Recently I had the opportunity to re-connect with the kind and friendly Michelle Love, an  inspired designer of clothing, costumes, belly dance ensembles, finely etched leather goods, and a variety of exquisitely designed home furnishings. Down a green and glorious path flanked with fragrant jasmine and vibrant purple clematis, she welcomed me into her place of creation. Upon entering you are met immediately with the impressive presence of her huge cutting table.  Precisely placed packets of various projects in their many stages of evolution lay stacked along the perimeter seemingly overseen by a completely serious commercial sewing machine on the opposite side of the room.

One could sense just standing there in that space that a great amount of heart and soul must have been poured into each individual garment she had created. Her surname obviously not a misnomer, she seems to infuse love and great care into everything she fashions.

And aren’t these pattern weights fantastic? She told me a friend brought them to her long ago from Burma - Very old and surprisingly heavy, their original use being opium weights - hmm - fascinating…

To see her portfolio or to consult with her regarding a special project you may have, call or email:

Michelle Love at (310) 780-6382, mlove90277@yahoo.com

Whether it is sketches etching out the feel of the beat of Istanbul, the arcs and waves of ink in cascades of flowing feminine locks, angry women in party dresses or miles of glorious poppies like the gorgeous piece above, I am always intrigued to see what Samantha Zaza has to share for the day. Her art is inspiring, whimsical, informative and filled with heart. I am moved by the movement she creates atop a plain flat surface - just beautiful - and her words enable me to see, smell and taste of new lands near and far - go visit her sites and explore …

Before it gets popped in the mail, here is my December mailing for a new Texas connection made from the Benevolent Postcard Society. It feels so good to be drawing again!

This was November’s, and here was October’s

I received this David LaChapelle from a lovely woman in Paris - I dub her “Couture Ballerina Bearing Gifts of Flowers and Kittens”, and here she rests perched upon my living room altar.

And here she is as “Caged Ballerina With Henckel” - strategically shot in my KitchenAid alla my sweet creative boy Adam

This water color was sent to me last month
from a BPS Secret Society Member who resides on the Northern Coast of California.
An inspired painting exemplifying their love of the beach in Fall.

I am so loving this postcard exchange experience. Both fun to create, share and form new alliances with folks around the world, as well as receive happy surprises in my mailbox from the kind hearts of strangers!

Greetings!
Join me at the Many Faces of Art this coming Saturday
where I will be showcasing the fine art of Reflexology by providing
10 and 20 minute mini sessions throughout the day.
(Enjoy a great savings at only $1 per minute!)
Come sample the wonderful aromas of Sole Garden Natural Body Products
and while your there, don’t forget to enter our drawing:

Back to back one-hour Reflexology sessions for you and a friend !

Take some time out of your day to enjoy fine art, food, fun and of course RELAXATION in this gorgeous setting with it’s amazing beach cities views!
I look forward to seeing you there!
Best Wishes, Donna

Fifty percent of all proceeds will be donated to 1736 Family Crisis Center

For directions to the Faire click here

The beginnings of juicy goodness at Orly’s Attachment Theory Workshop

Had a blast with Mom, and friends old and new enjoying a six hour Art Journaling extravaganza as only Orly can pull off so seamlessly and deliciously!

What fun - the day started with an introductory exploration with friendly strangers (my table buddy Brian had great energy to share space with throughout the day), and proceeded with other thought provoking prompts, exploration of new mediums, a fantastic group of people which enhanced the really wonderful feeling in the room (although we were all somewhat introspective which was exactly where it needed to be I suppose), and an out of this world middle eastern feast!

Looks quite tasty doesn’t it? It was, and this is all that was left!

Not to be confused with scrap booking, Art Journaling is something quite different.
I will let Orly explain it briefly to you here though, as she surely knows better then I.

