Wishing you all a most Wonderful and Happy New Year!!!

As I look back on this last year I am just so very thankful. Thankful that I had the courage to start blogging, and that I've been honored and fortunate to meet so many of you amazing, sweet and talented women.

I've realized several things in meeting you all. That we're all not so very different from one another. Even if you're just one state over from me or on the other side of the world, we truly all have so much in common.

We all love beauty, kindness, love, family, precious pets, creating and building one another up. For that, I do thank you. Being always a lover of creating but with waivering confidence, you all have truly made my 2007 a wonderful year.

What treasures does the new year hold? I'm not sure, but I do know this ~ I look forward to another year of reading about your lives, families, creations and thoughts . . .

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

A Faerie Journal ~

We've had the most wonderful week.

All of our children have been with us and we've really had the best time together. We only have a three bedroom ranch with a bonus room over the garage (fourth bedroom) so it really has been wall-to-wall sleeping!

I made this little faerie journal for my son Brent's girlfriend (and future DIL!) Emily because she wants to start jotting down ideas for a book she's going to write. She just started her own blog so while she visited this past week I was able to help her with her banner and show her how to change her background!

I found this incredible textured scrapbooking paper at Michael's and used it as the foundation for my altered composition book. I used Matte Gel Medium from the artist's section at Michael's. You can slather it on, lay the paper on and then place another coat on top of the paper. Then I just layer on the components on that I love.

Do you know what I love about collage work? That imperfection is the beauty of it all. I have such a perfectionist streak in me that I have to MAKE myself give it an imperfect look, but you see I still had to center things up on the page . . . Oh well, I wanted to do more to this book for Emily but they will be returning to Savannah today so I had to stop to let it dry so I could give it to her!

I sketched the little goofy faerie-brownie on the back!!

xxoo, Dawn

These little gifts for your artwork ~

Here's a beautiful photo of a pair of french women that I just know you can use in your artwork!!

I wanted to tell you all a little hint about printing images out on your ink jet printer . . . when you try to collage these pages after you've printed them out on your printer they will sometimes smear ~ I use a gel medium from the artist painting section at Michael's. Your colors will smear all over the place and totally ruin the pretty image that you're wanting to use in your work.

Well, I discovered a fixative that is sold at the craft/art store and it is a pastel/charcoal fixative that you spray on the print before you use it to "set" the colors and after it's dry, then you use the gel medium and it will hold it's colors!

But another neat tip . . . my oldest son Brent graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design (with a film degree) and knows this first hand . . . he used just a cheap ultra hold hair spray to do the exact same thing!!! Just remember with each product the fixative or hair spray, if you overwork the collage the fixative or hairspray will eventually dissolve!! But the hair spray is so much cheaper and the product performs the same duty! Give it a try and see what you think ~

xxoo, Dawn

A few goodies for you!

My oldest son, Brent and his sweet girlfriend Emily (soon-to-be DIL, I hope!) gave me the most wonderful scanner for Christmas, so you know we had to give it a try!

I have some wonderful French papers that Corey of Tongue in Cheek sent me a while back and here's one that I think you will enjoy. Use as a background in your work! I'm learning more about my scanner so I hope it's suitable for you to use. The other baby photo was included in a gift my husband gave me for Christmas, a beautiful vintage photo album!

Remember, click on the photo first to enlarge it to it's size and then you can right click to save these images to your computer!

Thank you all SO MUCH for your kindness to me about the Somerset goodness!!! You all are my cheerleaders ~

Absolutely amazing news!!!!

OK, I have to tell you all some AMAZING news! Something so, so very wonderful to me. And I have to share it with you, of course, my sweet blogging friends!

I did make sure that it was A.O.K. to tell you, but Jenny Doh, Editor-in-Chief & Director of Publishing at Stampington & Company and Somerset Life magazine contacted ME!!!

I have to tell you, I did a double take when I was checking my email. Jenny Doh? Don't I know that name? I glanced over to the Somerset Magazine, Somerset Life in the Subject area. NOW I know who this is!!! What? Emailing little ol' me?

Well, Jenny has requested several pieces of my artwork for TWO different issues of Somerset Life!!!!! What an incredible honor!!! I just had to share my wonderful news with you....my sweet friends that encourage and support me always!

I had already thought that 2008 was the year that I needed to have the confidence to send my work into Somerset magazine for them to consider it. What a wonderful blessing . . .

I want to thank you all for your encouragement. For your sweet words about my work that has truly cheered me on to keep creating. Just like I said before, every one of you are the wind beneath my creative wings!!

much love to you all and thank you so, so much!

xxoo, Dawn

Sweet things ~

I had to share something with you that I love to collect. It may be because I have five sons. Or maybe, I love beautiful old, sweet baby dresses but anyway....I love these neutral, cream colored baby clothes. It doesn't matter if there are little moth holes, stains or rips. They have a history. Who have they clothed in their little life? I love them all.

I have a sweet friend, Sharon, who gives me a baby dress for Christmas because she knows...and understands these little things I love....Here's one I found at The Plum Tree that was Cindy's.....I'll show you one that Sharon gave me this Christmas soon, it's precious...xxoo, Dawn

My heart is full ~

I have been so very blessed this Christmas!! My family is happy and healthy, I've had all of my sons around me, my sweet future daughter-in-law (we are kindred spirits), my wonderful husband and it truly has been a wonderful holiday for us all.

Thank you all for your sweet wishes for Christmas and I want you to know how much I treasure each and every one of you! Your kindness, friendship and encouragement make me smile and warm my soul. You truly are the wind beneath my creative wings as well. You make me want to create my art and show you what I've done, just like a little child! I thank you for that....

