Knitting lessons

And the winter passed gleefully while Sara spent most of her spare time knitting.

Mama was not coming back until late spring anyway and Sara could really make good use of her learning time.

Aunt Celcilia's cat purred by her feet while she unravelled the ball of yarn. She was annoyed that there wasn't much to do outdoors and most children her age would rather stay home, finish up their school works, and go to be early.

One night, she had a dream that Papa Noel had slipped down the chimney and burnt his left foot.

Luckily, it was just a dream and Papa is fine, said her maid.

Mama had a rich lover this time and hired a French maid to work along Sara and guide her through the school work while she was abroad.

Hanging Holiday Cards

Sara decided to collect all the holiday cards that the mail had brought them and in the end, hung them out on a ribbon across her attic window. She always collected clothespins and this certainly was a time to use them.

Aunt Cecilia spent one afternoon, writing holiday cheers cards, and finally handed them to Joseph, her assistant at her publishing house, to mail them out. relatives and friends from all counties and districts were accustomed to mail her family, joy cards for Christmas, for years.

She was generally the more conservative girl while her sister, Mia who was Sara's mama, was the lover type. Mia got fooled much more easily by good looking men and was swept away by them. Including this very holiday season.

Christmas in Switzerland continued...

I'd decided to take up knitting after all. Said Sara with a look of amusement.

I can teach you if you only eat a little more and not play with food so much.

That winter passed and she found a little time knitting until at least one scarf and one hat got made. She waited until the end of her holiday and finally gave away the red and white striped hat and scarf to a stiff little snow man outside her school.

Christmas in Switzerland

Sara's mama went away to some ski chalet in Switzerland. Tea time was often boring for Sara and she finally gave in to her temptation to be naughty and difficult in her dealings with aunt Cecilia in defiance to mama's absence.

One tiny snow flake sat on her nose and soon a large number of snow flakes followed. It was winter and the trees had been ripped off of their leaves for quite some time.

Sara sighed with joy and sighed again.

She decided to take her afternoons outside and play in the snow with any child in the neighborhood or any animal. Often, she was delighted to stay home and watch her birds eat. For Christmas that year, she got many bird houses. Aunt Cecilia gave her a bag of seeds and from that day, birds started flying into her balcony attached to her tiny attic room.

Won't you finish your muffin? Sara?

Aunt Cecilia was adamant the child was eating nothing and was too thin.

شب یلدا

طولانی ترین شب سال که به شبی پر از شادی، پایکوبی و دیدار با عزیزان مبدل شده و تاریخی کهن دارد نشانی از تمدن ایران زمین برای سایر مردمان این جهان است. این شب با فال و شعر، میوه و شیرینی، آجیل و هندوانه، همه با هم به زیبایی و طراوت فرهنگ ایرانیان افزوده وشروع زمستان را اعلام میکند.

Illustrations

Using only colored pens, to draw dramatic lines, and sporadic splashes of water colors on certain areas just to add interest make the most fabulous illustrations for cards, books, and graphic posters!

Solidarity with Iranian Protestors

No body has the right to subject any individual (student, teacher, writer, artist, musician, worker, merchant, woman's rights activist, lawyer, journalist, blogger, human rights activist, or child rights activist who stands up for freedom) to arrest, detention, torture, and death. Iranians have civil and legal rights and their government has subjected them to raw dictatorship and violence.

As an artist, I declare solidarity with the freedom fighters especially the people of intelligence, art, imagination, and creativity who use pen, paint, keyboard, and melody to fight with lies, guns, batons, and physical torture.

No fear is greater than the fear of insecurity in one's own home. Green lives on through branches of green plants, sprouts of wheat, and new trees... Green will be victorious!

Christmas dinner with Aunt Cecilia

Sara was not left alone for Christmas until that year that mama got the flu. She had to rest in bed some place away from Sara, at Grandpa's villa in Switzerland for a few weeks or months...

Sara was to be cared for quite nicely by aunt Cecilia. Aunt Cecilia was mama's sister and close to her in age. Christmas was already seen in window shops, store shelves, and department store parlors quite extravagantly as usual. Sara was in no hurry to get anything in particular for Christmas and she wasn't particularly happy either. Mama was very good at keeping her promises and always tried to get Sara something imaginative, wrapped with lots of care and patience which in her case meant lots of colorful papers, bows, and bells. Mama started coughing a lot and went to bed early every evening until she felt ill and couldn't even get out of bed. Years ago, Sara's papa left and mama took a lover for a short while. Sara was on her mind a lot and it eventually interfered with mama's social life.

