wondermoon


Hello lovelies! Can you believe it's already the end of January? I love that the days are getting noticeably longer. I think I start to notice it right after the solstice but maybe that's just me knowing it's suppose to. We have had sunnier days the last couple of weeks but it's still cool enough for scarves and boots.


I missed visiting my favorite places while I was away from blogland so I'm slowly starting to catch up and dropping in to visit some of you here and there. It still amazes me how so many of us have been able to form friendships and build a community through our blogs. I know that for me blogging has been a blessing that's allowed me to share my dreams and to also be inspired by yours.


Creating has always been a way for me to escape. Whether it's stress, boredom or yes...housework! Meeting lots of you that feel the same way is truly the best part of blogging. I feel that we are all kindred spirits gathering under a big magical tent, sharing hugs, tears, glitter and dreams.


Although I recently went through a low period that kept me away from both my art and my blog, it was these same two things, along with your support, that has helped me find my way back. And it feels good to be able to go to this magical place under a wondermoon to play with you again.


I hope the first month of 2012 has been a good one for you. Are you keeping your resolutions? If you decided to be healthier this year please keep it up. I am finally starting to feel and see results from my commitment to be better about taking care of myself and it's so worth it. I feel better and it has helped my outlook on everything so please stay strong and don't give up!

I'll see you out there under a wondermoon....


two years and counting

Cupcakes.

Yes cupcakes. That was the first thing I started blogging about two years ago.
And much to my surprise I'm still here!


I've gone from cupcakes to art and everything else in between and I've probably shared more than anyone would want to hear right here on my little bloggy.


I celebrated my two year anniversary yesterday (the 22nd) and in honor of the event I spent the day painting while the sounds of football and tortilla chips filled the air.


You can see that Petunia is all grown up and today she's ready to celebrate, dream and as always, ready to find her bliss in her brand new party dress.


Shhhhh...she's also going on a little trip in her cupcake wagon.
I hope she doesn't lose her balloon.


Happy Monday and Happy New Moon my dearies!



waiting to bloom

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on your word for 2012. I love reading about what inspires you and why you decided on your word. I also want to say thank you for all your warm wishes and encouraging words. They mean the world to me.


I'm slowly finding my way back to my paints and brushes (under a thick layer of lint and dust that gathered on my work table) thanks to your support and most especially to the awesomely talented, amazing and magical Marfi who never gave up on me and gave me just the right kick when I needed it. She rocks!!

I still painted while I was away from my blog but the art that came out was dark and sad. This weekend I felt so much more hopeful and when I created this piece my son actually said it was nice to see me paint something happier for a change!



This is a self portrait in a way.

Much more hopeful, ready to dream again and patiently waiting for my heART to bloom.


Stay inspired and have a beautiful rest of the week.

Oh and by the way I think I picked my two words for 2012....
FORWARD and FROSTING!


the power of words


Do you remember what your word was for last year?



Mine was FAITH.

When I chose it at the beginning of  2011 I didn't realize how significant this word would be as the year unfolded. I don't think I have settled on my word for this year. But I recently heard something that I thought was very inspiring and I just wanted to share it with you.

I have been watching a lot of Anderson Cooper's new talk show. He seems to always have interesting topics and yes I'll admit I think he's sort of cute. Last week his guest was designer and artist Gloria Vanderbilt who I didn't realize, is also his mom.

It was a great show and I became really captivated by this 87 year old woman who led and continues to lead such a fascinating life. She is of course part of the great Vanderbilt dynasty, so she lived a life of privilege and wealth. But she has also experienced great lose and tragedy from the time she was a little girl.

What's amazing is that she continues to have a positive outlook on life and still believes her next great love is just around the corner. Near the end of the show she shared her favorite saying which is

"We are not put on this earth
to see through each other.
We are put on this earth
to see each other through."

This really touched me and I thought what a wonderful thing it would be if we could all remind ourselves of this every now and then. I know I am guilty of becoming too caught up in my own personal drama that I sometimes have a hard time seeing beyond my own myopic world. Especially in situations where I feel someone's thoughtlessness caused me pain. It's very easy for me to let tunnel vision set in.

