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Christmas was weird.
On Christmas eve my sisters beloved cat died after a long and painful illness. Our spirits were pretty low to say the least. Ok, it was awful, devastating for us all, a Christmas that we are unlikely to ever forget...for very painful reasons. But, we are at least relieved to know that she isn't suffering now, and that we were lucky to have had her in our lives at all, if only for six short years.
So, I have decided to take a week out from my shop and take a little rest. A much needed holiday. A week of reading, relaxing, long, hot bubble baths and setting myself the surreal task of making strange little sketches in a previously untouched moleskine that I have been far too precious about 'defacing' for over six or seven months now (!). That ought to cheer me up a little.
I have been making little photographs around the house these past few days. It took my mind off less pleasant (although understandable) associations. No new 'work', as yet, but i would like to share some of my favourite things from over the Christmas period...cards, gifts, self bought treasures, my kitten....
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Comforting oneself with dreaminess, and the perfection of the winter light...
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(Top left to bottom right)
1. Experiments with sugar paper. I call it sugar paper, but I have no idea what it is exactly. I just pushed it over the lens for fun. My old favourite pva glue streaked paper layer that ages photographs so nicely.
2. My Lounge Tree. Dawn light, silence all around. A beautiful moment. I try to photograph this tree each season because i adore it's many guises. Now it is resting. Soon, it shall be covered in wild pink blossom. And you know, i much prefer it this way, my skeleton tree, my fog-cloaked, bare-naked sweetheart:)
3. My beautiful Marie Antoinette pendant (made by DarkEleganceDesigns) as featured in my last installment of The Wonder Cabinet. I didn't photograph it very well...good job I'm not attempting to sell handmade jewellery at Etsy.
4. Me. Shortly after the bad news on Xmas eve. I chose to make a photomontage depicting the clouds dispersing, a rainbow forming through the centre. I am the eternal optimist.
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Sweet, thoughtful things...
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1. Candy cane. A gift from Vanessa. And thanks to this self same, remarkable curiosa, I am no longer such a stranger to the delights of the 'Hershey kiss'. Heeee!
2. Adorable self bought sweetie, a tiny knitted bear from knittingdreams. He hasn't decided upon a name as yet, but he does reveal a penchant for sleeping in an upturned, unused flowerpot and a talent for singing in a curious falsetto voice.
3. Vintage dolly, from my childhood, I think. She doesn't share the amigurumi joy of singing, but she does have a special talent for staring at you in a highly suspect manner. Her chosen place of residence is high up on the bathroom Wall. She has been there for a number of years now, faithfully terrifying all manner of visitors to my home. I say they ought to develop a thicker skin!
4. A drawing I made. I was feeling the Albertus Seba mood.
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Rainbow things....
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Still roaming through rainbow land after my fling with Lula Magazine last week.
1. My new Teapot Cozy. Makes a rather delightful hat, too. I have yet to purchase the right sized teapot for it to adorn. Behind me are the love-heart fairy lights. My kitchen, yes.
2. More of the Teapot Cozy. Handmade, full of goodness!
3. Another rainbow influenced (Lula) photomontage.
4. In bed, with Foxy Knolly (Ikea).
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A seasonal, cinnamon world.....
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1. My boy. The Master. Occasionally referred to as Mirlo. Behind him, his favourite fleece blanket. He knows how to mingle with the colour red!
2. A string of red apples and cinnamon sticks. Mirlo likes to torture them.
3. The vintage dolly, once more. Did I forget to mention that she has special powers? Well, she does. Here she is, illustrating the benefits of lop-sided levitation. Perhaps she is a member of the Magician's Daughters....
4. My new crochet mittens. Not handmade. Topshop made. Very snug and super pliable, they don't make it so difficult to rummage through your pocket for the door key. A finer specimen of mitten;)
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Oh! It's Miss Piggy........
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My precious new Piggy doll, courtesy of Miss Fanciful Twist!
1. A fine example of Piggy Haircraft (as seen in the latest edition of Le Hogge magazine, Paris). Here she is sporting the notorious 'up do'. How versatile those locks!
2. The golden flowing waterfall 'do'. Such glamour.
3. Sporting my Blythe's afro. Moog, my Blythe doll is none too pleased. Miss Piggy, of course, interprets the Moog's recent display of hostility towards her as a hideous form of deep rooted jealousy. I am sure that she is right.
4. Her Jewellery. This lady likes to accessorise.
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Little tree creatures.....
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My little wooden Christmas tree creatures. They are very old, and most of them are chipped or broken, but I love them and will likely never be able to part with them. They remind me of childhood, and of the snow (for some reason) that we have (as usual) not experienced yet this year.
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More and yet more of my favourite things....
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1. A couple of recent prints from those wonderful Etsy folks, Marmeecraft and Studiolyon. I have so many beautiful prints here that haven't been framed as yet, but i simply couldn't photograph them all.
2. My Post-parcel basket. Where i keep my fancy tapes and customs stickers, etc. How the Marmee postcard found it's way in there is anyone's guess, but she doesn't look out of place:) Cutie hedgehog and squirrel tape by glitterworkshop.
3. My Mildred Moog. Lookin' pretty. Lookin' perfect.
4. The knitted bear, again. He likes the limelight, methinks.
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Antlers, and cat...........
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Another from the Fanciful Twist goody bag! I love them. The little bell on the antlers drives my kitten insane! (notice the attentative stare as i took this image of him whilst wearing them)
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More treasured gifts.....
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Pendant and pink scarf (from Michelle)
Miniature painting (from Kathy)
Thank you so much, both of you:)
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And finally, I have the Masquerade book!
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A much appreciated gift from Benjamin. I already have the accompanying Bee Book, but I have been searching for this surreal delight for such a long time now, with no luck! But here it is at last, stuffed full of weird, rabbity (or hare-y) goodness. You must sample this oddity!
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Today was a bad hair day..... ok.
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For some unknown reason, my face is kinda warped here. Or else it has warped quite naturally in reality without me noticing it. I love this Ikea blanket. I have been wearing it, sari fashion, since Christmas eve. I do not actually intend my self portraits to be an eternal advert for Ikea or the very lovely AshleyG, but this is the best spot in the house for light, you know....and Ikea suits my budget. It also happens to be the only home furnishings store within a three thousand mile radius of my town. Pah!
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Mirlo and his latest toy mouse (thankyou Benjamin, he rather likes you, especially after last years catnip teabag riot)
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His favourite game of recent days is tearing through the house with this clump of tinsel around his neck. It was due to be thrown away, but I couldn't bear the thought of parting him from it. The strangest little thing............
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More of the Master....
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He makes me smile. And more so, considering recent events. Long may he rule and prosper!
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So, I hope that you have all experienced a very pleasant Christmas, and I shall be sending out heaps of my best wishes for the New Year!
My shop will be open once more on January the 1st, with brand new works and a variety of special offers on print sets. But for now, I am content to just shop at Etsy, browsing new stores and stumbling upon such awesome delights as this:
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My latest (and last for now!) purchase, a hand carved fox mask by merimask. I will likely get landed with a tedious customs charge for this one, but I had to have it. Trust me.
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Enjoy!
xxxxxx
