I'll Meet You There...

...out in the fields, beyond that tall stand of trees, where the witches meet and dance and conjure up the spirits of this world and the next!
Happy Halloween!

A Day and a Half...

...until the witching hour! Annie thinks she likes scary things now that she's eight and a half, but really she's still very unsure of masks, dry ice fog, being out at night, and of course spooky sounds and screams.

Little Golden Circus Dog

My friend Mary gave me a gold fabric wine gift-wrapper thing recently, and being right on the heels of seeing Bright Star, (Fanny Brawne hand stiches a wonderful four tiered mushroom collar), I had to make our lady Harpo one to match. She really is our Little Golden Circus Dog! Now I'm now making a matching skirt...

Oh, and go see Bright Star right now! If you love poetry, Jane Campion, period pieces, and fantastic art direction and locations, it's for you. Bring a hanky.

Spooky Birthday Bash

We are just now baking the birthday cake, the house is fully frightening, and the costumes are finished! Now it's just countdown to the arrival of Grandma and Grandpa. I will try and get a good photo of the front of the house. The light just isn't right at the moment.

Compliments to Annie on the invitation.
(See photo below of Harpo.
Annie did the photo retouching
and it turned out so well we had to show it off!)

Fairies and Goblins

Tonight, upon your pillow,
Close your eyes and hide your head,
For the fairies and the goblins
Will be hovering 'round your head.

I love the imagery on this postcard and I'm getting excited about the change in weather, especially the rain, and the coming season of warmth and celebration! Annie been ready for Halloween for months, each day knowing exactly how many days until the big "H", and this year she has big plans for having maximum fun, fun, fun! After last year, when she really "got it" about the whole trick-or-treat concept (free candy!!) she's decided it really is her most favorite holiday.

We are thick in the middle of creating costumes, decorating the house and porch, and planning ghoulish treats and tricks for the days leading up to Halloween. I've cut out Annie's kitty costume (this will be the third year in a row as feline), and will put it together this week, plan a birthday celebration for my mother-in-law Jane, and hopefully be outside, smelling the earth and wind and remembering to just enjoy.

Ahhh. After the Rains.

Fun With the Dead and the Alive

So much fun in the studio today!
It was the first mini-workshop for Alameda StudioTime and there was so much creativity and excitement going around. I'm waiting to see if everyone wants their picture posted on line before I reveal more.

Thanks to everyone who came and I look forward to more great projects together!

Jasper Big Heart

Now that we have a second dog, Jasper is looking to get reassurance that he is still #1. Harpo, or Harper now, is 7 pounds and she can fit in places that Jasper just cannot.

Like a lap. Or a tiny fleece sleeping bag. Or under the bed. Or on the bed!

As I watch Jasper adjust to these inequities, all I can see is total tenderness towards her! He uses his 115 pounds so carefully! As they run, wrestle, chase and all out play-dog-fight, it is she who is in charge.

When we first rescued you Annie named you Jasper Big Heart. This Cree tribal song is called Big Heart-You'll Always Be My Number One.
I dedicate it to you.

The Real Thing

Once in a while you meet someone and you just know they are the real thing.
Real kindness.
Real intuition.
Real vision.
And a huge, huge heart.
This Little Golden Circus Dog, who we now call Harpo, led me to Keri. Or was it the other way around? Either way, Keri is the real thing. Last night Keri lovingly placed this little golden sweetie into my arms, into our family, after following her heart and doing a long distance rescue, based on one small online photo, out of a sea of homeless pets out there in world, only to turn around and try and find her the perfect home.

Thankfully it was our home!

More later...I've got to get back to bonding!

Thank you Keri!