Who?....me?
It's time for a little fun for me. (Who am I kidding....I always have fun!)
Today, I am being featured on this great new network called "mama's little nestwork". If you haven't joined...you can go and do that now. ;=)
I was just thrilled when I was asked to be this week's "artistic blogger" by one of the loveliest bloggers, Mama Hen, from "Mama's Little Chick" .
I was just thrilled when I was asked to be this week's "artistic blogger" by one of the loveliest bloggers, Mama Hen, from "Mama's Little Chick" .
Thank you MH for your amazing ability to encourage and inspire. And thank for this honor to be your featured blogger.
And for those who are visiting for the first time, I'm suppose to tell you a little about myself. I have tried to pack as much into my life as possible but this will be the very short, abridged version. (Who just let out a sigh out there? I heard ya!)
So since I'm suppose to focus on the artsy stuff, I'll start there. I'm a painter (artist) and when I'm not chasing around our two lovelies, I should be painting. But more and more this newer role of "Mom" is filling most of my time. I started this blog about a year and a half ago - about the same time as I bought my first DSLR and have been consumed with photography ever since. As much as I've enjoyed this new blogging world (who knew there were so many fabulous, encouraging, loving people out there?) I have had the extra bonus of meeting some amazing photographers who inspire me daily. Participating in photo challenges like Iheartfaces and others has continued to inspire me but none like Lisa from The Long Road to China who hosts Black and White Wednesdays and unforgettable workshops to attend.
So before I blather on here, let me introduce you to our two daughters
(still love the sound of that).
Dahlia is our 7 year old from Hunan, China. This is the little girl who made me a "mommy", which has been my absolute biggest joy in life.
And Milana is our little monkey.....er....rather our 2 year old from Zhejiang, China. We've been home with Milana for just one year and just watching her explore her world is like watching a sit-com. A really funny one.
See our little model here? I ordered some sweet little hand-made outfits recently from Robin at the Red Thread Stitches of Hope. This amazing lady sews these beautiful creations and is raising income to bring her newest daughter home from China. Go check out her site. Warning: get a tissue - you'll be drooling over the fashions and maybe a shed a tear when you read her story.
And since I'm plugging, let me shamelessly link you to my art gallery http://www.ode2beauty.com/ where you can check out some of my artwork. But in case you don't have the time (and I so understand that phenomenon), here are a few quick peeks.
For more information on my art or other hand-created items, you can e-mail me at
wandamalfara@ca.inter.net
wandamalfara@ca.inter.net
Still, my favorite thing to do, besides just being a "mom" is taking pictures of my daughters. Most days I could just eat them up!
As my blog says.
At Last...We are Family!
Hi, I'm Wanda. I am a happy woman, wife to Danny for...oh....lots a years and finally Mom to THE most adorable little girl from Hunan, China - Dahlia. And now we have been blessed again with another daughter, Milana, from Zhejiang, China. (The 2 best things I've ever done!)
We live in the Montreal area. After a loooonnngg wait for Dahlia's little sister Milana (pronounced - Mee-lana, like banana), we finally brought her home in August 2009. Dahlia came to us in Nov 2004 (at 20 months of age)and a year later we began the application for another baby - at the time the waiting period was around 8 months. Almost 4 years later (say what!?!)we, at last, brought Milana home.
This began as the story of our journey to bring Milana home and life with her big sister, Dahlia. It now continues as we live as a family of four!
God.
My (growing) family.
Hangin' out with my girlies.
My wonderful friends (you know who you are!).
To laugh (out loud and a lot!).
Music.
Painting. Hugs.
Long chats with my buds.
My garden.
To read (ha...when I can!).
Sunshine.
Spring, Spring and more Spring.
Building things.
Cooking.
Decorating.
Parties (ahem).
The internet.
Life.
Movies. A.I.
Dancing with the stars.
So you think you can dance.
Travel. Umm..did I say laughing my head off.
Oh Gee...everything actually!!
44 comments:
It was sweet to read this! I'm guessing I have been a blog stalker of yours almost since you started your blog!! I LOVE all these photos (your girls are gorgeous!) Have I seen that family photo before?? GORGEOUS! all of you - WOW, I really love it!
