ULLABENULLA

Dealing With The Darkness... and a Question.

I am no stranger to Depression... The black demons have haunted my life ever since I can remember. Fortunately anti-depressant drugs help smooth the roughest edges, but there are still days that I wish I could dig a deep hole and hide. Years ago, I seldom told anyone, often just slipping off alone for weeks at a time. Now I am more willing to share, especially as I discover more and more women (many of us menopausal) who also deal with these same demons...

I am slowly compiling a list of 'things that help', that have nothing to do with illegal drugs, and everything to do with bringing me back from the shadows of life. Nothing profound here, simply things that work for me...

*Having a loving Husband and Daughter has helped, as has a wonderful circle of close friends.
*Being in the sunshine (especially during the winter) and feeling warm.
*Lighting candles.
*Listening to classical music with my eyes closed.
*Pushing through a project, even when I don't feel like doing anything.
*Eating Chocolate
*Browsing my books of favorite images.
*Walking outside, when the weather is good, and breathing deeply.
*Being grateful...
***

I would love to hear how you deal with these same demons, and if you have anything to add to my list. Perhaps if we all work together, we can find light at the end of our tunnels...

(photo's via Deviant Art)

Susan's Wonderland Of Toys!!!

Last Friday a friend and I visited Susan's Store Room in San Anselmo. If you are in the Bay Area, and need a 'WHIMSY' fix, let me tell you, this is the shop for you!!! For 30 years, Susan, the lovely proprietor of Susan's Store Room has delighted and thrilled all who visit with not one but three huge rooms filled to the brim with toys, dolls, bears, miniatures, gifts and all things magical and whimsical! Not a space is left bare, and no corner empty, truly a wonderland of delights!

Susan is also known for a delightful series of books, "The Travel Journals of the Steiff Reggie, Pansy and Clarence Bears". Our visit just happened to coincide with the arrival of her newest book: "Clarence goes to The Chelsea Flower Show". This wonderful book (illustrated by the very talented Maryjo Koch) tells the tale of Clarence visiting England! Clarence, designed by Susan and created by STEIFF takes us all over the Queens Kingdom, journaling about his adventures as he goes. Here we see Susan and Clarence posing at Beatrix Potters home!
(Book and Bear available from Susan's Store Room)

You need to plan on spending a good amount of time when visiting Susan's Store Room, there is sooooooo much to see! look around and you will find Noahs Ark - filled with Steiff animals of every kind; Jolly Gnomes hiding behind a forest of trees; dressed Mice having tea-parties; King Tut holding a conversation with a giant ostrich and Elephants playing Safari! Doll Houses filled with delicious miniatures of every kind, tempt us to join in the fun. Every Holiday has its place all year round here, with Halloween and Christmas sharing space with Easter and Valentine's. Shelves are crowded to overflowing and Dolls and Bears peek out where ever you look! A visit to Susan's Store Room makes us walk back in time and be children again! Truly an adventure not to be missed!!!

Pillow For A Friend...

I decided to get my silk-screens out and make a pillow for a dear friend whose Birthday is tomorrow. Its been almost a year since I last printed on fabric, so it took me a few hours to get in the grove... I used a nice linen on the front (bird cage) side, with a combination of 6 different screens. Can you count them? I also added a vintage Mother Of Pearl Button to the center of the circle image. The back (coral and turtle) is a lovely silk like cotton plaid and has 5 different screens. A wide green ribbon closes off the opening. I love using lots of small screens to make a bigger image, and am happy with the results of this little (16" square) pillow!

Fragile Paper Forest In Paris!

From PARIS, Florizelle sends these lovely photos from the windows of the Van Cleef et Arpels shop, place Vendôme in Paris. They feature stunning cut paper by Susanne Kessler and Petra Eichler of Sounds Of Silence. Similar work was presented in 2005 as a walk-through installation.

"The installation works with the silent strength of the fragile. A forest clearing exchanges its familiar materiality and exposes its fragile and poetic side. Out of layers of white paper silhouettes, a natural landscape evolves. The visitors can move through the layers, but only slowly and carefully, otherwise the paper and the situation is torn apart. A light and sound collage immerses the space in a dawn-like atmosphere."

Thank you Florizelle for another breathtaking view of the City of Love!!!

Castle Valentines Classes!

I will be teaching 2 Valentines classes at the Castle in February. The first, VICTORIAN VALENTINES will be on Feb. 9th, 11:00 to 5:00, $95.00. We will create 'Woven Heart and Hand' valentines like the one above; a 'Folded Puzzle' valentine that slowly opens up to reveal a message within; a 'Cobweb' valentine, that you can pull and see a surprise; as well as embellished valentines. This should be a fabulous class!!!

The second class I will be teaching is 'VICTORIAN CANDY BOXES' on Feb. 10th, 11:00 to 5:00, $95.00. In this class we will create a variety of small paper boxes that can hold candy or other goodies. Included will be a sweet little 'Purse Box'; a delightful 'Heart Box' and an embellished 'Cone Box'. As with all Castle In The Air classes all materials are provided. Phone 510-204-9801 to sign up or for more information!

Fishy Luminescence...

Years ago, I remember the first time I saw one of Elaine Hanowell's Koi lamps, in a gallery in Berkeley. I loved it then as much as I do now. There is something magical about seeing light within the Koi shape, as if it is swimming down from the moon into a room... Lovely!

Whimsical Paper Cuts!

These delightful paper cuts are by Antony Hall from East Sussex!!! (link via Dear Ada

Little Circus Design...

These wonderful prints by Madeleine Stamer of Little Circus Design remind me a bit of paper cuts... Beautiful!!!

Fortune Teller At The Castle!

I delivered the Castle SCRAPBOOK yesterday, and took some photos of the new window. John Mcrae has once again worked MAGIC, transforming one of the Venetian Christmas Ladies into a Fortune Teller!!!

Five Years And Fifty Pages Later...

I have finally finished (part 1) my big project for the Castle! For the last two weeks I have been creating a 'scrap-book' filled with 5 years of photos, letters, memorabilia and other ephemera. Truth be told, there was no way I could squeeze 5 years into 50 pages, so another book (part 2) is already in the works... Pictures below reflect a tiny portion of the variety and creativity in the Castle's first 5 years!!! ENJOY!