tea in bohemia

ocean and mountains... just the way the bohemian LOVES it!!

2012-02-13T16:02:00.000-08:00

the bohemian and her crafting friend traveled far to get to the lovely island to retreat and craft their little hearts out! actually, they traveled much farther than they should have, and took TWO ferry rides instead of just the one they should have. they blame it on darkness, nearsightedness and oldtimers. but eventually they arrived at their destination. on a beautiful sunny winter day, with the sun sparkling on the waters and shining off the mountains. beautiful!!! did the bohemian ever mention that she LOVES ferry rides?! and SUNSHINE?! yes, it was a pretty awesome day. and they laughed. a LOT. laughed over their scenic loop drive. and their ridiculousness. and their giddiness to just be away on an adventure. oh it was pure bliss!!! *(due to the fact that the bohemian and blogger uploader are fighting, she is just going to sneak a few pictures onto her blog at a time. you know... to stay under the radar. so blogger doesn't know to thwart her. YOU understand, don't you?!)

time at the ocean for a little crafting retreat...

2012-02-13T15:28:00.000-08:00

the bohemian's annual crafter's retreat where she goes to play with her craft stuff and her girlfriends every year about this same time... the setting: Fort Flagler, on the ocean with a spectacular view of the snowcapped Olympic mountains. the theme: Rockin' the 80's! Here's how they decorated the stage of the theatre. Shall we play a game of Eye Spy? here's your list: *giant rubix cubes *VO5 hairspray * giant boom box (oh so faux!) * giant pencil from The Breakfast Club * E.T. * Pacman * giant tube of blue mascara * did you find everything? ever so 80's, fur sure! the bohemian and her royal sister get into the mood by dressing up 80's style ... royal sister: punk rocker... the bohemian: can you guess? yep, that's right... Rainbow Brite!! Hope you are having a wonderful day and days of days creating magic with your fabulous imagination!! more crafting retreat fun to come... Fuzzy leg warmer hugs and Care Bear magic to you all....

using "random" to make "beauty"...

2012-01-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

these cards were born of a challenge kit, a random collection of supplies, without rhyme or reason. the bohemian was so stumped and uninspired at first. but then the magic happened and the supplies just assembled themselves into piles... and voila! the above cards include black photo corners, which became "hinges" on the "books". the floral corners were a prestamped image the bohemian cut into fourths. the "hope" and "friend" were cut from a prestamped block of words. the fiber and border strip were added, with random "doodads" from the kit. this one had the punched green flower shape and the bright yellow silk flower, which the bohemian grunged up a little. the moose/tree and the cabin/tree were a piece of paper included in the kit, as was the border behind the "beauty" word, which the bohemian stamped in multi inks. the black paper was in the kit, so the bohemian punched it with her snowflake punch to add drama to those little circles (which the bohemian was not excited about). she also stamped the white card behind the flower layer with a "tree" stamp that she off-stamped to make it really subtle. all of these pieces came in the kit, except the fish which the bohemian made by inking white paper, covering it in the plastic background which the stickers came on (because it looked "scale-y). here, she used up the rest of that moose/cabin/tree paper. she again punched a snowflake out of the black paper included in the kit, cut the snowflake in half to create an interesting edge to the stamped background with the word on it. more black photo corners used as corner accents. the screw brad was included in the kit. these last two cards used the die cut tags, the rest of the diamond/dot 3-D stickers, another ''grunged" silk flower, and the last moose image of the paper piece. the tan backgrounds for the tags are wooden sample plaques for countertop faux woodgrain. and then there was those two little doohickies beside the "hope" but there were no brads in the kit, so the bohemian glued them on and filled the holes with dimensional fabric paint to mimic brads. she really did have fun accepting the challenge of taking all these random, unmatching things and making something of beauty with them! not to be corny but what a great life philosophy, right? hope your day is made beautiful with the random, unmatched minutes and hours that you turn into something lovely... creative dreams and hodgepodge wishes to you all... don't forget to play. and look around for unusual things with which to create art. it's a fun life, isn't it?

bohemia in white...

2012-01-18T10:34:00.000-08:00

oh yes! bohemia is draped in white today! actually it started on saturday night... this was the piccture out the window on monday, as it had continued to snow all day and night... this was the picture on tues! monday... tuesday... 20 inches and still snowing... it's wednesday and it's still snowing! what a fun winter storm!! but prayers go out to those who are having hardships because of the weather... a little art peek: a two page spread for a friend's round robin book titled: women. she used a floral themed photo album, which was really fun to work in! the bohemian knew those lace scraps would be perfect! and the beautiful little girl, watering her flowers and sharing their joy... and a favorite quote about the faith she and her friend share... altered round robin for another friend in the same stamping group. she used a blank chipboard book, which was a little more challenging to work in. her theme: self-portrait. so the bohemian covered the pages with images and words of things the bohemian loves... it's quite a busy collage but she had fun putting it together. back to the weather... her windowsill snowmen are soooo happy!! two feet of snow and still snowing.... fluffy snowball dreams and sparkly white wishes to you all... don't forget to play today, whether it's snowball fights or splashy mudpuddles or sandcastles or walks in the desert heat... carpe diem!

last bohemian pictures of 2011:

2012-01-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

december's chilly rains put some snow pack on the majestic bohemian mountains... the bohemian's kitchen windows glowed with Christmas spirit all through the holidays... and an O So Special Christmastime with the fairy-grandchild... she provided ever so much entertainment and laughter. she has been a HUGE blessing to the bohemian fairy-grandmother this year! she fell asleep in her tutu! O My Gosh! the bohemian's heart is enthralled... Mr. Santa and his Grinch (hand-made by the drama queen daughter)... bohemian sky art, provided as one storm after the other rolled through the valley... snow white frosty new year wishes and vanilla sunset dreams to you all...

gratitude produces hope in the dark days of winter...

2011-12-28T21:32:00.000-08:00

the party lights are on... to drive away the dark and stormy night... time for a gratitude fling: *peppermint tea * Christmas lights that stay up late into January * fig bars * jigsaw puzzles * chicken soup * simplicity at Christmastime * quiet time with God * fuzzy blankets * warm woodstove fires * toasted sourdough bread * new appliances: popcorn popper, skillet, electric massage cushion for the royal chair * grandbaby giggles and snuggles * all the kids and their families around the dining room table * watching the cousins laugh together * new pink fuzzy socks with black polka dots... What's on YOUR gratitude list? happy new year wishes and prayers for a blessed new year for you all!

another little peek... short on words

2011-12-21T13:28:00.000-08:00

another peek at the smallish nativity tree... (nativity hand-carved in s. america) the fairy grandchild = grandma love! she loves her hands. she's the bohemian fairy grandchild so the bohemian concludes she is deciding which henna hand decos she wants... the fairy grandchild sitting on santagrandpa's knee and holding his hand... mrs. santagrandma LOVES it!!! smoochy baby cheek wishes to you all...

oh my! it's almost here!!

2011-12-21T12:42:00.000-08:00

merry almost Christmas, from Bohemia!! the bohemian chose a rather smallish tree this year and just put on her nativity collection, with lights and a few merry colored balls and dancing icicles... (the tree is standing in an old pickle crock!!) sadly, (and she IS sad!), the weatherman has predicted no snow for the pacific northwest for Christmas. she made a few presents and a pile of cards and a doorhanger which she concocted for her fairy grandchild... she snapped a picture or two of the royal mother and princess sister at Molbak's, in front of the startlingly beautiful poinsettia tree. now THAT is a place to visit to get into the spirit of Christmas!! acres of poinsettias (the bohemian had no idea they came in so many colors!), and trees of every theme, color, and size... ornaments so varied that NO one could come away without finding"just the very thing"... the bohemian and her royal honey played mr. and mrs. claus at the nearby village grill. she helped the children frost cookies and make ornaments for their trees. and had a blast doing it!! she wishes all of you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas celebration and prays for blessings for you throughout the coming new year! twinkling hopes and starlit wishes to you all...

Season's blessings:

2011-12-08T20:28:00.000-08:00

* the smell of evergreen boughs * peppermint tea * tiny nativities * happy birthday Jesus songs on the radio * Christmas crafting * holiday cards coming in the mail * seeing the lights of Christmas trees shining in all the windows of all the homes * fudge * the baby grandchild Hanna... she gets on every list, doesn't she?! * jingle bells * Hallmark Christmas movies * zucchini muffins * split pea soup * Christmas parties * Good list, huh? this bohemian is so truly blessed and so happy to be living this village life in her cozy cottage. she is so truly grateful! joyful, glittery holiday wishes to you all...

it's beginning to look a lot like...

