Winter Solstice

I love creating & anything hand made, especially at Christmas time, is my favourite gift to give {and receive}.

From my hands, with someone in mind, creating something that has special meaning.

My daughter adores pugs … so I painted a little wooden disc and created a keepsake box.

When something is made by hand,

you feel the soul that went into it.

These little wooden discs were so much fun to paint.

I painted a few others and realized that they were the perfect size to top a candy dish!

Filled with caramels, mini candy canes, mints and other wrapped Christmas candies … 

Owl and moon

Coyote

Mother & child

"we must teach our children 

to smell the earth,

to taste the rain,

to touch the wind,

to see things grow,

to hear the sun rise

and night fall,

-to care"

~John Cleal~

***

I loved the words of this beautiful quote

A box of old vintage spindles … painted,  make lovely candle holders :-D

Punch needle was a new hobby I took up this year.

Making up my own patterns, choosing colours and embellishing items made has been lots of fun.

Father Christmas holds a vintage key and lock

A little bit of furry fabric found had me thinking of toys

and "Gus" the elephant was created … 

The fabric was a little too "new" looking, so I went over the pile with scissors and then a razor

to take away a lot of the fluff. 

all that sewing left me with a few empty spools, so I decided to write out a little special message/scroll on brown craft paper & wrap it around the spool .

There was just enough fabric left after making Gus the elephant to create a mouse

who happily sits and waits for Christmas day

on a swing made from driftwood and twine.

{he still awaits some embellishing … I have a nice old bell to add & he may hold a tiny Christmas tree or stocking {still thinking}  … 

All that beach walking has provided me with lots of wild crafting material.

Made with Love & Gratitude a painted heart shaped stone, driftwood and bits and pieces of grapevine.

*Happy Winter Solstice *

Painting * Journaling & Plays

~Rejoice~

I loved every moment painting this precious scene

& used a very fine tipped brush to create the tiniest of details

~The gifts I bring~

Father Christmas and a menagerie of Woodland animals who find comfort & joy in the warmth of a 

warm and magical cloak

As we get near the end of November, my art journal is almost full ...

the pages have been filled with ticket stubs and programs, brochures ,

quotes and of course lots of woodland animals :-D

We are in each other's lives for a reason...

thank you for showing up.

"An invisible thread

connects those who are destined to meet,

regardless of time, place or circumstance.

The thread may stretch or tangle,

but it will never break"

~Ancient Chinese Belief~

"Some beautiful paths

can't be discovered without 

getting lost"

~Erol Ozan~

I created these 2 pages after watching the Santa Claus parade with my grandsons ~ all bundled up with a tin of homemade cookies on our lap :-D 

the best way to ease into the holidays

We went to see Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn at the Shaw Festival, Niagara On The Lake.

It was absolutely wonderful filled with lots of tap dancing (I love tap dancing) and many fabulous musical numbers such as 

steppin' out with my baby* the little things in life * blue skies  * be careful, it's my heart * cheek to cheek* & the famous *white Christmas*

Now to add it to my art journal :-D

journaling ...

"to move

to breathe

to fly

to float

to gain all while you give

to roam the roads of land remote

to travel

is to live'

~Hans Christian Andersen~

Even though it is snowing outside,

October and November's  art journaling pages have been filled with light houses,

 sandy beaches, sea shells,

sea glass, blue skies and mermaids ...

I'm still thinking of the wonderful time spent in Cape Cod and  those thoughts

are spilling out into my art journal.

"traveling is more than the seeing of sights;

it is a change that goes on,

deep and permanent

in the ideas of living"

~Miriam Beard~

beach walking/combing no matter what the weather

my journal is a spot to write down songs I've  practiced playing on my sweet Ukulele (oh how I love playing the Uke) … and a spot to write down "songs to learn"  which is ever growing 

"Let the version of yourself that you were, teach you.

Let the version of yourself that you are currently, comfort you.

