Lollia!

Good morning, dear readers!

 

My Lollia order came in!!!  I am one happy girl who will be spending the day pampering herself with a luxury manicure and pedicure before heading into the Piney Woods to tat.

 

 

Here are my 3 handcremes (Believe, Breathe, & In Love) and soap (Breathe).

It all smells so wonderful!

 

 

I've mentioned on the blog before how much I love this handcreme, but really... words do not do it justice.  It moisturizes hands beautifully without leaving a residue, which of the utmost importance to anyone who works with thread and pearls.  I have tried MANY "luxury" and "salon quality" handcremes, but they do not hold a candle to my Lollia.

 

 

Here is my little splurge item- the soap.  I received a small bar as a gift earlier this year and adored it.  When I placed the handcreme order, I thought I'd indulge just a bit more.  Decadent of me, huh?!?

 

Well, the hot cocoa is waiting & Lily Fey is giving me her most pitiful puppy look.  Guess I'll get started on that mani/pedi after enjoying the cocoa, then hit the Atelier.  I'll be finishing up the Autumnal Transitions brooch this weekend, so be sure to check out Monday's post.  Have a great weekend & until next week~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Blogversary Giveaway Detail Images

I know the images of the prizes were not the best, but I just wanted to get the event up and going as promised on Saturday!  Sunday afternoon was nice & overcast here, so I took more images of the loot for your enjoyment.  Here are the detail shots for each prize:

Nautical Dream-

This little notebook is so cute!  I love the pink shades on the shells.  The Valdani pearl cotton reminds me of an exotic sea.

I tried to get a good shot of the button, but it was being difficult!  It is a lovely light turquoisy (I know that's not a word, but...) color with pink/lavender flashes.  The Tokyo Milk soap smells wonderful!

Thread close-up.

Lovely vintage buttons.  I adore the pink shells!

"Calm" Lollia luxury handcreme- what could be more perfect for this package?!?

Garden Delight-

I love to work with purples, pinks & greens.  These colors are what I gravitate toward in my Spring flowerbeds.  The Valdani pearl cotton picks up the shades nicely.

A little Tokyo Milk soap & Czech art glass button.  This is glass, but it almost looks like it is inlaid with shell.

Thread detail.

A variety of vintage pink buttons.

"Imagine" Lollia luxury handcreme- I hope it sparks your imagination!

Autumn Longing-

Paris is so romantic.  So is the Valdani pearl cotton.  "Robin's Nest" is a color I've used for years.  I never tire of it's beauty.

This Czech art glass button is very flashy!  The little Tokyo Milk soap is enchanting.

Thread worthy of any Paris catwalk!

Red, light golden yellow & peachy vintage buttons.

"Classic Petal" Lollia luxury handcreme- ooh-la-la!

I hope you now have a better view of the prizes up for grabs!  I tried to put each prize package together so that there would be something for everyone in this event.

Everyone can use a little notebook to tuck in their tatting bag or purse.  I've included several of my favorite threads for you to try, along with Czech art glass buttons and vintage buttons.  The little Tokyo Milk soaps are small and just right for traveling.  But the extra special goody is the Lollia luxury handcreme.  This is my favorite handcreme!  I use it several times daily.  It absorbs quickly and does not leave a residue on my hands.  In my opinion, it is the perfect loition for tatters!

To enter the event, please leave a comment on Saturday's blogpost saying which prize you prefer and why.  I am keeping a running list of who prefers each prize.  The winner of each prize package will be selected via random number generator on Wednesday, August 29th, 2012, and subsequently announced on the blog that morning.

Good luck!!!

Well, I'm off to the Atelier.  I didn't get much accomplished in the way of tatting this weekend, but hope to have something pretty to share with you tomorrow.  Have a wonderful day & until then~

Happy Tatting!



Blogversary Celebration Giveaway!

Dear readers,

August 29th will be the one year anniversary of my blogging adventure.  Over this past year, I have learned to love my weekday blogging routine.  It was a bit scary at first, but now, I feel the need to blog each day before getting down to the nitty gritty work in the Atelier.  Many thanks to all who have encouraged me, commented on the blog and participated in previous blog events.  Thank you for sharing my creative adventure!  I look forward to sharing MANY more.

To celebrate this milestone, I have decided to host a Blogversary Giveaway with 3 prizes!!!

Here is prize package number 1 "Nautical Dreams":

This prize package consists of:  a nice small notebook with a seashell image on the pages, 3 cards of vintage buttons (one card is of pink scallop shell buttons), 1 square Czech art glass button, 1 ball of size 8 Valdani pearl cotton (color M24), 1 skein of size 5 DMC pearl cotton (color 4030), 1 skein Caron Wildflowers thread (color 067),  a small bar of Tokyo Milk soap, and a small tube of Lollia handcreme in the "Calm" fragrance.