2011-11-30T20:00:00.000-08:00

season's blessings: *trumpeter swans flying over honking all the way* day-after spaghetti* creating home-made cards* christmas lights going up all over town * warm, snuggly quilts * time with loved ones (esp. moms!!) * egg salad sandwiches * coffee and scrabble friends * artist friends * petting warm, cuddly kittens * christmastime coming!!! enjoy this most wonderful time of the year... toasty marshmallow wishes to you...

holiday blessings...

2011-11-29T15:56:00.000-08:00

so many blessings at this time of year: *precious baby grandchild * woodstove warmth* christmas lights * creating cards * homemade soups * dragging out the christmas decorations * a clean craft room (it will only get messy again...but tidiness for the moment...) * my kids and my kids by law * snowflakes * snowmen* hot chocolate * peppermint mochas * watching Ellen and laughing out loud... happiness and fairy wishes to you all!

it's coming... it's coming...

2011-11-16T13:55:00.000-08:00

it's coming! a big storm... the wind is battering the cottage and the rain is belting sideways down the windowpanes. it's coming and there's christmas music playing softly and the woodfire is warm. it's coming and it's time for a gratitude fling!! the bohemian is SO thankful for: thanksgiving time, a gathering of family, laughter and stories and turkey and gravy and her children near, her warm cottage when the wind and rain rage outside the door, constant comment orange tea to soothe her sore throat, good books to read under a blanket. (just a few of the best things in her life) it's coming... and she has been busy, busy making christmas tags! (browse through and enjoy...) it's coming and it's time to count down with anticipation... and so it's almost time for advent calenders!!! it's coming... and she needs to make squares for the advent calendars, lots and lots of squares, lots of 'em! 00ps...oh... a tangent: the paste paper snowflake tag she mentioned last time... half an advent calender to go (times 4... one for each daughter/daughter-in-law)... it's coming and the bohemian hopes you are knee deep into christmas joy and creations. and NO, it's not too early for christmas music and watching Elf and the Grinch!! and listening to "baby, it's cold outside" and smiling quietly.... cheery, holiday joy wishes to you today....

november...time for a gratitude fling...

2011-11-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

here in bohemia, signs of autumn saying farewell are all around... chimneys are puffing woodsmoke softly into the wind. the bohemian's lovely ginkgo tree has lost, overnight, it's brilliant yellow leaves, which now carpet the lawn beneath. the warm red leaves of the blueberry bush are dropping to the ground beneath, leaving scraggly branches dancing in the wind. the sky above bohemia is a moving picture of purple clouds, brilliant sunbeams, rainbows, and blue, blue sky. the pumpkins, tomatoes, cabbages, onions, and cukes have all been plucked from the dying vines. and the bohemian knows... winter is approaching. no, she has not put away her halloween things yet, but the "harvesty" stuff can stay for another month. she has christmasy things happening on her workspace, and the nutcracker ballet playing softly in the background. yes, she thinks, i am ready to move on... bohemian gratitude fling: she is sooo happy for these things (only a tiny partial list, you understand!!!): *the magic of grandbabies *the warmth of woodfires *the taste of coffee with honey and cream *the variety of colors *quiet serenity *her faith in God *her wonderful best friend and hubby *the deep satisfaction of creating art what are YOU thankful for at this time of the year? her stamping exchange group played with paste-paper-making (glorified adult version of finger-painting, really) and then were challenged to use it in cards. this is what the bohemian did with hers. the leaves and the punched border were punched out of the paste paper that she made. her last "fall" card. with some of the leftover paste paper she punched snow flakes. she'll show you that another day. deliciously messy painty wishes to you all...

an appetite, a feeling, and a love...

2011-11-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

Wordsworth: "...Their colors and their forms were to me then an appetite, a feeling, and a love..." What an incredibly gorgeous Fall in bohemia this year!! the bohemian ate hungrily of the intense colors in the world around her and she was nearly satisfied...or so she thought. even the rain did not dim her wonder and delight at the sights she drank with her eyes. but a rainstorm, a violent wind, and a frost later and she was mourning the downfall of the leaves which heralded the starkness of winter coming. only the joy and anticipation of the coming holidays lightened the gloom descending... and the rumor of snowflake dances coming, and the threat of glistening crystals on the windowpanes. she truly hopes that this month will bring blessings, and LISTS of blessing as we count each and every one. and she hopes for you a tablefull of yummy wishes, too. happy November!

November morn.....

2011-10-31T13:39:00.000-07:00

"It's a beautiful day for it." - daily comment of Wilbur Cross

goodbye october...

2011-10-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

farewell, october... you graced bohemia with beautiful crisp sunny days. you also handed us windswept, rainfilled ones. the trees wore the most gorgeous colors this year! thank you, most imaginative Creator, for leaves of red, orange, gold... for rainbows, purple clouds, orange pumpkins, multi-colored and crunchy leaf piles, spidery webs decorated with fat, sparkly raindrops, and blue mountain majesty with a dust of brilliant white snowfall. my soul is well-fed with such abundance of beauty... a page from the bohemian's "black" glue book... "make hast to be kind"! a glorious halloween to everyone. relish the beauty of the season and don't forget to count your blessings one by one. keep your costumed selves playful and safe! black and silver wishes with purple and orange love notes to you all...

a few holiday cards... eeeeekkk!!!!

2011-10-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

with infinite patient impatience, the bohemian managed to upload (one. at. a. time. -is anyone else having this issue?!) a few of the halloween cards she made. hmmmm... why does this one make her think of her blogger uploading?! she grungied up (sure it's a word!!) these cards to make them seem more spooky. and a happy harvest time to all... go carve those pumpkins and dance with those scarecrows. and don't get lost in the corn maze and have to dial 911!!!! orange and purple wishes to you all!

a little Halloween sneak...

2011-10-12T18:29:00.000-07:00

the bohemian black cat... a smiling orange bohemian pumpkin waiting for dark time to glow by candlelight... hope you're having a great Octember.... spooky sparkly wishes to you. (0nce again, the bohemian was only able to upload 3 pictures, one. at. a. time, one of which promptly went away into blogoshpere twilight zone...SIGH!!)

arrrrrrgh!

2011-10-11T11:19:00.000-07:00

NO! the bohemian is not trying out her pirate growl for Halloween costuming! Blogger is frustrating her SO MUCH RIGHT NOW!! she has been trying to post for days now. today she was able to upload two pictures. ONE. AT. A. TIME. and then blogger refused to post any more. not even one at a time. the bohemian is so sorry to any of you popping in for a lovely post... she will keep trying. she promises! arrrrrrgh. she wants to have patience but she doesn't want to have to USE it!!! happy halloween decorating to you all!!! now she needs to go write in her gratitude journal and remind herself of how beautiful her life is and that even though blogger is the bogeyman right now, she will hold onto her JOY!!! rain-kissed wishes to you all....

grantitude fling... see previous post! ( these were some pictures in one of my unpublished drafts)

2011-10-11T00:03:00.000-07:00

art...creativity...masks...paint...colors...time to create...artist friends...art studios... Fall...Autumn...pumpkins...garden spaces...jack'o'lanterns...Halloween...Thanksgiving...family... gorgeous dramatic weather...cozy warm house from which to view it...raindrop prisms... Jesus...my salvation...His sacrifice for me...His prayers of intercession for me...His joy=my joy... woodstove warmth...woodshed full of wood...cooking on my woodstove...watching flames dance...

a travel journal...

2011-10-05T17:09:00.000-07:00

the bohemian is finally finishing up another travel journal. this one had captured memories from some of her shorter trips around her own country, rather than her travels abroad. snippets of the pages she prepared for her trip to S. Dakota to visit her brother. she always includes a travel alphabet... and embellishments. and stickers. and stamps... and ephemera picked up along the way... (passport stamp from Theodore Roosevelt Nat'l Park, and a real butterfly, who committed suicide on the grill of her sister's convertible). winter is advancing quickly... sit by your fire, drag out the journals, and relive the memories of warmer, more adventurous days of your life. be warm and safe out there...

and when she came back...