Her lover was a young pilot from Switzerland and perhaps was glad now that mama was going back there. Sara thought mama was only going to rest away from cold and rain. Always cheerful, mama was brought up on a small coastal village near Normandy and never offered much about her childhood. Grandpa was papa's father and offered to mama the key to his old villa. Something mama gladly accepted.

Aunt Cecilia was polite and intelligent which meant Sara could get all the help she needed at school. Sara herself learned how to cook and mama had shown her how to bake.

The thought of mama going away appeared sad to her friends and classmates at school. Earlier that day, between French and Math lessons, Patricia asked how Sara was handling her mama's going away plans. Sara nodded with boredom and asked Patricia if she liked to come to tea.

That afternoon and many other afternoons past until mama finally packed all her beautiful and feathery light clothes, hats, and sandals. Sara sat at the edge of mama's bed watching her pack.

Mama smiled at her and called her petite bebe like she always did when Sara was a baby.

Will I ever see you again? asked Sara.

Why? What makes us ask?

You are going to stay at grandpa's villa with Jacque and that is all right with me. Rest, mama! I won't tell.

Before mama could answer or even gather her thoughts to find the right answer, Sara stormed out of the bedroom down the stairs of their flat and hopped into the car with her driver and her two play mates in it.

Mama kissed her good bye and left.

Aunt Cecilia was patient and kind. She reminded Sara to brush her teeth and dress nicely. Every thing else was done by maids.

That year, Christmas was fun filled and care free. Songs were heard. Much shopping was done. Gifts were wrapped and tucked away in secret spots.

On her birthday

This week was creative and fun! Carefully selected flower fairy dolls of various petite sizes were ordered for little Sara. She was turning 9 that year and loved the idea of having a party in her mother's living room. She helped her to arrange floral bouquets. In a house that resembled a little doll house in all its entity, Sara lived alone with her mom. Life was good. Sara had very long brown curly hair dangling below her waist. It made her quite pretty; though she never considered herself attractive in any way. She always thought she looked rather pretty and presentable in high fashion which made her mom come up with creative ideas to spend a reasonable amount of money. Her dad was away and separated from her mother. Sara never quite understood why it mattered anyway. She had no memories of him and he made arrangements not to come back. That particular morning, her mama woke her up. Sara was rather enchanted that mama would present her with a present and a birthday wish as early as possible like all other years. She was rather eager to receive her dolls in enchanting and colorful paper boxes, delicately wrapped and tied up in ribbons...

That particular day was cold in the morning. Sara went to school as usual. After school, it rained. She got wet on the way home and saw no presents or sights of birthday recognition.

Her hair was dripping with rain drops and her feet were cold. Suddenly, she saw Grandma's old dog, Victoria. Victoria jumped up and down and wagged her tail excitedly when Sara dropped to her knees and hugged her Grandma's dog.

Is Grandma here? She asked.

Suddenly walking into the living room, she felt like she was in dream. She walked into an incredible scene. Grandma was sitting in the middle of the room, along with aunts, uncle Bernard, and all of her friends and classmates from the neighborhood and school...

Her friends were dressed in butterfly, and flower fairy dresses, gowns, wings, and beautiful hair wigs done up in pretty decorative fashion. Some more guests arrived little by little.

Sara ran up the stairs to fetch a clean towel and dry her hair while she quickly put on a party gown. Mama was hidden deeply in the kitchen making marvelous biscuits, and buns.

Aunt Sweeney followed her up the stairs and joined her in her small room. Her wall paper was charming and added a light touch.

Aunt Sweeney lived afar and it was a real treat to see her. Sara expressed her gratitude and told her that she had already had the best birthday ever.

Oh, why! Thank you dear. You are a sweet girl. Come, come... We must help you to get ready for your party! Aunt Sweeney said.

Dear aunt helped Sara put on a satin blue gown with cream lace trimmings and tied up her waist with a blue satin belt and large ribbon.

It was impossible to brush Sara's hair. Mama would testify to that.

Aunt Sweeney dressed Sara's hair in tiny bows and rushed her down the stairs.

