Until We Meet Again....

The Noticer...Are You One?

A few weeks ago while following this woman's updates on facebook, I was introduced to this amazing "little" (as in only 153 pages) book by Andy Andrews.  I began to read it just before bed, thinking I would read for a few minutes and by 2:00 a.m. I was closing the book on the last page.  

Interesting.  Inspiring.  Dynamic.  

From the flyleaf:

"Your chance to regroup, take a breath, and begin your life again awaits in the simple wisdom and heartwarming story of a man names Jones."

As much as I enjoyed the book, the philosophy and the many quotable phrases, there was something "off" about this book...for me.  I believe in the unseen and the possible.  I believe in the "could it be, might it be" of life.  I know I don't have all the answers and I know that I will never have all the answers.  It does come back to perspective, the running theme of this book.  Even with my "questioning" and finding something "off" about this, I still recommend the read.  What I question, you might not.  But I do believe in perspective and how looking at life with a different lens can make all the difference in the world.

A Thought...a Quote

In twenty years you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.

Mary Schmich

Eye Candy Friday From Du Buh Du Designs...

 Take a little trip with me...to visit Du Buh Du Designs...

Christine Alvarado makes the most incredible one of  a kind art dolls.  Life like.  Beautiful.  Stunning.  Out of my league with price unfortunately, however, Christine has now made it possible to "almost" own one of her designs...in the form of museum quality prints in an excellently affordable price range.  From Frida to Trilby to gypsies...all are proof of this woman's talent.

You can see more of Christine's work on her blog (more outstanding eye candy!) and in her etsy shop.

*as always, these images are the property of Du Buh Du Designs and are not to be copied

Little Bee...

The mother of a friend of mine recommended Chris Cleave's Little Bee to me a few weeks ago.  Yesterday I had a moment to start the book.  A moment turned into a few hours.  I'm so glad that I read this book.

What's it about?

This is from the fly leaf...

"We don't want to tell you too much about this book.  It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it.  Nevertheless, you need to know something so we will just say this:  This is the story of two women.  Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice.  Two yeas later, they meet again.  The story starts there.  Once you have read it you'll want to tell everyone about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens.  The magic is in how it unfolds."

One Photo To Say It All...

Where I am today.  Tomorrow.  For awhile...

*image from dietsinreview website

Swinging Into Spring

 

Love this season.  More than any other.  Hope, possibility, renewal, shedding and lightening of the heaviness of winter...Lake Ontario still on the cold side, bare branches coming into bud, sunlight glinting off the water...

 

A time to be outdoors to play with good friends, no matter what our age...

to swing forward and feel the sunlight that makes us say, "I'm so glad to be here!!"

Eye Candy Friday From Silke Powers...

painting that was gifted to me by Silke Powers - March 2010

 A few weeks ago I was thrilled beyond belief when my friend Silke Powers told me that I had been one of two winners for the giveaway she was doing of her work.  The painting arrived the other day and looks amazing on the antique secretary desk I have in my living room, and when I look at it I can't help but smile and think of Silke.


There is something about Silke's work that captures my sense of beauty and wonder and fills me with a sense of strength and soul power.  My own invention I believe, "soul power" (no play on her surname either!)...that feeling of growth and depth that comes from the centre of the body and emanates outward. 

It may be the eyes...what Silke sees when she is painting is reflected in the eyes of the women in her work.  The eyes that tell a story.

best friends

dreamer

wrapped in a gentle breeze

Silke is not only a painter, she crochets and knits and makes beautiful scarves. These two are examples of the different styles she creates.  The bottom one looks more like a field of ribbon or a field of flowers, but yes, it is a scarf!

All of these photographs are from Silke's etsy shops and are not to be copied or used without permission.

For Silke's paintings please click here.
For Silke's scarves please click here.

Constantly Evolving...

I could use hundreds of words to describe Caroline and her blog "Constantly Evolving".  But I'm not going to.  There's really no need.  Her photography speaks volumes...her art, her talent and her inspiring spirit do the work for me.  "Nowordz Photography" is Caroline's self explanatory website.  As for "Constantly Evolving" this is exactly who Caroline is and what she is doing...aren't we all?

