Prepare Yourself For A Creative Year!

I just hope that this little work of heart charms and delights you. Each month is on a separate glossy postcard. A little work of art to color your world. Inspire you. Imagine how happy you can make your friends with this little gift.


You know what, because you've stuck with me through thick and thin. Through all those blogging dry spells. I wanted to entice you with a little gift. If you wish to purchase the calendar below just type in the code FLYFREE and no matter how many calendars you purchase the shipping is free. From today to the end of December.

Woodwings Calendar

Coming soon on Etsy. A 12 month calendar for 2012. 12 months of lovelies, 12 months of art.

Witchy Woman

What are these
So wither'd and so wild in their attire,
That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,
And yet are on 't?

Shakespeare, "Macbeth"

“Going so soon? I wouldn't hear of it. Why my little party's just beginning."
WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST, "Wizard of Oz"

Witches are moon-birds,

Witches are the women of the false, beautiful moon.

AMY LOWELL, "Witch-Woman"

All of my black dresses look like they should be accessorized with a broom!

Hidden Fears

                                                                                           The super Spunky Zoe

I covered my eyes at the scary stuff. Protecting myself from images on a screen. Celluloid nightmares that kept me from sleeping at night because I peeked and saw the monster. Those images would haunt me for weeks, and as irrational as it was I was sure "it" was waiting for me in the garage. I was functioning perfectly all night until it was time to go up to bed and now I run ahead to turn on the light in the next room before I go back to turn off the light in the room I just left. The basement. In my teens this was the scariest place of all. If I needed to find something in the basement when I was home alone the lights when on first. There was a wall of closets that lined the back wall. If one of the doors was open at all, even the slightest bit I wouldn't go down at all. If I felt I could get what I needed and beat the creature before it grabbed hold of the back of my shirt I would make a mad dash down the stairs holding my breath until I made it back up to the kitchen, closing and locking the door in the hall behind me, trembling but triumphant. Terrifying those days of wild imaginations.


I'm not afraid these days. Because I keep my eyes closed at the scary stuff.

On The Dark Path to Halloween

                                                     Tim Burton on Christopher Walken

"You look at him and you know there's a lot going on-- yet you have no idea what."

The unknown. It's what scares us most right? The dark basement past the creaky stairs. The sound behind the closet door when you are trying to get to sleep in a strange bed. The vacant look in your boyfriend's eyes after you told him you love him. 

You answer the phone and hear only breathing at the other end. You come home after dark and the light won't turn on. The doorbell rings, it's late and when you ask who is there you get no response. I'm creeping myself out and will not get much sleep this month because I love the chill, the thrill of the unknown. And I love the look on that face pictured above. I love the villain and the actor having a great time playing the villain.

The Beach Rocks

Well I'm cruising low and I'm cruising mean,
Well I'm cruising slow in my dream machine
                                               -Stray Cats

But the winds could not erase
the memory of your face
     Beauty Queen, Roxy Music

Launch yourself on every wave

Reverie - the gift of an hour

 je ne sais quoi   - an indescribable or indefinable 'something' that distinguishes the object in question from others that are superficially similar.

She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky 

Sweet child o' mine

"Their whole life was the sea, the sea, and their boats. So in celebrating their deaths- yes, you can say celebrating, they used both. The family's of the great Viking would put the body of their loved one on a ship cover it with straw and then as the sun was setting cast it away into the water. They would light huge bonfires on the beach, and then the Vikings would light the tips of their arrows in the bonfire and shoot them at the ship. Ah it must have been so beautiful, fire on the water. Legend has it that if the color of the setting sun, and the color of the burning ship were the same then that Viking had lead a good life, and in the afterlife he would go to Viking heaven. All night long the Viking men, women, and children watched the ship with the body burned in the water. By dawn all that was left was ashes, complete obliteration, carried by the currents to the four corners of the earth, fresh, and beautiful, and vanished completely, like a dream."                                                                                        -Rocket Gibralter

Sand and Slate

 Nature has always been an inspiring muse. I was remembering days at the beach in Union Pier MI, and collecting images that inspired that color story. Take a look at the amazing treasures that sand and slate combined create. Jewels.

"The Greek word for "return" is nostos. Algos means "suffering." 

So nostalgia is the suffering caused by an unappeased yearning to return."       

-Milan Kundera

   "The moment you give close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself." 

-Henry Miller

Looking back you realize that a very special person 

passed briefly through your life, and it was you.                 

-Robert Brault

" I don't care what I see outside. My vision is within!

Here is where the birds sing! Here is where the sky is blue!"                   

 -A Room With A View

"Never withdraw from life"   

-Diego Rivera

                              Velvet Morning

Youth is a wonderful thing.  What a crime to waste it on children.  

-George Bernard Shaw

 Nothing is more necessary than the unnecessary.                                          -Life Is Beautiful

Summer's Orange Glow

She comes in colors everywhere; She combs her hair - She's like a rainbow 
-Rolling Stones

I have the world's largest collection of seashells. I keep it on all the beaches of the world... perhaps you've seen it.     -Steven Wright

 for whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
it's always our self we find in the sea
~e.e. cummings

She
May be the song that summer sings
May be the chill that autumn brings
May be a hundred different things           -Elvis Costello

A color is as strong as the impression it creates.       -Ivan Albright

"Do I love you? My God, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches."           -The Princess Bride

Through Rose Tinted Glasses

"A profusion of pink roses being ragged in the rain 

speaks to me of all gentleness and its enduring." 

William Carlos Williams

"I adore that pink is the navy blue of India" 

Diana Vreeland

 "The pink sheep of the family" 

Alexander McQueen

"I would rather lie on a sofa than sweep beneath it." 

