makes a huge difference to be able to breathe when I enter her room and not feel overwhelmed by it all.

Her room is not the only room that needed addressing. This week I've been going through my own things in effort to make room for our boy. I've had to buckle down and really ask myself what I can give away or throw out. I have a tendency to hold on to all sorts of things 'just in case' whether it's smaller size clothes or crafting material. I'm trying to understand that if I truly need something, it will be provided for and sometimes it is okay to go out and get just what you need so you don't become a bit of a hoarder. In clearing out some drawers and boxes, I did manage to find a few peculiar items (well, not peculiar to me but maybe for others). I found a handful of little dried ginger roots (which I now call ginger bones), cut out paper bunnies instead of dust bunnies, a family of ghost rocks and other assorted stones and old drawings.

Another blessing I've had this week is some really cool hand me downs from another friend of mine. As I was sorting through the clothes and stuff, it really began to hit me that this is real. This little boy of mine, that loves to move about and aggressively remind me that he is in there will be arriving soon!

As I also prepare for him, I wanted to do the best with what we have. Most of you know that we are currently cohabiting with my parents. We have two rooms, ours (Rick and I) and the Nettle's. Like before, our room will now also host the baby (along with already being our bedroom, family room, craft and art space and office). I know it's not the 'ideal' place for a nursery but I still want to make his 'space' nice and intentionally his. I finally finished my first flag bunting for him which I am particularly fond of because it has some sentimental value to it. The denim and white floral flags are actually cut out of an old pair of jeans and a top that was Nettle's when she was younger. It's a small way of including her into what will be his and I truly like that idea. I also made his first initial with buttons and cloth leaves (also from an old top of Nettle's) on an embroidery hoop to add to his 'wall'.

I also did promise Nettles I would make her a flag bunting and an initial hoop for her room as well. I have the triangles all cut out and ready to go! Her flags also include her former white floral top as well as black floral print that once was an old skirt of mine. Again, passing along things that once were ours into something new.

There is still much to do but I am happy of the progress that is being made. The countdown has begun!

Small scenes from Christmas

2011-12-25T21:03:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Story, as told by the children of St Paul's Church, Auckland, New Zealand

2011-12-22T15:48:00.001-08:00

What I'm thinking this Christmas season...

2011-12-17T11:57:00.000-08:00

Here we are, mid-December and for us, on the eve of a family trip heading up to Northern California, to a place called Angels Camp for almost a week. I find more and more that December is a special month for me, maybe more now because I have my own family and I can appreciate more things than I have before. I do love Autumn but the onset of Winter's chill is beginning to do just as much for me as Autumn does. In fact, I started this blog three years ago, in November 2008 with my first eight entries and yet the very next month of December I posted a whopping thirty seven entries! Cider and Faun was definitely birthed from colder months, of storybook magic and coziness.

November and December and all the days leading up to have been magnificent in so many ways. We been attending Mars Hill OC now since the spring and have been incredibly blessed by it's teachings and people. We are experiencing community and even more, personal renewal and awakening. Our thoughts have grown and have been more centered on His gospel and His kingdom. It has been amazing experiencing the possibility of life more abundantly with purpose and ambition all for His glory.

We have been through some pretty remarkable situations this year, including finding out that we are expecting our second child and Rick being diagnosed with Melanoma, an aggressive cancer in his finger. I didn't share much during these days of feeling both blessed and sadness due to the overwhelming emotions they brought (along with overwhelming sickness the pregnancy brought to the table in those early months). Now, I feel as if all that almost didn't happen since I am in my seventh month and just dealing with general pregnancy tiredness and roly-poly-ness and Rick being rid of a cancer that could have been deadly (his right middle finger was halfway amputated to remove the cancer. By God's grace alone, the cancer did not spread any where but stayed stationary in that one spot. He didn't even need any additional treatment after the surgery).

I feel that things are heading upward and onward and though I know the valleys will come again, I am confident in my God's goodness and grace to always carry us through. I am thankful for what has been revealed to us and what continues to be revealed. I am especially thankful, during this time of Christmas, for our little family to be having an Advent devotional, Rediscovering the Christmas Season. It has been such a blessing to learn things all over again, even to see things anew and really put the focus back on what this entire season is really about. I love that we are learning to see how Jesus really is at the center of all things, how it is all about Him. What better time to rediscover that than the Christmas season, amidst all of the consumerism?! I am thankful that He is fixing, healing, strengthening and preparing our hearts for the rest of our lives and that we have the awesome opportunity to bring our children into such a wonderful way of living!

Since so much has transpired, it has been a bit more difficult getting the time to do some activities and crafts. Being inspired by the Advent Devotional and our decorations at church, I've really wanted to do some crafts/decorations for us as well, being intentional about the true spirit of the season. I haven't done much but a small yarn wreath but though we are halfway done with December, I still want to put up something for Advent and the four weeks until Christmas ( some great ideas I've gathered onto Pinterest).

He is doing things anew, He is opening hearts and minds and I am grateful for it all. I look forward to gathering the strength He gives especially as we anticipate the arrival of our new little one in the late winter/early spring. I am also excited for the Doctrine for Kids series my daughter will begin learning at church this January. It's so neat to see what God is doing and He just doesn't move and teach adults but He loves all the little children too and desires for them to know Him as well.

I feel like I just pretty much crammed the bullet points all into one post but it's been awhile and I wanted to share what has been going on. It's been a beautiful thing, establishing new relationships and strengthen old ones, having community and living life together. Building our marriage and seeing in what ways to share the Gospel with our daughter even when that means acknowledging our own sinfulness (another great devotional helping out with that is Parenting by Design Daily). I've been blessed in both sickness and health and I know there is so much more to come. I am thankful for His faithfulness not just to me, but to my family and my extended family in His kingdom.

I'm off now to pack and get ready for heading out in the wee hours of the morning tomorrow so until next time (if I don't come back 'here' before!) have a very Merry Christmas and be blessed!!!!

peanut butter flourless cookies

2011-12-13T12:08:00.000-08:00

Last night, at Natalie's suggestion, I tried a new recipe out. Peanut Butter cookies are a favorite here but I was venturing in new territory by not baking them with flour. These are the second cookies I have made without using flour and I must say, I am beginning to like the trend! They are still yummy delicious, soft and chewy as well. Go bake some today!

Peanut Butter Cookies from Real Simple

Ingredients

2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

Heat oven to 350° F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, sugars, eggs, baking soda, and salt until smooth.
Shape the dough into balls (about 1 heaping tablespoon each) and place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Using the tines of a fork, flatten each ball, creating a crisscross pattern.
Bake, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until puffed and golden, 10 to 12 minutes (the cookies will deflate as they cool). Let cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

By Dawn Perry, December 2011

(I always like to have some variation, so of course, I added Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips to about half of them!)

A Day in Los Angeles by snarktwain

2011-11-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

Hello, all! I've enlisted my husband to write today's post.
(Please click on photos to enlarge. Thanks!)
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Greetings, y'all.

On Friday, the 11th, we decided to in some small humble way celebrate Drea's pre-birthday by visiting a couple of our favorite haunts in Los Angeles. First stop, Shin Sen Gumi in Little Tokyo for a bowl of Hakata ramen with our daughter, Drea's parents, and our friends Brandan and Abby and 3/4 of their fantastic brood. There was no way they could accommodate seating for 10 together during the lunch rush, so we split up and slurped to our hearts' content!

Next, we headed over to The Griffith Observatory to spend the afternoon. The parking situation was dicey, so Brandan and I dropped everyone off at the top of the hill and parked most of the way back down.

The view as always, was spectacular, and my lovely wife has a great eye for capturing it, even with her temperamental phone camera.

Here we have Abby, the kids and Drea's dad all showing variable levels of interest in Foucalt's Pendulum. On second thought, looks like they were just showing variable levels of interest in the camera.

The Pendulum IS pretty cool...it swings.

We caught a show in the planetarium, which was waaaaaaaaaayyyyy cooler than I remember it being for Pink Floyd laser shows when I was 12. It was eye-popping enough for the narrator of the show to warn us of the possibility of minor motion-sickness. Speaking of the narrator, she had a flawless live delivery of the show without the benefit of a script, which was particularly impressive to someone who can't be bothered to remember birthdays and phone numbers. Her voice was eerie in its perfection, and sounded like a robotically-produced scientist's dream of what a planetarium narration would be like without the foolish meddling of flesh and blood humans. Sadly, pictures weren't allowed, and I've half a mind to believe she was actually just a hologram, and wouldn't have shown up in the picture anyway.

We exited through the back of the theater and out to the best view on the hill...

I had planned to go all "Scott Pilgrim" in honor of my wife's birthday and "punch a hole in the moon" for her, but the humorless, short-sleeved, tie-clad and bespectacled guardians would have none of it. Something about tides...I don't know.

Here we have the Hall of Skewered Planets...and Pluto.

If you don't see Pluto, it's growing out of the metal cylinder in the upper-right quadrant of the picture (the small brown ball. Yup, that's it). Who's laughing now, Pluto?!?!?! Truly you've paid for your intolerable arrogance with all the other asteroids in your neighborhood. It was only a matter of time before you got your come-uppance!

