~Oh my gosh!~
~ I actually remembered my password !~
~I've been painting lots, set painting, for theater.~
~I am trying to figure out how to redecorate this blog.~ A little scary, bc, I haven't changed anything here in such a long time.~
~have a lovely day~

~Blue Sky's~

~

~Blue Sky's for as far as you can see !~

~Painting sets again~But, it is just a small visit~just helping out the theatre that I used to spend 40 plus hours a week working for.~I keep trying to retire from being a scenic, but~I don't really believe I can ever truly give it up.~There is so much fun in painting SO LARGE.~Mixing great big buckets of paint, using a large paint brush, a Hudson sprayer(normally used to spray your garden)~standing right on top of your painting & working your way down, splashing paint with just the right motion.~Well, it really is pretty wonderful.~I do miss it.~So, truly, I am enjoying this small visit.~
~I will take pictures tomorrow~I am painting sky's~lots of sky~pretty blues~A room filled of sky's !~All on the floor now~but, will soon be up-right on stage.~
~amy~

~My PineCone Ornys~

~I have been working away on my little PineCone Ornys~but, as I have made them they have been sold , right here in my own "little world" of Richmond Va.~this makes me hap,hap,happy~but, I sure would like to have at least 10 to put on the Doll Town sight to sell .~I'm still embellishing a group, so I will hang onto them to sell.~
~And, if the little darlings were not sold~I have given away a few~this little "Nest Elf"~was my donation to Easter Seals, "  Eggstravaganza "   ~  artists create "egg art"(art w/ an egg theme), there is a silent auction at a very fancy, black tie ball & the moneys are given to Easter Seals.~Nice right ?~My son Gabriel & I both donated art this year.~We have both donated before, but this is our 1st. year donating in the same auction.~Fun~
~amy~

~I finished & delivered this little side table to Glow Med Spa~a spa that I have been doing decorative painting for, over the last year.~This little table turned out so pretty~ I took my paperclay & sculpted the vines & then painted them.~2 coats of water-based clear-coat was brushed on to protect everything.~
~amy~

~Dollhouse~

~This little dollhouse was a Christmas present for Rowan.~ It is a Corona Dollhouse Kit~ I bid on it on ebay.~ 23 $~ There were quite a few to bid on~ I think people buy them, but never get around to putting them together.~ What a lucky little girl Rowan is~ her dad is a cabinetmaker !~ Philip is doing a beautiful job putting her little cottage together & he really is enjoying himself.~ It will be done soon, then Rowan & I will paint it.~Then the fun of decorating ~ so many decisions to make.~ There is a dollhouse store just down the street from us.~But, we plan on making a lot of our own tiny things to put in it.~ And, we need to find a little family to live in it.~ I'll keep taking pictures along the way.~

~GIVEAWAY !~ not here, yet~ over at German Dolls~ she makes the sweetest dolls, Waldorf style, & doll clothes~ I have just found her blog today.~But, I will be visiting there often.~Go, sign-up !~

~tiny sweater for Sweetest, little guy~

~tiny sweater, that I knitted for my sister, Bronwyn's sweet baby boy, Dominic.~ He was born on Dec. 30, 2010~ 3 weeks early.~ 4lbs.7oz.~ I can tell you, it is very hard to find preemie clothes~ I was amazed, I went from store to store & managed to find only 3 outfits.~Then I decided I needed to knit a sweet little sweater for Dom.~I had to make up my own pattern, but it came together pretty quickly.~

~My beautiful sister Bronwyn & her precious little, baby boy~ 2 weeks old here.~Look how beautiful they are.~

~Bronwyn is in her quiet baby world~her days & nights are all about baby Dom~I am in awe of her.~She went in for her regular check-up last year & walked out 9 weeks pregnant !~ She turned 44 in Nov.~ Dominic is her 4th. child~ Bronwyn's last baby Ella, is 12.~~~~ Isn't she beautiful ?~~~& Baby Dom is just the sweetest little fellow~ so many expressions.~I love listening to her talk to him.~

~Christmas~

~Merry Christmas !~
~We are having a sweet Christmas here in Virginia.~It was a white Christmas~snow~so, beautiful !~
~I want very much to show you the doll that was made by Cathy @ ~Snugglebug Blessings~ for me for our doll swap, hosted by Zan @ Vagabond Creations~~~
Isn't she beautiful?~I love her so much !~Thank you Cathy~

~Here is the doll that I made for Cathy~ I love doll swaps !~
Merry Christmas to you all !~
~amy~

~Halloween~

~Halloween at my house.~
We had Rowan as "Alice" & Hannah as the "Cheshire Cat"~ & the Rowan's sweet, little bunny as the "sweet little bunny".~ :)

