October Birthday Girls

FYI.... there are a few of us "violets" who have birthdays this month. Happy Happy to you ALL!

Becky's special day is the 9th. Isn't this photo reminiscent of our lingering vision of the wonderful photographer with the glorious imagination?

Oolie! The girl of the 12th! Can't you hear the laughter that is so infectious?

And Madame Danielle.....the 28th.....Look! She is dressed for the celebration! GoRgEoUs!!!

Love to all of you!!!!    May the years bring wisdom and giggles!   xoxo  Jone

an "Oolie" treasure

Oolie left today and I talked to Sue at least three times - we ALL miss one another! I guess I am feeling pretty lonely, even though there are plenty of things to do and people to watch out for here. We had a wonderful time and I hope that we can do it again really soon!

Oolie made this beautiful little "jar top" for me and I will treasure it forever. It is less than two inches in diameter - just my size! I think that it is exquisite...thank you so much, Oolie! 

By the way, her birthday is October 12, in case anyone is interested....  xoxo

It's feeling brisk here in Kansas City. I have been squeezing the living daylights out of creativity at work without feeling terribly successful, & so I painted the hallway bright green to compensate.
Here is Cooper picking apples this last saturday...


Hugs!

Together Again

Well, ladies, I hope all your ears have been burning because you have been talked about over and over again! As far as we are concerned, you are all here with us! Here are just a few photos from last Thursday and the fun we had....

DOODLET's is a shop that is so much fun! I worked here when I first moved to Santa Fe and still do the ads. We thought these hats were pretty special!

"Princess Julie" at "Poem" which is another really wonderful shop that I like to visit often.

And Sue, in the same shop with a very cool little green felt hat on - darn cute!

We had to stop for lunch at San Francisco Street Bar & Grill to maintain our energy level....

....and then Sue realized it was time for bed....or something!

It is Sunday night, now, and Julie and I are missing Sue, who left on Friday. We did work on some pretty neat things today, after breakfast at the Teahouse. Tomorrow, I will post some of our "Retail Therapy" finds and some of the things we have made.....xoxo

a "must-see" video

So, this is the table set for dinner tonight with the last of the flowers from the garden before the anticipated freeze tonight....brrrrrr...... Doesn't it look festive?

I got an email from my friend Melissa today with a link to a talk by the author of the book, "Eat, Pray, Love." It is "IT".... exactly what we, as artists, go through. She is so articulate and "right on"...and so clear in her "voice"...so inspiring.

This is well worth the 20+/- minutes it takes to listen to it. I recommend taking the time.

Ole ole ole! (you'll understand that after you hear the talk)  xoxo

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/elizabeth gilbert on genius.html

necklaces

Saturday, Sue and I went to the Farmer's Market and we found these lovely necklaces at the Artists' Market across the street! The jeweler's name is Naomi and she sells through Sundance Catalog under the name "herndon heald"....wow.....this photo does NOT do these justice - at ALL! Beautiful little beads - peridot, pearl and ruby - tied on silk thread...wow, again.....

We are buzzing around like mosquitoes (!) just like we did in France. We are pretty happy.....

Children

As Taylor and Danielle have set a precedent by putting their kids stuff on the blog, I thought I would share with you the "pod of killer whales" my son made out of lego, that greeted me yesterday.  How clever is that.

Thought I would also share the fish tank too.  Beinn asked for a fish, (I am not partial to the responsibility of animals, my children are enough as far as I am concerned) so  made him one out of felt and put a interesting lid on the top.  He was happy, sort of!

Joanna

Sewing frenzy

Here's an apron I have almost finished. I just have to figure out how to do the buttons in the back. It was looking very plain so I tried out these new flowers on it. Maybe too mish mash. Becky, do you see the one dedicated to you? Still thinking of what to add to it. Any ideas? Then I have another apron pattern to make and a cute dress that looks like a challenge to sew.

Guess who made this little pin cushion? Can you believe the little Miss made this on my sewing machine- and didn't even jam the machine AND it was her idea to make it? They have just started using the sewing machine in her fashion class. Who would think? Hmm maybe by December she can sew up that challenging dress for me.

Hope everyone is doing well. Miss the chit chat around the big table.

