Thursday, December 31, 2009

"Once Upon a Blue Moon..."




...a New Year and a new decade will arrive.

"The last day of 2009 is a doozy --
triply auspicious.
Not only is it the eve of a new year,
a new decade no less,
there will be a full moon,
a lunar eclipse
and
a blue moon to boot.
When a month is graced with two full moons,
the second one is called a blue moon."
Source: Donna Henes...Huffington Post

"The New Year's Eve blue moon will be visible
in the United States, Canada,
Europe, South America and Africa.
For party goers in Australia and Asia,
the full moon does not show up until New Year's Day,
making January
a blue moon month for them.
However,
the Eastern Hemisphere can celebrate
with a partial lunar eclipse on New Year's Eve
when part of the moon enters the Earth's shadow.
The eclipse
will not be visible in the Americas."
Source: Associated Press

Wherever you may celebrate this New Year's Eve
enjoy yourself, be safe,
and
maybe take a moment
to just glance up at the last full moon
of this decade...
and simply
smile at her universal beauty.
:)

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

"A True BLUE..."

...Blooming Tuesday Post...presented first...
"Au Natural"...

...then
flipped and texturized using Microsoft Editor.
Ahhh!
Click on images to enlarge...to better see the details.
(It's sometimes the simple things
that are so much fun.)
Have a great day!
Happy Birthday Mom...and you, too, Jan! :)

Monday, December 28, 2009

"I Have a Bad 'Code'..."


...and I cannot breathe.
All I do is blow my nose and sneeze.
No Cactus Monday post today...
and
no cheery quips either!
Bah Humbug to all of that!
I just feel lousy.
Ahhh CHOOO!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

"Back In My Journal..."




...Again!
Christmas Season 2009...
Odds and Ends...Before and After...
Normal and Flipped.
I am simply
back in my red Hand.Book journal again...
and madly trying to complete the book
before
the turn of the new year.
Yea!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

"Merry Christmas Wishes..."

...from the Arizona desert.
May your days be filled with sweet memories,
and
may your spirit be blessed with Peace, Joy,
and Wonder.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

"Inspired By..."


...several ancient middle eastern patterns
is my modern variation
for some "Blooming Tuesday"
floral bling.
The first one is drawn "lead free"...
...ink straight in...
and dressed up in a sheer veil of
Daniel Smith watercolor;
The second,
is digitally draped in rich velvet and white lace
by
Microsoft Editor
and a simple click of the mouse.
Great fun were both! :)

Monday, December 21, 2009

"Greetings from the Desert..."

...on this first day of Winter!
Have a warm and snuggly, happy and heartfelt
Cactus Monday!
:)

"For the unlearned, old age is winter;
for the learned
it is the season of the harvest."
~
The Talmud

Saturday, December 19, 2009

"One Is for Company Sunday..."

...Jan's veggie pizza...soooo darn delicioius!

See other "Six Word Saturdays" here.

(BTW...One on right...gobbled up tonight!)

Friday, December 18, 2009

"Thankful Thursday...(#20)..."

...on Friday...Well, why NOT! ?? LOL :)
Arriving from Tim in Belgium
is this delightful little design entitled
"Angry Cloud."
I love this card and am a big fan of Tim's art.
Tim also sent a few cards which we are collaborating on...
he made monoprint backgrounds in ink...
and
I will design "something" on top of that!
This art endeavor should be a real "hoot"! :)
From Teresa in Michigan came this happy little zentangle
all dressed up in beautiful metallic effects.
Love the design
and the bright vivid colors she used here.
A really fun card!
Then from sweet Judy in Tennessee
came this surprise package...
just in time for holiday entertaining!
The little coasters on the right are "magic carpets."
When Judy saw these...
she thought of my ATC series of like name...
and decided right then and there that
I just "had to have" these.
A lovely little cactus ATC,
a very endearing note,
and a beautiful card from a blogging friend
accompanied this little "sussie" gift!
(A "sussie" is a Southern tradition...
it is a small gift or treat, but, most importantly,
it is a small gift given
for no particular reason.)
What fun!

Thank you each so much!
Another enjoyable week of wonderful mail art, don't you think?

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

"Feathers and Plumes..."

...arranged in a floral rosette for Blooming Tuesday.

Happy Day All! :)

Monday, December 14, 2009

"Warm Greetings..."

...from the land of the mighty Saguaro...
the state flower of Arizona!
(I just had to bring this one back again for
another holiday season ...)

May you find peace, love, and light.
Happy Holidays and Happy Cactus Monday, too! :)

Saturday, December 12, 2009

"Six Word Saturday..."



Yahooooo!
My binder...from Zazzle...arrived!!!
Click on any image to enlarge...:)
(More "six words" can be found here!)

Friday, December 11, 2009

"Another Migraine..."


...my 3rd this week...
was totally "hatched" and in full torment by noon today.
I took some meds...
then
I slept a bit and then, in a migraine fog,
I drew this...
Feeling better now...but
was it the meds? or the nap? or the art?
that did the trick?
Go figure! :)

Illustration Friday: "Hatch"

Thursday, December 10, 2009

"Thankful Thursday...(#19)..."

