NY Cupcake
Bird Feeder
DH and I saw two cardinals in the backyard on Saturday. I had birdseed for them and realized I needed a better bird feeder. I have a feeder especially for the hummingbirds, which I already set up last weekend. Haven’t seen any hummingbirds yet =( *bummer*. I ordered a really cute bird feeder today from Amazon. I can’t wait until it arrives! It is a pretty colonial design (can be hung or put on a post) and it cost $25, which I thought was fairly reasonable for its craftsmanship and size. The reviews I read gave it all thumbs up. I would be really pleased if it were also crow-proof but we’ll have to see. I hope this year I will see blue jays again like I did last summer. They are my favorite birds.
*Photocredit: Amazon.com
My Creative Retreat
Besides the obvious, like good-lighting and a cozy organized space; I also thrive on:
the scent of fresh linen soy candles
easy-listening, alternative, meditation/spa, or classical CDs
a small vase of pretty flowers with green fillers
my fave curios and wall art around me
My Favorite Childhood Books
San Francisco Boy by Lois Lenski
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madelaine L’Engle
Tenggren’s Golden Tales From The Arabian Nights
All of which I now have copies of; well, Tenggren’s book is on the way. Only one alludes me =(. I remember it was a lavender/pale lilac colored hardcover book and I think it was called The Valentine Day Party (something to that effect). My memory of it is a little sketchy since the last time I borrowed it from the library was more than twenty years ago. I’ve been trying to Google it, but to no avail =(. I even called my old elementary school in hopes to speak to the librarian, but the librarian never returned my call- maybe she thought I was a nut =}?.. I don’t even remember the author; only that I loved the illustrations enough to hog the book for weeks at a time. I think the illustrations were drawn by pencil and filled in with light or pale colors. I believe it was about a young girl who was trying to fit in; she was a very shy girl who was invited to a friend’s party? Any suggestions? Please contact me through the comments form. It would make me very happy to finally find it; to be re-united with a very special book from years ago =). Feel free to drop me a line about a favorite book of yours. My nephew is slowly accumulating books for his library (he’s not reading on his own yet but good books are forever treasures). I’m always wondering about what books have inspired others, what books have helped to shape a person’s life.
*Photocredits: Amazon
Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle
My husband and I visited Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry in 2005 to especially see Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle. I purchased Within the Fairy Castle: Colleen Moore’s Doll House at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (Hardcover) by Terry Ann R. Neff (Author), Michael T. Sarna (Foreword), Barbara Karant (Photographer) five years before I finally saw it. This was truly a dream-come-true for me! I don’t remember feeling as excited about anything else, besides my wedding day.
*Photocredits: Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry
- Colleen Moore
- Colleen Moore & Fairy Castle
- The Great Hall
- The Library
- Dining Room
- Chapel
- Kitchen
- Cinderella's Drawing Room
- The Princess' Bedroom
- The Princess' Bathroom
- The Prince's Bedroom
- The Prince's Bathroom
- The Attic
- The Magic Garden
- Book: Within The Fairy Castle
My Dollhouse Project
I began my project in Winter 2003. My husband’s grandfather’s wife inspired me. She’s been interested in miniatures for most of her life. Her father helped her build the dollhouse she showed me. Below is a picture of a Greenleaf Pierce Model (the same one as mine). I still have to do more sanding, wallpapering, electrifying, etc. Sadly, it’s sitting in the basement right now because of limited leisure time I can dedicate to building it. I think our two cats had been using it as a perch- although I used to shoo them away, I thought they looked really cute in it. The second smaller dollhouse is Greenleaf’s Glencroft Model, which I’m planning to make as a mercantile. I’m guilty of still having it in the box after all this time; yes, totally untouched =(. I really want to change the situation. I wish I had a better workplace for them with proper lighting and ventilation. I’m so envious of this one artist who has a two story carriage house as her workshop. She’s so lucky!
P.S. I’m planning to transform the Pierce into a Tudor style home somehow. I know there are people who would not agree, but that’s my dream.
I do have pictures from 2003 of me slaving over this project. I promise I will post them as soon as I can find the pics.
*Photocredit: Greenleaf
- Pierce
- Glencroft
How To Buy Nothing & Housekeeping (Self-Improvements)
*Reference: http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-Nothing*
I found a really good self-improvement article that I’d like to share. It takes strong will and lots of dedication to achieve shopping self-control, but I think it’s not impossible. There have been times when I was amazed and realized I actually didn’t feel that sorry about walking away from something that initially enticed me. So I guess I didn’t really love it that much or I would have still been pining for it. There’s nothing wrong with buying things you need or love and will get much use out of. The presence of clutter and unloved items are some of the signals that change is warranted. These are challenges that many people face, including myself. Another problem I have is I dislike parting with certain things because of an emotional attachment to them. One of the many things I have to work on =}.
Here are some other references I have found to be very helpful and effective:
Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui by Karen Kingston
Smart Closet Makeovers by Cynthia Overbeck Bix
Shop Your Closet: The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet with Style by Melanie Charlton Fascitelli
Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home by Martha Stewart
Organizing Plain and Simple: A Ready Reference Guide with Hundreds of Solutions to Your Everyday Clutter Challenges by Donna Smallin
It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff by Peter Walsh
http://clutterdiet.com/sample_weekly_plan.php
I also believe in 10-15 minutes nightly housekeeping activities rather than spending a whole weekend cleaning like crazy. What a waste of a good weekend! Binge cleaning has never worked well for me; it’s so over-whelming, unappealing, and shame-provoking.
Nathalie Lecroc
I am so excited to be participating in Nathalie Lecroc‘s project! I can’t wait until her book (tentatively entitled Petite Anthologie de Sacs et Sacs à Main) is published!
I just received a JPG from Miss Lecroc of the watercolor painting of my handbag and contents. I can’t wait to get it framed! I have the perfect style in mind for it =). See #708 below. It’s mine! The original has my signature after the asterisk. I have removed the signature on this JPG for the purpose of my blog.
- Nathalie Lecroc's Watercolor Painting Bag #138
- Nathalie Lecroc's Watercolor Painting Bag #265
- Nathalie Lecroc's Watercolor Painting Bag #643
- Illustration by Nathalie Lecroc #708
- Illustrations by Nathalie Lecroc
Characteristics of Gemini
Characteristics Considered Positive
* Active
* Adaptable
* Communicative
* Inquisitive
* Intellectual
* Charming
* Multitasking
* Whimsical
* Witty
* Straight-forward
* Talkative
* Open-minded
* Experimental
* Enthusiastic
* Energetic
* Spontaneous
* Risk-taking
* Friendly
* Dynamic
* Youthful
* Clever
* Imaginative
Characteristics Considered Negative
* dualistic
* self-interested
* restless
* impulsive
* over-stimulated
* fickle/inconsistent
* vain
* critical
* ego-oriented
* devious
* tricky
* superficial
* temperamental
* mercurial
* indecisive