Farmer's Market

BREAD!!! At the Farmer's Market...looks like a drawing....

YUMMY radishes....what a color!
very cool eggplants.....
and the weather was perfect! More later!!!  xo

July with Julie!

Hope this reminds you of a fun time here in July and gets those creative juices flowing again.

I belong to Alice

Alice is a friend of mine who most people in Bath know, she is just one of those type of women. She has a sister-in-law, called Becs, who when anyone meets says "so you belong to Alice".  It always makes me laugh, as she is a grown woman.  So I made this little brooch which says "I belong to Alice".  Am presently making her a little house out of papier mache.

A bit of autumn sunshine from the garden

Houses

This summer I have been stitching these fabric houses.  The idea was to put them on top of jam jars (I have made 14 pots of raspberry jam in various sized pots, we had a lovely morning the boys and I picking a large tub full), however now I am not sure if I should put them on top of jars now and have no idea what quite to do with them.  Any ideas out there?

Joanna

Seed Boxes

I have been busy with my papier mache seed boxes.  I make the box myself and then have covered it in paper and added the lovely french illustrations. (Many thanks to Julie's workshop last year) Plus I have been busy collecting seed and have made my own seed packets and called them Larkhall Seeds as I live in a part of Bath called Larkhall.  It is a beautiful autumn day here and thought I would pick a small bunch of flowers from my garden to show off the boxes.  Do you thinks friends and family would like these as christmas presents?  Am hoping so. Joanna

Sue is CoMiNg!!!

Sue Is Coming!

 I am getting ready to get in the car to drive to the airport to pick her up!!! Be assured that we will be talking about all of you!! We will post our adventures so that you can keep up with us...

best kind of friendship

This is where I want to be right now, or at least in the next 15 minutes....doesn't this look like a comfy bed? Roses and birds .... and a kitty .... to send you into heavenly dreams.....

My friend, Jane, whom I do not see very often, makes these incredible little magic pieces from clay. I know that she sprinkles fairy dust wherever she goes...and I know so many people who collect her pieces because we just can't ever have enough of her spirit around us. She makes me smile through her special gift and that is a gift to all of us who love and treasure her spirit.

Hope you experienced a little magic today. Mine was seeing dear friends that I love so much and never make the time to see anymore. We get so caught up in our own lives that suddenly years have passed without realizing it. Fortunately, seeing them this evening was as if it had been just a couple of days since the last time. That is the best kind of friendship.

cOLoRfUL

I can't stop making these! And, I am loving how each one is different. Certainly one for every possible personality! I am not getting my house cleaned, my laundry done or dinner fixed, but I am making some pretty nifty bracelets! LoVe the CoLoRs!

Sue arrives on Friday and I can hardly wait!!! Then, we hope to see Julie when she gets back from England next week.... I am so blessed...

Have a wonderful day today. Make something that makes you smile - or laugh out loud! xo

wow!

I don't remember where I went, but for one of our trips this summer, I left the house (and dogs and cats) in the capable and loving hands of my friend, Anna. There was a small conflict, since she had friends coming. I suggested they stay in our house to give everyone a little more room. Well, I think that I got the lucky end of that stick! This is what arrived in the mail last week, as a "thank you" for staying at the house.....WOW! What an apron! Isn't it the fanciest thing you ever saw?! I think I need to go out dancing in it......

'course, you don't get the full effect with it lying on the bed. I will post another photo tomorrow of me wearing it. 
Thanks to Anne, whose company is "Hankie Pankie." Her site is:  www.hankiepankieaprons.com      Check it out!  xo

a little smile...

It has been quite a week. To relax a bit,  I was looking through photos from the summer and I just LOVE this one of Sue and Julie on Rue de Rosiers in Paris. It makes me smile. I am looking forward to Sue's arrival next Friday and Julie's the next Wednesday. 

Wish you could all come....

Forgot to suggest in my first post yesterday, that you add Claire Montgomerie's blog to your list of favourites: montyknits.blogspot.com/

Claire gave a small workshop here last year and will, hopefully, be returning next April for a more advanced course (which I dearly hope I will be able to join in). She really is an inspiring knitter, so creative and I LOVE her blog! She takes great photos, too... but then you all do. A little taste of vicarious London action for you Americans.