I wonder whether Mr. Einstein ever considered himself to be... plushy?

Finally it was time to go, but not without first stopping near the bottom of the hill, at a little place called The Trails, a coffee and fresh baked goods outfit across the road from the trail that leads down from the heights of the observatory. We led the kids on a short hike across the numerous bridges and trails in the deepening twilight, armed with a t-ball bat and phone lights. We saw a couple of coyotes leisurely trotting down the hill, and not much else.

The Trails was a quaint little spot, though they seemed a little standoffish with us as patrons, perhaps because we had children instead of dogs. Oh, well.
It really was a fantastic day, full of little explorations and adventures, wildlife, excellent Hakata ramen, great fellowship with family and friends and most of all, gratefulness for the opportunity to spend a day with and celebrate a beautiful wife, mother, daughter and friend. I love you babe!

how october is turning out thus far....

2011-10-17T18:34:00.000-07:00

Sparkling Pumpkin Apple Cider and Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream for us to enjoy
Haunted cobwebs and cheesecloth to adorn the front porch
Old horror movies and silent films
Good ol' Ragtime music, keeping with the theme of Nattie's costume for the month
Our first Halloween party attended and another one to enjoy this weekend
Softball games with both cold and hot weather
The best news of all, the anticipated question answered: We are having a little mister (as Nat calls him already)!

there was a trick after all...

2011-10-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

It would seem in my haste last night to finish I forgot to add my little werewolf's ears. Thankfully in conversation with my husband this morning I realized my mistake and now my little lycanthrope can hear!

a little treat, no tricks

2011-10-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

My first attempt at a calender. If you like it, go ahead a grab it! Just click on the photo or here for the flickr link.

Today I picked up my sketchbooks for the first time in a long time. It felt good putting pencil to paper so I drew up these little monster friends. A little vampire and a werewolf, monster friends for ever.

N is for Nissien

2011-10-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

The weekend of September 23, 2011 was the first West Coast Eisteddfod, Welsh Festival of Arts held at Barnsdall Park in Los Angeles. I was privileged to be a part of the Welsh Mythology and Legend Art Show curated by Lorin Morgan-Richards (he actually coordinated the festival). Each work of art represented a letter in the Welsh alphabet and was inspired by a stanza of Welsh mythology written by Lorin. My piece above, is 'N is for Nissien' and here is the poetry that inspired it:

N is for Nissien
Who battles amongst the celestial star
He combats his twin Efnissien
Dueling for peace afar.

It was so very interesting perusing all the different ideas and works put out by other artists. I especially appreciate Lorin giving all the artists complete reign over how they interpreted his words.

All the works made particularly for this event have all been compiled into a limited edition book, A Welsh Alphabet. The book is rich with diverse imagery, original poetry and historical background to Welsh culture.

I am especially thankful to have been able to meet in person the wonderful Kimberly Wlassak of Gerushia's New World! We had been messaging each other back and forth a couple of months before the festival and it was such a joy to 'know' someone there! Sometimes it can be a bit intimidating meeting other people, let alone artists, but Kimberly was such a sweet kindred person with a friendly family to boot (Kim, tell Ava thanks so much for hanging out with Nattie)! Go visit Kim's blog about her adventures and artwork for the festival here.

As for the original of my work, I will probably be putting it up in the shop so when I do, I'll be sure to announce it. Here's one piece of work that I am very fond of, for obvious reasons (and yes, that's a mustache she is wearing. She got it out of a 25 cent machine at The Echo Park Time Travel Mart. Ahhh, my daughter) ;)

a small journey in time traveling...

2011-10-03T13:14:00.000-07:00

or, our visit to The Echo Park Time Travel Mart...

A few things you can find at the shop:

Viking Odorant in four 'fragrances'
Pet Robots
Dinosaur eggs
Caveman, Victorian Violets and Dystopia fragrances
Dodo Chow
Medieval Knights play figurines
Medicinal leeches in a jar
Mustaches for every occassion
Mammoth chunks
Duel-Starter Kit
Robot Repellent

September...

2011-09-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

Good things:

The beginning of my second trimester
The start of Second Grade
The excitement of Fall's weather approaching
Evening visits to Disneyland
Leaves scattered across the ground
Prospects for a certain spooky holiday
His provisions and His providence, all the time

a little seed begins to grow...

2011-08-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

Hello friends.
I have been 'missing' from this place for quite awhile for good reason. Earlier this summer we discovered there is a little baby growing inside of me! We are expecting our second child in March and we are all beyond thrilled. As this trimester gets nearer to the end, I hope to feeling much better and begin to be more active once again. Until then, happy summer my friends!!

flowers, herbs, friends, letters and summer...

2011-07-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

My life in pictures (as seems to be the theme of my blog posts of late):

One of my most favorite things about Summer is our Gardenia bush. As the heat begins to rise, these fragrant blossoms open and release such sweet perfumery
Making root and herbal syrups out of ginger (with lemon added after for quick and simple ginger ale syrup) and lemon balm. Add to ice and carbonated or tonic water = instant refreshing natural soda!
My little dancer makes people of all ages smile. She danced for my friend's mother and a week later, she received this handmade fairy crown from her
Always remembering the value of friendships. Especially those in who are daughters have alsostarted and continued
Random letter writing is always a past time of mine. In comes in waves sometimes and this is the first of the season but definitely not the last (I chronicle my handmade/hand drawn letters/envelopes here if you wish to see)
Sitting outside in the cool breeze, beneath our cut out blackbird from two Octobers ago

Working on an illustration job, thinking of new projects and reminded of older ones that need to be completed. Summer is a wonder and I will do my work along with the fun. When it's over, and school begins, I really need to get on the ball ;)

scenes from an early summer week

2011-06-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

Summer Vacation has officially begun and the weather still hasn't quite caught up to the fact. I love it though, June Gloom is a favorite 'season' of mine. It's a wonderful feeling, having the windows opened in early morning and that sweet chilly breeze wafts into the room. June has afforded me some great moments, in both the big things and the small. As always, I see His work being orchestrated from everything around me and within me.

Natalie ended her first grade year tremendously well and we are all so proud of her. On her last day, we gave her vibrant dark pink peonies and red carnations to congratulate and celebrate her on a year well done. I am now looking forward to the blessing of having her more with me during the summer and continuing to establish our relationship as mother and daughter. Sometimes, during the school year things get a bit lost family wise with homework, school activities and extra curricular activities as well. Summer is the time for me to gather everything back and enjoy my daughter with love and with life itself.

Every summer, it would seem, I always have the same notion of thoughts. I remember my fondness for herbs, for making dolls (like mandrakes and owls), and for fall. Always in the very beginning of summer, I love it even though my heart is set on autumn. I don't know what it is but I certainly hope that the resurgence of creativity and thought will manifest itself in very productive ways! I am looking forward to September, where a piece of my artwork will join a handful of others at the 2011 West Coast Eisteddfod Welsh Festival of Arts. Lorin Morgan-Richards is the artist heading this up and he presented a wonderful opportunity for some artist friends. He put together his own original poetry to the Welsh Alphabet, with each artist getting their own letter. I have:

N is for Nissien
Who battles amongst the celestial star
He combats his twin Efnissien
Dueling for peace afar.

I finally finished my piece and will be scanning and sending it to him this week. It's all so very exciting and am so interested in seeing what every one else contributed!

Again, I have been filled with so much joy coming from every which way. We have been spending more time with family and old friends whilst making new ones as well. We are seeing and understanding the value of 'community' and living life with others, not just learning to live individualistically. It's been sort of amazing, for me, seeing those little barriers come down that I've never really realized I had in some ways. We are also planting again and truly trying to start a little container garden of sorts. Rick's friend has given us more than a handful of pumpkin seedlings along with a few pepper ones too. We finally managed to get them all little homes with new soil so they can grow and flourish. I really hope as we learn to do all of this our newly green thumbs won't turn black!

It's afternoon now and that last photo of fresh basil leaves brewing for tea is reminding me how I have not had any tea yet today. I am off, but I hope everyone is truly enjoying this season. For all the wonders and beauty it brings, from every which way around :)

Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. ~Henry James

the last trip to 'the happiest place on earth' before summer...

2011-06-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

work and weekends...

2011-06-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

Painted on a couple of smooth rocks I picked up from Abalone Cove
Drew out two design ideas for a t-shirt contest (come vote for my designs, #66 and #67)!
Played my old clarinet again (and being inspired to rediscover it all over)
Had dinner and dessert with friends, my family and parents at the local spot for Food Trucks
Introduced my friends to my rad cousin for tattoo ideas
Had a drink with the same friends before watching Super 8 (and seeing our friend's credit)!
Getting up close and personal with a couple of classic cars from the man my dad bought his bike off of
Theology that leads to Doxology and other things at a Core Gathering for Mars Hill Orange County
Eating at Wahoo's and hanging out afterwards with friends at the Irvine Spectrum
Sunday Service of encouragement to live our lives with one another in community
Natalie's last time as a Brownie at her Girl Scout's Ceremony
Perusing Cost Plus World Market and picking up a couple of Fentiman's (my favorite sodas) and an adorable tin of Moustache Mints)!

