Hey everyone; I am going to take a little blog break for a bit,for the rest of the week and weekend anyway. I have mucho stuff to catch up on and find myself reading blogs, trying to think of the next post, daydreaming over things, so yeah, it's time for a break. I have loads of artwork to do, some bookkeeping work for clients, and umm, housework. It's time to unplug. :) See you soon!
Enjoying posting more for Shades of Inspiration. This is my marketbag I got at the Farm Chicks from the Country Living gals. I love, don't you? Speaking of "country living", which I live in country living. My cats are really starting to irritate me, not only because of the shedding of cat hair, but they are hunters. Hunters that are attacking poor little helpless creatures like bunnies and itsy bitsy mice. When I walk out in the yard in the mornings, there is always a half a carcass strung about. I know it's the law of nature, the survival of the fittest. I love my kittens, but they need to chill. Let the bunnies live! I thought the hare was supposed to be fast; my wild bunnies seem to be of the slower species. And speaking of "marketplace", I am going to be having another French Poppy Market, within the next couple weeks or so. I am making French Poppy market bags, some more pillows, a little jewelry possibly, and some handmade journals that will be full of artwork, vintage papers, etc. I hope you stay in contact for a peek. Okay, so I am off to play Tuesday tennis!
Pink & Green is the theme for this week's Shades of Inspiration. This one may be easy for me since I possibly have a lot of those color combos around me. The photo above is an older one, I actually used it for one of my banners on my old blog. It's when I was trying to learn how to manipulate photos and add textures, etc. Anyway, if you haven't joined Sara's flickr group, go check it out, it's full of inspirations.
Now on to those 6 things, that sweet Brenda choose me for to play along. The rules are to list 6 random things about yourself, and then choose 6 other bloggers to on their blogs, etc....
Un: I have a crooked weird smile. (proof, look at photo above, and on the sidebar)
Duex: My favorite snack ever is Oreo cookies dipped in hot coffee.
Trois: I have dubbed myself a dog whisperer. :) It's true, wherever I am, no matter the type of dog, they come to me and I can pet them just like that. I feel like Jim Carey in the movie Pet Detective, when all the animals flock to him, yep that's me.
Quatre: This is really hard; umm, lets see, I have a weird fascination with tools, and sometimes heavy machinery. I want to work with it, I would rather have tools for a present then flowers. Like right now, the neighbors have a backhoe in their back forty, just sitting there, and I want to go hop in it, and start playing in the dirt on our property. I know weird.
Cinq: I am very superstitious. Wish I wasn't, but it was breed in me by my mother. Drives me nuts, but I can't break it. :)
Six: Are we done yet? #6, I am very impatient!!
Consider yourself tagged, if you read this; the ball is now in your court. See, look I can count to 6 in French! My daughter and I are studying with Rosetta Stone; it is great fun!
Speaking of the daughter: SHE IS HAVING A GIVEAWAY AT HER BLOG!
Popping in to say a quick hello and share my new print "the patisserie". There will be 3 more to go with this series. Imagine a baker/chef riding a rooster. I have a lotta works in the frying pan and I am working on getting everything organized so it can go smoothly. And I made some yummy cake doughnuts for treats this morning. I wish I had my own Patisserie! I tried really hard to duplicate the doughnuts my daddy used to make, but my sister said his were sweeter; so I may have to try and tweek the recipe a bit. If you have a old fashioned cake doughnut recipe to share, please do! :) My hubby took me and my sisters to look at a house that is for sale today, and it was so clean that I am going to get busy cleaning and burn my new Gold Canyon candle, which is this scent. Love their candles!
And how do you feel about a vintage french carnivale; I have some new visions ~
I wish my bags were packed and we were ready to go the sea to listen to the surf. Not yet, not now anyway, but soon hopefully. We are approaching our 25th wedding anniversary; and have been trying to figure out exactly what to do for it. My heart-strings are pulling me towards the ocean and I am pretty sure my husband is feeling the same way. I have to admit 25 years seems to have flown by, but then there are times when it feels like it's been a long slow process. One of my very favorite books of all times is Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Her writing explains it all about relationships, learning to live through ebb-tides and how to take the trough of a wave. And trust me after 25 years, there are a lot of waves.