Caroline's zen spirit is fully and completely evolving.  Her conversations are open, honest, real and deep...to the bone.  She shares herself in raw expose that carries with it a softness, a vulnerability that says "this is who I am, who I can be and I am enough."  I adore this photograph.

Photographs that speak inspire me and leave me feeling "full".

And this, my favourite of Caroline's self portraits...Finding My Way she calls it...this is what our life is about...finding our way, our own unique way, often working our way through the fog and the mist...I love how Caroline shows others how to find the way...

Please take some time to read through Caroline's blog, and visit her Nowordz Photography for more visual intoxication.  Caroline also creates incredible custom blog headers. Worth a look.

*please remember that all of these photographs are the property of Caroline and Nowordz Photography. Not to be copied or used without permission.  Also, photographs are available for purchase if you are interested through Caroline.

Laying Down the Anger....

...I took my anger ... and laid it down...



I love this song by Theo Tams, but more than the music or the sound of his voice, is the one line, "I took my anger and laid it down" ... it hits me like a blunt force object every time I hear that.  The truth of what that means...to lay down anger, as in laying down arms.

I've carried my share of anger around like a bag of heavy rocks more times than I care to remember.  It weighed me down physically, emotionally and mentally.  Yet even knowing that it was doing so, another situation would arise that would bring forth that anger once again, and I'd add it to the satchel and continue on.  At some point, I laid the bag down because I couldn't walk another step, and said "enough."  Did it happen overnight?  Not at all.  Do I continue to experience anger?  Of course I do.  It's a necessary emotional response to specific situations in life.  It's what we do with the anger that is important.

I was faced with a situation on Monday, where yes, I admit, my anger flared.  I had purchased some collage sheets from a vendor on etsy to use in my art.  Vendors who sell their collage sheets generally do so with the purpose of others using them in their art for sale and are fine with that.  What they do not want is someone to purchase the sheet and then resell it or parts of it for their own profit.  Understandably.  It's theft and not only is is wrong and a crime it lacks integrity.  I have never, nor would I ever, steal someone else's idea or their art and claim it as my own.  Taking away the fact that it's wrong (and I do know wrong from right!), I don't want what someone else did to be "my" work.  I have my own creative talent thank you.  I may not be able to digitally create the bits and pieces I use (not from lack of imagination...lack of photoshop elements!) but I do have the talent, ability and creativity to design something of my own from the elements I purchase (or images that are offered free of charge for that purpose).

I made my cards and listed them in my etsy shop, quite pleased with how they had turned out.  I had even sent the vendor a message on her blog complimenting her on the fresh style of her collage sheets before I made my purchases. We exchanged emails and chatted on facebook.  The vendor even complimented my avatar which was one of the cards.  Imagine my shock then on Monday morning to receive a message on my etsy shop, asking me to stop selling what I had made.  The vendor "assumed" that I was simply reselling bits of her collage sheets as my own collage sheets and she kindly, but firmly, asked me to stop doing that.  Angry?  Yes.  About her request?  No.  About the fact that she hadn't even bothered to "look" at what I had done.  She jumped in with both feet and made a snap judgment, without the facts, and then quickly rifled off an email that put me in a corner.  Or so she thought.

There was a second message after that...saying "oops" that she had made a mistake and was sorry and please carry on and sell your "little cards".  Now THAT made me angry.  Calling my work "little cards".  The arrogance!  The cheek, the gall and the implied superiority that jumped off my computer screen made me see RED.  In the first message this woman asked me to be respectful of other artists' work.  Yet she hadn't the kindness to do so herself.

I handled it all politely and I removed the cards from the shop and let the vendor know that I had.  And I will not be using her collage sheets or her business again.   I could keep selling the cards and perhaps make some money from this and yet, I'd rather not.  It disturbs my integrity.  I no longer wish to do any business with this vendor and my feelings are such that every time I see this work I will feel it "tainted".  My mother would tell me that I am "biting my nose to spite my face" (she said that to me a lot!!  Of course I'm sure she was correct each time, well, maybe some of the time!).  I'm good with this decision...this nose can stand to lose a few millemeters so it's no loss really.  I see it more clearly than that in a choice between how I feel and what I want.  The few dollars I might make on my work is insignifcant compared to the fact that I value the quality of what I make and what it represents to me.

