Every Yesterday

Pretty much the way it is...

2011-10-01T18:29:00.000-05:00

New ATC's.

2011-09-19T22:01:00.000-05:00

I"ve been inspired lately. These are non-digital

Collage on matte board using various techniques; watercolor, stamping, ink, water color crayon, pencil, vintage images.

A Moment of Silence

2011-09-11T06:45:00.000-05:00

In Remembrance of those who perished in the September 11, 2001 attacks 10 years ago today.

May God bless and be with the families and friends and God Bless America.

Victorian Faeries and Angels

2011-09-09T19:17:00.001-05:00

Original digital collage using 5 different vintage images and Photoshop

Pencil LOVE - Derwent Coloursoft Pencils.

2011-09-07T18:58:00.000-05:00

I've loved all sorts of art my entire life--and coloring and sketching with pencils is just one of the many things I like to do. Recently, I was going through my big box of various types of colored pencils that I accumulated over the years and found some Derwent brand amongst them. I remembered that I got them many years ago, (I won't tell you exactly how long ago that was) when I was in high school art class. I picked them up and started using them on some art I was doing and "LOVE" happened all over again. These were all so well used that I decided it was time to get some more. So I went on a hunt from professional colored pencils--preferably the same brand.

The world seems to be in love with the Prisma Color brand. They are nice--and I have some. But to me, nothing can compare with the velvety smoothness of my Derwent brand. A search found that the exact set of pencils I had from long ago were no longer made, but I found a lot of references to Derwent Coloursoft brand. The reviews were all very favorable and many preferred them over Prismacolor brand. I found

a set of 36 on eBay for less than half the retail price (new and still wrapped in their tin) so i instantly bought them.

I've had them for over a week now and have used them many times. I was NOT disappointed. They are wonderful pencils. Wow. I love how they blend and layer so smoothly. I like to hold my pencil vertically and use tiny circular strokes and shade. I sometimes fill larger areas with a bit of "cross hatching" to give it the hint of color. The above "Home Sweet Home" is a Currier and Ives lithograph that I found on the internet. It was only in black and white, so I decided to give it some light tinting with the pencils. I think it came out lovely!

So I had to have more colors. Luckily, Dick Blick has open stock on them, so I was able to get some more shades of green (how many greens are there?) reds and purples. And I know I'll eventually get all of them! (Which isn't such a bad thing!)

Good Morning

2011-09-06T06:27:00.000-05:00

So lovely to see.

Link LOVE and Weather LOVE

2011-09-05T16:01:00.001-05:00

Newly Discovered Links that I LOVE.

Scrapbook Graphics
Great inspiration!

Djuma Safari
Watched elephants, giraffes, leopards, water buffalo, etc. LIVE.

Blick Art
Okay, I've known about them for a long time--never knew they took PayPal.
(Maybe I shouldn't know that!)

Road Side Projects
Lovely Paper Art

The weather finally broke the hot spell we've had all summer. Our drought has been as serious as the flooding weather in the other parts of the country, but the media never grabbed hold of it until lately. Three months of 100+ degree temps and no rain is not only hard on people, but on farms and livestock. Get ready to know more about our drought when you pay more for beef and wheat in the supermarkets.

Roads...

2011-08-23T12:27:00.000-05:00

Tea and Butterfly

2011-08-21T07:52:00.000-05:00

"Sit long, talk much, drink tea with me"--Unknown

"Tea is liquid wisdom"--unknown

--00--

Old Advertising.

2011-08-15T15:47:00.001-05:00

I find these quite humorous!

I always love the old fonts they used a long time ago.
Even handwriting was more elaborate.

Vintage Art

2011-08-14T22:55:00.003-05:00

Isn't she just the sweetest?

Digital ATCs (My Art)

2011-08-08T18:23:00.001-05:00

My first attempt at making ATCs in digital form

2011-08-05T07:39:00.005-05:00

I've discovered a cool website a few months ago called Pinterest. I LOVE IT. It's the perfect social website for creative inspiration! Hey...anyone who is anyone in the creative word is joining Pinterest.

What's the big deal? CLICK HERE to find out. On Pinterest you can create your own inspiration boards full of visual links and organize them by name or however you wish. You can follow other like-minded "pinners" and share links and ideas.Oh...and its addicting...especially if your love anything creative.

I'm so inspired by creative blogs and I bookmark them and then can't find what I was
looking for again if I save them to my computer. Pinterest puts everything where you
want it and you can actually SEE what interested you.

There is a waiting list if you want to join, or you can ask another member to invite you for immediate
access. Just click "request an invite" and hopefully you'll get an email soon.

