Vintage Moon Studio

Come and visit me at Sweet Chestnut Studio!

more art journal pages...

A Mixed Media Journal

Who out there doesn't crave joy-filled and thoughtful inspiration? Judy Wise's new mixed media journal online workshop is proving to be the jumpstart I have been looking for, for a long time. Daily videos demonstrating techniques old and new, along with daily writing prompts make for an exciting way to start each day. A soft and gentle soul, Judy is guiding us along a new creative path that is helping me to see my world with fresh eyes. 

Our first assignment was to create a journal page describing our "perfect day". I am working in a larger format than usual (9x12)... a journal that I constructed many years ago that has been sitting on a shelf waiting for "something special". I can't wait to do more! 

Treat yourself and join along Judy's wonderful workshop (see sidebar link). You will not be disappointed. xo

Christmas travels...

Come visit Sweet Chestnut Studio for more!

Come on over to Sweet Chestnut Studio and have a peek at my Christmas travel journal!

Grab a cup...

of tea and come visit me at my new home at:

http://sweetchestnutstudio.blogspot.com

See you there!

 

come on in and meet Maggie...

"Hey Maggie!"

 
(uh-uh...)

"Hey Mags! Come meet my friends!"

 
(nope - can't see you!)

"Hey Maggie May! Pretty girl!"

 
(let me check with my new friends first)

 "What a good girl you are!"
 
(glad to meet you all... )

Maggie's Story

Miss Maggie is a 3 year old Great Pyreneees who has had a difficult start to her life. When she was a puppy in Tennessee, she jumped out of an open moving van on a highway (WHAT were her owners thinking????), resulting in the loss of one of her hind legs. She was surrendered to a 3 day kill shelter and thankfully saved by Big Fluffy Dog Rescue, who paid for her amputation and care. Once healed, she was adopted by a family in California, where she lived for 2 years. Unfortunately the family was unable to care for her and she was surrendered once again back to BFD Rescue and sent to a foster family in Connecticut. This is where she lived, with a wonderful woman for a month... until....

Mr. Vintage Moon and I have been discussing adding to our "Wild Kingdom" and occassionally look at the rescue sites online. One recent evening I came across the sweetest picture of a furry white baby and knew instantly that this was the one for us. Within the week we had her secured in our car for the (final!!!) trip home.

We are still in the "getting to know you" stage... Sophie and Moose have been very accepting of their new sister (and she of them) but she seems to be settling in to her forever home even better than we could have hoped for. A sweeter dog you will never find. A snuggler and becoming a bit of a ham. One perfect fit.

If you find you have room in your heart, home and life - please consider adopting a new lifelong friend from your local rescue league. There are literally hundreds of thousands of wonderful dogs and cats looking for a safe and secure home. The love you will get in return will be priceless.

xo ~Keep your heart open~ ox

on my desk...

 

a willing and cooperative furry baby...

 
journal in progress for a Christmastime wander through...

 
here....

 
and here...

 
and here...

Can you guess where?

 
as Miss Sophie looks on...

Enjoy your day wherever you are!

 Enjoy the weekend!

Still awaiting the arrival of my long-disappeared muse... My art space is getting organized -  my favorite space is warming with the morning sun and I am hopeful that with the renewal of all things green this Spring, my creative side will find inspiration in this wonderful life I live.

A few short peeks from recent travels... 
 
 
 (No, not me... the kids!)
 
Thanks to all who check in with me from time to time!

 
  

Say Uncle!

This is beginning to feel like the Weather Channel... 5 storms this month with at least 2 more predicted this weekend and next week.  The snow is ruling the lives of everyone in and around New England.

This is the view out onto my sun porch - note that the snow is now 1/2 way up the windows...

 

 
Ice is building at an alarming rate... beautiful in it's own way, but oh what a pain!

Hope that all of you dealing with extreme weather stay warm, dry and safe.  xo

 

 

First Snow

The clean-up continues....

 
Sophie is in her glory...

 
And Mr. Moose dreams of sunnier climes...

 
Stay warm and dry ~ ox

meanwhile.... back at the ranch

Yes... I have been:

 
Thanks for hanging in there with me!

On the road again ~ we are in the midsts of planning a Spring vacation (complete with adult children) to Mexico and Honduras. A great excuse to make another travel journal for myself and 2 others for the boys. The cover is from a 1942 information booklet about the steamship Mauritania (sister ship of the doomed Lucitania). As you can see I had quite the time trying out my new sewing machine, discovering all of the different decorative stitches.

 

and a few of the pages....

 

 
 
 
 
And now...

On to other matters....

~Imagine ~

 

if you will - as cute as he is...

carrying this:

 
around with you 24/7.

