art studio

The Tiny Twig Talisman Story and the Artist Who Created Them.

The artist, Sandi, who created this Tiny Twig Talisman, is someone I recently learned about from another artist — and all because of a serendipity connection on Instagram.

Sandi’s IG page is called Bluebird Cottage. Well, you know me! Anything related to cottage and I’m going to want to know more! I would come to learn more about Sandi from her artist friend, Lille Diane and who just happens to also love something else just as much as I do — donkeys!

I’d discover through Lille Diane that Sandi was featured in the May/June/July 2020 issue of In Her Studio — one of my favorite magazines. How did I miss that? A little research, a gently used copy found on eBay, and well, now I feel like I’ve connected with another kindred spirit in Sandi (and Lille Diane, too!)

Sandi has a lovely bohemian-style art studio with lots of happy and bright colors as featured in the pages of the magazine. Her Esty shop is called, Love From Cape Cod. Swoon! I’ve often wanted to visit Cape Cod since falling in love with it through the pages of the author, Susan Branch’s memoir, Martha’s Vineyard – Isle of Dreams (which I’ve read at least ten times now. I’m not kidding!)

So back to Sandi. Her posts on IG always bring me so much joy and her love of home, art, and nature feel so in alignment with mine. When she posted her newest creations (Tiny Twig Talismans) and the story behind them, well I knew I just had to have one to add to my altar in Joyful Pause Cottage.

From Sandi’s IG page:

Tiny Twig Talismans. Created with much love over many months. The story behind these is…. Three years ago my favorite tree in the front blew down in a blizzard. I loved that tree and was heartbroken to actually see it come down in the high winds across the driveway. Before the tree crew came to cut up and haul away the broken parts I went out and gathered many of the smaller branches. Some are in a large vase in the loft and greet me every time I go to my studio. Other tiny twigs wait for me to lovingly create these precious talismans. They have the sweetest energy and I loved creating them. Do you love trees too?

When the package arrived containing my sweet little twig of the tree that Sandi so lovingly found a way to commemorate into these beautiful works of art, I should have known how it arrived would be first-class too.

The Tiny Twig was wrapped inside this blue bedazzled tissue and then tucked inside the brown paper with lovely calligraphy written on it and a floral sticker which came inside the envelope with floral washi tape taped to the front.

Included inside was this beautiful envelope and colorful and sweet card. It was many gifts in one and unwrapping it all felt so very magical!

For many years now I’ve truly enjoyed every time I can support an artist. When I do, I feel like not only do I honor them, but I also honor a part of myself that loves to create too. You aren’t just getting an item, but something that comes from the heart, soul, and the hands of the many hours of joy that go into creating by the artist. Talk about good vibes to have in any space and exactly what I surround myself with in Joyful Pause Cottage!

So, welcome Tiny Twig to my space, and thank you, Sandi, for following your artistic whims and dreams…

XO

Barb

                  

A Dancing Fairy (and Grasshopper!) Inside Joyful Pause Cottage. Come See the Video.

It has been one of the most magical June’s I can remember in a long time. Though I know it’s just the beginning of the month. But I’m feeling like the difficulties of 2020 are beginning to show the gifts of why we had to go through what we did.

For me, I’m deeply appreciating things even more than I did before. The simple things. Like growing a vegetable garden this year, paying even more attention to the flower and shrub gardens around my Joyful Pause Cottage and home, quiet weekend mornings sipping coffee out front with John, and catching moments like this when a fairy and grasshopper dance in the sparkling light coming through the shade on my window…

Click here to watch the video I captured of it, or on the video below… 

Wishing you a most magical week.

XO,  Barb

Joyful Pause Studio: Bad News and Good News

Joyful Pause Studio: Bad News and Good News

Bad News: returning home from vacation in November I discovered we had a water issue in the lower level of our house. Magazines stacked on the carpet against the wall, used for the SoulCollage workshops I offer in my studio, I came to discover when moving them that the bottom magazines were wet.

Nothing like a water problem to make your stomach drop to your feet. We pinned the problem to a chimney leak we had late August, which John had fixed not realizing the water had dripped down between the walls.

It had been a hope of mine that we could replace the carpet downstairs with something else eventually. Well, now is the time. At least for the one room.

Good News:  Today John is installing a luxury vinyl flooring that clicks and snaps together (not really as easy as it sounds, as it is a bit more challenging than he anticipated).  But it is backed by 5/8 inch cork board and perfect for basements. It also looks like wood flooring, which I love.

Of course now I wish we could do the whole lower level plus the stairs — but that will have to wait. It will also take much longer to do that amount of space which is about 800 square feet.

The other good news is I painted the room also to match the rest of downstairs – I just love that green!!  Very “zen”  I think for my workshops.

I keep telling John that the nicer he makes our house, the more I won’t want to leave it for a warmer climate which we’d like to do someday. Though honestly, I don’t know if I can ever leave completely, but would like to head to warmer temps just for the winter months.

I’m so excited about 2017 and the workshops I’m going to be facilitating on my own, plus workshops I’m collaborating on with friend Rachel, of LaValley Equine Sanctuary. We both have a fire inside us about offering workshops and it feels so good to have this new passion.

My vision of encouraging women to…

Going down the stairs to Joyful Pause Studio (and yes, John needs to reinstall trim here – always something to do!)

is coming true and that makes my heart feel much joy…which is good, good, news.

Even for women who aren’t local to my area and can’t attend my workshops in person, I’m giving lots of thought to offering workshops online, videos, tele-classes, etc. which I want to record and facilitate from my Joyful Pause Studio…so stay tuned!

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