Brown paper packages tied up with string

I have a friend who needs a little cheering up. She's getting this in
the mail this week.

Don't Forget Unique LA

Double-Sided Hummingbird Card, Spring 09
Originally uploaded by uniquelosangeles

Tonight is all pre-show prep around here. Though, I have to confess, this time of year, my living room stays stocked with boxes that leave the house every few days until my last show (Which is this one, this weekend) before they get put back in storage...

Tonight, I had the most fun making my booth partner a sign to match my own Libby Dibby sign - I can't wait to show you.... Amy, from Mazie Kane, is really a great friend of mine and has recently launched her business. She's the one who pushed me to apply to Unique LA with her. I'm looking forward to spending the two days with her and I'm looking forward to the awesome shopping and meeting the other vendors. I always make new crafty friends at these things... (I can think of a bunch of you, who are readers now that are my best prizes from my many events over the years... you know who you are!)


Those of you who are local, I hope you can come to the event - it's going to be great. There are over 300 vendors - all juried to get in, so you know it's good stuff. And the entry fee gets you a goodie bag and a free drink coupon, too... (Plus, I still have a few free tix left, just ask!)

Design Director's Tree Collage

Mimi tried her hand at one of momma's collages last night.
How much do we love this?!!!!!

Date night

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I really love my coffee. Especially if its Intelligentsia Coffee... We had heard that Intelligentsia had opened a coffee "experience" in Venice Beach, on Abbott Kinney Drive.. But didn't visit until last night on a date ... Wow. The latte art holds nothing to the taste of this coffee. We (of course) bought a lb of happiness, which even made this morning a little sweeter.
The place itself was indeed a coffee "experience" to be had... Each customer gets a barista (think coffee-making waitress vs. bartender) and you are guided around to a specific machine for your drink order. It seemed odd, but was really personal and a latte is the same price as anywhere else... Only it tastes about 100x better. Yum.

Unique LA

Come see Libby Dibby, and my pal Mazie Kane www.maziekane.etsy.com at Unique LA next weekend! It's the largest indie design and gift show in the country and it's an honor just to be accepted into it... Come see us and get some great shopping done. (you know we will be shopping, too)

Our Thanksgiving Pics

Isn't it funny how once Thanksgiving is over (even if it is only a few hours ago) - it suddenly seems like it's really in the past - since the next day is all about moving on into the Christmas holiday season? Our family (the entire extended family) are really into Christmas - we ALL decorate a LOT for Christmas... rotating out artwork, taking down regular decorations to make room for the holiday decorations. The day after Thanksgiving is "Christmas Tree day" for all of us... so today is a big day for us.
But I can't properly move into the holiday season without sharing these great pics from yesterday. We traditionally spend Thanksgiving at my sister's in-laws (our extra in-laws) house in Malibu - every side of the family is there (though my in-laws were out of town yesterday), as my in-laws and my sis' in-laws have been close friends for 30 years. (Victory and I each married one of their sons, and thus brought the families from friends to relatives - I know, confusing)This year, for our after dinner sunset walk to the beach, we remembered to bring sleds for the huge sand dunes - which made for some great pics of the cousins, and the rest of us too - having a great time 'doing the dunes". (Yes, that is me, in my dress, getting ready to side down the sand hill) Plus, we pretty much have all of Zuma Beach to ourselves, so it really feels like it's OUR tradition.Our kids love each other so much, and our family is so close - you can see that in the photos. We love Thanksgiving.This year, we also had some awesome crafts displayed, and though we actually were able to fill out some "I am thankful" cards on behalf of the adults, the volume in the dining room was so insane with 7 (plus one more) cousins that we never even got to reading them. We've agreed
that next year, maybe the kids get to eat a little earlier so that the parents can have a civilized (and warm) turkey dinner. We love our family. Hope your turkey day was also filled with warm and happy memories, too!

I'm on iTunes!

okay, not really... my sister in law (Jen Ludwig) is, and my artwork is her album cover...
It was August this year when my sis in law, Jen, asked me if I'd consider doing a collage that would go with her Christmas album that she was working on. As we sat in my living room, I had an immediate image that represented what I wanted to say as she titled her album "Back to the Manger"... and here we are, a few months later - Jen's album is out, on iTunes and also at cdbaby - complete with my artwork on it's cover. Check out her album on itunes. You also can peek at her website and listen to samples there, too.
Jen has a beautiful voice and the album has some beautiful renditions of classics and some original songs. Jen both sings and plays guitar so wonderfully... she's the resident musician in our family. Even before she and I were ever introduced or became family, I used to go to events at Pepperdine (where she also was a student) and listen to her sing, now I have her in my family and also on my ipod.

Happy Christmas!

It's that time of year! I Iove the holidays, don't you? So much inspiration and so much family time...

Hope your Thanksgiving was beautiful - and the perfect start to your season...
As my little gift to you, my special friends and readers... I'm offering free shipping through Dec. 31. Just type in the code from my collage posted here... ("JOYJOY") in the coupon code at checkout. (Orders on my etsy site - www.libertyworth.etsy.com - will be given refunds for shipping if you type in the code)

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving in Malibu is part of our family tradition each year, complete with a wall filled with kiddo artwork, lots of wine, and yummy food, a sunset walk on the beach and much laughter. (and yes, that is the ocean, right over the hedge and the sweet potatoes)

A happy thanksgiving to you and yours.

A dose of happy

It's hard to be completely wrecked with sadness (even if it hard) when
you have this in your world.