Decorating trees

picture copyright B Smith 2013

I began playing yesterday....

And 

into the night..

The white tree is a wood one I quickly painted in white ..with a foam brush

added a strand of silver bells..

it was done

The Vintage round tree I found a couple of years ago..

It dismantles so travels ok...

The Pom Poms are dear sweet little paper ones I found in Daylesford at Harry & me last week..

Little expensive  but I knew they would be unique...

I had intentions of mixing them with painted wood gear...

Which works

but.....

I just got carried away.

Tapering

Ahhhhhhhh my year is nearly done...time to just about play...

after I sit down & paint an order 

& 

then

Paint for my decorating....

People often imagine a designer & artist studio/ place is the picture of inspiration

How sadly disappointed they can be if they are ever allowed into my space for a look..

It never happens like that anymore..

But occasionally friends & new friends are invited over.... things are all around me because it is who I am & thus how I present for my own pleasure & world..

Some who are extremely neat people have a look of complete horror

the opposite is the ones who do not know where to look first..

A jar of braids excites them...

It is a work always in progress...

One day I may just toss up a different sort of trunk show....

It could only be for the dedicated creative spirits...LOL

www.theodoracleave.com

copyright Barbara Smith 2013

And so... as I taper off my work 

&

my mind is roaming into spaces..

where to go first

Do Millie's Travels booklet...

It is together but I am not..

Do that other little stitchery booklet...

the majority of drawings are done too.

Draw some more wood stuff..

some were done last night before I wandered out to friends for nibblies & drinks

Then I recheck them this morning because I kind of have changed my tune on the format & design of some cats....

I want to sew some stockings & cats now too...but that involves a messy day...

I see the painted fabric collages & buttons 

& yes I want to get to that some more..

But that involves a different mind set of thought...

so tidy the other gear away first..

Nothing has gone any further 

& won't now 

as it is nearly lunch.

I should drive out to visit my brother...but a tomorrow springs in maybe Monday oh no I have appointments.

See soon Santa will land on my roof & I'll never be ready ...

Because now I have tapered off....

I have begun that bone idleness .

but No... I cannot I have my vision stuff to jot down... 

Designers are often very distracted & very different folk life is viewed from a different spot...

But it is exactly my space....

I love the way my life has been etched out just for me to play in..

Bling works

www.theodoracleave.com    

Barbara Smith copoyright

Yesterday a Christmas version of the Twig Tree arrived..

It has a star cut out in the pot...

I was trialing some bling on a deer & did a bit here too.

It works so well

Just enough on the off white...

This is the deer in a simple fine frame with bling..

 Now it is time to begin the day.

FROM TODAY OVERSEAS ORDERS NOW,

 WILL HAVE NO GUARANTEE TO REACH YOU BY CHRISTMAS

REFLECTING

Reflecting on what one has done during the year can be an odd mix...

Actually some of this is much older..the bird stamp on the box is about 8 years but still one of my favourites.

Speaking with one of my store customers yesterday ..

it is so good to be thinking with another at times..

listening to what they ask for ...

discuss what idle plans I have for idle moments

adding things to my mix of thoughts....

bit like adding salt & pepper to meal...

just enough & not too much.

I want to begin once again with renewed vigour...

I say that when I have done a long marathon painting session that lasts for months leading into the seasons..the shows..around the globe...

It is amazing how one does adjust..

the view broadens ...

even though I work in a space that is not so big...

the horizons are like the plains I drove across...

they seem to go forever.

Today in one  spot I am sparkling like the glitter I go to work on some of the painted decos.. yesterday...

I have so wanted to really mess with that for a long time...

There is the yearn to go back to the soft painted fabric stuff and play more in that

other things new designs for painting...

maybe a reflection of what I have now..retire a few... bring back one or a few from retirement...

It is such a Vision Board that maybe I need for just this design work

one for me & one in a bit more detail for the work...

I suppose many of you are frantically getting all the things for the Christmas celebration..

I get excited because the entire floors were vacuumed & I planted some herbs & lavender in the garden yesterday  & I wrote 3 cards & posted those ...a start I told myself

because I had at last, some time to do this..

Today I paint again...& post  & share a laugh with the posting people...

Then an appointment ... 

and 

I guess my day will be done...??

Enjoy the day....

Remember to smile at a person you pass by in the street...

don't shove & push..or speed in the car

Be in the moment...then you'll taste life much better..

I'm the one who slowly strolls the street.. as if I had all day stretched out beside me..

when that is not the case..

but 

I get to watch things as I stroll to where ever it is  I am going to..  

www.theodoracleave.com 

copyright Barbara Smith

WEARABLES

For many many years I mostly painted wearables...