"Security in a relationship lies neither in looking back to what it was in nostalgia, nor forward to what it might be in dread or anticipation, but living in the present relationship and accepting it as it is now" ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
This is where we are. Accepting it as it is now. In this book you will find yourself in it trust me.
Art:
My daughter'snew piece. Which I have fallen in love with. It's titled "Shapeshifter". Ravens are symbols of shape shifters and blending humans and animal, and they are often the main character in traditional Native American tales. I love her surreal painting style.
This is one of those beautiful things that have come out of those 25 years.
And please go visit The Vintage Barn!
When I went to visit my friend Lori the other day; she had layed out these beautiful pieces of art. The art was her Grandma's beautiful doilies she had crocheted. She had them mounted, matted and framed. I wish I would have had my camera to take a picture of them. The intricate work her grandma did is now preserved and made into beautiful art pieces. Her grandma was lovely. We used to walk to her house for lunch sometimes during school. She lived in a cute cottage style white house with a sweet little front porch. And always had something on the stove cooking, and a crochet project going in her living room. That feeling is priceless. Grandmas have a special feel about them. My sisters mother-in-law always has cookies baking, her snickerdoodles are magical. They always have an apron on too. Kim was talking yesterday on her blog about her laundry room being on the back porch. That is one thing I remember of my grandma was the washing being on the back porch and a clothesline close by. My grandma wasn't much of a dress-wearing apron type grandma, but my dad's mom was. I don't remember her; as she passed away when I was very young, but my sisters have wonderful stories of her. She was that precious grandma that wore white gloves and probably always a hat.
I know I will be that kind of grandma, I love the atmosphere; the embroidery, baking, crocheting and aprons. There is nothing better. I can't wait to have a quaint little cottage with a white kitchen filled with precious china pieces, lace and aprons. You can be sure there will be cookies baking everyday. What are your grandma memories? Can you smell the cookies? I think I may have to do a little baking today. :)
This was a really sweet surprise from Kevan. What a really nice jesture, I love it. And I love the thank you card that came along with it. It's so pretty!! I have always wanted to make an altered journal, and will someday, I was thinking of doing one out of cloth, and a paper mix. I really love this one that Kevan sent me. And I also can't wait until her website is finished, it's going to be beautiful. Good luck Kevan!!!
I wish I had more time to talk today, but I have a few deadlines to make, and pillows to finish. My problem is I visited Alicia's blog this morning and she had a link to this, and all I want to do is read recipes. That is what I am going to do with this new journal, write down recipes in it!! Have a super day, time to get busy!
Look at this sweet beauty. It's a very vintage out of a one room school 4' x 3' chalkboard. It has the original paint that is now chipping and cracking all natural on its own. We strive to reproduce that look, this has it naturally. It's wonderful. My daughter is taking this back to her college apartment and hanging it in her art studio. Can you believe it was only 10 bucks? So, how much do you think this would sell for at say like the Farm Chick show, or other antique venues like that? I love lucky finds. :)
Also check this out:
My daughters new illustrations.
A wonderful necklace making artist.
My new embroidery patterns I ordered. I love the Black Apple's art!
Anthropologies new July catalog! There isn't anything that I don't want from there.
The Vintage Barn's website coming soon.
Have a beautiful blessed Sunday!
yummy...
so patriotic...
oops....my sister is crying for help..
and for the grand finale....
the last winner of the print a day give away is....
Thank you to everyone who was so kind enough to play with me this last week. I love you all!!! Thank you for all of your kindness and good wishes. You are truly wonderful.
Disclosure: :) the winners were picked by this free number generator.
**photos: My sister Rhonda (check out her blog), made this yummy chocolatey, gooey dessert. (2) my son Matt, and (3) my sister Janet whom is likely to kill me after posting this photo, so if you don't hear from me you will know what happened!! :) ha
Wishing you a very Happy 4th of July!! Stay safe and have a wonderful relaxing day.
Today is the last day for the print a day giveaway!! So please leave a hello in the comment box for the last chance to win a print from my art etsy shop. :)
And....yesterdays winner is.....BRENDA
