MY NEW LOVE <3

You have to wait for some loves to come along :)

At 18 when I joyfully, expectantly filled my hope chest with linens, cookbooks, dishes, etc., I coveted the mulit-tasking KitchenAid stand mixers, but really could not afford to indulge. As the years went by, babies came along and thoughts turned to changing tables, diapers, and all that goes along with parenthood. One very strong desire we both had was our babies would not be in daycare, and thankfully, we pulled it off with my taking odd jobs here and there during hours daddy was home. So it goes without saying that some things were put on the 'back burner' for many years. No regrets there!

Speeding forward in the blink of an eye I am well past baby days, and have experienced times where finances were never an issue. But even in those 'easy years', I had the notion that I could not use discretionary funds on such a LUXURY item. I am my father's daughter. When it no longer felt like a luxury but a necessity to be able to mix large quantities of cake batter for cupcakes for the cafe, I could finally give in.

Here she is...a gorgeous, enamel black (it was quite hard deciding on the color as there are so many luscious ones to choose from now) Professional 5 Plus.

I'm in love.

THE DRAWING FOR THE ANGEL

'Fifi' & 'Fido' are happily settling down for the night which leaves me here in my sweet guest room surrounded by flowers and candles (it doesn't get much better than this) and it's time to close my eyes and pick from the tiny pile of names. Amazing that only a small handful are interested in angels! Well, here goes.........JULIE B.
that is the name.........you know what? I have two more prints and I think I will give those away, too. Why not???? .......... miss *r............and Tracy!!! There you go.

You just never know what will happen at Faerieluna

OFF ON AN ADVENTURE

You never really know what's around the next corner.....and here I am off on another little adventure. A family I know (sort of) wanted to head off for a little R&R for a few days, but their two furry friends were not really that wild about the idea and opted to stay home. This is where I come in. I am the house-pet sitter for the next few days. The lovely home is only 26 miles from my nest and an easy drive. Tonight through Saturday I will play "sitter". I will, of course, miss my 'Studio with a bed', but I welcome the change of venue and maybe the ability to focus on another task that is close at hand and that is a week long trip with the doc to LA to assist him during many meetings; and not in an average fashion, but rather as the master planner and coordinator of hospitality. Large quantities of food and beverage, A/V equipment, etc., loooooooooong hours. Last year it was DC during Cherry blossom time. I saw cherry blossoms from the limo to the hotel on day one........and to the airport on the last day. I NEVER LEAVE THE HOTEL FOR A FULL WEEK!!!! But, again, it's a change of venue and I love ordering wonderful things to make people happy and not have to give it a second thought as to how much it costs. How fun is that?!!

Now, here is the deal on the gift away. The name will be drawn tomorrow and posted before I say goodnight to Fifi and Fido (their real names withheld to protect their identity :) ) Part of this great gig is that they also have wireless internet connection so I don't have to leave my laptop home. Yippeeee.........one is never lonely in a BIIIIGGGGGG strange house when I can tune in to my favorite blogs.
I will share some lovely photos over the weekend of my temporary home away from home.

Now I will turn on my shooooshing machine (yes, I bring that with me) and spritz the guest room with my favorite scent from my nest and settle in. You know, I could do this for a living and be quite happy I think....I would just wish for cats to care for as they are my all time favs.

Good night Bloggies..........and don't miss out on the drawing. I'm not sure when I will have another with the craziness of April ahead of me. We will see.

A FAVORITE READ

Don't you just love when you are immediately captured by the opening page? Drawn in so quickly and tightly that your forget about everything around you for a few moments. A book HAS to do that for me as my mind is too quick to jump off the pages and race way ahead of the author, thus losing me almost immediately. I don't want to use discipline, it seems, to 'stay the course'. Not when it comes to the wonderful pasttime of reading. Up and down the aisles of bookstores, head cocked to the side. Wondering why in the world have 'they' not come up with a better system than titles on spines running vertically so that we end up with a crick in the neck long before we tire of looking for the next delightful read. (Forgive me for digressing) Reaching out to select a beautiful book, hope rising as I flip to the first page, chapter one. Diving in, eager to be transported..........and then "blah!" snapping it shut and putting it back. On to the next.

