Saturday 17 November 2012

Yes...I'm one of "those" people.

Ok, I'm going to be right up front and admit it.....I'm one of "those" people that gets so excited about the holidays that they start celebrating way early. You know...the woman who has her Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving and plays Christmas music so often that you wonder how on earth she isn't sick of it by mid December? Yes, that's me! I've come to the conclusion that I have mainly my Mom to thank for that warm and fuzzy feeling that settles firmly in my belly starting early in November, lol. 


Our family was far from perfect and like most families, we had our fair share of dysfunction and mayhem, but when it came to Christmas, my Mom always made it beautiful. We had special Christmas traditions that we looked forward to each year, and whether it was a tight year financially or not, it always seemed a magical and beautiful time for our family. So....with that in mind...I've decided to start a special weekly holiday feature here on my blog throughout the month of December. Each week I'll share some of the special family recipes and fun traditions that have made the holidays so near and dear to my heart. What I'm hoping is that others will join in each week and contribute by sharing and telling us about some of there favorite holiday stories, traditions, and recipes too. So be sure to look for my first holiday feature starting the first week of December and do join in!!

As you can guess, my painting and art projects have been mainly focused on fun holiday themes this week, like the peace on earth mixed media painting above, and this whimsical snowman scene. I plan to relish in as much twinkle light loving, sparkling snow flake wishing, Bing Cosby singing, fudge making fun as I can over the next several weeks! 


Thanks for stopping in to visit, and I hope to see you here again soon!
~Angela




Friday 26 October 2012

Soon....are you ready??

Are you getting ready for the festivities this weekend? I love love loooooove a good Halloween party and this weekend's blog event is sure to be so full of creative Halloween spooky fun that it will take days to recover from all the creepy goodness! I can't wait to see what everyone has in store :-) If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then perhaps you should run (don't walk) over to Vanessa's blog at A Fanciful Twist to see what all the hoopla is about! Ok, not physically run, that would be just silly....digitally run that is.


 In the midst of getting ready for the upcoming blog event, I've also been painting up a storm. I've been having fun with new holiday themed pieces, but in keeping with the Halloween spirit, I did do this little whimsical watercolor and acrylic painting. She's dressed in her favorite purple dress and mask and is headed to the Halloween ball. 


Now it's off to finish up some last minute projects before the spooky fun begins. I've got a fun giveaway as part of my party post, so I hope you can visit over the weekend to say hello and check it out! See you son!

~Angela

Monday 22 October 2012

Totally Smitten!

Happy Monday everyone! In spite of the gloomy, rainy, English weather here in my little part of the world, it's a lovely day inside the Whimsy Ways studio. I've got homemade beef stew simmering in the oven, I have every candle in my house lit, and my newly carved pumpkins are glowing softly......and if that isn't enough to make a girl happy, my hands are covered in paint from the fun new mixed media piece I've been working on this morning, and I have a goofy old Halloween movie on in the background. Oh yeah...it's a good day indeed!!

I wanted to pop in quickly to show you something so adorable, so AWESOME, that it just has to be shared. Remember me mentioning that I had won the recent blog party giveaway from Julie of Pippins Nest? Well...her lovely package arrived over the weekend and oh my goodness, what a wonderful bunch of goodies she sent! First there was this gorgeous handcrafted ticket that was part of the theme of the carnival blog party. You can't tell very well from the picture, but it has lovely silver sparkly goodness all along the edges. So pretty!


Then there were these totally and completely adorable little handmade miniature pumpkins. Perfect for adding autumn goodness to little spaces!


And then, last out of the carefully wrapped package was this gorgeous handmade art doll. It was love at first sight. I mean...just look at her!! I really was truly smitten as soon as I'd unwrapped her and gotten a good look. Her quirky expression, orange hair with little tophat, and black lace dress are so much fun. 


She is now in a place of honor on my mantle and every time I look at her it makes me smile. Big big thanks to Julie for her generous giveaway and for sending her gorgeous handmade creations. I will truly treasure them!!! If you have not visited Julie at Pippins Nest, please do pop over and say hello!

Now it's back to making a mess with paints for me. Thanks for visiting!

~Angela

Thursday 11 October 2012

And The Winner Is.......

Today is the day to announce the winner of my giveaway for the wonderful Carnival Mysterieux event from this past weekend! What a wonderful time I had visiting everyone's blogs and seeing all the fun, spooky, and creative posts. I love discovering new blogs to follow and visit, and I think these types of events are such a great way to do that. Another big thanks to Anna of Frosted Petunias, and Marfi of Incipient Wings for hosting the festivities! So....as you may or may not remember, I offered this vintage style gemstone and lock and key necklace as a giveaway for my lovely visitors.




I used random.org's random number generator to choose the winner, and the number that came up was lucky comment number 21 from Mina of Green Witch With Fairy Sparkles! Mina, I'll be contacting you directly to get your info so that I can mail you your treasure! Thanks again to everyone who visited and commented, it was wonderful to have you all here!

Now that the carnival event has passed and we are full on into autumn I am getting totally excited for Halloween. I've mentioned more than once here on my blog how much I love this time of year and I can't wait to get out into the forest this weekend to get some autumn photographs. I've got several new autumn themed watercolor paintings in the finishing stages, and will be getting some pumpkins this weekend for pumpkin carving fun. Yayyyyy! My lovely hubby has never carved one and I plan to show him the ropes. Can you imagine??? He's never had the fun of scooping gooey pumpkin and seeds from the center of a freshly cut pumpkin, lol. Here in England, they don't "do" Halloween in quite the same way they do in America, so I feel compelled to share all of my American Halloweeny ways with him, lol. Ohhhh, and I can't forget to mention....there is a wonderful spooky Halloween blog event coming up in a few weeks! The lovely Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist is hosting her annual Halloween blog party and it is going to be so fantastic. Be sure to check it out!


