Don't you just LOVE??

Don't you just love when something you've seen before that inspires you pops up again via someone else's stuff on the web?


Chris Buzelli

Don't you just love when your kids who are big continue the Santa tradition, no questions, and have successfully graduated to the understanding that real “Christmas came just the same…It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags". ... How the Grinch Stole Christmas





Don't you just love when you think of someone then the phone rings and it's them?



Don't you just love when help appears from the most unimaginable sources just when you need it?


Cartolina Consulting 's Fiona Richards


And most of all...Don't you just love when someone  you admire turns around and admires you?!
I LOVE THAT!

Little signs pointing me in the right direction.

I Love love LOVE that! :)

I miss you all...been busy sorting out the old and making way for the new.

WILL SEE YOU FOR TEA in Hamburg with the Queen!   :)

xo milady

amazing cut outs found via rachel

inspired by this simple shop of shauna murray.

Tis the Season!

to look for these guys under the great pine

and wishing Santa brought fine handpainted toys such as these

Add caption

Keeping busy crafting gnome villages in a friend's shop window

while planning a party by candlelight

i ask myself " why this lazy looking cow?"

as the good old troll laughs

"because you are still 8" he says barely chuckling out the words

Grandfather Stag agrees with a hmmphh!

as i fish some for some hidden memory

of being little myself

when Christmas was so wonderfully exciting.

Still working on that!

xo milady

ps Merry Christmas!!

pss all images (except for my friend) where plucked off the web. Please forgive me!

Let The Festivities Begin!

In an effort to whip up some holiday delight

I made up a plan to craft up some light

with hot chocolate smiles old new years' glory

I waved my snowflake wand and told them a story

about light in darkness and a wish for an answer in snow

They all took off into the darkness while i yelled NO!
(or rather, wait for me!!!)

Some stayed up late like this darling little boy




while others were tuckered out from eating the carpet
instead of his chew toy.



























And then the most magical thing of all...when we returned to add our paper lanterns to the fire, it started to snow! Just like we desired. :)





This little boot construction makes me smile.


Cheers!
xo milady
           

We have a Winner!





Congrats to Rachel!   You are the winner of a Milady Medallion! Storm already sold in my shop but I will pick something out just for you!!!! You know whats funny? I eenie meenie miney moe'd the names lastnight and got Rachel too!  :)  perfect. I wish I could give each one of you a necklace but then i'd be out of business. In thought, you are all winners.
Email me your info gypsyPanda...wherever you have a mail box!
xo milady

Thanks-Giving





Thanksgiving is here. That means that the holidays are upon us.  Gatherings, gluttony and pressure to buy things make me feel like Charlie Brown.  Thanksgiving came too fast this year. I'm not ready. The snow hasn't fallen. It's too warm. Isn't it Halloween? I'm confused!
And I haven't had a chance to sit down and see this childhood staple with my kids yet. But Morgan did manage to create an elaborate scene out of playmobil. Bananas!

cartoon clip

I love that my blog friends may not understand...
thanksgiving thoughts from an ex-pat
Nor do I really...the meaning and customs have already morphed into unrecognizable and hideous forms.
Some traditions, I just found out about today!
Lost Thanksgiving Culture
Thanksgiving is really about harvest, togetherness, gratefulness and celebration of company.
Thank you Linus for reminding me!

Tomorrow i will draw the GIVEAWAY WINNER!

many thanks,
xo milady

Jewels, Blues and Surprise GIVEAWAY!

Feeling alot like i want to be in this room lately. To be enveloped in a fairy tale cloak, warmed and secured

by magic only a few get to witness.  Wearing a long warm skirt, stitched by someone I love. A time before t.v. and bubble housing markets.  I want to fly away to this place.  Where traditions and fantasy still hold court. Where everyone gathers with lanterns at night and sings.


In my own little way...i've created a bit of that. May i introduce...Milady's Medallions.


Love

Sacred Heart charm bracelet

Ice Vine choker

Storm

Storm detail


Blueberry Pearl

And the suprise...my first kick ass belt!

(love it!)



In addition to ornaments, tea towels, art blocks and prints - i have now finally made some wearables. I've teamed up with a very talented friend who is making the lovely hand crocheted "chains" for some of my pendants.
Milady's Medallions
These are just a few of the combos. More coming to my ETSY SHOP. I am exhausting myself trying to make the photos look perfect - but you will never see them if I hold myself to that standard.
Here you go.

The surprise?
A chance to win a Milady Medallion necklace!!!
Name drawn on Black Friday - NOV 25th.
Comment. Critique. Tell me what you think. Spread the word! Tell me who sent you.
No brown nosing...winner will be picked randomly! :)

GOOD LUCK! xo milady






 











New Productions Debut!


Another show under my belt.
This one made me focus on Christmas waaaay before i'm used to.
Glad though, because you know, it's my favorite!
It's a full on craftstravaganza around here.
And that makes me happy.
Have a look at my goodies

Vintage Swedish tart tins

begged for a little glass and sparkle and a tiny little painting


to then be hung Mardi Gras style on wispy flocked branches

with bleeding hearts and crocheted pearls

royal birds and doves offering olive branches

crisp tea and finger towels ready for guests

next to  some of the old stock awaiting to be discovered by choosey fingers


while the new, and i must say, handsome art blocks await their new homes patiently.
not one sold.

