Welcome!

Haul out the holly;

Put up the tree before my spirit falls again.

Fill up the stocking,

I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now ...

For we need a little Christmas

Right this very minute,

Candles in the window,

Carols at the spinet

Yes, we need a little Christmas

Right this very minute.

It hasn't snowed a single flurry but

Santa Dear we're in a hurry!

~ lyrics by Jerry Herman

Mame, 1966

Welcome! I have been inspired by so many of you, to share a little of my "at home" holiday spirit. I have a tendency to go a little overboard but I restrained myself a bit this year! (I know it's hard to tell!) I had a few friends from the art studio over one night, so I also set up an extra table for finger food.

As you can see I finally have seating in my living room! A lovely sleigh-bed my parents weren't using, fit perfectly between two windows! It's as if it had been built for just that spot!

Some of you might remember that, for a few years, I had made my living room into a studio space and had gotten rid of my big monster of a burgundy (circa 1997) overstuffed sofa. It was a nice idea in theory but not such a great set-up to have guests. Or as one of my girlfriends put it, "You need a spot to have gentleman callers!" Glass Menagerie reference aside, she was right. It's not good when your only two seating options are old, hard, bentwood dining chairs or the Sealy Posturepedic.

Some of what might look like Christmas decorations (the Indian and Pakistani pillows and sari fabrics) are actually there for year-round pleasure, but the lights and ... well, you'll figure it out, are the holiday adornments. ;)

The table runner is actually an old Japanese Obi I have had for years. Perfect for the hors d'oeuvre table with it's red and gold thread!

This little nativity scene was a gift from my parents' trip to South America ...

Small retable from Mexico ... another gift of my parents' travels.

I didn't go overboard in the powder room but it still needed a little extra glitz ...

Yep, the ceiling is a shiny black and the shade is a silk damask, from Silk Trading Co. which I am still in love with!

It's been ages since I have had more than two people in my place at a time. I used to throw dinner parties and shindigs all the time, so this felt like a wonderful renewal!

I made a toast to gratitude and bringing in new energy into my place! It felt wonderful!

My Dad informed me that today was the biggest mail day of the year. Of course, I found this out after my trip to the post office. No wonder the parking lot looked like game day at the L.A. Coliseum.

I went to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley last friday, for their Christmas Tree exhibit. So many fun ideas so I will be blogging that this week, along with Greeting Cards from Christmas past! Lots to catch up on!

Here is one of my favorite Christmas tunes!!!

The truth is that this time of year offers us a wonderful opportunity to rekindle the spirit of love and living life to the fullest.

With your expectations set on positive, here are some attitude adjustments to try:

I’ll let the holidays flow, rather than trying to make them fit into a fixed schedule.

I’ll remember that people are more important than things.

I’ll relax my expectations for myself and others this year.

I’m going to live in the present moment and enjoy each activity for itself instead of always thinking about what is ahead of me.

I’m going to approach the holidays with a sense of joyful anticipation and wonder, just like I did when I was a child.

from Wayne Dyer's Blog

12/8/10

For more of this Wayne Dyer post click Here

Many Blessings to you my friends!

Home Studio

I long, as does every human being,

to be at home wherever I am.

~Maya Angelou

I'd like to tell you that there are always fresh flowers and candles burning. I will like also to tell you that in person it doesn't look like a total disaster but ... a disaster is usually what it is and unfortunately I can't remember the last time I painted in here. I have worked on some pastels but painting? It's been ages.

It's actually my living room or was my living room. I got rid of my sofa a few years ago and turned it into a studio which at one point, I was it using a lot. I have a big table that doubles as a computer desk/dining table, (which is where I am sitting right now) but if you want to get cozy? It's the bed. Which with certain people is not always ... appropriate. So, I have decided to make some changes.

I will still have my easel, computer and space to work but I am bringing in a little sofa situation. It's actually a wood sleigh bed that I will add lots of cushions to, so it will provide seating but it's also long enough that someone could sleep on it. But the clutter? It has to go.

I am ready to have a LIVING room ... a beautiful space to live in, a space to invite others in, to be at peace and to be at home again.

still life pastel on La Carte

I am not usually much of a still life girl but it was fun doing the brass, copper and fabric! If you click and enlarge you can see where it got a little rained on near the top. Should probably fix that!

Jars of pigment my Mom brought back from France

Love old cigar boxes for graphite, charcoal and colored pencils ...

When Buddha is not holding a candle he's holding a beautiful silk flower I pulled off a bridesmaid's dress.

This little stained glass was in my parents old place before they moved. It makes me think of that place and time, and all the wonderful memories there.

Changes are coming. I love that ... fresh paint, fresh ideas! Before we know it, spring will be here and we'll have new beginnings and fresh starts! I am not sure when I am going to get to this project considering Italian 102 started last week along with my art history class but I am going to make an effort to get this going!

Are you feeling at home in your home?

Any new spring projects?

Some of the living-rooms we see have really no right to the name;

they are so unattractive they ought, instead to be called existing rooms.

I like to think of the word "living rooms" being short for

the joy-of-living rooms.

That is what they ought to be - full of life and happiness and joy.

~Lucy Abbot Throop

My place, my Space

Home...

I feel like you can tell how warm it is 

in my place just by looking at the photographs.

I suppose I might be projecting a little!

My Bedroom Window 

with a sari I bought in Little India

(Artesia)

A bundle of sweet cards and letters from

friends and family that were sent to me when I was sick at the 

beginning of the year.

My

"Bundle of Love"

A Rose quartz "Wholeness" Rune

with gifts from the sea ...

... more sweet little gifts

"Home is a name, a word, 

it is a strong one;  stronger than magician ever spoke,

or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration."

~Charles Dickens