Chameleon Deer Watching Us

Deer blend into the wintery scenery here. They love hiding close by and they blend so well until I realize the trees are moving, and look closer and it's deer. They are wanting to come up close to eat our greenery, but they are watching our westie dog on top of the hill rolling around feeling full of himself. They eventually cross the creek and go on to other fields. But I know they will be back in a few hours for a little buffet outside.

Alice in Wonderland Movie Costume Designer Colleen Atwood

Just one week left before Alice in Wonderland comes to town. Colleen Atwood the movie's costume designer has already won two academy awards for best costume designs in "Chicago" and "Memoirs of a Geisha." She has been nominated a number of times...Little Women, Sleepy Hollow, Beloved, Todd Sweeney, and Nine to name a few.

Tim Burton's 3D Alice in Wonderland movie is set in Victorian times with lots of fabric, trims and details and both imaginary and real. Alice is not a child, but a young woman. Can't wait to see the movie stills. The movie trailer teaser is just that. Hardly shows enough to satisfy our curiousity at all! We want to see more of the fabrics, clothes and hats!

To quote Colleen, "It's going to be amazing!" Read her interview here.

Alice in Wonderland Loves Rabbits Aceo Art Painting

Alice in her pink dress adores rabbits. Here she is at home with her brother and their baby bunnies which they are keeping close to their hearts. (Who does not love baby bunnies?) A little curious red cardinal casts his tweet tweet vote in favor of rabbits as pets, too. Ahh, barefeet means the earth is warm!

This little painting is an aceo which measures 2.5 by 3.5-inches. A little treasure just like the baby bunnies. I used a large brush so there isn't much detail and it makes for a very folky style and CUTE faces.

For sale on ebay.

Siamese Cats Topiary Sculpture Garden Art Painting

Two Siamese cats with the results from their topiary garden class. A mouse running on a wheel in green topiary and a good-sized fish all in living green! Round ball standard topiaries are nice, but these two are taking topiary to another level. Having Siamese cats we know they are a little more active than most cats. They are very cute too!

I used some of the same colors as the westie with it's topiary art so that they could be grouped together. A nice long table of topiary art when they are side by side. This cute painting is for sale here.

Our World is Blue, Pink and a spot of Green

Our world has been various shades of blue and white outside the last 2 weeks. Blue ground and blue sky and a ring of pink clouds ruffling the two together. Schools were closed for 9 days and just resumed late yesterday.

Inside it's pink and white. I've been under the weather and these roses and gardening magazines have helped. Most of the time I had only one eye open. And that was only now and then.

The deer are the best snow removers. There is this little spot near the old spring where the grass is lush and green still under the snow. (They've since eaten it to the quick.) There is eight deer that come every morning and afternoon and paw away the snow to eat the grass. They are adding more green color to our blue and white outdoor world. Most all of our boxwoods are still covered in snow which is their saving grace from the deer.

My Friend Hedgehog Who loves Heart Cookies

Are you ready for spring? Bring in Spring. Ring in Spring. Fling in Spring. After a week of being under the weather and snowed in I close my eyes and see all the little spring blossoms looking at their wristwatches wondering, "Is it time yet?"

My new little painting has only a pinch of white in it because everywhere we look it's white. (Come hot summer we use lots of white paint, can't paint cool enough colors.) Our little hedgehog friend's name is Ava. She is a cutie and a great pastry chef! When she takes a walk in the woods everyone comes out of hiding to get a taste of her baked confections.

I used browned colors to make this look a little vintage. The original painting is up for sale on ebay and you can find a print on etsy.

Pretty Vintage White Dresses and Costumes

Polonaise. I didn't know the meaning of the word until today. One is pictured above from the 1800's. Lots of details, but in simple white fabric. I think I might like one. It is a beautiful white dress worn over a long black skirt or a white skirt. There were strings hidden underneath that were pulled to form this nice gathering of fabric in the back. I love the cuffs on the sleeves. This overdress was popular in American from 1869-1875.

