IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS

You know the kind I mean


your second day back to The Desk

after seven glorious days away from the drama

and you are kind of (absolutely) fed up

and wondering

how to prevent the life force being sucked out of you

and your creative (and crazy) thought process begins to imagine

some sort of protective suit of armor

that could be fashioned

in time for the morning (because you've seen the schedule and you KNOW what is in store)

and then

you remember.....

the movie (scary)

SIGNS

and you start the prototype

but you need a model to help you

and there is only

one

contender

The Hissy,

Ankle Biting,

Finicky,

Feline

doesn't she look thrilled?

Wouldn't you be scared if you were the trusty assistant, Mr. J.?

I forgot to mention we had just cut her nails. She REALLY loves that!!

LEFT BEHIND FAERIE

I wanted to leave a little faerie behind in Mission Viejo

I sketched this little fae a long time ago
and photo copied her to use many times.
Here I gave her a little color wash
and glitter, of course.

I placed her in the pretty rose bouquet
for my sister-in-law to find later in my lovely room she so sweetly decorated.

I came across these words today.
~
All beginnings are preceded by endings.
~~
I love when, with profound simplicity, a sentence reverberates a magnificent hope.

So I share it because I believe someone needed to read it today.

MISSION POSSIBLE IN MISSION VIEJO

(Steve, Emily, Kathy)

My 'mission'.........spend some time with my just turned 10 niece
and make Valentines
While my brother and sister-in-law have some R&R

Supplies gathered

Emily already had in mind what she wanted.
Little cards that would be attached to candy bags
Names stamped out, then glittered
heart punch
stickers
good amount of candy

Peanut near by in case we needed advice (isn't she pretty?)



Emily's favorite Friday night place
My first time there

Girls just want to have fun

all set to head next door for a sleep over party
She is just adorable and so anxious to grow up

It was a jam-packed couple of days.

One of my favorite places to hang out...
the back patio off the kitchen.



listening to the birds



Such fun and great conversation all around

The weather was gorgeous and I was just in heaven with all the flowers that were in bloom.
Even apple trees!!

Steve and I had the most wonderful lunch on the patio of Tortilla Flats on the lake before I left.
Cool breeze, warm sun, peaceful lake

Great sibling time.

It's still hard to wrap our heads around the fact that we have lost
our youngest sister and brother.

OWOH WINNER

Thank you, each and every one who came by and left a note.
Meeting new people is what this is all about.
And so, here is a gift for all of you.
This photo you can print off and use in your art or just frame.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY !!!


#18 is the winner of the wee faerie house.
That number belongs to

Zuzu!!!

Congrats, sweet pea..........I will have the morsel out to you.
xo Rella

JUST 8 HOURS TO POST A COMMENT TO BE IN THE DRAWING

Head on down to the Faerie House post below to enter your name for the drawing.
Midnight Arizona time is the deadline here at Faerieluna

I will push the button to randomly choose a number tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. (after I get my morning coffee.)

ART IN THE MAIL

Is there anything more wonderful than finding precious pieces of art in the mail?


Why, Yes
It's receiving one piece before heading out away from The Nest

This piece of gorgeousness arrived from my dear friend Lynnie. Isn't it just the best 'Eye Candy' in all it's pinkness??



Then another piece was waiting for me upon my return.

Sharon sent me a note
after I posted my Butterfly Keeper paper doll

that she was totally
motivated to make a paper doll.........

and boy, did she ever come through.

Not only making one

but sharing the whole process with us.

This motivated ME to try another.... how fun.

From the start, however, we agreed that we would swap dollies with each other.

She did, try to convince me to make a Valentine ATC, but I just don't do well with that
format lately.

Not sure why, I've made many in the past several years.

Thank you, Lynnie, for sending me off with love.

Thank you Sharon, for welcoming me home with love.

How lucky am I?

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN, JIGIDY, JIG

Row 7, Seat A. Coming back..... coming home

Looking back......and reflecting

Arizona to California and back...
I'm pretty sure this won't be much help, but thanks for the suggestion (AKA:In Your Face Reminder or Arline Humor)

Yes, I am home dear friends.
After a whirling dervish of activity and emotions.

I got in late last night, happy to be back in my nest,
my familiar surrounding

I will share some photos and thoughts later tonight.
and a special piece of mail that was waiting for my return.

I head back to The Desk today...sigh.

...

A FAERIE APPEARED BEFORE MY EYES

Some months ago I had a piece of heavy watercolor paper that had been given a wash of a few colors...

etched with my handy crooked fork.....

dabbed with ink.....

A rather blank canvas, really.

A few days later, I had extra white gesso on my brush from a project and began to swipe it on the canvas, totally free form.

This is what appeared..........


and I let it be for months.
Amazed with the faerie......wondering what would come of it.

A few weeks ago I took my pencils and paints and drew in a faerie holding a butterfly.

I wasn't loving the whole thing, but I was fond of the faerie.........

out came the scissors.

A paperdoll..........that I will bring to my 10 year old neice, Emily.
Jenny Wren's youngest child.

Tomorrow I hop a plane to stay with Emily for a few days while my brother and sister-in-law take a little vacation.

The first since they opened thier already huge hearts and thier home to this little girl now without parents.

I am packing art supplies, per her request, as we are going to make Valentines together for her new friends she has made in her new school...in her new life.

I will get to see and hear how this little one is doing,
how my brother and sister-in-law are doing after thinking there would never be children in their lives.
This younger brother of mine who has been there for all of us.
No matter what.
And his wife who is as dear as they come.

David, 16, chose to stay in Connecticut with other family members
to finish high school.

Jessica, 21, is with David for now and will move in to
an apartment with a girlfriend this Spring.

Little Emily who now has the opportunity for a beautiful life
that came at a very dear and precious price.

Nita has lost her beloved John.

There are no words. What can be said when the loss is so huge.
His accident left John and their lives...paralyzed.

Through it all Nita has done her very best to stay strong and hopeful,

and encouraging

to those of us in blogland that have
suffered sorrow and loss.

Always sending a sweet note.
Always caring.

They celebrated their 19th anniversary just last month

If you would like to send something to Nita, please contact me at faerieluna at cox.net.
If you have never lost someone close you might not know
how much it means to have pieces of mail
arrive filled with love and compassion
filled with art and hope
filled with something that feels real when life feels
other worldly and foreign.
If we lived next door we would bring meals
We would bring flowers
We would bring our energy and clean and cook and look after them while they, the walking wounded, tried to put one foot in front of the other.
We would shop for them and shovel snow if we had to.
It's a time of 'doing' for someone in need.

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN

Once again THIS very special event is taking place.

I received such a sweet e-mail from Lisa asking me to join again this year, that I could not resist.

HOW TO PLAY:

LEAVE A COMMENT HERE
INCLUDE YOUR BLOG OR E-MAIL ADDY

THAT'S IT!!!



My offering this year is a tiny faeriehouse done up in a Valentine Color.

A teeny Paper Whimsy image with wings, some vintage lace and buttons..

and, of course


GLITTER!!!!

I will also include a little package of the buttons
for you to use in your own work.

THE DRAWING IS FEBRUARY 14TH

HEART DAY