Well, a few years ago, way after all the hub-bub over the novel by Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees, I come upon it again in the bookstore. I realized that I had purposely gone by this book many times just because of the hub-bub. (always the defiant. Wanting to go the opposite direction of the crowd and find something quite on my own). So this time I pick it up......loving the cover. What's not to love? Simplicity of a honey jar on a window sill with one, hovering bee. Slowly I open to the first chapter. And before beginning the chapter, above it in italics an excerpt from Man and Insects: The queen, for her part, is the unifying force of the community; if she is removed from the hive, the workers very quickly sense her absence. after a few hours, or even less, they show unmistakable signs of queenlessness. WHAMMO!!! It takes my breath away. The truth of that observation. the parallel that feels familiar; the understanding of "unmistakable signs of queenlessness" THIS book drew me in....in a nanosecond. Brilliant, rich, and filled with hope. So here I am, not ashamed to admit the "crowd" was right. This most amazing novel is not only high on my list to read, it's also on my other list. The one that says, WORTH READING AGAIN. And so, on my bedside table it waits for me with the beautiful bookmark from C.J.(A Simple Way to Pay It Forward-below) resting on page one, chapter one.

LISTENING WITH HER HEART

Monday nights are the hardest for me to quiet my mind and go to sleep. I get through Sunday night with a particular routine, but Mondays....Monday, Monday. I'm learning not to fight it so much and just go with it as best I can. Blogging, reading, sometimes putting the finishing touches on an art bit or piece of mail. Tonight is no exception as as I watch the minute hand creep closer to midnight I notice Petra...sitting and waiting to listen. In the short time she has been here she has taken to visiting my heart-rock collection over and over again. Her somber little face seems less pensive to me lately. Perhaps I have simply grown accustomed to her soulful, watching eyes. Either way, SHE is the one awake with me tonight, a precious porcelain heart clutched tightly in her arms as the clock moves closer to that magic hour...quietly listening.

ONE DAY AT A TIME

In 2003, while a close friend was doing battle with cancer (one that she overcame!) I created this ATC with the full intention of sending it off to her, however, I was stopped each and every time by that small voice. I would shake my head in wonder, but I listened.

Now, this many years later after looking at the ATC many, many times, the quiet prompting to send this on to another soul doing battle makes me smile. And with that I am also led to share it here first, not attached to any name. Just share it, both the front and the back. I am just believing that someone else needs to be encouraged or comforted. One day at a time. No matter what we battle, no matter what our worries, these five small words remind us that nothing beyond THIS day are worth expending energy over. THIS is the day that counts. THESE are the words that have helped me during times of challenge.

I hope this helps you.

THIS WEEK'S GIFT AWAY

This week's gift away is an ATC-sized, print on cotton fabric, of one of my angel photos collection. It felt very Spring-like and when I printed several out on fabric for little pillows or mini quilts, I thought it would be nice to give one away this week. She would make a nice embellishment on a fabric journal cover or fabric wall hanging or it could be trimmed a little and added to a fabric ATC.

I will be offering fabric prints of some of my artwork on my etsy shop www.faerieluna.etsy.com along with some small pieces of funky and fun fabric for your own projects

So, leave your name and I will have the drawing the end of the week.

Bon Chance!

A SIMPLE WAY TO PAY IT FORWARD

A few years ago, a darling little woman looked quite lost near an elevator at the clinic where I worked. When I asked her if I could help, she explained, almost in tears, that her husband was on a particular floor undergoing a test and she had turned herself around the wrong way after going to the cafeteria to grab a quick cup of tea. I tried to assure her that even those of us who worked there got ourselves in the very same situation on a daily basis and not to feel bad. With that, I escorted her to where her husband was waiting. Such a simple thing for me. A very tiny kindness in the scheme of a day-in-the-life. She thanked me profusely and took this bookmark from her purse and put it in my hand. A token of her gratitude she said, explaining that every greeting card she receives she turns into little bookmarks that she gives away. She was in her 80's, making little pieces of give-away-art. A very simple form of altered art. On the back she had written in beautiful cursive, 'God Bless You'..........book mark by C.J.

