Clara loves eggs! Boiled, fried, or scrambled, not a day goes by without a bite of her favorite protein. But when she heard that on Easter Sunday almost all eggs served are chocolate, she nearly lost her whiskers in excitement! If there is one thing Clara loves more than eggs, it is chocolate eggs!
"Clara" by Ulla Milbrath and vintage easter boxes available at Castle in the Air.
Little Ruby Rae has found the perfect cozy nook to rest her weary bones. Having just spent days upon days gathering nuts for her Mouseling friends - she may just sleep through the New Year - or until the Bluebirds sing!
(Ornament made for the annual Castle In The Air Christmas party - 2012)
Photo © Tue Nam Ton
Karima, our Castle Queen, will be posting one mouse a day on the Castle Facebook page with a little story for each written by me. If you don't already 'like' this page, please do now - HERE! We have so much magic to share with you... Photo © Tue Nam Ton
This spring, I am offering my Waxed Flowers class in two venues. First at the Castle on April 16th, and then at Chateau Sonoma on April 30th. At the Chateau we will be focusing on white flowers, specifically orange and apple blossoms, inspired by my collection of vintage wedding wreaths. I created this lovely wreath above, as my sample. See side-bar on right for more details.
Saturday was a very special day for one of the resident Castle Princesses. To mark the occassion I was asked to create a 'Chariot pulled by Butterflies with a Fairy inside' class for this 9 year olds Birthday party. (A students finished chariot is shown above) Its been a few years since I taught 9 year olds, and I had forgotten how attentive and focused they can be! They were as quiet as mice for the first half hour - watching, following and creating.
I hadn't expected them to finish their project so quickly! Karima, Queen of the Castle, came to my rescue and suggested that the girls also create tea-party settings, with toadstool bowls and golden Dresden cutlery. Suddenly their imaginations were set free... The Chariots continued to be embellished, some with umbrellas to protect the fairies from rain. Fairy's were given jewelry and belts. Little tables appeared, created from crepe paper and corks - kids are so ingenious! I was thrilled that they could expand on the theme and create magic!
A table was set up with 'grass' and Fairy Houses, so that the Fairy's had a place to fly their Chariots to, and perhaps even rest on a hammock!
Topping off our party, was a 'Princess Cake' covered in candles, joyous singing and smiles all around!
Every Friday Morning we receive a 'Farm Box' filled with organic fruits and vegetables grown in California. All three of us eagerly await each weeks edible treasures, and I have been loving the challange of cooking with in season, fresh and sometimes unusual vegetables. Often the best solution is the easiest, a simple stir-fry or raw as is. Other times, I need inspiration - and will spend hours looking through my cookbooks or going online in search of the perfect delicious recipe. Today, I discovered a truly delightful blog called "They DrawAnd Cook", filled with wonderful recipes - each illustrated by a talented artist! What a Joy and feast for the eyes as well as the stomach! I only wish I had known about this blog when I taught my 'Fairytale Cookbook Class'! Such Inspiration!!! Do visit this blog HERE, and brouse the many wonderful catagories for hundreds of recipes that are sure to make you smile as well as feed your soul!
(Press on each image to see it larger)
What was the noise Little Brother Bear heard yesterday? Non other than Santa Bear arriving in style! His green shoe sleigh is pulled by two white goats, decked in antique paisley finery. Santa Bear wears a felted wool jacket and holds a huge bag of toys, enough for all the little bears who are now asleep in bed!
Wishing you a most Merry of Christmas' and Many Blessings for the rest of the year!!!
Just for fun, here is a photo of my Inspiration (top left corner), Santa Bear before being costumed, and the antique chocolate mold I used for my paperclay sleigh...
In Denmark December 23rd is known as 'Lil Jule Aften' or 'Little Christmas Eve'. It is the day when last minute preperations take place and then everyone goes and wishes Merry Christmas to their neighbors and friends. Bear House is enjoying these traditions as well! Here Ms. Bear Cook is busily getting all the trimmings together for the Bears Christmas Eve feast! One of the resident Baby Bears can be seen in the corner begging for sweets...
Papa Bear is writing his letter to Santa, while nibbling on cookies. Do you think he is wishing for fish and honey???
GrandMother Bear is admiring the tree, and Grandfather Bear is enjoying playing with yet another resident Baby Bear. He made this Baby Bears stroller years ago!
Upstairs, Mama Bear is taking a well deserved rest in her bedroom, reading a favorite novel, while little sister plays with her dolls.
Oh my! Just listen to the rukus coming from next door! Little sister runs to investigate...
Seems the rest of the Baby bears, have abandoned bath time and taken to jumping on the bed! Lil Jule Aften is always full of activity and adventure!
But look, Brother Bear hears something outside - what could it be???
To be continued...
Here is my latest mask, of the Bremen Town Muscians. You look through the donkey eyes and wear the rest on top of your head!
I also made this Rabbit mask holding a moon - very oriental in feel...
