I am completely in love with the work of Spanish artist Beatriz Martin Vidal. Her evocative and moody images portray fairytales, myths and other personal inspirations. A subtle theme of overgrowing foliage runs throughout much of her work, poetically twining between her subjects. Like dreams - pulling from leaf to leaf...
More work here.
The drawings of Dutch artist Juul Kraijer speak to my heart and soul. Gentle charcoal strokes that are in 'the domain of the spirit, draw images that seem quiet, but are also filled with tension and otherworldliness. The young girl portrayed in each drawing is transformed - is she human? or is she something else entirely?
Lovely... via Hortus Noctis
This delightful shelf is called 'Limited Fungi' and was made by Katharina Mischer for Droog Products. When you purchase a shelf, part of the money goes to the environmental projects that try to save the specific fungi species featured. "A limited design for unlimited life'! (made of rotten wood, tin and resin) I can see an entire wall filled with these shelves - creating a personal 'wall of curiosities'...
Many of you know about my love for David and Paul and 'The Old Pretenders'. Well I am thrilled to announce that they have started a blog! Filled with stunning photos of many of their newest creations, it serves as a beautiful showcase for their reproduction English Wooden Dolls. Please go HERE and say hello to these 2 amazingly talented gentlemen!
I cannot remember where I found this image, if you know please tell... But I adore the details. Look at that leaping, or is he flying, hare... and those shoes with feathers... This is a party I would love to go to. Care to join me?
Press on image to see in more detail.
These delicate papercuts are by Helen Musselwhite! I love how they wind around inside the glass domes, so you feel as if there is a whole other world within! Her work is spellbinding and wonderfully whimsical!
I think these pieces by Emma Molony are marvelous! How clever to do 'Peter and the wolf' papercuts and then mount them behind glass - like a moving story! The box below is 'The Snowqueen'. See more of Emma's wonderful work Here!
There is something very poetic in the expressions of the dolls by Russian artist Yanovskaya Anastasia. Perhaps it is there full smooth cheeks that attract me, or their doe-like eyes and cupid smiles. The artist also has a gift of draping textiles to form costumes that look awash in a pool of wonder!
Glorious...
I've been in love with the wallpapers of Marthe Armitage for a while now. Their attention to detail and subtle coloring is supreme! Marthe handcuts lino blocks for each design and then rolls them herself on huge presses. True artistry at work here!
The papers are carried by the prestigious Hamilton Weston, a supplier of many historic wallpapers. Images and scans here from the beautiful blog Little Augury.
When I saw this over at A Little Hamster something went bang in my heart! When I am finished teaching and can't think of what else to do, I want to be 'the funny little old lady, wearing wild hats, who gives marionette shows out of a suitcase - along busy streets'! Perhaps I can talk my husband into doing the music, and we can be 'the CrAzY couple who entertains'!!! Now there's a dream!
After the Christmas whirlwind, I always feel a need and desire for quite contemplation. The season, with its lower sun, colder days and bare trees, makes my heart tremble slightly and wish for warmth. I find times like this, similar to days in illness, forces me to look at myself in ways I normally wouldn't. My soul opens like a fairy tale, and invites in questions...
Where do I belong?
What has the most meaning to me?
Who do I cherish?
Why do I do what I do?
How will I bring 'GRACE' to my life?
What questions do you contemplate these days?
Here it is the 25th already, and I have not made a Christmas Greeting post. Being Scandinavian our festivities happened yesterday and today is a day of rest and reflection...
How does one make 'grace' when times are lean? The economy and my illness has made this years Christmas the leanest ever. And yet... My husband and I agreed that it has also been one of the best. When money is scarce, creativity takes its place. Added to that is a heavy dose of 'Gratefulness'. Our resident teenager has shown more courage, strength and love than we ever expected, from times like these -- I absolutely love watching her grow into a young woman. The smiles and laughter of my many nieces and nephews heals tender hearts! Homemade food and delicious local wines keep hunger at bay. Californian sunshine (its 65 degrees today!) is pushing up spring blooms, and wonderful green weeds, reminding me of a new season on its way!
I am continually grateful and amazed at how wonderful my worldly readers and friends - YES you are all friends! So many faces, so many smiles, so many lovely words... I feel touched by grace - daily!
Todays photos are of the puppets in the Castles Christmas Windows, appropriate in their varied faces and whimsy. They inspire me, with their lovingly carved freatures and remind me that no matter what we look like, we are all family!
Blessings to all of you!
Ulla
This amazing work is by Penny Leaver Green! Her discovery of an old fan with birds on it, tattered and torn, has now become a delightful work of art! Be sure and look deeper into her websight for more wonderful creations!!! She also has an Etsy Shop - well worth exploring!
My Mother has a collection of special teacups and just recently asked me what she should do with them... Of course my first thought was to make a pretty display with them like the one above. But a GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH made me realize there are so many wonderful things she could do with them! Here are teacups as birdbaths, candles, lamps, planters, pincushions (this one by the wonderfully creative Mimi Kirchner), cupcake and dessert holders, wineglasses and last but not least costumes! Anyone else care to add to the ideas???
All images found on Google Images.
Sometimes I could just kick myself for not finding Inspiration like these earlier! These 3 Vintage German scenes would have made truly wonderful Holiday Classes - I'm thinking of next year now! Just look at the details! And the use of cotton batting, paper scrap and doll house shapes is supreme! Although they are all sold, we can gather hours of creative ideas from these images!!!
Many more details can be found Here, and Here, and Here
