A place for Inspiration...Where our Imaginations can take flight.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Altered Couture

I received notice today that two of my altered vintage slips will be published in the up coming issue of  Altered Couture to be available August 1st.  Can't tell you what they are, but will keep you  posted...

Thanks Beth!!!!



Just goes to show you that when you are doing what you are where you should be and doing what you are meant to be doing...Life falls into place.

A very dear cherished friend of mine needs to be reminded of that...

You know who you are.


Peace to you all!

A few of my favorite shrines!


Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Parasols, Shawls, Opera & Spring

Perhaps its the birds singing in my garden, the blossoms in the trees, the freshness of Spring.
I have recently turned my thoughts to poetry and my ears to my Opera and Classical Music collections.

Today while getting ready for my upcoming shows this weekend, I popped up my hand painted Asian Parasols which will be used as props.

Wanting to decorate them up a bit...I draped several shawls over their tops.

Can you say "Yummy"?


It hearkened to my childhood memories of the Pirates of the Carribean ride at Disneyland.
Being a So Cal Native, I have been on the ride a minimum of 100 times thus far in my lifetime.
What youngster hasn't dreamnt of jumping off the boat and digging in the piles of gold and jewels?
But at one part of the ride, when the town is burning high above your head, draping from a beam aglo with Faux embers hangs a shawl, not unlike the ones above.
I always wanted to grab that shawl.
Luckily now, I have a stockpile thanks to thrift stores.  
Each time I find one, it reminds me of Disneyland.

It is after all, The Happiest place on Earth...although
right now from my studio window, listening to Madama Butterfly sung by Pavarotti and Mirella Freni, gazing upon my Parasols and Shawls...

I am quite happy.


Friday, March 12, 2010

Once upon a Wing

I designed my garden specifically to invite birds and butterflies to it...


Flocks of finches visit all year...


A mating pair of blue jays return each year and nest in my neighbors yard.
I feed them peanuts and get to watch them teach their young to fly each year.


I have even had an unwelcome 3 ft tall white egret fishing in my pond.
I had to chase him away and cover my pond for a few days.


This beautiful butterfly was perched on my nectarine tree blossoms last season.
I was thrilled to see it and so happy with this shot!


This poor Monarch was injured and lethargic fluttering around like it was tired...
which is why I was able to hold it.
You can see the crack in it's upper wing.  Lovely little thing.

Have a beautiful weekend!!!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Glitterfest Interview

An interview about me is posted on the Glitterfest Blog...
Click the photo to go there.
Thank you Sheryl!!!!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Nature's art

I have what some might consider an odd collection.
Bird's nests.
Having six in all, three are hummingbirds nests, one is of a dove
and the other two, I do not know.
No nests were not stolen from any birds that were using them.  
They were either abandoned or literally fell out of the sky.

The bottom nest was laying in the middle of the parking lot when I dropped off my daughter at school one day.   It contains grass, hay, horse hair, string and most magically Easter basket grass.
Ever so perfectly arched over the top was a long feather.  It lay before my feet as if it were meant for just me.


These perfect aqua blue speckled eggs & nest my girlfriend Kathy found in her climbing rose bush.  She was trimming one day and came across it, abandoned .  Seems her cat had caught one of the doves that nested there.   It was old, dry and ever so fragile, but perfect in every way.



Hummingbird nests are equally fascinating and so different from other birds nests.
I had the honor of watching from the second story window of my old condo, a pair of hummingbirds build a nest, lay an egg, rear the chick and watch it fly away.
I checked on their progress every day.  
It was beautiful to witness first hand and in the end, their nest was demolished.

The typical hummingbird nest is tiny, about the size of half an English walnut shell. The outer part is covered with moss and plant fibers. Sometimes it is shingled with lichens. The rest is made of plant down and spider webs.


Nests are the perfect embodiment of creativity, of using whatever is available to build one's nest.
A reminder too that we should re-use materials to create.

What inspires you?

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

My Muses

A daughter is a pride and joy.
As I rejoiced in each of my three sons and still do I always longed for a daughter.
I was 19 when I had my oldest child and 34 when I had Emily with my second husband.
As many of you know, we lost him to cancer when Emily was three.
She is so much him and so much me.
He was a craftsman, I an artist, she is both.

This is some of Emily's art that she sells at ther Mermaid Mercantile with me every month.
She and I are collaborating and painting small custom pet portraits for people.
She took an order for a painting from my friend Linda. 

Emily is one of my 4 Muses and why I do what I do, so I am home with her before and after school.
Below are my other three Muses, my boys Brandon, Christian & Dylan.
Please ignore the idiot in the background...that is my brother David.
I wanted to smack him when I saw his goofy face in my photo.

Brothers...need I say more????


May you find your Muse each and every day!!

Be inspired!