Framed Ink

I got some of my ink drawings framed up and I am so happy with how they look...

 

This gives you a sneak peek of part of our new kitchen reno too.

Coffee Table Studio

I am lucky to have alot of studio space, but admit to still being guilty of taking over the whole house for my various artistic projects (which my honey never seems to mind).  I have a lovely studio downstairs in our home but the last year or so I find that I prefer being upstairs amongst the bunnies (for whatever reason, except for Roo, the buns are not too keen on joining me in the basement except to escape the summer heat waves).   

And, even though I do have a sweet studio area upstairs as well, that I share with Jaks and Jin, the last week & this week you'd likely find me working here...

...toiling away on the upstairs living room coffee table with favourite old movies playing or the jazz station streaming...  

...and if I peek over the couch into my 'upstairs studio' I'll often be greeted by this view....



Jaks all stretched out on his little wooden bed underneath my easel and Jin will be snuggled against the warmth of the heater...once in awhile they'll zoom and zip into the living room, say hello with a force full little nudge on my legs or a teeny nip to my socks and than they'll either crash & nap under the coffee table or run back into their room for more snacks & sun basking....

Life with art & bunnies is good....ahhhh....

Where is your favourite place to create???

See you tomorrow, I've crocheted a new project & want to show you.

XO Bijou & Sun Dappled Bunnies

p.s.  Thank you soooo much to all of you lovelies who left such supportive comments about my migraine trouble post....My soul & tender noggin felt thoroughly hugged & nurtured.

I Know It's A Good Day When...

I feel it's a superb day when time seems to move more slowly and the sun is shining just right and I just feel blissful in knowing that there's plenty of time for some playing in the studio... When there's time to think fondly of good friends, like my pal Julie here whose currently off on an amazing venture through Scotland...

It's a good day when there's time to photograph sweet things around the house, like the cute miniature rabbit she brought back for me from her first trip...

When there's time to photograph some honeycrisp apples before devouring them, ha ha...

When there's time to read and read and read...

and time to enjoy cappuccino in the lovely new cappuccino cups my mom gifted me awhile back...

And it makes for the most blissful of days when Jin and Jaks happily come hopping in to eat treats side by side in the sun...

Ahhhhh yes....it is indeed a very very good day:D

Some Old Furniture Refinished

So a few weeks ago when I was so so sad and lost without Hazel and when I wanted to just sleep all day and all night, I gave myself a couple projects to complete when I wasn't keeping Jin company...I thought I'd share those with you today... We've had this old desk for years, Jonathan's grandpa made it but it was pretty rickety and ugly, so Jon peeled all the bubbled veneer off, sanded it down, made the shelves solid, and put new legs on than handed it to me...

...which I than painted a bright happy green and water blue. I love it now.

Than I took this old chair which I've had around for ages, took the old fabric off, painted it in the same green and blue and had just enough fabulous rabbit print material to recover it, so it became...

...This:D....which I am also so happy with...

...AND THAN...I took another old desk that I've been used for over 15 years and decided to give it a matching facelift as well, it needed no work just paint so it was quick and easy but it looks so much better and refreshed in these new colours.

...Jinny and Jaks seem to approve of the colours...I am happy...What do yous think?

Just a lazy day...

On lazy days I love photographing loved things around the house...like this beautiful water jug we found at a antique store a couple months back...for a mere $5 who could resist!...

...now I am off to take toothpaste and toothbrush to it to shine it up and get it looking it's best again. Orange juice seems to taste particularly good from it, ha ha...just like to me coke tastes better in plastic glasses! Cheers to our oddities...Cheers...

Happiness Is...

The summer is going swimmingly and brillantly and is full of goodness, adventure and relaxation...really just all of the good things in life seemingly strung closely together for pure enjoyment...ahhhh....so today I am going to enjoy... ...Some more new books...picture ones on bears and one on elephants...ohhh so nice:D...

...sweetie-pie Jaks a.k.a. Nibbler whom will most likely be happily dozing under his chair in the sunlight...

...and this gourgeus new tea set...ohhhh so pretty:D....

...may you be able to sit comfortably in your own bliss today whatever that may be?...

...Good Things...

...some old new found buttons can make a girl so happy...

... a beautiful and sweet card from a friend, to make one smile...

....a good book recently finished (or rather devoured!) and enjoyed...

...a sweet little bun who doesn't ask for much just love and lots and lots of food...

...and some beautiful new magazine/book racks for the living room which the above sweet bun is nice enough not to chew...

...Indeed, all good things currently making this little blogger/artist happy, happy, happy...

June Winter

So on Sunday morning I hear Jonathan from my sleepy slumber say 'It's Snowing...' so at 7am my eyes pop open (because I love snow falling) and being half asleep I replied "Am I dreaming?...' But I woke up pretty fast when I remembered my newly sprouted plants, so I jumped outta bed and ran around the yard in my p.j.'s to drag all of the smaller pots into the house...it snowed heavy on and off all day long that day, we think about 2 inches built up...can you imagine, snow in June!

