Abba New Year!

I know it's silly, out of date and bang in the middle of glam rock land, but I really do like the old Abba song, see what I'm talking about or just to see my most cheesy side of life... terrible in a good way - sort of...

I'll need to check but I think my one year blogaversry is coming up so I'll have to redo the list and face the consequences from 2008..tee hee. Hope yours truly is better than 2008 was for so many people around the world and will continue to be.

I'm looking forward to writing dates with hubby, felting dates with friends and playdates with my kids. Better health is always good to strive for and the possibility of starting another hobby or skill to keep the brain trained!

Splash the bubbly, pop the poppers and make merry for Wassail! ( more on that soon)

Panic

So now I'm fretting, probably about nothing, too much sugar donuts, fudge and leftovers make me reach for the seltzers but I sent my fiber art stuff in today, hopefully to be chosen for a show next year.

I changed the face somewhat and popped in another couple of pieces to hopefully join the ranks of 'recognised for a day'! Then I went to look at one of the judges stuff and see what's what and realised that this show may be just for quilters etc and my sort of stuff just doesn't fit...so I'm a little down and so have allocated that last two hours on Facebook tracking down old friends, aquaintences, who would probably rather I didn't poke them, send messages or even say hi through even the impersonal non-facebook lines of communication. However, life is far too short to hold grudges or to refuse a "hi I once knew you - do I/you owe you/me money?" I already got a "I think you owe me a VHS", from an old boat buddy ha ha!!

Sponto, an art gallery owner and one of the first people in los angeles who befriended me, played many hours of backgammon with and allowed me to be a small part of something rather cool in Venice passed away recently. There is a service on the beach on Jan 11th at 11am for those who want to say farewell.

Stabalot

Just a quickie to say Happy Holiday season ( yes, all of them are celebrated here ) particularly to the NFEST team members and fellow poking wool maniacs (yes, Dragonfly Artisans, that's you) out there. I have seen such a jump in this art form over the past few years and many wonderful pieces are being created.

I would like to highlight this artist today as I feel she is unsurpassed in talent for this type of wool painting. I was stunned and awed and a little dismayed at my poor attempts so far, but fully inspired to create something whimsically wonderful to the eye in the near future.

Yes take a deep breath and enjoy these lovely pieces from Stacy Polson.......

Thinking?

I'm thinking this is not good, right? Did staying up late into the night playing with wool in poor light do this? Did a sneezing fit or major eye rub, burst a vessel or is there something else I should be "seeing"?

Anyway, I did make these pieces last eve and wanted to share them here. Not sure if they will stay like this or have more work on them, but here they are. They are works of Light ( which seemed appropriate on the Solstice), the spectrum face Kandinsky style and the more serene, face in chaotic motion that appears more of a cameo. It was the wool - not me, I was just playing with an idea which started as a bowl of fruit actually, got abandoned when the g&T came out and boredom set in.



This was an exciting evening of creating to hopefully get them into a fiber art show next spring...stay tuned for more...

P.S. Terra Firma's giant hair and skirt are being prepped by the wonderful Abi of High Fiber Homestead...am very excited to get onto that in the new year...

Solstice

Dimmest and brightest month am I;
My shortest days end, my lengthening days begin;
What matters more or less Sun in the sky,
When all is Sun within?
–C. G. Rossetti (1830–94)

and so the shortest day is here again -how do you mark the moment (12:04)? We may hike or bike during the day, will walk outside to look at the stars, light candles everywhere, share stories of winter and talk about the science of the day.

We'll break out the lemon drop cookies from our Making #2 session too, not sure they'll last until our guests arrive on Monday!

Motley Crew

Talking Heads, Motley Crew...Gnomes without Homes, call them what you will coz they are all gone. Upped and ran off with some other families at the show last Saturday - yes - it's taken me this long to recover and write something. Thankfully, the new families left some minted coinage to replace the fair but hairy faces. Custom gnomies may be gracing our tree this year..

The motley crew

Chanukah Harry....

4am and still busy....

I love this wool combo....earth gnome in hiding...

jolly not st. nick....

A heartfelt thank you to those that came to support the school and the Dragonfly Artisans, we had a ball and were swamped with peeps all day, great stuff to see, buy and make. The Mama Made booth of crafters items was swimming with people scrambling for unique precious gifts before they sold out and I think the final number for that booth may top $2K! 100% to the school, yey! More pics on that next...

Donovan Boy and Little Gandalf shopped in the Snow Fairy Market, dipped sweet smelling beeswax candles, sewed wizard hats, performed some violin pieces, ran amok and ate many brownies ( not the helpful kind in the house of course).

Today it's cold, wet and windy here in La La Land. "Storm watch 2008!!" It's so lovely to pull out the wooly tights, sweaters and wellies. The Hairy One apparently likes the winter look and is grinning this morning.

Cold Moon

December 12 — The Full Cold Moon by The Farmers Almanac....

Sky watchers will be dazzled by an exceptionally high, bright, and large Moon. In fact, this Moon is 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full Moons this year. Why? The Moon is both in its full phase and at a point in its orbit that is nearest Earth, called its perigee. When these events occur together, the Moon is closer to Earth than usual. The effect? The Full Cold Moon will appear especially large near the horizon as the Sun sets. The Moon is also high at this time of year; when it's overhead (near midnight), it will light up the landscape. Take a magical stroll and see your world at night. You won't need a flashlight!

This is great news for me as I will be working into the night to finish up some sale-able items for a Winter Faire Holiday Bazaar the next day, with the ever lovely and talented Dragonfly Artisans.

Grow

Not your usual run of the mill growing things around here, hence to say the trellis on the balcony now has baby rainbow silks wafting in the wind whilst teeny magic shrooms that will make fairy rings pop up anywhere you wish are growing wild here.

Making session #1 for Chrissie gifts was tiring but great fun for the kids. Armed with supplies to whip up batches of "Martha's" body scrubs and bath fizzers to treat friends and foes alike!

Cheesy

long distance stilton

Yep, the big cheese was in town for a little thanksgiving time, managed to broil our Tonkey ( mmm where's that bake setting?), played some favourite games, like Risk and Stratego ( LOTR versions), hauled a 20 lb box of yummies from my hometown/Muther blighty and listened to my rants about life in person instead of superlongdistance with a vaguely interested smile.

Thanks Dabby, I love you.

Crunch time

With so many things going on at once right now it's hard to know where to start. The crunch time has come for the upcoming Winter Faire, dolls to finish, mermaid kits to wrap, gnomes to dress, silks to dye etc etc..and of course a family home to run! The crafters at OCS have created some truly lovely items to share with the community and 100% goes to the school. The gauntlets below are a testament to that offering.

The merfolk are happily awaiting new homes and eager fingers to make them complete in some new kits, silk scarves and playsilks will be duly dipped with a spectrum to choose from, and some more felted gnome heads will grace the table and these pages as soon as I can get the laundry squared away!

mermaids-in-waiting...........for some hair to grow!

Schlomo is ready for his new home with Belfry

The most awesome gauntlets/wristies by 'Fly'

Tails at the ready..

Time for fun... Donovan Boy " Look, I'm a live Waldorf doll Mummy!"