November's Newsletter

Hi Everyone.

The Bijou's Whimsy November Newsletter has just been distributed

and is available for viewing right here.
(It will arrive abit late for some people, Sorry, but I am having big problems with my email service!)

Do hop on by for a browse and if you have any questions or comments

write me at:  mandysaile@bijouswhimsy.com

If you'd like to receive the newsletters just sign up right here.

See you all on Friday with some super cool concert photos.

Be Well, Be Joyful and Be Inspired XO Mandy & The Bijou's Whimsy Bunnies

Simply Buns

Ahhhh.....

The boys are happy and napping all cozy like today (whiles the girls play with blankets)...

I simply adore days like this...

Days drenched in simplicity and goodness...

Happy Bunnies...Lots of time in the studio...

Days where we feel oh so lucky to be all warm and snug as bugs in a rug whiles outside is steeped in cold.

Ahhhhh....

XO Mandy, Ella Luna, Roo, Jinster & Jaky

Coraline Doll

The other day I found myself making an impromptu doll with my 9 year old niece.

She said 'Auntie Mandy, do you think you could help me make a 'Coraline' doll...'

and well I did just happen to have some supplies with me, so I said

"I don't know but the only way we'll know is if we try"....

And try we did and success was had...I think our Coraline inspired doll turned out pretty cute, ha ha...

'Coraline' just happens to be one of my favourite movies.

And it's always a treat for me when my niece shows an interest in art and in my artistic abilities.

(She has already put in her custom & very detailed order for a painting for her room for Xmas, ha ha!)

So thanks for the fun idea and fun day of doll making my little munchkin.

(I know my mom will show her this post).

And thanks to everyone else who hopped in for a visit this week.

I am anxious to show you more stuff next week, so do stop by again...

Have a wonderful weekend.

XO Mandy & 4 happy bunnies

Seraphina And The Night Owl

Finally I get to show you a new picture I just finished up...

It is a coloured pencil on painted paper and is called

"Seraphina And The Night Owl"



Here are a few details...

Finishing this one up seemed to take abit longer than usual.

I think it's because I am pushing my coloured pencil technique, trying to add more texture,

more free movement and more depth by using the pencils on a painted background...

which I am loving but which has caused me to pause and flounder abit here and there, ha ha.

One wouldn't think starting on a dark background instead of a light one would be so different but it is.

I had many moment of frustration where I thought

'Oh Jeepers just start it over on the usual white backing'...

But I purposely wanted to feel and push past that resistance/what-are-you-doing block that

typically bounces up whenever we try something remotely new.

Don't you love her and her lovely vegetarian owl friend...I sure do

(I'll let you know when prints are up in the shop)

See I told you I'd be back soon with a new picture...yayyy.

Be Well lovelies...Be Well.

XO Mandy & Her Black Beauty, Ella Luna

Beauty Reminded

I just had to share this sunset and photo taken from our front yard.

and I really wanted to share a link to this incredible video I saw this week...

It's an Earth time lapse view from space,

it's so incredibly beautiful and unreal, you MUST check it out.

It's a beautiful reminder of the utterly amazing earth we inhabit.

I may be on hiatus for the next few days and may not be posting as I usually do...
I really do like to keep up with the Monday, Wednesday and Friday postings but
with our precious Ella Luna's super sore tootsies to deal with and
some rough headache days being had, I just found myself falling behind schedule...
(I did manage to squeeze in a super fun pizza-from-scratch making lesson
from my beautiful Italian friend however, ha ha)
Anyhow, I'll be back with a new coloured pencil as soon as I can,
I have so many lovely images on the go and I really can't wait to share them...
Also some new goodies for my Etsy shop.
I'll hop in again very soon, probably Wednesday.

Hope your all well.

XO Mandy and the buns

Monday Rabbit Dose

I am so glad when Monday hits...cause that always means it's 'back to work' and
well I spend my days with artwork, bunnies and music so I can never really complain about Mondays.
But I know Mondays are abit yucky for many people so
I thought to myself, hmmm what can I do to help...

...well give everyone a rabbity dose of ultimate cuteness...
Yes, that might just be the thing to help some out...
So here's the adorable face of our Miss Jinn....

...She and I hope it helps any Monday blues out there.

