I'M BACK!!!

SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHERE I HAD GONE....WELL, I DIDN'T EXACTLY GO ANYWHERE.   BUT MY COMPUTER WENT INTO LA-LA LAND FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.  IT CRASHED ON JULY 5TH.  I MISSED PARTICIPATING IN VANESSA VALENCIA'S 'MAD TEA PARTY' ON HER 'A FANCIFUL TWIST' BLOG (THE LINK IS STILL ON MY SIDEBAR) WHICH IT IS ONE OF THE MOST FUN PARTIES OF THE YEAR.
NOW I AM PLAYING 'CATCH UP' ON MY EMAILS AND GOING TO THE BLOGS I FOLLOW.

FOR NOW, I WILL BE POSTING RANDOM PICTURES OF VARIOUS THINGS THAT INTEREST ME.  HOPE YOU ALL ARE HAVING A LOVELY SUMMER AND ARE CREATING WHEN YOU HAVE THE TIME TO DO SO.  REMEMBER TO 'MAKE TIME' SO YOU 'CAN' CREATE AS IT IS WONDERFUL THERAPY TO LOOSE YOURSELF IN WHATEVER IT IS YOU CREATE. 

BREATHE DEEPLY, GO FOR A WALK. IF IT'S TOO HOT TO WALK OUTSIDE THEN WALK INSIDE YOUR HOUSE OR GO FOR A WALK AT AN AIR CONDITIONED MALL.  BE SURE TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF AND GET THE SLEEP YOU NEED. DRINK LOTS OF WATER.  TRY EATING SMALLER PORTIONS AT MEALS AND YOU WILL FEEL MUCH BETTER. EAT WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY. I HAVE FOUND I FEEL MORE STRENGTH WHEN I EAT MORE PROTEIN DURING THE DAY.  I LIKE CHICKEN THE BEST.

HERE ARE SOME IMAGES FROM THINGS I ENJOY.

ACTUALLY, I AM FASCINATED WITH EXTRAORDINARY ANGEL PORTRAITS. THESE IMAGES CAME FROM YAHOO.

A LITTLE BIT BLURRED.  POSSIBLY GABRIEL?

ANGELS IN CEMETERIES INTRIGUE ME.

THIS SCULPTURE OF AN ANGEL HAS DEEP MEANING AND MAKES BE FEEL THAT ANGELS WEEP WHEN THE ONES THEY HAVE WATCHED OVER IN LIFE FINALLY PASS ON OUT OF THIS WORLD.

THIS IS JUST AN ETHEREAL DIGITAL IMAGE I FELT WAS ASTONISHING.

THIS IS A PHOTO OF A CHERUB IN THE MASTER BATHROOM AT OUR LAURELWOOD HOME.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GREEK STYLE SCULPTURE ON A PLANTER AT OUR LAURELWOOD HOME.

A SWEET BLACK MARBLE STATUE AT OUR LAURELWOOD HOME.

A GRYPHON STYLED IRON SCULPURE WHICH IS THE HANGER FOR OUR PORCH SWING AT LAURELWOOD.

A VERY EXQUISITE  HANGING IRON LAMP IN THE PASS THROUGH IN THE CENTER OF OUR LAUELWOOD HOME ALSO SHOWING THE PAINTED TIN CEILINGS WHICH GRACE THE ENTIRE HOME.

CHERUB SOAP DISH AT LAURELWOOD AND MARBLE TILE IN ONE OF THE BATHROOM SINKS.

A PILLAR IN THE LIVING ROOM AT LAURELWOOD WITH GILDED BRASS FILIGREE WORK.  NOTICE THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN BACKGROUND AND ALSO THE ORNATE CEILING.  INCREDIBLE DETAILS IN THIS HOME WHICH TOOK THE GENTLEMAN WHO BUILT THE HOME 23 YEARS TO BUILD.  HE PASSED AWAY IN 2006.  ONE OTHER OWNER HAD IT BEFORE WE DID.  WE PURCHASED IT IN MARCH OF 2011.

THE CEILING IN THE FORMAL LIVING ROOM AT LAURELWOOD.  I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO THINK HOW LONG IT TOOK THE ORIGINAL OWNER TO PAINSTAKINGLY CUT THE WOOD FOR THESE PATTERNS.

THE CRYSTAL CHANDELIER IN THE FORMAL DINING ROOM AT LAURELWOOD.  THIS CHANDELIER CAME FROM A VINTAGE HISTORICAL HOTEL IN THE GOLD COUNTRY OF CALIFORNIA.

A STAINED GLASS WINDOW THAT GRACES THE DINING ROOM WINDOW.

TIME TO POST MORE ABOUT 'THE DRAGON OF CRIPPLE CREEK'....

'THE DRAGON OF CRIPPLE CREEK' is a must read for both children and young adults...and also for those who enjoy fantasy set in modern times.

WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY TROY HOWELL

THIS ENCHANTING FANTASY TAKES PLACE IN CRIPPLE CREEK, COLORADO...WHERE YES 'HERE THERE BE DRAGONS!'

