Catholic Guilt

Summer ramblings...

Like most of you, I've had a pretty busy summer.   I find  keeping busy helps me stay out of trouble.  And that's a good thing for everyone, trust me.  I've watched a few good movies, played in the dirt, decorated and organized, made some pretty jewelry, and washed the carpet.  Good times!  Life is good, I cannot complain...well, I could, but not today.

Miss Andrea of Anything Indie has compiled a fabulous Summer Gift Guide.  She always finds the hottest of Indie goodies perfect for your gift giving needs, like birthdays...

And speaking of birthdays...my baby sister gave birth to a healthy and beautiful baby girl last night.  Just like her mommy, who was born on Halloween, Julia too was born on a holiday.  Though she oudid her mommy, afterall, July 4th is a national holiday.  I'll be visiting baby and mommy next weekend and promise to bring back lots of baby pics!

Have a great start to your week!

Cuteness overload!

After my diatribe in my previous post and at the risk of boring you with my political views, I thought I'd make it up to you and show you the cutest thing ever...

I warned you this was the cutest thing ever.  Or perhaps this one is...

Want more cuteness?  You'll find it here at Motley Mutton.

Oil and Greed...

We break your regularly scheduled blog program for an important off-topic post about something that disturbed me today.  What now, you ask? 

As I logged on to check my email this morning, I saw this news headline:  "Bush calls for offshore oil drilling".  Living in California, 40 miles from the ocean, it grabbed my attention like a shoe sale at Nordstroms.

Apparently our commander and chief feels we don't have enough oil supply, so he is urging Congress to lift a ban on offshore oil drilling.  Not just any ban but a ban that's been in place for 27 years, a ban supported by his daddy, who signed an executive order in 1990 banning coastal oil exploration.  Oh, and remember Jeb (gotta love the name), Bush’s brother Jeb was an outspoken opponent of offshore drilling when he was governor of Florida.  But  good ol' George feels this is the only way to reduce gas prices.  Interesting.  Yet Bush's old colleagues (don't forget he's a former oilman from Texas), are sitting on 68 million acres of federally owned land they lease for the purpose of just that...drilling for oil (which is MUCH cheaper than drilling offshore) of which are NOT under development.  Yet, now he wants to give the oil companies our shores.

I don't think so Mr. President.  The oil companies are already raping us at the pump, they want our beautiful shores too?  Not without a fight.

Bush and his supporters feel we need to depend less on foreign oil supplies.  No, we need to depend less on oil, period.  Why don't the oil companies who would spend billions on offshore drilling (did I mention it's VERY expensive to drill 3 miles off our shores) into alternative energy sources. Afterall, what happens when that oil supply runs dry?  What then, Mr. President?

Well it's a good thing good ol' George will finally join his daddy in retirement.  However, his party's candidate, Mr. McCain, who used to be an opponent of offshore drilling, well at least when he ran for President in 2000,  has recently flip flopped and now feels that the states should be allowed to decide whether or not they allow drilling off their shores.  Good thing our Governor doesn't agree with Mr. Bush, or we'd be in some serious trouble.  Mr. McCain's opponent in the next Presidential race, Mr. Obama, believes in putting our dollars into alternative fuel sources.  Call me a dirt worshipping tree hugger, but you know who gets my vote. 

Smells so Nice...

I like to smell nice.  I guess you could say I'm body odor phobic.  Yet, I don't like to smell like a cheap hussy.  Expensive hussy - maybe. 

My BFF loves her lotion, something I've never really been into because I don't like heavy perfumes nor the feeling of an oil slick on my skin.  However, she insisted this new stuff from Bunny Butt Apothecary was amazing.  One whiff of the Mango & Papaya goodness and I was oh so tempted.  So I tried some on hoping it wouldn't oil me up like a hard body at a body building convention and sure enough, it was perfect, not too oily, yet moisturizing.

So I ran home and ordered me up a sampler, which came with 3 tiny jars of whipped cream in my choice of scents.  I got Blackberry Vanilla, Green Tea Cucumber and Papaya Mango.  Mmmmmm, yummy.  These little guys are convenient as you can bring it to the office and not have a huge jar of something peculiar looking sitting on your desk.

I'm going to have to try their lip balm next.  I like to apply lip conditioner before bed in effort to keep my pucker looking youthful and pouty.  It's my little beauty secret.  Shhhh...don't tell the boy(s).

The Battle of Good vs. Evil...

In the battle of Good vs. Evil, there can only be one winner. 

On this shoulder, standing a mere 2.5 inches wearing a lacey white dress and made of felt is "Good", a little angel mouse...mouse?  That's right folks, complete with pink ears and nose, whiskers and little pearly eyes, our angelic friend is none other than The House of Mouse's...Angel Mouse!

And on the other shoulder we have 'Evil' with a capital 'E'!  He too stands 2.5 inches and is made of felt.  He is a frightening crimson and wears a black cape and is complete with pointy tail and trident.  Not suitable for children under 5...yes, The Devil is THAT evil!

Who will it be, who will win the battle of Good vs. Evil!? 

