What a year....what a really wonderful year!

And do you know WHY it was wonderful??? Because. of. YOU!!! I have to tell you that because of you, your inspiring words, your wonderful blogs and if you don't have a blog, your sweet comments, it has been an amazing year!! You encouraged my creativity. Isn't that all that the human spirit needs?? Just a kind word and precious encouragement? Your comments have MADE me want to create.....and as a direct result, last Christmas Jenny Doh emailed me and requested a few pieces of artwork and it has been wonderful from that point on. Meeting more new friends and creating more and more all throughout the year. Creating artwork is a wonderful thing but the friendships have been the best blessing ever.

If you have been one of those precious souls that have cheered me on, that have bought my tutorials or artwork, or even just glimpsed at my blog.....thank you for such an amazing year!!!

And my wish for YOU??? My challenge for YOU? To take the time to create or do what you love....even if it's just a small part of your day, try to carve out that time to do what you crave. Believe me, your spirit will be enriched and it will overflow to all those around you! When you do what makes you happy, you are indeed a happier person to be around.

May we inspire one another to create more, enjoy our loved ones more and to see all the beauty that surrounds us

Wishing each and every one of you the most wonderful, happy and healthy New Year ever!!!

love and hugs to you all,

Dawn

(ps. take the image if you want! :)

Imperfection is good and a little recycling ~

I've discovered that there's something really liberating about making an art quilt. Especially one with a bird/nature theme. I love the uneven edges ~ the fact that it's not precise is the look it needs. I loved things to look perfect but it's OK if this isn't. Nature isn't perfect but that's the beautiful of it, isn't it?

I still need to finish my little nest in a jar assemblage now that I'm creating again but I wanted to show you a little something. Consider using things that you'd normally toss ~ who knew a pickle jar could be so useful in your art??

Edited to add: I leave my jar and lid in the dishwasher for about three washes....or however many it takes to get the lovely smell out!!!




Can you believe it's December 31st??? What a wonderful year it's been with all of you!! I'm so excited about the new year too ~ we have so much to....create, share, love, experience and see!!


Wishing you a very happy, fun and safe New Year's eve!
xxoo, Dawn

A few little peeks for you & wonderful giveaway goodies ~

I still just can believe this is my apron on the cover!! Sherry at Creations from My Heart emailed me to let me know that Stampington has the (apron-ology) cover posted on their website!! I just had to show you too....what a honor.....

Monday I had a little parcel in the mail from Dianne at Mamas Pocketbook ... I won a giveaway and just look at all the goodies she sent!! A Make Mine Pink catalog ~ a beautiful hand sewn business card holder (I really needed this!) ~ a gorgeous handmade card and last but not least the apron pattern that I actually won!! I love everything Dianne, thank you so much!!

I wanted to show you the sweetest birthday card from my friend Su in France!! She makes the most beautiful things ~ Su, thank you for your wonderful birthday wish and for such a precious card!!!

I actually created today!!! YAAAAY! And I'm even almost finished with the project....I'm working on my first art quilt to send in to be published...well, if it's OK it will be ~ you see, I've never made an art quilt. I do love to sew though and I do love art so maybe I can pull it off! Of course I had to use beautiful bird and nature images that I love ~ printed on fabric of course.....I just love the way they look on the fabric!

Just a little peek before it was completed.....

I tend to procrastinate when starting something that I've never done before. Do you do that? I know I've spoken about it before. I think that after I finally have the idea worked out in my mind on how I'm going to do the piece I can then get started. Sometimes the idea just doesn't come as quickly as I'd like!

Wishing you all a very happy Tuesday sweet friends ~

xxoo, Dawn

Another wonderful celebration!!

Today we had Noah's birthday party....it turned out just wonderful! Dennis' family came and his two little cousins helped him celebrate!

Just look at this sweet cowboy....our niece's youngest son!

Thelma the cat showed up too ~

Our other niece's little boy joined in the fun too ~

He had a great day!! We have such a wonderful family, always so sweet to come to our boy's birthday parties....and believe me, we had a TON of them with five sons!

