Sweet as Chocolate ...

This Christmas I have fallen in love with the colour Brown!

An unusual choice for Christmas, but mixed with fresh greens from Nature, copper accents  and splashes of red ~ calm & festive.

I think it started early in the Fall, collecting pine cones and acorns with my sweet little grand baby.

We pointed to the big pines that lined our path, their branches hanging from the weight of the cones, showing where they came from, watching precious little hands picking up the fallen cones.

"Mummy will be so surprised when she sees the wreath you are making her" we said.

We came home from our outings and placed our found treasures on the table ~

***

I am probably one of the very few who does not care for chocolate.

  The one thing I do want from the chocolate box is the little brown covering that protects the chocolates!

I have some little presents that are on their way to friends and needed some soft packaging material & this was perfect.

Simply fold in half, punch a hole on either side, do the same to a little stamped tag,  and thread through both  with a  pretty ribbon.

It's not how much we give

but how much love

we put into giving

~Mother Teresa~

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

There are so many gorgeous wrapping papers on the market ...

and ribbons

and bows

and tags ...

but I still love the simplicity of

plain brown wrapping paper

bakers twine

and treasures from nature.

topped with a special

tea/coffee stained

hand stamped tag ...

sometimes a few candy canes...

I found the red and white tape at Ikea and I've been using it on everything :-)

wrapped up

with love ♥

Anything simple

always interests me

~David Hockley~

***

A heartfelt THANK YOU  for your lovely comments & sweet e-mails on my last post.

I appreciate each and every one so very much xo

Gifts, in all shapes and sizes ...

Yesterday was a day of gifts.

A day of surprises and Thankfulness.

Two of my mixed media pieces are in the Winter 2013 Artist Spotlight pages of Somerset Studio Gallery.

I Heart this Earthly Life has been on my blog side panel for a while,  Fox Sparrow singing to my soul ♥

I've picked up many discarded books over the years, the majority have pages torn out and are scribbled in making them perfect for Art Journals.

One day, an idea for a painting came to me, but I had no canvas available.  Suddenly, I realized that the covers from these books made for an instant canvas!

You can paint directly on the paper. Depending on how old your book is, the paper may be thin, in which case you will not want to add a lot of water to your paints.  If you'd prefer, you can glue on a piece of watercolour paper.

Birds, especially Sparrows hold a special spot in my heart.

Also in Somerset Studio Gallery are some of my Dear Friend Mini Bags.

Our little picket fence enclosed country cottage front garden was created with the birds, butterflies and bugs in mind, is completely chemical free, and almost maintenance free, left to it's own doing.  Even the spent flowers look lovely to us, and we leave them as long as possible for the Yellow Finch to have one last feast on the Cosmos.

Since I love to send friends home with gifts (from the kitchen and garden) I make up little mini bags to hold the seeds.  Super easy, recycling brown paper shopping bags and adding a little watercolour painting and garden themed quote.

In the Winter 2013 issue of Sew Somerset, is my Power of Words Offerings Pouch.

Following a serious car accident, I turned to my books of quotes often, finding myself gravitating to the positive messages.  I began writing out favourite affirmation quotes and carrying them with me.  They found their way in my purse, my pocket, I had them tucked in the corners of mirrors around my home, and placed them on the dashboard of my car, reminding me to live life in the present.

I truly believe in the power of the written word which is where my idea for a little "offerings" pocket came about.  An expression of my belief that a few kind words speak volumes.

Made from a recycled pocket from jeans and 2 of the waist band loops, slip through a belt and fill with inspirational water coloured cards.

Share your cards freely ~ you never know who may need to read an uplifting message xo

Thank you so much to all those at Stampington who help make Artists dreams come true ♥

***

Keep your hands open

and all the sands of the desert

can pass through them.

Close them

and all you can feel

is a bit of grit.

~Taisen Deshimary~

And then, it snowed ...

The first snowfall

is always so

magical ♥

 

 

I am younger each year

at the first snow,

when I see it, suddenly, in the air,

little and white and moving;

then I am in love again

and very young

and I believe

everything!

~Anne Sexton~

 

I'm Dreaming of A Vintage Christmas...

I get into "Christmas mode" as soon as Halloween is over.

And if I wasn't already excited about Winter and the Holiday Season approaching, I definitely am now, especially after spending a few lovely, relaxing (and inspirational) days in New York.

 

Visiting some of my favourite stores like Pottery Barn and Anthropologie & the fabulous Christmas Tree Shop and I couldn't wait to get home and display my new finds.

The weather has been gorgeous and hopefully will continue so we can start some outside decorating this weekend.  I'm looking forward to seeing the house all lit up with twinkle lights.

Each Christmas I try to make something special to let each person on my list know how special they are to me & create a little package that is a gift in itself.  A few packages are leaving the country, and a few won't leave the house :-)

Dawn @ The Feathered Nest is always so generous with sharing her gorgeous vintage images & she posted a few that I fell in love with & they became the focal point in the gift wrapping.  I like to make little tea/coffee stained tags , stamp a special message & attach the tiniest of bells with a little twine.

A walk with Archer always has me coming home with pine cones and leaves and twigs, and these nature finds are being incorporated in my artwork.

♥I'm Dreaming of A Vintage Christmas ♥

Hello November...

When the trees

their Summer splender change

to raiment red and gold

When the Summer moon turns mellow,

and the nights are getting cold;

When the squirrels hide their acorns,

and the woodchucks disappear;

Then we know

that it is Autumn,

loveliest season

of the year

~Carol L Riser~

Autumn

 

♥Have a wonderful weekend♥