4 x 4 Art Collages

2011-08-05T07:26:00.000-05:00

I've been going through my boxes and albums of art I've done and art I've traded.
It has been a lot of fun. I had no idea how much of it I had.

New Art

2011-08-01T21:26:00.000-05:00

A result of a very hot week.

These are artist trading cards that I made for really no particular reason.

Handmade Birthday Banner

2011-07-27T11:02:00.000-05:00

I made this for Dale's birthday this week.

Detail

I used a graphic found HERE at The Graphic Fairy website

I resized it, added letters and printed out 4 to a regular size sheet of cream card stock.

Punch holes and fed blue silky seam binding through holes and knotted the ends.

I've made one for Halloween, I will show you later.

Thanks Graphics Fairy!

My Friend

2011-07-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

1937 Pontiac Art

2011-07-19T06:12:00.000-05:00

A Favorite

Old New York

2011-07-18T22:04:00.000-05:00

Original collage in Photoshop using vintage images, filters, layers, blending modes.

Persian Cat

2011-07-17T11:49:00.002-05:00

Beyond Reality

2011-07-17T07:32:00.000-05:00

Much of my digital collage art is surreal in nature. Its fun and challenging. I happen to think its really not art unless its manipulated in some way. Does it have some sort of hidden meaning? No, I never know what its going to look like until its finished. My art even surprises me.

Today's Art

2011-07-16T13:16:00.003-05:00

Believe it or not, this one is based on a very silly dream...not so much the art, but the caption.

Poe and Carp

Just for fun. And of course with Edgar Alan Poe, surrealism is expected.

Today's Art - Two New Original Collages (Digital)

2011-07-15T13:02:00.001-05:00

I found this old Victorian clown graphic and he amused me so.
I knew he was destined to be in one of my art pieces. Poor thing.

I do a lot of "real" art work collages, but it seems that they don't make it
to my blog as much as the digitals do. With a real piece of art, I have to scan it whereas with
digital art, I just save it to a file.

New Art - Steam Punk.

2011-07-12T21:38:00.001-05:00

There is a lot of this going around....Steampunk...its industrial, rusty, dark, vintage.

Too Hot...Do Art

2011-07-09T17:01:00.002-05:00

With it being 108 outside..its hard to do anything but stay in and do some art.
These are non-digital on mat board.

Traded

Paper and cloth. I made rolls of cloth ribbon which I tea-dyed, frayed and stamped.

Matboard, chalks, paint, glitter--you name it.

Complimentary Colors ATC

2011-07-09T08:46:00.001-05:00

For the facebook ATC group.

Both in Show Business.

2011-07-09T06:24:00.000-05:00

One demure

The other --not so much!

Please download to your own computer.

My Thoughts Exactly!

2011-07-07T19:37:00.000-05:00

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. --Mark Twain

Never love anybody who treats you like you’re ordinary.--Oscar Wilde

By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach.--Winston Churchill

Post Cover

2011-07-07T06:14:00.000-05:00

In remembrance of a child who has not seen justice done.

One Nation Under God

2011-07-04T08:10:00.000-05:00

Summer Bouquets

2011-06-30T06:02:00.000-05:00

Lovely old fashioned summer bouquets.

Happiest are the people who give most happiness to others.

Isabelle's New Hat

2011-06-25T16:23:00.000-05:00

Another 106 degree day...another graphic.

Original Art

The Shrine

2011-06-25T09:25:00.000-05:00

More photoshop "art". (by me)

The Showgirl

2011-06-24T23:35:00.002-05:00

More of my Photoshop art.

Cowboy Coffee and Carp

2011-06-24T22:22:00.000-05:00

Cowboy Coffee and Carp

Goth Child

2011-06-24T20:27:00.000-05:00

Original digital collage created in Photoshop using brushes, 23 layers, filters and vintage art.

Midnight Garden

2011-06-24T17:04:00.000-05:00

Its so hot out today (108 right now) there isn't much else to do but get creative.

Original art in created in Photoshop.

Butterfly Girl 2

2011-06-24T05:53:00.000-05:00

From a pretty piece of Victorian scrap

You may use it for your craft projects. Be sure to save it to your own computer

No direct linking!

Victorian Calling Cards

2011-06-24T05:23:00.000-05:00

Original

Add your own writing

--o0o--

Victorian Calling Cards

2011-06-24T05:06:00.000-05:00

Once used for advertising and or caring the name of gracious ladies

This card would make good label for a pretty gift of bath salts or a pretty card.