~Where'd it Go?~

~Something happened to my "background color & design" here on my bloggy.~ It used to be a very pretty blue, kinda linen look.~ And, it just disappeared one day.~I have cautiously tried to get it back, by messing w/ the design elements.~But, I'm afraid I will mess up the whole thing.~Guess, I'm going to message Annette @ Huckleberry Arts, she did such a great job, making my bloggy look pretty.~
~Does anyone know of a "quick fix"?~
OoO~amy~

~Fall~

~Love this time of year~ Time to decorate~ Open windows~ You don't need the AC on or the heat, it is just perfect, better than perfect, refreshing.~
~This little ghosty was made last Halloween for the Monster Swap~ Can't believe I never posted a picture of him.~Oh wait, yes I can~ :)

~the Ocean !~

~We are here !~ Surf City, N.C. !~ We arrived yesterday, we will be here all week in our oceanfront cottage.~ It is so beautiful here.~ We are going to relax & enjoy this beautiful beach.~
~It has been so long since we have had a family vacation.~We are so happy.~
~Wish, Gabriel could come, he had to stay home~work~ bummer~ but, I am going to try & put together a "mini vacation" when we get back.~
~amy~

~Ms. Aaloka~

~This beautiful flower was given to me by Ms. Aaloka.~ It is a "Tube Rose" & it smells so wonderful!~ Aaloka is her first name & she is from Bangladesh. We worked together for about a year in the "after school day-care, at Our Lady of Lourdes School".~It was a perfect part-time job for me at the time.~We were took care of the pre-K & kindergartners. She was Ms. Aaloke & I was Ms. Amy, to the little peoples.~
~So, I call her Ms. Aaloka, Aaloka, means "lustrous".~ And, Ms. Aaloka really is, she lights up when you see her.~She is more than likely in her mid, maybe late 60's, but it is hard to tell, by the way she looks & acts.~Her manner is kind,loving & very happy.~The two of us, just loved each other & would talk & talk.~
~Anyway, our job was to love & care for those "little, tiny bits" when they were done with school.~From 3 till 5:30.~
~At the end of the school year, Ms. Aaloka started bringing these flowers in, from her garden~ some for Ms. Kathy ~who was our wonderful "boss-lady"& some for me.~What a gift !~She told me, "put them on your table & when you wake up in the morning your house is going to smell so wonderful!"~I fell in love!~Amazing smell!~
~I had to quit working there this past Dec., I was painting a lot of sets~& that was a good thing, but, bad, because I had to leave the after care program & my sweet friends & "little stinkers".
~So, this Spring~who do you think I got a call from?~ Ms. Aaloka~Funny because, I answered the phone:"hello"~ the very sweet Indian voice on the end said,: "Amy!~Who do you think this is?"~in my mind I was (smiling) & saying, "ummm this is hard, lol!"~ Out loud, I said: "Ms. Aaloka!"~(she doesn't use the phone very often, I know this, because, she told me so. :)
~Her answer was the sweetest :"YES!"~ you ever herd.~
~We talked a little, then she said:" Remember I told you, I would give those flowers?"~
~me~"Yes"~ Her: "I have some for you!"~
You have to know how happy she sounded, my heart felt so happy too.~
We planted them in the front yard, near our porch.~
~So, I now have my own Tube Roses~ & they are blooming right now.~ I'm not sure, but, I guess they bloom all summer.~Because, Ms. Aaloka's bloomed in the Spring.~We had no blosomes when we planted them & I didn't think they would bloom till next year.~
~I was just sitting outside & their beautiful smell was just now, relaxing me & making me feel so happy.~
~Thank You Ms. Aaloka~<3~
~amy~

~I want to write my name in the sand with my toes again !~ This "little" family needs to have a vacation.~We all have been working real hard & we need to be refreshed.~ I have taken the kids on little day trips to the river & "here & there's".~But, we need a real get away.~ It has been 3 years since our last family vacation.~
~Well, with any luck after these last projects are complete, the Sullivan's will load up the"Sulevan", (that is what my license plates read) & get away to breath the ocean air.~
~amy~

~To Pick or Not to Pick~

~"That is the Question !"~
~After driving my son to work very early this morning, I stepped out of my car, to a wonderful smell.~ I followed my nose across my yard to these gorgeous irises, that opened a day ago. They are a beigey , green color, very old fashion in style, very ruffled petals.~The blossoms were so heavy that they were leaning almost to the ground.~I planted them 2 years ago, wish I knew what they were called.~ Then I walked over to my peony's, another wonderful smell.~"Hmmmm, to pick or not to pick?" ~We always pick the magnolia blossoms & put them in a bowl, sweet lemony smell.~Poor Iris broke while I was trying to take her picture.~So, into the bowl.~
~I think the answer is BOTH.~~~~Well, I am painting sets tonight,"Peter Pan"~ so I need to put my "paint clothes" on~ I wouldn't want to get paint on my favorite overalls.~ LOL~
~This weekend is going to be full to the brim.~amy~