I'll be back in a few days with some of my new creations and hopefully some lovely photos of my adventures in the forest this weekend. Hope you're all having a great week, thanks for visiting!

~Angela

Saturday 6 October 2012

It's Time.....For Le Mysterieux Carnival!

Can you feel the magic in the air?? It's finally time! Won't you join me? Come with me into the deep dark woods for a carnival unlike any you've seen before!


You'll need your silver ticket. Oh you don't have one? Take one of mine, I have plenty!


Oh my, I almost forgot....there is one other thing you need before we go. You must have a little taste of my magical popcorn. It's really quite delicious! Just a little sprinkling of autumn forest magic to help you find your way though the deep dark woods. 


I know that popcorn can make you thirsty, so help yourself to some pumpkin spice punch.


Are we all set? The carnival can be quite tricky to find, but if we follow the path past the sparkling fairy pond.....


And follow the jack-o-lantern trail......


We'll soon find ourselves in the enchanted forest of Le Mysterieux Carnival!


There will be such sights to see and curiosities to explore. Magical carousals, and the most amazing characters you can imagine!





And of course, no visit to the carnival would be complete without having your fortune told by the wise and enchanting Mz. Sofinia...


If you listen closely as you near her sparkling wagon, above the tinkling music of the ferris wheel and carousal, you'll hear the mysterious soft whispering of an old folk poem....


There is so much more to see and do, and the night has only just begun! So stay with me in the forest and we'll bob for apples, drink fizzy drinks by the light of glowing pumpkins, and enjoy all the strange and wonderful magic of Le Mysterieux Carnival!

And when the music fades and the festivities are through for yet another year, I hope you'll leave a comment and say hello. For I have a special gift for one of the lovely people that have visited the carnival with me today! It's this charm and amethyst gemstone necklace. A special lock and key for opening magical carnival doors and unlocking all the rides!


No need to do anything special, just say hello below! If you'd like to follow along as a friend on my blog, that would be lovely too, but certainly not a requirement! :-) I'll announce the winner on Thursday morning when we've all recovered from the carnival fun. I want to say a big thanks to Anna of Frosted Petunias and Marfi of Incipient Wings for hosting such a fun party! Thanks so much for visiting!!

~ Angela


Tuesday 2 October 2012

Rolling WIth The Punches

What a week it's been!! I've had so many unexpected things happening this week and have had no time to pop in here and tell you about it! Normally Tuesdays are my days to feature other wonderful artists in my Tuesday Treasure Hunt feature, but since I've been on a twirly whirly rollercoaster ride of a week, I will hold off on this week's treasures and save them for next week's feature :-) Instead I thought I'd just share this little inspirational image with you. When the roller coaster slows down in a few days I'll be back to tell you all about the exciting happenings of this past week. There has been fun art stuff, scary sales opportunities, and the start of new and unexpected projects. Life is such a jumble bumble mix up sometimes isn't it?? 


I look forward to slowing down and catching up on all my favorite blogs and of course we can't forget that this weekend is the super fun Le Mysterieux Carnival.blog event. If you have not heard of it yet, pop over and check it out...it's going to be amazing!!

See you soon!

~Angela

Monday 24 September 2012

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

Wednesday 19 September 2012

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

Monday 17 September 2012

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

Friday 14 September 2012

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

Tuesday 11 September 2012

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


Monday 10 September 2012

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

Thursday 6 September 2012

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

Tuesday 4 September 2012

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 

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 

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

Monday 3 September 2012

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






Thursday 23 August 2012

Believe It!

I created this digital collage late last year when I was learning better ways to deal with my inner critic. You know...that sarcastic little voice that tosses out snide remarks and unhelpful criticism? It's message is one I really think is worth sharing so I'm posting it here for you today :-) If you really like it, feel free to click the picture to enlarge it and save it for yourself on your computer. Share it with whomever you like and always remember........you are beautiful!!!


Have a lovely, magical day!

~Angela

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Time Again For Treasure Hunt Tuesday

I can't believe it's Tuesday again already!! Ahhh the flying days.....sometimes it feels like such a whirlwind doesn't it? This week's Treasure Hunt Tuesday is a bit shorter than my previous week's posts because as I mentioned yesterday, I'm running around like a crazy cat getting ready for my bestest girlfriend and her husband who are coming all the way from America to visit me. This will be the first time since moving to England that anyone from my "home team" has come here to visit, so.....yayyyyyyy!!!



This week I have just two treasures to share, but I found them to be wonderfully inspirational. Sometimes you see something that just strikes a cord or speaks to you and you love it as soon as you see it. Isn't it great when that happens?? I think it's what we would all like as artists.....for our work to speak to those who see it :-)

My first treasure is this cool, funky, and inspirational art print from Rani Primmer of Jagged Touch Studio.


Rani's work is so fun and whimsical and I saw so many cool pieces while browsing her etsy shop, but I think this one is my favorite. You can see more of her gorgeous work at www.etsy.com/shop/JaggedTouchStudio

My second treasure was found on pinterest and I just had to share it. I think it speaks for itself.

 
It is based on the quote by Dawn Markova and the artwork was created by Caiti of Catidid Designs. Truly beautiful words to live by, don't you think?

As always, please feel free to share your recently found treasures and links in the comments below. I hope you are all having a magical week and please visit again soon!

~Angela