ULLABENULLA

New Years Party Hat???

(A peacock headdress, circa 1913)

Lady With A Squirrel

(Hans Holbein)

On The Slightly Dark Side Of Whimsy

I really like the simplicity of Jeana Sohn's artwork, almost like paper-cuttings... Her images are wonderful too, a little dark with loads of whimsy attached...

Transformations...

In the artist’s words, “I begin by collecting ferns and other organic materials, transforming them through drawing and the printmaking process, creating images that marry the ferns with images of the body. These images reflect the uniqueness of individual hands, as well as reveal the tracing of the spirit." Valerie Hammond

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Just a Pretty Picture...

(Drawing by Jean Delville)

Paper Snowflakes With Style...

I have always loved cutting out paper snowflakes, any time of year actually! So when I discovered these 'Paper Cutouts' by Carol Menninga I was truly in love... Aren't they just amazing? They make me want to run and get some scissors and cut away, care to join me?

Enchanting Intruder's

"Cristina Lei Rodriguez's installations and sculptures are elaborate ornamentations comprised of liquid plastic, pigments, foams, and mass produced consumer objects to create garish and fantastical scapes. Her multi-layered combination of man-made and faux natural objects is spun with elements of fantasy to produce fecund environments that are brash and beautiful. Both collected into pedestal-top sculptures and overtaking an entire room or outdoor space, Rodriguez's colorful pieces brilliantly mimic an organic developmental process that is both chilling and alluring." Of Cuban and Japanese-American Descent, her grandmothers 'elaborate personal alters' continue to inspire her work. Interview HERE (at bottom of page).

Russian Neo-Romantic Art

Andrei Dorokhin was born in Russia in 1963 and lives in Minsk, Belarus. A member of the Soviet Union's "New Romantic" movement in the 1980s, Dorokhin uses an intensive multi-layering technique to create his paintings and collages, many of which are inspired by mystical and mythological themes. Don't miss his Introduction on his websight - Its Delightful!

Small Treasures...

Mon Petit Art is the brainchild of Lucila Yankelevich and Pauline Morineau. They create a range of "artistic and playful objects in a innovative and poetic spirit..." an alternative to 'mass-produced reproductions'. Their first attempts consist of wonderful (limited edition) art pieces framed in clean-lined boxes, ready to hang; as well as 'Metallic Stickers' in series of 7 delightful images, that are repositionable, allowing for free scope of the imagination!

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOU!

Noel in Paris!

Florizelle delights us with these images from the windows of Bonton another children clothes shop ( a casual version of Bonpoint) in Paris... Sugarplum dreams seem to come alive in these magical windows... THANK YOU FLORIZELLE for all your inspiration and wonderful views into the wonderland that is PARIS!!!

Sending Light and Warm Cocoons To Someone In Need...

I know of a beautiful and brave young woman (she will be 17 in January) who has a very rare blood disorder whose only cure is a bone marrow transplant. She is also an artist and finds inspiration all around her. Recently she has fallen in love with the concept of a cocoon - her's representing being 'reborn', because after her transplant that is exactly what she will be. I found this concept wonderfully mature for one so young, and also comforting and courageous...

My guess is that we all know of someone who could use a prayer of 'light and warm cocoons', someone who needs comfort and protection, silken threads wrapped around them this time of year. Please join me in sending this message out into the world, and letting the angels 'cocoon' their warm wings around those who need it most... (Cocoon Art by the wonderful Krisoft)

WHO IS EATING CHRISTMAS???

NAME: Sadie (Mug-shot above)
AGE: Pound Puppy, so age is questionable, but a good guess would be 13 years give or take 2 years, but you'd never know since she looks and acts like a puppy!!!
WEIGHT: A solid 29 pounds
BREED: Sharpai Terrier Mix - More weight means less wrinkles...
EVIDENCE: 4 heavily chewed Christmas Ornaments, and one lovingly wrapped handmade gift (made by youngest member of family) torn to pieces. No photo's taken due to heart-break and tears shed...
SADNESS LEVEL OF YOUNGEST MEMBER OF FAMILY: (1 to 1000): 999!!!
HISTORY: Loves to eat bees (especially wasps); chases possums, squirrels and big black birds; Barks at anyone who dares to deliver anything to our front door; chews any small available goodies that smell like the youngest member in our family!
NO PRIOR HISTORY OF EATING CHRISTMAS...
LOVES: Small children, Walks, playing tug-of-war, digging under the play-house and chewing...
DISLIKES: Baths!
TRICKS: Can jump 4 feet in the air, especially before going on a WALK!
FAVORITE HIDING PLACE: Deep in the den sofa, under lots of pillows.
STEPS TAKEN: No Ornaments below 2 foot level on tree, no gifts under tree, extra chew-toys thrown under the tables, more walks in the future...
HOW MUCH DO WE LOVE HER? More than you will ever know!!!

Who Keeps My Spirits High?

This is a "better late then never" post. My daughter is an Ice Skater, which means I am a 'Skate Mom'. What do Skate Moms do? They drive their child to and from practice a few times a week, wash tights, pads, and leotards every other day, mend mittens and keep blades dry, sit and watch their child practice while sipping tea and catching up on reading... (save all year for 'outfits' and a pair of new skates!) and on some eventful occassions get up at 4:30 am in the morning to drive their 'Skater' to a compitition! Such was the case last month when my daughter competed in 'Skate San Francisco. Her event was at 7:15 am, but she needed to be there by 6:30, and we live exactly one hour from San Francisco - thus the 4:30 am wake-up call! Fortunately it was all worth-while as she placed 3rd in her division. No small feat as the group with the most members is the 11 and 12 year olds!!! (my daughter is right in the middle...) A dancer since she was an infant (I have worn-out baby-ballet shoes to prove it!) its her SMILE that captivates the crowd and the judges - You can't help but feel her love for the sport! She truly keeps my spirits high when I need it most!!!

Bubblewrap Fairytale...

Ever wonder what to do with left-over bubblewrap? Laetitia was in Switzerland yesterday and saw these wonderful shop windows from "Le Bon Génie", a store similar to "Le Bon Marché" in Paris. Clothing and coach any 'packaging fairy' would envy!!! Keep this in mind after the holidays... THANK YOU LAETITIA!

Pre-Raphaelite beauty reborn!

Kathleen West creates luscious colored prints, with a William Morris influence, and a unique pre-Raphaelite quality. The painstaking, printmaking process first involves designing, drawing, and cutting the block. Once this stage is completed, Kathleen individually hand-prints and hand-colors each print with the use of a wooden spoon and watercolors. The results are breathtaking and enchanting!!! (link via Dream Tree!)

Paper Roses from Puglia

Luisa Cotardo creates lovely paper roses, using an ancient process. The paper is never cut, only carefully torn, giving them a fragile, delicate, and natural appearance reminicent of centuries old Madonnas... Available at The Lazy Environmentalist

Appliqued Textiles from Cornwall

Poppy Treffry creates wonderful handbags, tea and egg cozies, badges and other delightful goodies!

Singing Lace...

I am really enjoying the victorian whimsy and modern line of these artworks from Oh My Cavalier! by Julianna Swaney... Beautiful!

King Winter!

Lovely illustrations from KING WINTER by Gustav W. Seitz.