But boy oh boy it sure did feel lovely and xmasy and deliciously cozy to crawl back into bed for another couple hours feeling embraced by that beautiful white stuff:D Like I always say, it's the little things...like a snowfall in June!

Pondering the Pain and Needing to Complain!

(one of my teeny weeny lino cuts in the living room upstairs, with a butterfly ceramic I painted years ago, which has by now been drafted to the outside gazebo)

I hate having to loose a whole evening of studio time because of a migraine that won't go away...aargh! But I knew as soon as my knee started to ache that a change in weather was fast approaching and sure enough a cold front has moved in, the barometric pressure has changed..yet again! and presto Mandy has a headache...no surprise! Though it feels like I started with a headache May 1st that hasn't gone away completely yet and it's starting to make me feel abit tired and irritated! I worked and worked today as much and as quickly as I could through the pain, knowing that soon I'd be forced to stop. But ya know despite the pain and feeling frustrated at being forced from my busy schedule, I did still manage to feel and warm and content in the simple beauties of the day such as; the pouring rain outside making the studio inside brighter and warmer; the jazz was streaming; a new nubbin/art doll was about to be born; bunnies upstairs were cozily dozing than getting up for yawns, stretches and snacks of cheerios, ha ha, (I think this was the best beauty of the day) ; and lastly I admit to being slightly giddy still about the new carving blocks purchased during our last city trip... but alas I had to succumb to the throbbing monster sitting steadfast in my head and headed to the bed for some pillow-y softness, some tv (we're watching a cool mini-series called 'Tin Man') and snuggles with Hazel and Jin, as we brought them on the bed to chill out with us...and yes poor Jonathan had a headache as well. I am feeling stressed, I know this isn't helping the headaches...I've been accepted into a gallery and artist's collective, which is suddenly feeling like a big commitment and which I am excited and nervous about all at the same time (more on this later)...I have a solo exhibition coming up in October, which I have grand plans of having 18 images for and the framing of these 18 images is what is stressing me out! I am signed up for two outdoor sales/shows and that's always alot to prepare for, one is in July, one is in August and I've never done outdoor ones before so the whole booth/display part is what's stressing me out here...and ya know, I am irritated because these damn migraines knock me off my game and schedule, but what can I do...C'est La Vie for me! March was a great month for no head pain, April was not great at all, and now May seems like an on going constant dull thud...Here's hoping that June will be better! Oh I try not to complain too much, everyone has their problems, but once in awhile I have to break down and complain and rant and say 'damn these migraines and headaches..' Thanks for listening all of you who've popped in for this post. Be Well...I am off to more bunny snuggles...which I am thinking is the best medicine for sore and tired heads...

Cruddy Brown to Beautiful Blue and New

So last Saturday was a day where people could put out unwanted items at their curb sides and anyone else could take the stuff for free....Our neighbours put their items the night before which included an old ugly shelf....and of course I saw the shelf and started obsessing that I just had to have it! I just couldn't get to sleep, I kept imagining it in this certain blue and than I was convinced that someone would surely nab the shelf before we were even up the next day...so my sweet Jonathan, went outside in the middle of the night and brought it in for me... The next day I ran to get a can of paint in the colour I had envisioned in my head....and with a couple hours painting time, an old ugly brown shelf....

...became a beautiful refreshed blue shelf that fits in so nicely in our living room...I am so pleased and it again goes to prove that someone else's trash can indeed often be someone else's new treasure.

Until next time, Be Well and Happy Creating.

Colour....Colour...Everywhere

I just love being surrounded by my favourite colours. I think making your home as lovely and cozy and inviting as possible is so so important to any artist who works at home full time and right now this little flowered teacup of mine is just tickling me pink and inspired, especially seeing it surrounded by these cool little stars I handmade and painted years and years ago. They are suppose to be xmas ornaments but this year I found their colours too delicious to pack away so they ended up in my studio, around my favourite teacup...and of course who wouldn't be cheered at the thought of making something with those buttons...the colours oh the colours, ha ha...

...alas, now I deem it to be time to go have a real cup of something warm and sweet and perhaps catch up on some snail mail...which I sadly don't get much of, but that I still can't resist sending!

Until the next post...Be Well, Be Inspired and Be Creative.

