A Magical Combination

Ahh . . . the possibilities a meal and your husband of 44 years can bring . . . so perfect at the moment. Fresh shrimp from the Pacific, homemade pasta, herb Italian dressing drizzled over a beautiful tossed salad, a couple shots of tequila, topped off with fresh crusty rolls, while relaxing on a balcony overlooking the ocean.

La Dolce Vita Ristorante

It's all about sitting down at your favorite restaurant once again, after a five year absence. I remember the wooden chairs, the antique mahogany bar, the green checked tablecloths, green cloth napkins, and the oil and balsamic vinegar in the middle of each intimate table while soft romantic songs play in the background. Then glance up and the vast ocean at sunset is before your eyes!

I've thought about this Italian Ristorante in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico so many times. It's funny how all the special moments shared with the one you love often centers around food and drink. I really can't explain why this restaurant happens to be my favorite restaurant in the world. Probably just sharing it with my favorite person is the real reason.

Wicked Halloween Exchange

I have had just the best time participating in my four Halloween swaps this year. And, ta da.....this amazing doll was one of the wondrous things my partner, Jennifer Wells (also known as "Black October Girl"), from Seattle, Washington sent to me!

Getting to know Jennifer has certainly been inspiring due to the fact that she is a great lover of "The Day of the Dead, All Saints Day, or All Souls Day." She explained to me that these two days are the celebration of the life of a loved one. She has an altar set up at home and it is covered in "Day of the Dead" items, but it also has pictures of her grandma, great aunt, and some of her furry babies.

We, as Americans also have a kind of altar that some people may not realize--having pictures of our ancestors out or items that belonged to someone long gone. She feels that countries all over the world have some form of the "Day of the Dead," but she just happens to focus on the Latin version because she grew up in southern California.

So, when you see a "Day of the Dead" skeleton form, it represents who that person was when they were alive. When you build a real altar, they place images of that person on it, and other things that this person liked and represents them, like food, alcohol, or flowers (mainly mums). This helps their spirit in the after life. To Jennifer, it is a beautiful way of celebrating their memory and this keeps them close to her. She has a very strong spiritual belief and this just fits right in with her thinking.

We have been taught to fear death on so many levels that when we see images like those of the "Day of the Dead," it makes us uncomfortable. But to her, it is just so beautiful!! She makes "Day of the Dead" cookies, and one of her favorites are her homemade Christmas cookies with skeletons holding Christmas trees. She made quite an impression on me.

She adored taking photos of beautiful graves in her hometown of Dana Point, California. I hope to see some of them one day. Here is a photo of her beautiful wall in her home.

Here is a photo of our "Wicked" Exchange.....

I also received this altered composition book with a glow-in-the dark moon on the inside cover. There was also some of my favorite Dove dark chocolates wrapped in miniature coffins, two festive tags, Halloween pencils, a bag of felted pumpkins, and all presented with style.

It was a journey in cultures, and I am so glad I was matched up with such a sweet person on the other side our our country. Thank you so much, Jennifer. I would also like to thank our hard-working hosts, Ramona Alvarado and Samantha Lambert of Altered Art Junkies. I think I am hooked on swaps. Thanks so much.

Sweet and Sinister Swap

Talk about packaging with the "Wow Factor!" These gorgeous gifts were sent to me by the amazing and sweet Kathy Riley of Bourbonnais, Illinois. We were swap partners in the fabulous "Sweet and Sinister Swap" this year hosted by Kari Ramstrom of A Year of Color. They truly were just too beautiful to open.

Yesterday was a hectic day for me socializing (the entire day and half the night), creating art, laughing, and sharing photos and news of our families with my old scrapbooking buddies. My package from Kathy sat home and I had yet to tear it open. It was driving me crazy! I wanted to take snapshots of these meaningful gifts from her to share with you. And, what an awesome treasure was to be found when I opened them!

Any gift worth giving is worth creating with effort and meaning, and Kathy did just that! I think what's really important is to pay attention, take the time to give appropriate gifts, and to give gifts with a great deal of thought put into them. For me, the process of gathering, putting together, and presenting gifts is really a very personal experience, for both in what is being given and what is received.

Thank you so very much, Kathy, for your present. It is so inspirational, made with love, and really just way beyond my expectation. You never know what you're going to receive when participating in swaps, but you keep your senses open and try to create something that will absolutely perfect!

The lovely thing about receiving something with inspiration is it really can be a life changing event. It goes on forever. Every time a person gets involved in something that you've inspired them to do, they may remember that you were motivated to become involved in the first place because of you.