YOU WILL FOLLOW KAT DOWN INTO THE DEPTHS OF A REAL GOLD MINE TO DISCOVER SOMETHING VERY ANCIENT AND ALIVE, AS KAT LOSES HER WAY SHE FALLS DOWN, DOWN UNDERGROUND...VERY MUCH LIKE ALICE FALLING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.

SOME OF THE NOTES TAKEN BY TROY HOWELL WHILE HE WAS WRITING THE BOOK.

 

PLEASE VIEW MORE ABOUT THE BOOK ON THE LINK AT THE TOP OF THE RIGHT SIDE. PLEASE CLICK ON THE ICON WHERE THE DRAGON BOOK IS HIGHLIGHTED...WHICH WILL LEAD YOU TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOOK WHICH IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM AND KINDLE AND MORE!!!

IT'S TIME FOR A SPOOKY TIME JINGLES ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

EVERY MONTH ON THE 13TH DAY, SPOOKY TIME JINGLES HAS AN UPDATE FOR NEW ITEMS IN IT'S SHOP.   THERE IS AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF FANTASTIC ARTISTS TO VIEW THEIR HALLOWEEN OR CHRISTMAS CREATIONS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE UPDATE...WHICH IS TODAY!!!

THIS IMAGE IS ACTUALLY A GRAPHICS FAIRY IMAGE BUT I AM USING IT FOR THE ICON TO LINK TO SPOOKY TIME JINGLES ON MY SIDE BAR.

THERE ARE SO MANY FABULOUS ARTISTS WHO SELL THEIR AMAZING SCULPTURES AT S.T.J.    PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK AND SEE THE SPOOKY ITEMS FOR SALE.  THE SALE BEGAN AT MIDNIGHT!!!

posted by Teresa

TIME TO AWARD MY FAVORITE BLOGS THE LIEBSTER AWARD...

'VALINA' HAND-MADE BY JANICE MOORE-PETTY

THE LIEBSTER AWARD IS AWARDED TO THOSE BLOGGERS WHO HAVE 200 OR LESS FOLLOWERS.  IT IS A CHANCE TO ENCOURAGE THE KINDRED SPIRIT ARTIST MUSE.

THE WORD LIEBSTER IS GERMAN FOR 'FAVORITE'

My list of bloggers whom I have chosen is in no way an exhaustive list as I have many favorite blogs who have MORE than 200 plus followers.  Their blogs speak for themselves as some of my favorite blogs have over 1,000 followers!  Among my favorites are: 'Castles, Crowns, and Cottages' blog with Anita Rivera; and 'A Fanciful Twist'  typepad blog with Vanessa Valencia.  Those two blogs are my daily muse. They have too many followers to award them the Liebster Blog award, but I wanted to recognize my two favorites just because!!!

Today I am only going to highlight one of my friends blogs and will post more blogs as the week progresses.

The first blog I am going to award is to 'Cheeky Rose Boutique' hosted by Janice Moore-Petty.  Janice creates amazing dolls from her own paper mache recipe.  Her most favorite kind of doll to create is the Queen Anne style doll.   Her blog site is: http://cheekyroseboutique.blogspot.com/  (The link to her site is also on my right side bar).   I won the most gorgeous doll on Janice's blog a couple of years ago (Time flies!) so I will post 'Valina' the doll I won.  I cherish this doll!!!

'VALINA' IS IN THE STYLE OF THE QUEEN ANNE DOLLS.  SHE IS DRESSED IN A HAND-SEWN VINTAGE HEART DRESS, WITH A VINTAGE LACE BODICE.  SHE IS WEARING HAND-SEWN PANTALOONS WITH LACE UNDERNEATH.  SHE IS ALSO WEARING A HAND-SEWN LACE PETTICOAT.  'VALINA' HAS RED MOHAIR  WHICH IS APPROPRIATE FOR VALENTINES' DAY.  SHE WEARS A SWEET RED HAT AND HOLDS A TINY PAPER HEART ON A WIRE ATTACHED TO HER WRIST THAT READS 'LOVE CONQUERS ALL!'  I ADORE THIS PRECIOUS DOLL!

 PLEASE BE SURE TO VISIT JANICE AS SHE SELLS ON ETSY AND EBAY AND LOCAL ART GALLERIES WHERE SHE LIVES IN FLORIDA.

AND NOW ON TO THE QUESTIONS FOR JANICE!

1.  Who inspired you the most in the realm of art while you were growing up?
2.  When you are creating your dolls, do you tend to find an 'Ah! Ha! moment when all of the right fabrics and ideas come together?
3.  Do you make sketches of your creations before making them into your dolls?
4. What on-line sites have inspired your creative muse, such as ning sites, swaps sites, challenges for magazines, etc?
5.  What advice would you give to a fledgling artists to encourage them to get started to make their own dreams come true in the realm of art?
6. Are you a Mozart person or a Beatles person or do you tend to like both styles of music?
7.  Who has been your guide in life?
8.What are the five best individual words that describe who you are?
9. Please list all of the sites where your dolls and creations can be purchased or seen on-line or in galleries.
10.  Please list four positive things about yourself.
11.  What are your latest goals and how do you hope to achieve them?
PLEASE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ON YOUR OWN SITE AND CHOOSE SEVEN MORE BLOGGERS OF YOUR CHOICE TO RECEIVE THE LIEBSTER BLOG AWARD.

