Magic Gypsy

It's been a while...

2012-02-01T23:16:00.000-07:00

After being torn from my creative life by the "grim world of the day job" I slowly feel some creativity returning. I'm taking an online class called Hello Soul Hello Business which is certainly helping to refocus on what's important - my art! We were asked to envision our business as a person and the lady above is my vision. May I introduce you to Amaranthine Violet? She's sitting next to a lily pond for reflection, with flowers for delight. There's a flowering tree in the background, with roots in the ground and branches that reach high; the Divine Mother guides and protects and a butterfly is the agent transformation. All very symbolic right now, but dreams are the stuff out of which reality is made!

Happy Winter!

2011-12-24T23:07:00.000-07:00

Winter has finally arrived in Arizona. Mountain roads...

lead into the mist...

And when the clouds lift...

Mingus Mountain is wearing his winter best.

Woodchute Mountain has an outfit to match with Jerome nestled at the foot of Cleopatra Hill. The horizontal stripes above Jerome are the 300 level...

which has a dusting of snow. Off in the hazy distance...

stand the San Francisco Peaks. Closer to home...

the frost came and all the fall leaves fell at once, overnight. Brownie made himself a cozy nest; I hope you're all snuggled in your cozy nest - with a nice, warm cup of cocoa!

Texture Tuesday - Gratitude

2011-11-28T22:21:00.000-07:00

I'm grateful for so many things! But the beauty of nature is way up on the list - to see such majesty is a blessing. This is looking toward Sycamore Canyon from Clarkdale, Arizona. Fall is just starting in the cottonwood trees and mesquite.

I have been absent from my blog for a while - I have a day job that occasionally knocks the stuffing out of me. Hopefully all the stuffing will be gathered up and replaced by mid-December!

Finding Your Wings

2011-11-01T00:01:00.002-07:00

Greetings fellow flyers!

This is a group from Kelly Rae Roberts' class "Flying Lessons", if you didn't take the class - please fly along anyway! We are a flock of creative birds, spreading our wings to fulfill our creative destinies and we will create those destinies along with our artwork.

For me the important message in the class was "be yourself", something dificult to find and often hard to do. So many influences in this world tell us what we should be and how to think - the message "think for yourself" got through to me years ago, courtesy of Timothy Leary. He said it so clearly I could hear it, and I listened. But to "be" yourself requires being - taking action. But my, how rewarding when you do. So here's to all who are being and doing...

Find those wings and dare to fly!

Here is a list of participants, please visit, and thanks to Kris Lanae Binsfeld of Cherish Designs for putting this together.

Amaranthine Violet: http://magic-gypsy.blogspot.com/

Amy Hillenbrand: http://amyhillenbrand.blogspot.com

Beatriz Peñas B.: http://beatrizbepe.blogspot.com/

Beth Cougler Blom: http://sobliss.wordpress.com/

Carmen Patti: http://carmenpattistudio.com/wordpress/

Carol Bray: http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com

Christina Fajardo: http://christinafajardo.blogspot.com/

Cindy Jones Lantier: http://www.lantier.org

Connie Rawlins : http://www.dabblinginlife.blogspot.com/

Dana Brock: http://www.dzynbydana.blogspot.com

Deborah Velásquez : http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com

Elissa Brown: http://thefreckledarmy.blogspot.com

Hillary Courson: http://www.hillarycourson.com

Jacquie Williamson: http://www.jacquiewilliamson.blogspot.com/

Jane Paynting: http://inkspiredwings.wordpress.com

Janet Forrest: http://tatterednworn.wordpress.com/

Jennifer DeVille: http://jenniferdeville.com/blog/

Jill Lambert : http://www.jill-lambert.blogspot.com/

Julie Hamilton: http://spaark.wordpress.com

Kanchan Mahon: http://Kanchan-Mahon.blogspot.com/

Karen Claverie: http://giddyupletsride.blogspot.com

Kari DeSaulnier: http://karidesi.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Conard : http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/

Kathleen McKinnon: http://harmonyschoolhouse.com/expressions-blog.html

Kathy May: http://kathymaydesigns.org

Kelley Miller: http://www.kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com/

Kelly Corso: http://birdinatreecreations.blogspot.com/

Kelly Hoernig: http://www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com/

Kim Hyer: http://www.apaperaddict.com/

Kris Lanae Binsfeld: http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com

Lenore Angela: http://www.lenoreangela.blogspot.com/

Linda Barutha: http://lindabaruthadesigns.blogspot.com

Lisa Michele Products: http://www.lisamicheleproducts.blogspot.com/

Liza Zeni Baker: http://lizazeni.wordpress.com/

Lynn Richards: http://alittlebluesky.blogspot.com

Lori Leissner: http://leissnerart.blogspot.com

Lori Moon: http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com

Mary Cottingham: http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com/

Mary Sterk: http://justmarydesigns.wordpress.com

Megan Schmitt: http://www.schmittenwithwords.blogspot.com/

Melanie Douthit: www.douthitgallery.blogspot.com

Michelle Dwyer: http://www.magnetisedbylife.com/

Michelle Reynolds: http://shellsinthebush.blogspot.com/

Rachél Payne (Rae): http://collectingyourself.wordpress.com/

Rain Hannah: http://honeyandollie.com/

Rhiannon Connelly: http://www.starrybluesky.wordpress.com

Ruth-Mary Smith: http://patchworkfamilieshub.blogspot.com

Sherry Richert Belul: http://simplycelebrate.net/cherry-blossom-soup

Shirley Ann: http://leonardarenaissancewoman.blogspot.com/

Stacey Chadwick Brown: http://staceybrownarts.blogspot.com/

Susan M. Walls-Beverly: http://www.susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com

Teresa Cash-Czech: http://www.asmilemaker.com/

Tina Carlborg: http://www.tinachicky.blogspot.com/

Tonya Love: http://passport2creativity.com/

Ursula Smith: http://www.EasyScraps.com/blog

Zulma Cadena: http://edustory.wordpress.com/

Mary Cottingham http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com

Time for Tea!

2011-10-29T00:45:00.001-07:00

Welcome and Merry Meet! It's time for Halloween tea.

It's such a lovely time of year - let's take a stroll through the woods...

Down the path...

Over the stream...

Look - a fairy house! I hear giggling, watch out. The last time I came by they chased a skunk onto the path, this group is rather naughty.

Ah, here we are. And the lights are on! Do you see them twinkling?

Tasty treats! The cupcakes with purple frosting are "Wytches Brew", made it myself, and those with green frosting are "Poisonous Toadstool", the toadstools are fresh from my garden. And the tea has a special ingredient - Black Cat Magic! To help you see better on dark nights and vanish into the shadows when you don't want to be seen. Now help yourself to as much as you'd like!

Oberon and I out gathering some Black Cat Magic.

"Only the best!", says Oberon.

Tasty treats and magical tea bring sweet dreams...

