nocturne

 How much pumpkin pie can one person eat? I think I tried to set a record this year. Now my son would tell you that it's not the pumpkin pie I overdosed on. That would actually be the whipped cream. Do you like a little whipped cream with your pumpkin pie? I confess I like a little pumpkin pie with my whipped cream. Is there really any other way?

 

 

 

Much of this over indulgence of all things pumpkin happened while visiting my mom. But in between the feasting I also spent time with a childhood friend. My old piano. It needed tuning decades ago so C sharp still sounds a half step off. But something about that familiar out of tune key was as comforting as everything else in this house.

 

 

 

I remember how my little terrier would curl up on the pedals by my feet. Certain notes bothered his ears which meant it was time for a sing-a-long. Skipper's low sad howl became a regular part of Ignace Leybach's Fifth Nocturne just like the tick tock of the metronome that kept the beat while I played. It's been years since I tried to play this piece.

 

This sweet simple brown upright my parents acquired when I was 5 prompted the beginning of 14 years of piano lessons and recitals in poofy dresses and big bows for yours truly. The story is that my mom wanted the piano for me but my dad knew that secretly she wanted it for herself too. Over the years we spent thousands of hours playing it.

 

 

My mom saves everything. Some of my sheet music still lives in the piano bench with the noisy hinge, too old and worn to hold up the heavy wooden lid. A little fact I often forgot until it crashes down on my hand.

 

 

My mom still likes to listen to me play. She smiles through all my missed notes and sad attempts at sight reading just like she did all those years I sat in this same corner protesting. Even my son was listening too. Surprised and amused that his mom actually knows how to read music. I think it's like forgetting someone you've know all your life speaks another language.

 

 

I wish I had room at my house for a piano. I always thought someday I might but my old piano belongs here at my mom's house. With all my memories, out of tune keys and all.

 

It wouldn't sound right in any other place.

 

I hope you had a lovely weekend.

 

 

dad's day and old shoes

Hurray for dad! I hope you're enjoying a beautiful weekend with your loved ones. We are hiding from the heat this weekend, 104 here yesterday but a cooler 96 today.

Would love to be cooling off at a beautiful beach like this one but a lovely lunch and indoor air conditioning works for us too.

My dad has been gone for nearly eight years. Hard to believe and although I didn't enjoy the close father daughter relationship with him many of you might have with your dads I truly appreciate the sacrifices he made for our family and will always love him with all my heart.

A quick reminder too about my upcoming Altered Fairy Shoe Challenge next weekend. You can still join in the fun if you have a pair of old shoes you don't mind turning into a piece of art.

I was cleaning out my garage a few days ago and found this old pair from ages ago. I might have worn them once for a wedding I was in. I thought they would be perfect for the challenge.

In case you're still looking for inspiration here's a link to an artist who created some really cool altered shoe art. I can't wait to see your shoes!



forest magic, tents, a bit of HP and a sneak peek

It's been three years since the last time we went camping and I have been dreaming about pitching a tent among the redwoods again.

These pictures of our tent are from my favorite camping trip to Big Sur four years ago. We went in November and it was just beautiful. I love camping in Fall when the weather is cooler and the leaves have already turned colors. Big Sur is the quintessential California coastal town. Quirky, artsy, down to earth and curiously magical. It's one of my favorite places.

We had the best campsite on this trip. Tucked away in a quite spot between giant redwood trees. Our family tent is HUGE. 'Too big to be allowed', lol, which is why my son and I named our 10x16 Coleman tent 'Hagrid'. But I love this tent...well I love all tents. It has a hinged door that swings open, these huge wings that make a cozy front porch and 2 dividers inside that create 3 separate areas.

When you camp here in Fall the entire forest floor is covered with dried leaves instead of dirt, creating a soft carpet that is magical against the lush evergreens. I remember sneaking out of our tent early in the morning...probably to go to the restroom, and taking this picture of our campsite. And I think my most favorite part of camping is waking up as the sun comes up and watching the sunlight slowly filter through the walls of our tent and then stepping outside and breathing in the crisp forest air. Pure bliss.

