Can I Just Say...Wooo Hooooo!!

Hello all and happy Autumn! Yes it's officially here and I'm a happy girl :-) It's been a whirlwind few days as I put the finishing touches on some pieces for an exhibition this coming weekend, but....that's not what I want to show you today. No no...today I have special goodies to tell you about! A few weeks ago while visiting the lovely blog of Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist, I was entered into a give away drawing for some splendorous goodies, and I won!! I just have to say that I really do love Vanessa's blog and artwork, and each time I visit her site I feel uplifted and inspired, so if you've not visited, pop over and say hello! Now to show you my treasures! I received in the mail a lovely little package of gorgeous artwork from Queen Creative. What a talented artist this woman is! Look at these beautiful goodies!

There were adorable stickers and big lustrous cards. So many lovely images!

I loved all of the items I received, but I think my very favorite is this one....

As you've probably noticed, I have a soft spot for whimsical dreamy art, so I was in love the moment I opened the package. Queen Creative has a lovely website that you can visit here. I'd like to send big thanks to both Queen Creative and Vanessa from A Fanciful Twist for sending me such a wonderful collection of treasures!

I hope all of you had a lovely weekend, please visit again soon!

~Angela

Magic In The Air

Can you feel the magic in the air?? It's almost time! Not only is the first day of autumn just days away, but it's that lovely beautiful time of year when fun blog events abound, holiday festivities begin happening here, there, and everywhere, and I'm like a little kid who can't wait to get to the party! Have you heard about the wonderful Moonlight Party Under The Big Top Event? It's the first upcoming event that my new little blog will be participating in. It's going to be loads of whimsical fun, so be sure to head over to Bliss Angels to check it out! It's happening on the weekend of September 29th.

In addition to getting ready for fun upcoming blog events, I've been spending a ton of time painting over the last few weeks. I really need to be working on some jewellery for an upcoming art show, but have been so drawn to my watercolor paints and brushes that my jewellery supplies have been a bit neglected! I'll have to give them some much needed attention later today, lol. Here's my latest painting just finished over the weekend. I'm loving the fairytale themes at the moment! It's a slightly different take on the Alice In Wonderland theme, and it's sparked a ton of other ideas for me.

Are you participating in any fun blog events that you want to spread the word about? Do share!

~ Angela

Into Fairytale Land

As an American living in Britain, I'm often intrigued and more than a little curious about the role of the Royal Family here in the UK. Of course we all know about kings and queens and the roles they've played throughout history, but I have to say that it's the people's connection and respect for the Royal Family...regardless of political views.... that intrigues me most. I find it all quite fascinating, both culturally and historically!

When I woke up this morning to find that Prince Charles was making a surprise visit to the little historical village I live in today, I was both bemused and surprised. A real prince, visiting our little town. It seemed a bit surreal! The townsfolk were all abuzz and there was a certain energy in the air. The roads were closed off and many many people gathered in the town market square to get a glimpse of the man who is next in line to be King. Adorable little boys and girls waving the British flag...I couldn't help but feel excited and share in the enthusiasm as the townspeople prepared to greet their Prince.

As interesting as I found the festivities, I didn't wait in the square with the many others for his arrival. I'm not so much into big crowds and wasn't feeling quite prepared to meet a Prince today :-) But I must admit...it did feel a bit like something you read in a fairytale, and it was wonderful to see so many of the townspeople excited about the visit.

Now.....you know that part of a blog post when you try to segway from one subject to another?? Well this is my attempt at doing that, so here goes nothing :-) Speaking of fairytales (smooth huh?) I spent some time this weekend working on a few fairytale themed paintings and thought I'd share one with you here. I call this one Little Zen Riding Hood. I think she turned out looking quite serene and not at all afraid of the big bad wolf! My husband looked at it and said....where is her hood?? I had to laugh when I realized she didn't have one, so I told him that it was there....but she had it pulled back so she could feel the wind in her hair :-)

Have you finished any new creations this weekend? I'd love to see them, so feel free to link them up in the comments below! Thanks so much for stopping by!

~ Angela

Awaiting Autumn

Like many of you, I await the coming of autumn with outstretched arms and a welcoming smile :-) 
I saw this beautiful poem yesterday by Albert Laighton and had to share it. 
 
The world puts on its robes of glory now;
The very flowers are tinged with deeper dyes;
The waves are bluer, and the angels pitch
Their shining tents along the sunset skies.

The distant hills are crowned with purple mist;
The days are mellow, and the long, calm nights,
To wondering eyes like strange magicians show
The shifting splendors of the Northern Lights.

The generous earth spreads out her fruitful stores,
And all the fields are decked with ripened sheaves;
While in the woods, at Autumn's rustling step,
The maples blush through all their trembling leaves. 

~Albert Laighton 

Amazing photo by Lars Van De Goor.

Wishing you a beautiful day!

~Angela

Treasure Hunt Tuesday

Welcome to another Treasure Hunt Tuesday!

 I had a bit of a late start on my Treasure Hunt Tuesday feature this week, and so my treasures for this edition were not ones found throughout the week, but found today!! When I woke this morning it was chilly and definitely autumn-ish in my little part of the world, and as I sat down with my mug of tea to browse for treasure, it became clear that the items catching my eye all had a central theme......comfort. I guess I'm in a cozy-up, drink tea, be comfy kind of mood today, and I found a few awesome comfy creations to match my state of mind!

