a quiet escape

 I really love the soft quiet of November. After all the excitement of October and Halloween I like to escape for a little bit. This is the time it finally starts to look like autumn here and even if the stores are already in full Christmas mode I stay away from it until it's actually December.

 

 

I get into a very cottage mood after I put away all my ghosts and ghouls. I imagine just escaping to a cottage in the woods, brewing up soups and potions and catching up on all of my favorite witchy reads.

 

 

I would love to magically make my house look like this adorable cottage.

 

 

And I absolutely love this amazing digi by FictionChick from Deviant Art.

 

 

How could I forget this one?

Edward and Bella's cottage featured in the upcoming Breaking Dawn 2.

 

 

A few years ago we went camping in Big Sur, off the Pacific coast and we stopped by Deetjen's Big Sur Inn. November is my favorite time to go camping in the woods.

 

 

Deetjen's is a cluster of rustic inns tucked away among giant California redwoods. The decor is simple, cozy and reflects the inn's Norwegian heritage. You can easily imagine stumbling across an enchanting witch's cottage in the Black Forest.

 

 

For me it's the ultimate cottage in the woods. We went in November and they still had all their fall decorations out with just the right touch of kitties and pointy hats that made it feel like a fairy tale. It's one of my favorite places in the world.

 

Now if I can't get to a cottage in the woods my next best escape would be a sweet little vintage camper. Any of these would make a perfect gypsy wagon.

 

 

 

 

I can imagine enjoying a quite cup of hot chocolate here, just listening to the waves and waiting to see the moon come up.

 

What do you do in November? Do you jump right into Christmas or let autumn linger a little while longer? Are you busy planning a big Thanksgiving get together?

 

Have a lovely week whatever it is you're doing and for everyone here in the US, get out there and don't forget to exercise your right to vote.

 

 

mirror mirror

I still love weddings. No matter what ups and downs my marriage has been through I still swoon over a beautiful wedding. Especially one that does the full fairy tale treatment.

I came across this Snow White inspired wedding shoot on WedLuxe.

I just love how they worked the theme into a super elegant setting.

Even this simple cake is amazing. Simply sublime.

There are tons of fabulous pics you can see here.

Perhaps it might inspire your next party or project.

 

pink stockings

Do you fly in your dreams? Have you ever dreamt about floating among the stars and the clouds and looking down at the little houses below?

I love flying dreams and when I have them everything seems to make sense.

Of course I can fly! I just have to remember to do this and this....

Sometimes I dream about flying on a broomstick.

Just push off with my heels and up I go!

I remember the feeling being so real and in that moment between dreaming and waking up I think I can remember the delicious secret to flying. "It's so easy" I would say to myself.

They say flying dreams, especially happy ones can mean you feel good about a situation in your life or that you were able to rise above a challenge. Or they can also mean you feel determined to reach a goal. I know there are lots of different ways to interpret flying dreams, each of them equally fascinating.

Whatever it is you dream about it's really important not to forget them. Sometimes stuff happens and we need to spend time on the ground to sort things out but you have to believe that you have the power to take flight. No matter how scary it might feel or how many times you get knocked down.

When you're ready to let go and follow your bliss make sure to put on your pinkest stockings and your yummiest prettiest skirt. It's always a good idea to be ready for all the fabulousness that's waiting for you out there!

Happy February. Have a beautiful week.

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.

good words + missing followers update

Update: Anyone else notice their followers have gone missing? I just checked the forum and lots of people are having the same problem. Here's a link to a form to fill out to add your blog to the list. Hope they can sort it out soon. I just hit 460 then they all went away :( I miss seeing your smiling faces on my page!

I'm always looking for quotes. I love to read them and many of them, especially the ones about art and creativity really inspire me. Recently I came across one in a magazine that I hadn't seen before.

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

This is from tennis legend Arthur Ashe. It's been my favorite since I found it.