Prize package number 2 is "Garden Delight":

This prize consists of a lovely floral themed notebook, 3 cards of pink vintage buttons, a Czech art glass button, 1 ball of size 12 Valdani pearl cotton (color M1002), 1 skein of DMC size 5 pearl cotton (color 4210), 1 skein of Caron Wildflowers Thread (color 066), a small bar of Tokyo Milk soap and a small tube of Lollia handcreme in the "Imagine" scent.

"Autumn Longings" is prize package number 3:

A small notebook with a Paris theme is included in this prize package along with: 3 cards of vintage buttons, a gorgeous Czech art glass button, 1 ball of size 12 Valdani pearl cotton (color M97), 1 skein of size 5 DMC pearl cotton (color 4130), 1 skein of Caron Wildflowers Thread (color 095), a small Tokyo Milk soap, and a small tube of Lollia handcreme in the "Classic Petal" scent.

AND...

I will also include a special tatted surprise with each package!!!

How to enter:

Leave a comment on this blogpost indicating which package you prefer and why.  One winner for each package will be selected via random number generator early on the morning of August 29th, 2012, and subsequently announced on that morning's blogpost.

I will try to post some detailed images of the goodies in some of this next week's posts as I'm rather pressed for time this weekend.  (LOTS to do before school starts!)

Good luck and thank you, again, for sharing my fiber art escapades!

Happy Tatting!



Creative Process

A comment on the Rosalie Giveaway post got me to thinking.  Olga asked about my creative process.  What inspires me to create?  How do I get ideas for my work?  Shortly thereafter, another reader emailed asking for tips on how to develop her creativity.  How could she better her creative process?

These questions are very difficult to answer.  So much inspires me and ignites the creative spark.  I'm easily stimulated by many things with all of my senses coming into the inner conversation. 

I try to convey on the blog a bit of my day-to-day creative endeavors.  The in-house Atelier is where I create a good portion of work.  It is filled with LOTS of threads, beads, buttons, pearls, vintage jewelry, antique jewelry, vintage treasures and Maxfield Parrish prints.  I LOVE the colors found in Parrish landscapes!  The Atelier is also an olfactory experience.  I burn candles that are pleasing to my mood, wear perfumes that make me happy, use handcremes that moisturize and please the senses.  My iPhone is usually plugged into speakers playing a wide variety of different music genres.  (Let's just say my tastes are eclectic!)

The tatting environment is very important.  Whether it is the Atelier or within the Piney Woods.  We are fortunate to own a few acres of gorgeous Piney Woods in the gently rolling hill country of North Louisiana.  Jim has provided me with a number of outdoor "spots" where I can retreat for peace, quiet and artistic stimulation.  The scent of the woods, the sounds of the wildlife, the changes of the seasons- all of this fills me with wonder and makes my fingers itch to tat/bead/crochet/embroider.  Trips to the mountains, off-road outings in my Jeep, walks in nearby Lincoln Parish Park inspire me in various ways.

Going antiquing/junquing can almost be sensory overload!  There are several stores and shops that send my creative side into overdrive.  The Chartreuse Pear in downtown Ruston, LA, is a wonderful experience.  Lovely antiques, jewelry and fabulous Lollia and Tokyo Milk handcremes along with some of the most wonderful scented candles I've ever smelled make for days of artistic creativity.

I guess, the key is to figure out what you really love.  What is your passion?  What makes you really feel?  How exactly are you stimulated?  Are you more influenced by visual, auditory, olfactory, taste or tactile stimulation?  To help you figure out what you really love and enjoy, I suggest you use a neat online service: Pinterest!  Create boards of things that stimulate and inspire you.  This is a tool I personally use on a very regular basis.  Follow others who pin things that pique your interest- there is no telling what you may discover!

Always keep your mind and hands busy- looking for the next "a-ha" moment.  Think outside of the box.  If you are tatting a pattern and think of something different to try, just do it.  It is okay to color outside of the lines!  Do you enjoy running your fingers through a jar of buttons?  How about the feel of silk thread sliding off the needle?  The taste of a gourmet chocolate bonbon?  Relish each sensation and use it to help "spark" your inner creative fire.

 I hope I've not freaked you out with my rather quirky artsy side.  Afterall, some of you did ask for it!

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE ROSALIE GIVEAWAY POST FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!!!

Well, I am off to the Atelier to clean and get ready for a weekend of carpet steam cleaning.  I do not know if there will be much in the way of tatting to share, but the winner of the giveaway will be announced first thing Monday morning.  May you have a wonderfully creative weekend doing whatever it is that makes your soul sing!  Until next week~

Happy Tatting!