Wow, can you believe that it’s time to get going on the holiday shopping already?  I plan to pick up some gifts while in Europe this week, but if I get too distracted with sightseeing I’ll be able to find interesting things near home at Bernat Mill Antiques.  In this converted mill shopping location there are rows and rows of stalls full of all sorts of things.  Each stall reflects the dealer’s personality with plentiful selections.   Besides shopping for gifts, I often stop by this store to pick up things for myself.  I love “recycling” antiques and scraps for use in my artwork.   And an added bonus to shopping green is that it also happens to save some green (in my wallet.)  Here’s a quick look at what’s inside my go-to, go-green store:

Stuff for the kitchen

cozy stuff

primitive stuff

shabby decor

gobs of glamour

and even handmade bags!

Happy shopping everyone…and Happy Thanksgiving!

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How did we get to mid-November already?  I guess that with all the pre-holiday prep and the everyday life to-do’s, days keep racing by.  But before another week quickly passes, here are a couple of magazines that were recently published that include some of my work.

Inside Where Women Create, published by Stampington & Company and created by Jo Packham, you’ll find inspiration galore as they explore the work spaces of extraordinary women.  In this one-year anniversary issue, you’ll also find an interview with me sharing my creative rituals.   Within this article you’ll see several of my seasonal projects like the one below.   There are many delicious ideas to gobble up within the pages of this richly filled publication.  If you’re craving more, just pop over to their blog at www.wherewomencreate.typepad.com.

Inside the latest Belle Armoire there are a couple of leather and lace cuffs that I created using bits of this n’ that.   I love combining scraps and turning them into wearable art.   If you’re into this sort of thing too, this magazine offers many interesting ideas to experiment with.

So much fun…so little time.  Hope the rest of November slows down enough for us all to enjoy a peaceful and relaxing Thanksgiving.

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Whenever I go apple picking and am surrounded by rows and rows of trees full of gleaming gorgeous apples, feelings of abundance wash over me.

The idea that I get to fill an empty sack full of delectable apples brings me sheer delight and I can’t help but thank my lucky stars.

And when I get my apples home I love to cut them across the center, revealing the star shape… the magic in the middle.   It amazes me how something so stunning on the outside can be as beautiful on the inside.  It’s also amazing to me that there are certain people in this world who possess this astonishing combination.   Immediately Jenny Doh comes to mind.  Jenny is someone that I admire both inside and out.  She twinkles with charisma, style, heart – all “star” qualities.   Jenny’s light radiates from the core, emitting magic in all directions.

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Last week we decided to book a trip to Europe (Geneva, Switzerland and Lyon, France) for the  Thanksgiving break.   Bill has work meetings scheduled in Geneva  for a few days, then we’ll head over to Lyon via rail for the rest of our visit.  I hope that we’ll be able to fit in our must-see destinations in eight days, but I’ve been having a tough time trying to sort it all out.   Part of me wants to book every single detail in advance, but the other part of me wants to take a more relaxed approach – maybe just show up and see what looks interesting.  

Either way I’m so excited to have this unexpected opportunity to get away with my family.   Although we love our home life, I equally love to travel, especially abroad (experiencing language differences, exploring both cities and countryside,  devouring exotic local fare…)  While traveling  I will often become completely absorbed by the environment.  Everything is intensified and I love the whole experience.  Even using unfamiliar currency is fun!  I love that the air feels and smells different, the sounds and sights of everyday life come alive – all causing me to see everything in a new light.  All of this fills my mind up with surprising insights.  And when I am tuned into all of this newness, inspiration always comes rushing in –  pratically tipping me over with its astounding force.   I live for these moments and I especially cherish being able to share them with my family.    

Btw, I recently made this necklace using a scrap torn from a vintage map.  It has that “let’s go and explore vibe” – something I’m always up for.

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The weekend of November 6th I’ll be participating in the Holiday Boutique at our local Cultural Arts Alliance.   I’ve been doing this event for several years and I like everything about it (connecting with other artists, 20% of every sale going to the arts center, the easy-breezy relaxing atmosphere.)

My friend Sandra is the Executive Director for this one-stop art locale where they teach and showcase the visual arts as well as provide music lessons.  For the past three years Sandra and I have been teaching a children’s  mixed media arts class at this center.  To spark the students’ inspiration we often used projects found in many of the Stampington publications.   Our students loved the diversity in these projects and they always came to class filled with tons of enthusiasm.   It was wonderful being able to provide an environment for them where they could come and indulge in creative expression.   Being around them was like being around sunflower blossoms – bright, happy and bursting with energy!

Stop on by to see what the Hopkinton CAA has to offer (classes, lessons, gallery).  And if you come during our annual Holiday Boutique (November 6th, 7th, 8th) I’ll be there with a bit of this n’ that:

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These are a few staple items found in our pantry –  makings for tonight’s Thai curry.   Growing up in an Asian household most of our meals included some type of rice or noodles, but mostly rice.  Having been born in Thailand I’m especially fond of jasmine rice.  I lived in Bangkok until I was around three or four and then I moved to the states.  Upon arrival our eating habits didn’t change very much and my family continued eating rice at just about every meal even though there were plenty of other starch options available (bread, pasta, potatoes, etc.)  

