To Have Succeeded!!

To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.


Ralph Waldo Emerson
This is on my blog a year ago and thought I would repeat it, I just love it!!!

Gathered some recipes and back to the tags:

Paint both sides of layaway tag with black and let dry thoroughly. When it is dry ,coat with elmers glue a medium coat on one side(not clear to the edges) and paint over while wet with orange(don't paint clear to the edges ) leave some black showing.Allow to dry. Wait for the crackles. Punch three holes at bottom even, one in the corners and one in the middle, also punch your top tag hole while you are waiting for the paint to dry.Add tags that have been stamped with BOO. If you don't have these cut some circles out of orange,glue 2 together so it will be sturdy and stamp on that, tie with black embroidery floss. Have to go, be back in a few.

I added some cheesecloth( a piece) a double image of a cat that has pop dots to make it dimensional and also the jack o lantern , Added text that says Halloween. black string for the top . the tag is doubled for stability and I covered it with a decoupage solution of 1/2 elmers and 1/2 water, mixed. 2 light coats. I will do another tomorrow.
This is one of the tags, altered from the etsy collage sheet. Top picture. Added torn orange paper, torn text with ink on edges, picture of lady and witch's hat, pop dot cat with broom and orange ribbon.

here is another- using the layaway tag, layer with black floss and strips of orange and black paper, add some cheesecloth, and a halloween sign, some text and one or two vintage images, tie at top with black floss. The strips, cheescloth and floss add interest to the background.
Here is another cut out frame and put picture behind it with pop dots, gives it dimension and a 3 D like effect. Added images and beads to the painted black background that has been sanded. Orange ribbon.

Coming -Halloween tag tutorial!!

Here is some layaway tags that are free for you to use if you choose. The other side is white so you can follow along when I get started . I bought some tags on etsy from a site called Zandergraphics, the name of the tags are Haunted Halloween tags. Going to take a picture of a couple so you can see if you want to purchase them,These are not free. they will come as a download so almost immediate. The haunted tags are 10 on a sheet(all different), great base for tags, you can print them off as many times as you want and I made them bigger 135% that is a really nice size. The blog for the halloween free images is Magic Moonlight Studio and it would be nice if you left her a comment or became a follower. that is all for today.Gather your supplies, fibers, glue , images, inks, what ever you have that is spooky. tommorrow is another day.

Busy week for me!!--Autumn poems!!!

Spent much of the week working on the Christmas accordion book, had a couple of dr. appointments also this week and managed to make tomato jam from all my cherry tomatoes , about 6 pounds, it turned out very good with pieces of lemon rind cooked into it's sweetness. Made lemon bars and pork chops and rice. This is the time of year for cooking for sure. Going to make tortilla soup today. It is so good , if you haven't made it you just must, the recipe is on the internet under "amazing chicken tortilla soup" Soooo good.
Time to go and buy the stalks and pumpkins for the decorations for fall in front of the house. I have some wooden girls"halloween girls" that have to be put out, will post pictures on the weekend next. love this time of year, the leaves falling and the smell of the air, so clean and fresh. Apple picking time, made a small batch of applesauce yesterday, macintosh and granny smith, really good and sweet , love to leave the skins in too with a little cinnamon, Yummy!!
I am doing the exercise bike twice a day, This week is 2 miles twice a day, takes 16 minutes for each 2 mile ride. Next week I will do 2 1/2 twice. I am reading while I'm riding and it goes so fast it is really unbelievable.
Watching reruns of West Wing, Oh my Gosh what a great series it was. i watch 2 episoes with my morning coffee. Love project runway, survivor, a lot of the cooking shows like chopped.
Been reading books on pioneer life by Robert Morgan, Have been to the library this week, first time in many years , new library opened about 6 months ago, Very modern and so clean and new, but lacks the beauty of the old beautiful building in downtown Beloit, that historic building was donated to the Beloit Collage and they are using it as a library, I think. Glad it is not being torn down.
Well that's all I have to tell you but now that I have written it down, I'm really happy with my accomplishments this week. Hope you have a great and productive week and make some art along with your other fun challenges. Hugs Betty

A FEW AUTUMN POEMS:

"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air."
- Eric Sloane

The hazy, cloudless skies of Indian Summer. Leaves scurrying down the street
before the wind. The cold shiver from an arctic blast. Indian Summer. The last
warmth of the sun. Chilly mornings and glorious warm afternoons. The Harvest
Moon. The Hunter's Moon. The Rainy Season. Dry corn stalks clattering in the
wind. The touch of frost on grass and window pane. The smell of burning leaves."
- Keith C. Heidorn

I love fall! Fall is exciting.
It's apples and cider.
It's an airborne spider.
It's pumpkins in bins.
It's burrs on dog's chins.
It's wind blowing leaves.
It's chilly red knees.
It's nuts on the ground.
It's a crisp dry sound.
It's green leaves turning
And the smell of them burning.
It's clouds in the sky.
It's fall. That's why...
I love fall."
- Author Unknown

Halloween!!!

A cigar box that I turned into a Halloween scene, crackled with tombstones, haunted house, witch, crows and everything that is spooky.

Christmas accordion book!!!

The buildings on one side spell "Believe" and on the other "Rejoice", there are seven buildings(14 sides) 6 houses and a church. There are lots of elements and lots of sparkle.