Let the version that you are becoming, inspire you.

You are the version that you need 

and needed to be 

in every phase of your journey"

~unknown~

"You must understand the whole of life,

 not just the little part of it.

That is why you must read,

that is why you must look at the skies,

that is why you must sing and dance,

and write poems,

and suffer,

and understand.

For all that

is 

life"

 ~J. Krishnamurti~

believe in the magic ...

"A single act of kindness

throws out roots in all directions,

and the roots spring up

and make new trees"

~Amelia Earhart~

We had our first "big snowfall" here in Ontario. That first snowfall brings with it

such magic for me! Big thick flakes falling from the sky and covering us in a white

fluffy blanket (sigh)

I've been watching the sparrows at the feeders. While we have many feeders, there are only so many

perches and the sparrows outnumber them, so they have been taking

turns and waiting patiently (and some, not so patiently) for their turn

waiting in the cedars that line our fence.

Cedars, Sparrows, Snow … off to Sparrow studio I went :-D 

and created "sharing a moment"

I hope you love it!

joy to the world* merry and bright* peace* love* joy

believe in the magic

Easing back into routine ...

I missed my boy terribly and my "Velcro dog" has been living up to his nick name,  glued to me since coming home from holidays .

 I often wonder just how many steps he walks in any given day as he is beside me all the time , even when I tell him "mummy will be right back" … he follows me :-D

Archer has never been one for catching balls or playing with toys, but, he did find this stick on one of our walks through the woods. Seeing him pick it up in his mouth, sit down on the grass with it between his paws and gnaw at it brought a huge smile to my face!

An even bigger smile appeared when, upon getting ready to return home, he carried it in his mouth the entire time.

He hasn't tired of Mr. Stick and as soon as we go into the garden picks it up and carries it around with him. He's even nudged me with it a few times and we've played a bit of "tug" which still surprises me.

Proof that you really can teach an old dog new tricks!

I just love seeing him so happy & enjoying his senior years.

I've been doing much the same :-D

Easing back into routine ...

rising early, tea, candles lit, morning meditation, yoga, 

woodland walk with Archer and journaling.

My Etsy shop has been taken off of holiday mode &  is up and running  ...

and before I start on another painting (so many ideas) I'm enjoying working on my art journal, adding quotes and Cape Cod thoughts.

Hope you are having a wonderful Monday in your corner of the world!

November ...

It's been a wonderful, relaxing, 3 week vacation.

Autumn is my favourite season and the colours have been absolutely gorgeous as we travelled

2,400 miles !!! 

Our last stop before leaving for home.

We headed up to Blue Mountain, Collingwood

and although it was a rainy, cold day, we went for a beautiful hike taking in

the sights and scents of the trees surrounding us.

I am always drawn to trees, tree roots and bark.

"I believe the world

is incomprehensibly beautiful.

An endless prospect

of magic

and wonder"

~Ansel Adams~

"All the trees are loosing their leaves,

and not one of them is worried"

~Donald Miller~

Cape Cod Memories

"My soul is full of longing

for the secret of the sea.

And the heart of the great ocean

sends a thrilling pulse 

through me"

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

We travelled 1,800 miles …with the view of spectacular colours of Autumn {sigh}

pumpkins and charm everywhere :-D

lots of beach walks

and beautiful homes

"For her the ocean was more than a dream,

it was a place she needed to visit to find herself.

And when she returned to the city,

you could see 

the sun in her eyes

the wind in her hair

and taste the infinite salt on her lips"

~Jose Chaves~

I think I love the ocean

because it's calm, beautiful, infinite.

But also angry, harsh, and magnificent.

And that intrigues me.

A {few} visits to Ben & Jerry's was a must

 as I had my wisdom teeth out a few days before leaving … 

Strawberry Shortcake ice cream {which is my favourite B & J flavor} was a wonderful treat!

A tour of the Ben & Jerry factory

yum