For more Halloween Tea Parties please visit Witches Tea Party and have a Happy Halloween!

Boo! Halloween Party!

2011-10-22T00:20:00.000-07:00

It's time for some spooky fun so grab your broom, cat, cup of tea and read on...

Alice wanted to visit Aunt Opal before returning to college so she wrote, and Aunt Opal replied. It was arranged that she would meet Alice at a certain spot and show her the way, but Alice was late. The directions said "Turn left at Cemetery Road", and late in the afternoon she found it...

She turned left, down the dirt road and found Aunt Opal waiting for her. "Your late, my dear, they've locked the gates early this evening, you'll have to park and we'll walk down." Aunt Opal was her father's odd sister, the one who lived in a run-down house with her black and white cat. She stood in the dirt road looking as much a part of the desert as the cactus, a bit dusty and faded.

We'll have to sneak around...

We must hurry - the sun has set and shadows fill the valley.

Yes, Alice, we have to go through the cemetery. Now don't trip!

Come along!

That's only the wind...

We're almost there.

Here it is - the gate...

Hurry through, down a bit and then you'll see the house.

No the house isn't haunted, well, not usually. Come on in, we'll close the door, turn on the light and lock out the night!

Here, have a seat - oh - just move the cat.

Her name is Titania and yes, she looks at everyone like that. She's the black and white cat of Dargaz, the Butterfly Goddess, our protector. Now have a seat and I'll fix us some tea.

What? You heard clanging? The rock falls are haunted...

The headframes moan and shudder on windless nights. Pay no never-mind to chains that rattle and wheels that turn, the long-dead miners toil in caverns deep to dig the phantom ore. You've had a long day, rest and I'll be back with tea.

Wake up, Alice. You had a dream, tell me...

Ah - Dargaz the Butterfly Goddess. From darkness to light.

Dargaz, Butterfly Goddess
Through dark, into light
Lady of the wood and meadow
Protect us on this blackest night

Now off to bed to my dear, and head no nightly noises!

I hope you've enjoyed a bit of spooky magic! Alice enjoyed her stay with Aunt Opal, and butterflies followed her always.

For more fun continue the party at A Fanciful Twist , and Thank You Vanessa Valencia for being our gracious hostess!

Texture Tuesday - Red!

2011-10-10T22:44:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist a rose for red - one of my favorite colours and flowers! The texture is "crackerjack", multiply 100% with a little removed over the center of the rose.

Happy Tuesday!

Texture Tuesday "Love" and Party Announcements!

2011-09-26T22:06:00.000-07:00

This is for "love" because I love to photograph clouds! Back in the day of old-school film photography I would fill roll after roll of black and white film with pictures of clouds. The texture is "if only", soft light 76%.

Now for two party announcements:

There is a Halloween party on October 22 at "A Faniciful Twist", click here for details.

And on October 29 and 30 there will be a Witches Tea Party, click here for details.

My broom will need a tune up after all these parties...

Happy Tuesday!

Merry Meet and Practical Magic!

2011-09-24T03:01:00.000-07:00

Time for a party! Step inside and join the Practical Magic blog fun.

It's fall...

Time for apples and golden leaves...

How about a brownie? Mexican Hot Chocolate brownies to be precise - would you like the recipe?

Heat oven to 350, grease 8" pan
Combine:
1 stick of butter, softened
1 cup sugar
Add:
1 t vanilla
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1/4 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/4 t cinnamon
Bake for 25 minutes or until brownies pull away from pan

.
Frosting:
1 cake of Mexican hot chocolate - see the picture above, Ibarra is my favorite brand.
1 cup powdered sugar
1 T cocoa
3 T butter, softened
1/2 t vanilla
1 t - 2 T milk

Cut the chocolate cake in pieces and put in a metal mixing bowl and place mixing bowl on top of a saucepan of boiling water - like a double boiler - stir until it's soft, it doesn't melt smooth, remove from hot water. Add powdered sugar and cocoa to melted chocolate, mix with an electric mixer on low to blend, add butter and mix well. Add vanilla and enough milk for spreading consistency. The frosting will be a bit gritty from the hot chocolate cake, spread on cooled brownies, cut into squares and enjoy. These are crumbly, plate and fork brownies.

What lovely outfits - I'm sure the Owens sisters know their neddlework. They must have magical sewing boxes!

Of course they do - a magic fan, crescent moon and even a purple dragon!

Crocheted herb and popouri bags...

Stiched charms with lucky spells!

Pins and needles and secret boxes...

Let's see what the cards say - visiting friends bring gifts of fun and frivolity - sounds good to me! Walk in peace and Blessed be!

Texture Tuesday!

2011-09-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

Whooo,whooo! My little owl tea-light holder says it's fall. The texture is "warm sun", multiply 100%, erased over the owl.

Happy Tuesday!

Dare to Dream

2011-09-17T15:57:00.001-07:00

Dare to dream, dare to fly...

Kelly Rae Roberts offers an e-course called "Flying Lessons: tips and tricks to help your creative business soar" (link in the side-bar) and if you're interested in starting a creative business or just being more creative - I highly recommend it. It's more of an experience than a group of lessons and it'll take a while for it all to soak in, but I'm glad I took it. The "flyers" were mostly women and it never ceases to amaze me how much crap society dumps on us, all of us. Leaning to be clear about who you are is so imporant and so difficult and it's something I've been working on for a long time.

I made the necklace above for a friend - she's bold to defend others and stand up for what's fair, but she doesn't defend herself. I wanted her to feel the encouragement and acknowledgment of her own self-worth, dare to fly!

You, who are reading this, are valuable! Find your wings, jump out of the nest and soar!

Texture Tuesday - Orange

2011-08-29T21:35:00.000-07:00

My favorite rose - Joseph's Coat. The first layer was de-saturated a bit, the second layer is the texture "golden" at multiply 57%.

Happy Tuesday!

Texture Tuesday Goes to the Movies

2011-08-15T22:18:00.002-07:00

Favorite movies…

Hurry up “The Silver Chair”! The first layer is “mayzee” multiply 77%, erased over center of image, the second layer is “stained linen” darken 76%, the third layer is from “Cottage Arts Scrap Edge 8”, the colour was changed to brown, 41%.

Happy Tuesday!

Practical Magic Blog Party!

2011-08-13T01:52:00.001-07:00

Ok ladies, start your cauldrons! Practice those spells, tune up the broom! Time for the second annual Practical Magic party.

Bibbity, bobbity, boogity!