I love this bookmark and all that it embraces.

Make a little piece of art, share it with a complete stranger, leave it with your tip at the cafe or at the counter in your local PO where most of the time people are annoyed :) It's an "arty" way to PAY IT FORWARD and years down the road, someone will pull it out of their book and remember a tiny, random act of art kindness.

Oh Chickenbells!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!CAN SOMEONE FIND CHICKENBELLS FOR ME

No, that is not an expletive....that is the name drawn for the One World One Heart give away!!!
My most favorite fae is ready to fly to you......along with a lovely CD that I put together. Pop me an e-mail and give me the low down as I don't think we've ever connected before......so you are new in faerielunaland :) DOES ANYONE KNOW CHICKENBELLS?? I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HER

Then I had a another drawing for a second CD I made, and this goes to.....a familiar "face"...zUzU

This was all so fun. I had the immense pleasure of meeting new faces and reading new blogs. It's such a wonderful circle.

Also to Discodaisy......You are a really new face and had the sweetest request regarding faeries...if you care to e-mail me, I will send you off some faerie tales and things for your collection for your little fae, but you must tell me who the red haired lass is that sent you here.

and to all my dear bloggies who come regularly......your visits do not go unnoticed. It's so sweet to have you come by from time to time. ...and you just never know what is going to happen here at faerieluna.

I wish you all happiness tonight as we jump into Spring.
xoxoxoxoxox rella

OH, TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THIS...........

This would be such an amazing conference to attend.

www.marquette.edu/wstudies/programs/MarquetteUniversityWomensStudiesConferenceProgram07.shtml

OH, AND THESE WILL BE AVAILABE AT OUR CAFE

http://bottman.com/store_collections.php?overcoll=2038

One of the fun things I get to do for our cafe is order cards and things. I loved Lani's Ladies and had to have them there. I'm also looking to add Lisa Kaus' work.

The other fun thing is to pick the art we showcase. This amazing artist www.nahleart.com/ was with us when we opened our first little Octagon Cafe back in February of 04. This February a BIGGER OC opened in a 'kicking' new location and Wahid has moved with us. His work just touches your soul. If you look at the 5th one down on the right in Gallery 2 - Meditation, this one hung in the first OC before it was sold. It just took my breath away it was so stunning. Jim surprised me not long after we opened with a stunning and perfectly, perfect original piece, called 'Searching'.

It's all an adventure, this cafe. I'm in the background, Jim at the forefront. EVERYONE is happier with this arrangement.

THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS...

o.k. let's just agree first of all that I'm tired. Monday back at the office is......well it's not the BLISS I experience on weekends. Not even close.

So here's the thing: This is me trying to leave comments at the blogs I visit.....

r8Ue3
WruV8O
Lqrws8
gqp3vi
"expletive"
"sigh, I need stronger reading glasses!"
ivn72a
l2vup
"whew! got it"

Does anyone else hate the rigamarow we go through to leave a comment? Do you think they could create it with BIGGER letters for those of us past 40?? How about using a real word?

Like...rigamarow?

OLIVIA & PETRA

Olivia, meeting Petra for the first time, notices immediately that this sour little girl has taken upon herself far too many woes of others and feels deeply it is time to comfort this new member of the nest that has been here only one day. With the gentleness of the old soul that she is, Olivia speaks quietly speaks of friendship and honoring one's true feelings. (You see, Olivia and Zu had been gathering with many faerie friends today and I could tell that they had so much to share with each other and our newest family member) What I am observing is so loving and so very wise that I slip to the side of the room and begin to write down all that I hear pouring so sweetly from one soul to the other. This is my best account:

"You have an inner counselor who is very wise. This source of wisdom speaks to you in both physical and emotional ways. The faeries know the importance of heeding their own feelings, and they ask you to do the same. They say, "please don't discount what you know to be true in your heart. Follow your emotions, as they are your inner compass that will steer you home and keep you warm, safe, supported, and joyous."