Oh my! Look who has arrived at BEAR HOUSE today! Non other than Krampus himself!!! A few days early, he is here to warn and punish any Bears who may have forgotten their manners...
Krampus was my surprize 'Ornament Exchange Gift' at our annual Castle Christmas Party. Karima, Queen of the Castle created him with all the love and attention she showers onto the Castle on a daily basis! Here I am receiving my gift, just look at that grin! Fortunately for me, my number was high - so no one could steal him away!
Our annual Christmas party is one we all look forward to the whole year. The highlight is our 'Ornament Exchange' complete with stealing allowed. The one rule is that each ornament must be handmade! This year I made a miniature winter parade scene, of a Raindeer with Rabbit and Squirrel Passangers - rushing to greet everyone at the party! Raindeer wears an antique paisley blanket on his back, and Rabbit and Squirrel have 'flower hats' on.
John McRae Won mine early on, and it was stolen twice before it finally found its way home to John again...
And so the adventures continue...
Years ago my Mother made a 'BEAR HOUSE' that was displayed only on Christmas - a Tudor confection that she crafted from a kit. As children grew the tradition become lost and forgotton in storage. I was thrilled when my Mother gifted me the house a few weeks ago, and have been busy updating it for this years holidays. Below is the house as it arrived, without snow or trees. Look at all those individual wooden roof tiles! It also has a backyard, with a white picket fence.
The first thing I did was take a big piece of white batting and layed it over the top of the house and then I ripped and tore all the edges to make it appear as if it had just snowed. Next I found a couple of miniature - but larger than dollhouse size christmas trees for the yard. These I sprayed with spary-glue and then sprinkled faux-snow on them for that realistic winter dusting. The out-house (created by my Mother) also received a dusting of snow. If you look closely you'll see a bird-feeder and 'snow-bear' statue in the yard as well. Things are getting cozy at 'BEAR HOUSE'...
More to come...
Today I had the special treat of seeing my friend Dolph Gotelli's 'An Enchanted Christmas' exhibit now being shown at the Napa Valley Museum in Yountville. If you are anywhere near Napa this is a not to miss exhibit of amazing wonder and delight! (It runs through January 23rd, so there is still plenty of time!) Dolph has created 30 vignettes of his favorite christmas collectables. Everything from 'Santa on a Midnight walk' above, to Grizelda's Christmas Tree - first image below.
My Mother and I spent nearly two hours looking at all the scenes, each one magical and nostalgic. I especially fell in love with 'Dinner At Willow Hollow' seen first below - depicting a christmas feast attended by a variety of woodland animals. Dolphs attention to details is supreme and his ability to make our hearts go back in time flawless. A couple more of my favorites are also seen below. More information on Dolph can be found HERE. And photos of all the scenes are HERE!
ENJOY!
I am having so much fun making textile masks. This woodland deer and a black Krampus have gone to the Castle on approval. So many ideas are skipping through my head... I've also been playing with using Alcohol Inks on crepe paper, making lovely floral colored samples, to use for waxed flowers. More soon...
Sometimes absences are due to too much activity... It's been crazy busy here at Ullabenulla. I've been creating new samples for Spring classes (YES - Spring 2011!) where does time go??? (Image above by Charles Grogg) I will be doing Valentines classes at the Castle, as well as a Mardi Gras 'Mask' class. I had so much fun creating these 'Firebird' and 'Greenman' samples, I'm itching to make some more - especially with Halloween just around the corner!
I also designed and made a new Lizard pin to go with my Chinoiserie Fish pin...
I am working on re-doing my popular 'Backgrounds Class' in a new format. Using a large Moleskine Japanese Foldout journal we'll spend a day creating beautifully detailed and multi-layered pages for a really artful journal experience!
More class samples in the works - the Castle hopes to have a new schedule available by early to mid November.
Just for fun, I've been playing with the idea of creating a 'Haunted Necklace', inspired by the season. Its still in progress, especially after Teenage Daughter said: "Oh Mom, it looks so Marie Antoinette!" Not quite the reaction I was hoping for, but I'll keep trying. I used cotton spider webbing as the base, and made 'beads' from Antique silver ribbon. I also added old torn lace, pearls, hand-stitched baby cap pieces and a wonderful wavy yarn. Haunted it may not be yet - but at least its keeping me occupied...
Another project got started when I pulled out a wonderful old Joan Vass navy knit skirt that I purchased in 1986 in New York, the year I met my husband! (We are big-time into recycling here at Ullabenulla!) Discovering some nasty little moth holes I decided to do some creative patching - 'slow stitching' for those in the know... First a bird, then a flock, and finally an oak branch. Now to find time to do some 'slow beading' as well...
This Blue economy has sparked my daughters and my fashion inspiration! We've been cutting, sewing, embellishing and refashioning our wardrobes. (images to come) With this in mind I've created a new Tumblr account called 'FASHION REFASHION' to house our inspiration. Have a sneak peek HERE!!!
