Blown Away: A Sharon Montrose Easter

My determination to have a white and minimalist Easter is ever stronger since my recent discovery of passionate animal photographer Sharon Montrose. Please take a moment to view her blog here and the incredible process video below.

Found: Sketchbook Chronicles 2007

Fun with pink ink - Thea in a white turtleneck with her amazing afro and huge eyes. 10 minute study - the longest we could sit - she was 6 and I was 9.5 months pregnant.

Found: My 1996 Sketchbook Chronicles Part II

Self portrait sketch playing with perspective, contrast and line. 10 minute study. Fear of face, hands and feet...

5 minute study of Julia S at the Vancouver Film School, 1996. Still afraid of hands, feet and face... Does Freud have any words on this subject I wonder?

Ah, feet, face and hands at last! All wildly exaggerated pushing to work through the problem. Study from a Victorian illustration of Alice in Wonderland - sorry no further reference to the source. 15 minute study.

My Next Purchase...mark my words pocketbook!

LA Drama Queen's extremely clever Vintage Inspired Barbie Swimsuit can be purchased here.

Product Review: Kitty Beans Jewelry

White Goose Feather and Ostrich Fascinator by KittyBeans

Cobalt Blue and Silver Swarovski Chandelier Earrings

A few months ago I won a fabulous contest and received an even better gift from Kitty Beans Jewelry. Flu, work and other growing pains behind me, I would like to take the time to thank the lovely Miss Erin Hall, creator of Kitty Beans for her kindness and love. Love? Yes...Take it from me, having held Erin's work in my hands it is evident that Erin loves what she does and that essence shines through from the first impression. Lovely packaging, acute attention to detail, solid construction, arrived on time, beautifully done Erin! You can find Erin on Facebook, Blogger and Etsy.

Found Art: What's in My Sketchbook

This photo montage fell out of one of my 1996 sketch books - my last vestige of works from the past decades. Me, in my role as manager of Populuxe Luxury Vintage Living in Vancouver. Photo credit - unknown photographer.

Guerilla Gardening: Cultivating for Dandelion Wine

Learning to love dandelions might be a radical concept in gardening, but if you give it a try, I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

"Why?!?!" you ask? Short answer, dandelions are the main reason for the accidental poisoning of our water systems through over exuberant use of pesticides. In North America today, most home owners use more Round Up than the average farmer in the 1970's did. Dandelion greens, roots and blooms are also considered medicines of the bitters variety (used in aiding digestion through supporting stomache and liver health) and can be found in some common "remedies", such as Jaggermeister.

Dandie images above - Emerson Made and Dandelion Clocks wallpaper. My favorite recipe for Dandelion Wine can be found here. Hints on Dandelion Wine making;

•  Pick your dandelions on sunny mornings, immediately patting them dry, being careful not to crush them
• Freeze your flowers immediately if you aren't planning to use them right away
• If you freeze the liquid for later use, be sure to label your containers well lest you accidentally misidentify your wine stock as soup stock (speaking from experience here)
• slip a little champagne into the mix before bottling