What I'm thinking this Christmas season...

 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!!!!

a little seed begins to grow...

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...

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

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 merry ol' country life...

"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 

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

 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!

little bees, other sketches and small thoughts

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...

the end of summer comes...

"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...)

counting blessings...

big and small and everything in between..

for imaginations

for being silly in your own home

for trades and sales

for thoughtful friends

and the beginning of things

nature babies, old books and dresses and thankfulness along the way

Thankful for weekly things such as...





Pine cone babies. From an earlier nature idea from a tiny found pine cone, we set off to make these babies during our movie night. We wrapped the yarn over the 'body' and tied fabric 'scarves' around their little heads. Then, we drew their sleepy eyes...





Thrift scores. An old friend and I went to my favorite local haunt where I gathered some nice lovelies for myself but scored on something Nat has been wanting for awhile. A beautiful emerald Asian dress, like it was absolutely meant to be....





Love for old books. We went to Uptown Whittier for a tiny bit and of course, stopped by the new and used bookstore there. Natalie went straight to the children's area where she quickly picked up several books to show me, a couple of them old hardbacks. She told me since she 'likes old things' she 'would love to have these old books because they are old'. We obliged her one, The Tale of Paddy Muskrat by Arthur Scott Bailey (A Sleepy Time Tale) from 1916. I picked up an old favorite of mine, The Wizard of Oz in a portable paperback to tote around with me as well.

barefoot thursday

Natalie and I had a great sunny happy day today. It was filled with good conversations, fun crafty projects and doing something a little different today.

Tom's Shoes declared April 8th to as One Day Without Shoes. It's basically to see how it would be to not have shoes like places of poverty and to spread awareness about it. I really liked the idea of it and wondered how I would do it (I was feeling a bit, ahem, chicken really).

Nat and I had walked to our local thrift store, found a few goodies (pictures later) and on the way back I presented her the idea. I told her how there are a lot of people, children who are poor and can't afford shoes. I explained about the campaign and asked if she would like to take the rest of the walk home shoeless. She was thrilled. As we walked barefooted, it was a good time of talking about how difficult it must be for people who live in bad areas where broken glass is all around, where the ground is so hot it burns, etc. It was also a good opportunity to share about how blessed we are, that we have clothes, food, shelter, everything we really need, we have. I have to say, it was a bit fun too.

I had posted the Tom's link on facebook and got great feedback from a few people. One online friend, Anna then sent me this link titled 'You Walk Wrong: How we're wrecking out feet with every step we take.' Wow, what a great article! Now I know what Tom's campaign was all about and understand it to not be able wrecking our feet with confinements but for the benefit of those in poverty where it's not safe to be shoeless. This article explains how the feet work, naturally, without shoes. You have to read it to really get the whole thing. As a reply to the link she sent, I shared:

“The press of my foot to the earth springs a hundred affections.” --Walt Whitman

Anna-- THANK YOU for the article! it's no wonder that i always feel better shoeless, that when i go to someone's house, i usually bring socks so i don't have to wear my shoes. i want a pair of those vivos now :) i know that even with proven studies that society is not... See More going to accept it but i like the idea of trying to improve the shoe as much as possible. it's especially interesting to hear about the back/knee/etc. problems with shoes. i have bad knees and know am wondering if it would be better to take my neighborhood walk in my socks (at least).
people are going to think i'm nuts ;)

So there you have it, shoes or no shoes, I thought I would share it all with you. It's all awareness, right?
(By the way, one of the things Nat scored at the Thrift Shop are a pair of clogs. And yes, they are cute) :)

seafaring..

I finished my new piece called 'seafaring' and I am truly happy with it. Maybe one day when I start painting again I'll take previous illustrations and see how they transalate through paint and canvas. For now I know that I have more things I want to draw and create and something for my Natalie too.