How amazing it is. Petra came here on a mission (so she thought) but the faeries had something else in mind making certain that Olivia was here to offer wisdom and comfort and maybe healing to this little sour girl.

ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT

My dear Bloggies.........only a few days remain to add your name to the list for the drawing for 'One World-One Heart Give away. The little Pocket Faerie (scroll down to look if you have not already) that is my most favorite of all of my mixed media faeries will be ready to go along with a beautiful mix of music I put together myself. Almost 80 minutes of bliss. There are so many hearts joining in on the world-wide give away this week and I'm thrilled to be part of it.

SOMEONE NEW HAS ARRIVED

All the way from Sweden, this little elf arrived and look who got out of her nest to have a closer look!!! Her name is Petra and she is a "a sour little night girl, but she'll keep your darkest secrets in a safe place.

when you feel low she'll keep you company.

when the moodswings come creeping out under your bed the night girls capture them for a dance. yeah, and it swings. it surely swings.

this night girl is free- care for a dance?"

The quote is from her creator, a most amazing and imaginative artist by the name of Katj www.myspace.com/tiipetti
I stumbled upon her and just knew that this night girl had to come and be part of the family here, to be by my bedside most especially during the nights when I cannot sleep. Zu is crazy about her and has offered her nest for the night, gathering bits of rose petals and pillow filling that she stole from one of my tattered and very much loved pillow that Char gave me several years ago. I don't mind. After all, Petra had a long journey and should have a night of comfort here in the nest.

UNDER A LITTLE CONSTRUCTION.....

PLEASE BE PATIENT, WE ARE DOING A LITTLE REVAMPING AT FAERIELUNA AND IT WILL BE ALL GOOD.

Down at the very bottom of this first page is what is supposed to be at the top as the header. The artist working on this has run into a few problems that I created, so hopefully, tomorrow we will be able to figure it out. Change sometimes bring a challenge. Story of FaerieRella's life for sure.

"pssssst....something new is brewing"

Here is a little peek at something new being planned at Faerieluna. :) I'm pretty excited about this new little adventure here on my blog and for the start of my space on Etsy where I will be offering some art dolls and mixed media pieces. Stay tuned and I will tell you all about it once everything is in place. <3 Rella

HAVE I BEEN AWAY SO LONG......??

O.K.....so I've been 'out of the loop' so-to-speak when it comes to shopping for some of the basic items of every day life...and I admit that has been for the last three years, yes, THREE years. If I stopped right here, I'm sure you would all be thinking "how is this possible that this gal has not shopped for the basics in three years??????!!!" I certainly would be sitting here wide-eyed with wonder! So I will quickly explain that since opening the cafe three years ago, all I've had to do when in need of garbage bags, toilet paper, AND paper towels is walk to the garage (AKA Cafe Warehouse) and pull it from the huge stock that my partner would weekly stock from his arduous shopping adventure. Paper goods....go to the garage.......coffee.......brought home from cafe....you get the picture. He eats there...I eat at the office....don't need much here at the nest. I hate shopping. Evidently I don't HAVE to. I am spoiled. O.K. you have the picture. So now that we've opened a larger cafe there is storage room there and the garage is starting to look like a garage. Sort of... and I now have to ...big sigh....shop. Eeeeesh. I can hardly type it never mind DO it.
Fast forward now to my little shopping trip last night and picture me, in a daze, walking through the paper goods isle in such amazement. So much has changed!! WHEN DID PAPER TOWELS GET SO DARN PRECIOUS??!! I typically want only white paper towels, toilet paper, etc. ; but who can resist (great marketing!) these whimsical delights??

Well, not THIS girl. I have three years to make up for!!!

TOGETHER AGAIN

Olivia has come to visit Zu, and as always, she brings her dear friend another lovely for her nest. The two have been friends for many lives, and my understanding is the first of which they were both dragonflies. Blue Dashers, to be exact, living their short lives somewhere right here in Arizona. This is why Olivia has gifted Zu with her second dragonfly. It's a sweet reminder of when they first became kindred spirits many, many, lives ago.

