Birthdays...

Birthdays... IF a girl has to have one nothing takes the sting out of it like sharing it with a

 BEST Friend!  

While at Joy's Sandy & I shared our BDays (mine at the first of the month & hers at the end).  

AND presents of course really help!

A MERMAID Necklace from Joy & Laurie (found while they were at Round Top I believe).  Joy put the pretty turquoise necklace part together.  LOVE HER!!!!!

That AMAZING Necklace of bling was made by none other than Ms Sandy!  And I adore the cabinet card of the little girl that she used to  display it on.  Presentation, Presentation, Presentation!   

And the beautiful burgundy flower was made by Vickie Orlando as well a string of Miriam Haskle pearls (so she said).  And that darling little mermaid on the left is a chocolate lollipop made by the infamous Cynthia V.  She does such detailed, beautiful, yummy creations.  She also made me a sand castle cake but, darn NO ONE got a photo of that.  Loved it Cynthia.

These beauties were made by Diana Salvucci Smith.  She & Vickie took a class from Arlene Baker & hand made/formed those flowers from velvet.  Hours I'm sure.  While out in California last summer Vickie took me to Arlene's house & I got to see students working in a class as well as being able to shop among all the velvet, patterns, molds, buttons, & findings.  HEAVENLY!!!!!  And that mirror... a vintage hand mirror that Diana use the "Laurie Mika clay technique" on.  I would sooooooooooo love to learn to do this! Below you can see the crown she made for each of us using clay & the same technique.

 How can I thank you girls for spoiling me this weekend & helping me celebrate my birthday?  Now that it's September I can't believe it was so long ago.  But, soon I'll share a post of the BDay celebration we had for Sandy in San Jose at the end of June... Never enough time for friends!  Come back soon!

Happy   Halloween!

After my trip to Morrow Bay, California (this summer) I had Halloween on the brain.  I bought a cute witch (sorry I'll share her later) a few cute canvas's & a darling little pumpkin girl named EEK!  Hubby & I love this garden shop named Garden Gallery  right down on the waterfront.

The photo above is of a witch named Minerva.  She was a cutie.  Short, fat, wearing red & purple but, she didn't come home... My witch is named Clarice.

This cutie above is my little pumpkin (EEK) girls brother.  Looking in a mirror... I thought that was a darling decorating idea!  Shows front & back for sure.

The cute little buckets were so tempting... one came home & couple of those pumpkin bowls.

When we went back south to visit our friends (Vickie & Ray Orlando) we went to Rogers Garden which is an amazing treat.  It is GARDEN STORE on steroids!!!!  The doll above was found there.  She is a cage doll & if you look closely her skirt is a cage holding a Halloween creature.

The designers used old computer parts, black lights, lab equipment & skeletons to create this display.

And you want to talk spooky??? The dolls below in the jars....

My friend Laurie Garcia has some of the pumpkins (like below) & I thought this was a clever way to display them.  The eyes on these pumpkins look soooooooooooo real.  They made shelves for their heads to sit on & then they used vintage clothes/shoes to make them look like a pumpkin family standing there.

Some of the designers found these huge ceramic/chalk busts & painted them like Day of The Dead.  Every single one of them were sold.

It was a lot of fun & just fueled the Halloween fire.  Sorry I'm so late in posting but, it's been crazy busy.  We were in California most of the summer & then we came home for 3 weeks.  Of course we just moved into our house May 24 so there are boxes galore & I can't find a thing.  But, I knew the good fairies weren't going to be unpacking the house so... off we went to escape the heat.  Once I came home for the 3 weeks there was so much stuff to catch up on with our business no unpacking took place either.  At the end of September I took off to visit with my Art Sisters up in the Washington/Oregon (Terry Brush Art Camp for a long weekend).  WHAT FUN WAS THAT!!!! So, I'll try to get my act together & start posting again on a regular basis.  We'll catch you up on the summer adventures & Art Camp.  But, for now I need to go get the candy ready for all the little spooks!  Have a fun & safe Halloween!

California Dream’n

Back in June 2012 I was reading my new Romantic Home Magazine & came across the article about this enchanted cottage in Laguna Beach California.  I was totally mesmerized by the story & wrote to the owner via the email address given.  That is the beginning of my love affaire with Summerland Cottage & my friendship with her owner Paulette Adams.  Click  HERE to see the article on Paulette’s blog that opened that magic door.

That studio full of ceramic shells & other beauty…


A cottage on a hillside soooooooo very near the ocean.  A brick & rock wall with little pieces of magic stuck here & there by the Fairy God Mother (Paulette) herself.


A courtyard so beautiful & special.  And….. did I mention that Paulette has a B&B right there on the property?  YES, YOU COULD BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO STAY THERE TOO!  Go to her web site (HERE) & check it out if you think that might speak to your heart.


Beside being a talented ceramic artist, a painter & a million other things I could list off… she is a designer.  The photo above shows her on the set of stairs that she designed to go up to her bedroom.  The cottage is tiny & she needed something other than a ladder to access the space so this staircase is what she came up with.   Go HERE to see the post about this.  Imagine my big ole size 12 foot on those tiny little stairs!!!!!111  But, it was so worth it!  Because when you get to the top…

Her beautiful bed in a bay window with the breeze from the ocean (yes, you can see it from there) blowing the vintage lace hanging in the window frame.  Stunning!!!! 
Magical!!!!
So very special just like Paulette who created & shared it!


The photo above is of Paulette & I after a dream come true tour, lunch, shopping & promises that Vickie/I will return to play in the studio & make lots of little ceramic shells & treasures.  PINCH ME……..  I think I’m dreaming!!!!
HUGS!  Charlene

Happy Birthday America or 4th of July Huntington Beach Style

Today was a beautiful day for a Parade to celebrate America’s Birthday!  Cool breezes blew,  crowds gathered & fun began.  We are so blessed to have come out to escape the horrible Texas heat & to be here in Huntington Beach, CA.  Our precious friends Vickie & Ray are the best hosts in the whole world!!!  THANK YOU for opening your home & sharing your city.   Friends are staying at our Texas home so we can escape & enjoy a bit of R&R  after all the remodel work(oh there is so much more to do).

We got there plenty early to claim our seats on the bleachers.   Vickie told us that Huntington Beach has the biggest 4th of July Parade west of the Mississippi.  I can tell you our little Texas town has nothing to compare to this!!!!

  The crowds came.  On Bikes… With Babies…  In costume… A real mix of personalities!  People watching at it’s best!

This fellow just cracked me up!!!

Personalities Bigger than Life!

Pets of all kinds.
Dogs, I expected that.
But, I’ve never seen anyone bring their parrot to a parade before!


All methods of transportation was represented!
 
Police, Fire & Beach Lifeguards are all such important hero that protect us every day.  RED & WHITE it’s true… THANK YOU!

The sky had planes doing fly overs!

Bands…



Floats!


Floats with music groups, skate boarders, gymnasts. 

Hero’s from every war…

A HUGE THANK YOU TO VETERANS OF ALL WARS & THE ONES THAT KEEP US SAFE EVERY DAY!  And to their families for the days, weeks & years they miss those special souls.  Below is a message we ALL need to REMEMBER…

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!!!!

Cars!  So many amazing cars from every era.

You couldn’t be in a beach town without some great old woody’s!

And the Shriner’s had to make a showing with their fun little cars.  And they were crazy!

Horses of all shapes & sizes!

Representing all the era’s again… Well’s Fargo with the horse drawn wagon.

Beautiful each & everyone of them….



It was a wonderful day & a wonderful way to celebrate!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!!!