In the room, there was laughter, talks, and compliments. Very many best wishes were made in piles of boxes, lavishly wrapped in beautiful paper and ribbons. Many cards were piled on the powder room table.

Sara was thrilled to be dining with everyone and after dinner, candles were stuffed into delicious fruit filled buns, sprinkled with sugared candies.

After singing, Sara went deeply into a thought that if every year could be as magical as this, it would surely be wonderful, but as life has given her many great lessons, good times pass and memories ought to be built for later days, weeks, months, and years to come.

THE END

Harvest Parade

The whimsical part of Autumn is definitely when the little bugs, bats, spiders, ghosts, and goblins march through the dark trees.

Black Fairy V

The play is divided into four major scenes:

Autumnal garden tea, Halloween night, Christmas dinner after a cold walk to grandma's house, spring coronation, and summer visit by mother earth.

It teaches the value of nature, beauty, and wisely living through the good and bad in life.

Black Fairy IV

Casting characters are in order of importance; rose fairy queen, black tulip, black dahlia, seven white doves, witch, birds, bees, butterflies, and the curious lady bug whose name is Tiny Tim.

He stays up late and watches in amazement how the poison ivy spreads her poison green sparkly bits all over the ground and worries a little. Only to his amazement he gets to see tiny green fairy with her tiny little wand who busily cancels the spell.

Next, he falls asleep and wonders why everyone is fussing so early in the morning.

He steps outside and sees the cute little kiddies in green popping out of ground like sprouts.

The Black Fairy III

During the feast of annual coronation, the royal birds, butterflies, and bees gather to silently watch the march of the queen and the black fairies.

After the queen is crowned by seven heavenly white doves, she announces that in the year before, each creature must adopt a plant or small animal to care for.

Mother earth smiles at her and winks in admiration. All creatures carry on happy tunes and dance cheerfully.

The poison ivy plant hides behind the bushes and watches them with anger or resentment perhaps. She knows children are warned against her. She sits there and plots to scatter her green and sparkly poison bits from her stems and leaves onto the earth. She does so, as fast as she can manage.

The party ends and everyone goes to a long and dark sleep under the moon. A tiny fairy comes fluttering about and shaking her magic wand on all the green and sparkly poison bits on the ground until the green blossoms into tiny sprouts. The next morning the tiny sprouts had turned into wonderful delicate green and sparkly flowers. Small children pop out of each green sprout and wave in the wind. It's a new beginning.

The Black Fairy II

The witch as I said before keeps popping her head out her candy house for kids to approach. Nobody falls for her tricks so she keeps doing the head out of the candy house popping for background attraction.

During the play, the black dahlia and the black tulip accompany the queen of black roses everywhere. When the small or large forest animals come to offer the annual gift to the queen, she often accepts and gives away floral halo, wings, and wands as gifts of her enchantment.

Music is often played during the scenes and there's hardly any dialogue. Only silent movements and simple dance movements.

The sound of nature and birds can be heard in the distance.

Every character can wear leopards and ballet or flat shoes. Glitter is used on dress, make up, and fruit baskets. Spray paint can help turn ordinary things into enchanting silver or gold ornaments, furniture, or fixtures.

The Black Fairy

The black fairies are a few because each takes care of a different black flower. Black Dahlia wears her hair in a knot. Black tulip smiles as she enters the hall and kneels before the queen as she offers her most treasured gift, her golden chicken.

The queen is the black rose in nature and thorny around nails, with a long narrow nose, and deeply dark and full hair.

They drink the earliest morning dew before everyone wakes and as soon as the first rays of sun warm the mother earth, the black fairies are gone into the deep dark cradle of the forest.

The witch answers the door to the magical house made up of candy. Everyone is afraid of her until they realize the bloody hand that answers the door and gives a loud roar of laughter is actually a fake trick.

To be continued...

Late summer landscape

My two autumnal landscapes

Freedom

My name means "the one who holds freedom". It appears in many Persian texts, songs, social and political poetry, and within Farsi books on all library shelves.

I believe all humans are born free and have the right to live free.

I stand strongly on freedom of dress, expression, speech, style, and endeavors. All people of this world who enjoy music, art, cultures, and sports, education, and expression must in many symbolic and humanistic fashions, stand united with the people of Iran.

