A renewed iMac photo-booth version ***** today**** more "all about me" :)
Quick update... I'm so sorry for causing worry amongst Zippy's fans! She is not currently ill at all. I am referring to a time some two years ago when she was stung by a bee and the devastating aftermath of an allergic reaction that continues to this day. She is good, very happy and although she has never been right in the head (long before bee-stings:) her heart is happy :)
Meet Einstein. Einstein is Polish and has crazy hair. Actually he is a Blue Splash Polish rooster which is important to know when being introduced because he likes to be noticed and given proper respect. Einstein belongs to my friend Natalie.
I met him while i was at her house learning to do art with old papers, bits and bobs and shiny things like what you see below. That's Leah's hand pointing at the jar. She was learning from Natalie too.
We were using clear glass, copper foil and solder to make memory boxes, charms and little dioramas. This is Natalie's unique art and it is quite wonderfully intricate and lovely and fun to make. I will show you my finished piece soon but not now because it is a gift for someone who may see this post :)
But here are a couple of examples of the wonderful world of soldering with Natalie. A box lined with an old hand written letter holding a little bottle with dried flowers nestled inside. She keeps it all very simple and elegant.
Her wonderful chunky charms are sought after with great enthusiasm. She sells these at the Queen or Tarte and Barn House sales and can hardly keep enough of them in stock to satisfy discerning buyers who want the real thing...handmade by Natalie
Ok back to the crazy hair. What a wild head of hair that Einstein has. He got me to thinking about my hair and the fact that i have been seeing my hair as rather ordinary and wanting a change. Maybe spice things up a bit.
I have always loved to see Zippy's long hair up in a knot She looks so feminine and soft and cuddly. Her hair doesn't look anything like this now though. It changed completely when she got sick.
No more long hair for Zippy.
But mine sure has gotten long. The only wild thing about it has been the fact that it hangs in my eyes all the time unless i wear it in knot or a braid. And that isn't a fun kind of wild. And anyway the knot i wear isn't a top knot nor is it near so bouncy or interesting as the one you see above on Zippy.
Mostly i resort to a braid. I told Natalie who is a hairdresser herself that i needed a change and she thought i would look good with bangs. I love bangs but i haven't had them for decades. I thought they looked better on me in third grade but.... as i said i desperately wanted a change.
And bangs seemed a very daring idea as i walked into the hairdresser a week later. Bangs that swoosh over to the side. Then there are layers and layers cut all wild and uneven, long then short, then medium. Snip, snip! My hairdresser thought it was marvelous to cut all that long hair off and smiled during the entire adventure. I did too. Most of you surely realize is not the case much of the time when going off to the hairdresser to smile or love your new doo. Tears are more common for me. That and sometimes swearing.
You can't see the details very well in the photo below. It definitely doesn't do the wildness factor justice. This is my "here-I-am" photo taken with my iMac photo-booth camera. Computer glare is not all that flattering but it was the best i could do. I was dying to send this to my sisters, Rachel and friends so i settled for a green glow on the skin and a roll of paper towels growing out of the side of my head in order to send this hot off the press.
Back at Natalie's house these girls were all of a dither, clucking away about their own plans for self improvement. "Maybe a pink feather boa or some tap shoes would spice things up?"
Finally i want to share the view of Natalie's back garden. This is what i saw from her "garage" while standing at the huge paned window to watch the chickens scratch in the dirt and gather 'round Einstein for their afternoon dance lessons.
I tell you these vintage home designers have a way with making the old, the rusted, the weathered and useless look like precious treasures. Here are those 'antique pieces' that you have been looking for all your life but thought you would never find. It was magical to feel the effects of an old iron bed, a single chair and that beautiful bird cage chandelier. It is art of the most unusual sort. A kind of life size diorama of perfect country life. Living art, with perfect composition, color, balance and harmony.
I've made the rounds for tea and cake to a few of you and still have many stops to make this week. See you soon! I sure hope you can recognize me in my new doo :)
love, robin