That is exactly what I have done (figuratively of course) for several years. With the help of a wonderful hypnotherapy session, daily exercise and a new-found store of self-discipline, I have shed some of the unwanted pounds. To date, the same amount as what Mr. Moose weighs... and counting. Yay!

So you see - I have not been quite the slackard as it would appear. Cannot promise daily blog updates but will try to keep a bit more current. That's the plan anyway!

Oh - and hardly an afterthought - but this:

 

is what awaited me this morning. 30" and still going strong. And not a snowplow in sight. Mexico is looking might fine right about now.

Hoping all of you have begun the new year with a clean slate and renewed creativity ~

xo

Traditions

 

From my house to yours... a family tradition for 4 generations.

Wishing you all joy in the anticipation of the holidays!

 

       Shiva oil sticks on primed muslim

5x7

(now in the loving care of the west coast posse...)

 
"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit."   Albert Schweitzer

Such wonderful things are happening in my mailbox lately...

 
The excitement is in the anticipation!

A package lovingly wrapped by Lynne... who generously sent me two of her awesome 3-eyed beings. "My guys" are thrilled to be hanging with "her guys" ~

 
 
Then from the creative studio of good friend and traveling companion, Melissa comes this lovely ledger paper with one of her very pretty transfers ~

 
And yet more! Carol, a most talented artist and friend is always picking up little presents for me for my collections... on her recent trip to Brimfield she spied this amazing book and told me she was certain that I would do something wonderful with it. I already have ideas!

 
 
 

My heart is full ~ xo

a few pages...

from my California travel journal...

 
 

Faces of a different kind...

I know... these are unlike anything I have done before. But Katie inspired a new kind of freedom to play and express those "darker" corners. She and Cindy laughingly called these my "angry men" series. The question was: why men and why angry?? Something to explore...

All paintings are oil Shiva sticks on textured, gessoed fabric and measure about 8x10.

I would love to hear your comments!

 
 
 

 

 

 

California faces

 

Sorry I missed getting so many more of you!

Thanks so much for visiting Vintage Moon Studio. Please leave a note that you were here!

Artwork coming....
 
 
 
 

home again, home again...

However can a soul not love this?

Or this?

Or this little guy?

 

Lovely, old missions full of history

of those who walked these paths long ago...

My own path led me to this mountain top nest

 
shrouded in mysterious morning fog

that gave way to clear and inspirational days to create...

More on this to come!

(it is good to be home)

Doodle Redux and Something New

Something old is new again:

It is always fun to revisit past artwork. This latest Stampington publication is chock full of wonderful articles, including a reprint of an article I wrote a few years ago, "Development of a Doodle".

 
 
 Next time you visit the newstand or bookstore, check it out!

New Adventure:

The bags are packed - art supplies taking up most of the space. Am off to sunny California for a few days of exploring Big Sur with a friend and then on to Los Gatos for An Artful Journey retreat. The most wonderful Katie Kendrick will be leading a 3 day workshop, submerging us as a group into the creative flow of intuitive art. I just finshed constructing a journal to chronicle my days and will share when I return - along with lots of photos!

 

 

Love to Dads Everywhere

 
 
 

Summer Jewels

Who's in charge here?

Wanna  play?

OH MY! What a big mouth you have!

Mmmm.... tastes like chicken.

Just kidding, Mom!!

 

 

Well, having run out of excuses why I have not done much artwork of late, I decided that the beautiful ocean-hued silk ribbons ordered from

Nina Designs were begging attention. It's been a while since my jewelry-making tools and supplies were used but it was very relaxing to get back in the groove. The pendant on the lower part of the necklace is a beautiful little antique Victorian compass that made it's way to my door from London.

 

 

 

 

     
 
Go create something beautiful!

 

 

Beauty in my own backyard

A short hop and a skip to

summer paradise ...

 
  

A little bit of heaven on earth...

garden view...

Cherish your summer moments....

Settling in to a cozy new old home....

Hoping to have some new artwork for you sometime soon!
 

In Loving Memory

 

Loving mother, grandmother, wife and friend

Rest in peace and light, dear Renee.

A most lovely woman, Renee, and her family are in need of your thoughts and prayers as she prepares to travel her final journey in this life. Her battle with cancer and her grace amidst great pain and suffering leaves me in awe of the strength of the human spirit. She has experienced more loss and tragedy in the past year than most of us struggle with in a lifetime. Throughout it all she holds each day as a miracle, showing us all that the only moment we can rely on is the here and now. Her story can be read on her blog Circling My Head... please find a quiet minute to embrace her and her loved ones.

Dropping in....

for a brief moment with a new digital piece which includes a photo of my great-great maternal grandmother and two of her cousins circa mid 1850's.

Also finished a page for the nature journal collaboration - now on it's way to Shelly.

 

("zentangle" drawn bird)

Till later!