Carnival cat.

I created this one for Gina, a very nice lady from Florida who bought the 'Hang in There, Baby!' item on my Etsy shop.

She was entitled to receive a second item for her purchase. Insted of choosing it herself, she let me do it for her. So I created the Carnival Cat with Gina in mind, hoping she'll like her.
Yesterday the two cats arrived at their new home. Gina wrote me:

'I got it today!!!!!!!!! It's even better than I expected (and I expected a lot!) I love the cat on the german book. It's absolutely beautiful!!!!! I am going in the morning to get them framed and plan on giving the "Hang in There Baby" to my boss for her birthday tomorrow night. I love love love them. Thank you so very much Dana!'

Nothing compares with what you feel when your work is appreciated. I am very greatful for your kind words, Gina.

Emmy Awards - Game of Thrones

Emmy Awards tomorrow! Of course 'Game of Thrones' is among the nominees. 

I remember the poster I was contemplating last year almost every day in the bus station. 'Just another annoying teenager BS', I was thinking. 

And then, one day I saw an episode. The next day I was running to the bookshop in search of 'Songs of Ice and Fire'. My conversion was complete. Now I cannot wait to watch the 3th season and to read the next book!

I tried to catch the Game of Thrones atmosphere in some creations you can find in my  Etsy shop:

 

Life in Pyrenees in the 1880's

 The same Dartinguenave painted a lovely dance scene. Let's take a look at it.

The costumes are lovely, everybody's happy, couldn't be better. But take a closer look at the man in the center's shoes:

Yes, it's a KNIFE! Why on earth is he dancing with these shoes, I really cannot fathom. The other man in the picture doesn't have such shoe adornment. Anyway, the women dancing next to him seem to be not worried at all. As for me, I would NEVER have their courage and dance next this brave countryman.

Amazing lythographies about Pyrenees

I received recently some amazing lithographies reproductions.  They depict the life of people of Pyrenees (France) in the 1880's. The pictures are full of life and color and almost every one of them have the most astonishing details. So I decided to share them with you.
Look at this one, for example. The lithography's autor is Alfred Dartiguenave

The woman is carying the heavier luggage on her head, a common costum for European women in the 1880's.She has boots, but her daughter is barefoot, poor thing. Probably the kids growing so fast, it was too expensive to buy them some boots. But still... By the way, all people in Pyrenees seems to wear spats, a very wise thing to do on a mountain  trip. (Everybody except the poor little girl, of course).
Another amazing thing: the shepherd is knitting! Well, it's understandable, having all that time it is a good thing not to waste it.