Stay cozy warm today everyone, thanks for hopping in, thanks to everyone who spread around my 'Remembrance' illustration on Facebook, and make this Monday a really really great one.

XO Mandy & Jin

Remembrance

Hopping in today to show you a new picture I just finished up.

"Remembrance"

In the spirit of honoring all of the men and woman who have sacrificed their lives so we can all be safer.

It is a small 5 x 7 coloured pencil on canson paper.

(the original and prints will be available for purchase shortly)

Have a beautiful day.

XO Mandy

34 Years Young

Today is my Birthday...

I like to think positively about turning a year older.

I like to think of myself as one year better, not necessarily just one year older!

So yes indeed, today I am 34 YEARS BETTER.

XO The Birthday Girl

Outside Cleaning With Cuties

We've been outside with these lovelies for company...

We got so much done this past weekend with regards to outside fall clean up and it was all that much more pleasant a task thanks to all the cuties surrounding us having fun as we worked away.
Ella Luna can't go outside without her feet wrapped, but she did well despite the sore tootsies.
and Jaks couldn't understand what the heck his dad was doing on the roof...he says "eavesdrops, huh?!".

There's alot to do this week, the jazz is streaming nice and loud, the hot chocolate is already made,
bunnies are napping, the sun is out shining and my coloured pencils are calling...
Ahhh....it's going to be a great week in the studio, I can feel it.

Have a great day everyone.

Mandy & The Bun Babies

A Wee Whispy ReWorked

Even when I am struck down with migraines and such, I still can't stand to sit still for TOO long...

and whiles my coloured pencil works usually require alot of concentration

which I just didn't have in great quanity this week...

I did feel up to doing abit with my mixed media goodies. 

I was never completely happy with my original Wee Whispy creations. 

So, I decided to bring out the little ones that haven't sold yet and to rework them.

Here's what came out and I am so pleased with her now (click here to see what she looked like before).

I don't actually rework pieces very often at all but I am so glad I did on this little lady.

This one isn't for sale..it's for me and already has a special spot in the bedroom where I see her first thing every morning.  The sentiment on this piece is a very important one for my tender soul to remember...

especially in a world full of people that like to turn softies like me into hard and critical beings.

If I can manage to get a really good high res shot of her, I will be able to offer her as a print.

Well it's the weekend, thank goodness, ha ha...

I am craving nothing but simple things for the next couple of days, such as:

no head pain (seriously I need a break because cluster migraines are hell),

I am hoping for no snow and nice enough weather to finish the yard clean up

and for lots of movies to be watched in front of a roaring fire with healthful snacks.

Thanks for hopping in this week and do remember...

"Those who are willing to be vulnerable, move among mysteries"

XO Mandy, who feels very grateful for walk-in clinics!

Apple Pie Cake

I tryed this recipe not long ago and it's so easy and yummy I just have to share it...

Apple Pie Cake

1 cup of organic cane sugar

2 organic free-run eggs

1-2 tsp's of almond extract

4 apples, cored, peeled and sliced

1 cup of whole wheat flour

2 tsp baking powder

and a tiny dash of salt

(A sprinkling of nutmeg or cinnamon or both is optional)

-Combine eggs, sugar and extract in a large bowl and mix well.

-Than stir in the sliced apples and than sprinkle in the flour, baking powder and salt than mix mix mix.

-Pour the lovely mixture into an 8-10 inch pie or cake pan.
-Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg if you want.

-Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, cool slightly before serving....and YUMMMMM.

Enjoy!

I've been having to back off from my studio abit lately...
I got pretty sick with a bad bladder infection, than dealing with yet another tummy flu and
I was also swept off my feet with a new migraine med that I won't be trying ever again! Ugh...
Plus there's been a serious lack of good sleep happening in this home of ours...
My honey's bronchitis has been acting up and most nights lately we are up atleast till 4am with that...
There's been rambunctious bunnies making noise all night long
(sometimes the draw back of not having bunnies in cages!)...
and our sweet Ella Luna's feet needing constant tending too...
Anyhow, ha ha...
I have been reworking some of my old 'Wee Whispy' mixed medias and having such a ball with them...

I'll show you the results of one or two on Friday, if the sun pokes out long enough to get some shots!

XO Mandy, also with a sore head today