A Play

I decided to write the story of the residents of toy land and fairy land as a play for children.

The birth of a new novel

I've just started the layout of a new fictional novel on fantastical flower fairies and residents of an imaginary world made up of rainbows, flower gardens, doll houses, and toys. My own dolls, stuffed animals, story books, illustrations, sketches, and music boxes are going to be my inspiration on the cast of characters. I'd like to publish this book as an addition to my art collection for the future children's exhibits.

Birthday Party Theme idea (III)

Afternoon Tea is a great theme for birthdays, mother's day, graduations, bridal showers, and baby showers.

It's delightful for any age and any occasion as long as you're one of those people who adores to drink freshly brewed tea served elegantly in tea pots, with proper cups, saucers, napkins, sugar cubes, and the creamer.

Cover table with lace or vintage cloth. Use small and delicate seasonal flowers as centerpiece. Place doily lined platters of scones, wafers, biscuits, cookies, mini cut out sandwiches made up of butter, feta, cucumber, and mint, bowls of pickles and soft butter served in a special plate. Print out place cards for guests and set each seat properly with napkins, pickle folks, butter knives, small spoons, cups, saucers, main and dessert plates.

Decorate cake with marzipan fruits, and tie flowers with ribbons around the base of the cake pedestal and around the cake cutter.

Make tea according to taste and serve warm. Gently pour tea for each guest as they start to eat.

Give a tea bag and a wrapped madeline cookie wrapped in folded doily as take home treat. Cut out invitation and tank you cards to resemble the outline of real tea cups.

Birthday Party Theme idea (II)

This one is very girly girl; Garden Fairy...

This party is about simply memorable and charming yet very easy touches. Find a spot in your yard or side walk that has big bushy trees or tall flowers. Set up tiny child-size and adult-size chairs and tables that are decorative or fancy (if not, cover any folding chair with French tulle and tie ribbons and sprinkle glitter on all chairs and tables).

Twist fake flowers around the legs of tables and chairs. The pictures that you take during this party will turn out unique. Hang cloth banners or ribbons on tree branches. Ask guests to dress up in fancy clothes, dresses, fairy wings, fairy wands, floral haloes, floral wrist bands, floral anklets, or crystal shoes. Paint nails in pale pink or lavender shades and brush on glitter. You can also use glittery make up and fairy tattoos.

I make whimsical fairy accessories, using very simple tools and supplies. I sell my collections to all fairy lovers (email me for more info: rahalanefineart@yahoo.com).

On tables, make floral centerpieces with fake or real flowers; foxgloves, roses, daisies, grape vines, and plenty of silver or white glitter.

To add fairy twinkle, a few pretty lantern lights to hang on tree branches can be purchased (if outlet is available), if not, use small candles in glass jars hanging on fake branches in sturdy jugs (away from all natural plants and away from kids' reach).

Make small sugar and ginger cookies in large batches and decorate them with royal icing and decorative stars or sugar beads. Cup cakes can be made ahead and decorated at the party so that every garden fairy is granted the chance to add her own magic touch to the cup cakes; whipped cream, berries, and colorful sugar served in flower or leaf shaped plates are best for the project.

Fairy drinks can be any colorful juice-blend made with real fruit juices and served in small goblets.

I'd serve tiny and decorative sandwiches with natural and colorful fillings; butter, cream cheese, or mascarpone can be used as spread. Next, I'd use fresh mint, walnut pieces, cucumber slices as one combination; basil, tomato, and fresh mozzarella in grilled sandwiches; and peanut or soy butter, my own homemade strawberry, blackberry, or apple fairy jam, or honey as another combination. Sandwiches can be cut into rounds, squares, triangles, and rectangles and served on crystal trays with a few edible flowers on top of them.

Celtic music, relaxing tunes, sounds of birds, and an occasional fluttering butterfly can add to the fairy effect. Give craft store butterflies, birds, nests, colored eggs, tiny flower baskets, or a truffle to take home as thank you gifts.

For invitation cards and thank you notes, you can print or write very elegant and thin letters and tie the letter or card with a delicate ribbon. Stick a tiny lady bug or butterfly onto the envelopes.

Whatever the theme may be, it's important to make the party special by very simple detailed touches.

Birthday Party Theme idea (I)

This can be for boys and girls alike; Pirates Ahoy!

