Texas in California

It started with a sign... a single feather that waited for us when we first stepped into the backyard of our new home. It could have only been there for the wingkeeper to pick it up.The sign became a wish... so I made this photo-montage of the two of us in the backyard (that has much prettier chairs and greener grass now) and sent it to her.And then it happened. One day after Christmas my present arrived and stepped in her bouncy shoes from my car.
Sharon (of Norah's art) was here! She brought laughter and joy, shadows and art, beauty and friendship and ceremonies and stories.... and we had five days of sharing and fun.
It started with a lemon tree ceremony. She gifted me with an amazing tree flag... I saw only fragments of it on her blog and had no idea what it was.
The text says: "BALANCE LIFE AND LEMON TREES" and that is exactly what I plan to do in the next year. My friend is spending the day in three different planes and four airports and I am missing her company already and planing for our next meeting. I think this was the best possible way to finish the year... something that will set the path for 2009. Life and lemon trees. Art and friendship. I wish you all a very happy 2009! May we all laugh, create and learn new things in it.

Monday.

Martha made them, then Emily, then Julie..... and finally I had to try t0o.Beautiful, white clouds of sugary softness. So bad for you...

Look how sticky and stringy they are! Hana enjoyed taking pictures of me making a mess. Fun!

Is it late to make Christmas cards? I think it's never late for good wishes, but I will try to start earlier next year.

I still have some roses in my yard. Now I have them on the ornaments too. Painted these last weekend.

Four more days and my Christmas surprise will be here...

It's over

Thank you for the comments and sweet emails. It is finished and I survived. What's more, I might have gotten over my ridiculous fear. This dentist is sweet and gentle and has twinkling eyes. So, next time I go I won't have to make such a big thing out of it as now. Unfortunately, my tooth was un-saveable (broken in all the wrong places) so it had to go out. Now I have several stitches and it doesn't feel really good to talk (so I'm silent) and I have slept I think 4 hours after it.... Tomorrow will be a perfect day! xoxoxoxo

A sketch

I often sketch on random pieces of paper in various places trying to capture how I'm feeling. Not like a real self-portrait (I don't know to do that), more like the emotion I feel and can't get rid of. Somehow I can breathe easier when I get it on paper. Sometimes I incorporate the sketch on my journal pages, but today I didn't have time for it. Maybe tomorrow. I know that tomorrow I'll feel much better. At least I won't be scared in the afternoon. The dreaded dentist visit (root canal and something else) is tomorrow morning. I have whined about it to my blogging friends on several continents and I know that we will all be happy when it's over.
Swirly Girl wrote a blog post to which I related today, so I used some of the words on my sketch. BTW - she has giveaways every day on her blog...
Eight more days.... or is it seven? One little week before my Christmas surprise appears...

Happy circular thoughts

Circles, circles and more circles.....
Eyes are circles... And soap balloons too....
I think I managed to make a square look like a circle.

12"x12"

- available on etsy-

Some new journal pages

I thought I'd share some journal pages I recently painted. I am getting more and more relaxed in my journal, just picking the colors that feel right at the time, not thinking too much about the color combinations. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
I also started making weird drawings like the next one. Where did she come from? I think I like her.
This one is not speaking to me at all, but she'll stay there with the others.
I painted this page last month, but I don't think I showed it (and if it's not on the blog, it's like it never happened).
Hope your week is going on well. xo

Can't stop painting circles...

Dreamer and a Wish

It has been a very long time since I made a journal. I used to love creating these journals "with a secret". They are cute journals that look like a normal book, but have a removable spine that reveals a hidden 'inside' book. This time I made them 3"x5" using the beautiful Fabriano artistico watercolor paper. It took me the longest time to get decent photos of them. For some reason the blue color does not show up as deep as it is and it was frustrating. Finally I gave up and picked the best looking photos, hoping that your imagination will add the saturation of the color that the monitor does not show. Both are available in my etsy.

Roses

While I'm enjoying all the winter photos in blog world, I can't add to them... simply because winter never really comes here. While we were living in the apartment I never noticed that flowers don't stop blooming. I am completely surprised to have roses in December... and so many beautiful ones.
I followed the link on Misty's blog.
It took me here.
And now I can't stop playing with digital polaroid photos. They look really good when you click to enlarge them...
Needless to say - I will not see the movie, and I'm not sure about the Christmas tree either... but I had fun taking pictures and making 'polaroids' from them. Try it - you'll get addicted too.

Happy weekend!

I'm looking forward to spending the weekend at home, putting up the Christmas tree, cooking yummy treats, working in the garden and maybe going to see a movie... I can't decide what to watch - "Australia" or "Twilight"? Hana would love to see Twilight for the third time... but I'm not sure. Did anyone see "Australia"?

Growing up...