Nope Ellie - we just took it yesterday. (Same livingroom though - it's our usual stump.)
Thank you!
Absolutely gorgeous as always Wanda! I am so happy to have you as the featured astistic blogger this week! You are so incredibly talented my friend! These photos are beautiful! Have a great day!
Mama Hen
LOVE IT! You are an amazing artist, photographer and Mother! I remember all those love notes in your purse from Dahlia at our photography workshop. That was the sweetest thing ever!
Woo hoo on being featured, Wanda!! :)
I love that last family shot... beautiful (and Milana's SO cute there)!
Hi! What a great artist!! Your daughters are beautiful!
Natasha from: http://days-of-natasha.blogspot.com/
A big congrats to you on being featured! I have SO enjoyed your photography (from b&w wednesday), but I've never seen your artwork! WOW - you are one talented gal. Your girls are gorgeous! Congratulations!
Your pictures and artwork are beautiful! I am so excited to have found a great new blog to follow through the nestwork! Your daughters are adorable, what a beautiful family! I look forward to getting to know you!
http://ourhappyhomeblog.blogspot.com
Oh congrats my beautiful friend! Your beauty shines both inside and out and how blessed we all are to see bits and pieces and moments and memories of it through this medium!
I wasn't *sighing* but clapping -n- cheering you on!! Congratulations on the honor ~ you deserve every moment in the bloggy spotlight and then some!!
Oh, I guess I did *sigh* just a bit when you shared pics of your 2 lovelies and in all honesty I went "Yippee & yahoo" a few times too!! :) Just sayin.....
xoxo
What a wonderful read! I am SO extremely happy for you! Motherhood is the one thing that is truely a blessing, and anyone who wants & deserves to be a mother should have this experience! You have a BEAUTIFUL family, your girls are just beautiful!!!! Best wishes
Kristen
How blessed are the 4 of you to have found each other!!! Beautiful post, beautiful daughters, beautiful family! Thank you for sharing!
Congrats on being featured!
Being a Chinese Malaysian myself, I'm happy to see what a wonderful family you have!
Hi, stopping by from the Nestwork! You have a beautiful family and a georgeous blog! Congrats on being featured!
Wow! Wanda, you're a beautiful person, inside and out. It shows in your art & photography and extends into your love for your daughters! Very inspiring. Being of Chinese descent myself, it warms my heart to see you provide such a loving environment for your lovely girls! How precious it is what you and Danny are doing for them. Congrats on being the featured artistic blogger this week! I can most certainly see why!
Your girls are adorable - no wonder they're taking up your time ;) Great to meet you and to hear about your work.
Hi Wanda, congrats to you!! What a great artist.. what a beautiful family...:)
Stopped by from Mama's Nestwork... and your new follower now. SO nice to meet ya..:)
Hi, Wanda-visiting from the Nestwork. I love your blog--your talent and love of art radiate from it. You are blessed to have your two beautiful girls to complete your family and they are blessed to have loving parents like you. Can't wait to see more...EW http://eastlynandcompany.blogspot.com
Oh, how I sighed...but sighed from HAPPINESS and my amazing LUCK in having come to know you from your incredible blog...but having had the chance (one of many to come) to hug you in person.
There's not a thing you touch that doesn't blossom in your hands...your artwork (STUNNING), your decorating (so elegantly uniquely yours), your photography (mmmmm!) your handsome hubby (hummuna-hummuna!)and your oh so scrumptous girls.
You are one of those people that just leaves that indelible mark...and I so adore you!
Congratulations on an award so VERY well deserved!
I love you,
Dita Darling
They are gorgeous! What fun to have two little girls (as I know nothing about it, having all boys) I found you through the nestwork. You have a great blog!
Wow, beautiful photos and amazing art! You are one talented mama. Your girls are gorgeous, I had to bookmark your blog so I can start following along!
Your girls are beautiful!! That family picture is so sweet!
Love your art, too.
Just found you through the Nestwork, and I am now an official follower! Your daughters (just like your blog) are absolutely beautiful. I've been poring over your photos!
Have a great day!
Wanda...