I had a follow up message from this vendor saying that she realized she had overstepped and hoped that I would continue to befriend her on facebook and that I would continue to do business with her but she would understand if I just wished to move on.  I didn't respond to the email.  I am moving on...I've laid the anger down.  I've moved on not because she misjudged me, or because she sent the messages without taking the time to know what she was talking about...I've moved on because of "who" she is and what kind of person she has shown herself to be.  Might be a one-off, but I think not.   This is not the kind of person that I want to include in any part of my life.  Do we benefit by embracing others' negativity?

Many years ago I had a similar experience with a woman who I did not value for her beliefs, her values or the choices she made in how she interacted with others.  We knew one another through our children and their hockey life.  It came to me through a third party that this woman wanted to enter into a business relationship with me and a few others (the third party being one).  My immediate reaction was a very vehement NO.  Which shocked the third party.  He was of the opinion that you could still do business with someone even if you didn't share their values.  Perhaps this is male vs. female.  I have never been able to grasp his concept of this so we agree to disagree.  And I did not enter their business arrangement.  I carried some anger about that for awhile.  Misplaced anger I came to realize and I laid it down too.

Similar situations and my reaction remains the same.  We are tested often in our integrity and our values.  We learn as we go; we grow, we change and we hopefully gather wisdom.  Being true to ourselves.  Maintaining our values.  And laying that anger down...feel the burn and move on.

The Dreaming Press...

For a long time, when I first stumbled upon this delightful being, Gillian was known (for her blog and for being known) as "Indigo Blue".  There have been a few changes along the way, some redesign and fresh outlooks and over the last few months Gillian has resided at the dreaming press.  I can't think of a more appropriate title for her blogging journal, because this is everything that Gillian is, and aspires to be.

 

Gillian has an open heart and a generous spirit which is evident in everything she talks about, everything she writes, the photographs she shares and the positively uplifting manner in which she does these things.  A sense of humour, a joie de vivre and a "come on, throw me what you've got world", wide eyed wonder about everything there is to know, from books to films, to travel to just sharing ideas.  It's all there. 

There are recipes for delicious meals that she has made and shared with her family; talk of tea (chai perhaps, with extra cinnamon?) and cupcakes or muffins; music, sweet, sweet music; dreaming with her camera and her thoughts; travels shared and all of this given with hope and possibility.  Gillian never says "I can't" or "you can't", she says "I did" or "I will" and "won't you?"

Gillian recently travelled to Jordan with a group of other women and a very handsome man (!) and explored, shared and photographed her way through her all to brief time there.  The choice of photographs, the journal of what she saw, what she felt and how she was captivated leaps off the pages of her blog.

The possibilities that Gillian sees in the world, in each day...like the winter's day when she made a special trip to photograph this chandelier that was out in the snow...an incongruous combination perhaps, and yet, when Gillian does it, you see how it works.

What inspires me about Gillian?  The fact that I never leave a visit with her (her blog, her facebook page) without feeling the day is good, the day has had some magic added.  I feel my own spirit swell just a little and then a little more and I embrace my life with wonder and fulfillment.

Now, if we could just get that cup of tea and sit down and really have a girl's gab!  We've met once...all too briefly, but it is part of our spring plans to get together and spend some "real" time together.

Don't be shy...wander over to the dreaming press and bury your senses in this beautiful place.

*please note that all of these photographs are the property of Gillian da Silva and are not to be copied or used without permission.

Which Way From Here...

Every now and then, as I travel through my life, I come to this point.  Left?  Right?  Straight ahead?  

Something will be nagging at me, grinding away and I try to maintain the silence of listening so that I can truly hear where it is I'm meant to go.

Unlike Alice I have never met a cat I could ask (not that he was much help, the point being, no one else can tell you which way to turn)....and once again I'll just have to trust my instincts.

While I'm questing about for my "passion", my direction, my next move on the chessboard of life, I will be running a series about inspiring women.  I hope you will take the time to read about these incredible women and discover their talents and philosophies of life.  Each one has given me something intangible in their own way.  And if you don't see your name in any of these features, don't believe that you aren't inspiring.  You are.  Incredibly.

The White Garden...

