Farewell 2012

It's time to put away glittery stars and brass bells..........

   
      Take off the red ribbons.........

     Wrap cherished treasures in tissue........

     Pack the antique Santa's away in their carved wooden box........

     Remove the fantasy from my already glorious chandelier
      ( that I bought 26 years ago for 75 dollars ! )
 

     Put away the ornaments and gilded leaves........

     Create a white winter still life for the patio table.......

     And start fresh.......

     Wishing all of you magical days, vibrant health, abundance,
      and a festive spirit.........
                                   Happy New Year,       Vicki

To all of you far and wide

                  I wish you a most joyous Christmas........

                        A day of dazzling delight.................

                   A day to pause in thought for the suffering.......

A day to remember voices of our loved ones who no longer are with us.....

                                         MERRY CHRISTMAS

May it be splendid,   Wishing you many blessings...... victoria

Christmas past

I spent last Christmas in Paris, I had been to France before but never to Paris,

It was bitter cold, overwhelming, and a feast for my eyes.....everywhere I looked was

inspiration and delight.... I was enchanted, the child in me was seduced in splendor . 

I marveled at the architecture ........

The city was scented with winter blossom .......

The vegetables were freshly picked and presented in artful display......

The palette was hues of slate bejeweled in gold.............

Narrow streets decorated with neon lights and marvelous little places for a hot chocolate .

Brrrr cold,  all I wanted to eat was French onion soup.........this one the best .

And a glorious sweet of course........

Daily in search of treasure to bring home, the books & prints were surveyed .......

Miles were covered with discovery of stately elegance ......

Carousels were throughout the city bellowing with festive music and children's laughter........

And then there it was, the iconic structure I've seen all my life, but to stand near it was stunning.......

But it was getting dark and we needed to shop for our Christmas dinner........

A "very" fresh bird to prepare, did I hear them saying  pick me, pick me, oh goodness I'm in ecstasy......
I can't imagine this in our butchers window, I did become comfortable with it, If your going to
eat them, might as well meet them first......... !

CHEESE, we must have that, and a lot of it.............!

Christmas eve morning we went to a flea market ( now I'm really in heaven) these are my finds.....

Yes all this !.............

I shall never forget my Christmas in Paris, It could not have been more wonderful,
I thank my friends, Marni and Paul for taking me and zabie for your elegant apartment .....

This Christmas I'm snug and home with my
loving husband,  everywhere is covered
in berries and bows, baubles and greens........
A sense of joy following me .............
Wishing you HAPPY days,  and the Merriest Christmas ~ vicki

Making Christmas cards

I try to make most of my Christmas gifts and cards, It puts me into the spirit of giving and indulges me in creativity, this year I'm inspired by one of my favorite places, Yosemite .

Most years I attend a retreat in late October with several artists .

 If you've never been by all means

add it to your bucket list of places to visit .

I spent many childhood years camping in this enchanted forest .....

The redwoods stand magnificent.......

Wildlife is abundant and protected........

These are my Christmas cards done with walnut ink on white rag paper
mounted on black, I add a little china white watercolor on the falls .

May your Christmas be full of wonderment and joy .

More Christmas to come, until then decorate, cook, enjoy family
and friends, and take time out for yourself to quietly reflect .
Wishing you Happy days ~ vicki

Hello again, It's been a busy couple of months for me, I've had the pleasure of being invited to a host of wonderful events, a cooking class in Carmel, five days of fun at my friend Lindy's ranch in Santa Ynez to work in stoneware, and enjoy her gorgeous land, then back to Carmel to celebrate Thanksgiving .

Beautiful sky's on the drive to Carmel

  

The cooking class was in the Carmel highlands in a kitchen the size of half my house, the menu was a Fall themed extravaganza of elegant food ..... to then be consumed in a glamorous setting .

 

We took notes with our black pencils and matching black notebooks provided, all very classy.......
                                                     as the chef performed her magic.

This was the end result of the fruit salad chef Wendy prepared, quite delicious, and very beautiful .

The main course was stuffed salmon, with butternut squash pasta leaves, mushrooms and squash,
with a creamy sauce,  and yes, It tasted as good as it looks .

The presentation was as fabulous as the foods she prepared, champagne and fine wine pared perfectly with this very special day .

I then was off to Santa Ynez , which is inland from Santa Barbara, 

rolling golden hills studded with old oak trees, vineyards and horse ranches dot the landscape of this breathtaking place.

My friend Gayle and I have been invited to stay with Lindy at her ranch high atop the hills with views all over the valley, Lindy is an artist, potter and a wonderful friend, staying with her is a wonderful experience, we cook, we laugh, and we work in clay all day long.

She has all the tools, glazes, and a environment to inspire .

I made pinch pots that turned into leaf bowls .

These  are my bowls during their drying stage, and I already had a use for them !

Lindy feeds her chickens well and they follow her in anticipation .

Then reward us with beautiful breakfasts .

The evenings we sit sipping wine and watch nature come over the hills in all her majesty.
Thank you Lindy for a marvelous time, I'll be back soon to glaze those leaf pots of mine and
can't wait to be in this gorgeous place once again.

A couple weeks later it was time to cook, pack and drive back to Camel to celebrate Thanksgiving
with one of our two sons,  the weather was spectacular, warm and balmy, we stopped many times
taking photo's of places we (always ) stop and take photo's !!   so hard to resist.......

Thanksgiving day we went to the famous white sand beach and had our coffee feeling
grateful for such wonderful lives we lead, fortunate to live on the California coast where
these places are close to enjoy .   Hope you enjoyed the ride .
Wishing you adventure,  vicki