HOT HOT HOT

2011-06-23T18:43:00.002-05:00

With a promise of 100+ degree temps for the next week, it becomes necessary to keep cool any way you can.

Butterfly Girl

2011-06-23T13:47:00.000-05:00

Unusually Pretty - from an old postcard.

What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly. ~Richard Bach

Vintage 4th Of July

2011-06-23T10:48:00.002-05:00

How cute is she?

From a magazine cover

Sheet Music Cover

-0o0-

Little Birthday Girl

2011-06-23T08:27:00.000-05:00

I have a friend having a birthday today. I sent her this cute little girl.

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip. ~Author Unknown

Vintage Lady For You

2011-06-23T08:05:00.001-05:00

I love this photo from the early 1900's. I have photos of my grandmother dressed like this.

Unedited Version

With enhanced colors

Please save to your own computer. No direct linking is allowed.

Summertime Friends

2011-06-16T06:07:00.000-05:00

I just love vintage art. So charming.

Romantic Lyrics Then and Now

2011-06-12T13:01:00.000-05:00

Colored Glass

2011-06-11T17:54:00.000-05:00

Common Sense and A Sense of Humor

2011-06-04T21:46:00.002-05:00

john...

2011-06-01T19:04:00.001-05:00

Lift

2011-05-29T13:53:00.002-05:00

deep thinking...

2011-05-29T13:28:00.000-05:00

Wink wink..nudge nudge

2011-05-28T21:04:00.000-05:00

Walk if off

2011-05-28T20:57:00.000-05:00

Damage control.

2011-05-28T11:29:00.001-05:00

Art....

2011-05-23T22:40:00.000-05:00

Thought for the day...

2011-05-21T22:28:00.000-05:00

Thought for the day

2011-05-20T10:16:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T19:18:00.000-05:00

Talents

2011-04-21T10:12:00.000-05:00

No Limits

2011-04-18T19:04:00.000-05:00

Ain't it the Truth?

2011-04-18T18:04:00.002-05:00

Words To Live By

2011-04-17T07:24:00.005-05:00

Source: gardenofsimple.tumblr.com via Shelley on Pinterest

Repinned from Tumblr. (not my creation)

Simple said...simply done. What are you waiting for?

---o---

Blog of the day...

Stonegable

Beautiful and Inspiring!

---o---

What does he plant who plants a tree?

He plants the friend of the sun and sky;
He plants the flag of breezes free;

The shaft of beauty towering high

--Henry Cuyler Bunner

---o---

Playing with art

2011-04-16T17:55:00.001-05:00

I love playing with Photoshop and my Wacom Tablet.
No mess but lots of fun.
This image consists of art from vintage postcards and photographs
altered in layers and using painterly filters in Photoshop and enhanced with my Wacom Bamboo Tablet.

Happy Birthday, Mom

2011-04-15T06:35:00.002-05:00

This is a photo of my mom, Peggy. She was a teenager at the time this photo was taken. It might have been her senior year photo. Today would have been her 80th birthday. Happy Birthday Mom! I miss you very much.

God gave us memories so we could have roses in winter and mothers forever."
~M.F.K. Fisher

Home Sweet Home

2011-04-14T12:29:00.000-05:00

I live in a small town in Texas. I never thought I'd end up here, but I came here with my family at the start of my senior high school year--having lived a multitude of places before coming here. Its a medium size town with all kinds of people in a part of Texas that is pretty flat and very dry. It has its own charm--that mostly being the modernization of the "old west".

Most of the people here are fairly religious, conservative and industrious. The economy is based on agriculture, manufacturing, education and travel and tourism. We have a healthy economy.

Our climate is dry, windy and can produce a tornado or two. It can be harsh but people here have a pioneer spirit that helps us all endure and continue living here.

I know there are more exciting places to live, but its home sweet home.

Spring Clean Up

2011-04-12T06:37:00.000-05:00

We've been busy busy...cleaning winter out of the yard, mowing, edging and putting up a new split rail fence. I love it.

Welcome Spring Cleaning.

Yesterday we planted some rose bushes along the fence. So pretty!

Diversions from Sleep

2011-04-10T07:37:00.000-05:00

Every now and then, I have no need of sleep and so I get up and find something to do instead. Very often its to play in Photoshop, like I did today in the wee hours. I experiment. Here is one I like that was from an original photo. I used Photoshop CS, layers, filters, brushes, selective color and masks. More interesting than the original.

Wish it Would RAIN!

2011-04-10T05:34:00.012-05:00

There is an old weather saying:

"April showers, bring May flowers."

But we are in a severe drought situation. With high winds, we are under wildfire watches.Oh how I wish it would rain!