Sometimes I just get overwhelmed when I see or read about all the new products and techniques available to artists today. Looking through the pages of my favorite Stampington magazines, I can easily find a project featuring multiple steps and products and gadgets. And I honestly really love and appreciate all of them. But like so many of you, I'm also on a tight budget and my tiny space can barely hold what I already have.

This weekend I was at Michaels and debated way too long on whether to try the Tim Holtz crackle paints. I picked a few up, put one back, walked around with two, put another back, walked around with one...

How many of you have done this before?

Finally I thought about that Arthur Ashe quote and remembered that what I really love is just making something with stuff I already have. Plain old paint, paper and glue (ok and a few of those distress ink pads). So I put the last bottle back. 25% off wasn't a good enough sale for me anyway and I'll just wait until I can use the 40% off coupon they have every week.

Spreaking of using what I have...I decided to recycle old pictures from one of my early posts last year. I remember I found a package of these metal charms with words so I threw them in a bottle and took a few pictures.

I hope you had a great weekend. With or without new goodies to try, lol. Our bizzare weather continues here in 'sunny' California. I drove through a wicked thunderstorm yesterday during a 2 hour trip and all my winter clothes are still out. So so strange....

Do you have a favorite quote? I'd love to hear.

lovely things

Another windy Saturday here in Tomatoland. Weather has been so weird. Next week we are suppose to be in the 90s but with thunderstorms. Are you having unusual weather where you are?

OK, I just love discovering silly and new things that inspire me, or that just make me smile. Last night I discovered a whole bunch of new fonts on the Blogger design page! I love fonts as you might know. Who knows how long they've had these fonts available, I haven't checked the design page in ages. But there they were and I thought that was just too exciting.

This morning, while munching on buttered toast and hot cocoa, I looked through the new Where Women Create and fell in love with artist/designer Denise Allen Robinson. I looove her clothing designs and her story.

She creates knitted, comfortable and whimsical pieces she calls "girly for grown-up girls" and it's just how I love to dress. Her designs are pricier so I'll probably never own one of her pieces, but the look is based on mixing up vintage with urban and adding a touch of whimsy and frill. And the more rumpled and crinkled, the better!

I also love that she didn't  discover her passion until almost in her 40's and now in her mid 50's, she has found success, all while following her passion and looking fabulous without having to 'dress her age'.

I'm going to go and raid my closet today to unearth some of my old thrift shop finds!

You can visit Denise at her website Neesh by D.A.R.

♥

Here's a little collage I just finished, thanks to lots of inspiration from my son, my friend Marfi and my favorite Hogwarts student, Luna Lovegood.

Have a lovely girly, pudding filled weekend!

awwww....

How adorable is this? Olympic Figure Skating Champion Kristi Yamaguchi is currently making the rounds to promote her new childrens book.

From Kristi Yamaguchi's website:

Poppy the Pig has big dreams—lots of them!

But following her dreams isn’t always easy, and whenever Poppy thinks it might be time to give up, her family reminds her to "Dream Big!" While on a "pig's day out," she has so much fun ice skating that she doesn't even notice those around her who think pigs can't skate…and without even knowing it, she achieves her dream while doing something she loves!

In this funny and inspiring tale that's perfect for a family read-aloud, Poppy realizes she can succeed at anything as long as she believes in herself and has fun doing it!

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Dream Big Little Pig will go to support the Always Dream Foundation and its early childhood literacy initiative.

happy birthday petunia

I have watched the little cat on my PitaPata counter make it's way across the bar, one day at a time for the last 12 months. I remember  how exciting it was when the kitty was at the one month  mark, then the four month mark which was a big deal to me. Three or four months was my usual average before I would loose interest in my new 'latest thing'. But I didn't and I kept watching the kitty make it to 6 months, 9 months, 11 and now it's all the way across!

One year ago today I posted a picture of a lemon cupcake and talked about plans to blog about all sorts of cupcake related things. Ever since that first post I can honestly say that blogging has changed my life. I know it sounds a bit dramatic but it's really the only way to sum up the amazing experience I've had this past year.