From Lee in Singapore
came these
beautiful ATC sized prints of 4 of her
pen and ink drawings.
Click on the image to see the detail...
I am so fascinated by the movement and
flow of her lines.
Each card is a mini masterpiece indeed! :)
From Cynthia, in North Carolina, came this lovely angel card
(and a bonus Cat ATC too!)
The musical notes on the angel card
remind me of all my choir days
singing Gregorian chant for church services
at St. Mary of the Woods.
I was such an "angelic child" back then...LOL :)
Cynthia and I have traded frequently...
She certainly has the digital magic down pat! :)

Then from London, delivered by Royal Mail,
came these two whimsical ATC cards from Joss!
The one to the left is entitled "Still Life"...
the one to the right is entitled "Hat in a Crowd".
What a wonderful surprise to receive!
Joss, you must have made over a "bazillion" cards by now!
Thanks for thinking of me! :)

This flower ATC arrived from Ruth in New Zealand.
Ruth makes lovely designs on her ATCs
and
also has a fabulous collection of zen drawings
made a special sketchbook.
I will be starting a book similar to hers and
and Sandra's (another Flickr friend) this coming New Year!
Should be great fun!
Thanks for the inspiration ladies!

These two pieces are from Debi in the U.K.
They are entitled "Cracked Splendour"
and are absolutely stunning in both texture and color .
Be sure to click on this image to enlarge.
According to Debi...
this is how the one on the right
was made:
"Card swiped with Vintage Photo distress ink.
Heat embossed several times with clear UTEE.
Stamped into top layer while warm.
Put into freezer for 10 minutes.
Bent so it cracked.
Rubbed with black ink and gold paint."
For directions for the card on the left...click here. :)
FAB...U...LOUS!
This final batch of eye candy was sent by Marianne
in the Netherlands.
It was a total surprise too! :)
What more can I say...she is an international sensation!
What a treat to receive these beauties.
Click on the image to better see the Holiday card
which accompanied the goodies.
Now that definitely gets one in the mood to celebrate
this glorious season.

Thank you...each and every one!
And
happy "Hellos to All" from my postal delivery person.
She almost loves these exchanges as much as I do!
She has had such a delight delivering
such fun pieces!
I hope you enjoy them too! :)

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

"A Late Night Bloom..."

"Night time
is really the best time to work.
All the ideas are there to be yours
because everyone else is
asleep."
~Catherine O'Hara

Monday, December 7, 2009

"A Jewel Toned Palette..."

...for a Happy Cactus Monday!
May the colors of this holiday season decorate
your imagination
and dress your spirit with joy!!

“When you like your work every day is a holiday.”
~Frank Tyger

Sunday, December 6, 2009

"A Change Of Heart..."


Change is the only constant.
Sometimes we expect it...like the change of seasons...
and it is almost pleasant.
Other times...
it hits us
like a ton of bricks...
coming seemingly out of nowhere-
piercing clear through our soulful self...
leaving us
without
the
right
words.
We struggle to find the light at the end of the tunnel.
Today,
I post this in love and friendship...
for JGL...back "home"
but living in a brand new world.

"Continuity gives us roots;
change
gives us branches,
letting us stretch and grow and
reach new heights."
~Pauline R. Kezer

Saturday, December 5, 2009

"Baby...It's Cold Outside..."

Snow, over a foot, is predicted this weekend
in the high country
as well as freeze warnings
in the higher elevations rimming the
the "Valley of the Sun"
here in Arizona.
We covered the bougainvillea...just in case...
and speaking of being under cover...
I'll be snuggled
under my down comforter for sure tonight!
Brrrr...!!!

Friday, December 4, 2009

"Whoa-oh-oh, oooh..."

OOOOOH MY!
Did YOU see it this week???
Wow! Oh my, oh MY!!
It was glorious and clear and enormous
and totally breathtaking
as viewed here
in the open Arizona desert!
Hmmm...What am I talkin' 'bout???
Well...
"There's a (moon out tonight) whoa-oh-oh, oooh
Let's go strollin'
There's a (girl in my heart) whoa-oh-oh, oooh
Whose heart I've stolen
There's a moon out tonight (whoa-oh-oh, oooh)
Let's go strollin' through the park
(ooh-ooh-ooh-oooh)"
~Words and Music By
Al Striano, Joe Luccisano and Al Gentile
Sung by the Capris
(Reached #3 on the Billboard Charts 1961)
and...
it looked just like this
...and, I can't stop singing this song!
...whoa-0h-oh, oooh...:)

Thursday, December 3, 2009

"A Thankful Thursday Trio...(#19)..."

Starting this week's eye candy is a beautiful card
from Harriet in Indiana.
I "met" Harriet at Illustrated ATCs.
Among the things Harriet paints are
incredible cards with fantasy trees and romantic moons.
I always look forward
to seeing what she will come up with next.
Thanks Harriet for "Spirea"! :)
(Click on images to enlarge for details...)
This delightful zentangle arrived from Illinois
and the artful hand of Debi.
There is a gorgeous metallic sheen
in each of the colors
that the scanner does not pick up.
I just love everything about it! :)
My last photo is of the Sacred Heart card
I received from Shayna in Alabama.
I feel like we trade
almost every week...it is just so much fun!!
Shayna is always coming up with new ideas...
"Pop in" at her Flickr page for a peek!

Whew!
I cannot believe December is here and the Holiday
Season is almost in full swing!
Santa's elves surely have some real competition
when it comes to the amount of treasures
being made by all of he
artistic souls
out there!
Speaking of which...
I hope to be able to share a special little
"something-something"
I made
as soon as it "arrives"...
(Hint...it has something to do with ATC cards!)
I am soooo excited about it...
Stay tuned!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Three Big Blooms...




...plus one itsy-bitsy batik...
The first three gifted me by my 7 year old twin nieces...
the last
made by my "?7+" year old Muse.
:)
May YOU find
both big and bitsy beautiful things today also!
Happy Blooming Tuesday!