2011-09-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

it was turning Fall... and there were hazelnuts to gather! the bohemian was so surprised the squirrels had left her some... the tomatoes were abundant but not turning red very fast! the baby cabbage had grown quite a lot!! the pumpkin population was exploding under their leafy broad leaves... and even though one frost had already come, blossoms were still popping out in hopes that indian summer would turn them into real cucumbers. pattypan squash were popping out from nowhere every time the bohemian turned around. but the leaves were turning and whispering that growing time was drawing to a close... there were still blackberries to pick though! yummmmm... purple sweetness bursting in her mouth. and the wood shed had become full to overflowing with the promise of toasty, cozy warmth to come, once the temps begin to fall... but for this week, anyways, summer would still show its warm bright face. and the bohemian would happily graze her way through the last days of summer... warm, sunny wishes and brisk Autumn greetings to you all...

gypsy traveling...

2011-09-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

the gypsy carriage... the bohemian's sister's convertible. travelers included the bohemian, her sister, and her brother-in-law, whose good driving took them 4000 miles partway across the country and back... ...driving with the top down. it's amazing how much more you can see this way!!! some of the bohemian's favorite sights: the talking moose head, where the bohemian enjoyed a gigantic huckleberry ice cream cone... Sitting Bull's memorial... (that person is the bohemian's brother, who lives in S. Dakota, and so became their tour guide...) a petrified wood sculpture park... very Dr. Seuss-ish!!! her favorite piece of kitschy art was this scrap metal cowboy riding a tyrannosaurus... look at all the wonderful pieces of rusted metal!!! and the way it was all put together... so COOL!! since the bohemian loves rusty metal so much, this was a delightful eye-candy sight! made her wish she knew how to WELD!!! an original antique Winnie the Pooh book spotted in a museum during Fun N Beef Days!! a glorious sunset behind her brother's house in S. Dakota... gorgeous!! not a dandelion but a puffy wish maker, none-the-less!! kitschy Wall Drug Store in Wall, S. Dakota... gift shops, antiques, cowboy stuff, eating places, stuffed buffalo, the usual unusual tourist stuff. hours of fun to be had!! Mt. Rushmore... bronze buffalo statues were everywhere, a lot of them painted in murals or folk art patterns. the bohemian loved them but had no where to put such a collection, so she left them where they stood. she might have gotten in big trouble for collecting, anyways... the bohemian and her sister, riding along with the top down, enjoying the scenic byways... a pronghorn in a meadow in the Custer State Park on the wildlife loop... and THESE guys!!! they were EVERYWHERE!!! our tax dollars at work... the bohemian, her sister and her brother... siblings having a blast together!! you can bet your bottom dollar, the bohemian stayed on the sidewalk here!!! close up encounter with a buffalo... a little unnerving with the top down and the animal taller than your car!! he could have slime-licked the bohemian in a heart-beat! so glad he didn't! and of course, a visit to Old Faithful, still spouting on time after all these years. the bohemian had such a wonderful gypsy-traveling time! but she's glad to be back to her little cottage by her bohemian mountain. sad to say farewell to summer but O how lovely is the Fall season!! bring it on! enjoy the last vestiges of summer in your neck of the woods and start your decorating for the holidays to come... Happy Fall, y'all!!!

it's time...

2011-09-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

time for a little journey. check the bohemian's travel blog:" Down the WeIDE path" , if you want to come along... grand-daughter princess update... she's talking and cooing and smiling now! grandma is enthralled! fall has come to the bohemian valley, whether the bohemian is ready for summer to end or not. the weather is giving bohemia one last shot of hot summer weather this week, for a fond farewell... don't forget to live in the moment, no matter what season has come to your part of the world. and PLAY LIKE YOU MEAN IT!!! autumn colored wishes to you all....

2011-08-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

oooo. fall is in the air! how can that be when we have just begun our summer, it seems? cherish these lovely end-of-summer days... bask in the sunshine, use every drop of the evening sunlight. eat fresh from the garden! these are the memories that sustain us through the long winter nights. freshly squashed herbal wishes to you all...

a little bit of art...

2011-08-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

cards for my trading group... the bohemian just had to use some of this awesome paper she just bought! (she needed new paper like she needed a hole in her head but... isn't it beautiful?!) busy days in bohemia lately but O! the sunny weather!!! YES! finally summer arrived... the bohemian just finished reading: Havah, by Tosca Lee... a story about the first woman, Eve. it was an interesting tale. o this is soooo my thinking on the whole cooking thing!!! hope you find some reading time in the quiet rest of a summer evening. now, go outside and play!!! warm summery wishes to all...

are there fairies a Fair?

2011-08-18T14:18:00.000-07:00

well....... the bohemian saw this fairy house but no fairies were seen in residence. maybe they came out at night to dance and play... but the bohemian DID see: a 20lb. cabbage... a gorgeous giant dahlia dressed in her favorite colors.... draft horses!!!! the bohemian LOVES the draft horses while at the same time being terrified of their hugeness... the horse show... a pink tractor... here is the bohemian with her daughter-in-laws and her precious granddaughter.... a "QUILT DIVA" quilt that made her laugh out loud! again... in her favorite colors! the royal princess thought it was funny too! she had a GREAT time at her first ever Fair... she hopes you made it to the state fair in your neck of the woods... fair time wishes and barnyard love to all....

romping with the panda bears...

2011-08-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

yes, this has been the face of bohemia darn near all summer. well, there have been a few sunbreaks. but the bohemian is definately vitamin D deficient!!! so... for a week and a half, she stole away to "somewhere else"... "somewhere" through this old white door... where her eyes were dazzled with parasols and peacock feathers... where gold silk and chinese lanterns decorated the ceilings, and panda bears roamed... (as well as other wild things...such as children aged 3 to 12...) dragonflies hovered... and peonies bloomed in doorways... peonies and cherry blossoms filled every space... and exotic birds perched on exotic greenery... and the bamboo was made out of recycled paper towel tubes and curling ribbon... oh yes! the bohemian had so much fun at vacation bible school again this year!!! PANDAMANIA... "where God is WILD about you!!!' and the latest grandma update... the bohemian is SOOO in love with this child!! hug your loved ones tight and don't forget to play and sing and dance with children! what a marvelous way to stay young (even if it's simply "at heart") fuzzy black and white cuddle wishes to you...

you need rain to get rainbows...

2011-07-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

it's the coldest, rainiest summer in bohemia! brrrrr... but the sky art has been definitely dramatic!! purple storm clouds and iridescent rainbow colors... perfect combination! the growing things around bohemia are really loving the wet weather and the occasional sunbreak... tiny blackberry blossoms are promising blackberry juicy goodness in a few more weeks. two different kinds of blackberry that bloom at different times, making bohemia's blackberry season last longer! and a strawberry blossom will soon be a mouthful of flavor-burst... hazelnuts are growing and the bohemian will soon have to fight off the squirrels and the stellar jays to harvest her share... and whirly twirly things will soon be dancing in the wind, helicopering to the ground below. the bohemian's favorite joyful summer yellowness are in full bloom. and the roses! O! the roses!!! morning glories are beautifying the edges of the bohemian's country lane. yes, it's been a wet, cold summer so far. but the bohemian still thinks she lives in the most beautiful part of our country!! and she's loaning her bohemian field to the bee keeper in anticipation of sweet, sweet honey to warm the coming winter months... and she promised to show off the garden globe she blew at the glass studio... magical, isn't it? blossomy, berry-making wishes to you all....

what's brewin'?

2011-07-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

So. What's brewing in your area of our world? The bohemian has made a few cards... ...a few tags... and she made herself a reminder... she reminds you too: remember what's good in your life... it isn't the "things"! hug those loved ones that you are fortunate to have in your life right now. and don't forget to go out and play!!! caffeinated, coffee-aroma wishes to you today...

the magic of molten glass...

2011-07-05T16:32:00.000-07:00

come with the bohemian to a nearby artisan village... where there awaits a world of glowing light and dazzling color... enter the open doors to the "HOT SHOP", if you dare... watch as the glass artist heats your gob of molten glass... as he rolls it in wet cherry wood to smooth it... as he heats and rolls it again to shape it... pick out you favorite colors... and watch as he rolls that molten glob in the colored shards... wait patiently in the back corner on your tall stool... in your goofy glasses (safety glasses? the artist tells you they are just for his entertainment...) for your turn to blow your glass into a globe... ready? okay. blow gently... snip....! there it lies, in its soft bed, your lovely purple and green glowing magic ball!!! wasn't that fun? and not as scary as it sounded at first! away goes your magic ball into the cooling cupboard so it can cool slowly for the next day or two... watch as your friends make their own magic bowls... as you leave, don't walk into the sliding GLASS door. they've posted a helpful note... now go sit serenely beside the watery channel. visit with your friend, eat crab cake sandwiches and drink iced coffee... no, you don't have to share anything with the bird, even if he IS begging... the next day, CELEBRATE the freedoms of the wonderful country you are privileged to live in. God bless our own United States of America!!! red, white, and blue sparkly wishes to you and yours...

