A glass Ball jar filled with handmade soaps we made over Christmas.
The kitchen smelled like a parfumerie and the little circles of color
- aqua, saffron and cranberry -
glowed on our windowsill like precious jewels.
***
end notes
***
The Unseen Wind
but the unseen wind the moves the ship."
***
"Ghost Ship" - Artist Unknown
***
I've been looking at a lot of images lately,
but rarely does one take my breath away like
the eerie and ghostly ship print, above. Like the wind,
I have no idea where it came, who made or when
- simply magical.
***
end notes
The Unseen Wind blows
exactly what you need right to you.
Cup your palms,
hold them out.
It's here now.
Simply say
"Here I am."
***
Throwing Stars at the Moon
Andrew Wyeth - "Moon Madness"
I missed the New Year holiday that most bloggers
use as a "restart" for blogging, mostly because I was having too
much fun to take down the Christmas lights on the banner and
Schrödinger wasn't inclined to do so either - at least we don't
leave them up year round, because that would be tacky...or pretty?
Anyway, I think that a good pick up point and an auspicious omen
for new beginnings is the full moon.
In honor of the glorious Goddess, I've added a link on the blog for
the daily phases of the moon. I realized over the holiday that I
no idea when the moon was changing or what waning gibbous meant, or
anything at all pertaining to the cycles of the moon. This morning I
was up before daybreak looking at the moon - awestruck. I did feel
the need to share this with my husband, (a dedicated night owl) who
managed to crawl out of bed, say "oooooh" appreciatively and go
right back to snoring.
***
"Barn and Moon" - Valenzuela
The art above is my painting for a collage piece of the moon
and the Masahide haiku using acrylics on linen paper - I do like
the way the paper texture comes through. The red ball on the bottom
is also acrylic and really does look much nicer in person, but
never mind. I'd also like to add the phases of the moon somehow,
but that might be in a different medium. Below I've posted a bit
of my process, because I'm not sure if it's finished yet, I'm
thinking about making the lettering smaller and the moon bigger
- another work in progress.
The gorgeous illustration at the top of the blog is "Moon Madness"
by Andrew Wyeth and directly below us is Pogeny's illustration from
"The Rubiyat" which inspired the title of this blog.
Willy Pogany 1882-1955,
illustration from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, 1942
***
By the way, just in case you're wondering about waning gibbous,
here's a bit of info: It is the phase of the Moon just after a
full Moon. The word "waning" means decreasing in size
(referring to the illuminated portion), and "gibbous" means that
more than half of the surface is illuminated.
The waning gibbous phase becomes the "last quarter" or
"third quarter" when the illuminated portion is exactly 50%, leading
to the "waning crescent" with less than 50% and eventually a
New Moon (totally darkened, as the Moon is between the Earth
and the Sun).
Phases of the Moon in sequence:
- New moon (0%)
- Waxing crescent moon
- First quarter moon (50%)
- Waxing gibbous moon
- Full moon (100%)
- Waning gibbous moon
- Last quarter moon (50%)
- Waning crescent moon
***
Be sure to check out that beautiful moon tonight, or even early in
the morn - I know I'll be out there and if I think you are I might
not be so inclined to drag said sleeping hubby out of bed to take
in the view...not.
***
end notes
A bit of moon magic
is here for you now.
Light a candle of the color that most
appeals to your RIGHT NOW.
Make a wish and
feel (actually feel it) it in your heart.
Breathe out and as you do,
send your wish to the light and love
of the Moon
It now is.
***
A Flurry of Snow & Swords
SNOW WAS FALLING ON RIVERSIDE,
GREAT WHITE feather-puffs that veiled the
cracks in the façades of its ruined houses;
slowly softening the harsh
contours of jagged roof and fallen beam.
Eaves were rounded with snow,
overlapping, embracing, sliding into each other,
capping houses all clustered
together like a fairy-tale village.
Excerpt from “Swordspoint” - Ellen Kushner
Photographer Unknown
I'm both listening to and reading Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner.
The fabulously talented Neil Gaiman has just produced a new
"illuminated" audio version of this quiet cult classic and
"melodrama of manners", now available on audible.com.