Don't you just love this combo of Burlap, knit and lace??? And check out these be-ribboned and slashed leggings below!
I have just listed my 'Chinoiserie Fabric Fish' brooch as a PDF on my Etsy. This is the perfect project to use those tiny little bits of precious fabrics you have been saving for something special! Inspired by a Chinese Baby Hat in my collection, Fish are symbolic for 'Abundance', 'Plenty' and 'Surplus' in China. Wear one of these pins, or place it in your home, and you will surely attract thse traits!
To buy, use Etsy side bar to the right on this blog or Go Here!
This little 'Merbaby in a clamshell' was so much fun to create. The shell, coral, rock, algae, and underwater flowers were all made of a variety of fabrics and fibers. The sweet little Merbaby was done using a Patricia Rose mold, and is only about 2 inches long... She has a tiny opalescent shell cap and teeny tiny pearls for hair. Summer has me inspired by the ocean and all its many treasures...
The Marionette class over the weekend at the Castle, was a huge success! As you can see from the unpainted heads above, there was a large cast of characters that took shape! Not everyone was able to finish their puppets, but fun was had by all! Among the completed marionettes was a wonderful Nun, in full habit, whose alter ego enjoys playing at 'Burning Man'!
We were also visited by a saucy young lady, with red eyes and a bit of a snarl, dressed in lace and nano felting. Just look at those slippers!
A very 'Dolly' like Ballerina with glittery legs, took spins on our floor! She is wearing a very chic ballon-like French Dress, complete with sexy undergarments!
The last marionette to be completed in class was 'Mossy Fine-Fernfeather of the Fine-Fernfeather Clan from Oak Grove North of Marshy Glen'! A dashing young man with red hair and striped nickers! I was just told this morning that "he's in good health, subsisting on dew drops, flower petals, fairy cakes & vanilla soy lattes." Doesn't get much better than that!
We wait patiently for updates on a lovely little fairy, created by the Castles resident 8 year old princess, seen here ironing her fairies costume.
Also awaiting in the wings of this grand performance are a handsome winged Owl who is a pharmacist by profession, a mischievous calico kitty cat, a dainty little lady, and Papageno the Birdcatcher, from the Magic Flute!
My beloved Apple tree is in bloom outside of my studio. After a rather difficult winter, its blossoms tease me out of my doldrums. I thought I'd share with you a few of the projects I've been working on recently, and show you some peeks at what I will be teaching this summer! First, I am thrilled to be creating with textiles again. My studio floors are awash in a sea of colors, until I can rearrange my storage space.
I litterly have BOXES and BOXES of fabrics buried in the garage, from my wearable art and doll days back when. Its the old textured fabrics that I seem to gravitate to these days, silks, velvets, laces and damasks... Although the classes I am offering this Spring at the CASTLE are full, I will be doing lots more this summer, as well as here in my studio. Keep an eye on my side bar for upcoming classes!
I was inspired by one of my Chinese Baby Hats to create a delightful 'Chinoiserie Fish Brooch Class' to be offered this summer. (Date to come) These little guys are about 7 inches long, and look fabulous pinned onto a hat, blouse or pillow!
Working with the same technique I've been experimenting in creating Cicadas and Moths as well. I'm not as happy with these yet, but they bode well for a future project, down the road...
My Fabric Flower Necklace class filled so quickly at the Castle, I've created a new Fabric Flower class for the summer. We will be using a variety of poly linings to create colorful blooms that not only look wonderful as jewelry, but are light and airy enough to attach to clothing. (Date to come)
I am also working on some samples for a 'MAD HATTER' class, where we will create small decorative hats (also known as Fascinator's) that sit on top of ones head! Here are a couple of little hats to tempt you for this summer.
Although I have not been porcelain painting as much as I would like to, I have been working on a SELKIE head, with a sealife bust. It's been great fun to paint a fantasy underwater scene, with crabs, coral and fish. My goal is to paint her head, as if she is just coming out of her seal skin, leaving one world for another. There is something about the Selkie Myth that really resonates with me right now, perhaps it is their ability to live in two worlds, and yet they are eternally bound only to one.
Last but not least, I have been growing rare and coveted Oriental Indigo seeds in my windowsill! This may not seem like much, but truth be told, babying these little guys and watching them grow has been a highlight of the last few weeks! Soon they will venture out into the garden, and hopefully grow big and strong. If all goes as planned, then by Summers end, I will be able to make my own batch of Indigo Dye!
I recently took a Natural Dye Class from Rebecca Burgess and was so inspired by the results (see below) that I have been not only collecting pots and pans, but also Apple and Cherry tree cuttings, onion skins and avocado pits! I dream of being able to offer a variety of natural dyed fabrics in my classes, as I find the mellow colors so wonderful to work with!
I hope this post tempts you to stay tuned. I promise class dates and more studio creations soon!
Blessings,
Ulla