As we drove up to the house last night, after my husband's family Christmas gathering, I remembered that we didn't check the mailbox Christmas eve so we pulled up to the mailbox. Well, Dennis pulled out a few envelopes and a brown package with my name on it. Yaaay! I couldn't believe it, another gift? Did I win a contest at one of your blogs and not remember it?

Well, we go inside and I change, get comfortable and cozy and have a seat on my loveseat. As I read the outside "Quill Cottage." It has made a journey from Arkansas. I'm thinking, this is from Sandy! I slowly open the parcel and discover the most wonderful gift . . . it was like it was meant for me!!! I remembered reading the most precious story on your blog about this little bird...Sandy, this is the most precious gift I've received ~ and what beautiful timing...my birthday is today and I consider it my most treasured gift of all....

Inside was a sweet lace handsewn bird with a tiny button on it's wing. It was tucked inside of a little nest with handmade little velvet acorns with real acorn tops! A precious little nut half filled with little buttons and wrapped in tulle, a scrolled metal fragment, a tiny faerie pouch filled to the brim with little feathers, ephemera and four little stencils that spell B-I-R-D! A cluster of nature's finds intertwined with beautiful yarns and on the bottom of the box a bundle of papers that look like faerie maps!!! Oh Sandy, this is such a wonderful gift to me, thank you so very much!!! I hope you all can see the sheer loveliness of this parcel.....you have definitely paid it forward to me!!

I'm off to Hobby Lobby today to go hunting for more goodies to create with . . .

Much love to you all, Dawn

Wishing you a blessed Christmas ~

Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The Lord sent His Son to this earth to die for our sins so that we would believe in His love and live in Heaven with Him always . . .

~ I wish you all a wonderful and blessed Christmas ~

Sweet friend ~

Isn't it such a wonderful thing when your friends know you so well that when you receive their precious Christmas gift you just know "they so get me!" Cindy gave me the most wonderful Christmas gift today when I stopped by The Plum Tree.

A box chock full of trinkets and treasures that she knew that I would love for my artwork. Old keys, ribbons, charms, letters and so many other little neat items. I just LOVED IT! On top of it all, a gift certificate to Hobby Lobby! Thank you so much, Cindy ~ you truly do "get me."

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

The perfect Christmas cards ~

I knew the minute I saw these at Target, they were perfect for me . . . of course, I love Anna Griffin, so why wouldn't they be?? They have a slight vintage and elegant feel. Simple and understated. Just beautiful . . .

Martha's goodness again ~

Look at this beautiful shade of glitter I found at Michaels ~ You have probably already seen it and you may even be glittered out . . . but there's no denying, this shade is beautiful!

Does this mean my tree's tired?

Look at this pitiful little thing . . . our tree is bending with tiredness I think . . . but we did buy it Thanksgiving weekend. I've been watering it I promise! Don't worry sweetie, just a few more days to grace our home . . .

Don't you love gift baskets?

My parents are in their 60's and have most everything you can think of.

Clothes, got 'em. Kitchen stuff, got plenty of it. Knick knacks, got 'em.

What do you buy then?

Well, we have a Tanger Outlet Mall in Locust Grove and I had noticed that there was a Harry & David's and perked up when I saw the store! PERFECT! Neat, gourmet type goodies that I can make a gift basket for my mom and dad!

Here's a photo of what I came away with and just let me tell you, we bought a bag of the potato corn chowder for ourselves to make last Sunday evening and it was HEAVENLY!!!! I found apple butter, peach butter, flavored coffees and licorice (dad loves this) and the crystal biscuit jar (from Tues. Morning for mom.) So hopefully this little gift basket will be well received (the basket is incredible itself from my son's store!) . . .

Another wonderful book coming~

This book looks like I will love it, just by looking at the cover! This one to come out in February 2008. The Magnolia Pearl book is not due out until July of next year :(

Mmmmmmmm ~ this is gonna be good . . .

I love Magnolia Pearl goodies and Robin's eclectic taste ~ I want to be more like this. Offbeat and loving it! I can tell this is going to be a must-have in my library ~ to be released soon!

This and that ~

I love statuary. It's so evident all throughout our home. I've been given gifts, inherited and also purchased these wonderful pieces. They're in almost every room so I can see them when I walk through the house! What's so funny is I haven't even pictured them all!

Buy what you love, surround yourself with it. Your home is your haven. Your place to recharge and to be comforted from the stress of the outside world . . .

there truly is no place like home ~

These cherubs were my grandmother's

This is such a sweet mother with her children

I love this sculpture of a little boy ~ a gift from my husband one Christmas representing our sons.

St. Francis of Assisi ~ patron saint of animals, birds and the environment.

I love these busts of the boy and girl.

A Spelter lamp featuring a pair of beautiful women.

Another lamp in our bedroom featuring a boy with his basket.

A sweet statue of a girl.

This beautiful bust of a woman is in our master bath ~ she wears a pretty necklace that I found.

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This is a beautiful cake candle that Cindy gave me right before Thanksgiving. The scent is Spice and it smells heavenly! I can smell it even when it isn't lit.

Well, I had saved a several branches that were trimmed from our Christmas tree out in the garage and today cut up a few sprigs and placed them under the candle. I put a thin plastic dessert plate underneath the candle to lift it up just a bit so I would have room to insert the greenery. The small candle holders on either side are from The Plum Tree and I just love how it all looks together . . . coppery and festive!