Goodbye and Good Riddance to 2012!!!

This has truly been a year of EXTREME ups  and EXTREME  downs for me . Roller-coasterish. Won't discuss them here and now,but those of you who know me well know what I mean.
I am hoping that 2013 will have more of the EXTREME ups!
I'm through with the extreme downs. Done.Over and out.
Au revoir.Adios. Bye bye.

Happy New Year to all!

Gypsies

These are my final pages in my Soul Journal 2012. The theme was gypsies...Ali sent me these 4 photos to use,along with quotes to choose from.
Since vintage gypsy is my favorite theme,I loved doing these.

To decorate my cover,I made a mosaic of cut up Starbucks cards that I've saved. LOVE.
Thanks,Ali,for another great year of  art journaling ideas.!

Flea Market Finds!!!

For those of you who just love going to the flea market...here's what I came home with on Saturday...

 One of my New Year's Resolutions is to hyper-organize my studio...I saw this storge box and couldn't resist. I've always LOVED moon faces...I also got a smaller box with the same logo...

 I found a dealer who was selling these yummy hand dyed clumps of yards of silk...perfect for art journaling1

 My Asian themed art journaling Round Robin still has not ended...so these might end up in someone's journals!

 2 old,dusty amber bottles,perfect to add to my Halloween Apothecary next year,and two great cabinet cards...

 And my favorite thing: teeny sea glass colored ink bottles...

...which fit in just fine on my ink bottle shelf!

November's "Yoga" pages

 For November's theme,Ali had us do "Ascended Masters"...

 This one is Paramahansa Yogananda with the message"choose peace".
I was in a Zetti mood for this one and the next...haven't done any Zetti in a while...always love coming back to it! And I do lots of yoga...so I liked these pages!

El Morya: clear and shield your energy

Paravati: positive change

Oshun:drink more water

Libro de Offrendes:Final project

So...this is my final project...my Libro de Offrendes...

or offerings book. I really love how everyone's turned out,and especially mine!LOL.Originally,the book was supposed to closed with a ribbon. However,I found the cheapo,cool heart ring in a shop,and immediately knew I just had to put it in the center. 

All pages are a culimination of the techniques we learned and practised in the classes that weel. 

One of my favorite projects ever,and the memories to go with it as well!

A look at our final projects

Once again,our wonderful 4 instructors and coordinator!

My project! 

                           A few others among the 30!

                    Wow!!!Look at these beautiful triptychs!!!

                         A Dios,San Miguel de Allende!

A Hacienda Luncheon

 After going to the church,our field trip continued by a FABULOUS treat: Diane invited our group out to her hacienda for lunch. What an incredibly gorgeous home she has created!Her eye for design is impeccable,as is her taste in antiques. Her home should be featured in Architectural Digest! Truly.

                                 Entryway room

                             Small entryway kitchen

                            Tiny details like this....

                             ...were everywhere

                      Party room,open to the outdoors and the view

 Party room kitchen!Look at that bowl of guacamole awaiting us!!!

                            Marguerite center

                     What a gorgeous view,almost like Tuscany

             Exposed beams are part of the charming decor

              Stairs off the back patio...

                 ...leading to an outdoor 3 bed guest room!

                      So shabby chic and Mexican cool

                  This water feature goes all around the back yard

               Jane doing her "yoga poses in public places" thing

            Her head chef that day,working very hard for us

                 Diane herself,working just as hard

 My Mom had a plate just like this from a trip to Mexico.How I wish I still had it!

 There is a HUGE dining room for parties,receptions,etc.

 Diane spoke a bit about the origins of the house,her work,her goals,etc. What a dynamic lady she is!

                Outdoor grill and pizza oven!

 What a beautiful vignette,withthe sulight streaming through the ox eye window

 Her storage room,complete with chandelier! I WANT ONE TOO!

                           Still life,à la Diane

                   She collects vintage birdcages

                              Mexican colors

                                Gorgeous mirrors

                             Look at the bathtub colors!!!

Even a copper one in another bathroom

Huge door leading out to the gardens and animals

Adios!We all had just a woonderful time here.Gracias,Diane!