Fairy Surprise

Today I awoke and to my delight a Little Pink Fairy had set up

house in one of my garden pots...

Her yellow Mushroom shaped cottage,

so bright and sweet.

A garden bench to rest her feet.

An arbor gate to welcome friends.

As they meander down the stone path to her front door.

Ooh, there she is graciously welcoming me.

Divine tiny flowers...and a pot ready to be filled.

Wheelbarrow and spade waiting to be used.

A tiny brick chimney too!

Would love to see inside her cottage.

Maybe she will have us to tea one day.

A freshly painted picket fence.

Too keep her sweet bunny safe.

And my favorite thing...a home for the bees.

What a wondrous thing to find this lovely Spring Day.

Look closely in your Garden,

you might find a fairy too!

Bye-Bye Display Pieces

So, I am a loser for not blogging sooner.  Today's client was sick and had to postpone, so it is time to catch up on dreaded internet work.   Last month I sold at The California Gift Show.  I had hoped it would be better than last time.  It was sadly, Not.  I had twice the inventory and made half the sales.
Many factors played into this.  Poorly run and managed, crappy layout and you could barely see my booth.  Attendance was down and more exhibitors than vendors complained than not about these and many things.  Hopefully the management company gets their acts together.  BUT....I really try to see the tiny rainbows in every storm.  My goal for this show was to be able to clear out my jewelry displays and display trays so I can focus on my painting/sculpting and start my children's book.  While several pieces did sell, more came home with me than I wanted.  <sigh>  I exhausted my supplies in creating these and now they are kind of haunting me...LOL.  Pretty ghosts they are.  But I am not a cluttery artist and if I am done with it...it HAS to go.   SO...clearing them out.  Posting pics here so I can pin them on Pinterest.  I have made several hundred of these over the years and they are incredibly functional and beautiful.  All made from 1920's to 1960's metal lamp parts.

If you are interested, message me.

Onward and upward!

xo,

Lisa

GOOD-bye 2012

Pretty sure I am not alone in saying a VERY fond farewell to 2012.

It marked a very large year of Change for me and my family.

By the end of 2012, all three sons basically flew the coop.

(Promise I was not really mean, pinch them and kick them away)

Oldest son is away for a year on what I would call a spiritual journey.

He needs to find himself.  For the first time in a long time, I believe

his Dad and I are at total peace with his journey!

Youngest is off in the Navy. He left in March and is now, after all of his schooling, 

only a state away.  He has embarked on his journey in life and is happy with his decision to enlist.

Middle Son, is a full time college student and full time Starbucks supervisor.

He has "found love" and decided to go be a grown up and live on his own.

I am so proud of each of my sons, for each of them spreading their wings 

and embracing life away from the NEST.

I still have the little girl here and not ready to let go of her any time soon.

Me thinks it will be different to allow her to fly away, 

but thankfully, we have at least 6 years before that is an option.

Work has been enlightening and much of my time this year was spent studying business materials,

experimenting with my Art and finding my own direction and what I want to do with my business.

2013 holds a new direction, adventures and experiences.

To honor this, I start of with a HUGE studio sale, Saturday the 5th.

LOTS of cool things I have used as props and displays for show.

All ready to just use in your space at a shop, for traveling shows and for your own home.

Regular yard sale stuff too, like half of Emily's wardrobe as she just confiscated the largest

"kid" bedroom and decided to eliminate a lot of treasures.

Same day, Saturday, January 5th, I will be setting up a table at Studio Crescendo

from 7-10 pm for their Monthly Santa Ana Arts Colony Walk.

Super excited to do this and a perfect way to start the New Year!

Then in 3 weeks, (ugh, looming deadline)

I will be selling at The California Gift show in The Vintage Section

at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Also coming up this year will be some classes I will be teaching

and I am going to embark on a life long dream of trying to pen/illustrate

a children's book.

Needless to say, 2013 is starting with a BANG,

and I am READY!!!

Happy New Year friends!!!

May you not only find your Dreams, but realize them as well!!!

xoxo

Studio Tour!

My family and I have been in this house for over 10 years now.

My primary Studio space has been what would be considered the family room,

adjoining the kitchen.  

It made sense as we used the living room as a family room, eating all of our meals together at the dining table...watching movies together.

When my husband passed, I got the garage too and have used that space for messy metal/woodwork and even taught some classes out there.

But over these years, two sons flew the coop.  The one son remaining is a full time college student and Starbucks employee, mix that with his working out and he is rarely home.

My honey has a funky schedule and sees many clients in the evening, which some times

leave just my daughter and I home with the pack of dogs.  So we end up eating

dinner at the kitchen counter.

Houses have lives, just like people, rooms evolve and I like it that way.

So, it was time for the living room to be utilized differently.

It is double the size of the family room.

It took a few weeks to get the rooms totally flip flopped and dialed in, but boy, have I NEVER been happier.  The living room has large windows, with light flooding in.

This is a destination room whereas the family room was always a pass thorough room to get to the kitchen or back yard.

My work table now is smack dab in the middle of the room, Emily typically sits on one side and me the other after school, where she does her homework and chats with me as I work.

I am so incredibly happy with this setup!!!

PLEASE excuse the messy rooms, I am getting ready for 2 Holiday shows...so this was as clean as it was gonna get!!

Still need to patch holes in walls and touch up, but, hey...that will take some time to get to.

I have to give a shout out about the above console.

It was a custom piece made in 1960, signed by the artist.  This piece is 12 ft long with

cool old casters.  The door panels are gorgeous laser cut pieces and the hardware is perfectly suited.

I snagged this amazing piece for $60...yes 60 buck!

At the Habitat for Humanity Restore. 

The leather sofa also.  It is a $500 Ikea leather sofa that I paid $75 for,

Ah, I love a good deal!

Hope you enjoyed and have a wonderful weekend!!

xoxo

Lisa