Evidence….she's One Hundred years old! It was a terrific party – attended by aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends, cousins, kids, grandchildren, great grandchildren. May we all be so lucky to live such a life!
Tag: lucky girl
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happy merry greetings
However you celebrate the season, I wish you the very best now and for the New Year. Always feeling reflective at this time of year, I know I am such a lucky girl. Thank you for your continued friendship.
If you can find a spare five minutes in the hustle and bustle, I think you will enjoy this:
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happy merry greetings
However you celebrate the season, I wish you the very best now and for the New Year. Always feeling reflective at this time of year, I know I am such a lucky girl. Thank you for your continued friendship.
If you can find a spare five minutes in the hustle and bustle, I think you will enjoy this:
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to the magic makers
I'm still wrapping. Are you? I thought I was on a good pace….numerous trips to the post office shipping gift packages and orders, nearly everything on the to-do lists is done but I'm still writing out cards, and still wrapping and baking….and tomorrow is Christmas Eve! No matter how much I try to be organized I am always down to the last minute with holiday preparation. I could ask for help, but that would take away the surprise and sneaky selections I've made as gifts. No, I am happy to be the chief elf. I am lucky to have that role. As I write out each gift tag I think about this great position I'm in to continue making Christmas a magical time – even though our kids are no longer little. It's the lights, the sparkle, the surprises, the LOVE….and tomorrow night at church we will pause, pray, and lift our voices in song. I'm rushing to beat the clock, but I'm grinning through it. As you enter into final-preparation-mode, like the rest of us, think about how lucky you are to be the magic-maker for your family.
I've mentioned this before – one of our family traditions is to collect souvenir spoons on our travels. Brought out each December, it is fun to remember places we've been together as we hang each spoon on the tree. This year we get to add a few new ones. I think this makes at least 6 from England, and now we have two from Italy. One purchased, one stolen (gasp!). If you sift through the box you'll see a newish one from New Orleans, an old one from Traverse City, several from Boston and Minnesota, and a special one from New York when the twin towers were still part of the skyline.
I would ask you to share with me some of your unusual holiday traditions….but you should be wrapping! We will talk about it another time…..for now, I'm raising a glass to toast you, the magic-makers.
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to the magic makers
I'm still wrapping. Are you? I thought I was on a good pace….numerous trips to the post office shipping gift packages and orders, nearly everything on the to-do lists is done but I'm still writing out cards, and still wrapping and baking….and tomorrow is Christmas Eve! No matter how much I try to be organized I am always down to the last minute with holiday preparation. I could ask for help, but that would take away the surprise and sneaky selections I've made as gifts. No, I am happy to be the chief elf. I am lucky to have that role. As I write out each gift tag I think about this great position I'm in to continue making Christmas a magical time – even though our kids are no longer little. It's the lights, the sparkle, the surprises, the LOVE….and tomorrow night at church we will pause, pray, and lift our voices in song. I'm rushing to beat the clock, but I'm grinning through it. As you enter into final-preparation-mode, like the rest of us, think about how lucky you are to be the magic-maker for your family.
I've mentioned this before – one of our family traditions is to collect souvenir spoons on our travels. Brought out each December, it is fun to remember places we've been together as we hang each spoon on the tree. This year we get to add a few new ones. I think this makes at least 6 from England, and now we have two from Italy. One purchased, one stolen (gasp!). If you sift through the box you'll see a newish one from New Orleans, an old one from Traverse City, several from Boston and Minnesota, and a special one from New York when the twin towers were still part of the skyline.
I would ask you to share with me some of your unusual holiday traditions….but you should be wrapping! We will talk about it another time…..for now, I'm raising a glass to toast you, the magic-makers.
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art collecting
On two occasions while in Venice, Fallon and I visited the home studio of Enrico Orlando Martina. He is located near our hotel and we enjoyed meeting him and seeing his process of making art using several mediums. We spied his open door down a narrow alley and were tempted to enter when we saw his paintings in the window. Like me, he is schooled in architecture but spends his time making art. He is such a talent and swiftly illustrates local scenes like St. Mark's Basilica below, with a swish of his charcoal which he demonstrated for us as we carefully selected a piece to bring home. He gave us the sketch too!
I love to fill the walls of our home and my studio with art that I make, and art by others that makes me happy. Recently I scooped up some very handsome pieces by my friend Julie Prichard. She's loaded her Etsy shop with very affordable prints from her original paintings – these are amazing! Not only do I love her style, but the texture she achieves in the prints is stunning. It's like owning the real thing. Recently she added miniatures as soldered glass charms – great gift *hint*.
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art collecting
On two occasions while in Venice, Fallon and I visited the home studio of Enrico Orlando Martina. He is located near our hotel and we enjoyed meeting him and seeing his process of making art using several mediums. We spied his open door down a narrow alley and were tempted to enter when we saw his paintings in the window. Like me, he is schooled in architecture but spends his time making art. He is such a talent and swiftly illustrates local scenes like St. Mark's Basilica below, with a swish of his charcoal which he demonstrated for us as we carefully selected a piece to bring home. He gave us the sketch too!