So strange to guess what people you don't know would like to buy. It's such a gamble, these shows. But exposure and momentum have their own.

Tomorrow i will reveal Milady's jewels and a surprise!

Now, off to feed the horses, looks like snow and the husband is still housebound recovering from knee surgery.
I am the one woman wonder at this farm...the Art Farm!

xo milady


Our Lady of Creative Chaos

Our Lady of Creative Chaos
lambie love = peace

originally sketched for the 9/11 drawing challenge

edward robert hughes
Taking a break amidst this creative whirlwind to share a little someone with you.
I like to call her Our Lady of Creative Chaos.

She wears stars in her hair like a crown
and sometimes looks like a big bright blue bird
She carries all souls
Like a Mother to her Babe
                                                             SHhhhhhhhh She says
I'm here
Right Here
in the center
of your wild dance.



Development : Drawing Challenge

Development - fitting title for my peek out of the clouds.
the holiday rush is on

as i prepare for another show early November


though still in season with greens and orange all around

my ink finds its way to December's images

whilst the half-life wannabees stack and wait in the studio


and our baby Ollie develops into a massive beast before our eyes!
 Visit tour hostess, the Queen Ariane for more on these developing stories!

Hit and Miss

Friends.. i apologize, for the hit and miss nature of this blog. I feel like i lose valuable connections just from missing a post or two. The blog is like the sun peeking through the clouds every once in a while. And its been cloudy around here!
I hope you do understand! I have so much I'd like to share with everyone. Time and Space - my fickle friends!
Oh, and the computer that continues to amaze and frustrate me with its unnatural loooooong life.

Till soon,



xo milady

Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be Cowboys...

willie nelson and waylon jennings

the sad cowboy story



what is my story?
i aim to find the answer
everyday
i live this old life
out west
where new brave thinkers
carve out a living
from dirt and promise
driven by tintypes
of mothers long dead
and a heart full of memories
of a life our bones know
for time eternal
i birth the images
one by one
and tell the story
the story of me
and catch the tail fin
of the old west.

xo milady
(an "outsider" in these parts)

Fair Fair and the Great Train Wreck's a Coming

roscoe the brave has been trying out his duds for weeks now

getting in the spirit of the old west
watchin old men on tractors doing donuts
eating dirt for lunch and dinner
getting chased around a parking lot by a boy and his chicken

watching the kids scrub, trim, clip and shine their stock

and putting on their best for show

anticipating the full stands tomorrow
rumored guests include past presidents and Ralph Lauren etc....
while the big sister puts the finishing touches on her retro cowgirl shirt
in preparation for grand entrance
as the Queen.

Small town rodeo and fair. It's an American tradition.
I feel lucky to dip a toe or two in it.

the train wreck?
 oh, the very next day after is dramatic finish to the summer
is the first day of school.

ugh

xo milady

Its Rodeo time

Another year, another rodeo, and i turn around to see my baby's a lovely young lady

we ride in the parade and hootin and hollerin when someone does something impressive like this

My girl rides like nobody's business

like her daddy

we set up a picnic in the back of the ol red truck and watch the red neck ruckus up front and center

Rosie will be the Queen's attendant ..again. Let's just say there are old town politics that override riding skills.
it's disappointing, for her but she keeps her head high and rides like nobody's business!

this is officially the end of our summer, the chill in the air says " no more swimming in the river
and soon, we will be saying good-bye to these little guys.
cycle of life.
ranch, farm, country living.
i signed up for it
but that don't mean i can't be sad.

stay tuned for more of the country fair, kids and animals etc...this weekend.
xo milady

Not Sure




We have a new family member. His name is Ollie.
He is a dudley - a labrador retriever with blue eyes and a pink nose.
I like to call him Dudley Doodle.
It's a long story - but we ended up with him. How could we refuse? He came, unexpectedly
into our lives like someone else we've known and loved.
Remember this guy?
He even had a blue collar.
fate.
karma
welcome back whoever you are!
don't worry about the sheep, she'll get over it.
xo milady

It Takes a Village.....

Husband (left) and friends burning the midnight oil. Tate was gluing the image on the inside of the card! ;/

Husband made me beautiful rustic frames for my prints. A happy customer, Jamie from Arizona.

The tea towels have arrived and left within the first few hours!


Me and Tate, who is not looking very cowboyish for a change.

Michele, my partner in crime who i lovingly call "my left brain". We've been talking about doing this for years, it's finally happening and to top it off, we actually had fun working together! :)

Here i am personalizing prints for display...I dip the ink then hold my breath...one mistake and the whole thing is ruined!

The Milady Productions cards were a big hit! Here is the Estate pack found at my ETSY SHOP

And Woodland pack of 3

Christmas pack too
IT takes a village to make anything happen. I am ever so grateful for those who helped me make this dream come back from its long long slumber...the response was overwhelming and encouraging. I made some significant connections in that little ol park of mine in Ridgway, Colorado.  True Grit with John Wayne was filmed in that very setting. (google it)
who knew?!
Up  up and Away!!!!

xo