All in all, completely blessed by these last few days: of art, family, friends, fellowship and being with the One whom all blessings flow....

for audrey eclectic...

2011-06-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

It has been so very rewarding making friends on the world wide web. I've been blessed with getting to know a handful of extremely talented and awesome ladies. One of which I did this portrait for: Heather of Audrey Eclectic. She amazes me with her delightful paintings inspired by historical time periods, folk takes, ghost stories and southern living. She, along with her husband and gorgeous daughter, live in a nice little homestead in Oklahoma that I would love to visit someday. Her blog is full of her beautiful art and craft (check out her ceramic mugs!), photographs of everyday living and her posts featuring Tasha Tuesday and WWMID (What Would Ma Ingalls Do).She encourages me to continue to reach out for my dreams artistically and creatively and to live life with passion. Every one she take a visit to her neck of the woods, I promise you will not be disappointed ;)

what marie could have said nowadays (for a contest, of course)!

2011-06-04T18:59:00.000-07:00

I decided to enter into Fresh & Easy's Design-a-bag contest for the second year in a row. Last year I entered in a simple drawing that my daughter wanted me to do. I had fun with it because it was a sort of collaboration (well, more like I just did what she wanted) but it was nice seeing her vision on what should be on a shopping bag. This year I decided to go with the first idea that came to me. Based on the winner last year, I think they are going for a graphic arts look but that didn't deter me. I instantly thought of the very grand Queen of France, Marie Antoinette herself and played off of the famous phrase attributed to her (whether she actually said it or not, we will never know).

Now that the entry deadline has passed, I thought I would share it all with you here. Since we all know Marie had a flair for the outrageous when it came to hairstyles, I thought it only fitting to 'do' her up fresh market style. Of course, a large pink cake had to be in there, along with a bottle of wine and a few pretty roses (which references our Fresh & Easy's pretty bouquets at the entrance). All in all, it was fun drawing this up. It is not the first that have drawn Marie and it definitely won't be the last.

In other news, I am half way done on a portrait of a friend of mine with her young daughter. I am pretty excited to finally get at it and I do very much hope she enjoys it. She herself is a tremendously talented artist and has definitely inspired me. I am hoping to continue to venture out with paint and canvas and hopefully will be putting some originals in the shop soon. Until next time friends, Good night!

the merry ol' country life...

2011-06-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."
- Laura IngallsWilder

I started this old man awhile back but finally set out to finish him the other day. I wanted to have a different subject matter than a woman, which is usual for me. I believe this was more an exercise for myself, seeing life from a different perspective and time. I really enjoyed creating this because for me, it is a celebration of life. Sometime we think in our youth lies all the great celebrations but I don't believe that to be true. I think I am one of the few that actually gets excited to see a gray strand because I don't associate it with 'aging' but with growing up, with living rather than just 'getting old'. There is so much more life to be had, to be discovered, So far, in my 'growing up' I am also realizing that the simpler things bring more joy and dare I say, even the labored things can bring more satisfaction. My old man here, is contemplating the goodness of his life, of all his days with various things that fill his home and his heart.

I do want to strive for simplicity. Not in a way where it becomes an idol, but getting back to what is basic, finding the beauty and need for necessity. With God as my primary focus and in this way, being blessed by all the things He has graciously given to me. Taking joyful care of my family and being happy that we are taken care of. I know I still have wants. I still want a house of my own, with an open kitchen and big back yard for a garden (and for play!). Maybe one day we will get those things but still, I always want to be reminded to keep life simple and revel in the everyday joys. Of things that are not tangible and for the ones that are, just grateful that we have them....
As I sometimes do, here are a few quotes I have found and would like to share them with you. Enjoy :)

"To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter. . .to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life."
- John Burroughs

"You can't force simplicity; but you can invite it in by finding as much richness as possible in the few things at hand. Simplicity doesn't mean meagerness but rather a certain kind of richness, the fullness that appears when we stop stuffing the world with things."
- Thomas Moore, The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life

"I believe we would be happier to have a personal revolution in our individual lives and go back to simpler living and more direct thinking. It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest, and living close to nature. There are not hothouse blossoms that can compare in beauty and fragrance with my bouquet of wildflowers."
- Laura Ingalls Wilder

there is always magic to be found by the sea...

2011-05-31T10:54:00.000-07:00

The coastline is one of my most favorite places to be and our little adventure yesterday did not disappoint. We took a nice drive through the city of Palos Verdes, ending up at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center. The view was spectacular, and we learned from a quick chat in the museum that there were tidepools nearby. We hopped back in the car and drove a mile up the winding sea-cliff road to and quickly found Abalone Cove . It instantly became a favorite. The weather was absolutely perfect. We hiked down, through brush and briar and past sharply fragmented rocks. After passing through a bit of 'Narnia' as Nat called it (if you have seen The Voyage of the Dawn Treader where Eustace finds treasure, you'll know what she means) we found ourselves treading over the most beautiful, smooth carpet of beach stones we've ever seen.

We trundled over the rumbly surface and on to the sand for a short spell before arriving at the foot of a huge cliff where rocks jutted out in to the tide. When the tide is low these rocks become tidepools. The tide was beginning to come again but we did manage to see (and feel) a few starfish and sea anemone. We saw crabs as well, but left those little guys alone. The day was amazing, the views breathtaking and even when we found ourselves grouped with other people, I did find a brief moment where I felt like I was the only one there soaking in all this majesty and glory.

Before we headed back, we made sure to bring along some of those beautiful smooth stones. They added to our labor as we made our way back up the steep winding trail, but it was so worth it. I can't wait until we get to visit and explore this beautiful place again....

a visit to the farmer's market

2011-05-31T10:09:00.000-07:00

We visited the Farmer's Market in Downtown Fullerton last week, our first for the season. We decided to head out there after our trip to the local Costco (where I took photos of Nat by the budding tomato plants). The Farmer's Market is always so much fun to visit not just for the abundant sampling of great tasting fresh vegetables and fruits, the cool handmade merchandise or even the fun atmosphere of music and gathering but for the people watching to. I think you can find the coolest people at a Farmer's Market. Like we did that night. I had to stop a young girl who I had to do a double take. I thought I saw something unusual and I was right. She was walking around with a beautiful and brilliantly colored yellow sun glow baby boa. Amazing!

We walked around and perused the tents of different people selling their wares. The place we were impressed with the most was The White Llama with everything being made of llama wool. The dresses, blankets, gloves, mittens, scarves, everything was so beautifully made. We weren't able to purchase anything that day but we did come back home with some fresh corn, onions, turkey jerky and a bunch of rainbow chard (swiss chard) that Nettles picked herself. :)

can a snake and a mouse be friends?

2011-05-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

You tell me.... :)

oh how lovely green mansions...

2011-05-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, before you have seen a movie, you know you are going to like it. I just seen Green Mansions for the first time, and yes, I loved it! The premise of the movie sounded so intriguing I had to see it. Now, to get my hands on a copy of the book it was based on, that would be nice!

How breathtaking is Audrey Hepburn? And I can't forget the sweet and tender song, played and sung by Anthony Hopkins. Unfortunately I can not share the video from YouTube because it has been disabled, so please tell me you will go to the video and see it/hear it. Please. :)

rose with a broken neck

2011-05-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

As soon as I heard Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi song with Jack White, 'Rose with a Broken Neck' from their album 'Rome', I knew I was going to do this drawing and watercolor.

If you would like a listen to the song, here it is and the lyrics as well:

Lonely I see

Lonely I lead

Lonely I feel

Lonely I bleed

Lonely I trust

And lonely I must

Be the rose with the broken neck

The plow on the farm

The train on the track

The tracks on my arm

The train in a wreck

That's when they all seem to swarm

Not when you are all alone

In your home with the broken neck

Help myself to a drink

Help myself to the sink

The dogs start to moan

And the crows start to peck

At my eyes and down at the ground

Oh and it shows

I'm the rose with the broken neck

Lonely I see

Lonely I lead

Lonely I feel

And lonely I bleed

Lonely I trust

And lonely I must

Be the rose with the broken neck

P.S. Thanks for all the love for the new header! I like it too ;)

cupcakes and monsters

2011-05-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

May, friday the thirteenth was International Monster's Day and we celebrated with a couple of handmade monsters, cupcakes and tea! I had doodled so many ideas of monsters but I was only able to make two. One, we named Broccoli Stick (Nettles gave her that name since her head shape resembles a broccoli and her arms and legs are made out of sticks). I really wanted to incorporate a bit of found nature into the doll and Broc (for short) is what materialized.

The second monster is my monster. I actually finished this monster at 11:59 pm on friday so that I could say it was born on Monster's day and give it the name Thirteen. Thirteen is symbolic in other ways too, since this monster of mine has one eye in the back of his head and three in the front. Also, Nettles birthday is Jan. 3rd, 1-3. Thirteen was actually made out of an old favorite merino wool sweater of mine. Time and moths had gotten to it but I could not part with it. Now I will never have to. Thirteen also has buck teeth and the backside, with his one eye, has a snaggle tooth too. I did make a pattern for a yeti doll but realized that I did not have any white felt left.