ROYAL BOHEMIAN BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT!

2011-07-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

in the land of bohemia, there is a newness, a bit of magic and miracle, a fresh beginning... and at the nearby lake, a precious photo shoot was taking place... the bohemian daughter (in-law) was busily snapping photos of the new fairy princess that had been recently born... (the bohemian's new granddaughter...pride of pride!!!) yes, this post will be long on pics...you understand, right? feel free to say: ooooh and aahhh... she royally wears orange well, don't you think? (the bohemian's favorite color) precious, yes? the royal fairy princess is not so sure about this black theme... but pinkness and birdies? oh yes! and definitely sea shells! the bohemian has big plans for her and the fairy princess (named Hanna Marie) to go on many shell-finding trips to the beaches!! and YES, she is a mermaid, thanks for asking... sweetness bursting out all over... mmm hhmmm... will she be shy? she will definitely love pearls!!! and she will eventually lose the binky during photo shoots... "FINALLY," thinks the fairy princess as she snuggles down into her royal conveyance... "they are finally done taking pictures of me! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE CRAZY BOHEMIANS? they are driving me a little bit crazy myself!" the bohemian thanks you kindly for humoring her and her obsessive post about the new granddaughter. don't forget to go out and play today! and on your walk around the lake, look for the magic of fairies...it's out there, i assure you!! precious fresh-from-heaven baby magic wishes to you all today...

let's TEA party!!!!

2011-06-13T14:31:00.001-07:00

morning dawns over bohemia on a very SPECIAL day!!! a very special PARTY day. a very special TEA party day... follow your curiosity and take the trail through the enchanted forest... enter through the gate as the gatekeeper beckons... into a magical world of tea party goodness! Look!! the mad, mad, mad hatter is here! and the doormouse is waiting, impatiently for teatime to start. the tea table is set with all kinds of goodness and looking so inviting... come closer and see... desserts of various kinds ("stressed" spelled backwards is "desserts"... did you know that?), lacy trays of wonderland shortbread... try one, try two... won't you? sweet and romantic sugar cubes.... just the thing for your cup of sweet tea! and a tiny Alice, sipping tea beside the hatter's big hat... does every party goer need a hat? this one is too big for Alice, i think... she likes this orange one better, but it is too large also. Alice strolls through the wonderland garden... did you know flowers could talk? she has quite a curious conversation with a blue caterpillar there... he claims the bohemian is quite mad! as mad as the hatter! using the key she finds there in the garden birdbath, she enters a small room and finds the drink which makes her shrink and the cake which makes her grow...or is it the other way around? it matters not that much to her but she is really enjoying her time being her own "mini-me"... perhaps she'll eat some cake later on. she hopes you enjoyed stopping by for tea... and hopes you never forget about wonderland... and that you'll visit whenever you can! the bohemian reminds you: don't forget to stop and let your mouth hang open in awe whenever you see heart-stopping beauty! and use that imagination of yours to color your world in whatever way makes you smile... have a playful day! why is Chessie still hanging around with that mysterious grin?! ( For lots more tea party fun, pop over to A Fanciful Twist... for a list of all the tea parties happening today!)

something's happening...

2011-06-13T13:26:00.001-07:00

the bohemian has suspicions... something is happening in bohemia! she ducks through the doorway into the secret garden...

the magnolia blossoms are whispering behind her back...

she sees the garden fairies acting mighty suspicious... DEFINATELY up to something!!!

she peeks into a room where it appears a party is being prepared...

and a mysterious stranger has left his fancy hat behind as he goes about his secret business...

mmmm.... what could be going on?! join the bohemian in the secret garden on Saturday to find out with her what in the world is happening in bohemia....

atwitter in bohemia...

2011-06-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

why are the bohemian fairies all atwitter?

and why is Chessie hanging round the bohemian's craft room?

the bohemian queried the doormouse... he yawned and answered...

" it's almost time for something!!! "

"don't be late for tea!!"

wishing you all sweet summer tea times

and do pop by A Fanciful Twist on June 25th for her Mad Hatter's Tea blog hop!

artist trading cards

2011-06-07T13:21:00.000-07:00

this is a set...

of Artist Trading Cards...

made for an exchange group put together by lovely mermaid Carmen...

bohemian philosophy

2011-05-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

(a few cards for the bohemian's stamping exchange group)

the bohemian is in love with this blue background paper!! she has used it over and over for all kinds of things!

and this one is a "kid" card... yes, it's pretty girlie!!

love this philosophy!! we ain't done yet, folks; we are all sparks of potential!

2011-05-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

here in bohemia, wet = green. but there shouldn't be snow on them thar hills still!

a couple more "black book" pages...

and the bohemian's beautiful mountain peeking out during the one of the occasional few sun breaks... hope your spring has sprung and that you are enjoying it to the fullest! SCATTER JOY!!! and don't forget to play...

windowsill love... recycled art...

2011-05-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

the bohemian loves her kitchen windowsill. yes, it get cluttered but it holds the loveliest of things! right now, it is displaying camellias from the bush just outside the window. and a few periwinkles. both are flowers planted by her hubby's grandmother. she had a wonderful way with flowers! unlike the bohemian herself, who has a black thumb, incapable of keeping plants alive. thus, she must forever steal pleasure from the work of others' hands. as far as gardening, anyways.

purple periwinkle pleasure...

also on her kitchen windowsill... her charming fairy in a jar. made for her by Carmen. behind the fairy are her party lights and in front of the fairy, a collection of tiny rocks dislodged from the bottom of a metal vase. they are awaiting a new home.

isn't she just adorable and radiating mischief?

here is the new set of cards for her exchange group. the challenge: recycle, reuse. the strips on the right-hand side of the cards are leftover scraps of faux encaustic wax backgrounds the bohemian had made some time ago. the burgundy bird and his tan wing were punched out of a disposable coffee cup. same with the teal bird's wing. the pale purple background paper on the left is wrapping paper. the tan-ish background paper on the right is from floral paper they wrap around flower bouquets. the crayon quote is about the faux encaustic wax... it's made by coloring on a hot iron with color crayons then applying it to paper. it is a fun and addicting process...hard to stop! but a great way to use up those broken crayons!!

these two cards weren't made for any special purpose....just using up odds and ends. the butterflies in the baggie (right side of pic) were inspired by a card seen in the royal mother's magazine...still working on finishing those ones up.

pink border made with the bohemian's favorite border punch. butterflies punched with the bohemian's new punch. nothing homemade on these, just a lot of scrapping papers! o yes, and the dark teal color? came from an envelope, believe it or not! Art is always just laying around all around you! don't forget to look for it and USE it for creativity! blossomy blooming fragrant wishes to you all, and recycled art love...

Black Book, and Morning Pages...

2011-05-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

okay. i'm doing things a new way. new things to learn...not my favorite thing. i like it when i find what i like and it stays that way... forever. sigh. what planet am i from, you ask? my planet's called Magic Bubble, and the Land of Bohemia is there... the above picture is the cover of my Black Book.

i loved this image and found this word. i liked it and so it was finished...

The darkest hour only has 60 minutes." -Morris Mandel. -a good reminder for a book with dark themes.

this is a daily page from my Morning Pages book. the rain has been pretty unrelenting here. along with snow that just wouldn't seem to go away. and not to be petty or shallow but somehow that nice hot cup of coffee DOES make it seem more bearable! "waiting for Hanna" means my first grandchild is 1 month away from me being able to hold and cuddle her!!! i can't wait!!

more daily pages...

hope your corner of the world is ablaze with the glory of Springtime! artsy fartsy love and cherry blossom wishes to you all...

still having troubles...

2011-05-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

o i am so truly frustrated by blogger right now!! but here are two pages from the Black Book that i have started. the first is from a poem i remember as a child and that Loreena McKennitt recorded as a song. the second is just a "gypsy heart" page... feeling this way a lot lately. exotic and enchanted wishes to you all...

2011-05-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

sorry everyone who came over to play today... having malfunctioning blog posting issues!! aaarrrrgggg! springy wishes to you all! i shall return! i hope...

cards and a spot of tea...

