N is for Nissien

 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 spring for the sea

Spring is officially here and I don't know why this is, but every year at this time, my thoughts turn towards the sea. I have always been in love with the sea, its beauty, its depth, its mysteries. It seems there are so many stories to be told, to be taken, to discover. To say the least, the sea has inspired me in so many ways. It has brought to me various and delightful creatures (both real and mythical) to love and has guided my hand at times for drawings and scribbles.

It's magic has definitely worked on me in different ways as well. Years ago I created the livejournal group Octopi Party (I deleted the user name I was using so the group has a different moderator now) . I also watch from time to time their Seashores community, filled with oceanic wonders.

I am currently working on a few pieces that are sea themed and when they are done, I will share them here. For now, I'll give you a few other things like a new tumblr I have created, sea haunting (she was married to the sea). I am very happy that Mathyld and Marie-Josee of End of March (lovely artist, beautiful blogger and collector of pretty things) have joined me there to bring all the stories of the sea to you .

And now some sea inspirations in the form of etsy lovelies and a few posts from sea haunting:

hippocampus print by the black apple

ocean adventure by kathleen lolley

best friends necklace by i adorn u by mary beth heishman

sea ghost

nigel and lily embracing at sea by this is all i know

geninne's art blog

squid drapes at anthropologie

part of 'the book of ships' by end of march

the woods, the sea and tea by sarah blank

one misty morning by sarah blank

and a few things by me:

my owl pirate, captain blackbeard

a photo box i made for a couple of natalie's photos

my first postcard ever

sweet mermaid inspired by my daughter and the sea

underwater circus

my first stuffed creature, livi

gazing at the stars inspired by 'the miraculous journey of edward tulane"

whale tales

the narwhal and the sea sprites

keeper of the seas

about helena and bun...

My dear friend Helena and I did a trade awhile back. One of the items I gave her was a mandrake drawing postcard. I just absolutely love what she did with it. She makes the most wonderful perfumed oils and some very pretty jewelry (she sent gold plated scottie terrier earrings but I never had a chance with them, Nat snatched them pretty quick). She just recently began a new blog called About a Bun, a story of a rabbit who lives with two cats in a cosy burrow. She is learning to reconnet with her animal nature and dig her way into a happier, healthier and more natural lifestyle.

She has a couple of tutorials there like how to make henna and how to wet felt balls. She is starting to create adorable little felted goods too. Here are a few of her lovely things (you can click on her photos to see other pictures on her flickr):

(of course, when Nat saw these she quickly said 'I want those, I want those!' like I knew she would).



Thank you Helena, for your friendship, your sweetness and being the best Country Story neighbor ever ;) ♥

oh moccasins!

I just had to come share a new find (for me) on Etsy. I know there are a ton of cool shops (and things!) there and I often post my favorites at Magpies and Apples but this one I had to share here.


Intoducing Darlingtonia Moccasin Company.




I seriously want all of their shoes.

Here is the blog and their facebook fan page too (where I have quickly added myself).

All photos, Katie Kukulka of Darlingtonia Moccasins and Bara Litten

autumn comforts

(click on entire image for art & photo credits)

It's friday late morning, I just finished my tea and decide to come here before I begin some domestic duties for the day. Being that it's friday, I just wanted to do a little 'friday favorites' of things. Photos, artwork, links and the like...

• my new thursday night favorite, Community
• waiting for my sweet little Serena to bewitch me
• wanting one of these darling brooches by Oh My Cavalier!
• also some of these autumnal brooches by Marmee Craft
• falling for glee on wednesday nights
• Audrey Eclectic hosting a little interview with me about Folk Reveries
• The Black Apple's Oddfellows and Milkland prints (on my etsy wish list)!
• tea, pumpkins, leaves and acorns
• drawing ideas and making new things
• This Harmony, an Italian music group that features my artwork (on website and on CD)
• Tasha Tuesdays by Audrey Eclectic
• wanting to make maple pecan popcorn with natalie
• Cathy Cullis and her Octavia rabbit doll
• the lovely photos of The Feather Circus

Well, that's all for now...time to fix the beds and clean up rooms. So very inspiring, yes?

where the wild things are

We all have seen the trailer and we all want to see it. Why? Because Where the Wild Things Are was a part of our childhood, for some, a huge part. Maurice Sendak was my first favorite artist, even before Charles Addams, before Edward Gorey, he was my favorite simply because of that book with only ten lines but full of imagination and the magic and realities of childhood.

Now, Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers have put their brilliance together in to realizing this wonderful book into something wonderfully visual and I can't wait to be there to see it. Everytime the commercial comes on and I see and hear it, my inner child grins like the cheshire cat and my creativity begins to swarm inside me.

So, in tribute, here a few works inspired by Where the Wild Things are by myself, by my little girl and by others. It's amazing to see what common ground we all have...

natalie's 'wild thing and me'


my little wild thing


kathleen lolley


oh captain-my caitlin


nan lawson


just another day designs


groene inkt

of course, there are tons more, on flickr, on terrible yellow eyes and everywhere else...

in the clouds and in the herbs

We went to Sprouts Farmers Market the other day and though we were on a budget, I managed to get two tinctures (on sale!) that I have been wanting. I got licorice because it was one of the first herbs I read about that helps with some of my acid reflux issues and I recently found out that it also good for chronic fatigue syndrome. That's a great two in one punch for me because I am always tired and was diagnosed with Epstein Barr than CFS years ago.

The second tincture I got is a nettle blend which I got specifically for Rick and Nat with all their allergies and congestion issues. Nettle is also good for a host of other things too so I will also be using it as well.

In other news, I've been doing a few trades lately and have been blessed with such wonder and creativity from other women.

I got a delightful perfume and lovely earrings from a new friend and kindred spirit, Helena of Owlchemy (and of Beyond the Thicket). I've received apple leaves and bark and apple twig brandy from the ever so knowledgeable Ms. Kiva Rose and today I received a lovely little package from Maria Isabel of Nido En Las Nubes. The owl pin Nat and I both adore but I have to give in to Nat a bit, so now she has her very own Nido En Las Nubes necklace! ;)