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Miniviews in the Garden

Amor Milagre Garden Design
Amor Milagre Garden Design.  It’s snowing…

 

This morning’s Miniview answers a mix of some of your questions.  They were the one-of-a-kinds, so I’ve grouped them together here.  I will post another to answer one specific question soon.

Amor MilagreGarden Design
Amor Milagre Garden Design.  Soft cheeks, so kissable.   Heavenly scented rose blooms…

 

Q:  You mention the word ‘hope’ a lot in your books.  How do you sustain hope during these uncertain times?

A:  Yes, I love the word hope.  To me, it means a possibility that we can choose and allow good energy to live, thrive, and spread.  Hope isn’t a mere wish or just an idea.  Hope indicates that peace is always there.  We just need to choose it.  Awareness and helpfulness are ways that hope blooms into a wonderful daily reality.  Dream it and help it come true.

 

Amor Milagre Garden Design
Amor Milagre Garden Design.  Can you reach me?

 

Q:  When will The Love Letter Diaries books be available in audio?  Love the books, but also want to listen in the car on the way to work.  So calming.  Can’t wait for the next volume!!!

A:  Thank you!  All of my books have the audio option so far, except the Leona books as they are the longest.  I am still editing those files, and I will have that series available as a digital download audio option this winter at the latest.  Thank you!  They are my favourites as well.

Amor Milagre Garden Design
Amor Milagre Garden Design.  As the blueberries fade out, the blackberries ripen.  Everyone is young once.

 

Q:  Are you still making organic cotton clothes?  I’ve worn out that dress you made for me years ago.  The cream one with the embroidery on the hem.  We have some baby showers coming up and need more of those tiny outfits.  Are you doing custom clothing orders still?  I couldn’t find the option in your shop.

A:  Thanks!  Those were fun to make.  I have sold out of that collection of the little suits and dresses, but a few graphic toddler tees are still available.  I plan on releasing some new organic apparel collections after our atelier renovations are finished.  I do have magical nursery artwork, stationery, and sweet children’s books available.  They’re wonderful as gifts, and I can write a custom inscription, if you like.  Message me!  Thanks, Hannah.  I do remember that dress!

Amor Milagre Garden Design
Amor Milagre Garden Design.  Party skirts sway in the breeze…

 

Q:  Who are the artists that work for you?  I like the varied styles, but I cannot find their names.  Can I order a custom size?  I’m interested in the person who does the pastels.

A:  Thank you, but it’s all done by me, Emmanuelle, aka Amor Milagre.  I am the original and authentic maker of my collections and I sign all of my artwork and books for each order.  Depending on my mood, and the medium, the pieces may look a little different.  I don’t believe an artist is limited to one look, style, or medium.  Charcoal drawings have a different energy than landscape oils.  You move differently with a special posture and time for each, but they all build on one another.  The same goes for books, music, sewing, home design, dance, and photographs.  I like to explore different forms of expression.  It’s just what comes out in that moment.  What does your soul need?  How?  They are all connected though, by me.  Yes, please message me for your specific custom sizes.  Over the years, I’ve made tiny to gigantic pieces.  I have many new pieces coming up!  Thank you.

Amor Milagre Garden Design
Amor Milagre Garden Design.  A sea of fern waves…

 

Q:  How can I apply to work for your company?  I am an art teacher, and I’m interested in what you are doing.  Are you still holding classes?  If so, I’m interested.  I’m a bit rusty.

A:  Thank you, but at this time, it’s just me.  I have postponed all Amor Milagre classes and clubs until the pandemic is actually over.  I might do a collection of video classes later on that customers can purchase in my shop.   I was the only teacher when I held my classes, and I’m the only person in my company.  I do all of the different stages of work for my company.  I have plans for expanding my online shop to include a local New England shop later on.  I’ll email you then.

