Mademoiselle Mermaid: August 2015

Monday, August 31, 2015

Mermaid Monday : Forever Summer

Handmade mini ruffle caftan available on Etsy.

Happy Mermaid♥Monday!!

Love,
Mademoiselle♥Mermaid

Friday, August 28, 2015

Friday Flower Pick : Magnolia

On summer days when the temperature soars,

I look for any excuse to take my work outside!!

...On one such lovely day, as I sat sketching in the park under a canopy of dark green, waxy leaves, I noticed a tree trimming in action...

And when I spotted this magnificent flower falling to the ground with a tree branch, I scooped it right up!!

The dazzling scent of the massive, creamy white bloom, was my constant companion for the day :-)

Now, I'm no stranger to the magnolia trees, with their flowers high up in the air,
lining the sidewalks and filling the parks around here,
but I had never held one of the flowers in my hand before.
It must have been at least nine inches across...
and every inch of it a work of art!!

Happy♥Friday!!

Love,

Mademoiselle♥Mermaid

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Thursday Things I Love : Sunset Roses

Summer is winding down,
and that back-to-school feeling is starting to set in...
But there is still plenty of time to enjoy one of my favorite late-summer activities:
Catching an unhurried sunset from the Palisades Park Rose Garden!!

Not too early, not too late,
...a 7:30ish sundown means the timing is perfect for me

to hop on my beach cruiser and head to the park for an amble about the roses

(snapping photos of course!)

...with a splendid golden light filling the spaces between the petals and leaves.

I hope you too are enjoying some stolen summer moments,

bathed in golden light!!

Love,
Mademoiselle♥Mermaid

Words of Wisdom : Emily Dickinson

"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all."

-Emily Dickinson

Love,

Mademoiselle♥Mermaid

Monday, August 24, 2015

New! Crochet Fringe Necklace Pattern

My latest crochet pattern is out and ready for insta-download on Etsy!!

This time around, I've created a gorgeous, bohemian crochet fringe necklace

that stitches up in a snap and requires precious little finishing...

while still packing a major high fashion punch :-)

Complete and clear step-by-step instructions and images

help to ensure that this project doesn't end up in your w.i.p. pile!!
...So grab a crochet hook and some cotton yarn,

arm yourself with basic stitch know-how,

and hit the park with a picnic to spend an afternoon with

a fun d.i.y. project you're sure to collect complements on!!

Designing this item and the tutorial has been a real delight,

and I hope you'll enjoy the crochet process too!!

Love the luscious fringe look, but not a crafty gal?

Not to worry!! Mademoiselle Mermaid has you covered...
In a lot of fringe :-)
...and a lot of colors :-)

Shop the finished look right here.

Happy Mermaid♥Monday!!
Love,
Mademoiselle♥Mermaid

Friday, August 21, 2015

Friday Flower Pick : Sidewalk Surprises

Sidewalk surprises come in so many forms...

Underfoot, they may be slow but determined little snails,
making a very important crossing.
...Or maybe they are glittering bits of stone,
sprinkled about in otherwise ordinary concrete.
(Thank you downtown Santa Monica!!)
...Or perhaps they're beautifully ephemeral chalk drawings,
in pretty pastels, marking the way.

But keeping your head up has it's own rewards too...
Majestic magnolia trees shade and refresh you on a hot summer day, as the sunshine passes through their leaves in golden twinkles.
...And this time of year, you'll definitely want to be on the lookout for tiger swallowtail butterflies...fluttering by on a flower garden high!!

Yet sometimes, eye level is right where it's at...
Strolling around the neighborhood, I found all three of these gorgeous blooms, posed and ready for their closeups...bobbing playfully in the breeze and stretching from their yards, right into my path.

"What's the password?" they teased.
"Click, click. Click, click." I replied :-)