An Art & Ghosts Print From My Honey

So a few weeks ago, whiles browsing about my favourite Etsy shops, I ventured into "Art & Ghosts" shop and saw this print that I freaked out over and just had to have! Well, okay...ha ha, I freak out over alot of stuff and 'feel' like I just have to have it but often I of course don't end up with it. But in this case I did! I haven't framed it yet but I adore it so much... I am usually not so crazy about computer generated imagery but this image just so perfectly and beautifully speaks to me. It captures an essence of my life and my soul both of which are filled with rabbits, both of which nurture them and in return are nurtured by them. My relationship with rabbits is a very symbiotic one (in my own sense) and this image is the very first image I've ever seen that struck my heart chords because it so perfectly illustrates this very intense, personal and unique relationship of mine to lagomorphs. A friend even commented that the girl in the picture looks like an Elizabethan version of me. I could go on and on about all the little things in this illustration and how I see them as being related to me and the rabbits...but I'll stop here and just say I LOVE it, I LOVE it, I LOVE it and thanks Jonathan for buying it for me and thanks to Louise for making it.

Aside from the print we bought, this other little beauty was given to us as an extra treat, which I so appreciated and love because it was, serendipitously, the other print of hers that I was looking at getting. It fits perfectly into one of our dining room frames and there it now happily lives and delights all viewers.

Now when oh when will other artists start falling in love with my prints and just 'have to have it'!...sigh.... I am not sure if I will be posting tomorrow or not....I am feeling somewhat of a slave to this blog lately and think I must back off ever so slightly...I am just always so excited to show you all my new work, etc but alas it does take time away from other things I should be doing right now, such as concentrating on new Nubbins. So let's say that I'll see all again here next Monday or Tuesday...until then, be well, be joyful and be inspired...whether it be through your own art or someone else's.

Presents From My Best Friend

So last week, I mentioned receiving a parcel from my best friend Judit. Well I just can't help but share with you all some of what was in that lovely package. She sent me two of her beautifully designed pillow covers (which I serendiptously had two old pillows that fit into them just so perfectly). Here's one of them that has found it's perfect home on my computer chair...

This is the second pillow in beautiful reds and chocalate brown that so perfectly matches our upstairs living room decor...

Ohhh I love them so much and as excited and happy as I know Judit is in having her pillows in our house, I am equally happy and excited to have recieved them and to be able to use them in our home...so all visitors get ready to constantly hear me proudly annouce "...my best friend made these..." ha ha. (You can buy Judit's pillows here).

Aside from the gourgues pillows, Judit sent this beautiful silk headband or neck scarf with one of her beautiful patterns...

...which of course I've been wearing constantly and just adore.

Well that's about it for today. Join me back here tommorow for the latest and last (for now) of the Avian paintings. Be Well, Be Joyful and Be Inspired.

A Favourite New Find

I am just popping in quickly today to share with you one of my favourite new finds. Whiles out and about in a thrift store a couple weekends ago I found this old glass bobble...which I know was an light attachment but as soon as I set my eyes on it, I had to have it...and for only $4.00, why not! I brought it home, gave it a good scrub, used one of my dad's wooden vases as it's base and Voila, a perfect and beautiful new candle holder...I just love it and have been using it almost every evening since I got it. I love finding uses for old things and it defiantly proves the old adage right...someones else's trash is indeed another persons new found treasure, ha ha.

I am so happy and pleased that my best friend Judit, featured my new necklaces on her blog last week. Judit and I usually share very similar tastes and I know she is also like me in that she won't post anything on her blog that she doesn't really like, so I am just glad that my necklaces made the cut, ha ha. Click here to read the post. Thanks Judit.

Until tomorrow, when I'll finally be able to show you the 3rd Avian painting...Be Well and Happy Creating.

A New Furniture Project

I love painting old furniture...I don't do it too often because they can be time consuming projects, but when I do get to it, I really get into it and the thought always pops into my head that "Yep, I could do this for a living...this and paint carousel horses..." ha ha. It completely lets me diverge and break from my usual work but still feels very creative and therefore freeing. I saw this lovely old writing desk at a thrift shop for no more than $20. Without question my honey helped me load it up into the car and we brought it home only to sit in a corner for a few years with not real purpose and looking pretty hideous (but I bought it because I knew the shape and style was lovely).

Jonathan helped me immensely by spending 3 hours on it before it passed off into my hands. He worked off the old cracked and bubbled veneer on all sides, cut new pieces for the backing, reinforcing weak areas, completely rebuilt the legs, filled any cracks and holes and sanded it beautifully so I had a nice smooth surface to refinish. I forgot to take a shot of it before Jon worked on it unfortunately...but here it is looking much better than before...

And voila...here it is after 7 or 8 hours of my hard but fun work...

A lovely and new and unique desk for our den which is decorated with blacks, reds and golds...I am very pleased with the outcome and was happy to surprise Jonathan with the finished project when he arrived home from work. Now Jon wants to go thrift store hunting for more furniture for me to paint, ha ha...he says this every time I finish a piece.

Thanks for your help babe, it would no doubt look quite as sharp without all the fine tuning you put in. As for everyone else, I hope I've inspired you to break out the paints and varnish and perhaps tackle some ugly or tired piece of yours and have fun and breathe new life into it. Happy Creating and perhaps old furniture hunting.