Dule of doves
Christmas wishes took to the air this week... and those birds looked like they wanted to last. Peace be with you.
Noted
Queen Anne's Lace... you would think at summer's end that it's all over. The delicate white blossoms that appear to float on a warm breeze, top heavy on slender stalks but now brown and craggy - spiky remnants of the past season. It's not. At the side of my driveway...
Hedging bets
Seed collecting... I worry less about this universe when time comes to stash away seeds and such for next year. Note to self: there is enough, more than I thought.
Quince season
1000 words
only one that really matters: peace ** This image was created by London graphic designer Jean Julien. The message is clear in any language. We're listening.
Special effects
Get your winter glow on. Coming soon to Artigiano 2.0.
Peak
Yesterday positively glowed.
Boulangerie
Sweet, no guilt whatsoever. I binged on dessert beads, big time. I don't feel too badly, though. The consequences are a stash of pretty little dessert charm bracelets, not so hard to live with. More coming, it was a regular bender. For the record, boulangerie is a...
Trick or treat
Test
test
Salty sweet
Cool evenings, time to start the oven. A peanut butter cookie jag is underway... consolation for lost summer days & fading light. 1 1/4 cups unbleached flour 3/4 teas baking soda 1/2 teas baking powder 1/4 teas salt 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter,...
Crazy like a fox
Harvest moon
Tomorrow’s potentially brilliant harvest moon is a triple treat... supermoon, lunar eclipse, and a blood moon all rolled into one. End of the world? If so, it sure won't be on account of the moon, if you get my meaning. Maybe better to take the opportunity to remember...
Fall nibbles
Breakfast al fresco in the garden... meet me on the wall, sharpen up the incisors. Welcome, Fall.
Dusky days
Coming on time to wind down the summer garden. The San Marzanos live another day with seeds harvested for next year. :) And the annual dilemma... where oh where are all these potted plants going to go? The O2 content will be improving in my little cave the next few...
September morning
Cypress vine, right on time. The slow fade begins, muted jewels tell the tale...
Borrowed, blue
Happy weekend to friends... upcoming nuptials are cause for much celebration! Mom-of-the-bride will be dazzling in blue! And for good measure, the borrowed silver cuff from my personal stash of family history... Many happy memory-making to all! :)
Night sky note
Tonight, a clear view of the Perseid meteor showers. Here, a small chubby crescent moon with golden meteors. Born under a Perseid sky.
Magnifica
Remember mendinilla magnifica? It bloomed. A tiny one. And then this wee one washed away in yesterday’s torrential storm. But it bloomed - a home grown bloom - not a greenhouse one - and I saw it hidden away in a whole pack of leaves. :) May I please have some...
Sea whisperer
In New Jersey, we all know these little translucent tissue paper shells. Underfoot at the shore, these mollusk shells are the part of very stuff that slowly breaks down to become the glittering beaches that inhabit our dreams. Oh so delicate with a that hint...
Blue
Blue moon tonight! (The occasional occurrence of a 2nd full moon occurring within a month is often called the blue moon) Howl accordingly. Don't step off the path.
Construction project…
If you've noticed the purple banner at the top of the site, and the slight changes here and there, you'll know somethings been going on around here. Well, it's been a long time coming. I'm finally at work on my very own brand spankin' new shopping cart, and...
Morning glories
Bright faces at breakfast.
Fresh
Weekend notes, fresh served.
Stop over
Just long enough to grab the camera
Tuesday night lights
Summer's really here. Turbulent breezes in advance of a torrential midnight rain, I stepped outside to listen, and high up there in the old black walnut I saw that one lonely light. Poor guy, I thought, it's too soon, no one to see you wink in the dusky sky. Wrong....
There to Here
Finally, a chance to clean out. We posted our garage sale ad with this photo of fun vintage folding chairs leading the way. Success! A very nice young gal showed up toot sweet for her choice of chairs. Why not the whole batch? I asked... turns out, she was tasked...
Favorite things
A dinner visit with friends, peonies for dessert. :) Soon after, skies opened up to quench our thirsty gardens, and it's been pouring down since. These ephemeral beauties dodged that soggy bullet, to be treasured in the moment. Until next time... preserved here....
