Wool Bead Bracelet

Fun and funky lightweight wool bead bracelet to wear year round!

Christmas Gift Yummies

Each year I like to have a little 'homemade' something on hand for guests and hostess gifts.

Mixed roasted sugar nuts were my choice for this year!  Don't they look yummy?

While baking these tasty little morsels of goodness, our home was filled with the aroma of warm cinnamon and brown sugar!  Soooo easy to make!  I picked up all the ingredients at our local bulk food store, including the cone bags. 

Add your mixture to the bags when cooled, tie with a festive ribbon and attach a label of your choice.  These labels and more can be found here, at one of my favourite sites http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

And because good things should not be kept secret, I'm sharing the recipe with all of you ...enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon water
•  4 cups of mixed nuts
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Grease one baking sheet.
2. In a mixing bowl, whip together the egg white and water until frothy. In a separate bowl, mix together sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
3. Add nuts to egg whites, stir to coat the nuts evenly. Remove the nuts, and toss them in the sugar mixture until coated. Spread the nuts out on the prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake at 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes.

Christmas 2011 at the Notte's

Love this time of year!  It's always fun thinking up unique and inventive new ways to decorate our home for the holidays! 

My handmade 'HoHo' banner made with old pages of sheet music and strung on white ribbon.

Our festive but oh so relaxing living room.  Love this room year round but it's especially magical at Christmas!  If it could speak it would say "have a cup of tea and stay awhile"!

 My pretty ice ornaments resemble stained glass...so easy to make and very festive!

Hubs brought me loads of cedar branches from the cottage...

I tucked it in here and there, inside the house and out!  Not only is it beautiful but smells amazing!!!

Why not take that old pair of skates you have in storage, yum them up with some paint, a sprinkle of glitter and a happy holiday message! 

It just wouldn't be Christmas without one of my handmade twig stars.  These  are sure to add a bit of whimsy to any decor year round!

Merry Christmas to everyone. Peace Love and Happiness to you all!!!!

Vintage Paris Dress Form

I've been looking for a dress form for forever, so when I opened my HTML one morning last month, to find a lovely lady's email saying she had one to give away, I felt like I had won the lottery! "She doesn't look like much, she's old and has a bit of a lean to her" the woman said.  "Are you sure you don't want anything for her" I ask. "I'm sure, just promise me you'll bring pictures of her when you're done refinishing her".   

The second I saw her my heart was bursting with joy.  I could not believe my luck!  

With a little muscle and a lot of determination, I finally managed to get all of the lavender covering off of her.  I liked the look of the paper form beneath but I had been inspired by a tutorial I had seen a year ago and a vision that I had long since wanted to bring to life... 

 

and here she is, my lovely vintage dress form.   After gathering old sheets of music and pages torn from old books to cover her bodice...

I then decided to apply the Paris inspired vintage images I had fallen in love with over the years...

and after the mod podge had dried I antiqued her by applying a coat Minwax Wood Finish to give her a warm aged look.  Amour...how beautiful she has turned out! Having something so lovely to displaying my scarves and jewelry on makes her that much more special to me. 

It all starts with a vision and a little inspiration!  I hope I've inspired you to bring your vision to life!!!!

 .

Mixed Media Art Doll -Love

I've been wanting to make this little lovely for some time now, but didn't have quite all the pieces  needed to put her together.  Yesterday I came across some miniature tins that instantly sparked my interest and so my idea has finally came life. 

  She's made of pearls, seed beads, a miniature spice tin and wire embellished with a gold pendant that reads 'Love'.  I would like to keep her but will be putting her up for sale soon. 

Stay tuned for more like her.  Each piece will be one of a kind and unique.

Just My Photos

Wool Wrap and Necklace - Statement Pieces

 Last week I was getting ready for work, pulled out my black turtleneck and felt it was in need of a little zing.

After searching through my endless supply of scarves I settled upon one I had worn a million times... 'settled' is the key word here. Don't get me wrong, I like scarves as much as the next girl but I wanted something a little different more creative. Well my friends, the best part about being crafty is there's no limit to what one can create and this past weekend, that's exactly what I did.

