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"!

SpiritMama's Secrets Revealed! I've been tagged...

Renee from Funky Folky Sculpture tagged me to give away 6 deep, dark, mysterious secrets about myself. So here they are for your enjoyment...just be careful before you make fun, I might tag you next!

1) I prefer to be naked.

2) I have a laundry obsession. I separate my loads into 5 categories:
~colors,
~whites,
~delicates,
~fine delicates,
~and underwear/ socks.
No one else in my house is allowed to do laundry because I'm so particular about the above.

3) My biggest pet peeve is "mouth noises". Smacking, clicking, slurping, sucking, and especially gum chewing all drive me NUTS! My 10 year old daughter knows this and uses it against me regularly.

4) I'm phone-o-phobic. I'll text, I love email, but I despise the phone. I often don't answer it and I don't return messages!

5) I'm an introvert disguised as an extrovert.

6) I see space ships. Occassionally.

Now it's my turn to tag 6 people. If you are tagged it's your turn to blog about 6 of your most personal secrets and tag six new people.
And the winners are:

1. Sandy Michelle of Sandy's Creations. Sandy made my awesome banner!

2. Pamela Baker of Magdalene Jewels. We are fellow team members on etsy bloggers.

3. Sassa Lynne of Sassas Etsy Treasury.

4. Ruthie of Rose Works Jewelry. Ruthie has been very helpful as I'm learning how to blog.

5. Tote-N-Tots, she makes fabulous handmade bags. And

6. Lily of TuLips TreasureBox, who sells beautiful jewelry on etsy!

How Shall I Finish the Frog Prince?

I have had a great time creating a Frog Prince art doll this week. He looks so romantic and regal in his royal jacket and crown! I have long been enamoured with the fairy tale of the frog prince, and after reading the "Tales of the Frog Princess" trilogy by E.D. Baker, I fell in love all over again. I highly recommend this series for anyone with a 3rd to 5th grade child.

So what to do with the Frog prince? He has a little sign that says "Free Kisses" which will be hanging near him. I want to create some type of dwelling for him to sit in. It could be a mossy den or maybe a regal throne. Should he have a scepter, or some other accessory? Maybe a pet dragonfly?

I need some help on this one. Leave me a comment with your feedback and if I use your idea I will send you an aceo of the final piece!

Buyer Beware: Condoms Used in Hair Ties From China!

My husband just warned me about buying hair bands (the stretchy kind) from China. It seems there is a bizarre practice there of cutting a section of condom and covering it with colorful thread, then selling it to the public as a "rubber" hair band (excuse my pun).

The manufacturers claim that the condoms are unused, and were rejects from the factory where they were made, however this has yet to be confirmed. I'm all for recycling, upcycling, reusing, etc, but this is where I draw the line. Actually this is way past any line I've ever drawn! You can read about it on Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/hairband.asp
They also have pictures so you can see what to avoid.

And while you are avoiding Chinese hair bands, why not check out Etsy for some fabulous hand made (not from condoms) hair accessories.

Elusive, Tingly Autumn Magic

I have always loved the not-too-warm, not-too-cold days of autumn, when the air is crisp and has a magical aliveness to it. It feels a little prickly, tingly, and sparkly. I love it when the leaves have turned every hue of orange, red, multi-colored greenish-yellowish-maroon, and they fall and crackle under feet on a leisurely woodsy walk. The heat of summer has subsided and the chill of winter has yet to pounce.

I used to live in northern Iowa where this fantasy fall only lasted a couple of weeks, sometimes less, then turned cold and snowy. Now I live in Texas where autumn just means we're no longer in triple digits Fahrenheit! But for two lovely autumns in Ashland, Oregon, and one perfect Fall in Boulder, Colorado, I experienced the magic of a long-lasting, woodsy-walk filled, delightful, leaf-crackling autumn of my dreams.

http://spiritmama.etsy.com/

Cosmo's Fresh Kill

This is our family dog Cosmo. He loves to kill things. So far his only real kills in his five years have amounted to two mice and an occasional small lizard. So he has taken up killing stuffed animals. The process is very entertaining to watch, and he has the time of his life, especially when there is a soundmaker involved.

This little lamb was his latest kill. He wouldn't stop untill all the lamb's guts were out and instead of "baaaa, baaaaaa" it could only make a horrible low pitched scratchy noise like a dying cat. Look how proud and satisfied he is!

Dia de los Muertos Altar Box

I'm having fun with Dia de los Muertos, or "Day of the Dead" this year. I was once a foreign exchange student in Mexico and I got to go to the cemetary with my host family to clean and decorate the graves. What a powerful way to connect with the ancestors.

I love the celebration of Dia De Los Muertos. I also love to make altars. So I have made a Dia De Los Muertos altar box with a candle on top to honor your ancestors, deceased friends, pets, and anyone you choose to honor. You can light the candle, place pictures and mementos of your loved ones in the box, and have a daily meditation with the spirits. This is a great way to remember and honor those who have left this world.The box is made of wood and I have covered it in designer papers and glazed them for durability and added my calavera skulls done in polymer clay. The center calavera has rhinestone eyes and yellow silk flower petals behind it. There is a silk flower centerpiece on top for the candle holder to sit on. I will include a tea light candle and it is replaceable so you can burn candles all year long if you want to.The box is 8" x 5", and I have placed hangers on the back so you can put it on your wall.

This altar box is available in my etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15250644

La Catrina with Chihuahua

This is Catrina, the popular skeletal lady figure often seen in La Dia de los Muertos celebrations and altars.
La Catrina represents the upper class and the understanding that no one, not even aristocrats, are immune from death when it comes calling.
I also see Catrina as representing fun and play in afterlife, as she is so often dressed in fancy, colorful clothing adorned with flowers and smiling gleefully.
This Catrina art doll is made entirely of polymer clay with a bit of Tibetan lambs wool as hair. She is 7.5" tall.

I made her for the PCAGOE (polymer clay artisans guild of etsy) October challenge. The theme is "Dia de los Muertos".

I posted the "making of Catrina" pics on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiritmama/sets/72157607277632713/

And she is now available for sale on etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15254310

Hondamom Rocks!

I just received the coolest little bag, a handmade felt and cotton applique wristlet from Honda J. of Dallas, TX! Hondamom (her brand name) is on the Etsy Texas Team and we had a team swap. We each sent in details like our favorite colors, materials, and themes, and we were given the name of a fellow team member to send a swap to.


I have to say I hit the jackpot on this one! It's like Hondamom got into my head and created a perfect custom order. I'm soooo excited to carry it, and just in time for Dia de los Muertos, too!


You can see how fabulous the front and back are from the above pictures, but there is more, check out the inside:

This wristlet is so well made and has tons of detail. I would definitely recommend Hondamom for gifts and custom made designs. She has a shop on Etsy:





Hondamom.etsy.com

and lots of beautiful pics on Flickr.


Thanks Honda!

Today I was at a seminar at the Wizard Academy in Driftwood, TX. (a very cool place you can check out at wizardacademy.org). Roy H. Williams is the founder, an excellent writer, and a very well-paid speaker. It was fun to hear him speak again.

I took the class "Making it as an Artist" last year at the Wizard Academy, and I went up and spoke to Roy at break. I was reminding him who I am and started by saying

"I've gained 50 pounds since the last time I saw you."

"Congratulations" he replied.

I realized then that that was the first and only time in my life I'm likely to be congratulated for gaining 50 pounds. Did I mention I'm almost 8 months pregnant?

So I decided to have three cookies during break. They were so good!