Treasure boxes filled with marbles, chocolate coins, fake coins, necklaces, and temporary pirate tattoos hidden under a bunch of sand on real beach or a child's sand box can be the focus of the party. As an alternative, you can buy a bag of sand and create a sandy area in the corner of your front or backyard. Later, the sand can be used to fill the bottom of planter pots.

The birthday participants can dig out treasure boxes using little kids' sand shovels; following a map and finding the treasure boxes under a cross. Draw out the cross on sand with colored chalks that have been smashed up into powder inside a plastic bag.

Encourage guests to dress up as pirates. Pass around pirate flags and sing or play music.

I usually make one vanilla cake shaped and dressed like a sand castle and one chocolate loaf cake, decorated like a chest of treasures.

Guests get to take their treasure boxes and maps home as treats.

Serve pirates booties, chips, chicken drumsticks, turkey drumsticks, and plenty of beer! Apples, oranges, and tangerines all hanging in nets can be served as snacks. Large loaves of bread, roasted turkey, and plenty of condiments can also be served on the beach or in the back yard.

Invitations and thank you cards can be personally written or printed pirate greetings; the phrases can be looked up online.

Either for a young or older boys and girls, pirate parties are such delight. Especially if you host them on a beach. The photo opportunities are marvelous.

The romance novels on walls

In the style of urban and city wall art, images from romance novels or even fairy tales can turn corners or otherwise ugly walls into something beautiful, mood enhancing, enchanting, or thought provoking.

I'm generally against public property paintings without permission; which is why I always ask the owners to allow me to use their exterior walls as canvas.

Theatre props and puppets are great additions and inspiration for decorating interiors that need cheering up.

The beginning of Autumn

It usually happens mid October to late November where a different season is in . The autumn wind lifts up gold and copper leaves, swirls them about, and lands them all at our doorsteps. Autumn means many changes for many reasons; I tend to pace my life more thoughtfully in a sense that less time is wasted on idle play and more on reading, learning, exercising, and enjoying the last rays of sun.

There is a vibrant collection of warm colors in sight that blends well into the cool dry grey of the hills. I particularly adore the pumpkins and giant sunflowers. Harvesting fruits right off trees is by far one of my most favorite memories.

Green Revolution

I spent my entire summer thinking green and found myself drawn to the color green, especially during our stay at a lake side cabin in New York. Coincidentally, green turned out to become the color of a vibrant and energetic carnival style election campaign in Iran. I was wrapping up the school year; suddenly the massive post election protests broke out and amidst gatherings, vacationing, and the warm sunny pool days, I found myself protesting for a good cause.

We all wore green to show solidarity with the people of Iran. However, the best part was my green feast. I made a giant spinach and artichoke dip, green herbs frittatas, and green fizzy drinks. My green revolution took place in the kitchen after dinner one night when I served stacked up scoops of vanilla ice cream, dark and milk chocolate chunks, mint ice cream, whipped cream, pistachios, and served them in cones with cherries and wafer rolls.

Seriously, the news that came from Iran was the worst this summer. Now, the summer days are ending and I'd still say, splash green paint around and go green, punks!

A fairy tale night

For a long time, Persians have been celebrating long summer afternoons with a spread of chilled iced watermelon drinks in glass goblets, fire grilled kebob skewers wrapped in long thin sheets of oven baked breads, fresh herbs and vegetables on a medley of platters, and seasonal fruits posing beautifully on pedestals. There's nothing more mouth watering than the smell of charcoal toasted meat skewers, the fresh scent of mint, parsley, and basil leaves arranged around rosettes of radishes, the tart aroma of Shiraz Salad with strong vinegar dressing, and the bouquets of grapes, berries, and melon slices overflowing the dishes. Noosh e jan نوش جان is what is said at the beginning of each meal. It simply means "enjoy". On warm summer nights, when stars begin to appear one by one, after a nibble off the soft flesh of figs and a dive at the delicate dessert plates topped with dates and walnuts, remember the songs of birds fluttering about the garden, the late ocean breeze gently passing through, whispering old fairy tales onto the trees' ears. If you listen carefully, they'd tell you stories of love, romance, and infinite wisdom.