I forgot to share something I found Friday at Barnes & Noble!! I love this cookbook ~ they come out quarterly and are just wonderful!! The recipes are simple, healthy and delicious ~ I've seen them at my Publix as well. Seems like they sell fast though! It costs 10.99 but it's so WORTH it ~

Today I'm going to work on something new!!!! I can't wait...I'll show you a few peeks soon ~ I wanted to share something else with you too. Have you ever noticed how many food items are boxed in your pantry?? Well, this cardboard, say on cereal boxes and such, is a valuable resource for your artwork!! You can open them up at the seam and using a paper cutter or a simple ruler and art knife you can cut yourself: bookmarks, tags, ATC cards and other things that you would normally buy cardstock for at the craft store.

Take spray adhesive or spray glue and mist the cut cardboard (inside an old box) and lay sticky side down on your choice of papers, then trim around the cardboard cleanly.THEN flip and spray the other side of the cardboard and lay sticky side down onto pretty paper and trim. Now you have a beautiful foundation to create your ATC, tag or bookmark!!!

Remember, you don't have to have scrapbook paper on hand to make something beautiful ~ use old book pages, sheet music, newspaper, wrapping paper, wall paper, etc.

Thank you all again so very much for the sweetest birthday wishes ever!!!! They all mean so very much to me.....hugs to each and every one of you!

Wishing you a wonderful Monday dear friends ~
xxoo, Dawn

A few gifts for you ~

I love this precious illustration! Just look at the little girl and the bird is adorable! Click to enlarge and right click to save to your computer ~

Another beautiful illustration! Maybe you can use these in your artwork ~ I'm so in the mood to create....tomorrow is Noah's eleventh birthday party (it's really Dec. 30th but we wanted to have it on the weekend) ~ so after the party I can get back to my artroom, I miss that wonderful place....

Wishing you a peaceful Sunday sweet friends ~

xxoo, Dawn

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

~ ELEANOR ROOSEVELT ~

Birthdays can be GOOD!!

What precious friends I have!!!! Thank you ALL sooooo very much for your sweet birthday wishes!!!!!! Your friendship is the most wonderful gift of all ~ to read each and every comment was like opening so many birthday gifts! Thank you dear friends ~ you don't realize how much you all mean to me....

I just have to share a few goodies with you! Christmas eve....late.....a package arrived on our doorstep. It was from my sweet friend Charlene of My Heart's Ease in Texas!!!! She sent me the most wonderful Christmas goodies....I wanted to show you these treasures ~ a beautiful notepad book with a frame in the front...I've got to decide what to display in it (I do have to make myself notes all the time Charlene...you know I AM 47 now!) And look at the little baby shoe on wheels!!! Isn't it adorable? A nest, candle and a beautiful handmade card as well ~ thank you so much sweet Charlene!!! You know I just love it ALL!!

Well, I had a MARATHON shopping day!! My birthday was WONDERFUL!!!! I had lunch with my friend Dawn ~ and we always enjoy seeing each other....from there I did get to search around Hobby Lobby, found several goodies and I moved on to Jo-Ann Etc. then lastly, I did go to Barnes & Noble. The photos below show all my treasures!!!! I used 50% off coupons....as Jo-Ann's will accept Michael's coupons and they do have the BEST books ever. Just look at the book from Ruth Rae! Shadow boxes for nests, eggs to paint, molds for paper clay, a cropadile tool (half off!), scrapbooking papers, etc!!!! Good grief, I've got to get so busy.....creating my little heart out.

Yes, I bought a book and the supplies to start needle felting!!! I hope I can do this....just look at how precious the little projects are in the book ~

I even found a few goodies on sale for things I want to make for the baby shower!!!!

Lastly, a sweet book, half off at the book store that has the most incredible old illustrations in it. I'll have to share a few with you!! I have this book but it's very old and small. This one has been reproduced and looks gorgeous!!

The best birthday gift of all????? Sweet Jenny Doh emails me to let me know my apron is going to be ON THE COVER of the premier issue of Apron-ology!!!!! HOW AMAZINGLY COOL IS THAT??? Thank you all so much for being so very encouraging and supportive....You all are such wonderful cheerleaders and friends to me! You must know that I love creating and love it even more now because you. inspire. me!

Wishing you all a wonderful, relaxing weekend sweet friends ~

xxoo, Dawn

How in the world did I get to be 47??

