Expect A Miracle

"The whole point of living is to believe the best is yet to come."

- Peter Ustinou

A Little Nip & Tuck!

Isn't she pretty! I've been anticipating this day for a while now - the day I could reveal the new look and design of Twinkle, Twinkle. As you may have seen within the last month, I've been attempting to change things up a bit and make my blog more, well, "Me." And although I was heading somewhere, I had no idea how to get where I wanted to be from where I was . . . and then, my new hero arrived on the scene. My friend Emme from The House of Art kindly and generously offered to help me. Not only did she come up with the look and design for this background, but she also created my new header as well. I am so honored and grateful for her time and tremendous talent. My blog (and I) thank her from the bottom of our hearts . . . 

So what is The House of Art you ask? I'm happy to tell you. It is a new online community for Artists that will officially be launching at the end of this month. What till you see it! There will be monthly technique videos from Mixed Media Artists as well as written articles (where you get to read several takes on the same topic) submitted by Artists for Artists on a regular basis. So, how do I know all this? Because I am honored to announce that I will be a part of it! My first video will go up on the launch and my article has already been written. I highly encourage you to check it out. And the best part? It's all completely free. That's right, all you have to do is show up. . . 

In other blog news, guess who started one of her own? A lady I've been bragging about for a while now. She is a dimensional painter, designer and seamstress for the home. Oh, and Kendra's Grandma. That's right, my Mom now has a blog. Please check out Fleur De Lis when you can. You will recognize one little person there for sure.

To happy changes and a beautiful New Year of blogging, 

Kristin xo

Moleskine: III

"She hated the sound of her own voice"

Moleskine Journal 

It's been an artful few days, but you wouldn't know it by looking here. However, I was able to sneak in some time to create another journal page today and wanted to share it with you. Although the title does seem a bit mysterious and profound, it really isn't. I've been stepping into uncharted territory lately and it's all made me a bit self conscious.  Isn't it funny how much of our life and thoughts steep into our art? But enough talk . . . that will all make sense later . . .

Kristin xo

Pretty Little Pages

Detail of accessory cabinet in Studio

I've been playing around in the Studio lately. I'm trying to make it both functional and pretty, while at the same time putting my vintage finds (okay, obsessions) on display, instead of hiding them away, never to have their moment in the Sun. . . 

One of the ways I showcased some of these pretty little pages I've been collecting was to place some behind the glass fronts of an old (cheap-to-begin-with) accessory cabinet. Now, what once featured paint-laden hairdryers and (never-used) die cut machines, has been dressed up with vintage 1944 Golden Dictionary pages. 

Vintage is now new again. . .

Kristin xo

SPA: Hobbies & Pastimes

"She Liked to Play with Glitter"

6 X 4 corrugated cardboard

This week's theme for Sunday Postcard Art is Hobbies or Pastimes. I thought I'd have a go at the challenge (I'm a newbie to SPA) and create a girlie-girl whose hobby is to play with glitter (It's a stretch, I know) . . .

This piece was created on a 6 x 4 cutout of corrugated cardboard which was ripped, gessoed and washed with iridescent glitter and pale pink water-soluble wax pastels. The edges were further distressed with the back of a knife and then stamped with a swirl stamp before adding (silver Stickles) glitter. The girl was made on watercolor paper with acrylics, gel pens and Caran d'Ache crayons before being cut out and added to the background. Her paint pallet is comprised of globs of glitter. Final touches include more Stickles glitter on the dress and a dot on the whites of her eyes.

Thanks for looking! I look forward to seeing what everyone else does this week. . .

Kristin xo

Adoption Stories

Page from an Altered Book created two years ago

"I don't wanna say." What do you mean, we asked as we carefully removed the fallen eyelash from her cheek and placed it on her finger. "Every time I blow out an eyelash, I make the same wish. But it never comes true." I looked at David and he looked back at me, knowing instinctively what she was referring to. "Well" Daddy said, "you know, some wishes take longer to come true than others. The big one's can take time. Just look at you: we wished for you for a long time and now here you are." "But that's it! Mommy and I blew special bubbles and my wish was supposed to float in the air. And all the time I wish for a baby brother and he still isn't here yet." "He will be" I smiled, "you just have to believe. Your baby will come when he (or she, you know we've talked about that) is ready. In the meantime, don't give up. Just keep expecting." "Okay," she said with a sigh and squeezed her eyes tight before blowing on the eyelash with all her might. "Okay". . . .

Happy January 2nd!

"I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second."

- Helen Fielding

(From one of my favorite movies, Bridget Jones's Diary)