Joshua Tree National Park

Well, here we are sitting on our double beds watching 'Get Smart' on HBO at the Blythe Motel 6...& it's AWESOME!!! We are soooo excited just to be away from home, to wander like Gypsies do, with no reservations, just the wind at our backs & a final destination of Los Algodones, Mexico.

Today we went through Joshua Tree National Park & it is quite a magnificent place.

The rock formations with their enormous size, remind me of just how insignificant we are in the grand scheme of things.

My favorite site today was Cottonwood Springs, a magical oasis in the middle of this wondrous desert.

I have never seen anything quite like it, once down in it you feel transported to some tropical island, the rustle of the birds in the palm fronds & the sound of the wind blowing through the cottonwood trees...like I said, Magical.

And now for the very best part...it was dusk!! We were in the Grand Theater of Life watching one of natures most inspiring shows.

Take it all in, don't take one second for granted & for right now...art can wait!

Paper Dolls, My New OCD!

It all started so innocently. I have always loved paper dolls, as a child one of my favorite memories is when my Mother would get her McCall's magazine issue & I would get my new Betsy McCall paper doll. Carefully I would tear out the page & sit on the floor with my scissors & cut out Betsy or one of her friends & a bevy of cute outfits for her to wear...what a sweet & simple joy. Well, I recently joined an 'Alice in Wonderland' swap & it happens to be for a paper doll. I have never actually created my own paper doll, but I felt I was up to the challenge because of my general knowledge & experience in this area, LOL. OK...I'm hooked!!! I'm in love with making paper dolls! I can't get enough of them. The search for the perfect face or dress or tights is all consuming, everything must wait until I find the perfect pair of wings. So now, at 53, for hours, I sit on the floor with my scissors & obsess & cut out & play with my paper dolls & it is still such a sweet & simple joy! Here are a few of my new creations..I adore them!

Lambs & Ivy Boutique

Well, I've had my shop open again now for about a month & a half & have been loving it! Here's a few pictures I took this week. The tutus in the crib have done wonderfully, I almost sold out of them, this is my last one. My sweet hubby found the garden & birdhouse benches at a garage sale for $25 & the cart on the side of the road ready for the trash, GREAT finds...I think I'm starting to rub off on him. He brought them home & white washed them, took them to the shop & they make great display pieces. All is well & I'm thoroughly enjoying being back in business. Please check out the badge on the right of my blog for the 3/50 Project, help keep your neighborhood small businesses open...we all thank you for your loyalty & support! :)

Shop Girl & Domino's

What a fun & exciting week this has been for me at the shop! The shop is also my studio. Since I spend so much time there it only made sense to bring all my art & craft supplies & spend my down time creating. Creativity centers me, it calms me, it focuses me & it is my passion. I've been absorbed in a project over the past couple weeks of making vintage domino pendants to sell. It started by a walk across the street to our local Senior Center Thrift Store (yes, how cool is that, my shop has a GREAT thrift store right across the street) where I stumbled upon an old wooden box of ivory colored domino's. I did a little research & it seemed that alcohol inks were the best product to use to color the dominos. I then printed out some images I got from ArtChix Studio on photo paper & glued them on. I top coated with a polyurethane, added a top & bottom eye hook, some ribbon & beads & put the 7 I made on the floor yesterday morning. Well, you can imagine how excited I was when one of my 1st customers came in, fell in love with 2, couldn't choose which one she liked best & bought both...yeah!!! So this vintage picture is a Celebration of Domino's, Art & Women Entrepreneur's. I'll get some pictures of the pendants & post them asap & add them to my Etsy Shop. In art I create things not knowing if anyone else will appreciate there beauty other then me, I create for me because I like the concept... it's always nice when your creative force is validated. I guess that's what we all do for each other here. Truly, thanks to all my blogfriends who give me inspiration everyday, who humble me with their magnificent creations & who make me feel apart of such a wonderful community of artists! :)

Vintage French Postcard 'Multiple Baby' Freebie 6

By now you all probably know I LOVE Turn of the Century, Hand Tinted French Postcards, but my favorite theme is Multiple Babies!!! These cards are so sweet & whimsical, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Tennis Anyone? Enjoy Friends....

Vintage French Postcard 'Flower Girl' Freebie 4