aDressing the Situation

(click the image above to be directed to the unique request)


How many people have a special trip to the post office planned for tomorrow?

I do.

... when Monica calls ... I answer ... even when it calls for stretching myself ...

to aDress a Situation

... my dress turned into dresses ...


(front)


(front detail)


(back)


(back detail)

It's not my party, but I can show you the way ...

Come alone ...

(Photo, "Hampster Tea Party" courtesy of SusieShop @ Flikr)

... or with your friends ...

(Photo "Farewell Tea Party" Courtesy of Mindtrigger @ Flikr)

... dress casually ...

(Photo, "...Emma's Tea Party" courtesy of BusyLizzieBee @ Photostream)

... or put on your finest ...

(Photo, "Sayoko Comes to the Tea Party" courtesy of Hvyilnr @ Flikr)

... Just be sure to show up!!

... there will be tea

(and other fine beverages)

of 10,000 varieties ...

(Photo, "Tea Party" courtesy of WinemakersSister @ Flikr)

... and treats to boggle the mind ...

(Photo, "Summer Birthday Virtual Tea Party" courtesy of 3LittleMiracles @ Flikr)

... don't worry, help yourself ...

(Photo, "Summer Birthday Virtual Tea Party" courtesy of 3LittleMiracles @ Flikr)

I promise there will be plenty ...

... and then there will be even MORE!

To find your way to all the gatherings, simply click on the invite below:

Wishing you all the magic your heart can handle!

(Please note: All photo's are linked directly to the photographers Flikr photostream ... also, I am not an official reveler as I decided to do this at the very last second, so you won't find me on the party list and I won't bother Vanessa while she's already got her hands sooooo full, so if you made it here, I thank you for your visit)

KittyFish Ready to Swim ...

That's right ...



she's got beads added to the crown of her head



sequins & seed beads decorate each side



and last but not least, KittyFish got her face

all that's left is sending this little critter to her new home

wishing safe travels & happiness to her new caretaker

Interview Game for Bloggers

On a recent visit with Lee Anne ("Nikki" from Sun Soul Art Thoughts - found HERE), I came across her post "Interview Game for Bloggers". I really liked learning a little more about her, so emailed her to play along.

She came up with some really terrific interview questions that made me pause and really think about the answers ... (questions are in green and answers are in purple)

1. Michelle, you are so kind and giving with your words to other bloggers and an inspiration to new bloggers.....what words have inspired you?
first off, thank you ... I don't know that I've ever seen myself in that light. so many things, let alone words, have inspired me ... my current favorite string of words:

"Live the life you have imagined". (Thoreau)

2. I see you do origami, knitting, doll making and are a genius with a sharpie......what, if any, new medium would you love to try?
lol ... perhaps the question ought to be what new medium DON'T you want to try ... I'd really love to work with glass (I think more a form of blowing, but would be thrilled to do stained glass, too).

(please note: I haven't learned how to knit, yet - but I can crochet long chains and simple granny squares)

3. How does your Mandala picture and the name of your blog relate to who you are as an artist?
Once upon a time I wanted to be an artist. In that dream I created art from a sacred place (inside myself & at the same time connected to the universe) that was meant for sacred spaces ... once in a while I live that dream. The name is a reminder; the mandala a map.

4. Nature is a reoccurring theme in your blog......what season (even in Florida) inspires you the most and why?
I have great appreciation for all the seasons, but am a May baby, so have a special fondness for spring ... spring tends to have lovely weather (no matter where you live), flowers bloom, days get longer ... it's a time of growth, renewal, new beginnings ... it's hope and possibility.

5. As a frequent visitor to your blog, you seem to balance work, family, your artist side and of course... all the time sharing online.. so well......What is your secret?
Ancient Chinese secret, don't you know ... honestly, I think that I appear to be much more balanced than I actually am. Work is easy - I have a schedule that dictates when I have to be there and that's all they get of me (fully when present and not at all when I am not) ... the rest? that's continues to be a work in progress.

If you are interested in playing along, here are the "THE INTERVIEW RULES"

1. Leave me a comment with your email address saying: “interview me”
2. I will e-mail you five questions of my choice
3. You can then answer the questions on your blog {with a link back to my blog}
4. You should also post these rules, along with an offer to interview anyone else who emails you, wanting to be interviewed
5. Anyone who asks to be interviewed should be sent 5 questions to answer on their blog individualized for each blogger. Read their blog and their profile to come up with the questions.

More Cranes (go figure) & a WIP

I have finished turning all the dipped cranes into charms ... these six:



are headed to CA to be part of the HeArt Collective Charm Swap
(five for the swap and one just for the hostess)
After these leave, I'll still have a little over a dozen in my possession.


*****************************************************************

In other news, I have thrown caution to the wind and am focusing on the Under the Sea Swap.

... I don't believe that I am spoiling anyone's surprise as it is
my understanding that my partner does not have a blog ...

I love the cat head from the free Pointy Kitty pattern (found HERE) so much that I decided to use it on a ... drumroll, please ... CatFish for my swap partner:



here's the head attached to the body:



and a view from above:



(would you believe I came up with the fish body shape? me, either, but I did.)

with a "spine" of sorts added:



and a few scales, too:



I have to admit that I am not really planning anything out, but simply just going with the flow ... also known as stalling cuz I can't quite decide how to do the face. Hopefully it'll come to me at some point before the deadline.

Meditation Box #1 - Fini!

OK, it's official - what was once an empty Altoids tin has become my first Meditation Box.

I almost can't believe it is complete.

Since this was a first and is about to be packaged up and shipped out, I took a bunch of photo's (and of course these were taken in my kitchen at 10:30 pm, so not necessarily in the best light):



I believe the only addition to the inside since that last update is the row of pink and green sequins added around the inside edge.



Since yesterdays quickie update post, I added two braids of embroidery floss (gray, slate & bright blue) around the lip of the lid & side (right below where the lid hits when closed):



I also added a bunch of little white dots around the edge of the box and above/below the text of Desiderata on the bottom (back?) of the box and two coats of high gloss varnish:



That little black rock is not part of the box ... it's just propping up the edge for the photo shoot.



For anyone not familiar with Desiderata, you can find it HERE.

... and on that note, I've gotta get back on the ball to meet some looming deadlines.

Wish me luck!

Quick Update

It's going much slower than I anticipated, but I think I am almost done.

Check out the latest:



Just a few finishing details and voila!

(original post is HERE)