 

This piece is made of wool...yes wool!!!  A lovely steel grey wool in fact!  To create this little lovely, I practiced the lost art of finger knitting, something my grandma taught me as a child.  

 The grey tassels and looped yarn have been tied here and there to add interest.  

 I've added this necklace, made with purple glass beads that have been strung and knotted in the same wool.  Don't they make a beautiful pair?

In the picture above the wrap has been looped around the neck twice but for can also be wrapped once shown below.

Beautiful any way you wear it!

Both pieces sold separately. 

Wool Wrap $34.95

Wool Glass Bead Necklace $19.95

 Custom orders welcome!  

This Will Make Your Heart Smile-Abraham-Hicks - Before You Became Physical

Regina Spektor - Music to my Heart

Week ONE Facebook Sabbatical

Hello my friends…welcome to my blog.  For those of you who have linked here from Facebook, please don’t be confused.  I did NOT have to log into my FB account for this to post to your page.  All of my posts automatically link to your pages...so now that that’s cleared up, I would like to tell you all about the first week of my sabbatical.

I have to say it’s been a little strange and has taken some getting used to.  Days seem a little longer and at the end of the week, all those lost minutes have come together to form an extra two hours to focus on life’s delicious simplicities.  This week has helped me realize, life lived without an audience looking is very different than living in the online world.  There's a familiarity about it, experiencing life again as it once was before Facebook.  Days move a little slower with less distractions.  

The first two mornings were the hardest.  I would wake up at my usual time, get ready for work and plop down on the couch to check out my emails and blog.  Both mornings, by habit and without thinking or paying attention to what I was doing, I typed the www.facebook.com into my  search bar and was surprised when the login page appeared.  I suppose you might think this a little dramatic but one could compare it to an alcoholic standing outside the front door of a bar.  Because I was adamant about sticking to this facebook diet and determined  NOT to cheat myself out of this experience, I quickly left the page, moving on to my hotmail and blog.  I have to admit I felt a little disconnected at times, wondering what my friends and relatives were up to that day.  But this little experiment has brought forth some pretty great personal moments for me. 

What has resulted from this week away from FB?  Well let me tell you!  On Monday morning, In the 20 minutes I would have normally been reading posts,  I spent that time making my son warm waffles to wake up to.  The remaining part of the week was filled with things like a phone call shared between my sister and I, so much nicer than our usual quick replies on our walls.   A girlfriend and I got together for a wonderful evening of conversation and shared some yummy lemon ginger tea…something I probably would have never tried had I not went to her home to visit. 

Friends and family emailed and called, after reading my blog post, letting me know that what I had written had rang true with them and had also been feeling and needing in their lives at this moment.  My daughter and I took our dog Gracie for a long walk and talked about all the great things that were going on in our lives.  I've been walking more with friends and during lunch hours, enjoying the beauty of the changing fall leaves and short cheerful conversations with those I meet.   I discovered a new philosopher named Abraham Hicks, whom speaks to my soul, quenching the thirst of my very being.  Listening to her each night has complimented and enriched this experience.

Oh how I’ve enjoyed this week and how it’s made my life and those I’ve shared time with a little sweeter.  For some people, this is not the kind of thing they are looking for and that's ok! Each and every one of us are all different, traveling our own paths.  But for me, this week of living my life without anyone looking and without looking at the lives of others, has been in one simple word ‘therapeutic’. 

Good bye for now my lovelies.

 Stay True, Joella

Yoga Cuff Bracelets

Pretty in Pink Yoga Cuff Bracelet

This pretty little cuff wraps around your wrist three tmes.  Made of pink lace, yoga pendant and silver clasp.

Turquoise blue ribbon with gold edging, gold heart shaped pendant and gold clasp in back.

Free shipping to Canada and the US.  
My work can be purchased by email by visiting the Flower Forest in Dryden!

Ribbon Wrap Bracelets

Heart on my Sleeve Wrap Bracelet

Black chiffon ribbon, black cording, antiqued silver chain, lovely lavender purple lace, beads, charms and silver tone heart pendant with lobster clasp enclosure.  Very cool with a touch of romance!