Fear Not

2011-04-09T06:46:00.002-05:00

If I had my life to live over, I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. ~Don Herold

Confession: I'm a worrier. I can't tell you how long and how much I have worried over things that never happen and worried about things out of my control. And now that I'm the "ripe old age" of 60 I think back on how many wonderful days I've wasted worrying instead of enjoying life. I wish I could take them all back. I can't..but I can start today stopping that habit--or at least giving it my best shot.

I'm a woman of faith and The Bible said to cast our fears and worries aside and have faith in God...not to let our fears take over our lives and erase the joy. Be prayerful, grateful and have faith and do the things daily that bring you closer to Him.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace ...

1 Corinthians 14:33(NIV)

In today's world that can be tough. Pick up a newspaper or turn on the television news and its all about "gloom and doom" and our leaders getting nothing done but bickering--causing us all to suffer the consequences. What can you do? Turn off the television. Skip the news and concentrate on the good things in life. The world will turn without you. Have fun and immerse yourself in things you love to do. Sing, dance, garden, paint, read a good book, watch a favorite movie, play with a child, sew, cook--anything that takes you way from the stress. I promise--and you will have a wonderful day.

Keep the Faith.

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.--Psalm 56:11

Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight. ~Benjamin Franklin

-0-

It's no joke!

2011-04-03T08:48:00.000-05:00

Spring is officially here, but we've been on a weird rollercoaster the last few weeks. We've had cold foggy mornings, warm/hot windy afternoons and tomorrow has a forecast of a little snow. There are lots of fruit trees in bloom--but hopefully it won't be a hard freeze.

Most of the garden centers are open here and yesterday's mild temperatures brought people out in droves. I had to restrain myself from telling them it was too early to plant!

My mom's birthday was on April 15th and it seems like the weather has normally been pretty settled by the, as she would always ask for red geraniums to plant when I asked her what she would like as a gift. It was a tradition..but I always asked anyway.

-0-

Pretty Spring Flowers

2011-03-28T12:24:00.000-05:00

-0-

I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.
~Edna St. Vincent Millay, "Afternoon on a Hill"

Family

2011-03-26T07:58:00.000-05:00

The Stick-Together Families
The stick-together families are happier by far
Than the brothers and the sisters who take separate highways are.
The gladdest people living are the wholesome folks who make
A circle at the fireside that no power but death can break.
And the finest of conventions ever held beneath the sun
Are the little family gatherings when the busy day is done.

There are rich folk, there are poor folk, who imagine they are wise,
And they're very quick to shatter all the little family ties.
Each goes searching after pleasure in his own selected way,
Each with strangers likes to wander, and with strangers likes to play.
But it's bitterness they harvest, and it's empty joy they find,
For the children that are wisest are the stick-together kind.

There are some who seem to fancy that for gladness they must roam,
That for smiles that are the brightest they must wander far from home.
That the strange friend is the true friend, and they travel far astray
And they waste their lives in striving for a joy that's far away,
But the gladdest sort of people, when the busy day is done,
Are the brothers and the sisters who together share their fun.

It's the stick-together family that wins the joys of earth,
That hears the sweetest music and that finds the finest mirth;
It's the old home roof that shelters all the charm that life can give;
There you find the gladdest play-ground, there the happiest spot to live.
And, O weary, wandering brother, if contentment you would win,
Come you back unto the fireside and be comrade with your kin.

--Edgar Guest

 --0--

A "crisis" with one of my brothers this week 
reminded me of how wonderful it is to 
have a supportive family.

Let's all keep on sticking together.  
Brother dear, you know we care.

Just Art

2011-03-20T16:40:00.000-05:00

I like playing with Photoshop. I made this digital collage using

several layers then selected the dog and desaturated him while leaving the little
girl colored. I added the butterfly in a different layer. Each image you see is on a separate layer.

--0--

Ring Around The Rosy! It's Springtime!

2011-03-20T06:45:00.005-05:00

Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear upon the earth; the time of singing of the birds is come...-The Song of Solomon.

--0--

After a long, dark, cold winter--the first official day of Spring is finally here.
For most, I don't think it could be more welcomed.

--0--

Another Old Photo

2011-03-18T15:56:00.003-05:00

Another family photo..probably taken in 1902 or 1903.
Left to right is my great grandmother holding her son. Her husband is by her sitting on the ground. (he is my great uncle) Next to her is my great gr. aunt holding my grandmother's sister. Then the man sitting on the chair is my great grandfather.My great grandmother was married to brothers. Her first husband (my uncle) and son (on her lap) died the same year. I don't know how or why. Then later, she married his older brother, who is my grandfather. They had a daughter--my grandmother. Incidentally, my great grandfather - Alfred- in this photo is the same one I'm picture with several posts below. My great grandmother died, too, when my grandmother was a young child, in 1911. Again, I don't know how. She died the same year and month as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in NYC..where she resided. I don't think there is any connection, I just find it interesting to be able to put a timeline to it, as I watched the PBS show about the fire just recently.