Texture Tuesday - little things

2011-08-09T16:45:00.000-07:00

This is a tiny little Quan Yin. The first texture is "Silence" and the second is "Water Stained Frame"

Whitewater

2011-08-06T18:06:00.001-07:00

This post has one picture and many words…

I remember when the desert looked like that – sand, scrubby plants and trails to the hills instead of condos and traffic. Whitewater is between Banning and Palm Springs; long ago it was marked on the highway by a gas station, post office and sign for the trout farm. A narrow two-lane road wound back into a vale bordered by two rows of hills, it went through desert, past a few houses and on to the trout farm at the head of the valley. The trout pools were fed by the Whitewater River, cold and loud, shaded by giant cottonwood trees. There were cabins to rent where you could cook your catch and picnic tables to enjoy the feast. Down the road and river were the houses, the one at road level belonged to Catherine, her family pioneered the area, her house was made of adobe with deep set windows. The other houses were below the paved road, on a dirt lane, with only the old stone water tanks to mark their presence to passers above.

My introduction to Whitewater was the Ranch House; my mother rented it for a studio and later moved in full time. When it rained there were more buckets and pans than floor, but it had a gas range from the ‘20s, screened porch and wooden screen door that closed with a bang. My parents eventually bought a less leaky house down the road, with knotty pine paneling and a huge stone fireplace.

The wind always was always blowing in Whitewater, always; enough to drive you crazy, if you let it. But it didn’t drive me crazy, I learned to love it – to let blow right through me. The river was a short hike from the houses, down a sandy trail shaded by cottonwoods and lined with horsetails and the occasional deadly nightshade. The river was swift, cold and fairly shallow: all the splashing and foaming inspired its name. I loved to wade through the river until I felt the cold burst of an artesian well and then I’d put my face in the water and drink nature’s ice water. There was wild watercress in the shallows for sandwiches and frogs to chase, we knew our neighbors and had community potlucks – satsang in the bamboo grove. Most of Whitewater’s residents were artists, hippies or old desert rats and many were vegetarians – back then you had to explain what that meant.

An earlier group of denizens had tried to start a resort, but it failed and the vestige was a slowly fading into the cottonwoods; a large room with holes in the roof, dust motes dancing lazily in the narrow sunbeams and a massive fireplace at the end made of petrified wood. Catherine’s horses lived in a coral next to the old building and Candy was as sweet as her name, she was an albino, white, with a cute pink nose and pretty blue eyes. Ralph had his coral at the other end of the lane, with a burrow to keep his horse company.

This valley has a secret and its true nature would only make an appearance now and then – it’s the San Andreas Fault, the road to the trout farm would its way on the fault line. Some nights, when the moon was full, a mist would rise from the ground and wreath the moon in rainbow rings, but it wasn’t water mist, it was a magnetic disturbance in the air from the fault. The horses would break out of their corals and run up and down the road, Candy glimmering like a fairy-mare in the moonlight. On these nights it was hard to sleep, all nature was awake and out dancing! It was magical and mysterious but the fault that provided that magic also destroyed; years after we moved, a major earthquake wrecked the houses. Perhaps people have rebuilt.

I’m glad to have the memory of such a wonderful place and if, some night you see a white mare glimmering in the mist and the moon robed in rainbows, think of Whitewater.

Texture Tuesday for July 25th

2011-07-25T22:45:00.001-07:00

This week’s theme is “dream” and I’ve been dreaming of something cool, green & shady. This picture of Oak Creek was textured with “dream”, multiply 63%; then “canvasbackmagic”, difference 88%; then a touch of Rhonna Farrer’s “swirled corners”.

Splash, splash, happy Tuesday!

Where Bloggers Create III Studio Tour

2011-07-15T13:54:00.001-07:00

Thank you, Karen of My Desert Cottage for hosting this fun party!

Hi, I’m Brownie and my mom wants me to welcome you to her doghouse – uh, studio. So step right up because…

Thru the door…

The work bench is on the left, kiln and storage on the right. I’ve covered the shelves of plastic boxes with fabric.

The back window.

The beading and jewelry workbench at the back…

A ruby slipper souvenir from my last trip to Oz and vintage beads in glass tubes.

The front workbench – the elephant is a light…

Original artwork by Patrick Lincoln called “The Ghosts of Hamburgers Past”…

Rocks to remind me of my values…

My sewing machine – I’ve been cleaning the studio and putting away messy stuff like paint so I can bring out my old friend here and start working with fabric…

The fabric (some of it) lives in this old suitcase and I use the cosmetic case for thread.

Some of the storage…

Contains goodies…

Fun stuff…

And Victorian style ornaments made by my mother.

On top of the main shelves are the studio witches because every crafter needs some magic!

And my box with mission statements – very important.

Some of what I make…

Necklaces and earrings…

Thank you for stopping by!

Where Bloggers Create…

2011-07-14T20:16:00.001-07:00

No, this isn’t a picture of my studio! I’m afraid I’m running late and the studio posting should be up tomorrow, Friday, by noon Arizona time. I’ll see you then!

Texture Tuesday for July 12

2011-07-11T22:20:00.001-07:00

Pink is a tough challenge. I have lots of orange and red, even though I love pink I have very little. So, when in need of pink – who better to answer the call than Barbie? Diwali Barbie lives in my studio and is happy to pose for a photo. The first layer was de-saturated, the second layer is “canvasbackmagic” soft light 95%, removed from the face, the third layer is “canvasback” multiply 23%, removed from the face, the fourth layer is “aurora” multiply 96%, including the face.

Namaste and Happy Tuesday!

Red Yucca

2011-07-06T21:33:00.001-07:00

This picture was for Texture Tuesday, which I missed. The theme was “three” so there are three dried seed pods of the red yucca – one of my favorite plants and these are the green pods…

and the plant…

A bit scraggly but charming! When we water, the birds stop by for a bath and a drink and they love the seeds from the open pods so I don’t trim it. Any plant that’s so happy in Arizona’s freezing winters and record heat deserves appreciation.

I’m Late! I’m Late…

2011-06-29T19:44:00.001-07:00

…to announce a very important date!

It’s time for the third annual Where Bloggers Create Party hosted by Karen of My Desert Cottage. It’s days worth of visiting studios from all over and seeing the wonderful things crafty bloggers are making.

So get out the feather duster

and polish that studio! See you there!

Texture Tuesday for the first day of summer

2011-06-20T22:06:00.001-07:00

This weeks challenge is to texturize people – these two do a pretty good job texturizing themselves with dirt! Brownie is always helpful so he joined in with the weeding. I removed a bit of the texture from man and dog, the heavier texture on the background blends the different elements and high-lights the central figures. The first layer of texture is “Granny’s cupboard” multiply 67%, the second is “chamomile” multiply 47%.

Happy Tuesday!

Texture Tuesday for June 14

2011-06-13T22:38:00.001-07:00

The Audrey headframe at the Little Daisy mine in Jerome. This is the largest wooden headframe still standing in Arizona.

The first layer is straight from the camera, the second layer is a copy of the background changed to black and white and set at colour dodge 67%, then the texture “stained linen” at multiply 61%.