This was the first thing I opened. Every time I look at these little baby witch booties, I smile. They are just down right adorable! Don't you agree?

Because of a very sweet Kathy, I received a gift of inspiration. Her "Sinister" Candy Tower is an enginering marvel. It's so cool. It is filled with my favorite chocolate. She also sent a mouth-watering bag of Lindt's milk chocolate truffles! OMG! These both have to be my most favorite candy. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, she including this simply amazing Halloween journal.

I am in awe of Kathy's dedication and devotion in trying to please me and make something I would love to own.

This is the bead detail on strands of fibers.

As Kathy has written me after our swap, I must quote part of her email for you to see just how devoted she was in making this journal even more special. "Now, in your journal. . . I absolutely LOVED the witches board. . . . . the little thing for the hands.. placard ??. . . actually moves. . . it worked great until I had the book closed and then it was not as free moving. . . . if you turn the book sideways a bit, it will roll down. . . I think it smooshed and it closed too much with the book closed. If you try to push down the bottom of the hole where it slides and try to raise the top just a bit to give it more room, it may work. . . otherwise, you can still move it back and forth by hand. . . just not as much fun."

Now what really sent me "over the top" was this Day of the Dead garland. It has to be seen to be appreciated. I had trouble photographing it due to the lighting today, and sometimes black and white photos average the exposure, which creates less than perfect photos. It is wonderful with

beautiful images depicting this honorable day.

I have to say, I was thoroughly pleased with my exchange. She even included two pieces of silver glittered fabric, ribbons, and a mailing label on her package of a haunted house. Hopefully, I will be able to post the things I mailed Kathy during the week. I have been neglecting my housework during these past few days, and need to buckle down.

Thank you, Kari, for matching me up with such a "over the top" partner. Now, we just have to get Kathy to create a blog of her stunning artwork. Kathy, you rock!

Day of the Dead Tag Art

I've been thinking, with the Halloween season right around the corner, why not make some "Day of the Dead" art tags! With my love of vacationing in Mexico and in the southwest, I decided it would be different to create art celebrating both of these holidays.

These beautiful tag shapes were digital and can be purchased from Becky Loyall of Whymsical Musings, and the skeletal and reaper images can be ordered from Itkupilli.

I wish I truly understood the celebration of "Dia de los Muertos" or Day of the Dead. It is just beautiful. I love the colors of Latin America, Mexico, Santa Fe, and just wanted to make something fun to share.

Mexico's Shines

Photo taken in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Mexico's shine.
Bougainvillea, neon flowers.
Luscious concoctions
make me hesitant
to exhale.

By Nancy Van Hoose

I want to own
the colors
and aromas.
A lifetime of nature's
pallet and perfume.

By Debra Abel

Mexico's glow
riding upon the sea.
Perfectly rounded
gray-lavender rocks,
like moons stacked upon clouds.

By Kimberly Baslock

Photo taken in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

By Terri Gauthier (Above two)

The rocks remind me
of birth,
wet and waiting
to explode into the earth
and know the light of Mexico's shine.

~Janet Rice Parker

By Vikki Light

Photo taken in Ixtapa, Mexico

These cool 4 X 4's were exchanged a couple of weeks ago during our March Art Meeting held at Vikki's house and I took these photos on trips to one of my favorite destinations. I am a big fan of Mexico, and all it's colorful artwork and the happy people that make it such a beautiful country.

My Art....inspired by Mexico!

One of my favorite places to visit is definitely south of the border in Mexico! Here are some of my newest artwork inspired by the longing to visit the sea again. Wishing I was there....

Art Weekend at My Hacienda

What could be better than spending a creative weekend with a group of women? That's right....nothing could be finer! On September 12th through the 14th, my art group is meeting at my house to make a very sweet ATC frame holder and to continue on projects that remain unfinished. And, boy do I have those! My main concern is wrapping up my "Mad Tea Party" journal and my acrylic photo album inspired by Donna Downey. Then I still have my Mexican fabric art journal waiting in limbo. The theme of our weekend will have a Mexican flair, including food inspired from south of the border, traditional (and mandatory) Margaritas, and beautiful Latin music. I'm sure a lengthy conversation will continue on how we all loved the Invoke Art Stamps we purchased at the last rubberstamp show in Novi. There were just lovely images for Frida Kahlo, shrines and frames, the holiday Dia de los Muertos or "Day of the Dead," our Lady of Guadalupe, and santos galore. We all tend to play off eachother, each lending a "punch" to our artistic madness. It will definitely be a glorious weekend traveling on our magical journey to Mexico and more.