Seasons ~ Autumn

Technically it's still Autumn, but it sure doesn't feel like it outside today. Brrrr... it's cold out there!

Tonight I'm meeting up with some girlfriends to exchange our "Seasons" round robin books, so I thought I would share my "Autumn" pages with you this morning.



It's important to me to make sure, that while working in these books, I not only incorporate my own style into the artwork, but keep the integrity of the book owner too.

And I think I've managed to do that, here in Nina's book.

This end result was not my first plan. There are pieces of the plan that I kept, but originally I was going to go for a more wheat field kind of feel. But then this wonderfully, sharing lady posted the gorgeous image I did use. And when I saw it, there was just no way I couldn't use it... it was perfect for the piece.

A few details...
Still can't get enough embroidery... loving it. The rose image is the same one that used to be in my blog banner... shared by Ranjini. And the beautiful vintage beads and sequins, aka "crafter's crack", I picked up at Wanda's vendor table at Silver Bella.

For a Spring girl, I think I could get into this Autumn thing. I'm liking this layout so much in fact, that I'm doing a little mini version in my Autumn Journal.


Thank you for the lovely comments on my holiday decorating! I really appreciate ALL of them!
Have a beautiful Wednesday!

Holiday Home Tour

Welcome and come in, come in! It's chilly out there, isn't it.

Ignore the dog, she's just trying to sneak out for a romp, even though she knows better.
Well, you're in luck. I just put the kettle on... would you like a hot cup of tea?

Did you have a nice weekend? I spent the whole weekend feathering my nest for Christmas. Feel free to look around!

This is our sitting room, and where we put our tree every year.


Our dining room.

You can never have too many candles lit while dining, if you ask me.


And here is our family room.

Come stand by the fire place and get good and toasty before you have to go.

Well that's it! Thank you for stopping by to visit.

I wish you a happy and cozy Holiday Season!

*************

I just found out that the shell ornaments that I made last year are being featured here. She has all kinds of cute, beachy ornie ideas.
Have a beautiful Monday!

The Two That I Finished

Here are the two class projects that I managed to finish.

This first one is actually the last class I took... Vintage Charm Bracelet with Kaari Meng of French General. I really enjoyed this class. Kaari was a fabulous instructor and I learned some great little tricks to make attaching charms, and basic jewelry making, easier.

After class I put it on and wore it for a while, but it's so chunky, that it drove me nuts. The next morning I saw Mendy wearing hers, but not on her wrist. She had added some extra chain to it, to make it into a necklace. I thought it was such a great idea, that it was the first thing I did when I got home. Now I know I'll wear it.

This is my favorite charm on it. In our kit there was this brass oval ring. Kaari showed how to take the head pins and these tiny beads and attach them to the ring. I love the way this looks and feels.


The other project that I finished, was Rebecca Sowers' Hodge Podge Journal. Can I just take a moment to tell you how much I admire this woman and her work?! I truly do.

Unfortunately during this class, I had a horrible sinus headache and was unable to really enjoy the creating process to its fullest. But, I am mostly happy with the completed journal. The image in the window is one that was provided in the kit. Although it's a nice image, it isn't exactly the one I think I want in there. So I'm going to attempt to peel it out and replace it with another.

I decided, while making it, that I would use it as an art journal for the new year. I'm really looking forward to creating on all of the different types and sizes of ephemera in it.


And I have news on the "healing" front. I went to see the doctor today for my post op. She was totally surprised at how fast I'm healing and how well I'm doing. Evidently I'm ahead of the healing schedule. I chalk that up to my Irish blood.

Hope everyone has a beautiful weekend!

The Last Two

You aren't going to believe this.

I woke up to snow falling. That's right, I said SNOW! Here! It was really pretty... the rooftops were all white.

Of course it's all melted now, but it was nice while it was here.

I have my last two Silver Bella swaps to share with you today.

First up is the A to Z swap. I showed you mine in this post, well, here they are all together.

Pretty cool, huh? Amanda, the hostess, put all of hers on a painted canvas and then had us all sign our names under our cards. I had originally planned on putting all of mine on a canvas too, but now I'm not sure that I have any room to hang it. So, they may all just go into my ATC binder.
Here is a list of all of the artists:
A - Amy Powers
B - Suzanne Duda
C - Cari Kraft
D - Denise Nelson
E & K - Amanda Willey
F & T - Vicki Flinchum
G - Mendy Mitrani
H - Heather Ales
I - Ida Mae Couch
J - Wanda Clark
L - Bianca Gaspard
M & U - Susie Vergenz
N - Me
O - Lori Oles
P - Wendy Robrecht
Q - Julie Baxley
R - Barbara Mooney
S - Lisa Thompson
V - Valita Baxley
W - Peggy Lucas
X - Christine Hutcherson
Y - Stephanie Oyler
Z - Princess Lasertron

The last swap I have to show you, is the finished Rebecca Sower Inspired Apron.


Here are some close ups... sorry for the blur.