Shirley Conran

"The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you." 

Coco Chanel

"Wish on everything, Pink cars are good, especially the old ones. 

And stars are good. Shooting stars and first stars, 

and airplanes are good if they look like stars." 

Francesca Lea Block

Would You Expatriate

I read a quote by Gertrude Stein that said something to the effect that an artist has two countries. One which is his home and the second where he feels most himself. I think about this often, especially this time of year when I remember the traveling I did in my twenties. The memories haunt me now. My heart always expands most when I think of Florence Italy. My first trip was with my best friend when we turned 20 (when we were fearless and cute) We scoured the entire romantic city on foot. Rode on the backs of Vespa's to the  Boboli Gardens at night for the best gelato I've ever encountered. Partied in a villa just across the Arno with a view overlooking the infamous red tiled roofs of the city. We were so young and unappreciative of the opportunities our boldness and innocence afforded us. The hottie that owned the villa where we were dinner guests had money (I didn't recognize it then). His family owned a perfumerie and I remember him opening these vintage apothecary drawers to let me sample scented oils from around the world. Before we left his home he gave me the name and number to a Roman design firm who was close friends of the family. He set up an interview for me. What did I do.....chickened out. And here I am today to reminisce and write about it.

For 9 years I revisited Florence in summer and winter when I was a children's clothing designer to attend the Pitti Bimbo. Dang if I didn't feel like I was returning home each time. Do you know what was waiting for us when we just walked down the street from our hotel to get a cab? A life size pastel painting of Botticelli's masterpiece "Birth of Venus" on the street! and, the artist was in the process of another richly colored painting (yet I don't recall what is was)

So, yes, Florence just welcomes the painter, romantic and foodie in me. I've loved and daydreamed about living in so many places as I travelled with my ex and daughter. I've even looked for jobs and real estate for the fun of it. But, in reference to Ms. Stein's commentary above, Florence is the place for me.

Where would you feel most like you?

Rain

Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.                              Bob Dylan

How Quickly We Dance

I know that it has only been a day or two since I wrapped Christmas presents, tucked my daughter into bed at night, or made mashed bananas and pureed carrots for her meals. And yet, I woke up today and it's May 2011 and she has finished her last day of high school and *gulp* she's leaving me for college.


The months since I blogged last have been full. During my free time I have been pushing down the monster that wants to live in my head and remind me of how quiet my evenings will be without her. My aunt told me how unfair it is that you finally get your kids to be just the way you like them and then they leave you.


Pictured below are some of the things that have kept me busy the last few months

My dearest parents celebrated 50 years of marital bliss. Aren't they lucky. Romance lives

This was a family portrait for Audre of Illinois, whose generous heart and beautiful spirit created this extended family

Celebrating Nina's 18th birthday on Easter Sunday

Senior Prom. There was a day when she screamed at the sight of puffed sleeves. Riding pants were her "party clothes" Baseball caps were part of her daily uniform and her closet was full of punk and metal t-shirts.

This was created for Heidi from San Francisco. An energetic mom who loves and wholeheartedly supports her daughter's business venture. You should visit Chelsea's online shop, Ambry Lane, Especially if you have teen girls that want to express their style.

This for Jess's mom, a Mother's Day gift.

And in just 4 days and counting....graduation day....**waaahhh**

Delicious Spring

All things seem possible in May  ~ edwin may teale

Holiday Winner

Oh these comments were so much fun to read. The request to win the giveaway was to leave a comment about love. A quote, an unbearable experience, your heart pounding expression of joy ;) or some simple little ditty. 


And, you deliciously diverse stars of the universe wrote quotes from 19th century Romanian poetry to personal stories that made me laugh outloud. 


Well, I haven't yet learned how to use a random number generator to select a winner so I am still using the primitive method of names on slips of paper shaken about in a shoebox. And this is what I've randomly selected:


Jen, fellow gemini, adorable cosmetician, new blog friend and giveaway winner! Here was her comment on love

Jen said...

Cute contest, heres mine!

Don't fall in love with me yet

We only recently met

True I'm in love with you but

you might decide I'm a nut

Give me a week or two to

go absolutely cuckoo

then, when you see your error,

then, you can flee in terror

like everybody else does

I only tell you this cause

I'm easy to get rid of

but not if you fall in love

Know now that I'm on the make

and if you make a mistake

my heart will certainly break

I'll have to jump in a lake

and all my friends will blame you

There's no telling what they'll do

It's only fair to tell you

I'm absolutely cuckoo

-the magnetic fields

December 02, 2010 5:56 PM

Jen...email me with your home address and your choice of 2 pocket mirrors from Woodwings on Etsy, woodwings.etsy.com

Thank you all for joining in the fun and come back often for giveaways in the future. Or just to leave a note because I feel like we've crossed the threshold in our relationship :)

Holiday Workshop Giveaway

The time in the studio is a bit rushed this time of year. Yet, I like the excitement of a little bit of pressure. Although I can't say that I thrive on it. I feel a bit disorganized when there is a number of things on my plate. And of course there is the real job that keeps me away from the studio 11 hours a day.

Last night Nina and I were searching for the nostalgic Christmas music that helps sooth the spirit while working. With a mug of hot tea by my side I managed to frame a few items and am just waiting for a bright clear day (not happening today) to take photos that I can add to the Etsy shop.

I ordered a few cute little hand mirrors to add to the shop for some inexpensive stocking stuffers. So in the spirit of the season I'd love to offer a giveaway!

Leave a comment about love. A quote, an unbearable experience, your heart pounding expression of joy ;) or some simple little ditty.

I will pick a random guest to win one of the new little hand mirrors for yourself and another for someone you adore.

Starting Now!

I will announce a winner Saturday afternoon.