As for the rusty part:  Practice drawing every day.  Begin again…as if you didn’t know any techniques or any art history.  Use big, sweeping gestures to loosen up.  Relax your wrist.  Don’t think.  Feel it, use your senses and intuition, let go of all expectations, and express… Use nature as your forever model and meditate there.  (These are some of the things that I teach in my classes for all ages/levels.)

I encourage you to explore what you could offer in your own potential business.  You can also teach online, make process/demo videos, sell your art, and teach/volunteer locally.  Community centers and children/adults everywhere need good safe teachers.  Building up a community of inspiring teachers and thriving students is important.  Get involved in community projects…or start new ones.  Support the arts.  Thanks for your interest!

*This answer is also meant for any college students who asked if they could intern with me.  We’ve been self-isolating to stay healthy, sorry!  Hope you find that right fit for your credits.  I know it’s not always easy to find.  Stay safe!

Amor Milagre Garden Design
Amor Milagre Garden Design.  Dancers point toes to the sky!

 

I will answer more of your thoughtful questions later on in another one of my Miniviews (Mini Interviews).

In the meantime…

*Express yourself, paint with plants, and adore all of yourself.  Love, ~ Amor Milagre

 

 

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August: Organic Cottage Garden Design

Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design
Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design.  Getting lost in the intricate lace fairyland of the hydrangea blooms…

 

I love how a garden changes every day, season, and year.

Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design
Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design.  One of my writing nooks. We also have lessons and picnics here…in the shade of the cream umbrella.  The lavender and cleomes circle this garden.  We renovated the gardens last year.  Previously a lawn, this space is now full of flowering trees, perennial flowers, and herbs.  Plant seeds of goodness for pollinators.  It heals all.  We even have some tomatoes up here, as it is the sunniest area of the garden.

 

Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design
Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design.  Weeding a bit today, and I got my first ever bee sting, right through my glove!  Not too bad…just put some ice on it.  Bees love me…ever since I was little…they loved to explore my golden curly hair and just hang out… My Nonna used to say it’s because they think I’m a flower.  I love that idea, and I paint flying pollinators into all of my stories.  I always sat calmly with them, and then they’d move onto something with pollen.  I must have tread on a nest. Sorry, little friends!  Nature tells us important things.  Listen.  I usually do leave the ‘weeds’ as they’re a helpful part of the garden, but we do have some rather aggressive imposter vines that take over and under the garden.  I do minimal editing and pruning.  Plants have their own design plans.  It’s fun to learn of their endless stages.  Also, any broken or old pieces are just left in the garden to become a natural compost.  After making the pathways last summer, the cleomes seeded everywhere, which is the intent, but a few had to be moved out of the gravel and back into the soil.  These rhodies were quite ill when we moved in, so we cut them back hard and now they are full up with new green lovely leaves.  They form a nice border hedge and create privacy with a dense leafy depth and height.  Blooms next year, I’d expect.  In pink!

 

Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design
Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design.  I adore these mixed plant tangles… They’d make a gorgeous textile print.  This one is mostly:  Queen Anne’s Lace/Wild Carrot, Thyme, Sage, Salvia, Vinca, Clover, Anise…  Babies love these little fairy nests.

 

Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design
Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design.  The incredible Blazing Stars have just bloomed…grown from scattered seeds.  Easy as tossing them into the bed.  There are hundreds and the wildlife love them.  Such fancy feathery dresses!

 

Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design
Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design.  The front herb patch went wild this year, but we love to watch the pollinators favour this swaying sea of lace in the breeze so I will only tame it back a bit next year.  The new kitchen looks out onto this stone garden that we made a few years ago.  There was a bed of overgrown shrubs, too close to the house, and a paver pathway.  We took everything out, painted the house a warm heavy cream, and made space for more meadow wildflowers and three Japanese boxwoods.  The pathway was removed and recycled into the back pathway.  We made a stone wall, new pathways, and steps.  Soon, a mudroom door will go nearby.  We have the kitchen door here, too.  Little gardeners can pick some fresh sage for dinner!  I am working on some lace-like snowflake/floral design stencils in the front doorway, which I will post about when finished.

