July 09, 2009

artist, emily sutton

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uk illustrator, emily sutton, crafts these wonderful soft sculptures.
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this series is called "high street sculptures"
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Walkingstickman2_jpg_595 
so fresh! via handmade charlotte.

July 07, 2009

a few summer projects

Flags4 
so little posts, so few summer days. happy belated independence day. fireworks were blasted off, beer was drunk, pulled pork was consumed and these little flags decorated the table.
Needle_man 
and here is my first attempt at needle felting. the below illustration is from a fun alphabet book that we got at the library and I can't remember the title? it obviously was my inspiration. i wanted to do wire legs but couldn't get them in post body? there is most definately a learning curve...

July 01, 2009

is this your luggage?

Luggage 
artist luna laboo purchases lost luggage, photographs everything inside, post these pics on on her site, and hopes to someday reunite the lost items with the rightful owner. as my dear mother said, "the airlines should be providing this service." i agree. but until they do...here are a few that may just be returned. interview here.

June 17, 2009

needle felting begins

Heart
so i've bought a couple colors of wool roving, have some needles, need sponge pad, more colors, more needles and i'm good to go. my project that's been stirring in my brain has something to do with bugs, barbells and bell jars. intriguing yes? Barack_needle 
now you too can needle felt the prez. i think it's a pretty decent likeness! 
Kitlane 
everything artist kit lane felts is a gem. i especially like her titles. this one is called, "alien albino space peas with 20 20 hindsight"
felt away!


 

June 16, 2009

canoeing down the canon

H_dadriver 
sunday was a beautiful day. we packed up the newly purchased craig's list canoe and headed down the canon river. i was a bit nervous with baby o. but he was a trooper. h. making his typical funny faces.
Mom_o 
mommy and o. paddling. this river is so shallow. we were constantly rubbing our back end on the bottom.
O_river 
o. enjoying the mud between his toes.
Eagle_tree 
see that little black thing in the tree. well this pic doesn't do it justice but j. and i both thought it was one of those fake owls that someone put up in the tree because it was so still for so long.
Eagle 
nope, not a fake, a real live bald eagle. we were so close! we saw two of them down river and their nest. it was so beautiful. we also encountered one oriole, 2 canoers, 3 kayakers, and about 1,000 barn swallows living under a bridge. the stench! i wish i would have taken a picture of their little mud nests, all lined up. so pretty, but stinky!

June 12, 2009

marsupial bunnies

Marsup_bunny 
coming soon! why should kangaroos have all the fun?

June 10, 2009

au revoir Paris

043-VersaillesHameau 
sunday was spent at chartre and versailles. no one can deny the splendid beauty and grand architecture of versailles but the next time i'm there, i'm going to focus on the more "down to earth" side of this oppulent chateau, the estate of marie-antoinette. an 86 acre refuge away from stuffy royalty for the teenage queen. the petit trianon was given to the queen upon her marriage to louis XVI and later the "farm house" (pictured above) was built to the queen's specifications. apparently she loved to play theatre games, milk her farm animals, make cheese and butter...who knew? a must read is a recent post from paris mavis about a time slip in 1904 and the petit trianon revisted as it was in 1789, fascinating!
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monday & tuesday my sister saw the usual suspects, the eiffel tower, notre dame, louvre, & mont martre. i can't wait to hear first hand how she enjoyed her trip!

June 07, 2009

Loire Valley

Chateau-amboise_tours 
friday was a tour of chateau d'amboise, leonardo da vinci spent his last three years of his life there. my sister also went to a winery but their tour guide did not give them the name! ZUT ALORS! i need details!!!
Reddoor 
i vicariously stayed in this little cottage. notice the wisteria, can't you just smell it?
800px-Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Chenonceau_-_west_facade_over_Cher_%284_May_2006%29 
yesterday a tour of chateau de chenonceau, from the paris atelier blog..
"Chenonceau is known as the Queens Castle and when visiting it you can see why. It was owned in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, then made even more attractive by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, and saved from the French Revolution by Mrs Dupin."
Flowersatchenonceau 
the chateau is known for its stunning floral arrangements.
Chenonceau_gardenhouse 
here is the gardner's residence. ah, i could die happy in a place like this. again, decorated by wisteria. c'est la vie, n'est pas?

June 04, 2009

mont st. michel

A-true-postcard-shot 
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today mont st. michel, a stunning abbey built on top of a tiny island. this is what happens when you start building in the 11th century and just keep adding on. "my island runneth over"...
Chateau 
i'll be staying in this lovely chateau tonight (vicariously, of course) just 18 km away from the island. doesn't it look like pemberly out of pride and prejudice, i believe mr. darcy and i will have dinner together and stay in this room...
Bedroom 
the "marquise" and have our after dinner drinks in the library
Library 
a girl can dream, right?

June 03, 2009

in normandy

B&b break 
my 17 year old sister landed in france yesterday and is touring normandy. it is the 65th anniversary of d-day on june 6th. so it should be a powerful time to be there. in my vicarious living mode, i've decided that i will stay in this little b & b i found next to mont st. michel. isn't it sweet! can't you just imagine drinking a sparkling glass of sancerre and eating a hearty piece of crusty bread, spread with butter and brie. ooooh la la!

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