In honor of Monster's day we made cupcakes (monsters love cake!) and decorated them like coconut fur yetis (for our love of yetis, of course) and almond fur big foots. Nettles had a lot of fun taking orders from everyone and saying 'order up!' every time a cupcake was finished. We use coconut shavings and almonds like mentioned, with chocolate chips for eyes, sunflower seeds for fangs and cut up pieces of fruit leather for mouths. Nettles also made herself a yeti who had combed it's hair (coconut less) and gave it a kiss before eating. :)

The next morning we made banana french toast, bacon and tea for breakfast and of course, our monsters joined us. I really can't wait again for another monster day because it was just so much fun and another opportunity to be creative and imaginative. Next time I can prepare myself further in advance for some crafts perhaps and more monster lovelies to make. Until then, I'll keep adding to my monster's day pinterest for ideas and inspirations.

nettles, storybook places and a birthday too

2011-05-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

one.

two.

three.

four.

five.

six.

one and two--I don't remember exactly how it came about but we were being silly with one another and I brought up nettles. Nettles, Nattie, Natalie. We were both extremely playful and happy and now Natalie (also known as bubelah) has yet another (new) nickname: Nettles. My daughter the Nettles. On Mother's day after church, we came home and changed into comfy clothes, made popcorn, snuggled and watched a movie together. I also drew to 'nettle' pictures, for my daughter and the new name..

three and four--Our passes have cleared up again, allowing us to visit Disneyland until the summer comes around. three is a photo of the top of the Peter Pan Ride Building and four is from Mr. Toad's Wild Adventure..

five--Never far from Mother's day is my husband/love/best friend's birthday. We made banana cream pie from scratch (including the pie crust!) and decorated it for him. She put blueberries to make a 'R' and out a cherry in the middle for him..

six--the Nettles herself, a self-portrait..

Addendum--just came across this on an email from All About Thyme:

Celebrate Be Nice to Nettles Week by listening to Susan's podcast on this interesting "weed" or reading about 101 surprising ways you can use nettles.

what we did, things to do and my affinity for houses...

2011-05-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

Last week I had a beautiful spring 'staycation' with my daughter. We didn't go all out doing things but it was all the little things we did do and that we did together. I really think I may have needed the vacation more than her since I realized how much I have missed her. It sounds like a funny thing to say, I know, but with softball season, Girl Scouts, school, homework, chores and general growing up, I haven't had as much hands on time with her like I used to. We gardened, painted, had tiny dance parties, rode our bikes, played frisbee, put puzzle pieces together, visited a few friends, laughed, hugged and squeezed each other. Oh, and not to mentioned that she was able to join me for our Kindred Gathering's Royal Wedding Tea! That was the best and now onto getting back into 'work and home' mode.

So what do I want to do now and what's ahead for me:

I want to paint again. Never mind that I have forgotten most of the techniques I learned in college and used oils as my medium. I want to dabble in acrylics and water colors and see what comes of it
I've finally begun writing several first drafts for story ideas. Now to type them, revise and edit and bring the visuals of the stories to life
Relearn how to use a sewing machine so that a few littlebighead creations can be tangible and plush ones
Revisit old characters I have come up with a few years ago and breathe life into them. Give them their stories, their plots and a place to be in littlebighead
Bring a new character to life, an alias in fact but more on that later
Work on my piece for the upcoming 2011 West Coast Eisteddfod, Welsh Festival in September
Work on a couple of trades and a few parcels for friends

This is the small painting I did last week. I haven't titled it yet but it goes along a constant theme I have in my head "I am a house". I have done a few drawings/illustrations based around that idea, like the following:

It's an idea that is very close to my heart and I don't think I am done exploring that option for creativity.

'her hair was wily and unpredictable'

2011-04-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

(especially when you have weasels for hair...)

*new in the shop*

putting things in order is a good thing...

2011-04-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

Hello dear friends! Being here on my blog, I see that my entries are getting a little few and far between but it's all for good! I have been changing things and getting things in order (finally). I am continuing to realize the importance of dedicating yourself to what is valuable. I feel as I rid myself of certain empty pursuits or at least limit certain things, the time I have leftover is abundant and productive. I have not been online as much as I and it has proved to be for the better. I have missed out on being up to date with certain things, certain friends (and thus, certain blogs as well) but it's alright. I am having more time to do illustrations for various projects, write my own stories (finally!), get more domestic duties done (and thus have more family time available) and most import, establish my spiritual life more with reading and prayer. Oh, and let's not forget physical activity with walking, bike riding and family time like throwing the frisbee around and paying more attention to our little 'garden'. life is good, is it not?

Scenes from the past month:

funny dress up, hearty and delicious soup, 80th birthday celebration, family diary entry, african cats, impromptu gardening....

the things you see when you are locked out of your house...

2011-04-23T19:55:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday we were accidentally locked out of the house for about an hour. While waiting for someone to come home to let us in, we were able to notice the little things that we often pass by in daily routine...

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back

and realize they were the big things.”

Robert Braul

letters, ice tea & a welcoming sign

2011-04-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

There are many things I enjoy but two things I believe many of friends know that I especially do: writing/sending letters and having tea. I've been writing letters since I was a child and never lost my love for handwritten mail. I believe by the time I was about 18 or so is when I started decorating envelopes, whether with drawings, clippings or even paint. Sometimes I wish I took a picture of each and every envelope I did that I was so proud of just to have a record of it. It inspired me to begin yet another little hobby tumblr, The Emphera Mail, where I will be posting photos of letters I send out. I'm also recording what posts and packages inspire me on one of my pinterest boards.

I also started getting together with a small group of good friends once a month for tea, sweets, savories, good conversation and fellowship. Again, in typical Andrea fashion, I started a blog for it as well called Kindred Gathering. I usually post the monthly invites along with a few photos of the treats. This time I forgot to take pictures but in place, I posted my very simple recipe for our little family's favorite beverage, Spiced Ice Tea Lemonade (or Arnold Palmer, whichever you prefer) and I thought I would like to share it here as well:

The days needs to continue on in other ways but before I leave, here are a couple of photos of with Nat and her 'welcome sign' she made for fairies (for those traveling past our front yard, of course). Have a great weekend everyone!

how the seventeenth of march turned out for us...

2011-03-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

What I (and we) did:

Wore my green with a plush clover I made with felt, fabrics and a gold button. The button was a nice touch for me because it looked like a coin but also represented a cross to me (with the arrow pointed upward). I also wanted that old school feel of pinning a piece of green onto your clothing like when I was a kid so I used a safety pin to attach it. The bird pin is from Zapol Designs and the Butterbeer badge from Celeste Frittata (wait, I mean from Harry Potter, of course) ;)
Made sure Nat had her green on but still gave her a few playful pinches before taking her to school.
Played Flogging Molly's Pandora radio station in the kitchen while I worked. Lots of fun music for the day!
Baked zucchini oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips. I put the oatmeal in a food processor for smoother texture and substituted walnuts for the granola. So very yum and will definitely be making more of these soon!
Cooked mustard glazed corned beef with cabbage and potatoes (for the first time)! Had to be resourceful with items I already had so subbed the whole grain mustard with spicy brown, the cider vinegar with apple cider vinegar and butter gold potatoes for the red potatoes. I am not a huge mustard fan but the glaze/dipping sauce was really amazing (thanks to brown sugar too)!
Made a green fruit and veggie smoothie as a refreshing and tasty snack for Natalie, Rick and myself (as requested by Natalie since last week)!
Gathered up a hodge podge of greenery to make as my centerpiece. I adorned the vase with a hankie I got a the dollar spot in Target and placed two spoons I had decoupaged. One with a paper clover and heart that I wrote love on and the other with an actual clover from one of our potted plants.
Placed more kissing blarney stones on the table. Another gal with fuller lips and two more gentlemen. One, especially, I have named 'The Abbott' because it reminds me of the character of the same name from the amazingly illustrated film, The Secret of Kells (if you haven't seen it yet, you need to).
Gave a shout out to my Millan family via facebook about where our heritage before Puerto Rico may have come from. We could have descended either from the surname Aemilianus (Roman) or McMillan (Scottish) and be from any where of the following places: Ireland (yay St. Patrick's day!), Scotland, England, Germany, Spain or even Russia. It's pretty neat since I always joke with my dad about him really being secretly Irish. He has a freckles, had red hair the first five years or so of his life and took a liking to fighting and drinking (insert apology here for the stereotypes).
After the evening was done with cooking, Nat's softball game, dinner and a handful of cookies, I read this amazing post from Pastor Mark Driscoll on who St. Patrick really was and what he was really all about titled St. Patrick: One of the Greatest Missionaries who ever lived.

What I still want to do:

I didn't get to share with Natalie yesterday about the real story of St. Patrick (see above link and previous post). I still want to to let her know the day is more than just a fun and partying sort of day.
Make Irish Soda Bread, Irish Soda Bread cookies and other delicious desserts and food (like Irish Stew). Also Ballymaloe Brown Yeast Bread and Pea and Coriander soup from the Food Network's special, Bobby's Ireland.
Continue to bring fresh greenery into the house. It livens it up and feels so refreshing and 'Spring' like!

