~*~ Ghostly ~*~

I have made my first Halloween inspired piece...but I am easing into it slowly.  It's still summer and it's hard to think of Halloween just yet.  So Ghostly has been made to look like a long lost loved one in an old sepia toned photograph.

I have one more bear in the works and then more Halloween pieces will be coming!

Until then...I hope you had a lovely day!

Hugs, K. <3

~*~ Flora Bunda ~*~

For such a usually chatty girl, I can't believe it's been nearly three weeks since my last post.  There really hasn't been a lot to tell...but I am in the process of getting ready for Kansas City next month.  Flora Bunda is my latest creation. 

I am also happy to report that my brother, Aunt and friend are all doing well.  My toes are on the mend, and I have been weeding the garden.  I am not sure you could call it weeding considering how tall and dense the weeds were...I think it was closer to de-forestation.  My battle with the snakes has been continuing, but I am sure with the onset of Autumn we will see less and less of them.  I am not ready for Summer to be over just yet, but it's time to think about Halloween pieces.

I have one in the works and you should be seeing her soon!

Hugs, K. <3

Etc

I wanted to make this post already days ago, but I have to tell you...it's been a terrible week for the people in my world.  I found out that my best friend, whom I could not get a hold of, had fallen off a chair and fractured a vertebrate.  Two nights ago my brother had a second heart attack, but he is holding in there.  Yesterday I found out that my elderly Aunt who had dislocated her hip last week ended up having to have two surgeries from it because after the first one she fell out of bed and had to have another.  They are saying it isn't looking good that she will make it.  That's the price of getting older, things are so much worse that wouldn't be when you are younger.    All of these things certainly make my two broken toes and head cold seem inconsequential. 

However due to my head cold and broken toes...not to mention worrying myself sick over everyone, I have been sitting a lot this week.  Now I hate just sitting, so I have been watching movies and reading to distract myself.  I have also been staring intently at the walls.  (I did sneak down to the garden once to discover that darn garter snake had babies which are now running amok in there!  AUGH!)  A couple weeks ago R decided that it was time to paint the living room.  So we have been staring at paint chips.  We have it narrowed down to two. 

When I went shopping in Denver over my birthday weekend I picked up a decorating book.  I love decorating books and since we decided to do the living room, what better excuse to buy a new one.  The book was entitled "Etc." by Sibella Court, and it's about decorating with things you collect and already own.  The book is incredibly charming and smells like rain...and old metal screens...which always smell like rain.  So there you go.  Why it smells like that, I am not sure.  But it adds to the charm of the book.

Now I have to confess, I mainly look at pictures when I get decorating books, but since I had all this time I thought I would read some of this one.  Ms. Court has a delightful way with words as well as photography.  She likens our homes to museums where there are no "please don't touch" signs.  I love that idea.  She says that our homes are filled with items that have history and stories and emotions behind them.  I think that's absolutely true.  I think some of those items definitely deserve to be displayed in some way even if they are things you wouldn't ordinarily think of as decorator touches.

I also want to share one of my own sentiments on decorating that I have discerned over the years.  If you were to come into my house it's quite eclectic.  But I think that holds true of most artists homes.  So my rule is if you like it, buy it.  It will work.  All too often I have heard friends and strangers alike admire something and then say "that won't go with what I have."

Yes it will!  If you love all your items, they reflect your taste and believe me it will all work together.  Better than you might think.  I am feeling excited to get going on painting and redecorating.  Also through looking at the book and some decorating magazines I have some ideas for bears as well.  I can take anything I love and turn it into an idea for a bear! 

If you haven't seen this book, I urge you to check it out.  It's filled with wonderful ideas and inspiration.

Hopefully this drought I have been experiencing on bear making will be over soon.  I am also hopeful that everyone else in my life and yours stays safe, happy and healthy!

Happy Hearts And Broken Toes

I know I know...it's been so long since I posted.  I apologize but it's summer, and I have had no desire for the computer at all.  I have just been cleaning and gardening and enjoying the warm weather.  Sometimes suffering in the crazy heat!