2011-04-17T19:27:00.001-07:00

cards made at the card club: above...spinner cards. the one on the right is inside it's window envelope. fun, huh? it's the little things that make life BIG! above: a spring-type card with a tiny message of HOPE... and the pleasure of tea with my mom and... one of my daughters (middle) and my two daughter-in-laws. and yes, the lemon tart was quite yummy! wishing you a lovely celebration of Easter and Resurrection joy and a basket full of spring wishes, hopes and happiness...

retreating into restfulness...

2011-04-12T12:56:00.001-07:00

with the weather being so unnervingly fickle around bohemia these days, the bohemian wasn't sure how her retreat to the garden lands would turn out... but there was a time of sunshine and glory. the bohemian got to sit and soak... soak up sun's warmth, soak up restorative water songs, soak up the Creator's beautiful blooming nature, soak up the love and companionship of sisters and friends. her afternoon stroll took her past this sundial with this hope-filled quote inscribed upon it. she smiled... only the earliest of the spring blooms were showing off... her pathway took her up the hillside through the rhodie bushes not yet decked out in their spectacular array of color... past the music of cascading water... and the happiness of the daffodils. forsythia blooms showed off their brilliant yellow shades to the blue, blue sky. a few azaleas had bravely burst into color, ignoring the late snow and frosts. so many paths beckoning... she found her favorite daffodils blooming. and a new variety she's never seen before. her NEW favorites!! yes it was a very restful time for her, followed by a baby shower for her coming first grandchild!! then some more art time making cards and some more music time, playing her bass guitar in her church group. then rescuing her car from the mechanic and handing over lots of $$$ for it to be better. then today...a day of bright sunshine and a quiet house. and some art time... don't forget to play today! find some daffodils smiling at you and smile back at them. watch the herd babies frolic in the pastures. pass your smiles on to whomever you meet. flower-fragrance wishes to you...

chipboard challenge...

2011-04-04T11:43:00.001-07:00

the bohemian is not a chipboard fan. she only has some because someone else gave them to her. but when the challenge at her card exchange group was "chipboard" she was happy to have her odds and ends to use on the cards!! some of the chipboard pieces had these shiny teal debossed images on them so that inspired her color scheme... especially since she had just recently punched out the teal birds, fleur-de-lis (which, by the way, had nothing to do with the birds, or anything else on the card...she just loves the design. that's all... just likes it...), and some of the word frames. why yes...her favorite IS the one that says: LAUGH OUT LOUD!! hope you find time to do some of that! it's good for your health, you know! and coming right up, this very weekend, after the totally crazy week which this week will have been.... her annual escape to her church's women's retreat at these beautiful conference grounds not far away from her home! she soooo looks forward to this every year! walks among flowering gardens, baby swans, lots of laughter, good food, good conversation, spiritual renewal... yes, she's definitely ready!! and yes, there will be pictures... find some playing time today! you will, won't you? beaming yellow forsythia wishes to you all...

signs of Spring...

2011-03-28T13:36:00.000-07:00

*butterflies appearing...on bushes, on party decorations, on cards. (this card made by the bohemian at her crafty sister-in-laws' artsy fartsy "play house". a vellum butterfly is layered on a patterned paper butterfly. the card is dry embossed for the raised design effect.) *coffee!! outdoors!! what could be better to the bohemian than a latte and muffin outdoors? sharing it with her oldest daughter! *crocuses blooming! beautiful purple gorgeousness... with a spicy dash of yellow-orange. *HOPE. (card made by the bohemian using ribbon, border punch, stamps and embossing powder on kraft-colored cardstock) Spring brings joy and HOPE in so many ways. the promise of warmth and light returning. the beautiful blooming of flowers. the beginning seeds of garden harvests to come. more time outdoors (for those of us who live in the northwest corner of the country). wishing you Springtime hopes and the heady fragrance of flower-filled rooms... don't forget to make time play and create!!!

farewell to winter...

2011-03-05T10:10:00.001-08:00

the lovely snowfall covering bohemia has finally gone away, although one can unexpectedly come across a pile of it still frozen away in a corner where the sun's rays don't reach. it's breathtaking beauty was visually delicious while it lasted... but the bohemian's little outdoor nook is eagerly awaiting the warmth of spring and the bloom of growing things! the bohemian did get some art-creating accomplished while shut up indoors. these cards are her exchange group cards... the challenge was "dry emboss" and all the little shape attachments were dry embossed. this green card is a pocket for the blue tags, which have a vellum quote mounted on them (secret messages, of course!).and this is the cover the bohemian created for an altered round robin book about to take a trip "around the robin" and get altered to the max. the bohemian's theme: quotes about time... she can't wait to see what each artist comes up with!! Hope you are all creating art and reveling in the beauty of each of your days and moments... warm, snow-free wishes and cozy woodfire hugs to you...

What to do on a snowy day...

2011-02-23T12:01:00.000-08:00

The bohemian awoke to snow falling down around her ears... There was nothing to do but pull up a comfy, cozy chair... grab a cup of joe in her snowflake mug... pull on warm socks whose colors made her laugh... get out her journal... and her prayer book (which is older than she is!)... turn on her party lights... and hunker down. ahhhhh.... contentment. People pay big money trying to achieve this level of contentment. and here it is, in a snug little corner of the bohemian's warm kitchen!!! Even the power going out did nothing to wipe the smile off her face. and maybe later, she'll use a few of her favorite stamps... and create some art... fuzzy-socks-warmth to you and many, many party-lights-wishes to you...

Crafters' Retreat: peeking in on the Mad Hatter's Tea Party...

2011-02-23T11:02:00.000-08:00

an ever so warm welcome to you!!! come right on in and have some treats!!! perhaps one or two of the Red Queen's cupcakes? Or Spice Balls that burst into a jumble of sweet, spicy flavors as they melt into your mouth...? all of these scrumpdillyitious desserts from the hands of the bohemian's fairy sister-in-law... (the very same one who has the crafters' playhouse where the bohemian stamps to her heart's content, and sometimes even quilts, upon occasion...) tiers and tiers of mouth-watering, sugary-sweet treats... buttery playing-card shortbreads and cherry delights... choose one of each!! there's plenty for all... choose the chesire cat... or Alice, maybe... and please! sugar your tea with one or two of these lovely heart-adorned sugar cubes... a drop of magic in your cup! WARNING!! do NOT drink from this bottle, even though the invitation is clearly made... unfortunate things will result! Alice and the Red Queen bid you adieu... sugary-sweet love and melt-in-your-mouth wishes to you! From Wonderland...

Crafters' Retreat: A Tale of Hats Galore...

2011-02-14T16:50:00.001-08:00

At the Mad Hatter party, there were hats galore! Tall hats, such as this one belonging to the Mad Hatter himself... small paper hats, (this one made by the bohemian) with magic numbers hidden underneath; magic numbers which allowed the recipient to win wonderful, lovely prizes from the Wonderland Garden... the bohemian's favorite one was this orange one she had made from the quilty ladies' scrap bags. but, alas, it went home with someone else... (another paper hat made by the bohemian) There was the White Queen's Hat, which fell into the auction. There was the Red Queen's Hat, which also fell into the auction ( and went home with Yours Truly, the bohemian!!) There was this lovely, feathery hat...complete with optional mask. There was a velour and lace hat with buttons stolen from the Hatter and glued around the rim. This hatter stole hearts from the decorations in the windows of the dining room to use as earrings...OFF WITH HER HEAD!!! There was a wonderful, wacky Dr.-Suess-like hat of fuzzy lime green and gauzy purple... and a red heart tea party hat... with red roses profusely blooming around the front... and even some dangly jangly Alice jewelry. There was Alice her own self... and Mad Hatter socks... belonging to a Mad Hatter (don't worry...only the bohemian in disguise). Party-goers galore wore their best ever Wonderland dresses... ...as did this particular Alice and Mad Hatter. There, in the orange team row...there was an orange-flavored Mad Hatter! and orange-flavored Tweedledee and Tweedledum. They promptly got up into the Garden and played a rousing game of croquet! There were clever little pink hats on the heads of the pink team. which matched wonderfully with their pink-striped socks. The red team had their very own Red Queen! Oh my! There were TWO Red Queens!! It's a wonder anyone got out of there with their heads still attached!! And the Red Queen's Knave of Hearts with her pink flamingo croquet mallet. In marched the Red Queen's minions to do her evil bidding...OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!! And the blue team became a whole gang of Tweedles! and played a very MEAN game of croquet in the Wonderland Garden. This was only one night of the festivities taking place during the bohemian's Crafters' Retreat. A smattering more will be shown, so as to let you experience vicariously the rambunctious fun that was had by all. Stay tuned for the Mad Hatter's tea party. And don't be late!! feathery hat wishes and mad, mad love to you all....