All in all, we had a very fun and....

and I hope you and yours had one too!

blarney stones, shamrocks and a leprechaun too

2011-03-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick's Day is this Thursday and other than just wearing the required green, I have never done much else for it. As we came into March I began to think of why Nat and I never did St. Patty's crafts and what could we do to make up for it. So, we gathered a few nice rocks and decided to make them into our very own Kissing Blarney Stones! Before we set out to paint and decorate, I wanted to know what was a blarney stone and why do people want to kiss it. I found out that it is part of a castle in Ireland where legend has, if you kiss it, it will give you the gift of gab (like Nat and I need more of that)!

There is never a stone that whoever kisses, Oh! He never misses to grow eloquent 'tis he may clamber to a lady's chamber, or become a member of parliament.

Francis Sylvester Mahony

Nat and I began to paint our rocks (green, of course) and the following day I set out to make the example pair for her. I came up with Mrs Clover Blarney and Mr Seamus Blarney. I fashioned a little shamrock for the missus by gluing three light green heart shapes cut from felt topped with a patterned cloth circle. Seamus has a hat made from a rectangular piece of felt glued onto a circular base and two yellow strips by the brim. I used a hot glue gun for all the pieces and for attaching it onto his little green head. Of course, with better (and more patient) skills than mine, you can make it where you don't see the glue or better yet, sew it all together. I gave Seamus a 'beard' of yarn, frayed a bit on the edges. Both the Mister and the Missus have their eyes closed and their lips puckered as an asterisk ready for a smooch! Since Mr Seamus was a more glossy stone than Mrs Clover, his green appeared darker and was harder to see his expression. I went over the black permanent marker with yellow paint thinking you might see his face more but I think it ended up adding to the confusion. I went back with the marker but left him with bright yellow freckles anyway! Also, since I didn't give his hat a top, I just filled it with a paper shamrock. We still have her stones to do and hopefully they will all be up and ready for smooching by thursday!

Oh, Did you Ne'er Hear of the Blarney
by Samuel Lover

Oh, did you ne'er hear of the Blarney,

That's found near the banks of Killarney?

Believe it from me,

No girls heart is free,

Once she hears the sweet sound of the Blarney,

Once she hears the sweet sound of the Blarney.

Oh say, would you find this same Blarney,

There's a castle not far from Killarney,

On the top of the wall

But take care you don't fall,

There's a stone that contains all this Blarney,

There's a stone that contains all this Blarney.

Like a magnet its influence such is,

That attraction it gives all it touches,

If you kiss is, they say,

That from tht blessed day,

You may kiss whom you plaze, with your Blarney,

You may kiss whom you plaze, with your Blarney.

Since we never did crafts before for this holiday, I did want to read up about it a bit. I found out that St. Patrick was a Missionary who is credited for bringing Christianity to the masses. Now, we are always associating the shamrock with this holiday and with Ireland itself but why is it used? I found out that St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the people. I also wanted to know what the difference between a shamrock and a clover is and found out that that there is none, really for the shamrock is just the name of three leafed old white clover. The name shamrock is derived from the Irish seamróg (little clover) which is the diminutive version of the Irish word for clover, (seamair).
I think that's pretty neat and now have a whole new and appreciative outlook on the plant and the holiday itself.

*Side note--Nat and I just got a new green watering can where we decorated it with permanent marker. At the bottom of the spout, I put a little clover on it with our initials on it. Not saying that we are the Holy Trinity but just in honor of our wee three person family!*

Since we had the paint out, we also decided to use it to make red handprints for leprechaun's beards, of course! This is Natalie's and once the handprint was dried, she drew her wee little man around it. She hasn't finished coloring him all in, but I think he has some good jolly spirit in him! Oh, and she named him Clover Gold Pot but you can just call him Clover for short ;)

Leprechaun, leprechaun, fly across the sea

And fetch an emerald shamrock for you and me.

Do not bring a nettle or a thistle for a joke,

But bring an Irish shamrock, for we are Irish folk.

And you and I, my leprechaun, will wear the shamrock gay,

And match it with and Irish smile upon St. Patrick's Day!

As you may have guessed it, this coming thursday, I will not only be wearing green but attempt to make Corned Beef and cabbage with potatoes for the first time. Nat's also requested a green smoothie to drink for that day. I'm getting pretty excited about it all and was pretty excited over watching the Food Network's special, Bobby's Ireland. Wow, beautiful places, landscapes and of course, food! I would love love love to go there with my family one day. Until then, I can dream and this little poem can help me along:

By Killarney's Lakes and Fells

by Edmund O'Rourke

By Killarney's lakes and fells,

Em'rald isles and winding bays,

Mountain paths, and woodland dells

Memory ever fondly strays;

Bounteous nature loves all lands;

Beauty wanders everywhere

Footprints leaves on many strands,

But her home is surely there.

Angels fold their wings and rest

In that Eden of the west,

Beauty's home, Killarney,

Ever fair--Killarney.

botany, antiquated silverware and a unicycle...

2011-03-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

Tarzan's Treehouse at Disneyland has me wanting for all of this...and I do mean all of it!

the tea is in the garden...

2011-03-04T09:41:00.000-08:00

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company. ~Author Unknown

I've had a flurry of ideas come into my head lately and so far, just this one has been materialized. It's almost appropriate, being in the month of March now, awaiting springs true arrival. I like the idea of having tea in a splendid garden and maybe one day I will get to do that with a few cherished friends (and of course, my sweet little girl).

I also think I am approaching yet another slight sea change in my art. I want to explore a few different ways of seeing things and relating that onto paper. Not just paper too, for I have ideas for felt little dolls and the like. I have so many ideas and much to do but still, the whole concept of balance and discipline nip at my heels for attention. I need to buckle down and just do the things I have set out for me. Until then, I'll put the kettle on, warm this chill upon my skin and hope you do the same too. :)

tea leaves
tea loves
loves tea
lives tea
leaves tea?
never.
~Uniek Swain

Indeed, Madame, your ladyship is very sparing of your tea;
I protest the last I took was no more than water bewitched.
- Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

hope & grace...

2011-02-23T10:31:00.000-08:00

It's nice going through old files, seeing where you once were with your art. What state of mind you were in, what you did. Here are two handmade postcard fronts from 2007. Little birds of Hope & Grace....

meet agnes and beatrice, friends from the marsh...

2011-02-18T18:29:00.000-08:00

I have finally and properly illustrated my little marsh friends Agnes and Beatrice. I first introduced them in drawing form last August. Here, a bit more about my little friends...

Meet Agnes, a sweet friend from the marshes. She loves flowers, pretty frocks and her best friend Beatrice the swan. Her favorite time of year is the summer, when she can play by the willows and waters and drink ginger lemonade ice tea.

This is Beatrice, best friend to Agnes. She loves chandeliers and floral patterns. She loves both spring and autumn, for the birth of flowers and the rich colors that come with fall. She also likes to bake and lemon butter cookies are her specialty.

rainy day letters

2011-02-17T10:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a beautiful rainy day, just right for writing and sending letters again...

my favorite valentines...

2011-02-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

This family valentine's day we:

drove in little buggys and felt the wind in our hair
covered our eyes when we passed the yetis on the matterhorn
visited our favorite haunted mansion & picked up a hitchhiking ghost
sailed on the pirate ship Columbia and saw how seamen lived
feasted on good food and mint juleps
bought Tiana's Cookbook so we can learn how to make beignets, jambalaya & peach cobbler
drew animations and characters like Grumpy and Mickey Mouse
Ate our favorite big fat peanut butter cookies with plump peanut butter chips
watched Nat soar across the night sky in a silly swing
played games on the boardwalk
had an absolutely perfect valentines with my favorite sweethearts.

Best Valentine's day ever....

little treasures of different sorts...

2011-02-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

This past few days have brought little treasures, all special and wonderful in their own right...

* A very generous and thoughtful package from April of White Apple. She knew that I was collecting secondhand books from the 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' for Natalie and found a handful of them for us. Not only that but she sent a few extra niceties like a pair of wooden bird ornaments and a pretty patterned seahorse brooch. I'm always astounded and filled with warmth when I come across sweet souls from around the world. Thanks so much April (and now all we need is 3, 5, 7, 8 & 11; getting closer)!

*Making paper valentine's for Natalie's classmates. If we have the time and the resources, I always much rather make our own valentine's than purchase them from a store. I love that Natalie is always on board with this idea, even to the point of reminding me everyday that we need to make time to make them. Yesterday she stay home from school (she had a very difficult night of sleep and congestion) and we found our opportunity for crafting time. With pretty paper, scissors, hole puncher and glue, we got busy and made twenty three sweet little folded hearts for her friends.

*Mail is always a delight, especially little postcard surprises. I recently joined the project Postcrossing and already received my first postcard from a kind stranger afar. It was from a girl in Germany and now it was my turn again, to send some out. I could send up to five postcards but opted for two (for now). The little owl and hedgehog will be on its way to the Netherlands and the old map to Russia. Also, a little package will be going out to Canada for a certain giving gal named April ;)

*I recently found out that Good Reads hosts constant giveaways of prerelease books from authors and publishers. Any member can enter to win and if you do, you have the option to write a review (which is encouraged since it's really the main reason for the giveaways). I had entered myself in a handful but the very first one I entered in, I found out that next day that I was one of the winners! I received my copy of Journal of a UFO and am so thrilled! I am in the middle of several other stories but they might just have to wait a bit longer to finish...

