Bucket List Number 1. The Ice Hotel

ICEHOTEL,Sweden2006-07.Photo Big Ben Productions.

Imagine a river in Sweden that freezes every year and is excavated in ice to be carved, engineered, sculpted and constructed into a temporal ICE HOTEL. Now imagine that you get to go to said hotel during the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis. Now realize you are in a one of kind structure that when Spring arrives will melt back down to water. This is my Bucket List entry number one. The last flight leaves this Saturday and sadly this year I will not be on it, but one year I will.

The dropping of the temperature to several degrees below zero in Jukkasjärvi marks the start of an ephemeral art endeavour.

Using only frozen water form the Torne River, artists from all over the world gather in this small Swedish village, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle, to create an exclusive art exhibition: ICEHOTEL.

The art is created with imagination and hard work, only to melt away under the unforgiving rays of the sun come springtime. All that remains are our impressions, our memories - and photographs. - ICE HOTEL SITE

I realize that I currently sleep with an electric blanket (one of 4), a sweatshirt and an electric heater by my side (I am a Puerto Rican living in the Northeast after all) but for this experience I would certainly sacrifice. When you plan a trip to visit and stay in the Ice Hotel you can choose between how many nights you would like a 'COLD' accommodation or a warm one. It seems the popular thing to do is one night cold and the others warm. The cold rooms range in style and type, from more grandiose Art/Deluxe Suites to simpler snow rooms.

To sleep in a room made of ice and snow is a surreal experience and a memory for life. You sleep in thermal sleeping bags on a special bed built of snow and ice, on reindeer skins. You are awakened in the morning with a cup of hot lingonberry juice at your bedside. Breakfast buffet, winter overall, boots, mittens, morning sauna and towels included.

Photo by Neringafoto of Ice hotel. Jukkasjärvi, Sweden. Artist/s: AnnaSofia Mååg Suite: Rest in the Nest

Ok so TELL me please ONE mega WISH-List from your BUCket list!! Share I want to know!!

-Ciao Amarettogirl

MEGA EASTER GIVEAWAY!!! Win FREE STUFF!

Ok so I've been inspired by all the amazing giveaways in the crafty blogosphere and decided to go shopping and make my own valuable giveaway for one lucky winner!

Lucky for you all, I found some pretty great stuff discounted but the estimated internet value of all this stuff is roughly $75 USD!!

One of the great things I found is this WONDERFUL Jun Planning (the Japanese Co. makers of the pricey and collectible Pullip and Dal dolls) Angel Dal named AMY which can currently be found only on Ebay and Amazon books beginning at $15 and from Japanese Toy distributors for $20 - $30 USD.

It may seem like a 'little' girl basket but uh, I'm a pretty big girl and I was sure to prepare a basket I would LOVE to win! And that's not all - I also found some other great stuff, so scroll down check it all out and see the list of items included in the basket and HOW to win it!

My First Easter GIVEAWAY!!!detail shot of GIVEAWAY basket!

From Jun Planning comes this sweet new offering: the poseable, portable Angel Dal! Brown-eyed Amy sports a big red bow in her black hair to match her cute cotton black-and-red dress. Her head turns, she's jointed at the shoulders and hips, and at 14.5cm tall (that's almost 5 3/4 inches), she's the perfect size to carry along!

Jun Planning Dal Amy in box The doll (I had to buy one for me!) Other Gems in the GIVEAWAY basket! Cute bunny Molds!!

Ok so here is the list of other fantastic stuff you'll get in the basket:

1. Two packs (one chocolate and one strawberry) of Hello Kitty Poky Biscuit sticks with cream

2. One MEGA Hello Kitty 288 page Coloring and Activity book

3. One Pink polk-dot lanyard for your keys

Super Fun QUIZ me book! Click to see!

4. One TY Beanie Babie Boo Koala with Extra big Eyes!

5.One silicone tray of mini Bunny face molds for Gelatin, makes 12 tiny 1" bunny faces. Easy-release tray is freezer, fridge, and dishwasher safe. 1" x 3 3/4" x 9" Check out the two pics!

Check out how cool!