the Wonderland Pink set

2011-02-14T16:37:00.001-08:00

More of the cards made by the bohemian for the auction at the Crafters' Retreat... Mister Mad Hatter having tea. Alice, about to drink from the Drink Me bottle... Time for Tea... the Knave of Hearts... Tea Time... magic paper card wishes to you all....

wonderland cups

2011-02-14T15:38:00.001-08:00

the bohemian mod podged (oh yes! a real word. do you have a better one?) a variety of cups and saucers for the Wonderland retreat. they were used as table decorations, then auctioned off during the live auction on the last day of the retreat. this one (above) was the Hatter cup with fabric-covered spools and the Mad Hatter himself. this is the Tweedledee and Tweedledum cup. The teapot and the Knave of Hearts cup... The White Rabbit cup... side view: the White Rabbit cup... the Alice cup... (the bohemian's favorite... her sister won the bid on this one!) side view: Alice cup... straight on view: the Tweedles... side view: the Hatter cup... closer view: Hatter cup the Red Queen cup... the Bohemian has a great time making these and was so happy with how they all turned out. She will definitely be making more in the future. hmmm... easter cups... mother's day cups... 4th of July...etc...etc...etc.... ...glue and paper red heart wishes to all and Happy Valentine's Day!!

the days spent in wonderland...

2011-02-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

a drive and a ferryboat ride away, there is a mystical land beside the sea. there is an old fort there from bygone days. and every year, a group of crafty ladies descend upon the place for a few days of crazy fun. the bohemian traveled away on a tuesday in the sunshine along with a small group of her lovely friends to this magical place beside the sea... there were glimpses of some unusual but familiar characters... and there, in that empty old theater building, something magical began to happen... lights began to twinkle in the dark! and a scene straight out of Alice in Wonderland appeared... there sat a wondrous tea party in the midst of a magical garden, where the flowers even had faces!!! and a cat's mischievous face hovered, grinning, although it was unsettling when there seemed to be no body to go with it! and there, off to one side sat a royal red throne.... oh my! it was all sooooo inviting!!! and a hint of some mad, mad character who had left his hat sitting...would he be back? what a marvelous hat!!! and baskets of goodies appeared for each and every lady who came to create fabric and paper wonders galore... the bohemian at once spread her craft things out to begin the magic..... she hopes you also have your magic supplies laid out and are ready to play! she'll be back with more wonders of wonderland soon..... mad, mad wishes and tea cup love to you.

a little bit of wonderland (or is it underland?)

2011-01-29T14:35:00.001-08:00

showing off sets of cards to be auctioned off at the bohemian's wonderland craft retreat... this little tea pot on this blue card hangs loose... the red rick rack dancing above the polka dots on this card is thick and plushy... very cool stuff! "We're all mad here!" As you will see once the bohemian posts pictures of the coming craft retreat. curious wishes and lots of red tarts to you all....

alice in wonderland shadowboxes

2011-01-26T21:58:00.000-08:00

the bohemian's off to her annual crafters' retreat. YAHOO!! hours and hours of crafting and visiting and slumber partying and very little sleep...

here are a few shadow boxes she created for the silent auction. this last one, this oh so pink one, this is her favorite! she might even have to bid on this one herself!! hope you're taking time to play! curiouser and curiouser wishes to all....

still alive and kicking...

2011-01-26T21:06:00.001-08:00

bohemia weather: from this.... to this... sometimes the bohemian just plain gets tired of the rain.... good thing she has party lights to turn on!! that always brightens up her world! someday it will stop raining. right? i mean, it will stop... RIGHT?! she can't wait for spring! meanwhile, better dig out those cozy slippers, the wood floor's mighty cold! the bohemian has been busy creating things for her crafters' retreat coming up next week! and digging things out of her packed up art room, so she has all her "tools" she will need to craft herself crazy... hope your winter has been delightful! cozy slipper wishes to you all...

Winter is happening...

2011-01-10T10:24:00.000-08:00

It's a winter wonderland in Bohemia today! The bohemian is LOVING it! the glittery sparkle, the frosty cold, the drama of the icy white snow on dark forest green trees... mmmmmmm... the bohemian went to a card-making workshop... she was NOT in love with the colors of these cards but she can use them as "how-to" samples. this one is a pinwheel card and has a little bit of dimension to it...the little contrasting colors on the petals are folded and stick up somewhat. a valentine... again, NOT in love with the colors but hey, embossing on vellum is always magical fun! and a candy pocket. in love with swirls and the tiny vellum pocket with adorable silver heart on the front. the bohemian's Craft Retreat is coming up fast! the theme: Alice In Wonderland. the bohemian's sister gave her this little "Alice" zippered bag. and inside was... this fabulous necklace with all kinds of "Alice" charms dangling from it!!! and mad hatter earrings. and some black tights with tiny silver hearts. So fun! the bohemian CANNOT wait to go on retreat and craft for 4 full days with about 40 other crafty ladies. at the BEACH, no less! yeah. come on, February! the bohemian will not be teaching a workshop this year as her craft room got packed up and put away for the 3 months she was gone to Costa Rica and it's not UNpacked yet... so she is totally unorganized this year. sigh. (but there WILL be dressing up in costumes! and pictures of it all!!) 3 more weeks, 3 more weeks,3 more weeks... UPDATE: that faerie/snowman romance is on again! stay tuned for more scandalous gossip! Hope you are having a wonderful after-the-holidays, cozy winter wonderland kind of month... don't forget to go out and play (bundle up first!!) and always make time for ART! frosty, glitter wishes to you all!

farewell to the Christmas season...

2010-12-28T13:14:00.001-08:00

There truly IS no place like home and the bohemian was so very glad to be home for the holidays! She is reminded how very blessed she is!! glad to be back to her beloved mountain... and enjoying tea with her mom and sister, at the local festival of trees... this was her favorite tree this year...orange, of course! luscious colors... fabulous shapes... shimmery metalics... There was even a skiff of snow in her yard today!!! and a little Nutcracker Suite ballet watching.... She also finished her cards for the"Mary Englebreit challenge" with her card exchange group. Mary's art ALWAYS makes her smile!! And she used her new 3-part bird punch...FUN! She hopes your season was blessed by the coming of the Baby born to save us all. Farewell, dear Christmas.... ...and onward to the new year!!! Hope you take time to play! Snowflake lace and warm knitted mitten wishes to you all....

the bohemian's back in town...

2010-12-13T13:00:00.001-08:00

the bohemian is so GLAD to be back home after her 3 months away! it's been raining like crazy and the creeks have flooded... but her mountain peeked out at her today. it's good! life's good! one of the things she did while in colorado was visit this christmas house. it was crazy overkill and so awesome!! the whole house was covered with row after row of lights... and it put on a fantastic light show set to awesome guitar christmas music (think transiberian orchestra's carol of the bells) which came over the radio on a certain local station. house, garage, driveway, front yard, porch, back yard... all of it covered in masses of lights... flashing in time to christmas music... the bohemian had to see it TWICE!! so glad to be home and setting out her nativity collections...this one from Haiti in front of a painting from trinidad. and her little christmas fairy wishing all of you a meaningful and joyous christmas season with twinkly lights and holiday laughter and maybe a snowflake or two... (have you been playing while i was gone? i hope so!!)

things to do on a weekend at the farm...

2010-11-24T08:37:00.001-08:00

The bohemian's last weekend out in the small village of Llano Verde, Costa Rica... She and her hubby stayed with the family who live in this small house there... Things to do there: watch the pot of beans cook on the fire... pick oranges off the tree (yes, they're ripe and sweet!)... fix the flat tire... stop and smell the flowers... laugh at the calf antics and go to sleep to the sound of cows mooing and chickens crowing... lay around and rest... help with English homework... ride horseback... help catch the chicken for supper... go to church... pet the "fern grass" (that's what the bohemian calls this grass, which cringes and folds up when you stroke it)... watch the cows go past on their way to the pasture... listen to children say Bible verses and sing songs... say farewells to the family we stayed with... (The bohemian's youngest daughter actually stayed all week in this village to be immersed in Spanish and help their son with his English. The parents are to the left, the 3 girls beside the bohemian belong to her missionary friends. That's her honey beside her and the son studying English, beside him. The other young man is a friend who is always visiting there.) And so the bohemian's visit to Bohemia of the south comes to an end. She says farewell to the warmth and beauty of Costa Rica and prepares herself for the winter weather hitting the Pacific Northwest right now. She wishes all of you a very warm and toasty Thanksgiving celebration. Have a gratitude Fling...make your list of all you have to be thankful for. Don't forget to list playfulness, then go out and play! Pumpkin-pie-with-whipped-cream wishes to you all...

the bohemian's island tour...