I have been keeping an eye on the pantryviolets blog and Sam has kindly invited me to post a thought or two from time to time. I haven't had time since returning from our self-imposed exile in Spain (where we saw the best art and ate the best food ever!) and UK, to do much in a creative way;

too busy catching up with paper work, preparing the place for the colder months ahead, and organising the works that are soon to start on our "house on the hill". But I thought the photograph below might make you smile

and might even remind you of a few enjoyable moments here way back in July! Katie xx ooo... and Mike and Dog send love too

m*A*g*I*c bracelets

Here are two of the bracelets that I have made in the past week. I am very pleased with myself! I think that they look like fairies should be wearing them. I am experimenting with many different colors and combinations (ribbons, beads and buttons) and find that each bracelet makes me happier than the last.

I feel so lucky, dear ones, that we were all at Briancon and had the opportunity to just create things. I have finally given myself permission to make whatever I want to make - follow any whim - and I am encouraging my friends to do the same. I have started challenges with one friend and with another, we will experiment with materials we have not used before. I am  giddy with anticipation.....

Worth 1000 words

Ah a memory of my favorite room.

I need one of these rooms at my house- oh and Chloe would like the pool...

Can't decide if I would want to live here or Paris if only one. Both are so wonderful. I'll let you know when I decide. Have a fantastic week.

"Tack so mycke"

For my dear friends in Sweden, I want to share with you these plates that have been in my family a long time. After my daddy passed away, my mom said that I could have them and they hang in my kitchen above the doorway, so that I see them every time I pass through. I love them dearly and can still hear my daddy's voice speaking to his "mama-lille" (which is not spelled right, I am sure) There are certain things that I hear him say to me, as well, at times when I feel the need to talk to him. His voice has never left me and I am so grateful for that.

'Nite, 'nite, Daddy.... I love you 

 xo  Ponie

Studio and Garden

This is the entrance to my studio ..... like a little lane through the forest (ha!) It is a nice escape from the hot afternoons - cool under the almond trees. The dogs like to sit in the garden where the soil is moist and cool. 

I was excited to get this shot of the bees enjoying the butterfly bush, though only one of them is in focus. These blossoms have the most wonderful, intoxicating scent....
Nasturtiums in the veggie garden - in great numbers. This is a huge cascade of orange, yellow and green. I think that the round leaves may be my very favorite. We cut them and put them in a vase on the table. I never knew that these flowers had such a delicate scent... mmmmm. 
Last year, Cullen planted gourds so that I could play with painting them. We ended up with soooo many! This year, the "volunteers" that have been "doin' their thing" and are quite impressive.
Cullen loves the garden. It is one of his passions. This is the arbor with raspberries and grapes, that he has nurtured for the past few years. We have had a great harvest so far, and anticipate several more weeks of luscious berries and yummy grapes!

great ideas

Thought that you would all like this stunning blog that I found, Jill Wignall draws something that she sees EVERY day onto a white postcard....what a lovely alternative to a diary.....http://jillstodayisaw.blogspot.com/

"Anthropologie"

So, today I did some retail therapy in Albuquerque. My friend, Jodi and I had a great time. I wanted to share some photos with those of you who are not familiar with "Anthropologie" .... It is truly a "mecca" of sorts for those of us who tend toward the "right sides of our brains"......

Here is the front of the store with their "fall" display of cascading orange "sticks" stretching across the doorway...and into the display window...

This is an example of my favorite thing about the store - the displays! The imagination and inventive humor used to create the environment 4 times a year is astounding... These letters are large (!) and covered in strips of cardboard that has been painted yellow and attached with tacks. See on top of the shelves? They are everywhere you look - and make me smile...
This is a wonderful little sketchbook that has the best colors in the cover weaving.. I probably should have bought this one...hmmmmm..

These are pretty fabulous. The images are beautifully painted and have French words and phrases on them. There is a whole set - around eight different plates. I guess I now have an even softer place in my heart for anything pretty and "French"

I love how these looked all stacked up. They are little measuring bowls (1/4 cup, 1/2 cup, etc) The colors are so rich and the designs so nice. I also like the butter dish to the right...
I have a few more photos to post tomorrow.. such a fun place filled with inspiration.