Free Shipping to Canada and the US.

My work can be purchased by email by visiting the Flower Forest in Dryden!

Black Ribbon Wrap Charm Bracelet

Black ribbon, silver charms and clasp.  The bracelet wraps around a 7.5 wrist five times.

Free Shipping to Canada and the US.

My work can be purchased by email by visiting the Flower Forest in Dryden!

Facebook Sabbatical and Blog CONFUSSION

Hello All!  Hope you're doing well.  I'm sending you this note from my One Artsy Chick Blog.  Just to clear up any confusion there may be about my blog posts uploading to facebook.  Just to clarify, I am NOT logged into Facebook when this happens.  This is how I have my One Artsy Chick Blog set up, each post made on my blog automatically post to my friends walls.  I have been a very good girl...doing better then I had thought I would.  No slip ups yet !!!  Enjoying the extra 20 minutes a day I have in the mornings.

That's all for now...I'll be posting a FaceBook Sabbatical update next week .  Until then,  stay true my friends :) xxoo

Buddha Necklace

Buddha Necklace

I had so much fun making this simple but unique Buddha necklace.  Note: the Buddha charm glides back on forth on the safety pin as you move...LOVE!
If you're interested in purchasing this piece please inbox me.  Shipping is free to Canada and US. Namaste

My FACEBook Sabbatical by Joella Notte

It's time...it's really really time. I have decided to take a 60 day sabbatical from Facebook. Taking this time off to reconnect with what's real in life….Facebook has become a source of distraction, and at times has kept me from doing the things I know are important and keep my soul full.  I know I'm not alone in this and there's others out there but are too ashamed to say it.   It's embarrassing to admit but I think it's going to be really tough.  I'll miss waking up in the morning, checking in on my favourite Facebook friends and reading what's new with them throughout the day.  BUT this is something I've been wanting to do...needing to do, for a very long time now.  Yup, I'll miss sharing my inspirational messages, yummy recipes and videos with those of you who appreciate them.  However, I will still be sharing bits and pieces of my art and life through this blog which will automatically post to my FB page... in case you're interested.

Yes...I'm doing it, I really am doing it. Here’s my picture of proof! My last wall post for the next 60 days, made September 18th!

I have to admit...I'm already feeling a little disconnected.  Seconds before I posted this last post, my heart was pounding with fear and the uneasy thought that I would be forgotten, that my existence was somehow being jeopardised. I know....CRAZY!  But alas, I pushed the POST button and was relieved to find I was still all there, all ten fingers and toes and rather than fear, I felt instantly exhilarated. 

 This is the picture of me after I pressed the POST button.

Hey! Where did that sign come from?

 In my heart I knew this was the brave thing to do, this was what my soul needed. Yes. Deep deep down to the very corners of my soul, it was what I knew I needed.  For a very long time I've been hearing my heart whisper 'you should not be relying on facebook to determine your self worth. It is time for you to look at the world through your eyes'.

“It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” Henry David Thoreau

How did I finally come to this decision?  I had been noticing I didn't have enough hours in the day to do the things or spend the time with people I used to enjoy.  I would procrastinate, thinking I should be doing more exciting worldly things...like my FUN facebook friends.  How embarrassing is that?  I was measuring my life's worth by others posts.  Don't get me wrong, I would love to see Paris and Italy like any other girl but it's not something I need or can do right now, and most of the time I'm OK with that...most of the time!  I was beginning to lose site of the real me, the me who is content to just be, enjoying the simple pleasures in life.

I was beginning to lose myself to the fictional life of facebook, where nothing is as it seems and people post only what they want the world to see, not the real stuff that goes on behind closed doors.  It always makes me sad to see friends who are going through hell in their personal lives, in a twisted kind of way, feel they must post HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY to the world.  There's something wrong with society, when we are taught to think any family having problems or are less than perfect must be disfunctional. But that's an entirely different matter and I'll leave that for someone else to write about. What I'm trying to say is we need to remember we're not getting the whole picture and should never compare our lives to those of our friends or acquaintances on facebook. 