I love to fill the walls of our home and my studio with art that I make, and art by others that makes me happy. Recently I scooped up some very handsome pieces by my friend Julie Prichard. She's loaded her Etsy shop with very affordable prints from her original paintings – these are amazing! Not only do I love her style, but the texture she achieves in the prints is stunning. It's like owning the real thing. Recently she added miniatures as soldered glass charms – great gift *hint*.
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turkeys, nutcrackers, and rock stars
First, let me wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. There is so much to be thankful for, especially this year as we reflect on all that has happened in our neck of the woods. I am grateful for the walls and roof of our home, with full power restored to cook a turkey and all the trimmings. I am grateful for my family – my parents are arriving soon to celebrate around the table with us. I am grateful for an entire trunk full of memories visiting family and friends in England, and seeing the glorious sites of Venice. I'm a lucky girl.
With all that went on recently I wasn't able to share this news. My latest Somerset Studio column came out November 1st, Make It Your Own: Nutcrackers. I love nutcrackers!!! It finally occured to me to put my own spin on them. If you think you want to try it I recommend shopping Hobby Lobby – they have a wonderful unfinished large nutcracker this season. My store is sold out and they aren't re-ordering :( You could also buy a cheapy one from the dollar store and sand off all the cheesey sequins and add your own handsome bits to it. Here are three of mine…the Royal Guard was described, but the photo was inadvertently left out of the article, so I will share here.
And if you don't want to go full-out with embellishment, you can always just spray paint a solid color. They look cool too.
Again, Happy Thanksgiving! And since tomorrow is 11/22, I have to wish my favorite rock star Hyvää Syntymäpäivää.
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turkeys, nutcrackers, and rock stars
First, let me wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. There is so much to be thankful for, especially this year as we reflect on all that has happened in our neck of the woods. I am grateful for the walls and roof of our home, with full power restored to cook a turkey and all the trimmings. I am grateful for my family – my parents are arriving soon to celebrate around the table with us. I am grateful for an entire trunk full of memories visiting family and friends in England, and seeing the glorious sites of Venice. I'm a lucky girl.
With all that went on recently I wasn't able to share this news. My latest Somerset Studio column came out November 1st, Make It Your Own: Nutcrackers. I love nutcrackers!!! It finally occured to me to put my own spin on them. If you think you want to try it I recommend shopping Hobby Lobby – they have a wonderful unfinished large nutcracker this season. My store is sold out and they aren't re-ordering :( You could also buy a cheapy one from the dollar store and sand off all the cheesey sequins and add your own handsome bits to it. Here are three of mine…the Royal Guard was described, but the photo was inadvertently left out of the article, so I will share here.
And if you don't want to go full-out with embellishment, you can always just spray paint a solid color. They look cool too.
Again, Happy Thanksgiving! And since tomorrow is 11/22, I have to wish my favorite rock star Hyvää Syntymäpäivää.
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trying to land
Since our theme last weekend was all about suns, moons and stars, I can’t help but rely on celestial terms to attempt a description. It was almost like being on another planet, a mini universe of unique features, that you can visit for just a short time, embrace all there is to offer, then carry the experience forever. With many familiar faces, and some not-yet-known, we embarked on a journey to this place where the environment shifts and the routines of daily life are quickly forgotten. Our destination appeared friendly, inviting, even domestic with its farmhouse, red barn, and fading garden….trees lining the perimeter of the property and colorful fields framing the panoramic view. Valley Ridge may seem no different than scenes from the next country road, or the previous one, but those who arrive know better. All cares of the outside world blur for three days and participants become immersed in discovery, play, and community as they contribute to the collaborative spirit and energy that visably multiplies. It is indeed a privilege to observe the process of creativity that emerges and to witness enthusiastic artists stretch their zones of comfort and ripple wider the rings of friendship. Upon reflection of departing from this enchantment, we realize that the material evidence of what we expressed together on paper is only a portion of what transpired, while the remainder can only be seen with the heart.
Thank you Katherine for being such a gracious hostess, and thank you artists for linking arms with me and each other on this dynamic, remarkable waltz across the stars.
After being productive in the studio, we enjoyed social hour in the community building on Friday, then a spectacular special dinner prepared by our dear friend Jennifer in Katherine's home on Saturday.
They came from near and far. They rose to amazing heights. Truly cool stuff. I love that while we all started out with a planned format and distributed set of images, every artist made it their own. Each nearly-completed journal so personal and unique – exactly what we hope for. I love that my mom comes along each year and is warmly welcomed into the studio - seeing me in the role of instructor and *getting* what it's all about – the passion for putting our hands to work in a way that nudges us forward on our creative paths and ultimately feeds our souls because we choose to plug in and make it happen. As much as I hope to give, I always end up feeling like I am the one who receives. As I said in the introduction circle, Valley Ridge has helped me become who I am….I believe that's a truth for many of us. While Katherine is changing the process of presenting events, I am happy to learn Valley Ridge will be an available space for workshops in the future….because we don't want to stop the momentum.
Until we meet again, *blows kisses*.