You Light Up My Life...

So I did the page in my art journal on Friday night that I just love :

(art journal page - 01/09/10 - A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood)

(click to enlarge)

I loved it so much that I had to take pictures of it immediately,

in spite of the darkness in the studio.

(left page)

Normally, I hate pictures with a flash so much, so I light a candle to see what I would get.

(right page)

And I have to admit, this one is pretty cool ! Check out the lick of flame on my picture...

I printed this photo of myself onto a transparency so the shine of the plastic picked up the reflection of the flame in this cool way.

On Saturday, I got a huge treat in the mail.

Cosmo was curious about it too !

In my envelope that came as a total and complete surprise to me

from my wonderful Blogland Friend, Paula (Little Scraps of Magic) in Virginia,

were these two packages and this amazing card :

(the card reads " Ever notice how "What the Hell", is always the right decision?").

Inside the card, Paula said that she saw these items in Ellicott City on an outing with her man, and she knew they belonged to me ! How cool is that ? I love thinking that this wonderful woman is out on an art adventure with her hubby, and I pop into her head ! Even though we have never met in person ! I am just so touched by that, I can't tell you !

So check out what is in the packages (love the paper and leather rope they are wrapped in my the way - going to use those somewhere else, for sure !)

Look at these gorgeous tags! All embossed with gold and with lovely ribbons going through them ! Love 'em !

And then, the piece de resistance, check out this amazing charm !!!!

It is not just perfect ???? I love it so very much ! The humor of it makes me laugh, the artistry of it pleases my eye and the thought behind it, well, that just fills me with joy !

Thank you so much, Paula. You have made me feel special and loved with your thoughtful gift. Thank you, my friend.

So this is what it looks like outside of my window of the Martin Luther King Day, January 18th, 2010.

The good news is that David is off and he is excited about using his snow blower today.

(Boys and their toys ! Have to say that I appreciate his love for this toy very much !)

I have an order for 15 brightly colored stuffed birdies, so I will be painting their sweet faces on and beading them up today.

And I think I have to agree with my buddy, Azzy.

He thinks that hanging out in the studio and watching the snow fall is the perfect way to spend this third Monday in January...

Smart kitty...

Happy Monday, Beautiful Ones !

The First Monday in 2010...

It is 2:00pm and I am off to join Chica in this long winter afternoon nap.

Why ?

Because I am grumpy, pms-y, sore back-y, sore booby,

Christmas is over-y, I-hate-wintery, etc...

And also, because

I can.

Before I go, I thought I would share my first art journal page of 2010.

This morning, I gave myself permission to make whiny, grumpy

and even just plain ugly art.

But this is what came out instead...

The Hardest Season - art journal page, January 4, 2010

(Click to enlarge)

I like it.

It felt good to be creating but didn't really change my mood too much in the end...

See the big blob of black ink on the bottom of the left page ?

That happened when I tipped over my bottle of India Ink all over my art journal,

my desk,

my shirt,

the floor,

missed my new slippers though...

There is always a silver lining, right ? ;)

It is cold and very windy out today, but I did my walk with Chica early

so I earned a happy face on my new Illustrated Rumi calendar.

I will bundle up to go to meditation class tonight because I know how much good that sweet practice has been doing me.

So while the grumpy, whiny, bratty Queen isn't my favorite persona to be,

I have to say I like the lessons I am teaching myself as I make it through the day.

Not so bad for the first Monday in January...

Move over, Cheeks, I'm diving in...

Big sleepy, nappy love to you, beautiful Ones !