Last Sunday was my birthday and I had such a lovely weekend.  Saturday I went to Denver and went shopping.  R was so good about it, he didn't sigh or tap his foot once.  And he only grimaced slightly when I bought out the mall! 

Then on Sunday we went for dinner at P.F. Changs.  I had Chilean sea bass...yum!

One of the treasures I picked up was the book above.  It presented itself at exactly the right time as things tend to do.  I have been thinking a lot about happiness lately.  Now don't get me wrong, I am not unhappy by any stretch.  But I have been wondering if I am truly happy?  How do you know exactly? 

They say money can't buy happiness, but I am not sure that's entirely accurate.  I have stuff in my house that makes me quite happy just to lay eyes upon it and most of it cost money.  Of course I don't think things bring you true happiness.  (Except for teddy bears of course!)

So what is true happiness?  How do you live happily?  I would have to imagine that the answer is different for everyone.  For me I think happiness is being satisfied with all that you are and that you have in your life right in this moment!

The book....which I have only read a little of so far...says to be happy you simply choose to be happy.  Sounds easy, but is it?  It says you have to align your thinking to the fact that every incident in your life is the best possible event right that moment.  Now I know that is hard.  But maybe it's true. 

Monday morning I got up at 4 am...I have been sleeping nights again...and I walked right into Ridley.  I didn't see him in the dark and my toes went onto either side of his leg.  I heard them snap.  I break my toes all the time.  I suspect it's because I break my toes all the time and they are weak.  This is the first time I have broken two at once.  So why would this be the best possible event right now for me?

Pain aside...maybe it's because I needed to slow down and sew again.  Maybe it's because it gives me time to enjoy some of my favorite movies while I sew.  And maybe there is a larger reason I can't see right now?  Who knows maybe it kept me from something bad that I might have done if they hadn't broken.

I think I am going to take the advice from the book and choose to look at this in the best way possible.  Afterall...I do need to sew, and who doesn't love to watch their favorite movies?

Hopefully I will have something new to show you soon.

Also I must say that receiving all those birthday wishes on Facebook really did make me feel special, and that makes my heart just that much happier!

Have a lovely day, and be happy...no matter what happens!

Hugs, K. <3

Summer

I know I haven't posted in a while again.  But I have had computer burn out a little bit and it's just simply Summer!  So I have been enjoying that. 

I also have a kitten which of course takes up more time than you might think.  Above are pictures of Penelope with Buster.  He loves kitties, and she growing and getting into all the sorts of trouble kittens get into.

I also wanted to let you know that I am going to do the class in October.  I think that's best since people are outside and on vacation...and classes are just fun in the Autumn.  At least I think so.

I hope you are all enjoying your Summer as well!  I will return soon!

Hugs, K. <3

~*~ Phalto ~*~

Phalto is now available on the Bears Page Of My Website.

Independence Day And Other Things

First of all, Mozzie and I would like to wish you a cracker jack 4th Of July if you live in the US!  We hope your fireworks are the sparkliest!

Speaking of Mozzie...I told you several months ago that he was named after the enigmatic and mysterious character of Mozzie on White Collar.  In last Tuesday's new episode we learned that Mozzie was an orphan and is so named after his teddy bear "Mozart" but he couldn't pronounce it so he called the bear "Mozzie."  How cool is that!  I guess I picked a bear name for my Mozzie afterall!

Now I have a little bit of bad news.  It's been 90 degrees and over here quite a bit lately.  If I turn on the air conditioning I get sick.  If I don't, it's too hot to work.  So unfortunately the website update I had scheduled for Wednesday isn't going to happen.  I will however post the one bear I do have made.  I want to apologize to those of you who were patiently waiting.  I have several bears in the works, but until this crazy heat spell we are having breaks I don't foresee a whole lot of work getting done.  In Colorado we just aren't used to extended periods of extreme heat.

I will keep you updated!  Enjoy your holiday, or if you're across the ocean...enjoy your day!  I am off to eat BBQ chicken, corn on the cob and strawberries...yum!