Irish

2011-03-17T08:36:00.002-05:00

Yes, I am Irish. My father's side of the family immigrated from Ireland. (Douglass-Davis)

.
My wild Irish Rose,
The sweetest flow'r that grows,
You may search ev'rywhere,
But none can compare
With my wild Irish Rose.
My wild Irish Rose,
The dearest flow'r that grows,
And some day for my sake,
She may let me take
The bloom from my wild Irish Rose.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to ya!

Art of Bygone Days

2011-03-16T09:48:00.008-05:00

I love the art of 1800's and 1900's. It was so beautiful and sweet. I have quite a huge collection of it. In one of my rolltop desk cubbies, there is a stack of old postcards that we from family and many I have purchased at antique stores. I also have 57 gigabytes..yeah you read that right...of files of this art on my external hard drive. I've found a lot of use for it as I make my heritage scrapbooks.

-0-

Featured Blogs of the Day:

Caribou et Blanche Doucer - A French Blog filled with many wonderful paper and mixed media crafting.
La Boutiquiere - Another French Blog--because I love all things French!

I took French in high school...but I don't read it well. I am amazed at the words I do recognize, but I mostly savor the beautiful photography for re-purposing and re-crafting ideas.

Come, Be Inspired - Beautiful decor/lifestyle ideas.
Chez Fifi - Beautiful romantic decor inspirations
Twig and Thistle - Inspirations

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Stay tuned to this blog for a Spring Giveaway! (coming soon!)

Great Grandparents

2011-03-16T09:30:00.003-05:00

This is my paternal great grandfather, father of my father's mother. And that is me on his lap. I was about 3 years old at the time.

My great grandfather's name was Alfred. His parents were from Berlin, Germany and they emigrated to The Bronx in New York City. My great grandfather was a draftsman. This photo was taken at his home in Tuckahoe New York. He lived to the ripe old age of 101 years old.

My dad went back for a month long trip to New York last fall and made a tour of all the places he remembered so well when he was a kid. This is a photo of my dad in front of my great grandparent's Tuckahoe, home, where the picture of me and my great grandfather was taken. I remember he had a lovely yard and I liked playing in it.

Here is another photograph of my great grandfather
holding my grandmother, Mimi. He had two daughters, the other being my Aunt Helen...or "Honey" as I called her.

They were actually half sisters as my great grandmother married brother's and her first husband was Alfred's brother Paul who died earlier.

This is my great grandmother, Hattie. I'm currently researching her on Ancestry.com and have had some difficulty finding more about her life. She died when my grandmother Mimi was just 5 years old and so my grandmother didn't remember much about her. I do know that she was raised by an aunt and uncle in Freehold Township, New Jersey and she appears on the census as "niece of wife" I've been trying to find who her parents were (my great great grandparents) and I'm working on a few leads. I think her mother's maiden name may have been Lisk. What leads me to believe that is because my Grandmother, Mimi's middle name is the maiden name of my great grandfather's mother and her sister Helen's middle name is Lisk, which might mean it was her grandmother's maiden name. When my grandma Mimi was alive, she thought it could be "Lisk" and wrote it on a piece of paper that she sent me with names and dates of her family as she knew it. I also found her on the census of Gr. Grandpa Alfred's family in The Bronx New York as "daughter in law". I have a few other photos of her, I will share later. Dear Gr. Grandma Hattie... I will find your parents!!!

Wish me luck.

The love of a family shelters like a tree--Anon.

Look Ma! No Teeth!

2011-03-15T12:26:00.009-05:00

I love this photograph of my son. He was probably 8 or 9 months old when it was taken. He's now 37. I still feel the same way about him...but I wonder if our "kids" find that weird? They need to realize that mom's have a special bond with their children that is unexplainable unless you are one. I'm forever the quintessential, sentimental, "that's my little boy" old fuddy duddy.

--00--

Abundance: The look of wonder in a child's eyes.

Abundance: is the scent of the first flowers of spring.

--00--

My Momma and her Pigickens

2011-03-14T06:39:00.002-05:00

This is a photo of my mother at about 12 years old.

