Altered Book Number One

Last fall while visiting my daughter and waiting for her son to be born, I visited an antique store, Target and The Dollar Store. I also purchased a collage sheet from Shabby Cottage Studio...Because I was staying longer than I had planned and was missing my art-making. I decided to make my first real Altered Book. I found this wonderfully beautiful book, removed some pages,

decorated some more and dreamed of actually journally. Hmmmpf. Me? Journal? Not on your life. Because the time spent was longer than intended and a bit stressful, I did journal but not in this book.

I found it the other day, added new pages and further decorated the cover. I'm not going to journal; who am I kidding? So... it's for sale in my Etsy shop (see the side bar and click on any picture to take you to my shop.)

Have a great day.

New Friends Journals

I have a series of New Friends Journals coming up that I'm putting in S'More Couture in the coming weeks. When the weather gets cool, people start thinking about Christmas--well, I do anyway. I still have three grandchildren with birthdays before Christmas but I'm still thinking about gifts for all. This makes a nice gift for a friend's birthday or "just because." I used a small stitched notebook, added lovely background (Shabby Cottage Studio), and a copy of a lovely print, ribbons (silk, satin and antique velvet), new rick-rack, muslin selvege, sheer selvege, a word from an old dictionary and tatted lace. I gessoed the black binding between the torn backgrounds of the front and back. I next added a leaf button, a shell button and a pink glass bead to the silk ribbon. It looks very girly and sweet. The scripture I used and placed inside is from Proverbs 27:9--"Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel."

The Watcher

The end of the season--the tomatoes are few but still coming. As I pushed them tighter together on my counter, my littlest concrete angel was losing her position. She just had to bear with me and decided to start a watch over the tomatoes--her charges until we eat them or give them away. I don't know whether God gives angels watch over vegetables or not but I tend to think he does. I know the Bible speaks of their watch over us.
Psalm 91:11-12--"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

Weeds or Seeds?

Have you ever noticed weeds? I love the dandelion puffs and guess it is the most popular among children. Why even I, a grown-up, like to blow the little seeds loose from the stem. I guess I don't think of it as just bunch of seeds. Just think if every one that loosed itself grew into a plant--well, maybe you can relate if you've ever tried to get rid of dandelions from your grass and flowers. God even makes the weeds beautiful.

Isaiah 61:11--"For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations."

Not Your Average Pumpkin

Isn't this about the sweetest thing you've ever seen? Well, I think it is and I may be a little prejudiced--just a little. Today I've painted a dark pink one with cream swirls and a cream bow and a cream pumpkin with baby pink swirls and a pink bow (both at the S'More Couture).
Then this one. The pumpkin looks a little more yellow that the original and the swirls are a little more pink than peach but I still thinks it looks ok. This 9" pumpkin is in my Etsy shop today.
Galatians 6:9--"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Surprise for Shop Owner

She's not too fond of Halloween but I couldn't let the first day of Fall go past without a little gift. This is what her logo looks like. I just used indelible brown marker and watercolor pencils (not wet) on a plastic cream-colored pumpkin. She and I think it turned out cute and she was surprised and, I believe, pleased. This is the shop where I sell journals of all sizes, domino necklaces, cards, tags and etceteras.

Genesis 8:22--"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

Autumn Cards

I wanted a little different take on Halloween cards and came up with these...

a celebration of Autumn through the eyes of children.

I've used copies of Bouguereau's beautiful young ladies and

pumpkin images and put them together. The background is from playingwithbrushes on Flickr who so generously offers her "playing" to artists. Thank you.

Exodus 23:16--""Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field."

Light

I caught the light creeping into my yard this morning. I love to see the rays of the sun make their appearance to lighten the day. God gives such wonderful pleasures if we just look. The post in the yard bears two dates: one carved by my husband and his grandfather in 1965 and one by my husband and our sons in 1995 as they held their own children--three generations.

Another Take on Eerie

I've put an eerie fog over my ghoulish children (I'm sure we just have to get to know them better.) Check the difference between these and my last post .

I "fog" makes this little one seem to have shadows.

This one has a special "aura" about her.

And this baby dear just needs to go home and see mama. How could one resist, though?

