Start looking ~

Another beautiful issue published by Stampington & Company......Somerset Life is available at major bookstores and craft stores April 1st ~ you are going to LOVE this issue!!! So many amazing artists are featured inside....
and I'm honored to have my little fairies in a jar inside as well ~ xxoo, Dawn

Thoughts on friendship ~

I think of you often throughout the day, even when I'm not near my computer. So much kindness and inspiration is shared between friends here in this land of blog. I think of what I would like to share with you each day, just like a good friend you talk to on the phone daily. Some days are bursting at the seams with all that's going on but then there are days that are quiet and calm. But still I want to talk to you, just like a dear friend, just to say hello....to say I'm thinking of you....and that I appreciate you ~

We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.

Samuel Johnson

May the dreams you hold dearest,
be those which come true.
The kindness you spread,
keep returning to you.



Have a very happy Tuesday dear friends!
xxoo, Dawn

New neighbors ~

We have a few new blogging friends!!
I'd love to introduce you to Betty at Sammy Girl ~

And Marji at Untethered Soul ~

If you have a minute, it would be wonderful for you to drop by and welcome them to this wonderful land of blog!!

xxoo, Dawn

You find a lot of neat stuff when you move!!

As I arrange the new art space, I keep finding things that I'd totally forgotten about.....I'm trying so hard to place things and group things with like items so I can track them down much easier. It's really coming along and I can't wait to show you the finished room!!

I thought I'd take a few photos of some small things that I love ~ a pair of beautiful cameos, I'm not sure if they are chalkware or not, a gift from my sweet friend Judy ~

The most wonderful fabric that I found just a few weeks ago at.....you won't believe, Walmart!! Two different fabrics but they look wonderful together.... it has that speckled look that I love....maybe a little French looking even?

Some lavender buds that I dried from a plant my husband gave me ~ the plant didn't fare too well but I really want to try again....

Beautiful old boxes that contain very functional office items that were popular in their day ~ I love the graphics and their boxes as well ~

I didn't realize I had so many of these Home Companion magazines saved but I'm so very glad that I did!!! I can't wait to pour through them all again ~ I miss the old ME Home Companion

A sweet Clara shot for your Monday ~ she's living the life.....held by her great-grandmother in this photo :)

And a few gifts for you!!! I hope that you can use these in some way ~

Please forgive me if I haven't been able to respond to all of your sweet and thoughtful comments. I do want you to know how very grateful I am that you take time out of your busy day to stop by for a visit and leave a word of kindness ~ thank you so very much!!!

Wishing you a wonderful Monday sweet friends,
xxoo, Dawn

I've just got to share this with you ~

Remember my sweet friend Tammy who created the beautiful floral arrangements in the vintage baby planters....as a gift for the baby shower??? Well, Tammy stopped by today with a gift for Emily, Brent and baby Clara ~ just look at this GORGEOUS shadowbox that she made!!!!!

She wrote Clara's name out of RIBBON!!! We are all in awe of this sweet gift ~ and she even added a precious little nest created from white yarn ~ please click to enlarge and see all of the detail!!! She's thinking of selling these at her shop (she owns One Rose Florist in Jonesboro, Georgia) and taking orders for them. I could even see one created as a monogram for a wedding gift!!!! If you'd like her to give you a quote, send her an email to tcottrell@charter.net ~

Thank you so much Tammy, it's just beautiful!

We had hail today in Georgia!!! But thank goodness no tornadoes or anything like that. Just tons of rain and about five minutes of hail ~

Sweet Clara today, just dozing in her uncle's arms.....and then it seems she's dreaming of something funny!!! I just love those in-between light and deep sleep smiles!! (Sorry the pictures are a little fuzzy :)

As soon as I saw her, I recognized her.
She was the baby from my dreams.
She looked straight at me with her new, deep blue eyes
And for a moment I saw recognition there:
She had dreamt of me, too.