"Favorite color" Journal page.

I call this "September, almost gone" Background is done with stabilo crayons, water soluble.

My accordian book!!!

This is my accordian book, made with instruction from R.A.I.L. group at Roses on my table. This was a lot of fun and very labor intensive. i loved it and will make another soon. Hope you like it.

tissue paper transfer on wood

Here is one >

Here is another >

Let's talk fall food!!

I made green bean soup, sooo good and so fresh and had corn fritters With it. A lot of people don't know what green bean soup is so here it is-10 cups of water-10 chicken boullion cubes-1 1/2 # green beans- 1 onion- 4 peeled potatoes- 4 slices of bacon chopped very small- 1 tsp. Pepper-1 tsp cumin- 1 tsp basil- 1 tsp garlic chopped- simmer a an hour , watch the liquid level and mash with a potato masher. Really good.
Made apple crisp and it was also very good with vanilla ice cream and a cup of coffee. WOW!!! What a treat!! Made a beef brisket , sliced very thin with a homemade BBQue sauce on it. Meatloaf next. Jerry has requested squash- he likes acorn. He bought one when we went to the fruit stand. So we will cut that and fill it with butter and salt and pepper. It will wear off but right now I can't think of anything but food. Have any recipes you want to share??? Send them to me at my e-mail and I will put them up on the blog, I'll even find a picture that looks like your recipe. My e-mail is bloubird@yahoo.com. Hope to hear from you. Have a great day!!!

Roses Art information Library!!!

The newest at Roses now is R.A.I.L, which is the Roses Art Information Library. Each month she(Zinnia) will be featuring a brand new project for her subscribers. Great for beginners and intermediate levels. Visit the Roses homepage for more details. It is on the left margin. Stop by and take a look. I love it there and think that you will too.

ATC holder book!!!

Another little ATC holder-spots for 8. Nice way to send your ATC's to your hostess with your cards or make them to keep your own with the name of the swap and the date on the back.Embossed a piece of wallpaper for the cover and put ink on the high points.

"Lillian Russel" Glue pages

Added a 2 page spread to my gluebook pages, too late for the challenge but thought I would add it to my book anyway. i like it and hope you do too.

Sunday Postcard Art

Sunday Postcard Art feeling Blue

gothic Arch challenge- matchbox-here is the girl!

This is a piece for the Gothic art challenge-matchbox.
Gothic Arch
I made a series of 6 of the matchbox girls. They are back further on the blog. This is the one I used for the gothic art challenge. Matchbox.

Is fall in the air? It is in WI.

When the windows are open and the smell of fresh air is in the house , it is time to cook, I made tortilla soup yesterday, roasted tomatoes today and peanut butter cookies. Used my new mixer for the cookies and WOW! did it go fast and mixed perfectly. Apple crisp next, My daughter had a family dinner last Sunday and made apple crisp, warm with ice cream , yummy!! I want to make pie, I love pie so much and you just can't buy a pie that compares with homemade.
Time to go to the apple Hut and buy fresh cider donuts, hot and crisp and honey crisp apples, and taffy apples. All the porch will be covered in squash and pumpkins. The place will be teaming with people that can't wait for that taste of that first apple of the season. I love this time of year. It will also be teaming with bees, however. there is a price to pay for everything, I guess.
On another note,I find it so strange that hundreds of people will stop by but unless I am talking about some horrific event in my life, they usually will not comment. What do you suppose that is , they want to help someone in need? I don't believe in sharing that kind of information, this to me is a happy place ,where you can listen to my ramblings about food and things that I have learned and want to share with you. My projects and gardens, my grandchildren and family. Sometimes I'm sad , like everyone , and I will tell whoever is listening that sometimes the best thing to do is to cry.
I am not saying that people who share their innermost feelings are wrong, that is just not my way. I hope this a an interesting and happy place that you can journey with me and maybe sometime drop a line or two so I know you are there.



THE END OF SUMMER

The summer days are fading, as they must
From endless hours to short and fleeting light
The bird's once bright, immortal tune, now cries
A melancholy aura to the dusk
The children fiercely climb, and dream, and race
Before their wild and unchained days depart
And yet beneath the zeal lies a half heart
For there isn't time, there's only enough space
The sun seems low, a hazy orange sphere
Now reminiscing sweetly of the days
When endlessly before you summer lay
And as in the deep, crimson dusk you stir
Your soul joins with the birds in wistful brood
Crying for lost summer days, for childhood

Summer's End
by Fighter

The sun sets in the distance.
The water slowly washes up the shore.
The trees dance with the wind.
My footsteps print in the sand.

The water caresses my feet.
Sending shivers up my spine.
I wrap my sweater around my shoulders
As the night's coldness envelops me.

I sit in the sand's calmness.
As the colors dance in the sky.
Orange. Red. Yellow.
Summer's end.

Free folder and school paper!! Inchies book!!

This is a gift for you. fold the flaps up and fold the folder in half and the paper will fit in it. Cute for your back to school pages or shrink for an ATC card. Stacks of paper in the folder with a label on the front is really cute!!
Here is another use for these little folders , a book to hold your inchies from your swaps- usually 6 these hold 8 and have a spot on the front to label what swap and the date, make a cover -add a closure to it and some beads, tie with waxed thread and it is a sweet thing.