I'm not sure I'd take the tour of this castle.

These little ones are also in my Etsy shop. Click on each for a close-up and on the photo in the right panel to take you to my shop if you wish to visit them.

Eerie Quartet

I was able to create some yesterday regardless of a jaw ache. It seems that pain contributed to Halloween cards. How could you resist such a cutie as the one above.... or this little civil war ghost....

or this little precious boy...

Now her? I'm not so sure. I'm glad God loves everyone and gives us all a chance.

2 Peter 3:9--"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

These have all gone to my Etsy shop. (If you're interested, see the right side bar and click on the photo of these cards to take you there.)

Down for the Count Today

I had a molar pulled today. It's been giving me trouble for a few years by not being able to chew things like corn chips, etc. without bringing on intense pain. Two and half weeks ago it started giving me constant pain and, long story short, it was cracked to the root and had to go. It's hard saying goodbye to part of one's body. Many of you know that story all too well. My daughter reminded me of others with whom she was acquainted that had it much worse than I. Her telling me that made me feel 100% better. The ordeal was quick with no complications, at least not yet. Now if I make it without a dry socket, I'll be in the pink. I made a couple of small journals yesterday but forgot to take pictures and they went to the buyer this afternoon so I have nothing to show for my work except a few dollars--but, hey, that's not bad.

Psalm 150:6--"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

Red Hat Tea Party Picnic

Well, the tea party was a success and everyone enjoyed themselves.

One lady said she'd never been to a tea party before--strange...I have them all the time for my grandchildren. I guess that stems from my grandmother having had tea parties with me and my sisters.

The table was laden with food: finger sandwiches, real scones, assorted breads, fruit, dessert bars, fruit and nut tarts and chocolate covered strawberries. I just said to bring some crumpets and I'd provide the tea and they did. They were also thrilled and surprised with the little party favors (see my post of a couple of days ago.)

I made my own chai: powdered milk, powdered creamer, french vanilla creamer, sugar and spices (you know I can't give away my secret spices to just anyone.) The table, though crowded, looked beautiful and a good time was had by all. I'd do this again in a minute because I had a great time preparing it. I'm not in any of the pictures but a friend did take one with me in it. Red Hats just get together and have a good time--no agenda, no stress. We trade off hosting our monthly events and this month was mine. We all agreed that we needed a tea party each year as an annual event. I'll be the hostess!

A Tribute

I was commissioned to do some small journals for someone in tribute to a friend who passed away. She wanted to give two relatives one each in memory of this beautiful lady. She's so pretty; I wish I had known her.
Psalm 116:15--"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

Red Hat Society

I'm hosting the Red Hat Ladies on Thursday. We're going to have a Tea Party Picnic over- looking the Illinois River so I made these little party favors for some fun. Yep, Red Hat. I never thought I'd see the day that I'd be a member but we do odd things when we get old. All we do is meet and eat--my kind of fun. Hope you have a good day.

A Few More Feathers

Well, they've packed up and are headed home--a good seven plus hours of travel and my house is desperately quiet. We did have a great time, though, celebrating my next-to-the-youngest's (Seth's) first birthday with a big Elmo cake ordered by his Mom from a scrumptious bakery in our area. Our 2-year-old granddaughter, Hannah, and we took walks the past four days and found quite a few feathers to add to the nest we found a few weeks ago (see last post).
It was a great time but four days is just not enough when you love someone so much. We wait and hope that God will move us closer to them or them to us some day and until then--we make the most of what we get and praise God that we are healthy enough to enjoy them.
Philippians 1:3--" I thank my God every time I remember you."

A Little Find

I hadn't seen or heard any birds on my walk today and I prayed that God would give me a little blessing, like a finch flying across the road, a baby bunny playing or a feather--some of the things given by God when I prayed. On the last leg of the walk I looked down and found this little chipped open egg shell. I didn't even know birds hatched in early September but there it was. I added it to the nest Hannah and I found last week and also put in two feathers found while walking last week. I know birds don't share nests but they won't mind if I mix things up a bit. Preschool music started this week and the children sang like little birds:+)

1 Chronicles 16:12--"Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles."