ULLABENULLA

Bee's in April

A swarm of bees in May
Is worth a load of hay;
A swarm of bees in June
Is worth a silver spoon;
A swarm of bees in July
Is not worth a fly.

So what is a swarm of bees in April worth? I just came home from lunch and found a swarm in my apple tree - as long as my arm, and as thick as a basketball! I called the official 'Bee Swarm List', did you know that such a thing excisted? I didn't! And now someone will come out to collect them, soon I hope as they are right outside my studio door! (poem and art from The Real Mother Goose, bees from my garden!)

JoAnnA's Wings...

This delightful artwork is by JoAnnA of Moss Hill Studio. I love her use of media and lovely message that really speaks to her own personal struggle. Blessings to you JoAnnA!!!

The Drone

(By Arthur Hacker via the blog Art Magick)

Pinocchio Fashion?

Its difficult not to think of Pinocchio when looking at the fashion designs of Japanese designer Koji Arai. I love the additional wooden 'accessories' that make the models look like walking dolls! Comfort is not the goal here, but visual delight and surprise reign supreme!!! (Link via the wonderful blog Style Skilling)

Poetic Morning...

(Beautiful photos by Yamamoto Masao)

Patterns And Folklore

Recently Ashley Lloyd sent me an email asking me to 'please take a look at her work.' What a wonderful gift she gave me! Ashley is currently a sophmore at the Maryland Institute College of Art, majoring in Painting. For one so young, she already has a distinct personal style, focus and pattern in her work. But as you can see from her pieces, her true inspiration are FAIRYTALES!!! (Her self portrait was inspired by both Snow White and Cinderella!) I am really attracted to her "shaped pieces", which she says "are toiled copper with paint and threads and I guess you would call it mixed media." They remind me a little of medival purses, rich in history and treasure... Ashley's focus on the handmade is intentional; "Most of my work is about implied symmetry but with the injection of the hand which can never let something be absolutely perfect. I like the romantic idea of the handmade therefore none of my pieces use stencils." Ashley's paintings are lyrical and magical, like stepping into a wonderful story about to begin... I can barely wait to see what she will create next!!! (some of Ashley's work is for sale Here!)

Flower Fairies...

Costumes by C. Wilhelm for "A Midsummer Night's Dream", produced by R. Courtneidge for the Princes Theatre, Manchester and available as prints from The Bridgeman Art Library

What Mr. McGregor Left!

(from R. John Wright Dolls)