Congratulations! And...Thank you Janice!  And now it is your turn to nominate and post the Liebster Award on your blog sidebar as a recipient of the award, and contact seven people who you wish to nominate and notify them.  Please link back to my blog with the Liebster Award logo on your sidebar.  (You can download and use both the logo on this post for your own post and also download to your own files the Liebster logo on my side bar to place on your own sidebar).  And please link it back to my blog:    www.http://amagicalwhimsy.blogspot.com/     Thank you so very much!
posted by Teresa

A FANCIFUL TWIST'S MAD TEA PARTY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER...SATURDAY, JULY 13TH, 2013! ! ! !

IT IS WITH GREAT DELIGHT THAT I ANNOUNCE THE UP-COMING 'MAD TEA PARTY' HOSTED BY VANESSA VALENCIA AT HER 'A FANCIFUL TWIST' TYPEPAD BLOG.
YAY! 
THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR TO PARTICIPATE AND I AM OVER THE MOON, AND INTO THE RABBIT HOLE WITH EXCITEMENT!!!

IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE CLICK ON THE SIDE BAR ANNOUNCEMENT.  ALL OF THE INFORMATION IS ON THAT LINK.

DON'T BE LATE FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT DATE! COME ONE, COME ALL FOR THIS WONDERLAND EVENT!

GOING OUT WITH A BANG! FOR THE 'SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE FRENCH BLOG PARTY'!!! PARIS, FRANCE - THE EIFFEL TOWER

WELL, MY FRIENDS, WE HAVE SEEN FRANCE IN ALL VARIOUS NUANCES...IN THE ART WORLD, IN VINEYARDS, LAVENDER FIELDS, CATHEDRALS, AND NOW...THE ICING ON THE CAKE!!!   THE EIFFEL TOWER.  I CHOSE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS AS THE EFFECT IS STRIKING AND HAS A VINTAGE APPEAL.  AND REMEMBER TO PLEASE GO BACK AND VIEW MY DAILY POSTINGS FROM MAY 17TH UNTIL TODAY AS EACH POST IS DIFFERENT.

A VERY VINTAGE SNAP SHOT OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

THIS APPEARS TO BE AROUND THE 1940'S.

A SIMPLE GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

ALONG A TREE LINED CORRIDOR BY THE EIFFEL TOWER

A PHOTO SHOWING THE IMMENSITY OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

A CANDID YET ROMANTIC PHOTO OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

A NIGHT VIEW OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

A BEAUTIFUL VISTA OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

BEAUTIFUL AUDREY HEPBURN AT THE EIFFEL TOWER

A SPLENDID CLOSE TO A SPLENDID WEEK OF, LIGHTS, CAMERA, AND ACTION IN FRANCE.

I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS LOVELY WEEK OF THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF FRANCE.  THANKING ANITA FOR A LOVELY TIME AND GRATITUDE FOR HOSTING SUCH A GRAND AND GLORIOUS 'SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE FRENCH BLOG PARTY'

I BID YOU ALL GOOD DAY!

MERCI!

posted by Teresa

FRENCH ARTIST PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR - 1841 TO 1919 THURSDAY, MAY 23RD

TODAY'S POST IS ABOUT RENOIR.  HIS IMPRESSIONISTIC STYLE DURING THE SAME ERA AS CLAUDE MONET, IN FACT THEY WERE FRIENDS.  

Renoir was born in Limoges, France, on February 25,1841.  His drawing talents led him to become a painter of scenes on fine china in a porcelain factory.   As a young man he also visited the Louvre quite often to study the great masters paintings.   He then began to study art in Paris, where he met Claude Monet.

PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR

Renoir chose to paint his subjects close up rather than at a distance like Claude Monet did.  And he was also an Impressionist artist choosing a bright pallet for his colors.

THE SWING 1876

A GIRL WITH A WATERING CAN

LUNCHEON OF THE BOATING PARTY

JULIE MANET WITH CAT

THE THEATER BOX 1874

DANCE AT LE MOULIN DE GALLETTE

DANCE AT BOUGIVAL

TWO SISTERS

 RENOIR IN HIS OLD AGE STILL PAINTING AND IN A WHEEL CHAIR. 

I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS TOUR INTO THE LIFE OF RENOIR.  HE WAS ONE OF THE MORE SUCCESSFUL ARTISTS OF HIS DAY.

Please do go back and view my daily posts as from May 17th I began posting daily for the 'Simply Irresistible French Blog Party'...and I will have one more post on Friday....so stay tuned~

posted by Teresa