Happy Halloween!

 Just a few skulls and ravens...

on this Halloween.

A little Poe...

a few skeletons...

a gravestone or two.

Trick or Treat!

A Murder of Crows

 It's the season...

 Black birds gliding through the autumn sky.

Caw cawing...

eyes glittering...

a murder of crows.

Life on the Coast

Stunning photo of Morro Bay from the ocean side of our sand spit.  Just one picture of thousands from this very cool project http://www.californiacoastline.org/?

From the Book Shelf

This book just arrived at our library and we're all quite taken with it. Sized small (5x7") to fit in your coat pocket or journal bag, it's full to the bursting with nearly 200 techniques to use in your drawing and sketching. Complied by Helen Birch with contributions from dozens and dozens of artists.  The table of contents includes a small thumbnail of each spread,  And a great index divides sections into Principal Element, Medium,Type of Drawing and Subject. Lots of tips, techniques and eye candy. Published by Chronicle so you know you're in for a treat.  I plan to delve into it more deeply when I can wrest it from my co-worker's hands!

Antique Street Faire

It's October so that means the
Antique Street Faire in Cayucos.

 I always go, I always enjoy myself, and I always score!

 This time was no exception.

 Two tiny metal cars from the '30's 

and a handful of old snaps.

 A bundle of old letters with Provencal postmarks.

 Vintage Valentines, signed on the back,

and a very small, very old cigar box to

 add to my ever growing collection.

Museum Monday - Musee de Cluny

This medieval museum in Paris is a gem hidden 

away in the Latin Quarter in the 5th arrondissment. 

 Originally constructed in 1334 as residence for the Abbots of Cluny, (atop the remains of Gallo-Roman baths) it had a long and varied history before being donated to the state for use as a museum.  It is one of the finest remaining examples of medieval Gothic architectural in Paris.

I've been lucky enough to visit twice and both times my favourite exhibit was the Unicorn tapestries, La Dame a la Licorne, called the Tapestry Cycle.

 A series of six Flemish tapestries depicting the senses, created  between 1484 and 1500.  They are housed in a low light circular room and are breath taking for their artistry, their age and their beauty.

The courtyard is a lovely spot to sit for awhile and journal 

and soak in the feel of another age.

Suitcase Saturday - Have Bag Will Travel

artid.com

 It's always fun to bring back lovely,

 fantastic things from one's travels,

rubyanddiva.com

 But with these beautiful pieces of luggage...

mint.com

 it's sorta like being there...

thenest-at-johnrichards.com

before you even get on the plane.

thegoddessandthediva.com

Or in this (suit)case, there already!

Empty Shelves?

 Remember last week when I cleaned off this bookshelf  so Margot would have more room for her Sassy Feet creations?

This wasn't what I had in mind!

Happy Birthday Jenny!

Happy Birthday, darling girl!!  

Daughter Jenny with her man Noah.

Look at those smiles!

Life on the Coast

White sand, cobalt water, umber dunes,
 lavender hills and blue sky -

 Morro Bay palette on a weekend afternoon.

From the Bookshelf

I spent the weekend with my books - 

 rearranging, going through, 

and picking out ones to donate, give to friends,

 keep for the next ephemera sale, and of course

 deciding which one's I can't live without.

It used to be really difficult for me to part with a book,

but over the years I've come to realize that

 there are some I read or use once, 

some I love having for awhile, 

and the ones that I know I'll keep forever.

I was able to free up an entire 5 shelf bookcase which I "gifted"

 to Margot to display more of her Sassy Feet collection.

So it was a win-win situation all the way around.

Here a Skull, There a Skull!

 In October - a young man's

 (or in this case, a woman of a certain age)

 fancy turns to SKULLS!

Big ones, little ones,

grinning ones

 pirate ones!

 Not always human,

but often very colourful!

Love that Storage!

homeandfamilynetwork.com 

Here's fun - look for fabulous storage ideas and pieces on the web,


thelonearrangers.tumblercom

add them to your Pinterest board,

skinnerinc.com

and then drool over them,

browndresswithwhitedots.tumbler.com

and wish they were in your studio!!