It’s unofficial
Summer starts! Almost. I've been ferrying my little neighbor to her first pottery class this spring... I know it's almost summer because the fruits of her labor are coming in like a generous crop of tomatoes in high summer! My efforts are rewarded with this gift of...
Singular
Special delivery... Yay!!!!! With much congratulations & love to my cousin on graduation day. One of a kind, just like you. xxo, Andrea PS: Many thanks to Grandma's most excellent courier service.
Spring things
The above pieces now available at the Store at MAM, the gift shop at Montclair Art Museum. The Store has been very kind to have some of my work on offer since last year’s holiday trunk show. I’m delighted to be there! A few other recent snaps...
Flowering
Poppys are popping. Below, walking in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens...
Earth day
It’s like they knew. On Saturday I stirred up my morning glories and set them up with a nice dose of fertilizer. Today they’re popping up right on cue. A good day for a stop at the Metropolitan Farm, over here in Closter, NJ. Established on a local historic farm...
Medinilla magnifica
I've had an eye out for these for a long time now. Medinilla magnifica. I saw them in the Orchid show years back, but ones I've seen are pricey, or not so healthy looking. So I was minding my own business buzzing through the market on the way to the humane eggs,...
Easter, under a pink moon
Tonight, the first full moon of Spring, is perhaps my favorite: the pink moon. This moon dictates the spring festivals and this weekend brings with it both the Easter and Passover holidays. Said to welcome back the wild flowers, the pink moon watchfully assures...
Just desserts
Hippity hoppity, Easter’s on it’s way... Was there supposed to be lunch also? I'll save room for dessert! Happy Easter and Passover weekend, world.
Lone wolf
Some days are more rangy than I’d like. I wish I had wise golden eyebrows to raise at every question. The better to answer you with, my dear.
Happy spring?
Long awaited, the first day of spring. But who would know? Snow swirls outside my window and the furnace chugs away, a ‘winter weather advisory’ comes over the wire. Hmmm. I'm celebrating though, special delivery... St Joseph’s pastry (just available once a year!)...
Ides of March
Ides of March, 2015, Sunday: a chilly, blustery day on the edge of the coming spring. What to do? Laundry? Vacuuming? No... set the massive aquamarine that has been resident on my desk for the past few Marches, patiently awaiting it's turn. Result: a chunky,...
Snow day
Winter is a tough old bird. Like it or not old man, spring is on the way.
Easter eggs
Spring dreams. More to come.
Snow shoes
Snow this weekend. Again. So I'm holed up inside and am (almost) finished my shoe project. The pattern was amazing, with all the details and information (sized pattern plus 29 pages) needed to make a very wearable pair of slippers the first time out. Vaike of uku2...
Turn the key
Unlock a few hearts.
Heart start
Heart shaped world: use a large heart cookie cutter to hold pancake batter and make a special stack.
Winter impressions
February footprints.
Round here
It's been a while and the New Year is well underway… time to start fresh. For a special January girl, a garnet rosary necklace, with love. The little brass key top heart is a long ago valentine, keeping company with garnets in progress. There will be a white out...
Doorway
January: January (in Latin, Ianuarius) is named after Janus, the God of beginnings and transitions; the name has its beginnings in Roman mythology, coming from the Latin word for door (ianua) since January is the door to the year. This editorial clipping sits on my...
Goodies
Just a quick peek… Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Joy
to the World…
Gifted
Festive days fast approach… and this spoiled girl has had some special treats to enjoy. Above, almost to beautiful to eat - um, but it's long gone - this gorgeous fig-filled ring from an old family friend & amazing cookbook and travel author Giovanna Bellia...
Truth and Beauty
This past week has been a whirlwind here, polishing up the details on some holiday events and having a welcome chance to meet and greet some old & new friends. The trunk show at the Store at MAM, now in the rearview mirror, was a lovely evening with over 700...
Long winter’s nap?
This year I think I'm gonna need one. You just can't get good elves.
Visit with Henri
The city that never sleeps is so close yet seems so far away. I pass tourists sipping coffee or wandering the village asking for directions, and they are a world away. Finally, I am the tourist for just one day, and a visit to one of my favorites… a chance to see the...
Thanksgiving
Be. Thankful.
Trunk show in Montclair!
Free First Thursday Night at Montclair Art Museum is coming! It will occur in December on the 4th, one week after Thanksgiving, and the Store at MAM is joining in with a Holiday Trunk Show of artisanal goods that will coincide with the festive events offered by the...
