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......"

A poem from a loving daughter

My girl, Sara has a gift....an amazing gift: of words and insite and heart.
She surprised me with this poem last week. It touched my soul deeply and my heart immensly. She gets me....that's hard to do.

"Mothers who love your children, do not set them too soon in the study of history; let them dream while they are young. Do not close the soul to the first breath of poetry. Nothing affrights me so much as the reasonable, practical child who believes in nothing that he cannot touch." -Edward Laboulaye
Thank you mother, for bestowing in me the talent and the heart of a poet. I owe it all to you. Please remember, there is no cage that can contain you, you hold the key to any lock that stands in your way: imagination.

For the woman who sacrificed all for me... my heart is forever kindled with yours.

NO CAGE TOO VAST

Sara Giancarla Juliani

midnight eyes kindled with two
twinkling stars
like the lullaby she used to sing me to sleep
when i was but a mere yolk in her viscera
tranquil dove is she
pale plumage of austere allurement
she cannot fathom her demise
her liberty seized,
by golden-crowned kinglet of domesticity.
now she, with wings of winter wren folded
and pinned to
suburban house with cracked green trim
two brown-speckled eggs so lovingly hatched
and the incessant call of her mate,
to the mercies of this cruel blizzard
pelting her with a hail of woes
she's withstood many an avalanche before
but none so bad as this.
the winter wren wonders
if it will ever fly again.
she is stout and tough with
melodious songs enough,
but i would also declare her a scarlet tanager,
the red bird of the sun
bold and unafraid,
wings ever-desirous
to lift toes off dirty paved streets,
the sky disappearing from view,
ever moving forward into sunbeams
she cannot decide which to be.
one day the hook will push up and outward,
the bar will drop,
and gentle breezes carry the wire door
farther beyond yourself,
until the universe has its way,
its natural order
the cage begins to falter,
as gingerly one foot steps towards freedom,
her bright pinions shudder hesitantly
will i be a winter wren forever?

Christmas Sneak Peek....

As an artist....who sells to retail establishments, one must start working early in the year to prepare for the holidays. I've been in love with the sea for some time now and wanted to reflect my dreams of the sea into my art this Christmas. Marcia at Cottage Jewel, in Danville loves the sea as much as I, so with a perfect business marriage arranged, I began working last week with an abundance of seashells .....starfish 12" large, pink sea urchins and giant scallops, not to mention the arsenal of glitter and vintage goods at my fingertips down in the studio (see older blogs for pictures of where I create). Here for you, is a special sneak preview of the work being accomplished...enjoy, And, come gather some seashells at Cottage Jewel this holiday season!

The Fox and the Child

Wow....get your hankys ready and settle in for a most beautiful film. Made by Luc Jacquet (who filmed March of the Penguins). A stunning masterpiece that made me want to go camp out at Lake Chabot and wait for foxes or coyotes or mountain lions to come around so I could befriend them!
Eye- candy to be sure..sad in some parts but the film really captures the innocence of ten year old thinking and wonder. I LOVED it!!!!

unconventional still life

I came across this artist (Kimbrini......on Flicker)

who photographs "found" animals and pays tribute to their

untimely deaths in beautifully and haunting photographs.

Fox....just made me want to weep.....

beautiful, fragile and peaceful at the same time.

What a sensitive heart.

eeeensy bears, oh my!

I used to create these little guys along time ago. My hands got broken.....and I couldn't sew teeensy anymore. I still have troubles sewing, but I love them so much that I can't resist making them from time to time........her name is Papillon.

Kaleidoscope Frivolity

Oh, I know it's a huge waste of time looking for minutes on end at the amazing, intricate patterns inside of my Kaleidoscope......hey, I would say looking for hours, but there are dishes to be done and kiddos to pick up from school. Karima from Castles In The Air filmed the inside of one of my kaleidoscopes for their blog.....cool.....so here is my attempt at turning, whilst filming, whilst trying not to drop my toy...it took me 8 tries. I am not as professional as Karima.
Hope to see you at a class so you too can make your own.....and waste minutes. Hey, the dishes can wait!