The headframe has been opened to the public – the shaft is covered with glass and you can stand on it and look down, if you dare! This picture was taken through a grate next to the glass. The shaft was used to bring ore out of the mine, it’s 1900 feet deep and the water level is at 1500 feet.

Comments...

2011-06-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

For some reason I don't seem to be able to comment on some blogs so I want to thank you for all your lovely comments on mine while I try to work this problem out...

Texture Tuesday for May 30

2011-05-30T22:24:00.002-07:00

Ok, it’s not quite a garden but I live on an Arizona rock farm and this is much nicer than my yard. What could be more welcome than water in the desert? A tiny rivulet dances in the dappled light; a cottonwood’s leaves twinkle and shimmer in the desert sun, roots quenching a deep earth thirst.

I used the same texture twice, “Yesteryear”, the first layer is multiply 42%, the second is soft light 72%. Check out the textures at kimklassencafe.com !

Happy Tuesday!

Texture Tuesday for May 17th

2011-05-16T22:14:00.001-07:00

The theme for this Tuesday is vintage – the picture was taken in Jerome, Arizona, a former ghost town that still has a few ghosts. If the door opened it would go under the highway now, but a grand building once stood here. I used the textures “Believe” multiply 80% and “Pour vous” multiply 60% over the central portion of the image – so there’s a little bit of handwriting on this old wall.

Happy Tuesday!

Texture Tuesday

2011-05-02T22:02:00.001-07:00

Yes, there’s a mouse in my teacup. When I was setting up for the photo Miss Mousey had to jump in the teacup and with her vintage handbag. There are two textures – “Life is Good” multiply 49% and “Warm Sun” multiply 72%.

Here’s the Parisian version of the photo, Miss Mousey likes things a la francais. The flourish is Rhonna Farrer’s Swirled Corners from Two Peas in a Bucket

Finally, the mid-century modern version with vintage plastic, the texture is “Love” multiply 60%.

Happy Tuesday!

Texture Tuesdays

2011-04-18T22:23:00.001-07:00

This is my first post for Kim Klassen’s “Texture Tuesdays” more info is available on her blog Kim Klassen Café She creates and shares Photoshop textures and tutorials – like turning a watermark into a brush. I’ve never turned anything into a brush before, what fun! The texture used above is “Silence”, the effect on this photo is subtle – it added depth and I really like it.

Welcome Spring!

2011-04-02T23:11:00.001-07:00

I haven’t been here in a while but this time I didn't disappear into my studio, I vanished into my day job – bookkeeping – preparing for an annual audit and going through the field work. Schedules for this and that, ledger reports and more reports. My focus turns from the creative to putting numbers in little boxes and when all is said and done and it all balances, I breath a sigh of relief and my attention can again turn to creating. On March 27 this blog turned two and I’m still visiting blogs from OWOH. So let’s celebrate the blog birthday in hobbit style – eat two breakfasts and here’s a gift of old postcards for you, if you’d like.

Now off to the studio…

I’m the Lucky Winner of…

2011-03-19T23:49:00.003-07:00

These magnets from Susan of Pieces Of Fate for her OWOH giveaway. These are beautifully made, quality magnets…

signed on the back, and a close up view…

… of seashells. I may live in desert but I was born by the sea. I learned to swim in the ocean so young I don’t remember learning – just swimming and loving the water. My family would often go to a restaurant called “Anthony’s Fish Grotto” that had a fishy gift shop and I would come home with an abalone shell filled with seashells, wrapped in cellophane with a piece of day-glo coral on top or a spiny, purple dried sea urchin that smelled like the ocean. I love these reminders of the ocean, thank you Susan!

And the winner is…

2011-02-17T22:32:00.001-07:00

Ok – the first winner is me! THANK YOU all for the lovely, kind comments! What fun!

I have consulted the magic random number generator at Random.org and the winner is: # 33.

Congratulations to Shama-Lama Mama!

Because I’m such a pokey blogger I’ll still be visiting OWOH blogs for some time. And again thank you all so much for making this such a positive experience.

Applause for Lisa of a A Whimsical Bohemian!

Welcome to One World One Heart!

2011-02-01T00:53:00.001-07:00

It’s time to visit blogs from the far corners of the globe! If you would like to join the fun, click HERE.

To introduce myself I’ll start with a fairy tale because everybody needs a story.

And yes, I am an artist though I also have a day job, and yes, I do live under trees. I love to make vintage style jewelry and stitch needlework – I have a thing for pincushions. I also do shabby scrapping and collage.

The trees and the tiny house are in the Verde Valley of northern Arizona -

Let’s step out the gate and visit -

The Verde Valley

The historic mining town of Jerome on the slope of Cleopatra Hill

The open pit above Jerome where they had to take off the side of the mountain because of the mine fires that burned for years

The surrounding countryside

The ever-changing sky

Across the valley, up to Sedona and Coffee Pot rock

Land of the red rocks

Over Midgley bridge

Up the narrow, winding road through Oak Creek canyon

Down the path to…

Oak Creek, then up the canyon to…

Flagstaff and the San Francisco peaks.

Thank you for visiting my part of the world and before you leave, please enter the drawing for a door prize -

A special, handmade something – Magic Gypsy’s Altar-in-a-Box. A tiny devotional to take with you to help keep those thoughts positive.

The inside, with the golden lotus and the pearl of wisdom

With devotional figure in place

The devotional figure – Quan Yin, goddess of compassion and mercy

Top of the lid

Inside the lid

The bottom of the box

Barbie’s helping to give an idea of the size.

If you would like to enter the drawing, please leave a comment and a way to reach you. I will draw the winner on February 17th, at 9:00pm Arizona time, and will announce it in a new post. Then I will email you or leave a comment on your blog.

Titania and…

Brownie say good-bye for now.

Enjoy the adventure!

A Sparkle Fairy Named Mavis

2011-01-21T18:54:00.001-07:00

I disappear from my blog for a while – so what do I do while I’m gone? Well, I make stuff! Or I finish stuff. Like the fairy in a jar that was started long ago…

Her name is Mavis and she’s a Sparkle Fairy – the type of fairy that puts the twinkle in glitter, the flash in rhinestones and the glimmer in sunlight on water. She moved in to the jar right away, no doubt because of all that glitter, and waited patiently for me to finish the lid. She didn’t stamp her wee foot, not even once, but she did mention the other fairies were beginning to talk. So I finished the lid, the center is paper – to keep the room dust out, the fairy dust in – and doesn’t stop the comings and goings of a fairy. The ring has glitter ribbon and vintage rhinestone trim, a ribbon rose and velvet leaves adorn the top.

She keeps me company in the studio…

Some other studio happenings…

This necklace and the amethyst necklace above were published in Somerset's magazine “Jewelry Affaire”

Thrill! Thrill! Thrill! Beautiful photos and a lovely article!

And off I go to make more stuff!

One World One Heart…

2010-12-29T20:49:00.001-07:00

It’s time for the One World One Heart 2011 event!