I won't go into all the details because you probably already heard me go on and on about it before. I talked about how I was inspired to start blogging in my Art Saves story and you are welcome to read it if you like. But I will say one thing again, and that is that the best part I have found about blogging is the friendships I've made here in Bloggyland.

You guys inspire me, make me smile, encourage me when
I give in to self doubt and just color my world with art and magic and fun.

Thank you again
and again from
the bottom
of my
heart.
♥

So today is a party day! And I'm so glad you stopped by to join me.

Petunia and I have the most adorable cupcake to share with you.

A frosted pink vanilla sweet cake treat covered with chocolate morsels all the way around. Yum! And look, the little topper is a pink purse! How Frosted Petunias is that?

Did you know my blog was originally called Cupcake Alchemy? I knew I wanted to blog about creative projects but I needed a place to start. I love cupcakes so I thought why not start there? So I focused on cupcake themed crafts, like my first polymer clay charm bracelet, and real yummy cupcakes like this chocolate one from a shop near my house that just closed down a few months ago. Sadly not enough people were as cupcake obsessed as I was.

Then almost exactly a month after my first post I found myself doodling while watching the Winter Olympics (obviously Figure Skating wasn't on lol). I made a simple little girl and after I finished her digitally I came up with a new banner (1 of 999 banners to come) and a new blog name.

I was already blogging about other things like trips to the thrift store and non cupcake related projects. But I still loved cupcakes and frosting, both the sugary sweet kind and the icy kind that makes flowers and pretty things glitter.

And petunias were not just flowers I love but a name that always sounded whimsical, silly, but still deliciously lovely to me. Saying the word petunia makes me smile.
So Frosted Petunias it was.

living inspired....

You know the song I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack right? It has been around for a while, maybe 10 years. I always thought it was pretty and loved the message. I would even sing along to it every now and then but it never really resonated with me personally, the way it has for others I knew.

Then a week ago, while I was on my organizing binge, I looked through an older copy of Where Women Create. In the opening letter from editor Jo Packham, Jo talked about change, creativity, courage and growth. She also included the lyrics to I Hope You Dance which she said, meant a lot to her.

That was the first time I really felt the words and understood where it was coming from. I decided 'faith' would be the word I would choose to inspire me this year.

So while my electricity was out a few nights ago I worked on another one of my little collages by faerie lantern and candlelight. I have been making these girls and giving them skirts made from my favorite stripey Halloween napkins. My little girl looked like she was waiting. Perhaps to dance and that song again wandered into my head again.

"Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the chance to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance....

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances

But they're worth taking...."

I think these words can apply to everything really. From big life challenges to personal goals and just day to day living. We are challenged to make choices everyday. Simple things like what to have for lunch, and big things like who we want to spend the rest of our lives with.

Sometimes the choices are harder with risks involved. Risks that might break our spirit or our hearts, or push us out of our comfort zones. It's so much easier to stay where it's nice and safe and cozy. I know I did for years and years. I made excuses and decided I'd rather just sit it out.

Well I'd rather not sit anymore thank you.

 I think I would rather dance.

And I hope you will to.

I would love for my dancer to go home to one of you, where I hope she will inspire you to step out and follow your dreams. I felt so much joy creating her and I hope what I felt in my heart transferred onto canvas.

I Hope You Dance is a mixed media collage on 8x8 inch stretched canvas. It's three dimensional, made with sealed layers of printed pages, tissue, paint, pencils and glitter. The skirt is stiffened and sculpted into shape.

The 3/4 inch border is painted deep raspberry and it is ready to hang.

If you would like a chance to win her simply leave a comment and tell me what your favorite cupcake flavor is, or if you're not a cupcake person (OMG!) tell me what your favorite dessert is. The drawing will be open for 2 weeks and I'll announce the winner on Saturday, Feb 5.

I also created a button and if you would like to help me spread the word you can put it on your blog and let me know in another comment for a 2nd chance to win. Please add a link to this post. I have never done a drawing this way before but I thought if I couldn't share the love on my blogaversary when else would I!