6. One Jelly Belly Blooming Bottle of Jelly Beans

7. One Quiz Me Scrap Book/Journal going for $12.95 on Amazon right now!

8. Two Mystery Eggs One large green and one small pink(and NO I won't tell what's inside - it's a mystery!

9. Hello Kitty Sour Apple candy tin

10. SNIFF pack of Hello Kitty tissues (Sniff Tissues are pre-printed designer paper handkerchiefs. Invented in 1996 by Paper Products Design (Germany) they have gone on to be a worldwide best seller for the company. They are especially popular in the U.S.A. Designs range from seasonal ideas like Christmas tissues to more unusual designs like Pink Skulls n Hello Kitty!

11. Lollipops (including watermelon!)

12. Lets not forget the awesome lime green basket with gingham lined fabric!

13. T.B.A. I am including a signed print from either one of my photographs or illustrations - check back in to see an update later!

WHO,HOW and WHEN does one go about trying to win this basket??

Eligibility:

One way- If you have a blog, post about this giveaway and link back to this site, comment here and leave a link to your post and become a follower of this blog (Subscribe to this RSS feed).

If you don't have a blog no worries you can still do the following:

Second way- Become a follower of this blog and Comment on every post from here until the Easter Day Giveaway, April 4th- don't worry I don't post everyday!
(I'm shameless I know - but my blog is like a caged animal at the zoo and when you come to visit, it really wants you to FEED it with a comment! :)) Comments are YUMMY!

LASTLY, required by ALL PARTICIPANTS - be HERE on April 4th and comment on my most recent post with a favorite NUMBER and WHY you want to win this basket! Comments should be thoughtful - computer generated comments or spam will will be routinely removed.

This is how the winner will be chosen:

Bingo Numbered Balls for selecting the WINNER My Random Number Generator (a Bingo Cage)

On April 4th Easter Sunday My hub and I will wait until 9pm Eastern Standard Time at which time we will pull out the Bingo cage and spin the numbers ten times!

The number closest by 5 digits (greater or lesser) to one of the numbers in the comments WINS after we have checked that, the follower has posted on every post since this one and/or has linked to this Giveaway from their blog.

And though we considered limiting the shipping areas to the US only we have too many new cool friends in places like Holland and London so - we're going to leave that open!:))

Good LUCK and Ciao - Amarettogirl!

RECIPE for the Perfect Cup of Hot Cocoa- Amarettogirl Style!

*Disclaimer - I am not a professional cook by any means, I am simply a creative and this is how I make one awesome gourmet cup of hot cocoa. I'm sure its not that different than other's recipes - but it's how I do it - enjoy!

Hot Cocoa Ring available at my ETSY shop!!

Nestles Abuelita Hot Cocoa Tabs

First, YOU WILL NEED:

1. A blender

2. Nestle's Authentic Mexican Hot Cocoa Tablets (I know it kills this little indie girl that a major American Co. (not a Mexican one) is the parent Co., but trust me, after I tried it I was converted and it is perhaps easier to obtain then actual Mexican hot chocolate depending on where you live. But hey, if you can get your hands on some hard-core Mexican Chocolate without Nestle - by all means do so!Abuelita tablets are FANTASTIC and are intended to be melted down into milk in a blender.

3. Four cups of your fave kind of Milk, I use fat-free (can use all the help I can get in that area!)
Note- It's a good idea to have at least four people you would like to serve some of this gourmet hot cocoa to lined up (sharing is always better) unless you want a mega-cup of hot cocoa all to yourself!

4. Some Amaretto coffee flavoring syrup ( I get my bottle from Whole Foods Coffee concession)

5. A capful of good Vanilla Extract

6. Pinch of cinnamon

7. Pinch of nutmeg

8. Pinch of Allspice

9. Pinch of chili powder

10. A small dash of salt

11. Optional: a small (like a tablespoon) amount of your favorite DARK chocolate ground up

Ok so now heat up your milk in a saucepan (I do around two cups which is what the nestle box states at a time. Then place the first two cups of HOT milk in a blender and add ONE of the Nestle Abuelita tablets. Blend carefully on low speed - then add in two additional cups of hot milk on low speed. Add in the cap full of Vanilla Extract and all of the pinches and dashes to taste (instead of sugar, which is what the Nestle box suggest).
Then Voila- serve immediately.

The Nestle box has a good reminder that

hot liquids may expand when blended - do not overfill blender- cover blender lid with a towel when blending and blend on low speed

(though I was naughty and sped up the blending to make sure my tablet was completely liquified!)

Ok and as an added note- if you consider some magical, tantalizing thoughts while your concoction is blending it will be that much more phenomenal; who knows you may be able to influence love!So go off and enjoy an AWESOME cup of hot cocoa and create a loving memory.

