Last night I felt like a freight train ran through me, (probably getting Max’s cold) so I forfeited all of my to-dos and went out to stock up on old movies. My first choice was Three Coins in the Fountain, can you believe that I have never seen it? I won’t spoil any of it, but here’s a little taste. The premise is set up in Rome, where three american secretaries are all hoping for romance. They start off their adventures by throwing coins in the Trevi Fountain, hoping that it will bring them magic. Of course, they have to wish to return to Rome. (Hey! I did that and look what happened! Magic!) Here’s some screen shots of my favorite parts…
“The right paintings say the right things to the right people.” Prince Dino and Maria falling in love in the museum.
The beautiful and classy Dorothy McGuire (who is Frances in the movie) was my favorite character. Frances had the best wardrobe in the movie, from her frocks and charm bracelets down to the spectacular glasses. I love these glasses, especially when she is in front of that typewriter. You just can’t beat the 1950s for design!
“I’m not too old to do whatever I please!” Frances takes a dive in a fountain frustrated with love. Don’t worry, this movie is a classic and there is always a happy ending!
poor max. he’s had an awful cold all week, it’s all i can do to please him. he has been extra clingy, huggy and pajama-ed. and getting no sleep. obviously, he couldn’t take it anymore and fell asleep completely upright with spoon still in hand over a fast dinner choice of oatmeal. (his request:) that was the last we saw of him until morning, marcus and i tried so hard to wake him up so he could finish eating, but he was long gone.
it’s time for my head to collapse onto my pillow, i’ve been up late tonight making necklaces. using a soldering iron isn’t as easy as i thought it would be, but it’s been interesting to watch the silver melt onto my designs. i just need one more uninterrupted block of time with them and then a few of them will be flying away in the mail to a patient friend. (they’re coming tine!)
whew! all that intense heat near my fingers and eyes made me nervous so i had to whip out my glue stick and work in some 2-D action to wrap things up for the evening! i’m hoping for a package of new watercolor paintbrushes will arrive tomorrow, the brushman on eBay has ‘em cheap as dirt right now.
great danes on main street. they are such noble looking giants.
chairs for sale. wonder if they will trade for some fresh baked cookies?
my neighbor fanny owns this diner, it’s right next door to us.
Sometimes just writing something down can make it happen.
I really didn’t plan on so many magical things coming out of an innocent blog. I just wanted a space outside of my head to track my creative life. To keep track of my dreams, little and big. And tonight, my biggest dream came true.
Moments ago I found myself reading a one line email from my mom, saying that my hopeful trip to Italy was a go, with her.
Can I be in more shock? Could there be anything better? Is this computer playing tricks on my eyes? No, it’s real, a phone call gives immediate proof (as I interrupt a night of Uno playing on their end) “your welcome” as I hyperventilate and thank. Somewhere inside of me believed that it wouldn’t really happen. That life would get in the way. That another appliance would break or the space would fill up before I could scrape my pennies together.
But nothing stands in the way now. A magical door is opened. I will have painting for days with no interruption in the most beautiful of all places. I can’t think straight. I can’t form sentences. I can only think of being there. And I will have my mom all to myself, and painting, Italy. My lips form a perfect smile of contentment.
this week has gone by too quickly! i’ve been working a little on the garden here and there, with naps after all the sunshine, playgroups, and cooking in my new oven to replace the old rusty beast that was in the house when we moved here. we also bought a new fridge! outside domestic life, i did capture a few hours (all in one chunk! that never happens!) in my studio, working on a few paintings that i hope to go in a show at the hilton gallery. i don’t want to jinx myself, since it’s been a while, but i have already spoken with one of the owners and he was more than pleased to see what i have to show him.
my neighbor susan gave me the most wonderful and unexpected yard sale finds today. every spring, our little village has a enormous yard sale~everyone drags out their junk! we have the best yard sales in this neighborhood. the sad thing is, i didn’t remember that the event always lands on the same day as the village springfest (today) and i was out running errands all morning so we missed out on the goods. so i ran into susan and she surprised me by sharing some of her bounty. p.s. she has the BEST garden in her backyard~cascading wisteria, fountains, old ladders and dumpster finds turned into sculpture, even a female mannequin bust that she weather-proofed into a copper patina yard goddess. she’s volunteering me some of her plants, so i can’t wait to venture back there and take some photos.
she gave me these beautiful vintage trays are going to hang on my family room wall.
and two little white ceramic birdies to hide in potted plants or visit magical places indoors.
..to all of my “italian homesickness.” i came back from visiting with my family this past week to find some wonderful messages from some hometown friends. one of them is the amazing Cindy Briggs, an artist who also happened to be one of my church leaders when i was growing up. not only is she teaching some painting workshops, but while browsing around her website, i discovered that she will be bringing a group of students for a tuscany workshop next summer. my heart leaped reading about it! i am, from this very second on, saving every single penny i can get to be able to go. i’ve already sent away for more information. (thanks for the info michelle!)
this past week went by too quickly, it felt like a dream as we drove back home. did i really just see my brother and sister, mom and dad, grandma too? i cried all the way back, wondering when i would see my family again. we are complete opposite sides of the country and it had been almost a year and a half since we last saw everyone, so you can see why i would wonder! but the past few days they were here, we fit in everything! a couple games of mini-golf, some dining and shopping, swimming, movies, hours of hgtv haha, colonial tours of the area, visited presidents park, even rollercoasters at busch gardens. i miss them already!
pieces of me. i feel like what i listen to while creating greatly effects the outcome of a piece, little or big. it’s not as enjoyable to paint without music. like watercolors without the water.
i’ll be out all next week, i have loads of chores to do before my family comes to visit my little place and then we’re off to enjoy some adventures together! must go pack…
for tine’s studio friday, the theme this week is flora. i have many little plants all around me, but here are some flower seed packets on my message board waiting to come out into the warm earth.
our tree lined street.
Last night I had an appointment for a european facial at the spa where my m had given me a gift certificate to this past christmas. I am totally hooked. It was so relaxing! Arms and legs massaged while a face treatment was sinking in, warm stones places on neck and collarbone, peppermint and lavender essentail oils and calming music…sighhh. It was the perfect way to end a day, the entire spa was deserted expect for me, and the receptionist. I was a little bit early so I sat in their cafe/waiting room and waited. I have been so busy this week, it was a little strange to be somewhere by myself with nothing to do. To clean. To DO. At first I couldn’t stop hearing my little planner yelping at me from my bag, begging for me to write down some ideas or notes. It didn’t take long for everything to melt away into calm and quiet. I sank deeper into a big cushioned chair and enjoyed a picture book about Paris. Enjoyed the music. Before I knew it, I had warm towels and cotton pads sinking my eyes into relaxation.
I can’t wait to go back for something else. I was always one of those girls who thought that it was silly to fork over money for something like a mask or getting my nails painted, especially when I could do that myself for a few bucks! Now I get it.
