“And above all,
watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you,
because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.
Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”
― Roald Dahl





Monday, November 29, 2010

January paper dress

Wow! How late am I?
Either way, I have my January dress all ready for the dress up challenge at Alice and Camilla.
I included the 'fur' for added warmth...you never know..ice skating with Mr.Darcy is very possible:)

I'm going to include February's dress in this same post.
These have to be some of the best type of kisses don't you think? Plus I love this image so much.

True passion expands the soul,
Enraptures the heart,
and enchants the mind with a feverish bliss.
-Neil Martinique

Sunday, November 28, 2010

One Lump of Sugar

Sometimes there are little creatures clamoring inside my head....trying to get out and see the light of day...
Are they silly looking? yes, most of the time they are...but they are funny too, as soon as they are finished they make me laugh.
This one has the faint scent of candy floss, like she dropped by after a night at the carnival:)
Helena named this happy monster, Sugar Lump.

Friday, November 26, 2010

The winner is....

Since there were 26 comments on my Birthday post, I decided to use an old calender to select the winner.
I cut up the page, here are all the numbers....

Threw them in a box...

Closed the box...

shook the box...


Opened it...

The winner is...

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy
Congratulations Carrie!

Day after Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving yesterday!
My Birthday give away is tonight, and I couldn't resist adding these awesome little candies(they smell incredible) to the gift box...aren't they cute?

We took Helena to see Santa Claus last Friday...to beat the crowd, (have you seen the line to see him after Thanksgiving???)this was the first year she has been ok with him...and she talked his ear off!
Not only did she tell him what she'd like for Christmas (an Olivia pirate ship)
she told him a very boring, very long, very drawn out story about absolutely nothing in particular!
So all in all, it was a success.

I will be back later to announce the winner:)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thank You!



The leaves on our apple and pomegranate tree are finally turning color and dropping off the branches. there's a freeze warning tonight too, the first we have had this year.
Last summer, my husband started working for a company that sends him out to different countries..he's home for two weeks, then he leaves again for four.
I had a hard time dealing with it. It got so bad for me I started suffering from anxiety attacks..I thought I was dying!
I couldn't breathe, I couldn't stop being afraid ...then I started blogging, I have to tell you,it has helped me in so many ways!
The support and friendship all of you wonderful people have shown me is staggering!
I will be forever grateful for this.
I'm thankful for my family, of course, it goes without saying, but I am very thankful for you, my dear friends.
I hope you have a delightful day tomorrow, whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving or not.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Eggplants and socks

I made some silly creatures and wanted to share them with you...
First I have Aubergine...she's an eggplant fairy, and she's royalty of course!

She was created with a plastic eggplant and a soft doll body..
She seems to have brought along her court jester..don't know what his name is yet though...

This guy was made using a soft chenille sock, some felt and a feather boa.
Oh!
I've been adding more gifts to my Birthday Giveaway!!!I'm so very excited about it,
there's still time to enter!
that's all for right now,
I hope you have a beautiful, magical Saturday.
XO

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday!
I hope everyone is doing good today..I would like to please ask that you send some happy positive thoughts and energy to Joane at Ivory Pumpkin she's received a phone call that has her very frightened....if you could go take a look at her blog and leave her a little note it would be awesome!!
Here are my pinks for this week.
Another Frida painting...

The bird that lives on my desk in a nest..:)

Some candy in a lovely little bag....that also lives on my desk, but doesn't seem to stick around as long as I'd like, haha!

Alright,That's it for now, but I'd like to thank Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for hosting this for us...Thank you!!
Have a great day!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Birthday fun!

Hello,
My birthday is next month on the 10th and I want to have a little give away for you!I would like to do something fun!
Not only will you win the silly stuff pictured, but other Christmas-y birthday-ish randomness (say that 3 times fast) is going to be included...and of course something handemade by me:)
I'm leaving this drawing open untill the 24th so I can pick someone and send it out to get there by the 10th, that way we celebrate MY birthday and YOUR un-birthday!
I will announce the winner on....the day after Thanksgiving.
you will get:
Some awesome gingerbread poptarts,

Christmas sprinkles,

A journal,

Ok, dont forget, this is just SOME of the gifties..there will be way more!
All you have to do is leave a comment. I dont ask that you follow me, I refuse to bribe you,but maybe you would get something extra if you did, lol I just need a comment so I know you were here....
now have a great day and good luck!!!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Creative Spirit Challenge

This is for Cindy Adkin's Creative Spirit Challenge!
I'm often inspired by music, this image was what I could see in my mind's eye whenever I listened to a song called 'This Lullaby'.
A cool night, fresh flowery scented breeze blowing through a tree of lavender blooms and twinkling stars.

some of the lyrics...

