An award for you!

Isn't this the most adorable award ever? I love the little girl's sweet smile! Deena of Nestled in the Singing Woods and Can I Be Pretty in Pink? gave this little award to me and many others on her blog the other day.

What an angel she is to me. Her attitude while she is fighting her breast cancer is so uplifting, such a testimony that I can only smile when I visit one of her blogs. And pray as I read everything she writes for her complete healing.....you have an army of prayer warriors on your side dear Deena!!!

As I write this post I think of so many wonderful people that I've been able to meet through my blog this past year. I am constantly amazed at this whole blogging thing. That I can meet people from France, Germany, Norway, Alabama, Florida, California, Nevada, the list goes on and on....That I can meet them through my blog, speak with them, learn about their lives, where they live, what they love and share the same about myself. And the best part? Lifting each other up. With praise, encouragement, humor, prayer or just a thought or idea. Whether you are on the other side of Atlanta or the other side of the world, we can touch each other's lives through this land of Blog.

I want you all to know how grateful I am to have met you and even if I haven't, I'm grateful that you take any little minute of your busy day to read my blog and for that I award YOU, dear reader and friend, this award!!

~ Wishing you wonderful weekend ~

Wonderful things from the OWOH giveaway!

I received the most wonderful package of good stuff ~ all the way from New Zealand!!

I won two different One World One Heart giveaways!!! This first one is from Pherenike of Sunshine Dew. Thank you sooo much, Veronica (Pherenike) ~ You sent me so many wonderful things to create with ~ Just look at this precious bundle of goodies!

Sweet papers, pages, images, lace . . . just all kinds of goodness including a wonderful piece of chocolate that I shared with Noah.

I feel so blessed to have recently received so many wonderful things to create with!! I appreciate everything so very much. To truly show my appreciation, I think I'd better get busy creating with these goodies!

A little post about birds, eggs and nests ~

I just had to show you the wonderful stamps that I received this week from Above the Mark. A gift certificate to this store was part of my prize package, and these are the stamps I chose. Mostly bird themed by I did pick out the cute bee hive and compass point. Their stamps are beautiful ~ they have a great selection, too!

Today I created another set of bird, feather and egg tags to sell. Tracey at Notes from a Cottage Industry bought my last set and look below at her wonderful idea for them! ~ UPDATE: Thurs. morn - SOLD, thank you!!

Tracey placed them on a backdrop of a page from an old book and framed them! How cool is that? She always has the best ideas ~

One other little thing, I have this sweet nest inside of a berry basket, feathers and all with a cute hang tag ~ for sale in my Etsy store very soon!

UPDATE: Thurs. Morn - SOLD, Thank you!!!

Wow! That's a lot of birds, eggs and nests!!! Spring is coming though . . .

I'm really not a secret agent . . .

I sounded a little like I think I'm one in that last post, having a "special assignment". The truth is (I spoke about it the first of the year and it's fine if I tell a little bit) that I submitted artwork to Somerset Life earlier this month and am now writing the article to accompany it! Hopefully it will appear in the Summer issue. I'm already excited about the Spring issue coming out. There's only four a year ~

This truly is not just a magazine. If you've not bought an issue yet, you've really missed out. It's a little more expensive than your typical magazine but I look at it more as a paperback book. There are so many wonderful ideas in these that you'll want to refer to them over and over!

I've worked a lot today on my article, trying to make it not sound too terribly corny and also to not sound like I talk, which is hard because I am who I am, a hick from Georgia! We'll see, maybe they have a great proofreader and will make me sound intelligent and polished!!

This mini composition book is all I could get finished today as I am trying to finish up the article. These little things are the neatest size. I think about 3 1/2" x 4" or so. Perfect to slip into your purse and use to jot down an idea, reminder or special thought. That's why I like to call them "Thought Books". I should have it listed in my Etsy store sometime tomorrow. If you'd like to see the books and other items I have for sale, you can click here to visit my Ecrater store!

See how small this notebook is? I used a little paint bottle as a visual reference for you!

Wishing you a wonderful day ~

A special assignment ~

I must admit, going to school, homework and other such little necessities are way too much for me. One go 'round was enough for me and even with my children's homework, I keep my advice simple and brief. If it gets too complicated or a little too much thinking is involved ~ my husband is just the one to help! He truly should have been a history professor. He loves it so.

I worked so hard in high school to make good grades and graduated with straight A's in the top of my class! I worked very hard for each of those little A's and was totally burned out when I graduated. As much as there is to absorb and learn in this world academically, I pretty much was over it by then!

Well, as I've grown older, I've discovered that I am a selective learner. (And pretty much a selective doer as well.) I learn about what I love or enjoy. I actually taught myself how to sew and for my second project made a dress shirt for my husband! It wasn't perfect but was quite an undertaking for a beginner.

I have just a little bit of news . . . I've been given an assignment today. By a wonderful editor of an art magazine to write my very first article about my artwork that I've previously submitted to them. And how do I feel about my "homework?" I am about to burst with excitement!!! This kind of homework, I will gladly do! Now, let's just hope they have someone really good with English, punctuation and grammar to help me a little along the way . . .