اجیل مشکل گشا

انجیر-نخودچی-نقل-توت-پسته-فندق-بادام-کشمش-گردو-تخمه-آبنبات

Tuscan Village

Gardening for art

Collect plants, seeds, and flowers that you like to draw and paint, and plant them in the garden, patio, balcony, or indoors if you live in an apartment. Choose pots and planters with artsy sense; sculpted containers, and potted bowls, even unusual items such as sea shells and rocks with holes in them are ideal for planting tiny herbs and flowers.

I stick to a few seasonal varieties like giant sunflowers, and pumpkins in April and continue filling pages of a small sketch book through May, June, and July when they finally bloom. Sunflowers and pumpkins have the most interesting anatomies which offer an abundance of still life art subjects.

If you fill up pages of a small thick blank note book, try to move leaves and stem around gradually and slowly turn the face of the flower around .... keep sketching in close sequence to create an animated hand drawn cartoon. It'll be "a sunflower in summer breeze".

If you happen to have a dry piece of land in your property where weeds grow and create an ugly sight, try to invest a little in irrigating, and plant new trees and bushes... Fruit trees are delightful, healthy, and fabulous for shade.

For inspirations and ideas: Google

Butterfly garden, Fairy garden, Mediterranean kitchen garden, Lavender farms in Provence, and artichoke fields in California.

Peace

Painting in the garden

I paint with oils over dry pencil drawings on canvas.  Flower and Herb Gardens are particularly interesting subjects for realistic or abstract art.  Though most of my art is done outdoors, I often take photos and compose imagery in my studio, "La Marguerite Blanche" or "the white daisy".  My work place is filled with recycled bottles and cans holding paint brushes and boxes of oil paints.  It's named after the field of daisies near my studio window.  The studio overlooks a garden with blossoming cherry trees, lilacs, and jasmine in early spring, lavender, morning glories, and wild flowers through summer, giant sunflowers in late summer, pomegranates, plums, pears, apples, and grapes at Harvest time, Jack-O-lantern pumpkins in fall, and red roses in winter.  I collect leaves, petals, and seeds for art and decor ideas frequently; these specimen along with jars of flower arrangements sit on my studio desks all year.  From time to time, a butterfly flutters by.

The melodies and tunes sung by birds, complements my atmosphere, adding to the fairy garden effect.  Choosing this sort of art creates the enchanting mood of the garden through different seasons inside the house or office.

Lavender

The right time came to harvest lavender.  Under the warmest early summer sun, we spent a few hours clipping lavender stems.  Some of the flowers had dried naturally.  We had to collect the violet and purple flowers in our baskets before spreading them on white cloths.  Next, lavender was packed in glass jars for culinary use.  

The little note to being happy

It was inspiring to hear many young people speak to "Voice of America".  On the issue of hopelessness and how it causes young people to feel depressed often, especially in areas of the globe where inflation and poverty are topics of everyday life, I have to say, it's a trap of the mind.

Confidence, self assurance, and the sense of overall creative expression can help with these feelings tremendously.  I would rely on the experts' advice and the importance of therapy, exercise, and yoga, only to add the exercise of art, music, literature, entertainment, and dance.  These acts cheer up the spirit, lift up the body and mind, and gather one's whole being around the warmth of life.  

To keep the mind away from upsetting thoughts, I would offer whimsical services such as reading to kids, doing art with them, face painting, finger art, and simply listening to soothing music while doing activities.  In the spring and summer, you can have chalk on pavement, clay, and mural painting outdoors, while in fall and winter, you get to make crafts and collect treasured gifts with beads, yarn, and paper.  Having room for creative arts, can surely improve one's life.

Kids Do Art

I take great joy in encouraging and inspiring kids of all ages and adults to spend a bit of their every day life, creating works by pencil, paint, and clay.  I always encourage children and adults to participate in art workshops.  The time spent together, imagining, experimenting the medium, and ultimately the creative process should be the main goal and focus .  If children choose to exhibit their art, parents and caregivers can take the opportunity for a show of pride and if not, once again, artwork is only the product and not quite as important as the process.

My own childhood was filled with memories of observing nature, everywhere I went in the world, and ultimately brining my thoughts and feelings onto canvas.  There was never the right way or the wrong way, rather the creative way.  I found my own individual style of thinking and living through my art.  Looking back at my experiences, I declare that the most charming and delightful part of my life is and has been the collection of my artistic endeavors.  

Musical Art

Paintings that depict music have many fans amongst music lovers and musicians!