She loved animals and had a large assortment of them as pets;

a lamb (Mownie) cats, pigeons, chickens and a dog named Dave...there were even "Pigickens" that were chicks that my mom let a pigeon hatch. Her pigeon only laid soft shelled eggs, so she took sympathy on the little pigeon and put a couple of chicken eggs in her

nest. They pigeon was so proud and sat on the eggs until they hatched.

This naturally imprinted the chicks and pigeon together and they became surrogate children of the pigeon...and followed the pigeon

everywhere. They all followed my mother around..even to the corner market. My grandmother used to tell me that it was quite a sight watching my mom walk in the neighborhood with a herd of animals following her. They would wait outside the market for her and resume their walk back to the house!

"A mother holds her children’s hands for a while, but their hearts forever."

Author: Unknown

The Robin

2011-03-13T09:53:00.001-05:00

A voice went thro' the emerald land

And "Wake, wake," Robin cried;

A brook burst out in laughter sweet,

And straight the winter sighed.

--Ella Higginson

--0--

There is nothing more lovely to me than the changing seasons.

Four distinct lovely seasons--a view of the entirety of God's lovely gifts. A new season is upon us and my soul rejoices.

Spring is a promise that in spite of the scary things in this world, everything will eventually be okay.

Please keep the people of Japan in your prayers. They are facing very difficult times and we share in their pain, with hopes for the near future to be bright again. The Japanese culture has survived for thousands of years and their resolve, intellect and wisdom--as well as God's grace, will allow them to survive for thousands more.

--0--

Today's Blogs

A RePurposed Life - Beautiful garden!
The French Garden Simply Beautiful

"Mankind's role is to fulfill his heaven-sent purpose through a sincere heart that is in harmony with all creation and loves all things". --Morihei Usehiba

Lost Things - A New Favorite Video

A Change In The Year

2011-03-12T07:20:00.000-06:00

A Change In The Year

It is the first mild day of March
Each minute is sweeter that before,
The redbreast sings from the tall larch

That stands beside our door.

There is a blessing in the air,

Which seems a sense of joy to yield

To the bare trees and mountains bare;

And grass in the green field.

--William Wordsworth

--0--

Let me introduce you to Cindy Dyer's Blog.
She has some of the most beautiful flower photos I have ever seen!
Enjoy!

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I recently got me a NookColor and I have rediscovered the joys of reading. For many years while my deceased husband was ill, I found I couldn't concentrate long enough to stick with a book! But since I got the NC I've had such fun curling up in my favorite chair to read a book, magazine or even a blog. What fun. I can even read in bed with the lights off and not disturb my hubby. He, too, has been reading a lot on his NC (yes, we each had to have one!)

My current read is "My Life In France" by Julia Child. It is one of the two books the film Julie/Julia was based on. I loved the film, but quite honestly, it was the JULIA part I really loved the best--they could have left the JULIE part out!

The book was published after Julia passed away, but it is written like she spoke and it when I read, I can hear her voice, still. I miss you Julia!

PS...it was "my" network--the one I work for, (PBS - WGBH in Boston) that first ran her television show, The French Chef! I feel kindred there.

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As I mentioned above, my NookColor is also fun for discovering and reading blogs. My friend longtime friend, Jeanne, has been blogging for many years. She has the nicest thingsto share.

Jeanne's Bliss Blog

Almost Spring.

2011-03-10T20:23:00.000-06:00

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

Pansies

I see you in the nicest places
Soft and sweet with kitten faces
In my garden between the sun and shade
Your scent is delicate and sweet
Sharing it with those you greet
Imagine all the friends that you have made
You nod your head in Springtime breezes
And defy late winter freezes
Drinking in the sunbeam lemonade.
So many gifts that God has given
Making each day worth living
Pansies, may your blessings never fade!

--original poetry.

sdstanton

(please use only with permission)

My Photography Gallery
My Husband's Photography Gallery

Our "little boy" waits for us to come home.

Blogs from my favorite magazine: Mary Janes Farm:

City Farmgirl

Mountain Farmgirl

Ranch Farmgirl

Suburban Farmgirl

Rural Farmgirl

Isn't Creativity Wonderful?

2011-02-27T07:39:00.000-06:00

Artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons. ~Al Hirschfeld

Art is your personal diary where you may color your thoughts and emotions on a page. ~Sara, Los Cerros Middle School, 1999

Coloring outside the lines is a fine art. ~Kim Nance

Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling. ~G.K. Chesterton

Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up. ~Allen Klein

No News... is Good News! :-)

2011-02-26T06:50:00.000-06:00

Is all the bad news of the world getting you down?

So turn off the television news, (you get enough of it second hand anyway) and live.