Yep. 47. Today. But in my mind, I'm still that 19 yr. old girl, getting married and starting a life with her sweetheart. Blink, blink and here I am! Oh well, I guess age is just a number, right?

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas!! We sure did here ~ simple, thoughtful gifts with lots of just enjoying being together. Today I'm going to squeeze in a little fun shopping at Hobby Lobby and maybe a little Jo-Ann Etc.....and maybe some Barnes & Noble ~ and lunch with my sweet friend Dawn! Everyone else will just relax at home and that's the way they like it when I'm hunting and gathering things to create with ~

I have a special project to finish this week for one particular magazine and and article to write for another as well. Are you already getting excited about the new year?? I sure am! I really want to be more productive with my artwork, create more tutorials to add to Lessons from The Nest and I would love to start writing a book! Pretty ambitious, huh?? Well, we'll see :) Maybe if we shoot for the stars it will help us achieve more than we ever thought we could ~

Wishing you a wonderful Friday sweet friends!

xxoo, Dawn

Christmas Blessings ~

Wishing each and every one a most wonderful and blessed Christmas filled with love and the knowledge that our Saviour was born this day to live and then sacrifice His life so that we all may live with Him in Heaven forevermore ~

I'm so very thankful for each and every one of you sweet friends ~

Merry Christmas!!

xxoo, Dawn

Merry Christmas Eve sweet friends ~

I've been blogging now almost two years....my blogiversary is in February! I remember when I still had the antiques store and made my first few pieces of artwork to sell there. I had been so inspired by blogs that I had visited and their creations that I just knew I had to make something.

Well, one of my first pieces of artwork was a little baby resting inside of a nest with speckled eggs. He had a cute hat on and was surrounded by shredded sheet music! All these things were encased in a wonderful old jar. That first piece of artwork sold to a sweet customer who does not realize the fire that she ignited in me! That first customer gave me the confidence to create more and to realize that someone would really like my stuff.....and that first customer was Kathy of Country Chintz!!!

Time passed and Kathy began to blog as well and show her beautiful artwork. Today I received such a special package from her for Christmas!!!! It was chock full of wonderful creations that she's made ~ just look at each and every photo....she's so incredibly talented! Kathy, I just LOVE it ALL!!!! What a gift dear friend! I can't thank you enough for these special handmade gifts.....I will treasure them always.

And most of all, Kathy, I want to thank you for purchasing that first piece of artwork and giving me the sweet nudge and confidence I needed to create more!!!

Isn't that what Christmas is all about? The giving, the receiving....and helping each other along this road we call life. I can only hope and pray that I've encouraged you this past year just a tiny bit to create, to have confidence in yourself and to try new things ~ because you, your inspirational blogs and your sweet comments have encouraged me immensely.

I wish each and every one of you a wonderful and blessed Christmas eve ~

xxoo, Dawn

Christmas kindness ~

What a wonderful mail day!! To look in the box and see a package from sweet Dorthe of Den Lille Lade in Denmark.....and a Christmas card from my dear friend Su in France!! Who would have ever thought that I would meet such amazing women that live so very far away from me. But it just doesn't matter how far apart we are, we know that we are friends and that's what's important!

Dorthe made me the sweetest angel for Christmas, and a wonderful ornament with a bird and nest!! Also an ornament with a map of her home with some beautiful bird stamps as well! Dorthe, you know exactly what I love sweet friend and I thank you so very much for these treasures....they are all so very special to me!!!

Isn't she beautiful?

Su and I have been friends for awhile now and the wonderful thing? She calls me and we have been known to chat for hours!! She lives in France and here I am in Georgia.....but no matter, we share ideas, techniques and talk about life....I'm so thankful to have met you Su! I love my precious handmade Christmas card and am saving my birthday card till then!!! (the day after Christmas :) Thank you so very much for taking the time to send these to me ~

Look at what another sweetie, Anji, did for us all.....she cleaned up the lovers print!!!!

Click to enlarge and right click to save....



Another of Beatrix Potter's illustrations for you as well ~



It's so funny, I've been telling Noah all day, "Tomorrow's Christmas Eve Eve!" can you believe it?? We're all just about ready I think ~ just need to clean a bit tomorrow. I've seen so much snowy, wintery weather around ~ I hope that each of you are safe and warm.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas Eve Eve ~
xxoo, Dawn