*Our parakeet PJ is a delight. I never thought we would be pet bird people (which I suppose sounds weird considering how much we enjoy birds) but we are. PJ is truly a part of our family (she even made it in my holiday family portrait) and we love her cheerful twitters and playful interaction with us. Since she is such a beautifully colored bird she leaves us with the prettiest (and sometimes tiniest!) feathers. I do collect feathers but now I love that I have my very own parakeet collection that will continue to grow from my own personal supply!

*I do take pleasure in the small things. Like yesterday evening when Rick and Nat came home after softball practice bearing gifts of blueberries! We love blueberries so much but I kid you not, these were the mother load of blueberries! One package had the biggest blueberries I had ever seen, like the size of medium grapes. I washed them and mixed them together with the regular sized ones for our evening snack. So, after Nat's shower, we settled in together to watch a movie and devoured these bite sized goodies!

*Earlier this week, I put on Facebook how it's the little things that make me happy (like my soup pot!) and someone left me this awesome quote:

‎"One for whom a pebble has value must be surrounded by treasure wherever he goes."

Par Lagerkvist

It instantly became a favorite and I will hold that thought in my heart as long as I can. To find joys in the small things, in nice things, in shared things....

The Parakeet and the Owl

2011-02-03T18:41:00.001-08:00

It's funny to see Pj fly over and peck on my owl tattoo. Maybe she saw the camera & decided to pose instead of being caught in the act. :)

a few thrifty finds

2011-01-31T11:55:00.000-08:00

A few scores, all $2 or less:

a blue and white vintage dress for nat (pictured)
a sweet floral and lace top for her also (pictured)
a long french blue coat from the gap
a plaid vintage jacket
two long sleeve buttoned up plaid shirts from target overstock
a 1958 paperback edition of grapes of wrath printed and sold in england (not for sale in usa or canada)

welcome to le cirque fantôme!

2011-01-22T15:22:00.000-08:00

I am so thrilled to show you my little ghostly circus! I had started this before the year was over and completely forgot about it once the holidays came. This is an idea I had for quite some time so I am excited the Circus is finally in Town!

Don't deny her the kiss she seeks....

2011-01-21T18:13:00.000-08:00

I introduce you to my first illustration of 2011...

If you sail the seven seas, you may come across Albatrina Inkwater. Sweet faced she is, but don't cross her if you wish to continue your journey in good weather. It is said that to deny her the kiss she seeks will invite the wrath of the Grey Torrent, a giant swell that obeys her whim and leaves no ship intact.

A little stylish award for me, thanks!

2011-01-21T14:47:00.000-08:00

I have been given a Stylish Blogger Award from Blue Terracotta (thanks so much Laura)! So in keeping tradition of the award, I share with you seven things about myself and fifteen recently discovered blogs...

I have an affinity for lively Indian music and always dance to the theme song from Outsourced.
I do not like spiders but I do love the intricate patterns from spiderwebs.
I am thankful for the opportunity to be childlike again when I am with my daughter.
I like silhouette art but have a very strong dislike for actual silhouettes (not art) of people (it bothers me when I can not see someone's face).
I've been forgetting my actual age since 31 (who doesn't right?!) For the record, I'm 32. I know that because my friend just corrected me in a comment below (I originally put 33, geesh)!
I once was a tiny little thing and am working on getting healthy again for myself and my family (maybe not so tiny but small enough)!
Very random something about me, I once met Elijah Wood at a Gogol Bordello concert. I was a tad tipsy (yes, a tad!) and went up to him, rubbed his shoulder and said "I am so happy that you are here". He smiled and laughed and said "I'm happy to be here too!" ;P

Now, even though I am downsizing, here are fifteen recently blogs I've 'found' that are quite enjoyable!

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

2011-01-21T13:53:00.000-08:00

Monday for MLK's holiday, we ventured on over at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. There were so many delights to view (I personally had the biggest grin once I spotted a Modigliani!) and inspirations all around. Some of my favorites were Magritte, Picasso and Chagall. The exhibits were fantastic too! We saw
India's Fabled City: The Art of Courtly Lucknow with rich colors, ornate patterns and paintings that look like they were lit from within. Another (permanent) exhibit Nat enjoyed immensely was Art of the Pacific showcasing tribal masks, headdresses and ancestor figurines. The best part of the day was Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700–1915. This was Nat's all time favorite of the day. She really was having so much fun looking at all the clothes from different time periods. Lots of photos were taken with my little phone camera. Here are some (including Nat romping around on the Urban Light by Chris Burden) and the rest you can view on my flickr set.

What to do with left over party streamers...

2011-01-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

You make a mummy! This was all her idea and what a great and fun idea it was too....

simplicity and management...

2011-01-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

New things are happening, new changes, beginning of things and an ending of some things as well. It seems right for January, the first month of a new year. It also feels good to purge and sort out, to become right with convictions and less burdened by focusing more on what matters. This is not to say that I have mastered the art of simplifying but you have to begin somewhere. And if you are like me, you tend to begin over and over.

I've started with small things and am working my way through others. It has not stopped with me, of course, and as a family we are working on things as well. Natalie's last Brownies meeting was on manners and on responsibilities such as chores. Last year I made her a chore list that was more or less successful until it's eventual decline due to busyness, neglect and so forth. Since it was issued at her meeting about taking up a responsibility in the home that she and she alone must do, I took the opportunity to make another list. Here's the scan I did of her chore list yesterday. Not the greatest scan but you get the idea. You can see I added several verses here and there on the list as I want us to remember that Christ lives in every facet of our lives. Even in working, especially in working. The best part of making this list was the owl shaped head (which she drew in the face) and the Consider The Ants illustrations at the bottom. She loved each ant was doing something productive like homework, making it's bed and vacuuming which are all responsibilities of hers.

I too, am trying to organizing and simplify areas in my life. I bought an amazing planner for this year (the Wizard of Oz one I was eying during the holidays!) & have begun to write out things to do. Each day I am trying to give myself different things I need to get done for the house and also for my creative side. Beginning to list goals by setting apart different days of doing creative endeavors. Hopefully I will continue this way and establish this in my life.

I am editing and cutting out things as well. One thing is making my blog reader list a lot smaller. There are so many great blogs out there but it can be overwhelming. Of course in my effort to cut down, I always seem to find new ones of interest! I justify some of them by things I am working on personally in my life like cooking. There are some great food blogs out there with great recipes. It reminds me of another life resolution of providing my family with good food and how important that is. Rick gave me the best (cook)book for Christmas and I am loving it! I have already made some great food because of these recipes that I think every woman, mother and wife should know.

I also need to get back to some serious drawing and illustrating soon. The holidays brought a lot of things on hold and now I am ready to move forward again. I think as I begin to manage my time and efforts better, I'll get to it with good results.

It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.
Benjamin Franklin

Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working.
Pablo Picasso

Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough.
Author Unknown

Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail.
Henry David Thoreau

After the New Year...

2011-01-08T20:05:00.000-08:00

...Comes her birthday. My little bubelah polar bear girl turned seven years old on the third! Where do you go to have a magical and fun birthday? Why Disneyland (and California Adventure) of course!

After we got her birthday button (and had a very special birthday phone message from Goofy!) we met up with both my sister in laws, my nephew and our cousin. What a great day indeed with fabulous familial company!

my little dear, of course...

All the Christmas Holiday decorations where still up so of course we went to the Haunted Mansion (my favorite) for a little Nightmare Before Christmas action....

The birthday girl with her Auntie D and with me for a special kiss....

A Hidden Mickey and Santa's Reindeers...

And of course, It's A Small World (after all)!

Auntie D, Natalie and 'Uncle' (Cousin) Manuel

At California Adventure, getting ready to World of Color for the first time...

Waiting to take her silhouette portrait with her baby cousin for her seventh birthday and his first visit...

♥ B D A Y G I R L 7

one resolution....

2011-01-08T19:12:00.000-08:00

A resolution, to get outdoors more often regardless of time or weather.

We decided to take a little walk around the neighborhood school after dusk and in the cold (which really, isn't that cold here in Southern California). We put our coats and jackets on and in the dark walked around. The air was wonderfully crisp and filled with firewood burning. We inhaled deeply and were invigorated.
Much better than staying indoors...

winter blessings...

2010-12-23T18:34:00.000-08:00

This Christmas season, I am thankful and grateful for many things, both big and small....

handmade gifts from my daughter
the simple beauty of lights to bring cheer
painting toe nails and laughter
finding happiness in small things
pretending you sleep in a magical room
the children in your family
finding places you never knew before
gathering of very good friends
grown women loving funny socks
wishful thinking in beautiful photos
happy hopes for new endeavors
making due with what you have been given
home cooked food and delicious home baked goodies
the enchanting rain
thrift store seeking, shopping and gifting
tea tea and more tea
slowing down to treasure precious moments flying by

and most of all, for Luke 2:10, 11

Merry Christmas to all my friends...

a holiday get together....

2010-12-23T18:10:00.000-08:00

home baked/made gingerbread houses
delicious appetizers
mulled wine!
the twelve days of christmas caroling
gingerbread house decorating
a cheeky little book from 1913
good conversations, laughter and fellowship
children's dance party!
feeling blessed...