But if I can step away from my emotions and see that there is always a lesson to be learned from all of my experiences, I think I might be able to appreciate the reason why different people are put into my life. From the most casual of friends (and adversaries) to the person I chose to marry.



It's so easy for us to see right through another person in a way that we don't fully appreciate the value of our relationship with them no matter how small or how brief. And instead of focusing so much on how someone can't always meet our needs, maybe we can focus on helping that person get through whatever challenges they might be having. I know this often takes much more effort but I've learned that being stuck in a negative place only kills my spirit in the end.

I'm not sure if this is exactly what Gloria Vanderbilt meant but that's what it means to me and it's something I want to remember as I try to strengthen the relationships in my life. Perspective is sometimes all it takes to turn any situation around.

Thank you Gloria for the gift of these words.


See Gloria Vanderbilt's works of art here.

Have you decided on your word for 2012?
Do you have a favorite quote to inspire you this year?

Hope you're having a beautiful week so far.


stepping into 2012


A brand new year again.

I looked forward to this one more than many other years in the past. 2011 was a curiously challenging year for me in so many ways. Lessons learned, wisdom gained and a sweet soul lost. I gave up making New Year resolutions a while ago but this year I truly committed to starting fresh.


While I was away from my blog for a few months I set a goal for myself to get healthy again. And instead of waiting until the new year I just laced up my shoes and started in Fall. I found that doing aerobics really helped me work out the stress from all my personal drama and the more I did it the more I loved it. The workouts also got me walking again and now I can even run.


I can walk 4-5 miles and run part of it. And I can fit into clothes that I tucked away in the back of my closet a while back. But the best part is that I'm also getting my son to get healthy and fit which was something that really concerned me the last few years. He even watches Dr. Oz with me and helps me pick healthy recipes to try out. And since my husband already started on the fitness kick about a year ago we now have something we can all do together.


There are still challenges in our relationship but we are learning the art of communicating, patience and forgiveness. Things that often times don't come naturally to me when it comes to our marriage. Trust me, my husband made it nearly impossible for me to practice these sometimes and this past year he was unforgivably rotten. But each day we can choose to be better people and that has made all the difference. Somehow I have to trust that the universe must have something extraordinary planned for me, after all I have been blessed with a truly amazing son.


December was also filled with some sadness for me, just like another December two years ago when I lost my dear kitty Kushka.

LaLou, the beautiful smoky gray kitty from next door practically lived in my backyard the last 3 years. In fact she didn't really belong to my neighbor either. She just wandered over there one night and decided to stay. Neither of us knew where she came from. My neighbor gave her food and shelter but LaLou was free to come and go so we sort of shared her in a way. He named her Smoky but I called her LaLou because that was the sound she made when she meowed.

When I lost my Kushka to cancer 2 years ago it was LaLou's visits that cheered me up everyday. I seriously thought about keeping her for myself but in the end I think she enjoyed the freedom of being able to go wherever she wanted. I always secretly thought that she liked me the most anyway.

Sadly she became very sick the end of last year and my neighbor decided it was best not to let her suffer. Even as she was getting weaker LaLou still came to see me as much as she could and I would sit with her in a little patch of sunlight under our plum tree. She was a part of my witches tea parties both years and my Luna and I eagerly looked forward to her daily visits.


It breaks my heart to see Luna looking out the window waiting for her friend. And everyday I still look under the plum tree and I quietly say hello to LaLou because I know in my heart that she still comes back to visit her favorite spot. She was such a special, beautiful little girl and I will miss her very much.

But I also know she's with all the beautiful fury girls that have been a special part of my life over the years. All dearly missed and always always eternally loved.




So here I am eagerly stepping away from 2011 and into a new year where I hope to be able to do something I think we all need to do every now and then.

That is to re-invent myself once again.

And I hope to do that in all aspects of my life including my art.

Here's to a brand new year.

I hope this one brings you real hope, endless magic and boundles bliss!