ULLABENULLA

Have A Snapping Great 4th!!!

Chinoiserie Parade

Here is my latest Porcelain painting project. I believe this jar is used for inserting scents (i.e. lavender) as it has a cork on the bottom and pencil sized holes on top. (about 8" tall) But if you have a better use for it, please let me know! I adore its 'ginger jar' like shape! I decided to paint a parade of chinoiserie people around the middle of it. Each person is holding something, be it umbrellas, bells, birds or royal cart. It's ready for its first firing now, and then I will continue embellishing it... Not sure what to add next ~ oriental cottages perhaps? Enjoy!

POLICHINELLE

I think these images of the French version of Punch, called "Polichinelle" are really wonderful! I may just have to make some more puppets!!!! Link plus Google Images...

Venetian Romance...

As the sun slowly set, and a beautiful grey-blue sky beckoned, we were transported to another place and time. Slowly we walked down to the dock, donned in fine apparel chosen just for the occasion. I felt like a movie-starlet in my newest Pink thrift shop score!

A smiling and happy Angelino and Marco of Gondola Servizio and their fleet of authentic Gondola's, stood before us, ready to help us onboard!

Romantic occasions are always better shared, and this one was no exception. Our dear friends Mary and Rob, joined us on our adventure and made the evening extra special!

We thrilled in the details, so much to look at and see...

Marco and Angelino serenaded us with songs of Romance and Adventure, as we glided by landscapes truly Italian...

Deep red Chianti was served in fine crystal to toast double celebrations ~ Our Anniversary and Mary's Birthday! And handmade gifts were shared...

We relaxed and enjoyed, Romanced and shared laughs!

Our Evening in Venice was truly magical ~ a fairytale come true, with memories to last a lifetime!

A Venetian Anniversary!

22 years ago I met a tall (6'5") handsome 'song and dance' man in New York City and fell madly in love!
19 years ago I married this same man in my Mother's rose garden...
Today, he continues to keep me laughing and smiling daily, supports my every creative whim, indulges me romantically when I least expect it, and listens as good as he advises, and yes ~ continues to woo me with his songs!

To Celebrate he has planned something special! Hint number one, we won't be leaving California... Hint number two, see image above!

Private Reliquary Class In Ulla's Studio

On Wednesday a good friend of mine and former student came for a day of 'soldering reliquaries' at my studio! She brought some wonderful pieces of coral to play with and really wanted to focus initially on creating a piece with a true vintage reliquary feel with an essence of ocean... Look how FABULOUS her piece turned out!!! The background on the inside is a crumpled piece of old gold candy wrapper. Tiny coral beads were glued along the inside edge. A large piece of coral and a tiny star-fish sit cozily between two paper quills. The whole piece is covered in mica and then soldered. On the outside she attached a strand of wonderful tear-drop coral beads and a delightful vintage silver crab brooch! Truly Inspired!!!

For her second piece she wanted to use some of her vintage 'cracker jack charms', and chose two wonderful little scotty dog charms. The background is a piece of hand dyed Chartreuse velvet, and the little girl is from a french postcard. I really like the shape she chose, and we debated for a while on what to hang from the bottom. Brass letters 'D O G S' finally won out! FABULOUS WORK DIANE!!!

PUNCH AND JUDY at the Castle!

I delivered my 'Punch and Judy' dolls to the Castle today, and they are very comfortable in their new theatre/home built by John McRae! When John gave me the project a couple of weeks ago, the first thing I did was go through all my boxes of fabrics and trims and pull out things that I thought would work for the dolls. I knew I wanted to work mostly with primary colors, and that I wanted the 'Baby Punch' to be done in baby blues. Amazingly, I ended up having everything I needed on hand, which is always a wonderful feeling, and the only things I purchased were the mannequin's! The heads were sculpted out of 'DAS' paperclay on 12" and 5" mannequins.

For Punch, I found a wonderful rich red wool that become the main part of his 'costume'. He "had" to have a bump on his back and a big belly, which made pattern drafting a little tricky. I was really happy how the embroidered fabric from Guatemala turned out on him, and the combination of vintage laces with other trims. I put one of the red anchors on the back of his hat, a quiet nod to all the 'Seaside' Punch and Judy shows that are so popular in England now.

Judy was less defined initially, so I gathered fabrics that had a 'country marm' feel. As you can see, I didn't use all of them. Her bonnet was created from a piece of an antique French baby bonnet, that is wired for form. Her apron is also a vintage piece. You can't see them here, but she has bright red bloomers on underneath her skirt!

Baby Punch was a surprise, as I had been asked only to do Punch and Judy. But I just couldn't leave him out! Shari, one of the Castle's employee's had recently given me the little 'duckling' handkerchief that belonged to her mother, and it became the focal point of babies costume! His dress was created of a vintage tea towel, and the hat used one of my favorite trims with bunnies on it!

All in all, they are a very happy family, full of mischief and the usual dysfunctions! ENJOY!!!

What I've Been Working On...

The Castle's own John McRae just installed a wonderful PUNCH AND JUDY theatre in our window! Guess who's making the puppets? I am nearly finished and will deliver them tomorrow. But, I thought I'd give you a peek into my inspiration... (images via Google)

One Day Holiday ~ Solstice Celebration!

Miss Laurence has invited everyone today to come with her on Holiday across the world! As many of you know, I live in Northern California, amidst the vineyards and on the cusp of 'Valley Of The Moon'. For todays little adventure, I've decided to share with you a peek into the real 'wonderland' that I live in!

Welcome to Ulla's Little Country...
A place where dreams often come true, and what seems reality may not be...
Where lights seen to always twinkle, and birds forever sing...
Cakes are served daily and tea is always sweet...
Music plays softly and golden insects hold court in a garden filled with roses...
Its a Holiday, and the day is long! Dance with me in my country of delight, until the sun sets and Solstice turns the days shorter again!

BLESSINGS!!!

Summer Woes ~ So Much To Do, and So Little Time...