Napa Style...

I have fond memories of crushing grapes with my bare feet when I was very young.  My father used to make his own wine and often he'd crush his own grapes himself.  Not one to pass up child labor, he always called me to join in, with the promise of some tipsy grape juice which I just LOVED.  As my mother called in the backround, "Don't make a mess!" I'd throw off my shoes and got busy.  A few days later I'd have my very own pitcher of  'tipsy' grapejuice.  If you've never had it, you are missing out.  It's SWEET grape juice which has just begun to ferment.   Mmmmmmmmm.

Being blessed to live near the wine country and work even closer, it's with those fond childhood memories that I'm drawn to the vineyards.  Not too long ago I had to track down the boss at a vineyard in Yountville.  I took the backroad through more vineyards than I could count and found myself wishing I wasn't working and had my camera.  As I sped down the country road with vineyards on each side of me, I noticed the grapevines were beginning to bloom painting the hillsides in a swath of the most vibrant green.   I could have gotten lost...but alas, work was calling.

I received a copy of Napa Style catalog yesterday and immediately tore through it making mental notes of what I could not live without.  So, today I ordered a beautiful windchime (the one on the left) and these little terra cotta plant nannies.  Finally, something to do with all those wine bottles!

I am lusting after these claw feet which can be used as a door stop.  What a fantabulous idea!  Sweetie's office door has a tendency to close on it's own.  We joke that 'Bob' our ghost is trying to scare us, but I don't think it's 'Bob', more like an aging house.   

For the love of fonts!

By now you've probably ascertained that I have an obsession with typography, amongst my many other obsessions which I try to hide from you.  And if you haven't, well...

"Hi, my name is Delia, and I love fonts of various styles and sizes.  I especially love scripty fonts and fonts that look like handwriting, or crisp fonts with a bit of flare.  I LOVE everything there is about fonts, fonts, fonts."

Ok, there.  I feel slightly better now.

I was doing a little net surfing for this and that and stumbled upon this pretty cool website for independent designers (kinda sorta like me) called Supermarket .  Well of course I go straight to the paper goods section and look what I find! 

I thought it was a card, but it's better, it's an 8 x 10 print which you can frame and hang!  Nice!

I'm not the only one with a font obsession.  Tristan of The Bella Bella Co and I have been known to exchange font sources, etc.  She's an enabler.  Bad Tristan, bad!   But can you blame me?  Just look at her latest pretty little gift tags, they are little images of French postcards.  Beautiful.  Just look at the penmanship, so elegant, so ... French.

I don't know where my obsession will lead me.  Perhaps to another drawer or two of cards, notepads, notebooks, pretty paper with pretty writing...it will not end, it cannot end.  I need more fonts!

What's your sign?

I admit, I don't have any signs with clever or inspirational phrases in my home.  Though I've admired pictures in some of the home design magazines of beautiful rooms with a carefully placed sign and thought..."La Love!"  I guess I hadn't found a sign that spoke to me quite yet. 

This sign, however, spoke to me loud and clear.  The secret is finally out!

Of course not everyone has monkeys of their own.  Fear not sweet one, for you, there are cheery signs from Just My Luck Designs. 

This one would go great in a dining room or kitchen.  LOVE the font!

I know people who chant mantras to themselves.  It's something recommended in many self help books - so I hear.  "The mind first, the rest will follow." Or something like that. Something about positive mental thoughts.   

Vintage Glam...

Like a moth to a flame, I am instinctively drawn to the allure of timeworn vintage items, from jewelry to home decor.  There are few things I prefer in pristine condition.  Otherwise, the beauty of well loved linens and furniture gets me every time. 

This love affair influences my jewelry.  I now create mostly with brass which I age, or sometimes I'm fortunate to find vintage components to incorporate into the design.  But I especially love things that shine and sparkle, which is sometimes difficult to find as vintage pieces have lost their brilliance due to years of loving wear and attention.  So when I find components that lend themselves to an era gone by, yet sparkle and shine, I pounce on it like a cat to catnip.

I took a break from gardening this weekend to photograph some of my latest pieces which I've added to my shop.

Even though these amazonite beads don't sparkle like the crystal pieces above.  I adore how the light plays upon the facets.  Sweet and demure, they look as though you've found them at the bottom of your mother's coveted jewelry box.

 

A Beautiful Day for a White Wedding...

Over Memorial Day weekend, I attended my cousin Michael's wedding.  The ceremony was your usual Catholic affair, but the reception was a bit unusual for the family.  We typically hold our receptions at one of the many Halls, but Michael and his bride decided to have an outdoor reception in the gardens of a lovely Victorian home in Kingsburg. 

It was an overcast day with a chance of rain but luckily the rain never came.  I had an opportunity to take a few shots before most of the guests arrived.  The gardens were breathtaking.

It was great to see family and friends I had not seen in years.  Having moved away from home, I miss some family and community functions, so it was great to catch up.   I was tired and eager to get some rest from a long day of driving, laughing, eating and drinking, and am looking forward to Michael's sister's wedding in a few months.