The Engagement of a Pixie and a Jeepster

Saturday was traffic school. Complete with the boring teacher, Red Asphalt 3 and lame people who can't seem to fill out their name and address unless the teacher held their hand...and I'm sharing the road with these people? Why was I there? NOT GUILTY on charges of speeding on Carlton Ave....but I couldn't get out of it........so!....what started out as a bummer day turned into one of the best nights of my life. As you know, the divorce was finally final on Friday after the ex fought over trivial things for a whole year. Scott and I have been anxiously awaiting the end of my marriage for quite some time....months and months!

Dinner out was planned for our usual date night when Twizzlers are in Sac with their mama. Scott's friend Ricky D just opened Cypress in Walnut Creek. It's a wonderful restaurant with amazing cuisine. We arrived there and were seated at the high tops near the piano toward the lounge area, which was perfect due to the fact that Paul Roth was on the piano on this night and we had met before a few times...fab player, fab singer! The place was packed early and everyone was buzzing about doing their thing. Ricky, Demetri and a host of Scott's other acquaintances greeted us and chatted with us about the resto scene in the WC.....a typical night out.

We ordered salad and crab cakes for our apps and two glasses of champagne. We talked for a bit and decided on our entrees...... pan seared chicken with a mustard sauce and potatoes for me and rabbit over parpadelle pasta for the man. The rain was falling outside and Casablanca played on the screen in the lounge. Paul played "As Time Goes By". My Jeepster gazed into my eyes for a very long moment and I couldn't tell you exactly why then, only that he and I were both smiling...both so in love with each other. He knew why. I told Scott how I was so happy that I was finally legally divorced..... free!...free to love him even more than I did, free to open my whole heart to him, free to be able to begin our life together. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a little black velvet box in the shape of a heart, took my hand and said "Pixie? will you marry me?" I could hardly breathe and said "Yes..oh Yes, YES!" We embraced and I buried my head on his shoulder, hugged him and cried. As I gained a little composure, he took my hand and placed a beautiful emerald and sterling ring on my finger.

Paul played, "It Had To Be You" for us and the couple at the next table bought us champagne, a round of applause from everyone at the restaurant and congrats from Ricky and the crew. We were their very first proposal at Cypress..... Paul played Moon River, The Way You Look Tonight and lots of other romantic tunes as we tried to eat our meal and dessert...we were so happy and giddy and twitter-painted and kissed and kissed and looked lovingly into each other's eyes with "I love You" over and over again......sigh.........so romantic!

Months ago we agreed to wear each others birthstones as our wedding rings. He found my ring...an antique (which is what I wanted) emerald ring from England. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. His ring is titanium with a thin, crushed turquoise band around it.

We agreed that our wedding would reflect our personalities and be unconventional in many respects. Our date is April 14, 2012. Six months to plan, which is going to be so fun for us. A small gathering of friends with my love in full Scottish attire. YES.....he will be wearing a kilt in his Johnston clan colors. They are truly beautiful...teal and blue and green with thin black and yellow striping. It's taken all the self control I have not to look at wedding gowns and try them on. I can't wait to find the "one"! This will certainly be a culinary event. Good Scotch will be involved and great food.

I'm a happy, happy, happy PIx! I'm in love with someone who loves me more than life and would do anything for me and walk to the ends of the earth...(that's what a Jeepster is by the way). We are extremely compatible and perfect for each other. I love his kids and he loves mine AND they dig each other too.....

Stay tuned for wedding news and updates.........and a whole bunch o' love!

Tiger Pen for Penscapes

Time to reveal painting secrets to painting on tiny cylindrical surfaces....here is a (almost) step by step on painting the Siberian Tiger pen, a commissioned piece for the Admiral.

Hey there, Hey there Mr. Roboto!!!

Bots are cool....time to scour the bottom of my tool box for more fun stuff to create with.

These will post on Etsy soon.

Shell Lockets at Cottage Jewel

I will be teaching a class on making these little beauties on March 17th at 4:30 at Cottage Jewel in Danville. My love these days is creating unusual art to wear. The tiny scallop shells are perfect to house little pictures, sealife and treasures.