'the scent of a flower we have not found...'

2010-12-20T22:36:00.000-08:00

“The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing. These things– the beauty, the memory of our own past– are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself, they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshippers. For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited.
Do you think I am trying to weave a spell? Perhaps I am; but remember your fairy tales. Spells are used for breaking enchantments as well as for inducing them. And you and I have need of the strongest spell that can be found to wake us from the evil enchantment of worldliness which has laid upon us for nearly a hundred years.”
–C.S. Lewis, “The Weight of Glory,” in The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses (New York: Harper Collins, 1949/2001), 30-31.

Hello Hyde...

2010-12-15T22:00:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Helena has been brewing up some lovely perfumes for sensational olfactory delight! Her natural fragrances at Faunfare are my favorite and now she steps it up a notch with her luxury line, Hyde. Along with the sweetest little mandrake root ever (love him!) I was sent a lovely sample pack of the newest Hyde fragrances, all elegantly wrapped in black.

It was so hard deciding which one I loved the most. Jack the Ripper was scarily inviting and smooth like the silkiest powder. Sorcery has the pleasantness of citrus and bergamot, very enchanting indeed. Opium also has notes of citrus with bitter orange and Japanese yuzu. I'm especially in love because it has the intoxicating and haunting fragrance of tuberose among it's notes. de Sade is delightfully different with black pepper and tobacco blond. It seems at once more serious and yet still playful (Rick really enjoyed this one). Initiation is a bit warmer, a soft embrace of red mandarin and cardamom. All in all truly enticing fragrances, each one!

I'm also impressed with her Hyde business cards, mysterious and prestigious just like her fragrances.

Helena, I feel so extremely honored to be blessed with these tokens of your amazing workmanship but above that, with your friendship...

(You can find both Faunfare and Hyde at her Faunfare Etsy but please take a look at her Faunfare website as well. It is absolutely beautiful and she has a new Faunfare product, solid perfume in a most ornate antique silver cast locket. Gorgeous!! Hyde also has it's on site (currently being updated) at Hydonism.com.)

a sunday evening...

2010-12-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

she hides beneath autumn's leaves...

2010-12-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

Sunday after church, Nat found herself happily being buried alive under crisp golden leaves by her friends. Nothing like autumn, Nothing like childhood....

the phoenix pattern...

2010-11-24T16:52:00.000-08:00

I love patterns and various wallpapers. I am always scouring Google for pretty vintage floral patterns in various colors that I like. As most people who have blogs, twitters & what not, we like to make them look pretty. I see some fantastic patterns and wonder where they have been found. I decided I would begin making my own and so I've begun using the phoenix. Inspired (of course) by Harry Potter (since The Deathly Hallows just came out) I thought I would go with this beautiful mystical creature. I have the first pattern with multi colors on my twitter and the red one for here.

rock paintings of fauna, flora & feathered friends

2010-11-24T16:30:00.000-08:00

Earlier this month Nicole of GardenMama hosted a rock swap. I quickly jumped in to be a part and had so much fun figuring what things would come to life from a rock. Here are the rocks I painted and swapped saved for the green spider web doily. That one is mine :)

an old house, a window and drawing for things to come...

2010-11-10T18:03:00.000-08:00

The Heritage House by day. Two of our friends made their wedding vows in front of it. This place brought lots of memories as it was also the place where we had our wedding reception.

The Heritage House by night. I didn't want to leave this night filled with so much joyful celebration!

Luciana's dress at my friend's house.

Drawing on index cards for a little home craft project I am in the works of making. Also giving me ideas for bigger illustrations to try, perhaps with water colors even...

the princess and the parakeet

2010-11-10T17:54:00.000-08:00

These are some of my most favorite moments. My girl wearing an vintage dress I bought in my early twenties and pretending. Now with our parakeet PJ, she's too is included in Natalie's world of make-believe...

trick or treat?

2010-11-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

a witch's silhouette along with her vampire girl pumpkin face

my little witch owl from mathyld befriends an october owl i made

octavius

and the trick or treating commences...

the white queen looks a bit ghostly...

her halloween project for us both, a cemetery scene in a box

where a little letter went...

2010-10-29T20:53:00.000-07:00

I had to share these lovely photos of my most recently acquired pen pal, Polly Bland. She is a wonderful (and adorable!) gal with a great personality and love for so many things. Her blog, The Littlest Polly is filled with vintage delights and fantastic photos. These are her photos (of my letter to her) for her post I love getting mail and new library fashion books I'm reading and I had to show them off, Thanks Polly!

the white queen went to a fall festival...

2010-10-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

For Halloween this year, Natalie has chosen to be The White Queen from Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland. It was perfect since she already had a glitzy (Disney Princesses) white gown. All that was needed was a platinum wig, a gilded crown, black eyeliner and extremely dark lipstick.
I'm pretty happy that she keeps choosing such great costumes. I've looked in catalogs, online and in stores and I find, of course Alice, The Mad Hatter and The Red Queen but never The White Queen (hmmm).

We got a nice preview of her costume last week at her school's Fall Festival. Last year was our first year there and I know she had a grand time. I didn't capture quite as many photos this year since my hand were holding a variety of things so I missed the daylight. I managed to get a few shots, especially her pumpkin bowling (which they had to cut her off after a while, she kept knocking them all down)!

A dolled up Witchy-poo...

2010-10-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

I wanted to get this lovely gal into the shop earlier but nonetheless, she is there now. My Witchy Poo was inspired by several things: a certain wizarding world, along with a very famous wicked witch from a place over the rainbow and a new show set in the 1920's. I had to include an unusual choice for a pet. A feathered friend, yes but this gal likes her parakeets (wonder why!) and so has a dark colored one to accompany her.

I hope you like her as much as I do....

thursdays are for winners or the name I pulled out of a cauldron

2010-10-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

I've always liked Thursdays. I suppose it's because it's not quite yet the weekend but it's sort of a precursor to it (since Friday is the weekend in my book). I've always been partial to it. Maybe because I like the way it sounds, the way it is spelled. Today is also the day I randomly selected who will have my littlebigDead drawing. I wrote all the entries on the same paper type as the drawing, folded them up and tossed them all into Natalie's little plastic cauldron. I sang Mary Had A Little Lamb (true story) while the pieces tossed and when I was finished reached in and pulled out a name...

Lela!!! You have won the darling skeleton girl! I will be emailing you today for your address!

In other news, this week has been a trying week in several different ways. At the moment I am battling a nasty cold that delights in keeping me up at night, imparting aches in my body and making my throat and voice scratchy and gross. I'll load up on some tea and perhaps a hot toddy later. I'm working on sketches for a commission and I still have a ton of different ideas of things to do. It just always seems like something gets in the way and believe me, this cold thing is not helping.

I've also realized that Natalie and I haven't done any Halloween crafts this year. I can't believe it but I know why. This year is the busiest we've ever had now that she is in Fall Softball and in Girl Scouts. Oh, and let's not forget that she has homework too now. Hopefully we will have a chance to begin on her Cemetery Scene in a box that I already painted all black in the inside. She wants to make graves, zombies and mummies. I have a few ideas but the rest we will have to wing it. I also painted another box all black inside for when I create our little home theatre in it but more on that later.

I've revised the look of not only The Black Hare but of Magpie Apples too, now. I have a few updates for the Hare and eventually at Magpie too but I can't over do it. Too many other things to get to along with not stretching myself out thin while my body is weak...

Until next time....For Lela, I am very excited to be sending a post to you, all the way in Estonia!

what october has brought and a small giveaway

2010-10-20T16:28:00.000-07:00

october month has brought these things...

updated the black hare with a new look, new links and several posts; motivating myself to continue to make the black hare an active place
reviving my listography to keep track of things like remembering graces both small and great
feeling good about finally sending mail off to drucilla, helena and mathyld
halfway through october and we haven't made any halloween crafts; thinking of ideas to do with her
happy that the weather has finally cooled with a few good days of gray, rain and a bit of thunder and lightening
working on my cursive, it's a dying tradition but I will try my best to keep it up with writing letters, cards and such
really enjoying the new HBO show Boardwalk Empire and loving all the inspirations it is bringing
remembering how I use to draw littlebigDead stuff during the months of September and October and drew a new one today
thinking of all my favorite halloween photos of Natalie and how I need to gather the last seven years of her costumes photos to compile in one place

Lately I've been drawing on kid's kraft papers that offer the kind of look I've been wanting in some of my drawings. The only thing is the paper is not quality stock paper and it's a bit thin. I think I have found my solution in another stock paper that I have yet to purchase. Until then, I have the kraft papers for some nice illustrating time.

I am going to do a giveaway of the above drawing to one person who comments here with their email address by random selection. I'll keep the commenting open until Wednesday October 27th. I will include a few other things as well so it will be like a tiny care package. Spread the word via twitter or on your own blog for additional entries. Just please sure to leave the link so that it can be verified.

an october gathering...

2010-10-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I was honored to have a few friends over and spend the morning and afternoon with. It was called an October Gathering where spooky things would be about and everyone pitched in with either a home made baked good or savory treats. Tea, both hot and iced was served along with home made ginger ale and we gathered round the table and ate, shared, laughed and enjoyed the company.