Everytime I put in my headphones,I step right into a world of
buckled leather boots crunching across snow covered cobblestones,
a duel to the death fought to the clang of steel swords
on a bitter cold morning, the glug glug of good brandy poured
into a crystal snifter by a warm fire, the clink of a
champagne toast floating down river from the extravagent
party barge of a duchess, whispered conversations, and of course,
a truly bittersweet love. So if you're in the mood to escape into
a drift of winter, a touch of fantasy and some good
conversation, either version will do.
Photographer Unknown
Cover art, below, by the brilliant Thomas Canty
***
end notes
Wishing you a good book, a toasty fire,
and a delicious cuppa' of your
favorite beverage.
Cheers!
***
The "Tada!" Blog...kind of.
Most of the knitting, crochet, crafting and sewing blogs that I
read have something called The "Tada!" moment, where the writer
unveils a beautiful crochet afghan that she's been working on for months
or a mouth watering handknit sweater, lovely lace scarf - you get the
picture. Unfortunately, my knitting and crochet projects usually have a
big WONKY, often right in the front. With the introduction of fun filters,
like the snow daze app I used on on my Starbucks mitts photo, I've been
able to salvage some of the photos of the bits and bobs I make, but for
the most part, I'm usually pretty disappointed by my handwork. As the
good Queen said, (insert frosty, clipped tone here) "We are not amused."
But miracles do happen, (it is Christmas) and I finally have
a "Tada!" moment! I have produced my very first downloadable pdf with
my drawings as print, color and cut holiday gift tags (above). This is
the first many installments as I will be uploading other kinds of
downloadable art - cards, gift tags, paper dolls, (a personal favorite) as
my online business venture, (Mama gotta keep the lights on around here,
after all) but the annual Christmas gift tags will always be my gift to you.
To download the tags, just pop over to my website, judvalenzuela.com or
even easier, just click on the art itself (above) or the big box with
the crayons right beneath the banner. This magic box of crayons will take
you directly to the coloring book page.
By the way, speaking of the banner, perhaps you noticed that Schrödinger
has found other things to hunt for instead of the snow blower we discussed
in the last post and also, that the title of the blog is slowly being
covered by snow drifts? Once again, "We are not amused."
Thank you so much for subscribing, reading, sharing and forwarding this
blog and links with your friends and family - it's been alot of fun!
Schrödinger and I always look forward to hearing from you, either by
email or comments left on the blog itself.
Have fun shopping and wrapping and cutting and coloring
- just 10 more days!
***
notes
Wishing you packets of sparkles and glitter,
pretty pens and pencils
and lots of twinkling lights.
***
Books, Tomatoes, Ladders & Lovers - My Favorite Christmas Trees
Alternative Christmas Tree - Artist Unknown.
I finally got some weather, both outside and inside. Outside, it's
raining, cold and misty and inside, it's snowing on my blog banner!
I've been waiting for snow on my blog banner all season, now
Schrödinger is going to have to dig out his snow blower.
We're going to get our Christmas tree this weekend, our kids come
home from college and from out and about in the world and we're
so excited. Our tree is going to be a pine of some sort, but I've
seen several different sorts of "trees" this year that are so lovely.
Of all the alternative trees I've liked, I fell head over heels for
the little book tree, above. That room just works on every level
- from the floating book shelf on the warm orange wall, the plank
floors, flower print lamp, orange arrows on the bike wheels (I can't tell
if those are clock handles or some kind of interesting wheel accessory)
to that touch of green in the throw - every item picking up the colors in
the book bindings. Best of all, the lights are white, setting
everything off.
I also like the recycled tomato cage and ladder trees - find out how
tomake these unique beauties at New England Design and Construction.
I think the kissing couple make a nice tree too, perfect for
hanging lights on.
***
New England Design and Construction.
"Christmas Tree Lovers" @ www.haleysheffield.com
***
end notes
Wrap yourself in twinkling Christmas lights
and give someone a kiss!
***
Mitts to Match The Starbucks Christmas Cup
"Christmas Farm Truck" - Photographer/Artist Unknown
Here in Southern California, I'm longing for some real weather,
we've been expecting rain - but alas, the sky outside
our picture window is clear. I would love a snowstorm,
but in lieu of actually driving to the mountains to get some snow,
I look at lovely pics of snowy moments
like the farm truck above and any other way to get a little winter.
One of the most tangible ways for us to
mark that winter and Christmas has arrived
(besides the Christmas Carols that annoyingly
start before Thanskgiving), is the Christmas Starbucks Cup
- that red and white mainstay of tradition
and delicious holiday cheer.
