hmm; tastes… different

A new painting; A Dreamstealer disguised as a little boy:

This little one is made using acrylic paints on an oval canvas gallery wrap.  He is now in the shop sporting this agreeable yellow glittered neck bow, for your critical inspection.

Good Bye!

Just popped in to share some of the new shop update goodies:

“Wee Wee Cloud” Pillowcase

Jersey “Dreamstealer” Vest

“Dreamstealer” Pillowcase

I hope you like! This Dreamstealer Pillowcase design has actually been with me for quite a while now, but I’ve not had it in the Etsy shop before, so I decided to put the last one out as I feel it’s a real Specific Flavour classic and it’s brought a lot of joy.. (and a lot of constructive nightmares) to me and others. Have a lovely weekend!

Lately, I have had a couple of bad experiences when buying things from Etsy, which is why I was so exceptionally glad for the package received from Miss mousseauchocolat, mother of dessert themed lolita accessories, today. It is not every day you get a package covered in hand felt tipped strawberries so I have to admit my lips tweeked a bit even before I had opened it.

Inside I found her Cherry Strawberry Bow Scarf and a whole bundle of sweetness, including this scented bubble blowing ice cream cone, already fitted with a hole to hang around my neck for those future bubble blowing excursions in the park etc.

Thank you Mousse, I really needed some sweetness today!

I did a little cheat shop update today, of this red Valentine Pillowcase Set. Sorry for not letting you know here, but afterwards, I know it’s a bit unfair of me. Mainly I did this because I really wanted them to be out in good time for V day and also possibly, a teeny bit, because I am getting itchy fingers for the real update which I am hoping will be sometime at the end of the coming week. I will give you an exact date and time closer to the day.

I put on a special label, with a secret hand painted message onto one of the pillowcases, suggestedly the one that would be gifted to the other half. And the other one you could keep for yourself.

Then I fancied something warming and ate lots of these brandy enforced Glazed Cranberry Cupcakes which I cooked up yesterday. I guess this is how I would imagine, say, Tom Waits having his cupcakes (yes, I am sure he eats a lot of them). I made them using the Standard Vanilla Cupcake recipe, from Vegan Cupcakes take Over the World after which I wisked together cranberry jam (actually it was lingonberry jam but you know what they say, same shit, different name, excuse the language) with some brandy that went into a hole in the middle of the cupcake that was then covered with some very traditional crunchy, sugary glaze (read confectionary sugar mixed with water/lemon juice) that I had tossed some chopped up bits of dried cranberries into.

We had such a lovely day out earlier this week, exploring the town centre north from where we live+spending some well deserved time off  in the park…

…it was us and all the dogs in London, immersing ourselves in wintery pursuits

time for tea and sandwiches by the little lake.

…and a tiny moss landscape on a forgotten grave. Sometimes a day out in the park can be just what you need. Even when it is cold and dreary outside. I will be back soon with new work and with the date for the next shop update to be confirmed. So long!

Not much has happened today. It’s been quite a grey day here in dreary ol’ London…

…although we’ve had a few glimpses of warming sun.

The Baronesse was a bit too cold to play it the cat way, so she decided to go to bed the human way today, very cute. She bids you stay warm and goodnight and have a lovely tomorrow!

I was tweeting about this lovely “weekend sized” suitcase that J came home with after some random thrift shopping on his stay in Sweden the other day and here it is. I considered painting a picture on it but after some thought I just think is so lovely as it is and in such good condition too.

It’s so sweet and the inside has a lovely houndstooth pattern in blue.

And then there was my new prints that I’ve been talking about. I have been so eager to try out my new gocco printer and it is just so neat! A totally different experience to someone like me who is constantly found leaning over rather more conventional, homemade, relatively huge, wooden screens. I am planning to make many a petite mini print on this new toy friend of mine.

So now you know how my dreamstealers manage to get their dangling little legs onto our dark streets and roof tops so they can pinch a dream or two, from both me and you. Yes, a truly diverse tool and the cream of vehicles, no need for parking space and so terribly energy efficient; meet the umbrella!

These are red and black gocco prints that have had a blue wash of water colour to give a cloudy sky background. I shall sell these in stationery form in my shop at my next update.

Oh deary, I’ve been caught in a bit of a fever daze for a couple of days and have hardly had the strength to eat so my diet has been limited to lots of fruit and soups et voilá! here I am live and well, so all is good. I’ll be back soon with lots of long time promises!

Today I am listening to Francoise Hardy, whilst eagerly, eagerly waiting. This is not so happy music I have to admit, but yet it is the soundtrack to a very very happy day. For today is the day when J comes home from a week’s stay at his parents’ in Sweden. So in spite of going on my sudden ballade-du-tristesse spree we are all jumping inside. The Baronesse, The Duchesse and me, that is!

Nessie is happy.

Teddy is certainly happy.

And I am the happiest of them all. Albeit a ghost. Oh, and I have been working on some new prints which I am hoping to be able to share with you all at the end of the week. Think my dreamstealers versus Mary Poppins! A happy day to all of you! lol Bella