Mo'a Romig-Boyles

I will be away for two weeks in Paradise.

A very good Friend of mine and a fellow artist from Iceland will join me at the retreat.

I like to have beautiful things for you to look at while I am away.  What better than photos than from the last time when I attended Marilyn Radzat and Gail Lackey's retreat.   

We will be walking the beaches and admiring famous landmark like Diamond Head seen in this photo.

I look forward to sitting under these tree writing in my journal or having a glass of tea.

We will gather here new and old friends...there will be much to talk about and to share. We will create art each day in Marilyn's studio on the second floor of this building. 
 

I made this piece when I was at the retreat in 2005. I named her Amma which is an Icelandic word for Grandmother.

                                        

I look forward to showing you more photos and telling you stories when we come back.

Look around while I am gone...Aloha for now. 
            

Several months ago Constance of Rochambeau told me that she knows an Icelandic Doll Artist.  My ears naturally perked up and I wanted to know more.  Constance introduced us to each other through e-mail and my blog.

My Mother and her Aunt were friends...sadly her Aunt died recently. Small world, especially when it comes to Icelanders.
Mary Louisa Klawetter lives just about 45 minutes from where I live.  After much back and forth and when would be a good time to meet, we got together at my house on Earth Day.  Mary Louisa brought with her a wonderful bouquet of flowers, Columbine plants from her garden and Hiedra Colorada Roja a bright flowered vine, that she explained Hummingbirds love.

We had a lovely time talking about  Art Dolls, Iceland and Gardening.  I gave her a tour of my Studio and showed her my art.
Saturday I had the privilege of going to her One Woman Show in Toms River, NJ.
I was enchanted by her dolls and the amount of details she puts into them and the props that enhance her pieces.

Her latest series of dolls have a signature that says "These were made by an Icelander".  She uses wools from Iceland, the faces are embroidered with a skilled hand and each tells a story.

If you live in the area and would like to see her show here is the address:  1st Choice Home Care, 600 Mule Road, Suite 12, Toms River, NJ 08757.
You can also find her dolls in  the  three latest issues of  Art Doll  Quarterly . 

Then There Were Vikings

While some of us...*whisper* Donna...were running away with.....a certain Johnny... pictured below.   We cannot hold that against her...can we? ....as she gives a great party.  We did have a Swashbuckling Good Time:)

While she was with Johnny...pictured above I was taken away by

Vikings...I was excited because I thought that perhaps they would take me to my beloved country Iceland. In their impressive ship.

Alas  it is in dry dock.

Instead we sailed around Manhattan Island...on the...

They fed me well...there was plenty to drink...Aquavit and such...

we sang Viking drinking songs and talked in six languages. There were Vikings from all the Scandinavian countries represented, at this gathering of the American Scandinavian Society.

I was not too upset that I did not make the grade and become Queen of the Pirates, congratulations to  Bethany of Love From My Studio.  I shall remain a Princess for another year and be content with my Little Prince. After all there is a Ya...named Princess...and I sailed on it.  ;->

This story is told in explanation of why I had to leave the Swashbuckler Soiree so early....I had hoped to come to all your parties.  Thank you to all who came to my party and for your lovely comments.

The Swashbuckler Soiree

As I suspected, there have been strange goings on in the Studio.

There are paintings of ladies with flowers in their hair...and flowers for hair, giggling and making swooning sounds every time he appeared.

Then I noticed that there were some of my jewelry missing.  That explains the Caw sounds...you see Ravens like shiny things and it seems that a certain doll dressed up as Johnny Depp...note the red bandana...

has been using  Ravens to aid in his plunder...he even has them wearing boots.

Now that is a strange sight.
Look there is my missing jewelry, what a tangled mess, I will untangle it later. I am going to a Swashbuckler Soiree at The  Ribboned Crown    Come...you are invited...just click on the link and Arrrrr!!!...Party time.

Lock up your Jewels...Arrrrrrr!!! They are coming tomorrow to Bloglandia.

There will be a A Swashbuckler Soiree, our hostess is the lovely Donna of The Ribboned Crown.

There is a lot of swooning  sounds, caw's and  Arrrrrr's  coming  from the  studio...I went to see what was going on...they are watching a movie and this guy is the star

...that explains  the swooning sounds...but the caws and Arrrrr's...well we will see.  I need to check things out... perhaps they are preparing for the  Swashbuckler Soiree.  Come back tomorrow, hopefully I can explain what is going on in the Sudio. 

Award and Artful Friends

Whenever there are awards and prices being given out I have a stock phrase "I never win anything" well things have changed since I started my blog...I have been the recipient of several blog awards and some lovely gifts. So you see my luck has changed.  Karen of A Scrapbook of Inspiration has given me the
Arte Y Pico Award.  Thank you Karen. 
                                                                          

Karen's blog is wonderful...if you have not been over to her blog yet you are in for a delightful treat. 
Now the rules are.....
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.
4. The award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico’ blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules.