This is a really, really big international blog event and it will be the last year. It’s hosted by A Whimsical Bohemian and I had a wonderful time at the past event and will be ready to go this year. Each participant offers a giveaway and last year mine went to a blogger from the Netherlands. Click on the link above or the sidebar button to find out more!

Brownie and I say Happy New Year!

Woof, woof!

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-22T19:58:00.001-07:00

Here’s some Christmas cheer from my house to you…

Enjoy the tree…

Have a seat at the table…

With a vintage plastic crèche…

A napkin holder dressed for the season…

And goodie bags to hand out…

Blessings of the season!

Starfish and Buttonhole Stitches

2010-12-06T22:59:00.001-07:00

Crafting My Best Life, continued…

One of the projects was a starfish of felt with arms to hold messages of love from those we hold dear – I had forgotten how cheerful red felt is! Specially with yellow buttonhole stitch. Now I want to make an ocean full of cheerful starfish!

Tags to remind me of goals, a book for journaling

But the main goal: mission statements. Business on the right, personal on the left. This is a box lid, for the class we decorated a shoe sized box to hold the projects. I didn’t have a shoe box handy so I used the box from a Diwali Barbie who now dances in my studio (and looks exactly like Aishwarya Rai).

Keep howling!

Painted Rocks

2010-11-21T21:09:00.001-07:00

The next “Crafting My Best Life” project was to find out what we value, distill those values into single words and put those words on painted rocks. Painting rocks is fun!

Finding the values meant answering questions like : when have you felt needed by others…, if I could muster up the courage I would …, when were you inspired…, and then condense the answers into a single word. Rocks were used because values are solid, what a great way to express that! I put the value of creativity on the big rock, because that’s so important to me now. Compassion is on the smallest rock so I can put it in my pocket and take it with me always. Hozho is a Navajo word that’s translated as “beauty” but it’s like the beauty of being in balance with the universe. Sangha means community, it’s a value learned from Buddhism. The muslin bag came with the class kit – to hold our rocks, on it I wrote I will remember.

Next: Starfish

Raised By Wolves

2010-11-13T21:22:00.002-07:00

I’ve been taking an online class: “Crafting My Best Life”, created and taught by Jenny Doh, the former editor of Somerset Studios wonderful publications. What an experience! The class is from CRESCENDOh Creative Lab where there are more great learning adventures!

First we had to find out “who am I”

We responded to a set of questions and created a self portrait using the answers.This is my self portrait, the central figure is from a painting done by my mother. Where are you from? San Diego and Palm Springs. What were you good at when you were 10 or 11? I loved science and bird-watching – so I used a microscope and a yellow bird. Who were your heroes? Henry David Thoreau and Keith Richards. Who raised you? My first response was “wolves”, well, I like that! So it’s official, I was raised by wolves and you can see one in the lower left corner!

Next: painted rocks!

Think Pink!

2010-10-27T18:54:00.003-07:00

There’s still a bit of time to enter!

A lovely giveaway at Lilly's Lace, a new blog.

She made the beautiful belt buckle above and has posts of vintage wedding photos with her humorous stories – very entertaining! Stop by and enjoy!

Lions and Tigers and Bears!

2010-10-13T23:35:00.001-07:00

Oh my! It was storming here recently and I’m glad we didn’t end up in Oz – though I am in Az. A tornado warning was in effect, the night before was sleepless – constant thunder roaring like a stormy sea, one hail storm after another, lightning shivering through the sky and a poor dog shivering all night. But what a chance for pictures!

St. Cecilia’s Catholic church in Clarkdale

Old Town Cottonwood – the wind was really blowing

On the way out of Old Town

Raindrops on the windshield

The ghost town of Jerome looking spooky in the mist

Merry Meet and Practical Magic

2010-09-25T01:21:00.003-07:00

Welcome! Come in and sit a spell.

It’s time for the Practical Magic Blog Party. I’ve chosen a theme from the movie, which is a visual delight. I would love to have a couple of eccentric aunts who eat brownies for breakfast and can work magic from a book of shadows!

Now I do know two sisters who love to cook up magic in their cauldron in the woods.

But spell books can be dangerous so I’ll share a simple craft and for inspiration -

Frances Owens and her fabulous outfits!

Black and Orange

A necklace and earrings set that’s easy to make. You can use different colours – anything you like.

You will need:

pre-made black chain necklace (from Michaels)
3 8 mm fire polish glass beads - orange
4 6 mm fire polish glass beads – orange
2 4 mm fire polish glass beads – orange
jump rings – gunmetal or black
head pins – gunmetal or black
3 8 mm bead caps, gold, painted black
3 6 mm bead caps, gold, painted black
filigrees for the earrings, gold, painted black
lever back ear wires - gunmetal

Findings

Fire polish beads

Flat black spray paint, wire cutters, flat nose pliers – I use two, only one is pictured and round nose pliers. Lotus is optional.

Tape a piece of masking tape to a scrap of cardboard and stick the gold filigrees and bead caps down, spray with black paint, allow to dry thoroughly, remove from tape. Put a fresh piece of tape on the cardboard and put the filigrees and bead caps painted side down, spray with black paint and allow to dry thoroughly, remove from tape.

From the chain necklace: remove two of the black crystals to shorten one of the rosary chains, set aside for the earrings. Remove all but three of the small chains. You will have two rosary chains and three small chains on the necklace. Set aside.

Prepare the beads

On a head pin put a large (8 mm) bead cap and 8 mm bead, form a loop at the top.

Bend the head pin over, cut the wire and roll the end on the round pliers.

A loop -

Do this for all the beads using 8 mm bead caps for the 8 mm beads, 6 mm bead caps for the 6 mm beads and no bead caps for the 4 mm beads.

Now back to the chain necklace

Fold one of the small chains in half and mark the center link with a pin.

Attach the loop of an 8 mm bead in the link

I found it easier to remove the chains from the necklace – attach the two remaining 8 mm beads to the same chain, halfway between the first bead and the end, one on each side of the center.

Attach the 6 mm beads to a different small chain, spaced between the large beads. The spacing is by eyeball – it doesn’t need to be perfect. Attach the chain unit to the necklace.

Attach a 4 mm bead to the jump ring that connects the small chains to the large ring.

For the earrings:

Attach two links of the small chain – removed from the necklace – to a 4 mm bead, use a jump ring to attach to the filigree. Use jump rings to attach three beads to the bottom of the filigree. Use one rosary link - removed from the chain necklace – to attach the ear wire. Repeat for other earring. Note: if your filigree is different you may need more or fewer beads. Substitute different colours or metals, round beads instead of fire polish. If it fits, it works.

There are lots of instructions out there on basic jewelry techniques like forming loops, many bead magazines have a basic instruction section or check out websites for tutorials from magazines like “Bead and Button” and “Beadwork”. If you have questions, please email or make sure I can contact you if your question is in a comment. Whatever you do – have fun!