Olivia (this lifetime) began as a blank Obitsu doll, fully ball jointed. I was fortunate enough to come upon her, paint her eyes and lips, fashion her hair lock by lock from gorgeous auburn mohair and dress her. It was then that I learned the story of her and Zu. Ever so softly, her found voice barely a whisper, she talked to me for days of the adventures she and Zu have shared; all the while thanking me for taking her in and reuniting her with her beloved friend.

I have no idea how long she will stay and it matters little when you consider the history of these two kindred spirits together again.......here in MY nest.

ONE HEART ONE WORLD GIFT AWAY

This is a very special 'Gift Away' which will be drawn on or about March 21. I've taken part in the One Heart One World Spring Fling Give Away.
Go to the end of this post to click on the link.

It does MY heart good to see all this wonderful sharing and giving and also makes my little weekly 'gift away' part of a really big spirit of generosity that is sure to grow. It's all good.


So my part is this 'pocket faerie'-> (shown here outside of her little pocket) that I made as an extra during a swap not that long ago. Her pocket home is made from a library card covered in light green mulberry paper, embellished with green hand dyed silk, earth colored fibers, and silk leaves. Added to that is a touch of gold, glitter, and curled star garland. The fae is glammed up with gold and glitter and her crown holds three crystals. The is my all time favorite image, I fell in love with her several years ago and use it whenever I can. This particular fae has stayed here in my nest for several months and now is ready for a new adventure and how exciting that she will be part of One Heart, One World. When I box her up I will include other goodies to delight and a CD with a collection of some of my favorite music to soothe.

To get more details visit

heartofthenest.blogspot.com

THE BIRTHDAY DRAWING RESULTS.....

Oh Bloggie friends...........it gets harder and harder each week to see only one name pulled, one in this circle of friends when I want everyone to have a gift. Each name printed out, cut, folded and appearing as little white wings...all precious.

Cheers to the Birthday Boy.........and cheers for DIANE DUDA who will be receiving dear 'Poe'................and because I felt this was a very special day, a second name was drawn for a surprise winning..............and that is Lisa Gallop who will receive the little fledgling fae 'Hope' who looked up to 'Linaea' the Encouragement Faerie.

ELONGATED HEART OR STRANGE OWL??

At first glance this appeared to be a heart. Then, the more I looked at it I saw a strange owl.

You decide.

WINNER FOR POE WILL BE TONIGHT

Tonight in honor of Jim's birthday, a name will be drawn for this week's 'Gift Away' = Poe. It will be quite late here in AZ when it's drawn, but I will post it immediately for those who are up at all hours.

HAPPY FRIDAY TO EVERYONE!!!

SOMETIMES EVEN ANGELS WEEP

SUCH LOVLINESS IN THE MAIL

The first lovely package contained a birdie pin from Kim (DogfaerieX5) and a lucsious, sparkley star with a bag of glitter (every faerie loves glitter) I was doing the happy dance when I opened this package and still keep gazing upon these beauties like a child looking under the Christmas tree after all the prezzies have been opened and you cannot believe your eyes....THEN......Today I received another envelope in the mail from Lynnie A. Inside was this gorgeous ATC and you cannot even see how rich it is by the photo. I just love it and it was so unexpected, PLUS enclosed was a divine package of bird stickers that I adore...............THEN
I received a wonderful card from MY little bird with such a beautiful note inside and a funny picture on front. She is just so sweet to her mom. :)................THEN...I got an e-mail photo from my oldest boy and his love with such a smile on his face that it warms my heart....

It just doesn't get much better!!!