Those of you back East, rolling in fresh snow drifts,
nordic woolly sweaters and cute hats with ear muffs
attached may laugh at such a measly bit of winter,
but I know I'm not the only Southern Californian
who looks forward to the breaking out of the red cup!
So, in honor of this most anticipated moment,
I made these mitts. Yes, I admit to actually hand knitting
a pair of mitts to match the Christmas Starbucks Cup
and just as soon as I finished them on Sunday morning,
I proudly wore them down to the local Starbucks
where I was rewarded with many compliments on my mitts
by the lovely gentleman in front of me in line
and a peppermint mocha latte with whipped cream!
"Because It Snows in Starbucks" - © Judy Valenzuela Gielow
My sister found the pattern in a vintage knitting catalogue - you
can see some of her lovely work here. It's an easy peasy, very generic
pattern - the kind with a knit button hole for the thumb rather than
a thumb gusset. I adapted it to my particular holiday needs by crocheting
a contrasting color around the edges and adding a crocheted faux thumb -
just pick up the stiches around the thumb hole and crochet four rows of
single crochet, decreasing on the third row to fit your thumb. After all,
it certainly won't do to have a cold thumb while waiting in line at
Starbucks, because as you can see, it snows in there! (Digitally
anyways, via the very fun snow daze app! This is LA, after all!)
If you'd like the pattern, leave me a comment. That pattern book is out
of print and as it was very generic, I can just post my notes - and then
maybe I'll see you in Starbucks wearing cozy mitts too!
Starbucks Christmas Coffee Cup Art
***
end notes
Sending you oodles of fresh whipped cream,
colorful sprinkles, warm mittens, and a
bit of cold to enjoy it all!
***
A Whole Buncha Days of Christmas
There is absolutely something to that song about
the true love bringing a gift a day starting with
that crazy bird in the tree. Not so sure I'd want a partridge,
or any other bird, for that matter, as a gift,
but I just received a pre-Christmas prezzie
in the mail that made my day!
My daughter sent me a lovely package which
included a Christmas present she just
couldn't wait to give me - Edward Gorey's fantod pack,
re-released via Paper Source.
She knows very well that anything by Gorey is
catnip for me. I'm a woman who would much rather
do the Christmas decorating with my beloved
"Nightmare Before Christmas" collection than
the usual culprits of bulbs and lights.
Gorey's take on the traditional tarot deck is,
as they say in the blurb, vintage Gorey
- dark, droll, bleak and hilarious. So if you need a
laugh and perhaps a prezzie for that odd (literally)
bird on your Christmas list, I can assure you,
anything by Edward Gorey will always be well received.
***
ps, if I were Christmas shopping on the this
lovely, snowy street,
I don't think I would ever go home.
***
end notes
Pick someone to send an early Christmas prezzie to,
wrap it up and ship it out,
sending love and blessings and abundance to all
when you pop it in the post.
You know what they say,
"What goes around comes around!"
***
What color is your gift tag?
Every holiday season, I run out of gift tags - usually sooner
rather than later. As I tend to be a little obsessive about
color, this can be a day wrecker for me! So this year, instead of
running to the grocery store to pick through the holiday leftovers
or writing in sharpie on a piece of tape, I've designed my own.
These gift tags are designed so the giver can use the pre-colored
ones or color them in to match that lovingly shopped for
or painstakingly handmade gift. Even better, if you have kids,
let them help out with the coloring!
My next step is to figure out how to create a downloadable
pdf file so they can be popped right out of the home
computer and printer. MUCH easier than running to the
market or scribbling on a piece of tape - so stay tuned for that,
I hope to have that accomplished by next week.
***
Schrödinger and I fell in love with the darling felted mouse
on the swing and the flock of knitted sheep.
"Swinging Mouse" - Motley Mutton
Mary Kilvert - Colourful Woolly Sheep
***
end notes
Wishing you as many gift tags as
you can possibly use
this holiday season!
***
not even the rain...
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands.
eecummings
***
CURRENT MOON
copyright
- All artwork, photos and writing on this blog are ©Judy Valenzuela unless otherwise indicated. If you'd like to use my images or writing on your blog, website, print document, etc., contact me. I look forward to hearing from you!