First is this cozy, soft, warm looking scarf from Northern Lodge on etsy. 

Can't you just imagine how soft it must be? They had some absolutely amazing throws in the shop as well, but it was this scarf that called my name with the autumn colors and great texture. If you want to see more of their lovely creations, you can check out www.etsy.com/shop/Northernlodge.

My second treasure are these pumpkin crunch cake scented candles. I'm such a huge candle lover, and when I read the description of this yummy scent I knew I had to include it in my treasure trove. What's more comforting than a softly glowing candle??

I love the wood wicks as well. I've had candles with these types of wicks and loved the look of them. Seriously....pumpkin crunch cake?? Enough said, lol. These are made by Heart J Creations, and you can see more of their very comforting creations here.

Not a long list of treasures from me today, but good finds to be sure :-) As always, please feel free to share the treasures you've discovered in the comments below....and grab a button if you like as well. Let's spread the word about the cool handmade creations we find!

Happy Treasure Hunting!
~Angela

Creative Playtime

I think I've probably mentioned in a previous post that Sundays are my day to really play creatively, making it my favorite day of the week. Weekdays are filled with doing the things I know I "need" to do for my creative business like filling etsy orders, working on new designs for my shops, and getting ready for shows. But Sunday is when I just play. I don't worry so much about whether or not my Sunday creations turn out the way I plan, I just go with it, have fun, and enjoy whatever comes out of the process. I definitely think we all need that play time, a chance to recharge our creative batteries! Here are a few of my fun creations from my "play time" yesterday :-)

I had so much fun with this mandala, and can definitely see me making more of these! 

This one didn't scan particularly well, but I really love the way it turned out. Just a fun little love house with some black and white photos of my family. Now that I live here in England with so many miles between us, I wanted a fun way to see there faces everyday that was different from just a standard photo in a frame. It makes me smile just to look at it :-) 

What about you? How do you keep your creative batteries charged? Do you have a special time that you set aside just for playing? 

~Angela

Deep Within A Forest Green

I went wandering in the soft rain, deep into the forest green.
Lush spongy moss beneath my feet, and the scent of pine in the air. The ferns waved a friendly hello as I passed by, and the slight chill in the air whispered a promise of approaching autumn.

My heart sang with the beauty and magic displayed in every branch and leaf.

Then...peeking their shy heads just high enough to be seen, were these lovely vibrant blooms. Adorned in sparkling drops of gentle rain. How lucky I felt to have discovered these little forest gifts!

Have you been wandering in the forest lately? You never know what treasures await!

~Angela

Treasure Hunt Tuesday

Welcome to another edition of Treasure Hunt Tuesday. A day to support fellow artists, and to share a few of the lovely and inspirational treasures I've discovered throughout the week. I hope you'll join in and share some of the treasures you've discovered too!

My first treasure of the week is this amazing photo art by Kathy Formal. I really admire her work and the ethereal atmosphere of her art. You could almost just fall into it and get lost in the dreamy world she creates. 

So very lovely don't you think? You can see more of Kathy's work in her etsy shop at 

www.etsy.com/shop/KathyFornal

My next found treasure is this lovely little acorn necklace by Stacy of Good Things. It's made with a real little acorn cap and something about it just makes me smile and feel warm inside. It's like a golden little bit of autumn goodness, lol. 

To see more of Stacy's pretty botanical creations you can visit her etsy shop 

at www.etsy.com/shop/Goodthings88

My last find for this week is this gorgeous mixed media art print by Joann Loftus of Whimsies & Folksies. I love the gentle softness of this print with the wonderful textures and layers. Such a lovely wistful effect. 

You can see more of Joann's unique work at www.etsy.com/shop/whimsiesfolksies

Have you found any treasures or bits this week you'd like to share? Or maybe you know of an artist or craftsperson that you think deserves a little shout out or exposure? I'd love you to share and post links in the comments so that others can enjoy your treasures too! And if you love the idea of Treasure Hunt Tuesday, feel free to grab a button from my sidebar and share it so that others will join in on the Treasure Hunt fun. Remember, you treasures can be anything at all....from recipes to art and anything in between!

Happy Treasure Hunting!

~Angela

Now That's Inspiration!

What a magical week it's been! I've been away from blogland over the last several days to spend time with dear friends who came to visit me from America. I was sad to see them board the train this morning, but so glad to have had the opportunity to spend time playing tour guide and showing them the beautiful English countryside. I thought I'd pop in here to share a few pics of my amazing week. 

We visited beautiful ancient ruins....

Explored enchanting forests........

Enjoyed great food and drink, including the delicious English cocktail Pimms which is filled with fresh mint and fruit, yummmmyyyy!

And I even got to get up close and personal with this gorgeous Eagle Owl that was rescued after being injured in the wild. How gorgeous is she???

A wonderful week was had by all and the sights and sounds I've experienced have filled me with new ideas and inspiration for some great new art projects. Of course, after spending a week running hither and yon, I'm worn out! I think a quiet little nap is just the thing to help me recover from my busy week, lol. 

I'll be back tomorrow with a new edition of Treasure Hunt Tuesdays so feel free to visit and share your fun treasures and discoveries!

~Angela