A dear friend sent this photo of her view out the window, so mysteriously beautiful!
”The snow had begun in the gloaming,
Winter in Pepperill, Mass.
It reminded me of a moonlit sky so this was the result:
Winter Night Necklace An indigo night with silvery moon and stars light up the night, wrapped in brass filigree.
The Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival is well under way this weekend and the birds are cooperating fully. Long-billed Curlews and Dowitchers, Black-necked Stilts, Oystercatchers, Marbled Godwits, Kestrels, Boobies and Grosbeaks. The names are charming and evocative, the birds a delight to watch. Continuing the theme here are a couple of more pieces:
Night Flight Necklace Deep blues and verdant greens summon a feathered friend to take flight. Brass filigree and fire polished faceted rondelles accent the hand painted centerpiece.
Peacock Dance Necklace Hues of teal, raspberry, and jade highlight this peacock, framed by a lovely piece of Indian metalwork.
We headed up the coast today and spent the morning at Moonstone Beach watching the birds dance in the waves. Here are a couple of photos to enjoy!
Cormorants At Moonstone Beach
Every winter, Morro Bay holds its Winter Bird Festival and people from all over descend on the coast, binoculars and cameras in hand. Morro Bay and the surrounding area is designated a State and National Estuary and is an ideal spot for avid birders. Peregrine falcons, hawks, snowy plovers and great horned owls are among hundreds of species to be found! Me, I just think they are marvelous to behold, and leave the details to avid birders. I decided that a bird theme was the order of the day!
Azure Skies Necklace Hand painted with teal/green/yellow hues, surrounded by an antique bronze filigree star. Fire polished glass rondelles colorfully glimmer with light!
Among the Trees Necklace Apitite and jade delicately suspend a charming bird winging his way midst greens of all shades.
The link to the festival is: http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org
Oceantide Earrings Various hues of blues and greens beckon to sail away on the tide!
We went for a walk on the cliffs then down to the beach today and watched the birds scamper on the shore, the seals sun themselves on rocks in the water and the waves lap the sand. It’s been a king tide this last week with extreme highs and lows and the tide pools are full of little creatures and shells are abundant on the shoreline. I came home and decided to create a mini-diorama (remember those from elementary school?). Yep, I’ve reverted to childhood!
Cayucos beach
Dawn in Indigo Blue Deep blues, yellows and greens all here to greet the day. Faceted Czech crystals and sunny citirne delicately frame a sunrise!
Happy 2014 to all! I thought I should show y’all the finished piece from the Dawn post so here it is!
Deep blues, yellows and greens all here to greet the day. Czech Crystals and sunny citirne delicately frame a sunrise!
“Dawn is a feeling
A beautiful ceiling
The smell of grass
Just makes you pass
Into a dream
You’re here today
No future fears
This day will last
A thousand years
If you want it to”
-Moody Blues
In the midst of painting this centerpiece for a necklace a hair brain idea came to mind. Yes, another one bubbles to the surface! I figured I’d try photographing it with a watercolor of mine. A kind of mixed media you might say. More like a mixed up media (LOL!) but thought it was interesting anyway. I painted this in one of my favorite places on earth, Joshua Tree National Park. And for some reason Joshua Tree and the Moody Blues always go hand in hand to me. Maybe because every time I’ve gone there I have the Moodies blasting away on the car stereo! You ever been there? Ah, must find photos as it’s totally surreal and beautiful. Ah hah! Here we go:
Amethyst Confection Earrings Amethyst, periodot, garnet, yellow citrine, madeira citrine and turmaline frolic and sparkle together
Amethyst Confection Earrings
I was feeling all holidayish and this confectionary of gems fit my mood. So many goodies here: amethyst, periodot, garnet, yellow citrine, madeira citrine and turmaline too!
All the purple goodness made me think of blueberries, so I posted a yummy blueberry recipe!
Blueberry French Toast Breakfast Strata
I got this recipe from a lovely B and B decades ago and have modified it repeatedly to it’s present incarnation.
Ingredients:
6 eggs
1 loaf cinnamon raisin bread
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 cups milk
3 cups blueberries
Filling:
16 oz whipped cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
Topping:
1 cup blueberries
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325°. Whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl until the sugar dissolves; set aside. Cut bread into 1 inch cubes; add to egg mixture. Mix well. Distribute half the bread mixture in the bottom of the buttered pan. Top with cream cheese mixture and blueberries. Cover with remaining bread mixture. Finish with 1 cup blueberries sprinkled on top. Bake until browned on top and set, about 45 minutes. Cool to room temperature, about 40 minutes. Makes 10 servings.
Note: You can use any fruit instead of blueberries. Cut up peaches or cherries work well also. You can add chopped nuts too if you like. I make this the day before and pop it in the oven in the morning for about 50 minutes. Enjoy!
Moonlight Magic Necklace An embossed, hand painted piece, surrounded by fireflies embellished by faceted labradorite spheres which refract a remarkable array of hues.
Moonlight Magic
A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. -Oscar Wilde
 | “We rise by lifting… on The Ghost of ME |
 | Nancy on The Ghost of ME |
 | Susan Myron on The Ghost of ME |
| Nancy on Paths and Byways |
| Susan Myron on Paths and Byways |
| Nancy on The Ghost of ME |
 | Dianne Ravin on The Ghost of ME |
| Nancy on Paths and Byways |
Jewels of Endearment 