Elizabeth Shea, Shannon Johnson, Julie Baxley and mine.

Carol Ryan, Heather Ales, Sheila Rumney, Mollie MaCabe, Melissa Danner, Sharon Giordano.

Stacy McGinnis, Cynthia Flores, Sandra Marotti.

Whew, there's a lot of linkage happenin' here today.

So that's it for the swaps. Next up the class projects.

Have a beautiful day!

More Paper Dolls

Happy belated Thanksgiving to all of you here in the U.S. Did you have a good one? Mine was pretty cushy, I have to admit... didn't have to drive anywhere (family came to see me), didn't have to cook anything (the Farmboy did it), didn't have to wash a single dish (thanks to the MIL). I made the comment, that maybe surgery was the way to go just before every Thanksgiving and that sweet Farmboy said "NO!" He would rather make Thanksgiving dinner, again, than for me to have to have surgery again. Love that guy!

Okay, on to the pretties!

I've shown you the paper dolls I created for the Bella Paper Doll Swap (hosted by the sweet sister duo Carol and Elizabeth of Parasols & Mary Janes) here. Now let me show you what I received!

From Amy Powers of Inspire Company.

Sweet little thing, isn't she?! I was fortunate to meet Amy in a little boutique, down the street from the hotel, and she is just as sweet and charming as her little creation!

From Robin Sanchez.

Talk about being excited when I pulled this one out of the bag! I had found and linked her in my first doll post, if you remember. I didn't realize she was going to Silver Bella, much less in the swap!


From Lonnie Jenck of My Farmgirl Life.

Such a lovely Prom Queen and great packaging too!


From Kara Ward of My Studio Pink.
(thank you Wanda :P)

This Marie is fabulously dimensional, with her shadow box dress! So much to see in this one... love it!

From one of my Texas Bella sisters, Susan Skinner.

Isn't she such a sweetie! I'm pretty sure her robes are made from a dryer sheet... how resourceful and creative it that?!

Well, there you go! I think they all are just great and ready to be hung up in the studio.

Wishing you a beautiful Monday!

Stitch to Stitch

Good morning! It is absolutely beautiful here. I hope it is where you are, too. In fact it has been for the last two days.... love it... need it! I think it's speeding up my healing process.

So today, I want to show you what was exchanged in the Extraordinary Embroidery Sampler Swap for Silver Bella.

Here is what I created for my sweet, sweet partner Virginia. (she doesn't have a blog, but I think she should! wink, wink, nudge, nudge) The photo isn't so great. It was really hard to get a decent picture of it, all in focus, because it turned out so dimensional. And, well honestly, I should have changed lenses... I'm so lazy.

We filled out questionnaires about what colors, images, styles, etc. we prefer, at the beginning of the swap.
I thought long and hard about this one before starting it, but then all of a sudden, one morning, it all just came together for me and I was able to really get started on it. I like how it turned out, but I did have to stop myself, at the end there, from adding too much and making the whole thing an overkill. It's pretty busy as is.

Now for the beautiful piece Virginia made for me!

I love it!
I have hung it up on a frame that the Farmboy chicken wired for me a long time ago... the flowers in the top corner were already on the frame... not a part of the sampler, but they look so pretty with it. Don't they?
I really like how she cut a heart out of a piece of fabric and then used the negative piece to put onto the sampler... I think that's brilliant! The lace, buttons, the little bird, the 3D elements... all of it is just wonderful! Oh! And the colors are perfect!

Here it is a bit closer. I tried to get some good close ups of it, but... haha... you should have see it. The farmboy had already gone to work and the boys were still in bed sleeping and there I was, precariously standing on the couch clutching my belly pillow to my tummy and trying to take pictures of it this morning. And I had to do it right then, because it's the best light of the day in that room. I'm sure it was quite the sight! And quite typical of me... I hope the Farmboy doesn't read this post, or I'll be receiving a lecture later. Anywho, isn't it lovely?!

I really enjoy stitching, but I have such a hard time getting started. You know, figuring out what to stitch. I think my brain is just too box in most times. And my stitching is still a little crude, I think. But I know that will improve with practice. This book has been a great help... so glad I purchased it. And I absolutely cannot wait for her new embroidery book to hit the shelves!

Alright, I'll stop rambling on now. I hope you have a beautiful, beautiful day!

My Home Smells Like a Florist

I am home from the hospital and so very happy to be so. (Morphine is not my best friend.)
Thank you everyone, from the tips of my toes to the top of my head for all of the prayers and good thoughts you sent my way!!!
Unfortunately my doc couldn't perform the surgery the less invasive way, so healing time will take twice as long as I had hoped for. But fortunately, I'm a fast healer.

And I really better be in this case. I've been home for a full 24 hours and am already bored to tears. Time to get some stitching out, I guess.
In a couple of days, when I don't need the aid of a big strong Farmboy to help me up and down, I'll post some more Silver Bella goodies.

And again, from the bottom of my and the Farmboy's hearts, Thank You!