beautiful carved amazonite flower beads and Bali silver spacers make up this unique drop style necklace by silverbluedesigns.
Beautiful Ballerinas
When I think of the word ballerina, a few images come to
mind. Beauty. Poise. Grace. It is no wonder so many parents enroll their little
girls (or boys for that matter) in ballet classes. For the child, it’s a chance
to play dress-up and dance around the room to music. For the adult, it’s the
opportunity to live vicariously through those moments. Go on, admit it.
My mom was a dancer until her late teens. There are several pictures of her en pointe, tulle tutu sticking stiffly out around her. I too was enrolled in ballet; mom took me to buy the shoes and she patiently worked with gauzy chiffon to sew me my first dance skirt. I remember wearing these to grandpa’s house because I was insistent in showing him my steps. He was so proud, but maybe some of that pride was remembering another little dancer – my mom – when she was young.
Even the word Ballet contains a certain degree of beauty in
the height and rhythm of the letters: up for b, down for a, then two stilts in
the middle like dancer’s legs for the l’s, down again for e and finally up for
the t. Up, down, up-up, down, up. Sort of like skipping along.
Now say it with me….”Ballet…I’m going to the ballet.” You drew
out the second syllable and gave it a slight French air at the end, didn’t you?
This week I found some lovely ballerina fabric in two
colours: yellow and purple. It also comes in pink, but it wasn’t in stock (not
surprised). And so I’m working on designing a dress that showcases both the
fabric and those three hallmark elements: Beauty. Poise. Grace; while still
being functional enough for every day wear.
Because if I were still a little girl, I’d want to feel like a ballerina as often as possible.
My mom was a dancer until her late teens. There are several pictures of her en pointe, tulle tutu sticking stiffly out around her. I too was enrolled in ballet; mom took me to buy the shoes and she patiently worked with gauzy chiffon to sew me my first dance skirt. I remember wearing these to grandpa’s house because I was insistent in showing him my steps. He was so proud, but maybe some of that pride was remembering another little dancer – my mom – when she was young.
I ended my ballet early on though; I told my mom the change room
was stuffy and stunk and I didn’t want to go back. So we focused on ice skating
and swimming. But every once in a while I think about trying an adult ballet
class to improve elements common in dancers of the genre: Poise and Grace.
Even the word Ballet contains a certain degree of beauty in
the height and rhythm of the letters: up for b, down for a, then two stilts in
the middle like dancer’s legs for the l’s, down again for e and finally up for
the t. Up, down, up-up, down, up. Sort of like skipping along.
Now say it with me….”Ballet…I’m going to the ballet.” You drew
out the second syllable and gave it a slight French air at the end, didn’t you? Because if I were still a little girl, I’d want to feel like a ballerina as often as possible.
Another Beautiful Idea - September 25, 2012
Loving the colours and grouping of
this series of photographs. The way they are formatted around the corners
remind me of drink coasters.
Making your own drink coasters is not difficult to
do. First, decide on your images. They should be ones that work well as square
shapes, since the coaster itself will be square. Then, gather the following:
- good quality paper. This doesn't have to be photo paper, but it should be colour fast and sturdier than regular every day printing paper. Opt for a matte finish though instead of a glossy one (unless you want super glossy coasters).
- Modge Podge for outdoors. This is specifically made for moisture, which drink coasters tend to attract.
- foam brushes for spreading on the Modge Podge.
- spray adhesive. This is optional, but if you spray the tiles first and press the photos on before applying the Modge Podge, they stay in place better.
- spray sealant. Again, this is optional. Modge Podge for outdoors has a built in sealant, but it doesn’t hurt to give them an extra coat. I use a matte finish, and it helps cut down the sheen that Modge Podge sometimes leaves behind when it dries.
- square tiles from a home improvement store. Home Depot, Rona and Lowe’s are have a good section of square tiles. The best ones I’ve used are a non-glazed, porous stone tile. I find they absorb more of the Modge Podge and sealant.
- fuzzy feet. Okay, they’re not really called fuzzy feet. They’re those little fuzzy felt sticky things you peel and stick on the inside of your cupboard doors so that they close softly, or on the bottom of a jewelry box so that it doesn’t scratch the top of the dresser. They also come in clear acrylic.