I enjoy Stephanie Barron's writing.  I started with her Jane Austen mystery series which combined my love of Austen, mystery and the Regency period.  Stephanie made it all seem possible...that not only was dear Jane an author, but a sleuth as well.  There are nine books in this series.

I then discovered "A Flaw in the Blood" which took me to Victorian England...Queen Victoria, her beloved Albert and a mystery surrounding a female doctor (unheard of at that time), a rogue Irishman...part suspense, part mystery, part love story...taking fact and creating fiction.

Ms. Barron has done it again with "The White Garden", a novel of Virginia Woolf.  I love anything about the Bloomsbury group, that period...Virginia Woolf,  Vita Sackville-West, Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant, Leonard Woolf, Harold Nicolson (Nicolson was not an artist.  His marriage to Vita SV put him on the perimeter but he was part of the Bloomsbury period)...an artistic group who lived their lives without license.

The death of Virgina Woolf is taken to new heights with a different approach that is typical of Stephanie Barron, and done to "perfection".

*Stephanie Barron also writes as Francine Mathews.

Alice and a Rainy Day...

A somewhat "lazy" Saturday...dull and grey, raining off and on and quite windy.  What else is there to do on a day like this but read (finishing a Tasha Alexander novel, "A Fatal Waltz" with another John Sandford ready to go...and I've got the latest Sue Grafton, "U is for Undertow" which I'm itching to read...).

And drink tea...

Shall I pour?

And make more art cards about Alice, like these which are now in my etsy shop.

*edited Monday March 14th...these cards have been removed from my shop.  I used the images I purchased with the understanding that I could make cards with them.  Received a message from the vendor today telling me that she would prefer I not, according to her policies.  She jumped the gun and hadn't realized I was making "little cards" as she called them so it's okay.  She thought I was selling the sheets she had made without really looking at my product.  That said, I'm not comfortable selling these or using her product.  So my choice is to remove them as pretty as I think they are.  Message here...always read the fine print, know who you are doing business with and never fly off the handle unless you have all your facts because it might cost you in more ways than you expect.

Eye Candy Friday from The Barn House...

I talked about the Barn Boys (Joe and Jermonne) earlier this week when I was sharing about Flea Market Style magazine.  They have a blog and an online shop called Barn House Marketplace which houses some of the most amazing finds.

Please note that all the photographs I am sharing here are from their blog, Barn House, and are not to be copied and used for your personal or financial benefit.

A Little Alice, A Little Boho...

Alice in Wonderland via Modcloth by Esprit d'Art on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Holiday Weekend Dress in Saturday-Mod Retro Indie Clothing & Vintage..., $55
Sweet Tea Cup-Mod Retro Indie Clothing & Vintage Clothes, $20
Glam Gam Tights in Pewter-Mod Retro Indie Clothing & Vintage Clothes, $20
In the Bow Heel in Chestnut-Mod Retro Indie Clothing & Vintage Clothes, $100
The Question Authority Tote, $33

Had a little fun this morning....the above is my interpretation of "Alice in Wonderland" using items from Modcloth.  Giovanna at Boho Market is having a challenge contest on her blog.  I had to play along. 

With my love of collage and my love of fashion, this seemed like an excellent way to begin my day.  I can't tell you how much I enjoyed playing with items, adding, deleting and then finishing saying "this is it."  It's not about whether or not I win the giveaway from Modcloth...it's more about using what I have and being pleased.

I looked back through some of my other sets on Polyvore and realized how I much I enjoyed doing those as well.  This one is just "me".

Je Pense by Esprit d'Art on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Myrtle Tree print by ACEE - Framed Art, Canvas Art & Art Prints Online..., 54 GBP
Scrapbookgraphics.com :: Backgrounds :: Flitting Fall Faeries Fall...
2.0 Butterfly MySpace Layouts and Butterfly MySpace Backgrounds###
Stock Photo of black and red love heart, white background

And this one??  My favourite of all...

Weekend Fun by Esprit d'Art featuring American Eagle Outfitters shoes

Items in this set:
Silk-blend T-shirt, $63
View All - Barbara Hulanicki - Topshop USA, 125 GBP
2Wayで使える! ハイウェストシャーリングスカート－eruca.[エルーカ]－アイテム詳細
Twist Flip Flop - Medium Brown, $25
minaminova 中目黒店－eruca.[エルーカ]－ファッションアイテム一覧

What's On Offer for the Inspiration Avenue Auction

 

The Inspiration Avenue Etsy Team Charity Auction is now up and running.  Click on the link to be taken to the page that includes each item that is waiting for bids. 