Elves? Oh elves…
I'm deep into the season… here's just a couple of new pieces. Yikes! Where are those elves when you need them? More photos to come…
brrrr
Old man winter knocks at the door. After an absolutely beautiful fall we are in the midst of a bone chilling winter preview. Although mercifully not white, the garden nonetheless appears frozen in time. Bundle up.
Cathedral in the sky
A few steps down the stoop and a vibrant canopy of stained glass envelopes the front walkway. The only thing required to enter this brilliant cathedral is a momentary glance. Look up.
Matisse is in the house
It's here! The paper cut outs. I am hatching a plan to go, it's been a long, long while but I will never forget the sense of wonder these amazing works impart. The story behind them only adds to the experience. Highly recommended for anyone in need of hope, or a...
October sky
Compositions for an October sky. The skies tonight bring the Hunter's Moon. I hold these tiny relics in my hand and wonder: who made this, who will hold them next? This fall evening of crickets and crisp night air, they chronicle a lost history and await an unknown...
Outside in
Warm fall days could fool you into thinking that summer lasts forever. But it's time to gather all the vacationing foliage and get back inside before the coming chilly bite snaps at all of our edges. With cool nights prevailing through the late summer, the residents...
It’s time
I saw one yesterday. One huge, beautiful monarch. Not like my less elegant facsimiles in silver, this was the real deal. It wasn't here long. It was delicate, and powerful, and determined. And though I only saw one, I know it represents so much more. They...
Slow fade
Whoever said you can't wear white after Labor Day was totally wrong. It will soon be time to say goodbye to summer, but not yet. It's still out there in every shade… and if you can't see the real thing for a while there are always reminders… and I suppose I can...
Perseid nights
Tonight the sturgeon moon shines more brilliantly than usual - a super moon - even while enveloped in a hazy veil of clouds here in my velvety night sky. I followed it all the way home tonight, a steadfast beacon just at the edge of my sightline. The gathering clouds...
Feet treat
A few more glorious barefoot weeks to go… I'm thinking I will pair these jeweled ankle bracelets with extender chains so when it's time for socks and shoes these can be more than a pretty summer memory. A little ray of sunshine goes a long way on those dark winter...
Peachy
I swore I'd be drawing a fruit a week after my daylong workshop on oil pastels. Oh well, maybe a fruit a month. But these New Jersey peaches were too good to miss. Featured recently in the NY Times, local peaches are worth an extra trip and a few extra bucks. Find...
Shipbuilding
Brooklyn artist Ann Wood occasionally posts downloadable templates so that fans can make their own versions of her fanciful constructions… I make them occasionally with my little pal next door. We're going to do the boat (find it here), but here's the gift one I made...
Little lights
back yard light night sky light
Moth week 2014
It's national moth week! They got the memo. This guy is really neat, bright orange on the inside. He wouldn't oblige me for that photo, though. Maybe another night… I see him all the time. This itty bitty wing was sadly separated from it's owner. This guy has...
Sunshiny day
Deep in the winter, this action packed rutile quartz looked like a snow globe, but now I see it's busting with sunshiny rays. I perched it carefully on an open lotus flower to complete the orb shape and added copper/silver leaves and sunny golden dots. Next winter...
Garden report
June quietly folds up, summer stretches out. First firefly: June 26, 8:45 PM. No additional fireworks needed.
Midsummer… moths and more
Longest day of the year, the world’s come back to life… Doesn't it seem like there is too much pie around here? Don't worry, I don't eat them all myself. :) family of friends… summer begins!
Midsummer castaways
Last night’s rain washed a mass of these off of a tree bursting with flowers. Spring turns to summer and the lush green growth overtakes these delicate precursors. One last day on my desk, until next time. The fireflies are getting ready, no lights yet, but they're...
Color added
Today I sneaked away to a workshop day to learn about working with color in oil crayons (cray-pas) with Karen O'Neil at the Art School at Old Church in Demarest, NJ. A day well spent, I learned the basics to attempt to add vibrant color to my drawings with this...
