Thursday, January 7, 2016

A New Year - Plus Diva Challenge #249, Gemstruck, Molygon and Real Throwback Moment (#8)

Many Blessings of the New Year to my Gentle Readers!

We start with Trumpits heralding the news for the Square One focus.  I did this in a tan sketchbook and used two different gold pens with black and white ink. I love how the dew drop/bubbles look on this paper.
 
And then I pulled out an old black tile with something on the other side and just had fun with the gold pen.  Why not?
 


Our holiday decorations and celebrations took on a new minimalist look this year.  No ebullient bows and boughs, no garland sparkling (and shedding) all over the house.  No, we did a woodland look evoking those clear crisp nights after the leaves have fallen and all is quiet and peaceful.  My husband especially really enjoyed this sort of Scandinavian look - it's the Swedish half of him, I think!   Our table was set with ticking stripe linens and a rather austere Santa to preside over the feast. (and it WAS a feast!)  I realized after I snapped the photo that I forgot to put the wine glasses on the table for the picture - sacrilege!! My challenge was to prepare everything gluten free to meet the needs of a beloved guest, and I must say it was all fabulous (polishing my nails on my lapel...).  Our starter was a special cocktail made with Vodka, Maraschino liquor, Lilet, fresh Meyer lemon juice from our own tree,  and champagne.  So festive!  We dined on Cornish hens stuffed with rice, a mushroom and winter squash lasagna  (remember that weirdo gnarly squash I featured a few weeks ago?  I froze the roasted flesh just for this dish) made with a hand made gluten free pasta and a silky Béchamel sauce, peas with prosciutto and a pear and hazelnut tart for dessert. Good thing we only do that once a year or I'd look like that guy in Big Trouble in Little China!





THROWBACK
I was washing my trusty circa 1973 saucepan when I realized the little nicks all over the bottom were from my baby Alison (now age 39) sitting on the kitchen floor banging out a tune on it with a spoon. That was a throwback moment - maybe a couple of tears to go with it! Love you, Alison!

 
Which brings me to the Throwback part of this post!  Here is a quick sketchbook version of Pots and Pans to commemorate my sweet memory.  Check out the link at the bottom of this post to add your own throwback!
 
 


DIVA CHALLENG #249
For this week's Diva challenge, we were to combine Diva Dance and Auraknot.  (Some are calling these "Lauraknots", which is apt, I'm sure!)  I just can't quit these gems, so here is mine.

 
 

GEMSTRUCK
Speaking of gems, I have been practicing on some scraps of papyrus for a larger ZIA I'm working on.  The first one I like, and the second one was great until I tried to put in a "soft focus" background with gray markers.  Scratch that idea, but the gems are good.  I utilized the brand new Molygon for some of the bezel settings for the gems.  Then I did a bug.  Stay tuned for the bugs on papyrus. Having way too much fun here...


 



 


MOLYGON
Finally, I tried out the latest and greatest, Molygon, which is a lot of fun!  Here I have flying spearmint and what was meant to be a Zenith-like thing that looks more like angry birds!



So, Gentle Readers, I wish you all the best as we begin the journey that is 2016.  May it be happy, healthy and prosperous for all of you, and may all your tangles be infused with the very best Zen!

Namaste,
Antonine

19 comments:

  1. I ame Great fan of your work. Al your pieces are Lovely . The diva geourgous and your gems awesome.

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  2. I came here via the Diva's Challenge and what a feast for sore eyes I found. Your Scandinavian Christmas theme looks wonderful, and very easy to put away and the table is very festive. Your tiles are all beautifully drawn with some wonderful compositions in response to the various challenges. Those gems are very hard not to include aren't they, yours are very 'gemmy' if you know what I mean, but the star of the show are definitely those two dewdrops.

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  3. Beautiful work as usual and what a festive holiday home you have! I absolutely love those gems of yours and that papyrus paper creates such a lovely texture. Your line work is so subtle. Are you using grey pens? If you have sec to pop over to my blog, my Diva post also includes the wine quote ZIA I made for my Napa trotting niece and her husband, heavily inspired by you. The sad part was that I took it to the library to scan and when I went to frame and wrap it later, I couldn't find it. I guess I left it in the scanner but it didn't turn up in the lost and found. I had to do it again. I only hope that someone got great pleasure from that unintentional RAZ;-) Either that or it'll turn up between the pages of one of the books I was carrying around. Happy New Year!

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    1. Thank you! I will definitely visit your blog - it is always a treat! I have been using dip pens on the papyrus as I wanted a sort of antique look. The ink is regular calligraphy black ink. On the one sample I tried putting in background tangles with gray markers, but that was a bust, to say the least. I have been amazed at how easy it is to tangle on that rough textured paper. Using a light touch allows you to still have control. As for the decorations, I still haven't taken them down! Happy New Year!

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  4. I would really, really like to come to your house for Christmas next year....if that's OK.

    Also, I'd love to soak up a little inspiration directly. I'd sit at your feet. Love your work, Antonine and today's visit has been an absolute treat. Thank you, Axxx

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    1. Oh my, Annie, you make me blush! Even my kids never wanted to sit at my feet... Thank you for your kind words, and I'm happy if I made you smile or gave you ideas for your own beautiful work! Plus, consider yourself on the guest list next year!

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  5. All of these are lovely. Love your gems and your Diva entry.

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  6. Thanks for sharing your Scandinavian setting--less can be more! Your holiday feast sounds amazing. Love all the gems you have sparkled your post with; I can see you doing a scarab necklace, perhaps? Have a brilliant new year! Cheryl

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  7. All are lovely but I am obsessed with that bug! Wonderful :) I just did pots and pans myself a little while ago and a teapot in honor of my Gran. Memories are such powerful things aren't they?

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  8. Beautiful work! I love that you used Diva Dance within Auraknot! That is fabulous!

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  9. Wow, so much beautiful pieces in one post!

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    1. O, and to mention one: I LOVE, love, love the bubbles.

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  10. So many wonderful pieces to see here! Beautiful post!

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  11. Lots of beautiful art to see! Love your challenge tile with the gem in the middle of Auraknot!

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  12. Goodness, what an elegant Christmas at your house. Mine is more of a "throw it all on the counter, leave out paper plates, and help yourself" relaxed kind of thing. LOL! But with 15 people, we couldn't sit around a formal table anyway I guess. You are doing very well with your gems, and don't you just love Molygon? Happy New Year to you!

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    1. You know, my family always put out the fanciest at Christmas, but my best friend's family always did things your way. I loved them both! My grandma had an amazing long extension dining room table that pulled halfway out through the living room, and then there was the kids' table in the kitchen, so they could seat over 25 people at a time. I had the unenviable task of washing all the dishes!

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  13. Replies
    1. Thank you! I am a GREAT FAN of your work, so I'm so honored that you enjoyed mine here!

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