 

Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design
Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design.  Many greens…living together.  Permaculture matters.  Everything depends upon the next and the one before.  Replace lawns and pollutive machines with native plants that form a perennial carpet to keep you cool, hydrated, and full of life!
Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design
Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design.  Every window has a view of the garden!  Wake up to nature, go out and converse with her, learn how to be peaceful, bid her a good slumber and get ready for bed…  Sustainable life cycles for:  you, wildlife, the anti-pollution layers of fungi in the soil, the air, water, and for all plants who connect in their own language and routines.  Tread softly in nature.  We are the visitors of the earth, be gentle.

 

Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design
Amor Milagre Organic Cottage Garden Design.  Grow flowers from seeds to self-seed and spread each year!  I love these large areas of various wildflowers.  In the wind, the whole garden is alive and dancing.  Drought-tolerant is the way to go with climate change, and we have always just let the rain water the garden.  The plants grow stronger this way, and you can enjoy doing other things you love.

 

New blooms are coming soon…

Love to all of the bees who warn us to be more gentle.

Without you, I cannot think what we’d be.  ~ Amor Milagre

 

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Café Amor Milagre: Sensitive Kitchen & Recipe Design

Cafe Amor Milagre Writing Spot Organic Vegan Cooking & Kitchen Interior Design Renovation
Cafe Amor Milagre Writing Spot Organic Vegan Cooking & Kitchen Interior Design Renovation

A story as delicious as a good dinner…  In my original plans for my company, I designed Café Amor Milagre.  The idea is a plant-based, vegan, organic, European peasant-style, garden-fresh café to accompany my shop.  As my store is online, my upcoming cookbooks will teach how to bring our kitchen to yours with simply delicious recipes.  We adore this custom home café that we have nearly finished building at our Rose Cottage.  I’ll keep my original company plans, perhaps to open up later on down the road.  The world can really use more of this type of dining.  We never eat out, so we made our own restaurant at home, growing plants in the garden for our daily food.

I love to lounge by our grand new windows that look onto the morning’s dewy flowers and herbs, write a new story, share a funny teatime with my family, and dream in the evening sconce lamplight.  Simple peaceful pleasures build up a beautiful life…and story.  I’ve written so many books this summer, and every day there are three more.  Now, I just have to catch up on printing them all so you can enjoy them, too!  I’m out of ink and journals, and my poor hand needs a break.  But then, oh!

I will publish more treasury compilation-style books going forward as printing costs are high.  My shop uses sustainable materials, which do cost more for me, but the preservation of nature is vital.  In general, the cost of everything now is quite high.  I design my products to be as affordable as possible.  I don’t believe that high prices elevate works of art.  I believe in equality.  In making affordable collections, everyone is invited.  With treasury books, my readers can enjoy many stories within one book.  Quick, connected readers will really appreciate this type of book.  Reread these new classics over again.  This will be the new format for some of the children’s book collections and the Self-Health Novelettes.  I do have some books that I’ll release on their own as they have specific illustration designs that need a certain book shape or size.  Some novels, like The Love Letter Diaries, already contain four seasonal books within one volume.  I will keep that style for the second year/volume of that series.

As our renovations wind down, I will release many new artwork and stationery pieces and collections.  If only the computers could keep up with my brain, I’d be all caught up.  That is my process though…true thought and handmade creative works, inspired by nature.  Cherish the real and natural you.

Whole Foods Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Kitchen
Whole Foods Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Kitchen

Whole Foods Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Kitchen

Children’s meals are easy to assemble and beautiful with whole foods, such as these nuts.  I love how the walnuts look like owls.  The senses relish in the shapes, scents, textures, flavours, and colours of natural plant foods.  Let children design their own lunch and flavour combinations.  Little chefs always come up with something we haven’t tried yet!

Whole Foods Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Cooking & Kitchen Interior Design Renovation
Whole Foods Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Cooking & Kitchen Interior Design Renovation

Design Tip for A Calming Space:  If you group ‘like’ items, or items that you use together, on a tray then the visual clutter goes away and you have a sensually pleasing atmosphere.  Store unneeded items out of sight.  Have a focal point, and let it be useful.  Try it in any room.  Do you feel more relaxed?

