little pretties that i want to make, find and wear: leather hair ties a la indian princess, necklaces fashioned from loops of fabric, wide obi belts to wear over dresses, and vintage clips to keep winter scarves in place.

23″ by 15″ painting (admitting my love for lean creatures)

i’ve loved making our old house a home but sometimes the room that guests see the least is the last one for attention. so after being sick in bed for days last week, i realized that i wanted to finally figure out how to make the bedroom somewhere we could retreat to. i tore out this sheet from vogue’s october issue to guide my decorating whims…

the first thing was finding the right color for the walls, which i pulled from the oscar de la renta skirt; rich and dark…something completely different than i would normally gravitate towards…and completely right for the room! the hue compliments the mahogany sleighbed and the doorknobs stand out so much more with the contrast.

the enourmous sleighbed took up most of the room so instead of getting rid of it (my usual solution for starting over with things) i dismantled the footboard. though you can’t really tell from this photo, i found some creamy silk pillowcases that gives the room a lot more sheen and lightens up the masculine feel. the picture frames glisten when the crystal beaded scones are lit up with my favorite vanilla scent in the evening. my comforter and pillows are in all different shades of chocolate brown and the best part is a faux fur throw at the end of the bed…

i’m nearly finished with the exception of a plush area rug on the dark wood floors and some possibly more artwork. maybe just a few more girly sprakley things? olive the other reindeer kitty watched every stroke of the paintbrush in sheer fascination, head bobbing up and down, back and forth…until she got tired and pooped out on top of the dresser.

maybe it just needs some flowers blooming above the ear?
it’s quite cool but the sun is brightly shining outside today.

lovely things i would like.

i recently discovered that sun kil moon has covered some modest mouse songs!! i remember always having both artists in heavy rotation nine years ago. (not digitized and listened to in my giant “portable” cd player and huge headphones) modest mouse was of local tiny fame and saw them lots before they got so strangely popular. so i never would’ve thought the two would mix.

put on your slippers, get a hot mug of cocoa and come take a peek! if there’s anything that you would like custom made for the gift giving season, please send a quick note and we’ll chat.

a creation i crocheted for my mom’s birthday! scarves are so delicious. like a portable turtleneck, a spiral of whipped color winding around a bare necks brightening up winter wear everywhere. i have a daydream of a city street scene where everyone is wearing scarves that look like frosting piped through a pastry bag with fancy tips. yummy. that would make a good painting…i think i am craving something sweet now too…

parts of a whole: a mixed media assemblage done in the middle of the night. (the best time to find quiet, uninterrupted space). the more beat up a scrap of canvas, the more exciting.

this day holds the perfect temperature for daydreaming. just to be near the sunlight filtering through my windows is bliss. leaves have finally carpeted the lawn. most of the day was spent finding a daring hue and my head is spinning with tiny one inch paint swatches. my light bedroom walls are now changing to “relaxed navy.” i suspect i will be more than satisfied (such a cheap thrill, paint!) and create a rich winter cocoon. i noticed that i lost a few pounds from being sick and today was the first morning that i felt renewed. hello kitchen. hello taste. i had forgotten you. where shall i begin…

and i feel like a giddy school girl because imogen heap sent me mail via flickr. well, okay…she was writing me back! if i had to choose a soundtrack to my life (limit to one artist) to describe this past year, she would sing it. how many times have i taken that voice on walks through the neighborhood? collaged and painted and kissed my boys’ cheeks with it in the background? i just can’t play her songs enough…

it is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for something you are not. ~Andre Gide

i stumbled on this quotable and for some reason it struck a chord with me today. this cold has had me in bed all day again. i slept through the entire wake of saturday but still managed to paint in the middle of the night {just now} it felt glorious.

only a few more days (camera is coming) until i can show you real life~so in the meantime here is an embroidery piece i’ve been crushing on. i know i found it here, but i can’t find out who to credit. i just love the strings flying from that fleshy hand. how threads can tell a story is a fascination to me.  various squares of cloth from old shirts that marcus was ready to give away are all stitched together and sealed on wood. often i find most of my materials while out thrifting or just around. what can i use this for? is a question that always crosses my mind. (use your resources) sometimes while i am out walking i find metal scraps or trinkets that blend with new materials and become something wonderful. does anyone else like to take walks on their neighborhood’s major garbage day? because our historic village has the best throw aways…