Sweet poem ~

"Hope" is the thing with feathers--

That perches in the soul--

And sings the song without the words--

And never stops--at all--

And sweetest--in the Gale--is heard--

And sore must be the storm--

That could abash the little Bird--

That kept so many warm--

I've heard it in the chillest land--

And on the strangest sea--

Yet, never, in Extremity,

It asked a crumb--of Me.

~ Emily Dickinson ~

Feel free to enlarge and right click my little bird, I scanned him in myself from an old book I found.

Sweet friends & finds ~

Friday I was feeling a little blue. I don't know if it was the gloomy Georgia weather (I see a pattern here) or just me and my wonderful hormones, but I just felt a little sad. The boys have been out of school all week and Noah had been invited to go to the Circus in Atlanta with Dennis' mother and sister and all her grandchildren (he had such a fun time!) and Chase was working with his oldest brother Brad. I was home alone but glad the boys had something good to occupy their time. It was Friday, I needed to get busy but just didn't feel up to it.

The phone rang and it was my sweet friend, Dawn (my friend with the soap business). She and our friend Judy invited me out to an early dinner. I jumped at the chance! My husband said he'd be fine so I headed out the door to meet them!

They are such sweeties. Judy and Dawn had dropped by a couple of thrift stores Friday looking for goodies for my artwork! They both keep up with my blog and kind of know the things that I love to create with and well, while we were eating our dinner, they proceeded to give me several wonderful thrifted goodies!!

The amazing little ironstone plates in the photos and a sweet little bird picture and a tiny little Tracy Porter book full of the most wonderful quotes and sayings. I love those you know. I want my artwork to "say" something. I imagine I could just use the images but the words add so much more dimension.

We had a wonderful dinner together. Afterwards we stopped by Ross and Marshall's and found THE MOST AMAZING little eggs for my nests!!! I'll have to speckle them myself but aren't the colors beautiful?

We had a great time together. Thank you both so much sweet friends for thinking of me, you really did make my day!

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

Marcel Proust

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

Today, my husband and I got out for awhile and enjoyed the day together. We stopped at a few stores. I found the most precious puzzle! Have you heard of the children's book, Guess How Much I Love You? It truly is so precious. Well, I found a puzzle by the same name! I'm going to add it to my little shoppe soon if you'd like to purchase it!

And I found the most amazing eggs, speckled and everything!! I want to adorn them for Easter and sell them as well. Eggs are definitely on my mind right now!

We stopped at a new Mellow Mushroom restaurant and had a slice of the most heavenly pizza. I caught a photo of the guy behind the counter tossing the dough!! And these pendant lights were just beautiful!

I wanted to add more items to my shoppe but haven't slowed down enough to. I've decided that I will sell my art in my Etsy store and my little antiques, books and treasured finds in my eCrater store ~ I'll see how things go that way!

I do hope that you're having a wonderful weekend ~ enjoy your days, hug those you love . . .

Thank you, Amy(and to all who voted for my artwork!)

Today was another great mail day!! My big prize from Amy of Charming Sam Studio arrived and I just love it all!!!! She let me pick out what I wanted from her store and it all truly is just wonderful. Thank you so very much, Amy!

Boy, I'd better get busy creatin' with all of these amazing supplies (and of course I have the beachy items from Miss Sandy and my nature goodies from Noah, too!)

Here are a few photos of the bounty:

(Click any of the photos to enlarge)

Plus, Amy gave me a gift certificate to Sara's store, Sadie Olive.com and I ordered these beautiful french cube soaps!

I finally packaged up all of my giveaways, prizes and what I've sold thus far and made a big trip to the post office today. Even my little bitty pink artist squares were mailed out! Mine are not really arty, quite simple, pretty and pink.

Plus I got my hands on the new Romantic Homes and Victoria magazines, they are both amazing!! And sweet Corey's home is now featured in Romantic Homes after being featured in Victoria last month!! WOW, YOU GO COREY! And it's a really big spread, too. I love looking at every little detail that she has displayed in her home. Just beautiful.

My Pink Artist squares:

Good stuff!

Whew! That was a long post ~ I hope I didn't wear you out....I should be adding new items to my little shoppe today, I'd love for you to stop by and take a look!

Wishing you all a very happy Friday!!

Nature's treasures & sweet stitches

School has been out this week for mid-winter break. It's so nice to not have a schedule ~ the boys and I truly enjoy it. But usually about mid-week I'm hearing, "I'm bored". Which my usual response is, "That's why you go to school to learn, and you'll be heading back before you know it so try to find something fun to do."

Yesterday I asked Noah if he would head outside (it was quite mild here in Georgia) and do a nature gathering for me. I asked him to look for items that I could use in my artwork. Here are a couple of photos of what he found . . . he did really good, didn't he??! I love that teeny-tiny acorn!

I was at Chase's soccer game the other night and it was really chilly so I brought my white scarf. This white scarf has been around for quite a while now. It's not terribly fancy but really soft and warm. My grandmother who passed away back in 1988 made this scarf.

I sat there, studying the stitches and thinking how wonderful that something that she touched, that she created, is still with me. I think of her often as she was creative and would be so proud of what I'm doing now.

Sweet stitches hold the memories of her love ~