NOTES FROM THE NEST

Namaste

As I begin the ritual of preparing for sleep and deciding what I will meditate on tonight cozied up here in my nest, twinkle lights in the ficus tree casting soothing and soft shadows against the wall and ceiling, the shooshing of my 'white noise' machine already on; the thought that continues to flutter to the forefront of my brain is that more often than not I wake up with a song playing in my head. There have been nights that I awaken with the tune "playing" in my head as I get up for a bit of water or whatever......go back to sleep, and wake up several more times with the same song. There have been funny songs, songs of love, songs of sadness. Most of the time I have forgotten the 'song of my dreams' by mid day. So I've decided two things today. 1. To keep my reading glasses, a pen and a notebook by my bed. 2. Set my alarm 15 minutes ahead of schedule to write down the dream song.......and whatever I can remember of my wild and colorful dreams.

I have always believed that the first thought you have upon waking is important and noteworthy. My "morning thoughts" have given me clarity on an issue I've struggled with, they have guided me in the correct path to take with decision large and small...........morning thoughts are pure and unhampered by a 'noisey mind'. What I am wondering now is whether morning SONGS are equally important.

So dear bloggies: Do you pay attention to the morning thoughts? and do you ever wake with a song already playing in your head?

Sweet Dreams <3

FULL CROW MOON ~ FIRST LUNAR ECLIPSE OF 2007

Third Full Moon of 2007:

The Full Moon of March is sometimes called the Crow Moon or the Sap
Moon, both of which have been attributed to the Algonquin Peoples, or
sometimes the Maple Sugar Moon. This year's Crow Moon, rising tonight, will coincide with the first lunar eclipse of 2007.

Observers in Africa and Europe will have the most complete view of
the eclipse, but near the east coast of North and South
America will be able to see the central and final phases; those living
farther west in North America are out of luck. (That would be me!) Totality, when the moon moves through the darkest part of the Earth's shadow, will last from 5:44
pm (EST) to 6:58 pm. Moon rise in most of New England, assuming a low
eastern horizon, will take place between 5:50 and 6 pm.

Since the moon will already be eclipsed as it rises, it will be
dark, colored only by the glow of sunlight refracted through our
atmosphere. The color depends on global weather and possibly airborne pollution
and could range from copper to a deep blood red.

So then, if the weather is clear on March 3rd, watch a glorious
sunset in the west and a brilliant Venus appearing in the twilight
diagonally above the sun. Then turn around to see the red Crow Moon rise in
the east. The darkest portion of the eclipse will occur around 6:20 pm.
Around 7 o'clock, you should see the silver edge of the moon peek out
from our planet's shadow. The moon won't be completely free of the
shadow until after 9 o'clock.

As the sky grows dark, look above the moon. Above and slightly to
the right of the eclipsed moon is the blue-white star Regulus, and
above Regulus, slightly brighter and pale yellow or tan, is the planet
Saturn.

The next lunar eclipse will be warmer than this one, especially here in the Sonoran Desert. It will occur on the night of August 27 and 28 which is smack dab in the middle of the Monsoons here and the possibility that the sky will be less than clear is huge. However, residents of the Hawaiian Islands will have a perfect view and I'm thinking that is exactly where I would love to be in August. On the beach in Hawaii, gazing up at the moon without a care in the world.

RESUMING 'GIFT AWAY'

This is Poe, the Reminder Faerie. Quietly he sits with his intense and knowing eyes holding a snippet of prose, stunning haiku, or simple truths sorely needed. In the quiet of the day or the time before sleep when you most reflect on the hours of your day, Poe will remind you of what is important..what is necessary..what is vital for YOUR well being.

He is fashioned from stamped fabric (Zetti stamp/Stazon ink) and very lightly colored, paper butterfly wings added then fused to a lively print (his backside is important, also!) cut out carefully and sealed. Then he was made to sit, adhered to a wine cork that is topped with beads and a swirly, curly, piece of jewelry metal shaped to hold notes or poetry (or even the latest fortune from last night's Chinese take-out). He sits here in the faerie twig chair, but is just as comfortable on your table top or shelf.

Poe will arrive with many pieces of inspiration should you find yourself in short supply of your own, or until you find just the right piece of wisdom that speaks to your heart.

I am certain he will find a wonderful new home ~ BON CHANCE!!