PCAGOE December Challenge

Vote for your favorite entry at pcagoe.com between December 1 and 3. All voters will be entered in random drawings to win prizes - there are 7 prizes available this month, so come vote!

Santa Sock Monkey

Santa Sock Monkey ornament has been a big hit so far this holiday shopping season. Selling for $13.99 in my etsy shop, he is quite a bargain!

Sale Time!

Marie Antoinette Award

The Fantastic Mealy Monster Land Blog has awarded

SpiritMama Art and Soul Blog

with the prestigious Marie Antoinette award!

Thanks MealyMonster!

So in keeping the spirit of the award,

I have nominated the following fabulous blogs:

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Unique Commodities

Tilt Creations

Rose Works Jewelry

Stormy Designs

A Cozy Life

Funky Folky

Tejae's Art

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Official RULES:
1) Please add the Marie Antoinette award photo on your blog

2) Place a link to the person from whom you received the award

3) nominate 7 exceptional blogs to recieve the award

4) put the links to those blogs on your blog

5) leave a message on their blogs to tell them they are the chosen ones!

Frog Prince will Travel to California

Today I was notified that Frog Prince has been chosen for the Indie Craft Display at the CHA 2009 Winter Convention & Trade Show. The Show will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim , CA from January 25-28, 2009.

Family Portrait Gone Awry

We went for a family portrait on Saturday. Gabriel was not in the mood to pose. Josiah was fussing with Gabriel and we told her to just keep looking at the camera and smile. That made her mad so she refused to smile and then left the photo. So here is what we end up with:

These were taken by my mom on the side line. I'm sure the photographer, Jay got at least one good one!?

Here are some shots from the weekend. I love this one. Josiah took it. I don't even mind that my head is cut off because it is the first picture I have with Gabriel where I don't look pale and pasty. I'm wearing G in my new Zolo sling.

Look at this proud (and handsome) daddy!

And my beautiful, not so little girl:

Winter Warlock

Remember the wonderful animated "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" movie from childhood? I loved watching it each year when it came on TV, back in the days before DVDs and DVRs.

I was thinking about what to do for the winter theme challenge for PCAGOE, and the winter warlock came to mind. He refused to leave until I sculpted him.

I considered doing the tamer "Mr. Winter", which is what the Warlock turned into after Kris Kringle presented him with a toy train and they went frolicking arm in arm singing "Put one foot in front of the other...".

But winter to me means blowing winds, cold temperatures, blizzards and the like (I was raised in Northern Iowa), so the warlock fits the theme in my mind.

Winter Warlock is made of polymer clay with a foil and wire armature. His tunic is fabric and his hair is a mixture of Tibetan lambs wool and polyester fur. He has been painted with acrylic paints. He is 8" tall and his arm span is 7" wide.

He is available for purchase at : http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17624762

ThanksGiving

I have been off and on vegetarian for a significant portion of my life, so the turkey slaughter has never been my favorite part of Thanksgiving. The thing I do love about Thanksgiving is the gathering of friends and family and the meditation of giving thanks.



I usually take a moment this time of year to reflect and be grateful for all of the blessings in my life. This year I have a heart full of gratitude for my new son, Gabriel, who will be 25 days old on Thanksgiving day. I am so grateful for his health, his beautiful presence, and the love and bliss he brings to his new parents and our families.




It is amazing how just the site of a tiny baby brings smiles to the faces of strangers. People aren't afraid to stop and stare at an infant, they know the infant has no concern about being publicly admired. The infant won't say "What are you staring at?!" Infants are completely authentic. Everything they feel is genuinely expressed, with no sensoring, anytime (3am), any palce, public or not.



We have a lot to learn from infants. If as adults we practice expressing our emotions, thoughts, and feelings genuinely and authentically to eachother, and if as listeners we can allow our loved ones to express themselves openly without becoming judgmental of them, a new world of authentic relationship will open up.



So my goal this Thanksgiving is to listen without taking offense, and be fully present without judgment.

Sock Monkey Sculpture Menagerie

I'm still on a sock monkey kick. Baby G sleeps so well I've had time to keep up with my monkey obsession, so here are a few of my latest.

Josiah, my 10 year old daughter insisted I make a ballerina sock monkey, here she is:

I got a custom order for a one year old birthday cupcake tower topper monkey set, so here they are:

Let me know if you have any ideas for sock monkey sculptures, I'd love to give them a try!

Baby Gabriel Has Arrived!

Gabriel Alexander Morris was born on 11/2/08 at 7:05pm
Weighing 9 pounds and 21 inches long.





He was born at home in our piano room in a birthing pool. This picture was taken less than a minute after his birth. My husband, Brett was in the pool with me the whole time.


The labor was about 5 hours long, and we all came out great! This picture is his first with big sister, Josiah, taken about an hour after the birth. She is a wonderful helper!







He is wonderful and we are so blessed to have him.

:- )

Tagged again

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I’ve been tagged by UniqueCommodities to share 7 secrets. Because I’ve been tagged before I will not tag new people, but I will share some dirt:

1) My favorite color is purple.
2) I never watch scary or violent movies because I have nightmares if I do.
3) I feel naked without earrings and I almost never leave the house without them.
4) I hate cooking, I burn everything (including myself) when I do cook.
5) My favorite food is Thai food. I could eat it every day.
6) Last night I broke the toilet seat when I sat on it. This did not help my self-esteem :-(
7) I'm 5 days overdue to have my baby today, and although I'm a very patient person (usually) my patience has worn out. I'm going to a friend for "bring on the labor" accupuncture today!
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