Thank you for stopping by on my big bloggy birthday day. I'm so excited about what the next year holds for all of us. I hope it's filled with creativity, inspiration, passion, glitter, whimsy and lots and lots of dancing.

♥

Have a beautiful weekend.

creative spirit challenge with plenty of glitter

Glitter, glitter everywhere!

I always seem to be happily covered with glitter and with the holidays this is especially true. Seeing that sparkly, shiny stuff everywhere I go makes me want to put it on everything I see.

I always thought it would be fun to carry around a tiny bottle of glitter and stardust and leave the smallest pinch of it in unexpected places. Not so much of course as to make it a nuisance but just a smidge where someone might look and smile and wonder where it came from. On the handle of a shopping cart, the petals of a flower in a nursery, on top of a roll of paper towels on a store shelf. And you should be able to dust it off right away so it would just disappear.

Like magic.

I'm slowly starting to put up my decorations. Garlands and lights drape my mantle and doorway and glittery icicles are ready to go in the windows as soon as I motivate myself to move some furniture out of the way. The first place I decorated was my little studio (aka the dinning room).

My chandelier is dressed for Winter with this frosted leaf garland, drops of silver icicles and gold moons and stars. I also want to add glitter paper fairies I saw at the store last week and I hope they still have them when I go back today.

I've had so much fun dressing up my chandelier this year. I can't believe I've never done it before. Well I use to hang a few ornaments from it for Christmas but never decorated it the rest of the year. Now that this room is also my studio I've been inspired to put things in it all year long.

Inspiration comes in many ways and one I always count on is magazines. Particularly all the Stampington magazines like Somerset and Where Women Create. I just picked up the latest issue of Somerset Workshop which features complete projects by several artists. This issue includes one of my favorite artists, Vanessa Valencia. I have always loved her art, especially the series of paintings with the paper dresses featured this season. After reading her tutorial and drooling over admiring other pieces of her work I was inspired to create a collage using some of the techniques she showed.

I decided not to try the paper dress process she does so beautifully (I think it's so uniquely hers) and instead I used the template from my Dress Up 2010 December paper dress. After all these months of crafting little dresses I finally painted a girl to wear them. This was a fun project I did one night on a whim and I finished it the following morning. I added glitter (Vanessa used mica flakes), painted the ribbon and surrounded her with magical butterflies. I think she could be ready to step onto a stage to sing a beautiful aria.

I'm including this project and the rest of this post in Cindy's Celebrate Your Creative Spirit at Whimsical Musings on the 8th. Her monthly challenge has been doing really well so don't forget to visit her to see all the other inspiring things everyone is doing.

I hopy you're having an amazingly creative and glitter filled Monday!

frida kahlo

About a week ago I borrowed these from the library. Although I always knew about Frida Kahlo and her significance in the art world I wasn't too familiar with her story and her body of work. I started to notice that many artists were doing Frida inspired creations so I decided to learn more about her. What was absolutely uncanny was that I didn't have time to watch the videos until yesterday which was to my surprise, Frida Kahlo's 103rd birthday!

One video is an excellent PBS documentary which includes lots of interviews with people who knew her including some of her former students. The other is a 2002 movie starring Salma Hayek as Frida. The film's cinematography is stunning. It captured the bold vivid colors of her world and had lots of references to her art. I thought Salma Hayek was beautiful as Frida and she and the film were nominated for Best Picture and Actress. What I also really love was the movie soundtrack. Haunting and lyrical Spanish guitars and also festive Mexican pieces. I think I'll see if I can find it on Ebay.

Frida died at the age of 47 and in her too short life created such a prolific body of work. Her art, which was so personal it was shocking during her time (and perhaps still is), was almost always inspired by her personal experience with pain, love and loss. It was at times disturbing and horrific yet brutally honest and hauntingly beautiful. She was such a fascinating passionate soul. Her relationship with her artist husband Diego Rivera was tumultuous yet profoundly romantic. I understand now why she continues to inspire artists, rebels and romantics. Happy Birthday Frida Kahlo.