Happy ThankFULL Day

So here we are again, another Thankful Day to celebrate, but really, I celebrate everyday that which I am Thankful for, this is just a great excuse day to eat a wee bit more, and drink with friends and family. We are staying put this year, starting our own traditions, no running around, but rather I shall take on the role of turkey and major meal cooker, which I love, by the way. Now that we have taken over my parents' home, I sometimes go through some strange feelings about cooking and performing the rituals of the holidays in my mother's kitchen, however, she does come over and we have fun in there together, my daughter has taken to assisting as well and we have new recipes to try out tomorrow, one of which is a double layer pumpkin cheescake, oh yeah, it's all good. So the traditions do get passed down, sometimes it is bittersweet, the empty space at the table where my Dad sat still makes my heart drop, the void which will never be filled is not something this one can put into words to describe. However, life does go on, life does fill us up, children provide the abundance of what we miss at times and so we go forward...I shall revel in the warm, wonderful scents of the kitchen tomorrow, and even though it is where I will spend most of my day, I am happy to be there, with my little gal beside and my mother to help, this is life and it truly is something to be thankful for.
Hope your day is special and filled with love, happy times, family and good friends.
Best
Ta Ta for now.

happily home...

New Still Lily line of designs (above)...Life in a Bubble Part 1...stay tuned...




I am hunkering down happily at home with the wee ones, doing the things we love best, playing a variety of pretend games which transport us to new and fun pretend places where we become new and fun pretend people, with new and fun pretend names and jobs and new and fun pretend lives (that does not in any way imply that our lives now are old and boring).
Painting and art have a large presence in our days again, thankfully, and I am just soaking it all in after the last few busy weeks. This is, afterall, the start of a time for giving thanks, of which I can appreciate. There is so much to be thankful for, so many wonderful blessings which I call my life. So I am making this brief, as I have to get back out to our great outdoors to finish off games and art. But I am checked back in and feeling so thankFULL and thankFULFILLED.
May you be well and enjoying all that surrounds you.

Saddlin up...

I have not been here too much over the past week as these hands have been busy with work...work of a wonderful kind, that is, as I prepare for the show. My heart has been full at times, a bit overwhelmed other times, downright excited much of the time, a little tired sometimes, and just basically feeling happy all over with new designs, fresh ideas, inspirations which keep me surprised and keep knockin' on my door.
I have felt the pull of my roles this week, as I keep in check with all that is important...the wee ones, the husband, the creative calls, well life really. I made time each night for FZ and I to hang, and left my work in the studio, let my mind rest, and reminded my heart that it would be there in the morning and that worked. I stepped out of a race, and took my stride as it came, accepted it for that, and it was all good. I did not fret when last night I had not finished a design and decided to put it up on the shelf, and let it be till I had the time...for the next show. In the last week, I have had many interesting and awe inspiring small occurences which have left me knowing that I am in the right place, every part of my being is taking the path that feels right. I will not detail them, but trust me, one in particular was very special.
So, off I go riding into the unknown tomorrow at dawn, saddling up and facing the fear of exposing my work, not really worried about how it will all be received, but rather that I must do this, it is such a part of who I am.

Thanks for letting me share. Wish me luck and have a delightful day. I will be back very soon, also will post the clip from the news show I was featured on this a.m.;) Fun stuff, I tell you.
Be gentle, wise and have fun.

Sneetches on beaches...

Well, I am here to tell you, in case you have never read this story, you really must...we are huge Dr. Seuss fans in our house...this story was written and illustrated by the one and only himself in 1961 and you just have to love the message, the whole idea is pretty hands down amazing...I will not give the lengthy full version (which is classic and must be read, it is not that lengthy at all really), but rather the end and what is to me, just one of the most signifcant lessons in life...well, just one which Dr. Seuss teaches us so eloquently...
Have a star bellied (or a wonderfully Plain-Bellied)weekend my friends!

The end of this wonderful story sums it up:

'But McBean was quite wrong. I'm quite happy to say
That the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day,
The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches
And no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches.
That day, all the Sneetches forgot about stars
And whether they had one, or not, upon thars.'

Finding balance

Somedays are harder than others to find balance...that is just the way it is, for all of us, I know. I have had more of those kinds of days lately, so I pour the tea (tension tamer) and breathe as I move through all that needs to be done. Somedays I ask myself where is my creative taking me?...should I even go there?...what am I doing?....all these heavy negatives at times sit on my shoulders, and then I remember they are the same voices that prevented me from being where I now am, for so long. I have heard much about this book and figure maybe it is time for me to get it and read it. So, as I prepare for this show in just a couple weeks, I am reveling more in the silence of my creative realm, not the nagging doubtful little tidbits of negative that seep in and wilt my soul...instead, it is in the quiet and peaceful moments of creating that I remember and know this is where I belong and is all my own. I can then bring to the table all the fullness that I feel and let it flow, it is funny how the wee ones pick up on all that and they learn to listen to those quiet, happy voices too...I hope.

Have a great day!

light up my life

Ahhhhh....lovelies illuminated by the glow of candlelight...just a wonderfully, beautiful, wee little addition to any space...makes my heart warm and fuzzy...thought I'd spread a little joy to leave you with today.

Fond of Fall & random thoughts

I have not been as blog present as I would like lately and that will soon change for those of you who visit me here.

Today woke to crisp and cool temps, and now is sunny and warm with a nice breeze, that is my weather reporting for So. Cal. and many may laugh when I say that even with a 75+ day it is feeling very Fallish here (yes, you read that right) and I love Fall. I really actually love every season when they roll around and am ready for each one's arrival.

Luke's been working beside me in the studio, and as much as he is like a teenager in many of his actions, he is a loyal and loving sidekick and I am grateful for him.

And I am happy to report that a new batch of lovelies have arrived in my studio and now the fun has begun!

And lastly, in this very random post, is proof that our new chalkboard pocket door at the entry is being put to wonderful use...

a wee witch within

So, this is me, the wee witch emerges at times (at this time of year) to cast delightful spells and basically spread fun and joy...that is how I feel when I sport these stockings (only around the best holiday ever, Halloween) and my old reliable boots, love them to pieces all year long.

Hope you had some treasured Halloween fun. Now it is off to the studio to brew up some creations of a botanical nature.

Signing off with a cowgal witchy blow of a kissey.