2010-11-20T09:30:00.001-08:00

the Volcano Arenal in Costa Rica During her stay in Costa Rica, the bohemian got a chance to go on an adventure to Corn Island, Nicaragua. She traveled with her hubby, their missionary friends, and 2 very close friends... They traveled by car, bus, water taxi, car taxi, and finally, this cargo ship... a two days travel experience! Picture the bus ride from the movie "Romancing The Stone"... That's a story in itself. Highlight experiences: coconut buns... island beauty... beach time... palm trees and teal waters... warm tropical water... Mama Lola's... fresh papaya... fresh lobster... Hard to go from tropical bliss straight to Christmas at home... But she's so ready to celebrate the Christmas season. So away with the shorts and flip flops, and out with sweaters and socks. Winter love and cozy blanket hugs to all... For more of the bohemian's Costa Rican adventures... visit her travel blog.

2010-10-25T11:34:00.001-07:00

come away with the bohemian to this teal blue ocean... where all the flowers wear their glory in the warm sun. come up these wooden steps... to this sunny yellow room... with giant bed. come sit under this canopy beneath the stars with your feet in the sand; where the waiters bring you flower-scented water to rinse your hands before you dine on delicious fresh red snapper and sip fruit nectar in a glass... and are serenaded by the mariachi band. come walk along this stretch of soft, gritty sand and gently lapping waves... past the elaborate sign leading to... a beach made entirely of sea shells, and bits of shell. bob along with the bohemian in an aqua green/blue bath-water salt soak. rest your happy tootsies in the warm pacific sands. return home to your sunny yellow room to find freshly laundered towels in flower shapes and sprinkled with tropical blossoms. later, eat lunch back at the beach, serenaded by thee mariachi band. glory in the exquisite sunset along with the dancing fire flies. life is so very rich!! go get some for yourself! sandy wishes and flower-scented love to you...

a fascination with architectural doodads...

2010-10-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

the bohemian had a total fascination with all the architectural details on this beautiful catholic church... it was right next door to the sunday vegetable market... so she walked around the block with her camera, like a total tourist and snapped a bunch of pictures... she loved all the arches... and the carvings... and the stark white of the church against the drama of the dark clouds... the contrast of the round shapes and the sharp points... and the contrast of the natural against the man-made angles... and the wrought iron shapes of the fence... and the gates... the patterns.... What an eyeful of beauty!!! go out and find the beauty that is all around you... and don't forget to "DO" art!!!!

random images of beauty from south bohemia...

2010-10-14T10:43:00.001-07:00

the bohemian is still visiting the bohemia of the southlands (costa rica). every day in the secret garden where clean clothes are hung up to dry in the fresh air, the bohemian spies butterflies visiting one of their favorite flowers... and every day as the bohemian visits the kitchen of the castle, where all the lovely aromas of frying garlic and onion waft through the doorway, these lovely hibiscus blossoms greet her. and once, she even spied a leaf fairy who gave her a shy but mischievous smile. she visited a lovely waterfall garden, with blooming blossoms galore and a variety of native animals (the hummingbirds were her favorite, although the jaguars have a rare and dangerous beauty of their own). the garden bathrooms were a treat to behold! a garden spot in its own right, with lush tropical beauty... cool water pouring from the stone spout into an intensely blue bowl... and a tiny green frog to show her the faucet handle... here she is...studying her spanish in the sunshine! it is the rainy season, so one must take advantage of the sun's warmth when it shines. by afternoon the rain will have set in.... the bohemian and her daughter came across this monster on one of their walks... they were thankful someone had slain it and it could no longer sting them. it was about the size of the bohemian's palm of her hand. flaming candles of brilliant red decorate the neighboring gardens. and the bohemian is in love with the patterns of the wrought iron everywhere... here is a sample of the butterflies' favorite blossoms... they come in a great variety of colors. the scenic valley wherein lies the bohemia of the southlands... bushes full of these laughing yellow sunbursts abound. and she DID get to see a toucan finally! but only inside of a wonderful tropical aviary.... candy-colored toucan wishes to you all... hope you take time to play today!

my travel journal...

2010-10-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

little chloe looking at my travel journal for this trip to costa rica... i painted the pages before i left... and glued in some of my favorite scrapping paper... i also inked some of the pages. this beautiful butterfly was almost whole but dead when i found him but he suffered some destruction before i got him into the journal. he had brilliant teal and electric green on him. and i inserted some stamped things and some ribbons and fiber... that's right!! and i created my usual travel alphabet...hopefully these pages will be full by the time i leave for home.. artistic and color-filled wishes to you all!

art in costa rica

2010-09-28T14:32:00.001-07:00

the bohemian is loving the art of costa rica! the patterns... the colors of nature and natural life... the shapes and patterns of wrought iron... the beauty of marble tile and brickwork... the statuary.... the colors they paint their houses and buildings... ah... so glad to be here, experiencing it all... the intricate detail and colors of the costa rican ox carts... may the beauty that surrounds you not go unnoticed... say to yourself: "it's a wonderful world!" (thanks, louie!) and then go out and play in it...

beauty in costa rica...

2010-09-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

the bohemian is temporarily residing costa rica for 2 months. and O how she is enjoying the beauty of the flowers and plants... the houseplants she sees in the northwest of washington state thrive here in huge yard bushes... houseplants on steroids!! and the colors are so rich and deep! it is the rainy season and everything is lush and green! she loves the gorgeous blooms on this aloe vera plant! the wild life thrive here too. so far she has seen a tarantula, cockroaches of many colors and sizes , a rat the size of a bunny rabbit and its 7 newborn babies, a tiny snake, lots of crickets and birds... bohemia is just as beautiful in latin america as it is in the northwest corner of the united states. and she intends to enjoy every minute of it!! lush, green, deeply colorful wishes to you all... don't forget to play! to see her travel journal blog, click on the link in the right hand column...

garden love and a quilty pleasure...

2010-08-24T20:26:00.001-07:00

a little garden love....the bohemian was enchanted. and then she popped the little heart in her mouth and said: YUM! and smiled all the way back to the house... remember this crazy quilt square? well, it got embroidered and stitched and multiplied... into this lovely, wild raggy quilt!!! yes, the bohemian smiles when she snuggles underneath, thinking how warm it will keep her this coming winter! wishing you garden love and bold colors in your world... what did you do to play today?

card art and a journal page...

2010-08-06T15:24:00.001-07:00

with a rather fun and cool piece of paper, the bohemian created this card with the metal doodad frame thingy. (literary precision is important!!) this card was made for a "metal" challenge in her card exchange group. another bold WORD card...with a wee bit of that cool paper! and then, a wedding card with a tad bit more of that same cool paper!! now she needs MORE of that extremely fun and cool paper!!! this page was created for the altered canvas book exchange themed "art saves", hosted by the lovely carmen of Writing From Life. this is the page done for Lila's book. the dragonfly is printed on heavy vellum and its wings pop up to make it 3-D. the bohemian hopes you have time to create, play, blow giant bubbles and chase dragonflies... because LIFE IS FUN!!! bubblicious and gossamer-dragonfly-wing wishes to you all.......

creativity takes a few sidetrips...

2010-08-05T21:39:00.000-07:00

the bohemian awoke to a hazy warm morning. the mountains were looking a bit surreal, as if they didn't truly possess any real substance. but off she went into the muggy morning, traipsing off to town for groceries and social engagements... ah...time for lunch break and social engagement #1: finding herself in historic old fairhaven and you know where... oh yes...back again to the little trolley diner for scrumptious fish and chips and chatting with a dear friend! and celebrating with new flip flops...orange and pink always works for the bohemian, and throw in a little chocolate brown. and yes, they were just calling her name! creative side trip: bridal shower for her soon to be daughter-in-law. this is her darling niece and the toilet paper wedding dress the bohemian helped create for her. but of course, there was a train to sweep grandly along behind. creative side trip: decorating for vacation bible school at her church. the theme was high seas expedition. thus the whole ship effect... the bohemian loved what a few creative ladies did on the back wall... the lighthouse "rocks" are scrunched up brown paper grocery bags! it was so wonderfully 3-D! then they recreated it again at the little A-frame church, a smaller-scaled and shorter version. creative side trip: spray painted "rock" sheets the bohemian created years ago that get used every year and a faux campfire made of shimmery mylar and tissue paper and christmas lights. magic! it is so amazing how many uses the creative imagination can be put to. and making magical things happen for children is one of the bohemian's favorite ways to use hers!! may there be magical creations and splashes of summer color in your world today! hope you find some playing time... and use that lovely imagination of yours! it is such a gift!

simple pleasures...