Meow!

Farewell To Summer

2010-09-05T13:24:00.001-07:00

The black-eyed Suzan’s smiling face is brightening the roadsides – and signaling the end of summer. In Arizona, of course, the usual feeling is “isn’t summer over yet?”

The hills are drying out from the rains and turning brown.

Yellow flowers and dusty highways …

Country roads.

The last blooms of Jimson weed …

The bugs have enjoyed the leaves.

My agave has over-grown his pot, which is about two feet in diameter and he will now have a permanent home in the yard – I had this by the front door, ouch!

One of the maple trees agrees that summer is over – here’s the official sign that autumn is on the way – the first fall leaf!

Until next year – goodbye summer!

Practical Magic Blog Party!

2010-08-27T20:37:00.001-07:00

Fall is on the way and I’m ready for a little spooky fun! This party is inspired by the movie “Practical Magic” – one of my favorites.

Cook up some potions!

Grab your broom, cat and pointy hat and check it out!

Meow!

More Studio Happenings

2010-07-21T22:35:00.001-07:00

A beautiful sunset, the July rains are here. I’m still working on organizing my studio after redecorating which is why I had to get this stuff out of the yard…

Ugh, what a mess!

But a homely little shelf helps and I’ll cover the front with fabric to hide the plastic boxes – the recent WBC studio tour has inspired me to hide as many of my storage boxes as possible. So many beautiful vintage style studios had no visible plastic.

How nice to be back at work!

The Sea Nymph pendant from the original studio posting is now a necklace…

in shades of sea green, gray, bronze and antique copper…

on the back of the pendant is a cute frog.

More pendants.

This is a necklace of paper, fiber and vintage beads I made a while back – it’s studio decor when I’m not wearing it.

Now, off to make stuff!

Happy Birthday…

2010-07-04T01:56:00.001-07:00

To the USA, and…

Brownie, who is three years old. I don’t know his actual birthday – he was adopted from the local humane society. It all started one October when there was so much trash in our yard it was time for a trip to the dump. The humane society is next to the dump and my husband made the suggestion to visit the animals and of course I want to take every one home. My dear Blackie had died some months earlier and for the first time in thirty-five years I didn’t have a dog (or three) so there was certainly room in our home for four more paws. Well at the humane society there was a littler of puppies – they had been dumped by the river with nothing to eat but grass and twigs – and one special puppy came home with me, Brownie. With his first visit to the vet his age was estimated at three to four months which meant he might have been born in July. And now to Blackie’s story – he was a stray wandering around my old neighborhood, too shy and frightened to trust anyone. A neighbor left cat food out for him and I would talk to him, but he kept his distance. My dog Kodi would stand by the fence and put his paw through – reaching out to the shy dog. I kept talking to him, Kodi was working his doggy-magic and slowly he came closer, standing in the street and watching. I was worried about what might happen to him; one day I was gardening in the front yard when a creep visiting across the street started to drive toward the black stray – until he saw me glaring at him and brandishing a shovel. The next day the dog moved closer to fence, that afternoon I open the gate and he came in. He was greeted by my dogs - with joy by Kodi, Rollie was grouchy, as usual, and Posie was a bit snooty. Molly the cat watched from the roof. The black dog greeted his new buddies, ate his fill of food and seemed to relax, he just sighed and the tension went out. Then there was the matter of a name… He was BLACK! The only things that weren’t black were his white teeth and sweet brown eyes – so he was named Blackie. The day he walked through the gate was July 4th, which became his birthday, now that birthday has been handed down to another dear dog who was in such need of a home.

Welcome to my studio

2010-06-19T02:29:00.001-07:00

Follow Brownie down the path…

Through the woods…

And over the stream…

To a little shed in a sunny clearing

A bit of inspiration in a corner – a thangka from Nepal with an image of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, and his flaming sword of truth to remind me to keep it real and Cyndi Lauper to remind me to keep it fun!

A picture titled “Acetylene” is an inspiration to Oberon…

Evermore the raven has a perch near the eaves

A favorite green shelf and a red organizer help keep things tidy

A flowery chandelier adds colour

More shelves and lots of stuff

One end of the work bench with boxes of beads underneath

A board to organize projects

A necklace in progress

Detail of the pendant

The other end of the work bench with a bead loom

Mariba hangs out on the kiln

Titania likes to take a nap in the dirt while I work…

And Brownie says arf, arf! (Come back soon)

Thank you for stopping by!

It’s been a while…

2010-05-23T01:35:00.001-07:00

My studio is still “under construction” – a disaster with the paint on the workbench led to stripping and repainting - all this time projects are waiting patiently in boxes. There are, however, plenty of new ideas and lots of inspiration; bib necklaces are popular, the new magazine “Jewelry Affaire” has lots of beautiful examples. The crescent shape is flattering and easy to wear – it’s also a great surface for decoration.

These are small necklaces made of hand painted silk, a few beads for sparkle and twisted cords.

My mother painted the silk and I made the necklaces, some have coordinating blouses.

It’s fun to wear two or thee at the same time.

This is a necklace on the matching top

and by itself

This is a larger necklace of raw silk, it has a bark-like look because of the rough textured silk.

A detail of the embroidery -

These are fun to wear – even with tee shirts – and I’m going to make more!

Where Bloggers Create II

2010-05-04T15:50:00.001-07:00

Get ready for fun! Karen of My Desert Cottage is hosting a studio tour party for bloggers – share your room, closet, corner of the garage, garden shed or dining table. Show off your creations and visit other studios – meet crafters from every corner of Blogland! The party is on Saturday, June 19, 2010, see you there!

Studio continued…

2010-04-30T01:18:00.001-07:00

The redecorating is going – slowly, it’s weekend work. I can hardly wait to see it finished!

The workbench had a lot to do with starting this project – it was originally in a computer repair shop and then it spent some time in the yard; I was so happy to have place to work I didn’t bother to finish the rough surface but it’s hard to clean. So it’s sand and spackle, sand and spackle.

When the spackle is dry and the sanding is finished the bench gets a couple of coats of “Gripper” which is my favorite under coat. I used it on an old, stained maple bookcase under an off-white top coat – the stains and rust have never come thru and the bookcase lives under an evaporative cooler – nothing survives the cooler – and it looks just as good as the day it was painted.

Outside my parsley “forest” has decided to bolt, every single parsley stalk is blooming and all of these plants came from one delicious flat leaf plant.

Okay, time to get back to work – off to the salt mine!

First Anniversary

2010-03-29T01:54:00.001-07:00

This blog is a year old! My how time flies. I like to tell stories with a lot of pictures and few words but today I feel the need for going on a bit.