For more information about the auction, please click this link.

Remember, the auction is over on March 14th.  Still time to place your bids. Care to outbid me??

*photo from the Inspiration Avenue Etsy Team Blog

How DO They Do That?!?!?

I am always blown away by people who have the ability to not only be creative but entertaining at the same time.  The amount of time it takes to create something like this -- the Maths, the Science, it all just blows me away, especially as I'd never have the first clue where to begin.  The music is kind of catchy but it's really the process that fascinates me!

Flea Market Style

There are times when I could consider myself a magazine junkie, a "paper whore" of sorts.  I go through spells where I buy every one that I see that looks like something I want to know or learn or just gaze upon.  And then there are spells where I buy nothing, don't even venture by the magazine aisles in Chapters, grocery stores or pharmacies.  Many years ago I never had to buy my own magazines.  My sister was the ultimate "crack head" junkie of magazines.  If there had been a title or an award she'd have won it hands down.  When she passed away so did the lure of the glossy paper.  And yet something strange happened.  As if perhaps she had left that part of her soul to me, to realize that while I may have disdained magazines as frivolous reading because I was the more sophisticated sister who preferred to have her nose in a book, I am actually someone who does enjoy magazines...but really for the pictures, not the words!!  Honestly?  I look at the pictures more than I'll read an article but there are some articles that will capture my attention because I do want to know more about the subject.

One of my more recent finds, is "Flea Market Style" which I had been hearing about on other people's blogs and made it a point on Friday of going to find.  And I did.  And I sat and read it cover to cover and then dozed off on the couch thinking about more ways that I want to change the look in my home and more ways I can scavange for "junky finds" to bring new life to.

 (I love this living room done by the Barn Boys - Summer 2010 issue - more on the Barn Boys on Friday)

Many of my friends love flea markets and find some gorgeous pieces (don't you Renate?) so I'm always aware of what is possible, of what can be done with a treasure left behind by someone else.

 (with this being an American publication, I was thrilled to see that they include Canadian designers and collectors)

Flea Market Style has a blog which is filled with more ideas and behind the scenes information.  Repurposing vintage to create something interesting and unique.  And even if I never do...I have the vicarious pleasure of looking at what others have done.

(all photographs are from my copy of the Summer 2010 issue of Flea Market Style magazine)

1, 2, 3, 4 = springaliciousness...

This song just makes me feel "springalicious"!!!  Like I want to skip down the street, run to the swings and pump as I high as I can go...reaching up to the clouds...care to join me?  It's always more fun with a friend!

Wee Angels...

 

A wee angel card, I made for a wee angel who is donating her hair for cancer research.

(graphics from Paper Whimsy)

♥

Eye Candy From Glamarella Junk...

Sometimes I like soft and dreamy.  Sometimes I like bright and bold.  Sometimes I like bold and frilly, feminine and masculine combined.

There are times when I love the boho/cowboy/distressed/feminine look.  Odd bits and pieces put together, of old vintage finds and more recent materials.  Who does this well?  Glamarella. Even the name of this shop conjures the image I can swoon for.

Come, sit back, relax and spend a little time venturing through the joy of Glamarella.

First, there is the blog, Glamarella Junk and the sister blog, La Maison Rustique.  The Barn, in Temecula was one of the places I had hoped to visit on our last trip to California.  Sadly, we really hadn't enough time on that trip.  I'm saying "next time"!

As for what is available in the Glamarella shop on etsy, here are a few teasers...

 

fabulously glam belt buckles

  

rusty jewels

  

beautiful necklaces

vintage slips (which look amazing with the belt buckles!) worn over jeans or skirts

graphic tees for jeans and skirts

Sizes are varied in availability and t-shirts fit "large" so if you wear XL you would want L.

Glamarella is having a sale on specific items right now and the sale will continue until the sale items are sold.  Perfect time to think of glamming up your spring wardrobe isn't it?

*all photographs are property of Glamarella Junk and are not to be copied