YES, I HAVE CREATED A LITTLE THIS SEASON

however, I failed to document very well,

One was a little painting

A Christmas gift

for my little daughter bird...

but sometimes I do something

so personal that I cannot share it.

It's like a magical little piece of my heart.

The only other creation that I can share

now that it has been given and opened 2,500 miles away

is this Faerie Snow Garden

It had been in process for a looooong time

That is, I had a rough idea sitting in my head

(that swirly, twirly place that only the very brave visit)

I had the glass dome for two years...

yes, two years.

A fabulous find at the Goodwill here in town.

I knew it was going to be a special vignette for a very dear friend

but choosing the perfect pieces to go inside would take time.

Viola!!!

I had the bristle bottle tree.......perfect size!!

it was green and not very 'faerie'

So I bleached it.

Yes, household bleach does the trick.

There it sat inside the dome for a year.

I looked at it every day.

Finally I knew what I would do.

Jeepers, you'd think it was a marble carving.

Forgive me for not documenting the process....

but I plan on another in the VERY near future

and I will give step by step.

The products used and lessons learned.

Maybe Valentine inspired...

we shall see....

but I do promise it will not take two years.


Happy Sunday my dear bloggies

and don't forget to leave a comment in the post below

for a chance to wind the Magical Angel

xox Rella

~~~

I WAS GRANTED A WISH!!!!

I certainly made no bones about my favorite designer
on Project Runway this year.

Little Miss Faerie Girl herself,

Carol Hannah

just won me over from the very first show.

It could be the her love of 'faerie-like' designs

or her adorable personality that makes you just want to hug her

Her bio on her Etsy profile sums it up:

southern belle transplanted to the big apple. self-proclaimed gypsy. lover of people. lover of fashion. in that order.


Then she lists her favorite materials:

• Silk Chiffon

• Charmeuse jersey

• metallics

• textures

• sparkle

• sunshine

• candy

• sugar and spice

• magic

Any designer that has this list has MY interest!!

I know for sure she is an artistic and kind soul

and I am totally excited to share THIS.....


I have had the pleasure of recent communication with the talented Ms. CH

and she graciously agreed to a mini interview!!
(OMG, just pinch me!)

A few simple questions,

a glimpse, if you will, into the heart of Ms. Carol Hannah

1. R:When did you first know you would be in fashion design....or did it just happen as you followed your passion?

CH: "It was more of a natural progression that I fought along the way. I started sewing very young and always did fashion as a hobby, but the nerd in me thought that it was too fluffy for me to pursue as a career. I later realized that was a rather dumb thing to think, that I had something special, and that I wasn't meant to do anything else".


2. R: In moving to New York, what do you miss the most about home?

CH: "Oh so many things! I do love New York, but for completely different reasons than why I love South Carolina. I miss the food, the sunshine and beautiful weather, the southern drawls, and the genteel charm. I especially miss my bicycle, which I used to ride everywhere in Charleston. Most importantly, I miss the people".


3. R: Aside from your sewing machine, what tool or item in your sewing room could you NOT possibly live without?

CH: "I would say my ham. For anyone who doesn't know, a ham is a tailoring tool used for pressing (especially for pressing curved seams) that looks like....a ham! Proper pressing is a crucial element in good construction, and you cannot get those results without a ham!".


4. R: What other hobbies spark your creative edge?

CH: "Drawing...Though my degree is in business, I minored in studio art in college. I love to draw in charcoal or ink. I also really enjoy interior design. My staple gun and I have recovered many a chair".


5. R: Who would you most like to design one of your beautiful dresses for?

CH: "I'm sure it would be fun to design for celebrities and such, but I honestly love just working with the women that I already do. Nothing makes me more satisfied than seeing how my clothes make a client feel beautiful and happy. That's probably why I like bridal so much".

What a sweetheart this young designer is

and her dresses are feminine without being overly fussy.

I especially like her recent additions to the
Wedding Collection

they are just gorgeous and yet I can imagine
they are incredibly comfortable at the same time

In her other Etsy shop - Carol Hannah -

I thought this dress,

that could be done up in just about any color or length

truly captured the feminine,

comfortable,

and oh-so-flattering essence of her designs.

Take a few moments and visit Carol Hannah

her blog is lovely

and it gives you yet another look at the spirit of this darling little fae.

Thank you, CH, for granting me this very special interview

I wish you the best of everything life has to offer

including faerie dust and magic.

xox Rella

GRATEFUL

That is the post.

That is my word for 2009.

I know there are blogs out there that have put the question out to us or the challenge to use ONE word.

...and I have thought on it for these past 15 days.

REALLY, truly, contemplated.

I will state it here quite simply,

Grateful

the second most powerful word to my spirit....

the sister word to love.

When I hang up the phone
(gosh that is an OLD term now, isn't it?)

I am grateful
that such an instrument gives me the connection to my children

or my Dad or siblings..

or my dear friend across the country..

when I can text a simple

"love you" or "goodnight"

just before going to sleep

it feels like
these precious ones are not so far away..

I am grateful.

that I have a job,

a roof over my head,

a car to get me where I need to go.......

three amazing children...

beautiful sunrises and sunsets...

The list is huge,

isn't it?

When I 'visit' grateful in the midst of any storm,

it is like a healing balm.

It's magic.