So..... yesterday was December 1st, and it started on a Monday and for some reason I thought that it was a good thing and I was in very good mood... up to 1p.m. Then I found out that I made a mistake at work and that it would cost the company money and time and everything changed. I wanted to cry, run away and never come back.
But I didn't.... And that's why the title is growing up.
Because that's what grown ups do... And then they go home and pay the bills, listen to their children, make doctor appointments and do other grown up stuff (including drinking a glass of wine to wash out the stress). My boss said something like: "Don't bend for the one stone you dropped, when there are 100 stones that you already picked up". That helped a bit. On the other hand, I never made a big mistake at work.... never.... and I'm wondering how did I let this one slip up. Maybe because my head is in swirls of purple and orange and green and not where it should be? Not easy being a grown up. Wouldn't it be nicer (and easier) if we could all make a living playing with color all day long?

Four blissfull days

Hello! Hello! Can you see the sun through my hair? All four non-working days were warm, sunny and completely blissful! I had several cooking marathons, lovely talks with my kids, bike ride with my dh, watched movies, played with the dirt in our garden, bought the first outdoor Christmas lights for our house, cuddled with the cat, ate chocolate, napped in the afternoons... Almost forgot - Hana (my teenage daughter) has been trying to make me read "Twilight" for some time. My excuse was the lack of time. Well - I had time and I read the first book, fell in love with the vampire guy (the ultimate bad boy/good girl story) and now can't wait to go and see the movie. One other thing... a piece of my tooth broke and now I have to go to the dentist and that terrifies me (for no reason at all, never had a bad experience, but I'm always afraid beyond normal comprehension). :-(
I can't decide if this girl needs some words or is she saying enough without words...
Thank you for the birthday comments. I wish I could have shared my cupcakes with you because they were more than delicious. Random.org choose the winner of my painting. Kate was the lucky number 6. So, please Kate email me your address so that I can send the painting to you. Thanks for playing!

Special

I made this "Special" ATC card for a very special lady that has been patiently waiting for a package from me for over a year. I am horrible... I really am. No excuse for letting that much time go by. It doesn't show well on the photo, but I thought I might mention it - look at the heart. I used Tim Holtz's new distress stickles. It's glitter, but not a glittery kind of glitter (!?!), more like old German glass kind of thing. I like it a lot.

I had to pack the ATC in something, so I painted a box (as usually inspired by the oh-so-creative Sharon).
The lady in the Post Office loved the box and asked me where did I buy it (!!!!). That was a cool compliment. Here are photos of the other sides. It was so much fun to make. I played with stencils and masks, spray paint, acrylic, glitter, stamps... Very relaxing. I hope she'll like it.

Thank you for all the birthday wishes! If you want to be a part of the giveaway just add a comment to the previous post. I will close commenting on Sunday (11/30) and pick a winner.

Happy Birthday Giveaway!

Happy Birthday to me!!!

I couldn't fit 44 candles on the cupcakes, so 6 will do.

My real life friends are almost at the door, but I wanted to say hi to my online friends too! Thank you for all the sweet comments and support and being here when I need it.
I would like to give away a painting that shows friendship or sisterhood or something like that. If you like it, please leave a comment and I will pick up the winner next Sunday.

- 9"x12" canvas panel -

In case you wonder, these are the best, creamiest, most delicious chocolate mousse uncooked cupcakes. No flower, sugar, eggs, cream.... just the good, healthy stuff. I don't think that anyone would know that they are good for them. Oh, not to mention the little rolled chocolates that go with them. YUM! I wish I could share them with all of you. The recipe for them can be found here (wonderful raw food blog). Try it. You will be surprised...

I accepted a dare

A couple of weeks ago my dear friend wrote that she picked some wild flowers and that she is sending them to me. Imagine my surprise when I returned from work one day and this greeted me:
Of course I didn't have to look at the address to know that it was Norah's work. I left the box unopened for ages and just looked at it. So many things to see! Notice the shapes and colors and funny eyes and fish and the dreamy creature:
More of it on the back:
And then the side..... she didn't forget that. I really thought that I will forever "always be happy" when I saw it there.
After two hours my daughter insisted that I open the package. So I did. Package after package after package.
I will be selfish and not share all the treasures found in there. But I'll show you the wild flower. It was hidden between the pages of a book.
The book is called "I Dare You!" And that was the theme of the package.
Here is the sweetest painting on one of the front pages. And another wildflower.At the bottom of the box there was this adorable bag:Inside - a surprise! Another "I Dare You" book! One for Sharon and one for me. So that we can play inside the pages and exchange them and play some more until they can't close from all the art inside.
And because she is the wingkeeper, she started 'my' book with a single feather and a poem.
I never collaborated with anyone on anything. And I am beyond scared to play in these books... scared to 'ruin' them, or create something that she won't like (or I won't like). But the gift was so beautiful and the title of the book so perfect and the thought of looking at her art up close just so inviting that I plan to step out of my comfort zone and allow art (good or bad) to just be. I hope we fill the pages of two little books with good energy, thoughts and friendship. Thanks Sharon.