This was another table mates portfolio of journaling materials - a fabulous image she let me photograph. Everyone had their own way of organizing their bits of life that would at some point find their way on the glorious blank pages. And if we didn’t have much to work with or that exact thing that would bring our composition to the next level, Orly had quite a grand selection of ephemera (new word for me) to amuse us. So much enticing stuff to wade through. She got me to see ticket stubs and grocery lists in a whole new light.

Orly holds several classes throughout each week - go here to see her present schedule. If you happen to be in the Port Townsend, Washington area October 21 to 25 - don’t miss the opportunity to sit in on her class at Journalfest - both mood altering and potentially life changing, not to mention just pure unadulterated fun - she is a very warm, funny, engaging and entertaining girl !

My last page of the day on patterns and combining patterns with others to make entirely new patterns. Only four pages and not even entirely completed in six hours - a lovely way to relax and go deep or stay light - whichever serves you in that moment. You should try it sometime.

The entrance to J Woeste in Los Olivos - a truly magical place!

Some days they would be anyway…

A brief, generic ‘having a great time - wish you were here’, sometimes a deeper gesture to encourage a reconnection, a snapshot glimpse of an enchanting place you’ve yet to experience yourself, a quick message of love and devotion possibly accented with a hint or a smack of sultriness, steam or scent of perfume, or coupons to entice you into purchasing a new product or service, and now, for me and for 250 plus others around the world, a unique way to just share a short, sweet message of unconditional optimism - a grand way to shine a flicker of light, blast of color, texture and design in between the not as exciting packets of junk mail and bills. Can’t wait to receive my first card from the Benevolent Postcard Society, I await its arrival with keen anticipation - and I hope my new friend likes the one I sent along, my beloved sheep from the LA zoo. Thank you so much to Lori Langille for letting me be a part of this beautifully inspired project - just made it in under the wire - I am so thrilled.

Minor diversion during mise en place.

Too much time on my hands?

Possibly, but now I just have to fold in the corners and dump it in a pot.

Although purely utilitarian in nature, the initial impact of this image was a bit startling. From the vantage point of my lens capturing the shackles around these beautiful bronze bubble toes, I felt a twinge of sadness until I followed the path of the metal upwards.

Delightful isn’t she? Completely appropriate word for her I think. Light, fun, goofy - just like the rest of her friends in the garden. Just look at them.

For more images of Phillip Glashoff’s sculptural whimsy and other wonderous works at the Judith Hale Gallery in Los Olivos - click here.

But back for a moment to the emotions stirred from the original image - such a perfect metaphor really, for how the human spirit is able to overcome adversity. When we are “held captive” or “stuck” by either external sources or our own fears, what is it that gives some individuals the strength to persevere, to keep trying to move forward, the personal power to overthrow their adversaries, the desire to continue to survive and prevail? Is it just undying faith? The unwavering belief that this is not their destiny and the best will surely come sometime soon? Do they maintain their fortitude on behalf of another? Do they just shut themselves off from the reality of the earthly situation and venture off to another more loving, peaceful place in their own minds? How is it that some people have endured a life time of repeated loss, tragedy and hardship and still their soul has the capacity to soar? I have met people like this as you may have too - circumstances that would break a good share of us seem to make these people shine even brighter. Is it a profound sense of gratitude that they maintain for what they DO have? Do they just continue to count their blessings? Do they see the gift in the experience no matter how potentially crushing and catastrophic it is?

This act of seeing the gift in every situation is not a new idea, but if we could master just this one practice, just think about how the course of our lives could be altered for the better. Sometimes it is very difficult to find the gift in a situation, but if you write down every bit of your past baggage, every occurrence that repeatedly flies back into your life to reek havoc, every devastating tragedy that you have withstood, and partner it with a gift you received from it - I bet you would be surprised how you can turn your focus around and these past happenings will be empowering rather than sabotaging. You will be able to move on. You don’t have to forget, but your focus will be different and it will open you to inspiration and the strong urge to create once again.

Give it a go and let me know how it works out for you. Those silver linings - we just have to keep searching them out.