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Gifts and Snow

January 28, 2011 at 11:14 am by Claudia

A package arrived in my mailbox the other day – from Italy! Dear Monica, of The White Bench, had a giveaway and I was one of the lucky winners.

It was wrapped in this lovely handmade bag. The image is so beautiful it breaks my heart. The words “Tendre Souvenir” are stamped on a piece of fabric attached with two buttons. Utterly charming.

Inside were 3 beautiful examples of Monica’s photography and a lovely handwritten note. The present was wrapped in tulle with a little bundle of dried lavender. And here is the treat that was inside:

One of Monica’s beautiful hearts. Oh, that girl is talented!

I’ve hung it on the hutch in the kitchen. I think we need a little pink in that corner. Thank you, Monica. I treasure it.

My pal, Rizzi, sent me an email recently. In it she asked if I wanted some dollhouse hutches that she’d had around the house for a while. Of course! Yesterday, a package arrived in my mailbox.

That cutie wrapped everything in Valentine’s Day paper, along with a sweet card and some candy hearts. Here’s what was inside:

Wow! I’m going to have some fun with these. Thank you, Rizzi! By the way, Rizzi is Frog Hollow Farm Girl’s aunt. If you remember, FHFG sent me some of her late mother’s embroidery supplies a while back. Generosity clearly runs in that wonderful family.

Speaking of the dollhouse, I put the first coat of white paint on it the other day. Today I’ll do the second coat. I was hoping some of the supplies I ordered would arrive in time for me to do some more work this weekend – but alas, they aren’t going to arrive until Monday. Monday is the first day of rehearsal. Darn it!

Snow. It has taken over our lives and the lives of many, many others in the Northeast. I’ve spent most of my life in the upper Midwest and in the Northeast and I’ve never seen a stretch like this one. Seven major snowstorms in a month’s time and snow as far as the eye can see. Please cross your fingers for me. As I have to start traveling back and forth to the city next week, let’s hope the snow only falls on those days I don’t have to be there. Or better yet, how about no more snow???? I think we’ve had enough.

“Winter is not a season, it’s an occupation” – Sinclair Lewis

Have a great weekend!

My Stuff is Everywhere (& Cupcakes)

January 26, 2011 at 10:57 am by Claudia

It’s now official. I have taken over every available surface with my various projects. Yarn for an obsession scarf on a chair…

Dollhouse, paint, brushes, and other supplies in a corner of the den….

Script and all Shakespeare research materials on the kitchen table.

Yes, I have a studio upstairs, but none of these projects can fit in that tiny space. So I guess you could say my studio space has expanded to include the entire house. There is relief in sight: I have one more act to research in The Merchant of Venice and then the books can be removed from the table. Speaking of MOV, as it has been dubbed in all rehearsal correspondence, I officially start rehearsals this coming Monday. My days will be long, but exciting, for about 5 weeks.

Yesterday, I needed to catch an early bus to Manhattan. When I woke up there were 2 additional inches of snow on the ground. If you had driven by MHC, you would have been treated to the sight of me shoveling snow in a parka and pink flannel pajamas. Oh, what blackmail photos could have been taken! Upon seeing me out there, Don yelled out the window and berated me (kindly) for not waking him up to help. Can’t help it…I just get a notion in my head and I start in.

It was a snowy bus ride to Manhattan and as I walked around Greenwich Village with big, fat snowflakes falling, I fell in love with the city all over again. Though there are some taller buildings in the area, the predominant style is a 2 or 3 stories. You aren’t surrounded by skyscrapers. It has much more of a cozy, neighborhood feeling. Very picturesque yesterday and very photo-worthy. Alas, when I am toting a bag full of the books I need for my work, the last thing I need is the additional weight of my camera! Once we get into the rehearsal space, my books can stay there and I will once again have my camera in hand. It will be fun to share some shots of the city with you.

Where did I stop? Do you have to guess?

The Magnolia Bakery, of course. As you gaze upon these lovelies, say a fond farewell. This is the last hurrah – at least for a while. We have been indulging in way too many sweets this winter. After the last cupcake has been consumed (and two of them are already gone) it’s lights out for sugar. This winter is one of the toughest we’ve had in a long time – more snow is due tonight – and since we have at least 2 more months of it, we’ll really be packing on some pounds if we continue at this rate.

I will miss you, pretty and delicious cupcakes. Sob.

Forgotten Treasures, Dollhouse Update

January 24, 2011 at 12:35 pm by Claudia

Good morning! It was 9 degrees below zero when I woke this morning. During the middle of the night the temperature was supposed to go to at least 11 below; I have a feeling it went even lower. Don had to go into Manhattan today and I have to go in tomorrow. You’d better believe I will be rewarding myself with cupcakes from the Magnolia Bakery!

We all have little treasures that we are used to seeing around the house. We get so used to them that we don’t really see them anymore until something makes us look at them with fresh eyes. That happened to me the other day. I ‘saw’ this box which has a home on our spinet desk. I bought this little cigarette box when I was in Edinburgh in 1991 – oh my gosh, it’s been 20 years! I well remember walking into a little antique shop, hoping to discover some little treasure that would always remind me of my trip.

The copper has transformed into that wonderful blue patina that I love. The flapperish female figure is looking elegant while enjoying a cigarette. Isn’t she fabulous?

A confession: When I gaze at this lady, I get that little twinge that reminds me how much I loved smoking years ago. Don’t worry. I haven’t smoked in 26 years and I’m not about to start now.

The inside of the box is wood.

It’s full of memories: chaperoning a group of Boston University students who were performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, staying in a lovely flat for 2 weeks and having the luxury of time to explore that gorgeous city, traveling to London for 5 days to explore some more. Those students were members of a class that I adored teaching. We had such fun together – at Boston University and in Edinburgh.

This weekend, I painted the roof of the dollhouse.

I wanted the shingles to look a bit weathered, so I used 2 different shades of gray. It’s subtle, therefore hard to see in the photo. I hope this gives you somewhat of an idea of what I was going for.

Today, I’ll start painting the house itself, which will be white, then the shutters, which are on order. I’m not sure what color I’m going to use on the shutters – maybe a turquoise mixed with some gray? After all this is done, I will start on the inside and that, my friends, will be the biggest challenge.

Hope your weather is a tad warmer than mine!

Gifts and Snow

My Stuff is Everywhere (& Cupcakes)

Forgotten Treasures, Dollhouse Update

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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