Do your part to make the world a better place. Say what you feel and stand firm to your beliefs, but then let go of the stress and find time to do what you love.

Paint, write, read, take beautiful photos, write poetry...spend time with a child. Be kind to all. Volunteer, learn to sing. Bake bread and share it. Walk in the fresh air, dance. Listen to the stories of the elderly. Hold the hands of some one you love.

You'll be better for it. The world is still a beautiful place if you know which direction to look.

Be happy!

Today's nice places to visit:

She Is

Heather Bullard

Snow Day

2011-02-09T12:43:00.000-06:00

The cold snow weather caused an unexpected snow day today. Its very cold. Nice to stay inside and do something cozy and creative.

Recently I bought some pretty old fashioned valentines and rather than make some..I decided to mail some of these out. I remember the days when I was a kid at school..we made Valentine boxes and exchanged cards with our classmates. I always looked forward to getting a Valentine from the boys I had crushes on and looked for hints on the card that they just might like me back! LOL

Valentine Links:

Beehive Cottage has some lovely Valentine garlands
Heather Bullard's blog has some wonderful inexpensive Valentine gift ideas.

Ya gotta start back somewhere!

2011-01-29T06:46:00.000-06:00

Its hard to believe that its been over a year since I wrote anything in this blog. I don't know what happened, but I suddenly lost interest and switched over to Facebook. Now I'm starting to lose interest in that and have taken on some real projects that more involve my dinning room table rather than my computer.

In recent months my desire to start sorting out the boxes of photos and memorabilia from my past has increased my creative desire to not only scrapbook much of it, but also has incorporated interest in my family tree that was so painstakingly researched by my grandmother and aunt a long time ago. These things should NOT be laying in a box! I also found parts of journals from members of my family long gone from this earth and realize how wonderful journaling is. Since a blog is a modern day journal..here I go again.

Amazing how one thing leads to another.

The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks
into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.
- Mark Twain

A Pretty Valentine

2010-01-10T09:39:00.001-06:00

I love old fashioned postcards and postcard art. Some of the prettiest are the Valentine's...those
tokens of love and sweetness. I miss the days when they were as pretty as this. This valentine looks like it was given to a child from a mother or vice versa.

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Wishes for a Wonderful 2010

2010-01-01T09:23:00.000-06:00

Welcome to 2010! I usually don't make a lot of resolutions, but it seems a little unnatural if I don't make at least a couple to start the year out on a good note. Several in particular are to pay more attention to my blogging, photography, writing talents and creativity. So on that note, I wish you all a wonderful 2010.

May this be your best year ever.

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Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin

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~ Vintage New Years Postcards ~

Do not use my art, images or photography for graphic or collage sheets.

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Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T11:58:00.000-06:00

Glory to God in the Hightest.

Peace on Earth Goodwill towards men.

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"Don't Forget" - New Digital Work and a lucky buy

2009-12-06T08:51:00.000-06:00

Christmas colors--but not necessarily Christmas.

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Here's the thing. I have a real attraction to Tiffany style lamps. I found one last week at the Antiques mall for a phenomenal price. It has a pretty "bamboo" design on it. BUT on examining it, I found out it had a piece of glass loose and a couple of minor scratches (very minor) on the bronze lamp base. I passed on it.

I thought about it all week..and went back today and hoped it was still there. It was..so I bought it. I cleaned it up and removed years of grime off it. Then I carefully glued the loose piece of glass in it. It now graces the corner of my dining room on a small vintage table.

Sure is pretty! $35.00 for a lamp that originally was $199.00! That brings the count up to 6 stained glass lamps! 5 table lamps and one pole lamp. Yay!!

--oo--

Now I Need to Get Busy!

2009-12-05T10:15:00.000-06:00

Original Digital Collage

Digital Artwork - The Christmas Rose

2009-12-05T07:26:00.000-06:00

Original digital artwork - The Christmas Rose

I realized yesterday that I hadn't had time to do much of my art lately. Whereas I prefer making the "real thing" on mat board, a little digital art in Photoshop takes less time and no mess! So here is my latest creation. You can view my other digital and creative collage works in my online gallery here.

Deck the halls...

2009-11-28T09:56:00.000-06:00

...with boughs of holly.

'Tis the season to be jolly...

fa la la la la.

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Tis the season...

2009-11-28T05:42:00.000-06:00

For Chocolate: (especially fudge!)

And cocoa!

mmmm...

