ULLABENULLA

Have You Made Your Dress Yet For The Bloglandia BALL???

Many of you may have heard of the upcoming 'BLOGLANDIA BALL', hosted by the ever effervescent Elizabeth Bunsen! (If not, do visit E.B.'s Blog and find out all the details!) Yesterday afternoon, my dear friend and neighbor LEA invited my daughter and I to a 'Ball Gown Design Party' on her back porch. Fellow neighbor Lynnette (she's the one peeking behind her 'gown in progress' above!) and her two daughters also came along for the fun! Using a joyful profusion of papers, ribbons, trims and glue - Glorious Dresses were created that would make any Couture Loving Girl envious!!! Gown unvailing will have to wait till the BALL opens it's doors on the September 26th Full Moon, but here is a peek at the fun we had yesterday!!!

Where Snoots Live..!

Have you ever wondered where 'Snoots' come from? Or where 'Maxfield and Parish' take a breather after robbing art museums? Well, I am delighted to tell you, they live quite close to me, in a magical home filled with wonders and treasures... Nimble fingered Trish somehow manages to keep this wild menagerie in line! Snoots sit on chairs, and cavort across shelves and under tables... They particularily like to hide under tiny lights and gather for celebrations, party hats at the ready... One wonders what happens when you close the door, or go to sleep - certainly dreams come true here! You can even have a snoot all your own If You Get Tempted! I warn you though, Snoots have a way of winding around your heart, and making themselves at home, no matter where they are!!! ENJOY!

“Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.”

...sensual words from the bible, describing the essence of Pomegranates.

On our Tenth anniversary, eight years ago, we planted 10 trees in our front yard, one of which was a 'non-fruiting Pomegranate'. 5 years hence a tiny little fruit showed up, and I thought it was just a fluke... Well, as each year passed, more and more deep red globes gathered on our tree, and this year, it looks positively like Christmas is early (real early!) in our yard! Obviously, we have a 'fruiting' tree, and truth be told, I Love it!!! Our little tree is now a teenager of 12 feet, with luscious full Pomegranates 'within its locks'...

The myth of Persephone, the dark goddess of the Underworld, also prominently features the pomegranate. In one version of Greek mythology, Persephone was kidnapped by Hades and taken off to live in the underworld as his wife. Her mother, Demeter (goddess of the Harvest), went into mourning for her lost daughter and thus all green things ceased to grow. Zeus, the highest ranking of the Greek gods, could not leave the Earth to die, so he commanded Hades to return Persephone. It was the rule of the Fates that anyone who consumed food or drink in the Underworld was doomed to spend eternity there. Persephone had no food, but Hades tricked her into eating four pomegranate seeds while she was still his prisoner and so, because of this, she was condemned to spend four months in the Underworld every year. (Illustration from an old Herbal)

While musing on these lovely fruits don't miss Carols Delicious Pomegranate Post where she asks us "why there are no pomegranate macarons?" among other fetching things...!!!

"Virgin and Child with Pomegranate" by Raphaele Santi; pomegranate's on velvet by Fortuny, and a pomegranate vessel by One Crazy Cleric.

Out and About...

I was in Berkeley yesterday, and fell in love with this magnificent painting at 'Tail Of The Yak'! Unfortunately it was $8,000.00 out of my price range!!! Ahhhh, but a girl can dream... Isn't she lovely???

A Gift That Brought Tears...

Yesterday I had the true thrill of reciving a box from David And Paul in the mail. They had told me they had something they wanted me to see, a while back, but I had no idea! Few gifts bring me to tears, but this one did! Trembling with anticipation I unwrapped the tissue and discovered a diminutive and divine little 'old pretender' wearing an impish smile and exquisite clothing!!! Having seen numerous photos of their dolls, I can now honestly say, seeing one in person is better than any photo!!! The attention to detail on this little lass is supreme... Just look at those tiny little hands, and her nose and chin carved just so... She is completely jointed, with little pegs allowing her to sit and move her arms to and fro... She is wearing a dress that I am sure Marie Antoinette would envy, hand-sewn from bodice to hem, with tiny pin-prick stitches and gorgeous antique fabrics. I can't begin to find the words to THANK YOU dearest David And Paul, and yes, I was totally SURPRISED AND VERY VERY PLEASED!!! Today she sits with my beloved Aubusson (I thought you'd appreciate the two together), until I can find a special way to display her properly. I hear fabulous music each and every time I look at her, a tune of regal celebration and gratitude... I am truly overwhelmed and oh so blessed!!!!
This last summer rose is especially for you David And Paul, THANK YOU FROM MY OVERFLOWING HEART!!!!!!

Soldered Jewelry in Ulla's Studio

I am late in posting this, as its been a couple of weeks now, but recently I had the genuine pleasure of teaching 'Soldered Jewelry' to blogging buddy Trish, neighbor and friend Lucille and Lovely Jocelyn and her daughter Molly (who both flew up from L.A.!) in my studio! They all created wonderful treasures which need to be shared here! (Thank you to Lea for taking photos when my camera was missing!) Enjoy!!!

'ABC's Of Altered Books' at the Castle!

Here are some of the wonderful pages created by my 8 students this weekend at the Castle in 'The ABC's Of Altered Books'! So much variety and so many inspired designs. Great job girls!!!

Sunday Girls!

I am at the Castle this weekend, teaching another session of 'The ABC's Of Altered Books', to a wonderful group of 8 women. What is it about gathering to create with those of our 'own kind' that makes us so giddy? I just love, love, love being with other women playing, creating, exploring and teaching! Its infectious and inspiring on so many levels... I Always come home exhausted but filled and ready to jump into my own work full force!
And speaking of my work, I hope to finally get some new things on Etsy this week! Here's another peek at a new Halloween necklace in progress - celebrating the wonderful artistic 'brew' that we women create together so well!!!