ULLABENULLA

Cabinet Of Wonders Class Sample

What, you may ask, is a Cabinet of Wonders??? This one was inspired by 'Cabinets of Curiosities' built and saved by Victorian collectors - Cabinets filled with rare and unusual objects... But what would a Cabinet of 'Fairy-tale Wonders' look like? Perhaps it would be like walking down old cobbled streets, peeking in the windows of hand made glass, and spying bits and pieces of fairy-tale treasures... Open the doors, and behold such wonders as 'Spangles from Beauty's dress', 'The Little Mermaids Looking Glass' and 'A few of the Fairy God-Mothers Experiments'! Here you can also find 'A bit of Rumpelstiltskins straw' and 'One Kittens Mitten' no longer lost... If you have trouble remembering what you have in your cabinet, a quilt of definitions is spelled out on the back!
Cabinet of Wonders class tomorrow at the Castle!!!

Halloween Is In The Air!

Just look what arrived at my doorstep yesterday when the heat was at its highest! Lucille made this delightful little crow sitting on a pumpkin with a 'corn baby' in her mouth just for me!!! Isn't is wonderful? I absolutely adore the macabre bent of whimsy that Lucille does so well!!! THANK YOU LUCILLE!!!

And just to keep you up to date, I haven't been trying to completely hide in my freezer the last few days, a little work has been done, with a few new Halloween Offerings to go on Etsy very soon - Here's a sneak peek!!!

Creating in the Heat!

Its 103 today!, and thats HOT as far as I am concerned. I am really trying to make the most of it, creating in front of the fan, laying on the floor with the dog and eating yummy yummy fruits...! Found this motto on a stone, while swimming on the net - kind of how I feel! No dead fish for me!!!!

CELEBRATING SHELLEY!

I know a woman who has more Courage, Bravery and Endurance than most of us can only dream of attaining.
I know a woman who lives fully with tremendous spirit in a body that no longer works for her.
I know a woman who loves to play house, and watch her garden grow.
I know a woman whose husband creates many 'houses' for her to decorate with.
I know a woman who has not one, but two lovely daughters to cherish and love.
I know a woman who inspires others to travel across the world with a 'flow-blue' pot on their lap.
I know a woman who collects many wonderous treasures and fills her home with warmth, passion and feeling.
I know a woman who has an entire town supporting her in a life well lived.
I know a woman who inspires me to live life fully and not take anything for granted!
I know SHELLEY and I am ever so grateful!!!
HUGS TO YOU, DEAR HEART, AND MAY THE WORLD COME TO YOUR DOORSTEP!

(Come celebrate Shelley with Corey, Annie, Lea, Nicol, and Annie and celebrate life!!!)

(Photos taken at Shelley's house while visiting her last week)

Halloween Celebration at American Harvest

Last Night Lucille and I headed over to American Harvest, for a special Halloween Celebration! It was wonderful to see so many talented artists, former students and wonderful friends in one spot - greeting Falls favorite Holiday with such gusto! Pictured here are Collen, Iva, Sharon, Ingrid and Lucille ready to greet the new season in full style!

Much to my surprise, dear friend and fellow Bloglander Nicol also came, after a full day of Birthday Partying! Her infectious energy and sweet smile make any party special!!! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY NICOL! Here are a few more glimpses into Sharon and Roger's wonderland called American Harvest!!!

Recipe for a Perfect Party or Blushing Brides Party - Continued!

The advantage of not having my camera for a few days, is that I have been able to see all the fabulous photos taken by Corey, Lea, Nicol, and Annie of our 'Blushing Brides Party', and re-live the day over and over again. What a treat!!!

For my post, I thought I'd share with you the 'Recipe' for a FABULOUS FETE, in hopes that it may inspire some of you to create your own wonderful party of friends...
Imagine the frenzy created, when the invitation arrived. "TO THE DARLING BRIDES THAT ARE" it said... my first question was "Who is getting married???" to which the response was "We are!". Nine women, full of life, experience, creativity and magic - dug deep in their wardrobes for appropriate attire - playing dress-up like beautiful dolls in need of playmates...

With Lace, Ribbons, Flowers, and a sprinkling of fairy dust, they arrived giggling, smiling and chasing shadows.

Rice flew high in the air, and laughter soared... neighbors wondered what all the festivity was... We each signed in at the guest book, and strolled up the 'wedding walk', decorated in tulle and flowers...

Inside, the lights were lit, the table was set and the wedding cake stood tall...

But, no wedding is complete without a ring... a ring with a sparkling diamond crown, diamonds are Forever you know - queens that we all are!

And true to form, what do queens do??? They PARTY, and laugh, and giggle and party some more!!!

They relax, feeling nurtured and relieved that all went well...

They spend time chatting, gossiping, gazing and SHARING... HUGS TO YOU SHELLEY!!!

Truly it was as if I were 5 again, and transported to my ultimate fantasy of what a party could and should be like!!! A day when friends gathered and dolls came to life, singing songs of joy and making memories for a lifetime! May we inspire you to do the same!!!!

THANK YOU MARY, ALMA, DENISE, RENEE AND COREY FOR A DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET and THANK YOU SHELLEY, LEA, ANNIE, and NICOL FOR SHARING IT WITH ME!!!!

Missing My Camera!

As a faithful blogger, we all know how important our camera's are! I unfortunately forgot mine while celebrating with Corey - 2 days ago... and feel almost naked without it! It's in the mail today, and hopefully I will have more wonderful photos to share soon. Till then, peek HERE and HERE and HEREto glimpse one of the most amazing parties I have ever been to!!! (Here are two more photos of the 'glove handbags' that I created as favors for this celebration, and a photo of me taken recently by my husband.)

Todays Inspiration!

Lea and I are off to another Blogland Fete hosted by none other than 'Queen of France' Corey and her Godmother Mary! I won't spoil the secret, but I will share my Inspiration for todays 'party favors'!

These dyed, stitched and embellished 'gloves' by Kate Fletcher pay tribute to her mother who in the 1950’s, brought up children, cooked, cleaned, sewed, darned, blued and wrung the washing, ochred the fireplace, chopped the firewood and fixed the electrics, always looking her best on any outing like so many women in her time. And from The Worshipful Company of Glovers of London come these wonderful photos of leather Gauntlet gloves and leather gloves trimmed with ribbons, from the 1600's. Last is a 'sneak peek' at what I created... More photos soon!!!

Creating Fashion With Meaning...

I posted about installation artist and fashion designer J. Morgan Puett early this year HERE. After closing her Wooster Street store in 1997, and archiving all of its contents, (some in beeswax!) Puett has focused her artistic practice on large-scale collaborative projects that mine her interest in the role of fashion and garments on culture, both historical and contemporary, in efforts that honor labor and “missing links to history.” These photos are from her "Broom Street Store Interiors" and fashions created there. Lovely...!

Deconstructed and Reconstructed Fashions

I find the couture fashions of Marc Le Bihan facinating... They remind me a little of what it might be like to dress in the dark within a rather well stocked large closet. It feels right, but at first glance may not look quite right. But then you look again, and you smile... Wonderful!!!