2010-07-18T19:44:00.000-07:00

simple pleasures are life's greatest treasures... it's perhaps cliche but oh so true! it feels like its time for another gratitude fling! and so my list begins: my bohemian mountain majesty; the gorgeous sunny days we have been having; the balmy breeze that keeps it cool... this gift of a pashmina silk scarf from my daughter; the silver threads that run through it and sparkle softly; the lovely green swirls... time for creating art!! the gorgeous colors of art papers; paper punches and inks and stamps and embossing powders; and powerful imaginative, creative WORDS... metallics that shine and sparkle; glue, paper, scissors and tape; an intimately personal way to send love and wishes... colorful and powerful reminders to laugh and to hope... and parties!!! with balloons and crepe paper and cake and champagne punch and laughter and gift giving and loving friendships and family... what's on YOUR gratitude list? go ahead... have a gratitude fling! we have sooooo much to be grateful for! hope you find some playing time to heal your soul and make you laugh.... party laughter wishes to you....

2010-07-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

standing on the deck of her neighboring cafe, the bohemian smiled to herself. it was such a lovely week of summer they were having in bohemia! while awaiting the arrival of her favorite lunch sandwich, she wandered out to the little peddlers' market set up under colorful umbrellas in the overflow parking area. there she bought two lovely magical handblown glass treasures. she was so happy to be having lunch with her honey here just a short walk from their cottage. many motorcycle riders had stopped to take their lunches at such a picturesque roadstop. looking out onto the patio/picnic/concert/horseshoe/party area behind the grill, she spied a lonely hula hoop looking for someone to swirly twist with... but her days of swirly twisting were behind her. hula hoops did nothing but put her back out these days... what was really needed was a curly-headed scallywag with a lovely and infectious belly-laugh and boundless energy... sadly there seemed to be none available at the moment. still, the bohemian enjoyed her yummy BLT to the utmost fullest!! and yes, she did say "YUM" right out loud...she always did. drove her honey crazy! but hey! you can't fault someone for enjoying something to the utmost fullest, can you?!! no, she thought not.... the day before, the bohemian had spent a lovely day crafting with her royal mother. these are some of the creations that sprang from her imagination: the blue card is three dimensional as shown below... outside in the afternoon sun, the bohemian smiled at the sight of the cat lopping contentedly beneath the sunny yellow summer flowers that delight the bohemian every single year!! although, if you look closely, you can see that the evil spellbinder bushes (blackberry vines) are trying to divide and conquer. they are so stinking healthy this year!!!! boo to the thorniness, yea to the berries coming later... the bohemian wishes and hopes that there is time for you in your world to lop contentedly in the summer sun. and very soon. and if you purr like that cat, that's completely alright with her. she just thinks EVERBODY does that anyways when they are happy and content. or eating something delicious. like ice cream dripping with raspberries fresh off their vines. or coffee with real cream and honey. or... or.... or.... WHAT IS YOUR "OR..."? she'd love to know..... warm summer purrrfectly satisfying and swirly twirly wishes to you all.

art saves...

2010-06-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

for Ily. for her book. in Carmen's "ART SAVES" altered book round robin. the process of creating is such a deep JOY and intense PLEASURE. it's exciting and exhilerating. it's immensely satisfying and fulfilling. that's what this page is speaking for me and to me, and i hope for Ily.

DELIGHT IN LIFE....

2010-06-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

yes, delight in life, even when it's hectic and busy and seems to be rushing by you... even when the whooshing sound it makes as it passes is a violent sound, like a winter storm. there are still always things of delight to be noticed: peonies with delicious colors and heady fragrance. warm summer sun on your skin. a joyful song blasting from the radio with a Caribbean beat. art friends to create with. the above tags were created on a whim, on a moment's notice, from the thought, "oh, I could make those with what's just on hand here...". it's just my deep desire for a warm tropical place speaking out from my inner soul...... and here is another of those tag folder, finally finished up... don't forget to DELIGHT in everything about your LIFE that brings you pleasure and joy... AND DON'T FORGET TO PLAY!!!!

in up to her elbows...

2010-06-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

"To say yes, you have to sweat and roll up your sleeves and plunge both hands into life up to the elbows." -Jean Anowth So life is crazy for the bohemian right now... the card above is a graduation card for her daughter. Her baby daughter. Who's graduated!!! Where. Did. The. Time. Go........?!

Eighteen and off to try her wings....

next: #3 child & 2nd son... Marrying this summer!!! The bohemian is ever so happy as she adores this beautiful girl!! and the bohemian stamped up a storm at her quilty sister-in-law's playhouse because she also does rubber stamps, does this crafty sis-in-law!!!! one of the tag folders coming along... needs a few more things... a gorgeous summer day spent with #1 daughter (yes, the eccentric one who is soooo much fun!!!) went to proper tea at the Tea Garden, then shopped at the community farmers' market, which you see above... a bit of shopping, then COFFEE... then a string of rainy wintery days... brrrr! so she stayed indoors. played scrabble with a friend, read her beloved books, played in her art room, visited the library... and got out her "rainy day mug"... it says: "SMILE AT THE RAIN". this is a beloved seattle piece of art. it shows up on mugs, t-shirts, umbrellas, etc. And this little guy is on the back of her mug, just smiling away at the rain.... Hope you do, too..... Smile today....

one piece of paper...

2010-06-14T11:44:00.000-07:00

take one fun piece of paper... make altered book pages for a round robin book about boys... and a few tags... add a favorite saying stamp and some punched flowers... use up leftover flowers on another tag project... one inspiration leads to another and another and before you know it someone has to come and fish you out of your art room so you don't starve to death in there!!!! hope your day includes some PLAYTIME in an art room (if you don't have one, go play in someone else's! they'll share! artists are very generous with their "stuff"....). patterned, colored paper wishes to you all today...

one fine day...

2010-06-12T21:11:00.000-07:00

1 mocha + 1 latte + good conversation with daughter = one lovely hour... and the page i made for carmen in her "art saves" altered book round robin... and the glow of my bohemian mountain as the sun sinks down into the ocean. the end of a beautiful summer day...

what color is art bliss?

2010-06-09T22:03:00.000-07:00

GREEN AND PURPLE!! oh guess what this is.... can you guess? ( hint: "the non-quilter is NOT gonna get sucked into quilt world"...) oh yeah... it's another purse alright! what is happening to her?!!! ORANGE (of course) AND GREEN AND TEAL AND RED AND YELLOW (somebody stop me!!!) and OH MY GOSH! she's crazy quilting, too? dang it! you should see the scrap box at her quilty sister-in-law's playhouse! those scraps were BEGGING to be put to use... so what could she do? there was no saying "no" to these colors. can't wait to show you the finished project! that will be down the road somewhere... hope you have time to make art today! and don't forget to indulge in a little playtime. it will put a smile on your face and giggle bubbles in your heart.

art dreams...

2010-06-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

after reading an inspiring book called "In the House", the bohemian just had to make a house of her very own. but what kind? a mosaic house? a garden house? a gothic mansion? one of the book artists made a "House for naughty children"... this made the bohemain laugh out loud! so. she decided on a house of dreams for her first house (for she could see many, many houses wanting to be created...). the address is #10 dream st. she will make 4 outsides with the inside on the opposite side. above are her first two outsides... and here are the first two insides... here is a card for her card exchange group. the challenge: monochromatic . the stripey strips are some of her paste paper creations. the rest is store-bought scrappers papers. here are two random cards she made using a mosaic template. and here is a card she made using her favorite dragonfly stamp. the store-bought handmade paper was already bedazzled for her. and two father's day cards using that same wonderful stamp (by stamping up). she taught her tag folder class today and made a few more folders. but they aren't quite finished. of course, yes, she will post them as soon as they are finished! i do hope you are finding time to make art. creating art is certainly saving the bohemian's sanity on these never-ending drizzly days of ceaseless rain.... messy, creative, colorfilled wishes to you all....