Now who to pick?.... 
Yesterday I picked up the latest issue of Artful Blogging, I was ever so happy to see several of my blogging friends featured in this beautiful issue. 
Zorana of Zoranaland  is featured in a six page spread of her delightful art. I adore the way Zorana paints ladies faces, their eyes speak volumes.
Then came the Queen herself Donna of The Ribboned Crown. Who would not love to have one of her crowns or her one of her beautiful wreaths. Donna can always make me laugh...she has a particular sense of humor that I adore.
As I turned the pages I came to a Question and Answer article on Lisa's OneWorld-OneHeart giveaway.
I always look forward to seeing what Lisa is working on and posting on Imagination Cafe her art blog and I always go to her Heart of the Nest blog where she shares what is going on in her life. I am impressed with her honesty and her big heart.
Then came Elsa Mora's amazing blog Elsita. I am in awe of everything that she creates...She is one of the most imaginative artists that I have ever come across.
Last but not least was the article on Stephanie's  Rodrigvitz Style.  I cannot begin to express how much I love Stephanie's blog. I adore all her color, her art and Stephanie herself. Going to her place always makes me happy as well as seing her when she visits my place.
I pick all of you....Thank you for the wonderful eye candy, the good read, the laughter, the tears, for all that I have learned from you. For all the happy moments, for being you and for sharing.

                                                                                            

Spring in Beautiful New Jersey

Spring has certainly arrived here in NJ...or should I say Summer, today it is 88 degrees.

I was sitting outside around noon. Everything was quiet then all of a sudden I heard baby birds talking quietly amongst themselves.  I imagined them saying "I wonder what goodies Mother and Dad will bring us"  Then I heard and saw a Cardinal...he looked like he was doing a courting dance and a song to go with it...actually it was more like a high pitched whistle than a song.

Last Sunday we went out for Brunch and a photo session close to and in our neighborhood.

See the white trees in the background?  Below is a close up.

There is light at the end of that tunnel.  I think it would be lovely to drive up this driveway every time  you drive up to your house. What  do you think?

We have been dreaming and looking around for some ornamental trees.  We went to my Husbands favorite nursery.  Here is some of what caught my eye.

On our way to my parents house we drive by this lovely Flowering Quince or Japanese Quince Latin name Chaenomeles. We have one in our yard but it does not get enough light it is a trooper however, as it blooms every spring.

                                          

And you thought that New Jersey was all oil refineries, bridges, airports and turnpike. Read here about what I said about NJ on November 7, 2005. 

Here is a photo of a very cute and friendly cat that followed me around the Nursery...he stopped politely every time I stopped to take a photo.  Then when we went inside the posed for me...closing and opening his eyes and purring...I think he liked me. See the love in his eyes?

One Year

He is one years old today. 
Happy Birthday to our little Viking Traveler.

Bedazzled By Bonnie

We met five years ago, at a party given by our Husbands company.  I was immediate attracted to this interesting and fashionable woman.  We started talking and as in conversation the inevitable came up...that we are both artists. 
Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to her wonderful jewelry designs.  Bonnie and her Daughter Jen design and make all the jewelry that you can buy in their Etsy Shop.   

I am showing you a few my favorites here...I covet this silver ring necklace...there is much more to see and buy here on Etsy and here on her website.
Look for them in today's Etsy Showcase.  

Tell them that Mo'a sent you.

This carousel is behind the Library in NYC.  It is a small and elegant carousel...just right for the little ones. I suspect that it is French, one clue being the design and another that the music was French. As we left the carousel we heard Edith Piaf singing La Vie En Rose...I kid you not :)
If you have not seen the movie La Vie En Rose, I highly recommend it...it is now out on DVD.

I also wanted to give you a peak into my Sun Room or  as one of our German  friends calls it , our Winter  Garden. The plants will be ready in another month to go out and spend the summer in various parts of our garden and patios. See the plant in the lover right hand corner?  That is a Janpur Lemon tree...still quite small. I got it when it was only a seedling, every year it outgrows it's pot.

I went out to buy plants to decorate the house just before  Easter.   I adore  white flowers, I love the way they glow in the garden, at dusk and in the moonlight. Here are a couple of photos of the Phalaenopsis  orchid that I bought. Isn't she beautiful...it makes my heart skip a beat to see such beauty.

Next to white flowers I adore blue flowers.  I also bought a blue Hydrangea  Macrophylla, don't you just love Latin?  I try to learn the Latin names for my plants and flowers...that way no matter where I am in the world I can recognize them by their name.

Alice in Wonderland Statue from Central Park in New York City. I just love the little girl, in her pink hat, sitting in Alice's lap.

Have a wonderful weekend.  Talk to me...tell me your favorite flowers are and what color you prefer them to be.
Have you seen something recently that enchants you and takes your breath away?