There is such a wealth of costume information on the web. A great wealth of inspiration for dollmakers to venture out a bit with their dress designs. (I'm speaking to myself here.) Did you know there is a costume society of america? They have a wonderful website. Also the Smithsonian Museums here in Washington D.C. have a costume collection.

All we have been seeing is white designs outside of our windows. This is little tiny footprints on top of the snow. Every little impression make a pattern. It won't be long before we will be bringing out our linen clothes...or sewing some new linen skirts or blouses.

Bright Star Movie Costume Designs

Janet Patterson did an outstanding job with designing Fanny Brawne's clothes in the movie Bright Star. She designs 19th century costumes with whim and attention to details. For the above soft pink dress and coat she said, "I used the romantic valentine theme to select the fabric..." and she was off with her imagination and style. The dress is adorable.

While we are snowed in here in Maryland (I'm really understanding old-fashioned snowshoes now, not so beautiful but very, very helpful) sunny Los Angeles is hosting the 18th annual "The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" at the museums and galleries at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. The costumes from the academy award nominees are on display. Winner will be announced in March 2010. The fun part is that Janet Patterson's costumes are there from the movie Bright Star! Also showing there are costumes from "The Young Victoria", "Nine" and "The Imagination of Doctor Parnassus."

I am beginning to really notice details on dresses because my dolls are somewhere between the romantic 19th century to the primitive peasant style to painted cloth dresses. I'm just starting to add ruffles to my dolls dresses. I saw recently laid my eyes on some antique dolls that were wearing accurate period clothing from the time frame they were made in. Amazing costumes. Very elaborate. If that doesn't motivate you to experiment and design with more detail!

I shall practice a few male costume designs on my westie dog, Sir Salty, first. How much clothing can he handle? He doesn't like hats that much or anything slightly binding.

Westie Dog Blog East Coast Snow Report

It is I, Sir Salty, over my head in snow. My mind is in overdrive and my feet are spinning in the 30 inches of snow we have. There are places I have to go and things I need to see! In the picture above I am saying to my mom parent, "Look me in the eye and tell me that you are getting the shovel." And be quick about it. We couldn't find the shovel.

Here my dad parent had the shovel on the roof of our house! Of course that is a place we all need to walk; right? But my dad parent did not want the porch roof collapsing. It didn't. Mom parent got the shovel for me.

I am a rip roaring take charge westie and jumped ahead of the slow pokes for about 30 seconds. Whew! It is hard work being in charge of someone with a camera. They take one step and take many pictures. They turn and take more pictures. The shovel is not moving.

Sigh. I am very patient with my parents. I think I will go inside and look for my santa suit. I know if I had that coat on in the snow they would be chasing me faster with the camera.

Westie Dog Blog Editorial/Writer

I've always wanted to tell the world that I love where we live in the country. Tonight my parents are busy so I'm going to tell you about my life. We've had lots of snow which I love to romp in. The picture above is me standing down by our creek in my show dog style last night at sunset. Actually I'm listening intently for birds and squirrels and other animal whispering. You must stand very, very still...even if your parents ARE calling you.

I love this wooded section that looks bare in the winter. I can stand tall and erect just like a tree. There isn't much that I can't do if you ask me. I am actually listening again to hear the trees talking. Normally the deer camp out here and eat all of the leaves. The deer like the music the creek makes and with the leaves clapping their hands and the birds chirping...the bullfrogs bass notes... it's like a full orchestra. I like all the music makers.

Sometimes I can sound like a harmonica when my human brother plays his fife and stays on one note too long. I try to correct his timing and his notes by jumping on him until he stops. Then I know he has learned his lesson from me and I walk away.

I have always wanted to be a garden editor because I see alot here in the gardens and also in my parents catalogs and magazines. It smells so good to walk into a greenhouse. I love that earth smell. All the letters form wonderful words in my head when I am in there, but I never have the laptop handy to record them.

Just this for now because I need to babysit the cats who seem to finally wake up after 20 hours of sleep at night.