I started out on this journey by signing up for an Etsy shop – my crafting needs to be more self-supporting though I still haven’t opened. Some said that a good way to promote the shop was to blog. Blog? You mean put yourself out on the web? Are you nuts? I imagined blogs as the territory of self absorbed, love-lorn teenagers swooning over Robert Pattinson or literary blogs with solitary writers reaching out for peer review and grammatically correct companionship from fellow wordsmiths, but I’d never heard of crafting blogs. And then I spotted this -

I was perusing the magazines at Barnes & Noble when the colours on the cover of this issue of “Artful Blogging” caught my eye, I opened it and was blown away – so much colour, so much creativity, so much positive attitude; I started visiting the blogs in the magazine, much too timid to venture a comment. I noticed a recurring observation – many bloggers would say how blogging had helped to grow artistically, how the photography was improving. This is exactly what I needed – the motivation to improve – so I jumped in. I had (and often still have) no idea what I’m doing or where I’m headed but I’m in this for the journey. And because there’s bound to be a lot of wandering here and there and an eclectic mix of stuff I though I should travel as a gypsy – much of my life has been an un-rooted wandering, always eager to see what was over the next hill. I’ve discovered there are a lot of gypsies in Blogland!

I also like the circus, with its mystery, colour, fantastic costumes and general creepiness. So this gypsy dabbles in magic – of the entertaining kind. I’ve also discovered something deeper, the community: when one person makes a positive comment on a blog I’m reading, even though I don’t know these women (mostly women) and the comment wasn’t directed to me, I feel uplifted by it. The goodness spreads like the rings in a pond after a pebble is tossed in and it influences so many.

There is a Buddhist prayer:

“I go for refuge to the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha until the attainment of the enlightenment. From the virtuous merit that I collect by practicing giving and other perfections, may I attain enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings.”

The Buddha is the teacher, the Dharma is the law and the Sangha is the community of believers. In blogging I have been able to take refuge in this very generous community of believers so I would like to thank you: for creating your beauty and sharing, for uplifting and positive actions, for your companionship.

And to celebrate this blog’s birthday in true Hobbit style I would like to give you something – if you like vintage images please feel free to snag a few, below are some old postcards from my collection.

Happy Easter!

Because we all need love!

Inspiration

2010-03-25T00:51:00.001-07:00

My studio looks likes this -

It’ll be nice when it’s done but that will be a while, life has a way of rearranging my plans. Since I can’t actually work on projects I can think about all the things to do when the decorating is finished. This led me to wonder about the things that spark creativity, here are a few things I find inspiring.

The Red Book

I collect pictures from magazines and put them in sheet protectors in binders – this isn’t the original red binder, that fell apart years ago, but some of the items in this book are almost thirty years old. This beautiful picture of cherries inspired:

“Cherries” beaded medicine bag

A picture of a magician’s assistant costume from the 1920’s

with scarabs in gold and black inspired:

“Magic” beaded medicine bag

Black cats and gold scarabs on the strap, a flap of gold and black and lots of fringe!

This beautiful book on a favorite subject -

is filled with pictures of fantastic costumes

like this, which inspired:

“Bee Happy” beaded medicine bag

A close up shows the texture of the cylinder beads used in this project – the bead weaving feels like the skin of a glass lizard.

What inspires you? Pictures filled with colour? The beauty of a sunset? Music? Interesting old junque? There’s so much inspiration and beauty all around and it’s such a joy to take it in!

Spring!

2010-03-11T00:30:00.001-07:00

The apricot trees are blooming…

Spring must be here in western Washington, er, Arizona! It’s been raining every weekend for over a month ( it seems) and it’s my fault. I used to live in Washington so the webs are growing between my toes and slug-a-palooza is happening under the porch. And yes, it’s my fault; I decided to paint my studio, I only need three week-end days without rain; all the stuff is in boxes and it can sit outside while I redecorate – but not when outside is so soggy!

Painting can wait – I’ll squish around the yard and enjoy the beautiful flowers and clean, fresh air. Happy spring!

Robin’s Egg Blues Giveaway

2010-02-26T23:26:00.001-07:00

Robin’s Egg Blues is celebrating over 400 followers by giving away beautiful vintage and handcrafted things, check out her post here to see more pictures. Included is this wonderful Longfellow book - “Evangeline” – “This is the forest primeval. The

murmuring pines and the hemlocks, Bearded with moss and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight…”

My Desert Cottage Giveaway

2010-02-20T11:55:00.001-07:00

Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage is having a giveaway to celebrate more than 500 followers – check it out. Her blog is so beautiful and inspirational! She has pictures of her lovely home, delightful creations, her garden and pets – I enjoy seeing everyone’s cute pets – and tutorials! She will announce the winner March 1st.

Drum roll please!

2010-02-15T10:07:00.001-07:00

It’s time to announce the winner of the One World One Heart giveaway! Though I must say I feel like the winner, so many nice visitors and so many lovely comments, thank you all for coming by! And now…

Congratulations, the Valentine necklace will be off to

Geni, of the blog “Loose Ends”, ticket holder #7

Even though the giveaway is complete my magic carpet will be traveling for some time, there are so many blogs I didn’t get a chance to visit, and I love to look around when I stop by. Again, Thank You so much for visiting and keep an eye out for the gypsy on the needlepoint carpet!

One World One Heart

2010-02-06T01:07:00.003-07:00

“A Whimsical Bohemian” is hosting an event!

A celebration in Global Blogland of peace and harmony, a chance to meet people from faraway and share gifts,

so fold your arms, nod your head and blink . . .

Or rub the magic lantern . . .

And hop on the flying carpet.

You can always find a magic carpet or two at the local bazaar

And gifts!

A Valentine Necklace

This is my giveaway – on the front is a charming vintage picture of cupids on a plastic pendant with red hearts and glass pearls,

there is love on the back and it’s suspended from a red ribbon. You can wear it as is or use the components in a creation of your own.

If you would like to be placed in the drawing for the Valentine necklace, please leave a comment on this post and make sure I can reach you. I will be selecting the recipient at 10:00 am Arizona time on February 15, 2010.

So get out that old Steppenwolf record and sign up for a “Magic Carpet Ride”!

Ah, January…

2010-01-21T12:12:00.001-07:00

For those who do payroll you know what a busy month January is; I do payroll as well as a lot of other stuff. So January has gone by (almost) and I haven’t seen my studio but I did take a few pictures. There’s a major storm system coming through Arizona and the hills are dusted with snow - this is Mingus Mountain.

The colors of red rocks and desert after a night of rain - looking toward Sycamore Canyon.

From the land of snow advisories and flash flood warnings – stay dry and warm!

It’s a new year

2009-12-31T18:32:00.001-07:00

Winter has arrived, the bare trees are silhouetted against a stormy sky…

The snow is falling…

It’s time to head inside, sit by the wood stove...

and stay warm!

Happy New Year!

The sixteen days of Christmas

2009-12-11T23:08:00.001-07:00

Where Women Create blog is giving away some beautiful things for Christmas – check it out and sign up!