I do enjoy a little batch of this painting & etc...

so yesterday when I finished an order & I had noticed these blanks in a box as I walked by...

Thought I'll go paint those..

I will place them on the web late today..

I especially love the mannequin in red with a vintage overlay look...surprised me that bit of experimenting did  

www.theodoracleave.com

Copyright Barbara Smith

Sara's Snowman

Sara & her little daughter 

made a snowman 

in Italy yesterday 

& 

sent him down under this morning.

He had me laughing with joy when I opened the email...

Rather gorgeous he is !!!

PURPOSE, PASSION & VISUAL BOARD WORKSHOP

I am really excited...

I found this flyer yesterday when I was some place in a waiting space...

Read it last night

Rang up this morning 

Price $250.00

Space yes !!!!

Some of you have read about my vision boards...but I can never get the technique or is it discipline to keep the Vision Board alive & maybe truly accurate.

So I wanted to learn this

for 

my business 

for my work allocation

& for me

It is well timed for the beginning of the new Year on Saturday 4th January 2014 for Bendigo

or Saturday 11th January in Melbourne. 

The phone number is clear & if you are interested a call should get all relevant stuff emailed.

Fantastic experience just for you...

to work what you really want from your life 

&

don't drift ..you can drift but it can have intention in the drifting !!!

Sometimes we are so scared to ask for what we want for us & so never do really ask..

Life has a ho hum instead of a zing ???

Why am I selling this because I really know some of the benefits of this sort of stuff...

Go take the life you want...

see you 

Barb

HOPE

Hanging the stockings up !

I remember when I was young and the list of what I hoped Santa would bring...

The days before Christmas were the longest days..

It is possibly why I adore creating my own Christmas year in & year out..

I have such strong memories of the Hope it did bring...

Here are 3 big deer buttons in off white

in the stocking central is

a little wobbly circle of cut felt..

a smaller version of the deer & 2 winter trees.

Felt ... it was not the best quality as I can see a wrinkle from being packed away

I always promise myself I will make a better one ...

But maybe you can do this..

Maybe you have a few of my buttons about...

kind of saving them for someday..

Well maybe it is today !

Use santa,s trees for the border..

one decoration for the centre...

Get out the machine...it works well !!!! or hand stitch it all if that is how your day goes

*****

 a little more on hope...

A NEW BEGINNING is happening in COWES Victoria

on 10th DEC it is planned 

FOGEL GALLERY & COFFEE

The shop is being beautifully fitted out as I write....

works of art in photography, glass & pottery will be housed here..

along with good coffee... cake & I do believe a French chocolate maker's chocolates.

Victoria & Uri are the creative duo 

Victoria will be styling hair a short walk away from the gallery..

GOOD LUCK !!!!

www.theodoracleave.com

The French Rabbit

The French Rabbit began life in the winter & bounced about wanting to be drawn for some days weeks as I painted until finally he was on paper.

He persisted until he made his way into the Christmas range..

whispering to santa that he was a French Rabbit & santa called him a Lapin..

French Rabbit was so excited he landed in the decorating bag of the snowman...

Then he meandered about wanting to just be a button...

I had rabbit buttons so why why didn't he get the chance..

there was bunny love & bunny family & those leaping rabbits as well as some old old lapins

So he is now a button.... leaping around in 2 sizes & in a button story

and he is now on a roll he wants his own show !

www.theodoracleave.com

Copyright Barbara Smith 2013

ahhhhhhhh Christmas

I am catching up ..the stockings i did for NZ shop this week & loved the white & red together

The top is a bit of a board display with stockings topped with trees & circles with fat robin & holly...more trees & small bird...banners with Ralph & bird & hearts decorations

Last is part of the advent calendar 

****************

NOW go over to my sidebar & click on FLEA 

& be taken for a wonderful Christmas journey..

Today is  a shop just FULL of divine stuff...

and

the 2 long posts previously to that one is a gorgeous open Christmas decorated house.

I think Flea took us there last year too..

So sparkly so inspiring... 

*************

I have visited my 5th cousin today who is not so good...

but we are family...& even though we didn't meet until about 6 years ago..

we get together..heads together & today was no exception.

Some who do you think we are sights

and

my 6th cousin & her daughter's facebook site of her cake decorating.

Lisas cake creations with a Sydney location...

Gorgeous 

www.theodoracleave.com

copyright Barbara Smith 2013

BUTTON SETS

www.theodoracleave.com
copyright Barbara Smith

      I have placed these sets on the www.theodoracleave.com this morning

($10.10 each set.)

These are buttons on sweet little gift tags by Marg Low designs

as

they are featured in

           SIMPLY VINTAGE Magazine

         from France