She questioned me yesterday about my girls never smiling, how they always look sad. I told her that they are pensive, in deep thought. Now that I think about it though, I know through out my life there has always been a bit of sadness deep within. I know that I do love life, that I am thankful for everything good thing (and even the not so good) that has crossed my path. I do believe that everything is providencial, that everything happens for a reason. I do not feel sorry about the sadness though. I wouldn't be able to sympathize and empathize with others without it. I wouldn't be as sensitive as I am to myself, to my family, to friends, to others. It has taught me the toughest lessons in life. I would not be me without it. That's not to say their is no happiness though. So, I suppose, at least in my art, it's a glimpse of who I am. That their is a piece of me in everyone of the faces I draw. I suppose it's that way for most artists.

Life is a perpetual journey, often times to places unknown. It's vast and it's profound. It's possibilities are never ending. Maybe that's why I relate so well to the girl in the whale boat at sea. She is not alone though, she travels with a friend and has all the stars to look after her. For me, there is always a happy ending and it's that way with the characters I draw too.

thankful things, random things and sharing things

Friday friday friday. It's almost afternoon, still and silent here. My tea mug slowly brewing a cup of Bright Mornings in a sweet silicone strawberry infuser. I'm sitting calmly here, allowing thoughts to breeze inside my mind and not whirlwind about. Yesterday was a trying day and I really don't want it to be repeated. Anxiety tends to knock on my door from time to time and yesterday it just barged in, unannounced and uninvited. It's been awhile since I have had a day like that and I don't intend really want it to happen again any time soon. I am thankful for the friends and loved ones who I was able to reach out to and pray on my behalf. So I wipe the slate clean of yesterday and I am focusing on all my blessings and good things I have today.

I've been a little behind in keeping up with so many wonderful creative people so I missed this post entirely from Heather of Audrey Eclectic. I know Mathyld of Encore Petite already filled hers out and so, here now, seven bits of randomness (or perhaps, confessions):

1. I sing along better to male vocalists than female
2. I like watching Wizards of Waverly place, even if my daughter isn't
3. As an adolescent my favorite animals were panthers, wolves and bats and often wrote biology papers on them
4. I'm the youngest cousin by eight years on my mother's side of the family
5. I have dyed my hair practically every color (I was a red head for several years actually)
6. I have loved tea since I was seventeen
7. Littlebighead was a name that my husband came up with for our daughter when she was a baby. She was born with a huge amount of black (buckwheat-like) hair that never fell out. When she would tottle around she looked like she had this big ol' head from the back because of all her hair. :)

I am not sure who I should tag, but if you're game I officially tag:

Violet Folklore

Astral Boutique

GardenMama

5 Orange Potatoes

Little Black Forest

MoonshineJunkyard

Sarah Blank Studios

Whoever else would like to join the bandwagon, come on aboard too :)

+++

Today I would also like to mention a few things. First, thank you to all of you who commented on my previous post about my health issues. There is nothing like knowing that others care about you. I haven't had a chance to respond back to everyone but know that I am deeply grateful for all your words, well wishes and encouragement.

(natalie, age 4)

I also want to share how proud I am of my little Natalie. Today she is having her valentine's at school and instead of buying cards for her classmates, she wanted to make them herself. At first I was thinking it would be so much easier just to buy them, put a little candy with it and be all done but she was diligent and I am glad she was. It shows a certain thoughtfulness into making something with your own hands for your friends. She has such a huge and caring heart and I finally came to my senses and helped her with her endeavor. We cut out butterflies on pink and red stock paper using a die cut a friend had given me. On the blank side, on the right wing I wrote in each one "Just fluttering by to say Happy Valentine's". She wrote the name of her each classmate and her name on the left hand side and decorated it all with flowers, dots and such. She also didn't want to include a lollipop because 'they are not healthy' (though she would quickly take any sweet thing you gave her)!

I am very proud of her and I hope she will continue to have a loving character like this. My husband reminds me though, that sometimes others are not as considerate. He hopes that she will never have to experience any heartbreak from someone who doesn't appreciate this value of hers. I know the world can be a rough place at times, especially when you are not like 'everyone else'. I just hope we do all we can to encourage her to be herself and that she can always find strength in herself, in those who love her and in Him.

Well, I have photos to upload so that I can share with you all from our little trip to a local arboretum this past wednesday. I suppose I should find the camera first. Until then, have a very lovely and sweet weekend.