Feliz Navidad

2009-12-05T00:21:00.001-07:00

Merry Christmas from Arizona!

It’s snowing golden leaves…

The Cottonwoods are golden and the air is crisp, time to start decorating the tree…

With an angel on top…

Find Santa around the house …

Bake pies…

And set out the Mexican hot chocolate and cookies…

Here are some vintage images to enjoy…

Time to get back to the studio and work on Christmas presents, Merry Christmas!

Christmas blog party!

2009-12-02T22:54:00.001-07:00

Save the date! Bella Dreams is having a holiday blog party on December 5th – join in, it will be such fun!

New old stuff

2009-11-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

I have a job that occasionally requires a lot of my time and then I go and take a class in payroll accounting - so poor me! no time to spend in my studio. Just spreadsheets, journal entries, withholding tables and tax forms. But I did take some time out for the Jerome Humane Society's semi-annual rummage sale and here are some finds:

pretty Japanese teacups

an English teapot

enamel dishes, lots of old jewelry to re-purpose

a fierce Indonesian? puppet

and a needlepoint pillow to "Victorian up" with tassels and fringes and all that. The money from the sale benefits animals - so lots of great stuff for a good cause.

A nice surprise

2009-10-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

After a tiring day at work I arrived home to find a package at the door, it looked like a book but I hadn't ordered anything - so I opened the box and found this very nice book from Bead & Button magazine -

Inside is an article for earrings I designed that originally appeared in this issue of Bead & Button

How nice to see it in a hardbound book with all the other lovely projects

Here are some close ups of the earrings - I call these my "specimen" pictures - they're not very interesting photos, I just pin 'em to a card and shoot.

The center beads are 12 mm, 8 mm and fire polish drops.

Fairy in jar, continued . . .

2009-10-17T19:14:00.000-07:00

A fairy stopped by - just long enough for me to take her picture and then she flew off. I guess the jar is working!

Fairy in a jar . . .

2009-10-07T21:07:00.000-07:00

I've noticed a lot of people have captured fairies in decorated jars; while it must be nice to always have a fairy around, I don't like to see creatures in cages - so - I thought I'd decorate a jar and see if a fairy would move in. Totally free to come and go, maybe just hang around the studio for a bit -

Lots of glitter and sparkle, pretty flowers and some rhinestones - I'd like to move in! Now it's time to be quiet and wait.

Oak Creek Canyon

2009-09-04T21:32:00.000-07:00

Between Flagstaff and Sedona there's a magical place called Oak Creek Canyon; the creek flows through a land of red rocks and limestone cliffs. Hawks soar overhead, ravens caw from huge cottonwoods, pines, oaks and sycamores. Come for a stroll through a meadow dotted with apple trees...

a forest of tall pines...

stop by the creek...

see golden rocks in under the trees...

limestone cliffs...

and big red rocks...

lots of big red rocks...

and a misty evening farewell from Coffee Pot Rock!
Soon the fall colours will fill the canyon and it'll be time for another visit.

This blog needs a banner...

2009-08-14T23:48:00.000-07:00

The first step: print the letters on card stock, then paint with an airbrush.

Tissue paper and foam core for the background -

Lots of glue for texture, then paint, more glue, more paint

The letters on their background with sparkly trim and red paper lace edging -

The test photo; I like the background but it's not what I'm looking for - maybe I'll use it next spring. Fall is just around the corner, my favorite season, and time for pumpkins and black cats!

Remember that tidy studio? Here's the reality - I do clean up between projects.

Creative Bloggers

2009-08-04T22:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all who visited! What a lovely experience - many thanks to Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage for being such a gracious hostess.

Welcome to my studio!

2009-07-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

My studio - officially called the "shed" - but it's my personal rabbit hole. The place is small but that means I don't have to go far to find things and in the winter it heats up quickly!

Some helpers...

Who said cats are clean? Titania says "Got dirt?"

Oberon is king of the wood pile - and everything else.

Come on in...

Lots of boxes to hold stuff, a vintage green shelf

More shelves and lots of boxes

Mariba, the half mannequin, hangs out on the kiln. She put on some finery for her picture.

This is where the magic happens...

Keeping stuff tidy...

Necklace details

Earrings and pendants

Other goodies...

Pincushions

A fun scissors case

Evermore, the raven, likes the top shelf

More pincushions and needle cases

A tail-wag from Brownie...

Thank you for visiting!

Arizona Desert

2009-07-06T15:53:00.000-07:00

This is what where I live looks like - stark but beautiful. This picture was take from Perkinsville Road which is actually a dirt track through the hills behind Jerome. The silence is amazing, only birds and wind; you can see for miles and miles.

Studio Tours

2009-07-06T15:30:00.000-07:00

New to blogging! Can you tell? I still haven't figured out half of it - I wonder if there's a "Dummies" book for this. On July 24th the blog My Desert Cottage is hosting an event "Where Bloggers Create", here is a link to the page:

mydesertcottage.blogspot.com/2009/06/im-having-party.html

Will it work? We shall see.

Self Portrait

2009-05-16T18:08:00.000-07:00

Self portrait: when I look at me this is what I see. The hands are old and shabby - maybe I should say vintage? They've served me well and I would like to take this opportunity to say "thank you" hands for all the years of service. When my brain forgets my hands remember - like forgotten crochet stitches that magically appear; disconnect the brain and engage the hands.

Old Palm Springs - again

2009-04-21T16:05:00.001-07:00

Here's another picture of old Palm Springs - from the cars and dresses it looks like the 50's. On the left is the Desert Inn, such a beautiful place. Spanish style buildings, a quiet garden with huge bougainvillea bushes spilling over the walls. In the 60's the wall in front was built up and it became the phone company, then it was torn down and replaced by a very ugly bank. The street in the picture is Palm Canyon, the main drag; across from the Desert Inn was Bookland, where you could get all the cool posters. Psychedelic peace signs, "What if they gave a war and nobody came", and my favorite - Wile E. Coyote choking the Roadrunner. Palm Canyon was a nice place to walk on warm evenings, often the shops would stay open and the window shopping was always affordable.

Old Palm Springs

2009-04-10T22:08:00.001-07:00

I like to collect old post cards - this is one from my Palm Springs collection. This is Liberace's home in Las Palmas in the 1950's early 60's. I think this is the house with the pink and black kitchen; we used to have a pink stove - with push button controls and a 50's convertible with a push button gear shift. So modern. He moved from this house to a spanish style home surrounded by a wall - very private. Every Christmas he would put his light-up Liberace over the gate, it was like a plastic light-up Santa except it was a picture of Liberace in a sparkely outfit smiling and waving.

Snowy Day in Jerome

2009-03-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

A picture of Cleopatra Hill and Jerome, Arizona covered in snow - a rare occasion.

Live Long and Prosper!

2009-03-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

First post - never done this before. Off for an adventure!