There
are several photo editing tools available. I use Picasa by Google to crop my
photos and muck around with border options. Once you have your photos set up,
print them out. Be sure the ink has dried thoroughly.
Trim
down any white edges and bits so that all you’re left with are your photo
squares. Lay out your tiles and lightly spray with the adhesive. Carefully
place your photos onto the tiles and press down, ensuring there are no bubbles.
Following the label instructions, coat the surface of the photos with the Modge
Podge. You may need to do more than one coat.
After
the tiles have dried, spray a thin coat of the sealant to the backs of the
tiles and allow to dry. Add the fuzzy feet to the bottoms of the tiles and turn
over. Lightly spray the tops of the coasters and allow to dry again.
Once
dry, smile and admire your handywork. Then pour yourself a glass of wine and
test run the coasters. To ensure quality, you may need more than one glass of
wine.
Adding Sparkle to your Tresses
I have long dark hair, much to my partner "Mr. Dashing" (just call me "Rather" he says with a charming grin)’s delight. He
takes great pleasure in running it through his hands and wrapping it around his
fingers. And truth be told, I take delight in this too.
For the most part, I am content with my dark, rich, waves and locks. However, there are often days when there is not enough time (or not enough energy) to spend on my hair each morning. Having a background in hospitality / food services originally, more times than not my hair is tied back and off my face. I just think better that way. At which point I promptly forget about it for the rest of the day.
But that can be boring. As a creative person, boring is not optimal. So here are a few ideas on how to bring some sparkle to your summer tresses, whether they be long or short.
Little Bit of Lovely - version 2.2
look what's blooming in the garden!
I hadn't been out to for a walk-around for a couple days. But this morning a leisurely Sunday saunter with a cup of tea seemed like a nice idea. what a nice surprise to see a favourite rose bush putting on a beautiful display.
This rose bush produces tight, buds that open fully. The flowers usually last quite awhile but the petals fade from the true pink to the soft blush shown in the picture. I like them when they are fully open, and I'll pick three or four to arrange in a shallow bowl for the table on the veranda, maybe with a little ivy or some variegated hosta leaves for greenery.
When the rose is completely open, it has a delicate fragrance. In the evenings, framed by a few low candles or tea lights.....just lovely.
Unfortunately, after several moves around the garden, the identification tag has gone missing. So I can't tell you the name of the rose bush. It may be a peace rose of some sort, but I can't be 100% certain. However, not knowing the name doesn't make it any less lovely. "What is in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet". Ah yes Juliet, you were onto something there.
Hope you are enjoying your Sunday as well.
I hadn't been out to for a walk-around for a couple days. But this morning a leisurely Sunday saunter with a cup of tea seemed like a nice idea. what a nice surprise to see a favourite rose bush putting on a beautiful display.
This rose bush produces tight, buds that open fully. The flowers usually last quite awhile but the petals fade from the true pink to the soft blush shown in the picture. I like them when they are fully open, and I'll pick three or four to arrange in a shallow bowl for the table on the veranda, maybe with a little ivy or some variegated hosta leaves for greenery.
When the rose is completely open, it has a delicate fragrance. In the evenings, framed by a few low candles or tea lights.....just lovely.
Unfortunately, after several moves around the garden, the identification tag has gone missing. So I can't tell you the name of the rose bush. It may be a peace rose of some sort, but I can't be 100% certain. However, not knowing the name doesn't make it any less lovely. "What is in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet". Ah yes Juliet, you were onto something there.
Hope you are enjoying your Sunday as well.
Today on Etsy - September 15, 2012
Have you ever received a simple card for no particular reason? It's not your birthday, it's not Valentine's Day or Mother's Day or any of the other "days" that Hallmark feels we need to give a card for in order to celebrate. It's just a simple, ordinary day. You're going about your own business. And then someone hands you an envelope. And inside you find one of these sweet little cards, perfect for "just because" or "thank-you for being you"; brought to you by factorygirlashli.
Sometimes, there doesn't need to be a reason.
Sometimes, less is indeed more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)