Moon~glow

What a beautiful way to end the year...our sunset in Georgia,

and moon~glow...

Happy New Year Friends

Happy New Year

Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year!

I am updating my Etsy shop and will be adding new prints of my paintings, as well as premiering some brand new products for children.

~ ~ ~

Waiting ~ Cabo San Lucas

~ ~ ~

Please "wait" a few more days and I will show you a sneak peek.

Ciao amici,

Suzanne

Christmas Time ~ Nativity, Vintage Angels, and Frosty the Snowman

Well, "tomorrow" as I mentioned in my last post, was five days ago...so much for keeping up with deadlines I impose upon myself. (Not that any of you noticed...) I had to do a bit of Christmas shopping, see Santa Claus, and we finally got our tree this weekend too.

I just wanted to wish all of you a very happy Christmas season and share a few of my favorite Christmas decorations with you too.

This little architect angel was a gift to me while I was at UC Berkeley working on my architecture degree. It is made by the Benedictine Monks of Saint Andrews Abbey, a Benedictine monastery located in the high desert of southern California. It was founded in 1956 by nine monks exiled from China. As an expression of their monastic life, they began to make ceramic icons and plaques reflecting Benedictine reverence for the Divine Presence which pervades all life. The angels remind us that we are to meet God in the home, in our work, and in our play.

~ ~ ~

This petit porcelain Nativity set was a gift from my son last Christmas. I decided that it would be the inspiration for the center piece on my table this year. It makes me smile throughout the day, every time I walk by it. The innocence not only of the figurines, but of my own child who chose this special gift just for me warms my heart.

~ ~ ~

This lovely Mother and Child ornament just arrived from one of my new favorite artists, Heather Sleightholm from AudreyEclectic. Her work is beautiful and I would love to own an original one day, but for now I have this pretty piece at the top of my tree.

~ ~ ~

These are some vintage angel candle holders I have, circa 1960's. I just love them ~ so retro! I think I purchased one at a Salvation Army store in the Bay Area and the other was a hand me down from my Mom who displayed it every year during Christmas for as long as I can remember.

~ ~ ~

I have these white beaded votive candle holders (I confess, an extravagant purchase from the Dollar Store several years ago) and white cherub ceramic planters with holly on the mantel of the gas marble fire place in my bedroom...white twinkle lights along the mantel create a glow in the evening.

~ ~ ~

But, it's not all about white and gold and silver in this house, or just angels (I certainly am not always one!). I do have some RED! I grew up with this little guy named Frosty. It cost my parents about five bucks in the sixties and is still in working condition. It is battery operated and when turned on, his red glass eyes blink, his arm moves the broom, the bell jingles, and...air blows out of his black top hat and floats a Styrofoam ball on air. It's a riot, especially for children and we will place it under our tree this year for Santa to check out.

Merry Christmas Friends and Buon Natale Tutti,

Suzanne

~ ~ ~

PS

I do have some small holiday items in my Etsy shop and am offering free standard shipping on all items through December 20th. Take a peek if you are interested. Ciao.

A Cottage Angel

Cottage Angel

I have more angels to show you tomorrow and some festive ideas too, but for now you can see them dancing in my Etsy shop and on my Flickr photostream.

Wishing all of you a very happy Christmas season.

~ ~ ~

Buon Natale,

Suzanne

Seeing RED

Today is...RED FRIDAY

~ ~ ~

Rustic Red Gated Door

Todos Santos, Baja California Sur

~ ~ ~

Please come into my Etsy shop,have a look around, and fill your bags.

Carry Me ~ Hand Crafted Mexican Hand Bags

Todos Santos, Baja California Sur

~ ~ ~

I have reduced the prices on all my photographs and am offering free shipping on everything in my shop until December 20th.

Buon Natale Tutti,

Suzanne

Red Friday

The colour of the week is RED!

Desert Sunset

ETSY SHOP UPDATES

Join some of us on Red Friday when we will be updating our Etsy shops with red hot handmade holiday specials.

Tracy, of The Vintage Sister Studio, dreamed up this fabulous idea and we've got a delectable group of artists. Just click on the badge on my side bar or the large badge above to find what shops are participating.

I am personally offering free shipping from now until December 20th on all my merchandise in my shop and will be listing some new prints of my Angel Flower Girls, gift embellishments, and new photographs some of which I made in Cabo San Lucas last week!

So, get a comfy chair, put you glasses on (if you need them), grab a cup of hot mulled cider, peruse the beautiful art by these talented women on Etsy, and of course stay out of the malls and buy handmade.

Ciao amici e buon natale,

Suzanne

A Casa

We are home from a beautiful and relaxing and fun vacation (..."business" trip to the IRS, of course). I have lots of photographs to show you ~ I took over 400 (crazy, I know). There was a riot of colour, beautiful architecture, folk art, scrumptious food, and lovely people.

For now, while I sort through my photographs and work on some new Christmas items for my Etsy shop, please make your self comfortable and have a seat...



Wrought Iron Bench, Yellow Wall
San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur



or enjoy this gorgeous view of the rocky Pacific Coast and shoreline...

Esperanza Resort, Cobalt Blue Infinity Pool ~ View of Pacific Ocean

or dive in!



We loved this place.

Wrought Iron Candelabra, Entrance of Esperanza Resort

~ ~ ~

I will be back soon.

Ciao amici,

Suzanne