You can see other the other entries at Cindy's blog Whimsical Musings.
Have a great afternoon.

March Paper Dress


"He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same"
- Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, Ch. 9


I'm still playing catch-up with my paper dresses, that's why it's March in November!
For this month's dress I let Wuthering Heights inspire me, I imagine that Catherine might wear this to afternoon tea. there's a little cape to keep her comfortable in case she feels a draft.
What can I say? I'm reading the book right now and it's on my mind:)
Please go to Alice and Camilla to see more paper dresses.
Thank you for looking.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Great news!

My studio has been included in Cloth Paper Scissors magazine!
It's in the Studio Vignettes section. I'm so excited!

I've also been given a triple blog award from Jennifer at Confessions of a kitchen witch.
Thank you Jennifer!
I'm supposed to award 15 other blogs (which I will do by email) and I have to list seven things about myself...
1.I cannot remember a time when I didn't have a sketch book with me.
2.I have two daughters, one is 19 and the other is 3.
3.I can eat raw mushrooms like they're popcorn.
4.If it's shiny I want it...but I don't own any diamond jewelry.
5.I have to read before I fall asleep.
6.I love Stephen King.
7.I have a tendency to over-gift sometimes:)
Ok this is my great news for today...hope you have a wonderful day too:)

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Dia de los Muertos

Every year we make a special trip to the cemetery to set up an alter for my mom.
I placed some pomegranates on a plate which you cannot see in the picture, a small book of the songbirds she loved so much is also there.


one of the traditional offerings or ofrendas is a bread called Pan de los muertos
which is delicious, I have to bake an extra large batch of it because everyone loves it here..
There are many recipes for this but this is the one I use.
Ingredients
1/4 cup margarine
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup warm water
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons anise seed
1/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons orange zest
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest
2 tablespoons white sugar
Directions
Heat the milk and the butter together in a medium saucepan, until the butter melts. Remove from the heat and add the warm water.
In a large bowl combine 1 cup of the flour, yeast, salt, anise seed and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Beat in the warm milk mixture then add the eggs and orange zest and beat until well combined. Stir in 1/2 cup of flour and continue adding more flour until the dough is soft.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size. This will take about 1 hour. Punch the dough down and shape it into a large round loaf. Place dough onto a baking sheet, loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until just about doubled in size.
Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for about 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven let cool slightly then brush with glaze.
To make glaze: In a small saucepan combine the 1/4 cup sugar, orange juice and orange zest. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 2 minutes. Brush over top of bread while still warm. Sprinkle glazed bread with white sugar.

sugar skulls and marigolds are also added to the alter.
I love this tradition, the colors are so rich and the artwork and creativity you will see while walking around the cemetery is remarkable.
Here are a couple more Day of the Dead pieces I have made.


I hope you have had a wonderful day today and thank you for coming along as I remember my mother.
I hope the birds are singing, the flowers are in full bloom and the rain is lightly tapping your windows, wherever you are Ma.

Monday, November 1, 2010

November Paper Dress

Dia de los Muertos is on the 2nd of November, and since it is a tradition my family celebrates, I decided on making a dress with a sugar skull image on it.

I also have my paper dress cabinet ready. It was an old corner shelf I bought at a yard sale for 2 dollars...it was a dirty white and had a small divider in the middle of it, which I knocked out with a hammer. The outside was painted hot pink, a coat of turquoise followed, then a coat of dark bronze, I took a steel wool and distressed it. Then a keyhole was added to it.

I drilled a hole in it and fitted in some doweling I'd painted silver.
Silver ribbon wrapped around the end of the dowel then glued to the ceiling keeps it from drooping down with the weight of the dresses.

The inside was "wallpapered" and painted. The chandelier is foam and the mirror is wood appliques painted with acrylics.
There are more paper dresses at Alice and Camillas.
Have a magical night.