Whenever I make rice which is at least once a week,  I have to use my rice cooker (purchased on one of our trips to Hong Kong.)  This is a modest-sized rice cooker and it makes just enough for our small family of three.   Bill and Brook are both very used to eating rice regularly and I love sharing this part of my past with them.

Another part that I love about rice is that when it’s cooking, aromas from the past fill our entire home.  It’s an old familiar feeling that causes my belly to ache.  Not the sort of aching that requires medicine, but the kind of ache that can only be cured by a trip down memory lane…or at least a taste of home cooking.    Like this bowl of curry that I made using our pantry items plus some diced chicken breast and a handful of green peas for some snap. 

I think that growing up I learned a lot of clever tricks from my mom on how to re-purpose common every day items.  Even rice was something that could be re-used in uncommon ways!  When in a pinch, my mom would use cooked rice as a glue substitute.  She would do this by smooshing a few grains of rice between her finger tips making it glue-like and then she would use it to seal her letter envelopes.  Looking back  I wonder if this is where/when I started to see the potential in every day things.

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My incredibly talented friend Cheryl wrote and performed this very special piece.  

When I first listened to “Roar” it immediately drew me in and grabbed at my gut.   This doesn’t happen to me very often but every once in a while, in the face of  authenticity, I practically melt into the experience. Cheryl’s words reach the many sides of me – the child, the woman, the wife, the mother… 

This performance is merely 5 minutes (long enough to enjoy a cup of coffee) yet it has the power to linger in one’s mind for hours/days – definitely memorable.   I hope you’ll savor it as much as I did.  (Click the arrow to play – or click the blue word “Roar” to download the MP3 file.)

Cheryl and I are currently working on a collaborative project (a first for me).  I’ll be doing the hands-on part while Cheryl provides the poetry.  This project should be wrapped up by the end of today, leaving me with a sense of connection…a joining of the minds.  How wonderful it is to have friends who see things as we do!

To learn more about Cheryl’s work please visit her web site.

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It’s no secret that I like the basics.  And my preference for simple things also carries through to my wardrobe staples.   With winter just around the corner I took this opportunity to stock up on some good hardy shoes.

I picked these classic leather riding boots for those days when I want to feel a little sassy, a little kick-butt, a little Wonder Woman.

I picked these Ugg boots because they’re perfect for tromping around town doing errands or whatever.  I think these boots make my feet look a little Sasquatch-like but who cares, they’re comfy!

And here are some soles that were made for hiking, biking, or anything outdoorsy.

And finally, a pair of pewter grey suede loafers to slightly break up all the black that I normally wear. 

And if you’re wondering where are the heels?  I already own several pairs of these too, but they’re all stuck way back in my closet  and covered in a film of dust.  Heels hurt my feet too much so I never feel like wearing them.  I like how pretty they look, but not enough to go through the torture of it all.  Even wearing flats is somewhat of a struggle for me since I’m most comfortable in flip-flops or even bare feet.  Could this simple preference of mine be a reflection of a deeper longing…the longing to be a kid again?  Barefoot, carefree and dancing in the warm rain sounds real good to me.   Maybe I should run out to the store again and get me a pair of shiny rubber boots….and this time in red!

BTW, here’s a look at the other two items that I picked up on my flea market adventure last weekend.  I love the cup and saucer’s juicy-orange pop of color next to the black and white doll.    The doll’s classic black shoes should work well with any outfit – something I’ll enjoy toying with in the weeks ahead.

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At 6:00 this morning we woke up to this!

And our front railings looked like this.

Despite the cold, dark snowy weather Brook is a sport when it comes to taking Mac out for his early morning outing.

Here are a few more shots of our first snow taken an hour after Brook left for school. 

I’m not sure that I’m ready to go immediately from luscious green grass to snow covered ground, but at least this white stuff is beautiful.  The annual coming of winter awakens mixed feelings in me.  Overall I enjoy the changing seasons, but a part of me wishes that it was warm year round.  Perhaps it’s time for me to book our tickets for February break vacation – California maybe?

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I just finished making a dozen of these holiday ornaments using vintage tin cookie cutters and kitchen molds.   I made this particular batch as a special order for Nesting on Main where they will soon be on display for the Christmas season.   I still have about a dozen cookie cutters and molds left, which should be enough to make myself a batch – some to keep and some to share.

Speaking of sharing, I first heard of this marvelous shop from my good friend, Melissa.   Melissa has excellent taste and a nose for sniffing out all the best places.  She always knows where to get what, and who to “get what” from.  Luckily for me Melissa lives in the next town over so we regularly meet up for lunch, enjoy walks together, browse local shops – all the good things in life!   And as a bonus Melissa shares my insane passion for making things so we always have plenty to gush on about whenever we get together.

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