More Wedding Bliss

This set of matrimonial monkeys left for their new home in Idaho yesterday.
The wedding flowers are freesia and dahlias. Making a polymer clay dahlia is more difficult than I expected it to be, but I'm happy with the result.
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This is my first long tie on a groom, I'm used to bow ties. I like the way it turned out.

I just love these cake toppers, and it seems that sock monkey cake toppers are not a choice that any bridezilla would make. All of my bride clients have been delightful to work with!
I think you would have to have a great sense of humor, and not be one to take yourself too seriously to order a sock monkey topper for your wedding cake.

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Did I tell you I have a new website? It's under construction, but you can take a peek.
Check it out: http://sockmonkeycaketopper.com/

Cousin Leland, AKA Sock Monkey

Three Sock Monkeys walked into a bar... These guys could have fun anywhere!

I have decided to explore my long time love of sock monkeys. As a child my great aunt Jenny had one she called "Cousin Leland", and I didn't know they were called sock monkeys until I was an adult (fairly recently, actually). Whenever I would see one somewhere I would say "Oh look, it's cousin Leland!" I never met the actual cousin Leland, but apparently the resemblance is striking.

These monkeys are ornaments made of polymer clay and jointed with beads and wire. I have hung them on a pretty red ribbon, and these guys are not just for Christmas trees, mind you. You'll enjoy them so much that you will want them hanging around all year!

They can sit, hang, and lay down for a nap (don't expect them to sleep though). Each monkey is handmade, one of a kind, by me, so the details will vary slightly. He will be about 3" long, and ready for a good time. You can get one here: SpiritMama.etsy.com

I Love My Flowers!

My back porch smells so good. I have a beautiful blooming plumeria. I've been trying to grow plumeria ever since I moved to Texas three years ago. My first one died, but I got cuttings from it before that happened. The cuttings died too. My next plumeria struggled along through its first winter and there were times I thought it was dead, but this summer it not only pulled through, it grew huge and it's now full of amazing smelling blooms, yeah!

I had a similar experience with my night blooming jasmine. It got caught in a freeze once last winter, and all the leaves fell off. It had no sign of life until late summer, when it suddenly shot out new leaves and branches, and now it is blooming! If you have never smelled night blooming jasmine, it has an overwhelming heady, intoxicating aroma that can drive a person crazy. It shoots out the scent every 10 minutes or so, and fills the entire yard (and house if the windows are open). I recommend putting it on your list of "must do before I die: smell night blooming jasmine"!