I'm so happy I was able to find your blog and become a cyber friend with you. I hope that one day we will be able to meet in person. I have a feeling we will immediately click and feel as if we've known each other for many years. Your family photo is gorgeous. Did you use a tripod and timer? I really need to do the same. How on earth did you get the girls to sit still? My little one is impossible these days... actually the older one is impossible too.
Hugs...
Grace
p.s. Can you believe it's finally Lisa's turn? I'm so excited for her. :-)
Grace,
Yes, tripod and timer. I do it all the time now. The girls know the routine. But it is unusual. They sit pretty still most of the time. It's possible chocolate may be involved. Just sayin'
;=)
Wanda
What gorgeous pictures you take! Your girls are absolutely beautiful, and I loved looking at all of your photos. You are very deserving of being featured today on the Nestwork. I'm so inspired!
Oh my, I loved loved loved this post. I guess it's the nosey in me, but I can't get enough of hearing of people's lives, and your story is so terrific...and do you ever stop lady? Paint, photography, chasing children.
Your family, all of you! are so beautiful.
Congrats on the feature at Mama's Little Nestworks. I agree that woman is phenomenal in her commitment to bloggers.
Wow absolutely stunning photos! Artistic you definitely are!
I'm following. Congrats on your spotlight!
Hi Wanda,
The photo's are stunning! I had to talk a step back and say wow. My first little girl is from Hunan, and we just adopted 8-months ago from Zhejiang. Small world. When I get back to blogging, I would love to stay in touch with you.
Hugs,
Sindy
Gorgeous girls!!! And beautiful art!!!
Found ya on RQ ;)
Blessings, stacy
I absolutely love the photos of your girls...can't find more gorgeous models anywhere! Just stopped over from Mama's little nestwork...
I have said this many times, but you are incredible Wanda!!!!! I LOVE knowing you and visiting you in blog land:) xoxoxo
Wow. I love your blog and post. Love the clothes, art and most of all, your family photos. What beautiful precious girls you have.
Wanda thank you so much for being the featured artistic blog in the Nestwork this week. You are so talented and a beautiful woman and blog friend. I hope you are having a great week!
Mama Hen
Hi Wanda,
I love your new photos of your girls! Beautiful work by an inspiring artist:))
It's funny I completely forgot you have a Hunan beauty too. AND you're husband is named Danny (so is mine) gee, how funny!
Anyway just had a moment and wanted to say hello. Have a fabulous summer!
What a wonderful spotlight! Your artwork is phenomenal as are your photos! It was nice to get to know you a bit more as well.
Congrats on being featured! You deserve it. Your artwork is absolutely beautiful, as are your photos. (But how could the photos be anything but beautiful with such gorgeous little models!) Your daughters are darlings.
Wanda- To know you is to love you!!! Congrats on being featured!! I'm so glad I got to meet you at Lisa's workshop and that now I can call you friend :) You have such a beautiful family (I'm loving that last picture!) and you are so incredibly talented! You deserve it all...and so much more!! XOXO
I'm not surprised! You are so incredibly talented! These photos are just delicious. The girls are adorable in their sweet new outfits!
:::hugs:::
Donna
Our Blog: Double Happiness!
Congratulations on being featured!! Your girls are just beautiful, as are your photos. Your paintings, too - WOW!! You are just full of talent!!
Oh my heart Wanda! You are so talented. Those paintings are amazing. And your babies.... PERFECTION! I am so glad you get to be their Mama! I love your family and I am glad that you are happy. You make the world a more beautiful place!
Congratulations! You are amazing, wonderful artist. Of course, I think we have followed your family since you began blogging. Love the gift you gave "Dita". You all have so much fun! Your daughters are beyond beautiful, your photography so clear..... All of you who took the workshop are pros! Great post!
Alyzabeth's Mommy
Wanda,
The pictues are wonderful, I adore the family shot of you all, just stunning.
The artwork is just remarkable. Talent and beauty to be envied.
Love,
Valerie
Wanda, you are amazing!! I have to check out those outfits for maggie~
Wow, gorgeous girls and the pics are amazing! Thanks for sharing your story. BTW, love the cute little outfits. I will definitely check that site out.
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