-Ciao Amarettogirl

MassMarket Imitating Handmade Ofcourse!

detail photo by m. diaz

I was in the chain, mega-shop, Target a few weeks ago browsing through the office supply section and along the notebooks/journals and blank books I ran across this little gem of a blank book.

It's nothing new for mass-marketed items to imitate hand-made. Still, it kills me that this particular book is a mass manufactured item and not handmade (especially when it looks so, so, so, so handmade and is ridiculously cheap). How can artisans compete?!

Aesthetically I had to get it- though I felt like a traitor in doing so!

I had to get it because when I held it I couldn't get over all of those buttons and it has this wonderful feel when you hold it in yours hands. I kept thinking what a great place for including all my sewing notes and that's exactly how I'm using it.

Still I feel so guilty. :(

blank journal from Target journal in use my own apron instructions

Snow Blizzard 2010

Snowdays2010 photo by m. diaz Snowscape 2010 photo by m.diaz snowed in photo by m. diaz our road photo by m. diaz

A Winter Day

Today has just been cold, wet and gray. Half-snow, half-rain (not conducive to driving) and plain ol' yukky and thats how I feel too. It feels as though winter is lasting 4eva...So I thought I would kick-up a fire and share a sneek-peek into a new project (or two) that I'm working on.

another winter day photo by m. diaz New drawing/painting and linoleum print of my wolf girl by m. diaz a cupcake pinchusion I bought

I have another exhibit coming up after Spring Break and that means more artwork for me. I'm really interested in continuing the theme of the shifter-like creatures from my last exhibit. I was also so moved by my Benecio Del Toro's Wolfman movie I knew it would affect my work and show up there.

Last year I visited the Putney School in Vermont as a visiting artist to do an artist talk. While I was there I got to visit the local town, have some wonderful food and I visited a delightful book shop with a diversified children's book section, which is where I found this adorable cupcake pincushion.

I had been seeing quite a few 'feltie' pincushions on the blogosphere, and since I love all things cupcakes (just see my Mai sweetshop line that I launched a year and a half ago), I really had to make my own. So now I have.

Here is MY version of a cupcake pincushion. Yay.

Cupcake Pincushion by m. diaz

Unsellable Objects

A while back in my Jewelry category I wrote a post called Unsellablegivable objects in which I wrote about how sometimes I learn a new technique such as this beading one, and I simply can't bring myself to give or sell any of it away. Here is another example of something else I do when I'm not painting, drawing, sculpting, writing, sewing or exhibiting.

Furthermore, I'm really interested in learning about how other creatives 'focus' and limit themselves. Lately, I've been feeling as though it's futile to even try to limit myself since I get easily bored with any one technique. Even if I can manage to make twenty of something (which I do often) when the wave is over - I move on. With getting older I've settled a bit - but barely.

I just have an issue with wanting to do too much. During meetings my hands always have to be moving. I get over-whelmed yet still always have five projects going at once, all with self-induced stressed and deadlines.

My hub says I behave as though I'm going to die tomorrow and have to do everything today! I am quite honestly a doer and need to be making something always.

Is anybody else like this or is it just me?? I mean between my writing and blurring the line between fine art and craft on a daily basis, I'm all over the place as an artist. And that's ok right?? Yeah, that's the 21st century non-outsourceable mind...right??

- Ciao Amarettogirl

Ballroom Dancing and Blogging with the IPhone!

So Tony Dovolani was a no show! He cancelled at the last minute (or the day prior), which left the organizers of the event quite perturbed...but all was not lost because the ballroom dancers still performed and they were stellar! I wish I remembered their names but alas I do not, though some are current champion dancers.

To make this post even more extraordinary, it was all done with my IPhone! As if the capabilities of my phone (and the way it has deeply rooted itself into my life) weren't amazing enough as is, I can now use two pretty cool apps to blog on demand!! Photoshop's app called PS MOBILE allows me to to adjust my Iphone images taken with the phones camera (and in this case in pretty severe low light I might add) and my Squarespace website platform have now made an app called Squarespace which allows you to post while traveling without a computer. So now when I say
I'm so going to blog about that, I am, anywhere and anytime!!