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Let it Begin

2009-11-27T09:06:00.000-06:00

The day after Thanksgiving is the traditional beginning of the Christmas season, here in the USA. Unfortunately it is also when all the craziness of the commercialism of Christmas begins as well.In fact the commercial aspects have so taken over the true meaning of Christmas that many retailers are referring it to the "holiday" season instead of Christmas and many actually take offense in seeing a nativity scene or Christian symbols that are the traditional symbols of Christmas. I find this very sad and a little unnerving. I myself, will not patronize businesses that have taken "Christ" out of this beautiful season of peace and love.

Christmas is the season of giving...but at what price and sacrifice? How much do we really think we need?

Giving is also giving to the less fortunate. After all, its what Christ did. He was the perfect example. During this holiday, how about keeping some coins in your pockets to put in the kettle of the bellringers outside the doors of the shop you're entering.

This Christmas how about more Christ and less commercialism?

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Vintage Thanksgiving

2009-11-18T06:57:00.000-06:00

Have an old fashioned family Thanksgiving.

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Balloon Weekend

2009-11-02T06:39:00.000-06:00

Our town had a balloon rally this weekend. We made it out to the Saturday morning mass launch. Here are some photos I took of it. All photos are my exclusive property.

Daylight savings time ended this past weekend. Yesterday just dragged on. It takes me several

days to get used to the change.

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Late October

2009-10-24T05:33:00.000-05:00

Again, I've been a real slacker when it comes to blogging. I've become a slacker visiting my friend's blogs as well. Here it is at the end of October and I've only logged in here a couple of times. Its been a beautiful month weather-wise, except its supposed to turn snowy midweek...but then get nice again in time for Halloween.

I love this month! Below is a bit of poetry I wrote years back.

October Eve

Early one October Eve
(As the sun makes shorter days)
I went upon an evening walk
In the whispering Autumn haze
October nights are crisp and cool
Lit only by a silvery moon
A cricket 'neath a haystack chants
"There'll be a frost--come soon!'
The air's heavy with glistening dew
And lays a blanket on the lawn
It tip-toes in the pumpkin patch
Where it slumbers there 'til dawn
Our old scarecrow sways, and bends
In the cornstalks-- with the breeze
He wears a ragged pair of pants
With patches at his knees
The night owl whispers "who?-- who?--WHO!"
From a perch high in the old oak tree
"Shh...!" what's that scampering in the leaves?
Perhaps some goblins, I can't see?
Suddenly, I see shadows EVERYWHERE
Behind every shed and tree
I'm not sure...but I think I heard---
Some footsteps -----following me!
Smoke wisps ghost-like through the air
As in the October dark, I roam
Its time to end my evening walk...
...And RUN back safely home!

By Shelley D. Stanton - October 2000

Every Yesterday

Pretty much the way it is...

New ATC's.

A Moment of Silence

Victorian Faeries and Angels

Pencil LOVE - Derwent Coloursoft Pencils.

Good Morning

Link LOVE and Weather LOVE

Roads...

Tea and Butterfly

Old Advertising.

Vintage Art

Digital ATCs (My Art)

Pinterest

4 x 4 Art Collages

New Art

Handmade Birthday Banner

My Friend

1937 Pontiac Art

Old New York

Persian Cat

Beyond Reality

Today's Art

Today's Art - Two New Original Collages (Digital)

New Art - Steam Punk.

Too Hot...Do Art

Complimentary Colors ATC

Both in Show Business.

My Thoughts Exactly!

Post Cover

One Nation Under God

Summer Bouquets

Isabelle's New Hat

The Shrine

The Showgirl

Cowboy Coffee and Carp

Goth Child

Midnight Garden

Butterfly Girl 2

Victorian Calling Cards

Victorian Calling Cards

HOT HOT HOT

Butterfly Girl

Vintage 4th Of July

Little Birthday Girl

Vintage Lady For You

Summertime Friends

Romantic Lyrics Then and Now

Colored Glass

Common Sense and A Sense of Humor

john...

Lift

deep thinking...

Wink wink..nudge nudge

Walk if off

Damage control.

Art....

Thought for the day...

Thought for the day

Happy Mother's Day

Talents

No Limits

Ain't it the Truth?

Words To Live By

Playing with art

Happy Birthday, Mom

God gave us memories so we could have roses in winter and mothers forever."~M.F.K. Fisher

Home Sweet Home

Spring Clean Up

Diversions from Sleep

Wish it Would RAIN!

Fear Not

It's no joke!

Pretty Spring Flowers

Family

Just Art

Ring Around The Rosy! It's Springtime!

Another Old Photo

Irish

Art of Bygone Days

God gave us memories so we could have roses in winter and mothers forever."
~M.F.K. Fisher