This was the first time I was having any thing like this at the house and I was pretty excited. Natalie helped me attached vintage and spooky labels alike onto bottles and jars. Halloween dolls i have collected from Marshall's took a seat by the entrance door. The front room chandelier held pumpkin jars, coffee filter ghosts and an old bat I had made when Natalie was a baby. Tables had a ceramic owl votive, a few photos within halloween frames, coffee filter witches and cardboard tube monsters. My mom's silver wear found a place in the kitchen along with a few crafts Nat and I have done in years past. Even the restroom became festive with a witch on a broom and pumpkin rocks. An old piece of artwork with creepy eyes stared at you next to a few painted rocks and vampire teeth.

The chalkboard pumpkin greeted everyone with a welcome and on the back, with cut out eyes and mouth, was drawn a burly mustache with bushy eyebrows in chalk. I had another owl votive stand guard along with my sweet serena the witch owl.

The mood was set with the smells of fresh baked goods from the oven. I made banana nut bread muffins and peanut butter cookies of various sorts (original, dark chocolate, apple jelly and apricot jam). Pandora radio was set on the Early Jazz station for background music. Friends brought home made pumpkin scones, three different types of hummus with pita bread, and a salami, cheese, olives & tomatoes platter.

I had such a tremendously wonderful time I truly did not want it to end! I wish the kitchen/dining area had better lighting to show you more of the decorations and yummy foods. I know that this is the beginning of having friends over and spending time with them and I am looking forward to more times of fellowship and gathering.

little bees, other sketches and small thoughts

2010-10-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

Finding myself falling in love with bees again and at the same time reminding myself to find motivation through being 'busy as a bee'. There is always something to do and I still learning to manage all those 'somethings' that need to be done....

I always love times of doodling and playing with my best little partner in crime, miss Natalie while we wait for our meal at a restaurant. The best is when the table is already dressed up with paper! Endless amount of fun like dress up the girl, playing hangman, decorate your own pumpkin (and valentine too!), drawing nice vampire girls, writing out or names in flamboyant cursive, making portraits and writing and drawing stories about a spooky cat...

little things often reap the biggest rewards...

2010-10-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

baking with bubelah while she 'hosts' her own cooking show
filling up time with more useful and productive things for all of us alike
feeling grateful to be a part of creative avenues like featherheart trading co.'s labels and business cards
feeling equally blessed to receive a packaged filled with natural goodies from featherheart!
a new commission to begin very soon
a few days of autumn gray, rain, tea & homemade muffins and cookies
encouragement, reassurance and admonishment for mothers
late evening bike rides (with more to come!)
the simple joys of making jiffy pop with a child of the twenty first century and seeing her absolute delight over it
a small vintage etsy indulgence to arrive via post shortly
the pleasure of perusing a new GloryBee catalog
visiting old friends and being able to be at a service with them
the complete enjoyment of being at a shower to celebrate a friend's upcoming nuptials
long talks with kindred spirits
decorating the house with homemade halloween crafts
looking forward to friday morning when a few friends will come over and visit!

a calender for owl lovers...

2010-10-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

I am so completely thrilled to finally be able to share about a neat collaboration I was apart of. Shivani of the very loved blog, My Owl Barn invited me along with other artists to submit an illustration featuring our beloved feathered friend, the owl. You have an option of downloading the complete calender for 2011 (I'm the month of July!) or customizing your own calender with your favorite illustrations. Oh, and did I mention that it is free!

(photo, My Owl Barn)

Go to My Owl Barn to download and/or customize your own calender and enter an amazing giveaway (owl plus anthropologie, enough said)!

Read the Owl Calender story along with all the illustrators who participated. The illustrations themselves are very delightful, whimsical and darling (there 30 illustrations total).

P.S. Some of you may have already seen my illustration for the calender. It's available as a postcard set at my second shop, The Kindly Owl.

tuesday things

2010-10-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

Thank you Polly for the award!

Before some serious work to get to, a few things to share:

I am nine sales away from one hundred!! Very exciting, so something a little extra in store for the one hundredth buyer :)
The Dreamery Studio, my newest etsy fave store, Where vintage book pages meets illustration art!
Absolutely adorable brown hoot owl wings and hat set for children by Naturally Crafty Shop
A new commission job to begin!

Be back soon, happy Tuesday!

a raggedy ghost and a sweet hankie

2010-10-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

Dolls are something I have been wanting to do for a long while now. I have attempted my hand at some over the past few years or so and now I present a little raggedy ghost girl doll. I enjoyed my hand sewing time with her, especially giving her a sweet little bow for her ghostly hair. I had to take some nice photos of her complete with a sweet gift to me by the lovely Drucilla Pettibone. She crafted my nickname along with my shop name on a vintage handkerchief. I am constantly amazed by her brilliance in embroidery. You must see her visually inspiring blog along with delights in her shop. She is also one half of the ladies behind Ragtime Seance (along with Mathyld). I am so in love with this cherished token. I plan on having it always, sending it along with my daughter when I am old and gray so that she could have it and one day pass it along as well.

pen and paper

2010-10-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

the hootenanny

miss kitty

Back to drawing with just pen and paper. This is the way I first began drawing after being inspired by the likes of Edward Gorey, Charles Addams and John Tenniel.

In other news, what a great way to begin October! Though it is hot and humid now (I have the windows opened and the fans on) earlier this morning the sky darkened, the lightening bolted and the thunder crashed!! It was absolutely amazing! The rain poured hard but too quick for me and now it's all over. I can't wait for it to happen again though!

autumn, you may let go of summer now

2010-09-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Autumn is officially here in technicality but not in weather. Yesterday the Los Angeles area set an all time record high (it was 112 degrees out here). I've started my walks again in the mornings but it's crazy that at 8 o' clock in the morning it's already in the '80's. Before I really begin to boil here in the house and set out to do some errands for dual purposes (1. to get some things done. 2. to find some relief in air conditioned places), I wanted to share a few things first:

This is not the greatest scan but just to share. Here is a piece that was commissioned to me by a old friend. It's a 'portrait' of her and her husband and it's in celebration of their recent anniversary. I really enjoyed doing this for her and doing it in just black india ink. I think I need to do some more work like this!

We went to one of my absolute oldest childhood friend's wedding a couple of weekends ago. It was such an amazing celebration. She is Ethiopian and being a witness to how they celebrate weddings is such a refreshing experience. This was actually my third Ethiopian wedding I attended but the first for Rick and Nat. He mentioned how this was the first wedding he has been to in a long time that didn't feel like a funeral. I was so happy to be there and to see a few other old time childhood friends. I didn't get to take photos because my camera's battery was low but I did manage a few shots of Natalie prancing down the steps of the church they got married in.

One of my favorite local places to visit is the Grand Californian Hotel in Downtown Disney. The architecture is in the Arts & Crafts style that Rick and I are completely drawn to. The place really is grand and I never get tired of being amazed when looking at the ceiling. I may find myself going there alone during the day for drawing, inspiration and respite. I really encourage looking up the link to really see how amazing this place is.

Other things to share (that are also on my pinterest):

a tutorial on how to make paper maiche black birds from 'that artist woman'
miniature rhino's post about a pen pal swap
speaking of pen pals, adding a new one to my list, miss polly bland (letter is in the mail)!
a cute animated vintage dancing duo blog badge up for free grabs by 'just something i made'
this awesome vintage illustrated owl book mathyld shared with me from 'vintage kid's books my kid loves'

More later, but now time to move on....
:)

lovelies from milla

2010-09-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to receive mail and packages and I was very thrilled when I got one from the lovely Milla. I had won a giveaway on her blog and these are the lovely things she sent me:

The giveaway was a poster her husband designed. Along with this, she also sent:

three blouses
a floral dress (and/or top also)
a vintage smock
a dovekins album
a vintage book 'nature through the seasons'
a leather butterfly hair pin
a delightful framed art work (I wish I could remember the artist. she told me in her letter but I put it away and can't remember where I placed it)
navy blue saltwater sandals for Nat
a very pretty feather!

I feel very blessed but all this niceness sent my way. The album is awesome, the artwork from the vintage book is amazing, my favorite new little top is the floral dress and I love when Nat gets a little something too! Oh, I also forgot, she sent me a blast from the past with a Care Bears mug complete with hear tshaped handle! Of course that now belongs to Nattie too. Thanks so very much Milla!!

the end of summer comes...

2010-09-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

"September's Baccalaureate
A combination is Of Crickets -- Crows -- and Retrospects
And a dissembling Breeze
That hints without assuming --
An Innuendo sear
That makes the Heart put up its Fun
And turn Philosopher."
- Emily Dickinson, September's Baccalaureate

Time has been busy. It has been both too short and too long. It's nice to get away for a few moments to rest and to refresh too. I have to be getting ready for new things. The 'have to' is because I want to motivate myself more than any other time before. I need to manage my time, my efforts and my creativity with discipline and ambition. There are things I need to do and things I want to do. So, here's to the end of things and to the beginnings of new things!

(After note: Anyone one pinterest? I'm there now too, come by and peruse if you like...)