Theme Thursday!! PID challenge

Here is my theme thurday piece: Holiday challenge
Here is mine

Love book artists, Watch this!!

Love books and book artists?? Watch this!!

Sharing my favorite poems with you!!

A quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.................
*************************
”Why the caged bird sings........

The free bird leaps
on the back of the win
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and is tune is heard
on the distant hillfor the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
by Maya Angelou

*********************
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein..............
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.
***************************
A line or two from :
Splendour in the Grass
What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind...

Favorite winter things!!

Children's christmas sings
Smell of wood fires burning
Seeing the fall leaves on the ground
The crunch of the leaves walking to the mailbox
Decorating for Christmas
Wrens visiting the front porch
Pine boughs and holly berries

Real sausage and sage stuffing
Waking to cool, misty mornings
Hearing birds and rabbits scratching in the leaves
Afternoon tea by the fire
Evening cider by the warm hearth
A wonderful book
The touch of a familiar hand
The smell of bayberry and cinnamon
*******************************
Wonderful winter Childrens Books*************
When it looks like cold, snowy weather is here to stay, curl up with your children and some books and warm your soul! Reading aloud is a wonderful way to spend time together.


1. Snow day by Lester Laminack
2.One Winter's Day by M.Christine Butler
3.Sranger in the woods by Carl K. Sams II (about a snowman)
4.The Snow Bear by Miriam Moss

5.Danny's First Snow by Leonid Gore
6.Snow by Uri Shulevitz
7.All you need for a snowman by Alice Schultz
8.Snowballs by Lois Ehlert

The opening of the Christmas Village!!!

On Thanksgiving, I open the doors to the Christmas Village,I started this 13 years ago on the mantel with 6 houses and some lights and trees, it graduated to a large 7 by7 foot rustic cabinet my husband made and every year we would bring up the boxes and I would slend about 40 hours constructing all the parts of the village. The grandkids were a big part of that and loved to help with it and even made parts of it. About 4 years ago my son had an idea to cut it into the wall so it could remain year round with a quilt wall hanging over it. We then added the doors a couple of years ago.It has been a source of beauty and part of our holiday decorations for quite a long time. It was published in our local paper once. the schools and businesses have the names of the actual schools the kids have went to and the busineses they work at. Business cards for our family members that own their own businesses are used as billboards on the streets of "Miller Town, USA" I hope you enjoy a peek with me into this traditional part of our Holiday. Hope you have a wonderful Thankgiving!!!

Holiday seasons Challenge!

This is a Challenge for PID group. The theme was Holiday season. This is 4 x 6.

My entry for Sunday Postcard Art

This is my rendition of the flourish challenge for Sunday Postcard Art

COLORS THEME THURSDAY CHALLENGE!!

This is my skinny colors piece for the theme thursday challenge. Theme Thursday

My Shrine for Gothic Arches

Here is my piece for the Gothic Arches Challenge Gothic Arch
The quote says: When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder--who stands a chance against us. Pam Brown.

Stars!!! Gothic arch challenge

This is my piece for the Gothic arch challenge. Gothic Arch

A sweet little pincushion!!

Here's a little project for you, a used baby shoe, painted, distressed, stuffed with batting , a ribbon, a beautiful hatpin and some vintage buttons, a lovely gift for a sewing friend. I got the shoes on ebay. Hope you love it.

Love this Anonymous piece!!!

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family
for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to
myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't
chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for
buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante
garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be
extravagant.


I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they

understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM
and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of
the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ...
I will.




I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body,
and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the
pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as
well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break
when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers? But broken hearts are what give us strength
and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and
sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.



I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and
to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.

So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could
turn silver.





As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what
other people think. I don't question myself anymore.
I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like
the person I have become. I am not going to live forever,
but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have
been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day.

******************************************
Hope you enjoy this as much as I did!!

Wreath made of book pages!!!

Go here:
Go here/>

Is this just too cool???

A SHORT LESSON ON PRINTING ON FABRIC

There are actually many ways to print on fabric-this is my way, so here goes-buy freezer paper from the grocery store, it must say freeser paper and have a wax coating on one side cut it exactly to the size of your printer paper, choose your fabric, muslin is best and press it to the waxy side of the freezer paper, trim all edges and leave no strings attached. Decide on your image and print. cut out and peel off paper . I have had 2 HP printers and this one is a canon, never had it mess up in 10 years. These images are not washable , but perfect for altered art, fabric postcards etc. I also have what I call sticky paper that I bought on ebay actually called mactac that works great in place of the freezer paper and it was cheap. Remember if your image has writing-flip it before you print it so the words will be right.Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.
PS I bought this collage sheet from Vikimouse on etsy.
*****************************
In the august post about picnics is a picture of a pillow ,done with a picture printed on fabric.

Art Challenge!Crackle Tutorial!! Free tags to try it with!!

The first step is to paint a coat of acrylic onto your tag or what paper product you want to transform, A darker color becasue that is what is going to be the color of your crackles. allow to dry. Next a heavy or light coat of Elmers(depending on whether you want big crackles or fine.let dry some. Light color top coat(acrylic) and watch the magic.
****************
The top picture is after it has dried and the large cracks appear. Cool. huh?

Want to make cinnamon tags???

Put 2 T instant coffee in a container with 1 cup hot water, stir , put in manila tags and swish. pull a cookie sheet , lay out your tags to cover and sprinkle with cinnamon while they are wet. Put in 250 degree oven for 5 minutes. take out and put in ziploc to preserve the scent. Add a cute little christmas stamp or image, use other side for the to's and from's. Add a pice of jute or red string to tie on your pkg or card. Hope you will try it, so quick and so Christmasy!!

**************Here is a finished tag, I sanded the top to get rid of the excess cinnamon, a blogger(Topaz) was kind enough to mention these are not a good idea for children (allergies to cinnamon), this tag that I made is for adult gifts with the buttons added. My plan is to make some to give to my family on Thanksgiving.

Three Muses Dream challenge!!

here is my entry:


Three Muses/>

Theme Thursday!!

Patterned Paper at Theme Thursday />

A Gift for you!!!

Just a little early Christmas gift for you. Feel free to right click and save to your file. If you have time I would appreciate a comment. If Not Happy Holidays!!!

A Gift for You!!!

Gothic arches piece!!

This is a piece I did for the Gothic Arch challenge.
Gothic Arches/>

New work!! At last!!

This is a crown challenge at PID and a twinchie challenge at Big Art Adventure. Hope you like them.Also a Thanksgiving challenge piece for PID group.

Wanted to share with you.

I heard this part of a beautiful poem and wanted to share with you, The name is "My Lost youth" It is written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I thought of all the soldiers, men and women, fighting for us in places all over the globe:
*************************************
There are things of which I may not speak;
There are dreams that cannot die;
There are thoughts that make the strong heart weak,
And bring a pallor into the cheek,
And a mist before the eye.
And the words of that fatal song
Come over me like a chill:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts

Trying to catch up!!!

These are 4 0f the 6 pages I need to catch up for Vintage Bliss. My hand is getting better but still not good. Tried my best.