Tomato Fennel Soup Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Cooking & Kitchen Interior Design Renovation
Tomato Fennel Soup Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Cooking & Kitchen Interior Design Renovation

What is a soup?  Easy.  Add fresh vegetables to a pot, add some spices, add water.  Cook.  Enjoy!  (My cookbooks include a few more details, but try it!)  Last evening, I wrote a story near a simmering tomato fennel soup.  Our custom kitchen design was intended for just this moment.  For this one, I will puree it.  For our regular weekly recipe, we don’t.  These simply nourishing soups are versatile and help sustain your week.  Delicious recipes, such as these, are featured in my upcoming vegan, organic, sugar-free cookbook.  Enjoy soup every day of the year to boost health and relax, knowing that you always have a good dinner waiting for you!

Tomato Fennel Soup Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Cooking & Kitchen Interior Design Renovation
Tomato Fennel Soup Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Cooking & Kitchen Interior Design Renovation.  A New Kitchen-Warming Gift from my husband!  This pot has locking safety handles and a strainer lid option.  It’s just the right size for most of our recipes, but it uses more storage space with the handles.  Overall it’s a great green design, but next time remove the click handle sound.  We understand how to use it.  Cooking designs can be made much quieter.

 

I love gentle rain showers and slow cooks.  If a recipe is going to take a while, it can do it on its own.  We’re quite busy, so minimal steps and a house filled with a gorgeous subtle scent is my design.  The buzzing machines that I do not love do not live in our kitchen.  They live on the other side of the door, in the pantry.  We also made sure to research the quietest ones.  The pantry, mudroom, and a full bath/laundry room are our next renovation projects to finish this fall/winter.  Yes, every inch of the house and gardens…  Sensitive design considers your whole health and how the senses work.  I design to keep and boost energy, not zap it away.  Even our clocks don’t tick, and why should they?  Check back to see how we have done this to our entire Rose Cottage.

I’m happy that we are finishing up our last rooms.  We deserve a break to watch the flowers grow and have little dates in our cosy café.  Last night, we had a half-date half-measuring party.  Just us two…and I do love it when my husband says…”I have a design question for you.”  Get out the pencil and paper…let’s figure it out.  Can you tell that we like a bit of a puzzle?

If your children need something to do this weekend, consider a little scavenger hunt with clues on notepaper leading to a surprise..or even just to breakfast!  Our family loves to do things like this.  The mind loves to learn and be useful.  Recipes are a versatile way to keep your senses moving.  Growing and preparing organic food is a wonderful puzzle to practice.

Love, ~ Amor Milagre

Tomato Fennel Soup Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Cooking & Kitchen Interior Design Renovation
Tomato Fennel Soup Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Cooking & Kitchen Interior Design Renovation
Tomato Fennel Soup Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Cooking & Kitchen Interior Design Renovation
Tomato Fennel Soup Amor Milagre Organic Vegan Cooking & Kitchen Interior Design Renovation

 

 

 

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Kitchen Design & Simple Pleasures

Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design, New Stove Hood with Lavender Trug and Soft Sconce Lighting
Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design, New Stove Hood with Lavender Trug and Soft Sconce Lighting

 

August brings a new kitchen.  What a lovely gift!  We are fiddle-faddling with our favourite pancake flippers and arranging precious teacups in custom-fit drawers, newly handmade by my talented husband.  We measured everything and designed special areas for each collection of kitchen items.  The flow is important to get right.  Ergonomics are vital to prevent pain.  How splendid to unpack decades of patience into a beautiful, clean space!  Everything has a home, and we can easily use everything now.  This room used to be two, with walls missing and old floors, and the upcoming design reveals will show how much work it took to bring this calming, soft kitchen to life.  Our Rose Cottage feels healthier every day.

Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design. Linen & Lavender are natural and calming.
Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design. Linen & Lavender are natural and calming.
Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design. We love summer days of watermelon and mint!
Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design. We love summer days of watermelon and mint!
Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design, summer days
Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design. New space leaves room for dancing.  Ironing dresses and blouses by the garden door in the evening is cool and crickety.

 

Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design, summer days
Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design.  All ready for garden picnics with the teddy bear family!

 

Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design, summer days
Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design.  We have little ironing demonstrations (from afar) by the Queen Anne’s Lace flowers.  This door opens out to one of our kitchen gardens, the stone-lined herb patch.  How nice it is to make things nice!  (*Until adding heat to fabrics stops conjuring up clouds of toxic pollution, this is not a pleasure.  It can only be an occasional thing to do with proper ventilation and a mask.  The fabrics, iron-steamer-dryer, detergent and packaging all need to be safe and healthy to use.  Remove the chemical coatings!  The amount of toxins in a fabric is obvious by the instant headache and difficulty breathing. Prevent illness and redesign the world to be a healthy life cycle. Read more here.)

 

Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design, summer days
Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design.  Bringing in the kitchen rugs and lamps today!  All is ready…just waiting on the drawer fronts, which are almost finished!  Just need a bit of sanding and painting.  Design reveals are coming up this Autumn.

 

Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design, summer days
Amor Milagre Custom Kitchen Interior Design.  Summer days are going by quickly.  Little crows love to make echoes into the tarped sitting room, where rows of tiles are being removed.  The new flooring goes in there next week!

 

We hope you are enjoying your summer lightning bugs and petals!  Love, ~ Amor Milagre

 

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“The ABC’s of Hoppy Bunny & Nursery Friends” Children’s Book

Amor Milagre The ABC's of Hoppy Bunny & Nursery Friends Children's Book
Amor Milagre The ABC’s of Hoppy Bunny & Nursery Friends Children’s Book

“The ABC’s of Hoppy Bunny & Nursery Friends” Children’s Book

 Shop Now $3.50 – $22.00

A Gentle Life Collection by Amor Milagre

Today, I’m introducing Hoppy’s New Paperback Option, which is ethically and responsibly Made in the USA.  Many more paperbacks will join the hardbacks and audiobooks in my Book Collection each season.

Hoppy Bunny gently teaches little readers how to use alphabet letters to invent nursery games and tell loving, kind stories with friends.  Enjoy these sweet watercolour illustrations for a cozy feeling every time you snuggle up to read.  Each letter of the alphabet is highlighted in a custom colour for that page.

A classic tale of the beloved toy friends in our Rose Cottage nursery makes for a favourite bedtime comfort.  One of the infinite lovely things about children is the way they leave hilarious and darling scenes and surprises around the home.  These pages capture a few of those precious moments when I happened upon a nursery story unfolding.

Hoppy Bunny practices mindfulness and shows how to take respectful care of all you have and love.  This book was designed for all children, and it is especially inspiring for homeschool students who can use their surroundings and imagination to invent a story land of peaceful messages.  Positive self-care practices are included as a loving guide to lead the self on a healthy path for a beautiful life.

A Gentle Life Book Collection:  Peaceful, beautiful, healthy inspiration for a Gentle Life.  Give the gift of Love & Peace by being Purely You.

Hoppy Bunny Tales #1   Choose printed hardback, paperback, digital audiobook, or add all to read and listen together.

Amor Milagre Bookshop The ABC's of Hoppy Bunny & Nursery Friends 1
Amor Milagre Bookshop The ABC’s of Hoppy Bunny & Nursery Friends:  Paperback, Hardback, Audiobook

 

Shop the Hoppy Bunny Collection for Nursery Art Prints & Greeting Cards of these cuddly children’s book illustrations!

Hoppy Bunny Tales #2 is coming up next!  Love, ~ Amor Milagre

Amor Milagre Bookshop The ABC's of Hoppy Bunny & Nursery Friends 1
Amor Milagre Bookshop The ABC’s of Hoppy Bunny & Nursery Friends, Lovely Design for the Home & Nursery