But I also love to stay up at night, curled up in a blanket just outside of our tent with my candle lantern and watching the little village of campers nearby. Tents of all sizes and shapes softly lit by fading campfires fascinate me. I imagine all sorts of fanciful things...like finding a circus tent deep in the woods!

Anyway I have been crazy busy. Making lots of out of town trips, painting a little and most of all being immersed in all things Harry Potter as Sebastian and I gear up for next week's opening day for DH2. We have our tickets to the movie marathon. Yes...we will be watching 8 films back to back! Movies 1 to 4 on Wednesday, then 5 to 7 on Thursday and finishing with DH2 at midnight. It's going to be insane but we had to do it of course.

Oh and here's a little sneak peek at the fairy shoe I made for Wendy's Fairy Shoe Swap. I wanted to have it done early because of all the stuff I have going on this month. I'll post more once all the swapping is done.

Here it is all wrapped up and ready to send out.

Wait...one more thing. Yesterday was the London premiere for DH2. We watched a 4 hour live stream and this is a video of the very end when the cast, filmakers and JK Rowling gave their final speeches. It was amazing, touching and it made me cry. I don't know how I'm going to make it through the movie next week!

I hope you're all having a great Summer so far!

endings and beginnings

Last day of school for my son today....finally. It seems everyone else has been out the last few weeks, but for our school district it starts today (well tomorrow officially). Next year he starts the 10th grade. I still can't believe it, where did all those years go?

Yesterday the official theatrical trailer for the second half of the final Harry Potter movie was released. Sebastian was so excited, and sad at the same time. I know I've mentioned before how my son grew up with Harry. It's been a constant thing in our household the last 10 years and something the two of us share together...through midnight book releases, opening day for the films, collecting Potter memorabilia and doing our own special Harry Potter events throughout the year.

When I dropped him off at school this morning he looked a little sad. I asked if he was sad about the school year being over and he said no (he couldn't wait for it to end). He got out of the car, went around to the trunk to grab his backback and right before he shut the door he said 'this will be the last school year I'll ever have a Harry movie to look forward to, it's the end'.

I drove away from the school thinking how funny it was that he saw it that way. But then I realized I felt the same way too, silly as it seems, and it made me a little sad for more reasons than just the series finally coming to an end...

Harry has grown up and he's ready to move on to the next adventure,

and my not so little guy is growing up too.

 

But I'm really looking forward to seeing Mrs Weasely give it to Bellatrix!

And then there's also this mysterious new thing to look forward to this summer...

pottermore.com

celebrate your creative spirit and challenge #2

Wow! I am having the best time visiting all the wonderful little bags being made for the Artful Bag Challenge. I love all the different silhouettes everyone has come up with and the way you guys are trimming your paper purses is just amazing. Thank you to all of you that have played along. There's still lots of time so if you have thought about trying a new challenge this year check out my new challenge for 2011. You can still add on to this month's theme which is Playing With Paper.

I'm already trying to think of something for next month's theme,  Altered Art. I have been eyeing little mint tins everywhere but a few other things have caught my eye too. Now I find myself looking at objects all day and wondering how I can make it look like an artful bag! You can click the button at the top of my right sidebar to see all the pretty January bags.

It's also time for another one of the monthly challenges I participate in which is Cindy's Celebrate Your Creative Spirit. Last month I created a collage inspired by Vanessa Valencia's tutorial in Somerset Workshop. I just love trying the different techniques she shares and her art inspired me to learn and try something new again.

I'm also linking up to Sandy's Challenge #2 at Sandy's Space. She asked that we share our favorite projects from 2010 and I think this would have to be the one for me. A close second would be the wardrobe I made for my paper dresses in November :)

"Little Brother"

This is paint and collage. I made it last month and gave it as a Christmas present to my brother. Yes the same little brother I talked about in my Ski Lessons post. The one who decided I should go down a crazy intermediate slope for my very first ski run! There is just the two of us and he is also my very first best friend. We grew up in a military family, moving all the time, so we spent lots of time playing together. This piece is about those treasured  memories. I also made a print and framed it which I gave to my mom and I love that it gave her happy tears! ♥

Have an inspiring and creative Monday.

Be sure to visit Cindy at Whimsical Musings for lots of great creative fun and stop by Sandy's Space for favorite projects from 2010.