Ok so I never officially found out who my secret donor was, but while I was there one of my student's parents came up and handed me a raffle ticket in the form of a diamond/crystal (they were selling them all night at $100 a pop) and with a tender squeeze of my hand told me 'Good Luck!'- I was deeply affected. I didn't win the raffle, which was for a pair of $40,000 diamond earrings, but it was one of those moments where I was reminded that the energy we give each other (even unbeknownst to us) helps us get through, and thanks to someone's generosity to my school and too me I did win the gift of the evening there.

- ciao Amarettogirl

Update on Monday, February 22, 2010 at 10:49AM by Amarettogirl

Thanks to a former student I learned the dancers pictured here are none other than, Iveta Lukosiute and Gherman Mustuc who have a wonderful website entitled Why do I dance...Why do I breathe! These two are internatioanlly reknowned and are the reigning World Professional 10-Dance Champions, which features both Latin and Standard-style dancing. They also are United States and North American Professional 10-Dance Champions! Ahh how awesome - you can see videos of them dancing on Youtube as well.

Blythe Illustrations

Seeing as my blog has now been up for TWO YEARS I've begun to update some outdated info. So my bio no longer says married for 5yrs when its been 7!

This piece was one of six that I did for a summer 2009 exhibit...I just updated my exhibit data and the gallery of exhibits page (not finished yet) so I thought I'd mention it here. The hope (as some of my art appreciators know) is to order high-quality prints of these images and eventually have the prints for sale in my etsy shop - so don't despair it will one day soon happen!

Honeyed illustration by m.diaz

OOOH SOME LIFE DRAMA! READ ALL ABOUT IT:

Tony Dovolani from Dancing With The Stars pic from ABC DWS

So here's what's happening in my life today. The school in which I work is hosting a 'Casablanca' gala black and white formal event this weekend as a fundraiser. In the 12 years that I've worked there I've never gone because tickets are very expensive (150mega-bucks, the funds go to support the school).

This week I received an email from one of the event planners that an anonymous donor paid for my ticket to attend and that I should consider honoring the gesture with an rsvp. So my hub (who also works at the same school as long as me) called to rsvp taking it for granted that everyone knows we're married and assuming he was paid for as well (its common that a donor pays for a handful of teachers)- but Yikes - the donor gift was just for me!

Luckily a ticket emerged for hubs, but I'm kind of 'weirded' out. In a crowded space I won't know who paid for me to go. Since this is tomorrow night, I had to go buy a cocktail dress and lets just say trying on stuff in ill lit fitting rooms that smack body-conscious-reality in my face is not my idea of a fun Friday night!

But it will all be worth it, since I learned Tony Dovolani from Dancing with the Stars will be there and it promises to be an affair to remember!!

Have you ever attended an event or gathering with a lurking secret donor or admirer??? Its like a game of CLUE! Come on spill, I want to hear all about it!

-Ciao Amarettogirl

Design Finds from Saugerties, NY

bird candle from Green in Saugerties NY

I bought this grey bird candle at a great shop called GREEN in Saugerties, NY. Their motto of 'recycle and reuse' is evident as you walk into their shop and see their fresh design eye through the layout of both refurnished and repurposed, new and old products a like. Their aesthetic is modern, clean and slightly eclectic as you walk down aisles of beautiful wood tables, retro chairs and antique aluminum doll houses that evoke times past with a nod towards modernity. Not to mention that their business card is one of those cool new 'green' business cards that you can plant and grow wildflowers with!

I also bought these amazing aluminum bird cabinet knobs at Green.

my new drawer pulls bought at Green designed by Te-Ma

The sweet folks at Green shared that they got these knobs from a Woodstock based studio and online shop called Te-ma, so glad to know since I want to get more for the rest of my bureau drawers!!!!

sweet dog figurines made in Japan that I bought at a Saugerties thrift shop

Here are another couple of great finds from Saugerties' Happy Paws Thrift shop. I walked in soon after a large shipment of dog figurines had just been donated to the thrift shop- the mother-load, a full table laden with figurines. I got each of these two gems made in Japan for $2. each and a whole bag of dollar figurines to play with in my crafts!

My hub and I love toys and always stop in on unique toy shops as well. We found this great toy-shop called Tinker Toys in Woodstock Ny where I fell in love with this magnetic building balance/construction toy called Equilique designed by sculptor John Perry!! If you have a chance please click on the Equilique site - its amazing and you won't be sorry since my pics don't do the toy any justice as to what it is actually capable of!

Equilique by sculptor John Perry photo by marisol diaz detail of Quili acrobat 1 photo by m. diazdetail of Quili acrobat 2 photo by m. diaz