Right Lucy?

 What is this fictional life we live on facebook?  What is the good of it?  Well it has it's perks... like keeping in touch with friends and family from afar.  For me I find it very useful in networking my art and posting the odd inspirational quote...maybe bringing a little sunshine to someones otherwise gloomy day.    

But even though FaceBook has it perks, I still feel the need to take a little needed break.  I long for the simple things, the things I haven't been making enough time for, like quiet intimate conversations with family and friends or sitting on the porch sipping lemonade, watching my gorgeous husband cutting the grass in his goofy hat.  He's gonna kill me when he sees this picture...sorry hubs!

I really need to LIVE a life I can LOVE…the life that was designed for only me. I  have known from a very young age that I was meant to create and make art. I also know in my heart of all hearts that I was designed to love DEEPLY.  I'm meant to live each day with PEACE, JOY, GRATITUDE and BLISS and share as much of it as I can with others.  The essence of my being is happiest when I'm living a quiet, authentic, simple life surrounded by nature and those I love and who love me . How do I know these things?  Because sometimes when I'm feeling lost and confused I get really really quiet and listen to the silence...shutting off all the jib jabber of  my mind.  This is where I find my TRUTH, the honest answers to life's toughest questions...from the centre of my being.

Searching the outside world for answers is like being given three different life manuals, each with very different instructions...can you say CONFUSION?

Here are a few things my HEART has being trying to tell me for so long!

~Stop living the life you think others want you to live~

~Spend more time making art from the heart (haha that rhymes)~

~Reach out and re-connect with family and friends~

~Show your husband how much you cherish him~

~Focus more on your health by practicing meditation and yoga~

~Get off FACEBOOK for awhile and get QUIET in your thoughts~

What will I be doing during my sabbatical from Facebook? 

Nurturing the relationships I hold close to my heart :)  Going for long walks. ART. I have just recently started selling my work at the FLOWER FOREST and would like to do my best to make a go of it. I will also be working on my One Artsy Chick gift card line. I am hoping to share more of myself on this blog.  I will be practicing my yoga and meditation on a regular basis, connecting with my inner truths, finding my peaceful place. filling my mind, body and spirit with yummy and delicious emotional, spiritual and physical nourishment.  I've still got so many broken peaces that need to be healed, the day to day hurts that need forgiveness. I will let myself be sad when I need to and be silly when I want to.  AND all of this will be done with my eyes wide open... when my soul tells me it's the right time.

So my friends, the ones who really love me and can't live without me (big sigh)...please  follow my journey.  I will do my best to write on my blog each week. For those of you who relate and are finding yourselves right where I am today...my hope is that through this experience I can help you in some small way, stop and look around at what's going on in the real world in your real relationships, the ones that really matter and most of all to be GRATEFUL for what you have...EVERY day be grateful.  My biggest wish for myself and you my lovelies is that we make each day count, paying attention to those around us and living what is in our hearts, what is REAL.

  I will miss keeping up with you on Facebook.  Please email or call and if you do happen to post to my wall, your comments will eventually be delivered to me through HTML :) 

Stay True 

xoxox

You Are Loved

Title:  You Are Loved

Medium: Mixed Media

Size: 6x6

Artist: Joella Notte

Love Always

I've always loved the romance of vintage. This piece was inspired by a very talented hat designer. One day I will purchase one of her little lovelies, until then painting them will just have to do.

 Title: Love Always   Medium: Mixed Media   Size: 6x6

Healing Prayer Flag

I haven't been feeling myself lately and decided to make a prayer flag asking for health and healing. To some this may just look like a pretty pieces of coloured cloth with funny writing on it. The symbols i've chosen are powerful reiki symbols believed to produce a spiritual vibration that is activated and carried by the wind across the countryside. This is my silent prayer to be spoken on the breath of nature.

Yoga Bracelets

If you just can't live without one of my Yoga Bracelets, I accept PayPal...so inbox me, you're worth it!!!