Painting In the Middle Of The Night

The stresses of life can be easily diffused when you dive into what you are passionate about. Cooking, gardening, playing your favorite instrument or just taking a walk in nature can soothe the soul. For me it has always been the creative process. I recently read a great quote that goes like this: "Every creation of an artist should be the true expression of the adventure of her soul."

Since I am the adventurous type, it seems natural for me to go to those "soul places" to explore the many ideas along the paths, valleys and mountains of my mind and heart......and soul.

Recently, I was having relationship struggles and "me" struggles, so I painted a red tanager for a friend of mine....in the middle of the night.....all at once. My daughter once likened me to this free red bird in a poem she wrote for me (see older posts).......my cage door has swung open and I am now able to explore this world and myself through new eyes, a new and healing heart.....and most of all freedom. The Red Bird will always remind me of this time in my life...she's becoming my avitar as I learn how to spread my wings and fly.

The Amarillo Indy: Writing with the Right Stuff

The Amarillo Indy: Writing with the Right Stuff: "CBS New Sunday Morning had a feature on fountain pens."

You can see my 3 bird pens that I painted at about 1:25 minutes in the segment....right after Richards segment.
Out of all the pens at the show....it was nice to see mine.
All the filming and interviews remain on the cutting floor.
That's show business!!!

Time Flys.....

.....when you're having fun...and when you are not. A lot has happened since the last time I was here. many changes....some hard, but necessary....some fun and exciting.
One of those changes is helping a friend create a new company. It's been a welcome thing to keep me busy, as I continue to look for full time work. Check out Penscapes.com. (Hand painted Fountain Pens) to see what I've been up to.
Creating for Cottage Jewel Christmas open house lately (pictures to follow soon!)
Hope you are all well out there and I promise not to neglect you by not blogging....totally my bad!!! It won't happen again!!!!

Make art....be happy!
Tweet and Sparkle, Deni

Pet Portraits by Sparrowsongs

Yeah!!!!....I am almost finished with class at Las Positas and ready to branch out into the world of Pet Photography. Although I have shot families and weddings, senior portraits and head shots......I REALLY enjoy interacting with animals. One of my assignments for class was to choose an independent project. I chose to be a "Pet Photographer". A fellow student said, "You have a unique style and a gift for capturing an animals soul". Nice.

My first endeavour will be to pass out flyers at a special event my vet is having and drum up some business that way.....also I will have a prize drawing to give away as well. Wish me luck!!

Haven't Blogged in awhile

Gee how time flies when you are in a family crisis. The last couple of months have been the darkest days of my 45 years on this planet. Although I can't go into detail about the crisis, I will say that the Lord of Hosts is truly faithful in taking care of His own. Even when bad things happen to us or those we love, He is still constant in His love and care for us. He promises that time will heal us, faith will carry us and LOVE will be the glue holding us together, that LOVE will be the very thing that holds our hands as we walk through another bleak and hopeless day, that LOVE will whisper in our ears at night as we close our eyes and pray for good dreams and not bad ones. That LOVE will drown out the despair until laughter and joy appear again to brighten our days and give us hope for a future that will promise that He will be there when the next thing comes our way....good and bad.

Strawberry Fun at Lisa's

Sunday afternoons creating art is one on my favorite things...
Lisa, Carol, Kathie and I sat in her beautiful studio in Fremont and I taught them the fine art of a velvet strawberry pincushion. These gals were rockstar sewing goddesses.....and their creations and color combinations were nothing short of amazing. A delight for the eyes .....

not to mention the envy of all the other pins and

needles that don't have one!!!!

Strawberries of a different kind

What fun it is to teach an old dog a new trick!!!

I have been creating velvet strawberries for about 7 years now and discovered recently a new love.......being able to print directly on fabric from my inkjet printer!!!!

Now, I can incorporate my art and illustrations in these little works of art....useful works of art. Filled with a mix of sand and emery, this pincushion promises to keep your needles and pins sharp!

Next up.......wee little purses...stay tuned!

Dreamscapes & Seascapes for Cottage Jewel, Danville

A labor of love...for sure! These took ages to make since my paws are still sore and not fully strengthened from surgery last year. Little birdie and seahorse worlds under glass......inspired from vintage parlor domes of the Victorian era where they would put preserved flowers and animals under glass for safe keeping.....and to keep the elements at bay.

"...why, all birdies and seahorses wear crowns, they're just invisible

to the eye in real life......"