Class sketches
I've been back to drawing a bit this past year, here's some recent favs. A rare splurge - a one day still life with oil pastels workshop next week… we'll see what happens. :)
Weekend notes: pretty
Peonies make no sense, a source of endless fascination. They barely hold themselves up. Scarcely do we see them and they crash apart, a mass of silken petals and lingering perfume. Elusive. Worth the wait, and too be treasured like the sweet spring breeze. Don't...
Soundtrack
Can you hear them? These little residences are packed with tiny tweets. Who needs twitter? I'll take the sound of this anytime. This spring has been very busy… the tweets start very softly but quickly become quite demanding. And why do I have a sparrow box behind...
A few more…
May comes to a close, but just a few more notes… Best card of the year award goes to my awesome neighbors. :) I regretfully did not seed my Marzanos this year, the cool weather here scared me off. But a friend handed me these extras, so this year it's 'New Yorkers'...
May, flies
A crazy quilt of May moments has built up in my photo library… It started with banana bread curtesy of a talented friend, initiating the quest for the perfect, perfectly quick recipe. Yum. It tastes best with coffee in my favorite and frequently spotted squirrel mug...
Just one?
I stepped outside to quickly dig in some fading pots of spring flowers before this afternoon’s gentle April showers. It’s Earth Day today. Really? Just one? Our earth needs more than that. I hope we can remember.
Easter sweets
Hope the Easter bunny is sweet to you! :)
Pink moon… eclipse tonight
The first full moon of spring, the pink moon, arrives tonight. It brings with it the Passover and Easter holidays… and this year, it will be a lunar eclipse and the first of a tetrad, four total lunar eclipses in a series. I search around for some info about this...
Weekend notes: Pour vivre heureux, vivons caché
Spring finally casts it's light. Everyone is looking a bit happier, brighter. The news is inspiring. The French are brilliant. Labor unions and corporate representatives in France have agreed on an “obligation to disconnect from remote communications tools” that...
Roar
St Hubert’s annual Canine Cotillian, a festive vegetarian extravagance, happens this week! April 11 to be exact. Here’s my contribution: Years ago I made a ring like this, not quite the same, but close, a giant hunk of tigereye set in silver with secret cat eyes...
Hello, spring?
The frozen earth is giving way after a long, cold season. Today there is finally soft earth underfoot, like a big soggy sponge after last night’s driving rain. It's a slow start… blustery, a flimsy blanket of sunny rays struggling to warm the long frozen ground and...
Unfurl
This morning, 6am, the first birds are chirping… they know spring is coming. Inside we're not so astute. The heat is cranking, from the window - weary scenes of ice piled everywhere in the yard are frozen in place, and cold? It is cold. Really cold. How do those...
Tonight… snow moon
It's not just a night for Valentines… it's the February snow moon. Tonight! As though plucked from a night sky, this rutilated quartz may not wait too long to rise. Said to illuminate the soul and filter negative energy, this pretty rock will find a more suitable...
Have a sweet day!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Have a heart
Never enough, I say.
Valentine windows
snip… snip… snip… bright little windows looking forward to longer days. :)
Visitors
Tired of shoveling? It's a long, snowy winter. Fun to see who stops by, though.
Crystal palace
Old man winter takes up residence in the northeast. He's not going anywhere for a while, 2 more storms on the way this week! Frosted scenes from a sleepy garden… hibernation, anybody?
Howl at the moon
Tonight, 11:52 PM est… the full wolf moon. This year our first full moon is also a micro-moon, or apogee full moon - when the moon is in it's furthest point in it’s orbit - making it the year’s smallest full moon. Find out all the intriguingly geeky details here. If...
Sweet start
Welcome 2014!
Stirring
Not a creature? Well, maybe just a few… Merry Christmas, creatures.
Return of the sun
Not a moment to spare! The sun poured in on the shortest day of the year… solstice has arrived. The coming days are a whirlwind, every moment of daylight a precious treasure, and deep into the dark evening the finishing touches await. Lists and lists, and oh, just...
First snow
Not quite winter but the weather tells another story this week… full moon, crisp temperatures, and the outdoors lightly frosted.
Elves in the house
Leftovers
Did you finish your leftovers? With the Thanksgiving feast in our rear view mirror, the season is short to prepare for winter… with Christmas right around the corner! Elves? Oh, elves……? I could use a hand here.
Thanksgiving wishes…
This year’s bounty: tiny tables, cheerful clutter, magical moments, warm wishes. Happy Thanksgiving!