'twas the night before christmas

I remember the first Christmas my son was old enough to really understand Santa. I think he was 4. I had so many things planned to get ready for Santa and his reindeer. Before tucking Sebastian in for the night we helped him with his letter, picked out cookies, poured the milk and set out a bowl of carrots, grapes and a bucket of water for the reindeer. Sebastian decided reindeer loved grapes.

We watched the news to see how far away Santa was from our house and read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. We will read from the same book again tonight. After much giggling and stalling he would start falling asleep. Just about then I would sneak out the back door and walk by his window shaking jingle bells. Then off to work we would go.

There were cookies to nibble on, half a glass of milk to drink, grapes to gobble up (with a few bits left) and carrots to mash and carve teeth marks into. Then there was the glitter. Santa always left a trail of glitter. Glitter on all the stockings, around the fireplace and all around the plate of cookies and milk. The letter to Santa would be gone and in it's place would be a letter from Santa thanking our son for the yummy treats. The reindeer loved the grapes of course...and spilled some of the water.

Early Christmas morning I would be up before everyone to do one last thing. I had crushed ice waiting in the freezer. (We are snow less here in California) Out on the back patio I would throw all the ice in two long lines. Tracks left by Santa's sleigh. And finally a little bit of muddy reindeer prints and more glitter. Then it was time to wake up my little guy and watch the magic.

It's time to get ready for Santa once again. Even if my little guy isn't so little anymore (as you can see), and I find myself giving Santa a hand, we still love the magic of Christmas Eve. This day is just for our little family before we join the rest of our kin on Christmas day. We open some of our gifts tonight and the rest before breakfast in the morning.

My favorite elf trimming the tree while I work on packing up gifts.

Merry Christmas to all of you dear friends. Thank you for the gift of friendship and inspiration. May you be in the company of those you love, blessed with joy, hope and peace.....and oodles of sparkles all year!

frosted treasures

"How silently they tumble down

And come to rest upon the ground.

To lay a carpet rich and rare,

Beneath the trees without a care."

"Content to sleep, their work well done,

Colors gleaming in the sun."

"Other times they wildly fly

Until they nearly reach the sky.

Twisting turning through the air

Till all the trees stand stark and bare."

"Exhausted, drop to earth below

To wait like children for the snow."

Leaves by Elsie N. Brady

Yesterday was one of our first really cold days. Frost still covered the rooftops and grass when I took my son to school in the morning. I found these amazing frosted treasures in my backyard and had to take a few pictures. On this last day of November I just want to take a deep breathe and savor the last quiet days of Autumn. It's hard not to think of Christmas and Winter when all the shops are trying their hardest to convince you that Autumn ended right after Halloween. I have neighbors that put up their Christmas lights the day after Halloween!

My mom and I had a great time shopping at Michael's this weekend. I found this beautiful silver frosted garland which will be perfect for my chandelier. Winter is an endless wonderland for a frost and glitter addict like me! I finally cleared out the last of the Autumn decorations yesterday, except for the pumpkins. They stick around a little bit longer. One or two even find their way under my tree.

There is something about December that remains bittersweet for me. Joyous occasions like my mom's birthday, our wedding anniversarry and Christmas are happy times. But ever since my dad passed away the holidays will always have a touch of sadness and it breaks my heart to see my mom without him. Every day I'm in constant awe of her courage and tenacity. This December also marks one year since I lost my kitty Kushka and the memories have been especially hard. So much of the season reminds me of the last moments I had with her. I still miss her very much. This is partly why I've been absent most of November, along with also giving my arm a rest. But there is much beauty and joy to look forward to. These lovely  papers are ready for my next project and I have boxes of garland and shiny ornaments waiting to come out and play.

Have you taken your decorations out of hiding yet? What's your favorite way to welcome the season? I have a very simple little tradition. I love hot chocolate. I drink it like most people drink coffee. As soon as the first frosty morning arrives I run to the store and buy whipped cream and all Winter I top my cocoa with a HUGE dollop  of it! Yum!



remembering on memorial day

Remembering my dad this Memorial Day.

He served 22 years in the United States Navy.

We miss you.

And remembering all those who served everywhere.

Thank you.

Have a great and safe holiday weekend everyone!