Written by Cheryl Dack of Rosey Posey Confections

Find her beautiful artwork HERE

Wishing you a peaceful, relaxing Sunday sweet friends ~

xxoo, Dawn

Beautiful old pages ~ I love these cast-offs

As I was arranging these old books on a shelf in the new studio, I had to take a photo for you. The tattered bindings, covers and pages are all something that I love. Some I use for my artwork, giving the pages a new life and some are too wonderful to use the original so I'll scan the page in and print it out or have color copies made.

This little bundle of goodness are the gatherings that I collected during our last trip to Savannah. Some of the moss that hangs from the old trees, pieces of a palm tree that had fallen to the ground and small fragments of shells. I saved these things to make a memory assemblage of our trip.

Remember the ephemera idea? Sewing the paper clips onto the long strip of fabric? Well, I am such a cheapskate that I wouldn't pay the money that they were asking (I didn't find the round ones, just the "S" shaped ones) so I thought I'd try these teeny clothes pins! I'm worried about damage to the brittle papers and I think they'll be a little more gentle to the paper that the paper clips. We'll see....

I'm slowly getting things put away ~

Sweet Clara, so very happy ~

Wishing you a wonderful Saturday dear friends!!

xxoo, Dawn

Back to organizing ~

Today I was able to get into the studio and start placing things. It's really just a beginning but it felt so good to begin organizing. I still have far to go but hope that it will begin clipping along.

See my poor little office chair? I've had that thing since Chase was a baby and he's eighteen!! I got the bright idea to place my upright vacuum cleaner on the seat one day so I could reach the ceiling fan with the hose attachment.....well, I can't remember if the ceiling fan was ever cleaned but I do know that the beater bar sucked the fabric right off of the seat of the chair!!!! I need to make a little cover for the bottom and the back.

Remember the shoe organizer that I placed everyone's artwork in that I had won or that had been given to me? I've hung it along the side of the refrigerator and I love it!!! Now to fill it back up ~

And you know I have to show you a sweet Clara photo ~

I think she knows that she's loved ~

Have a wonderful Friday sweet friends!!

xxoo, Dawn

Thank you sweet friends ~

The birth of a precious child, a wedding or another special event are the things that make our lives so wonderful. But to share it with sweet friends is truly the icing on the cake!!! A dear friend and customer of The Plum Tree works at the hospital where Clara was born. Deborah reads the blog and had been keeping up with all of the news and she knew right away when Emily came to the hospital!! She's such a sweetheart and continually checked on her progress.

Today was going home day and after I showed up to pick them all up, Deborah came by the room bearing the sweetest grandmother gifts!!! A pretty brag book and a beautiful bird in it's nest!! She knows how I love them and I'll have to find something neat to place inside of it.

Thank you very much Deb....you are so thoughtful and it was wonderful sharing this special time in our lives with you!!

Clara had a great day at home today (Wednesday). Emily has been amazing, as has Brent ~ they've remained calm, loving and are going to be wonderful parents.

Tomorrow I'm back in the studio to begin cleaning, organizing and getting everything placed where I want it!! I can't wait....hopefully I'll be able to put it together quickly because I am SO in the mood to create a little artwork ~

Please forgive me for not responding to each of your wonderful comments and wishes ~ but just know that to have shared this with each of you on my blog as been the biggest blessing to me!!! You all are such a blessing to me! Thank you sooooo much!


Wishing you an amazing Thursday sweet friends,

xxoo, Dawn

Precious Clara ~

Do you know the kind of love that makes your chin quiver? The kind of love that makes your heart swell like the Grinch on Christmas Eve???? THAT, my sweet friends, is the love that I feel for this precious little girl ....... we all feel this love for our new baby Clara ~

And you were all right dear friends. About this grandmother gig........my heart is full, and I'm so very proud of my son Brent and sweet Emily. They are feeling the same exact feelings that I felt 26 years ago when my first precious son was born (Brent). The surreal feeling that you're in a dream and can't believe that it's you....having a child and falling so deeply in love in just a few short hours.

These are the precious moments that make life worth the living ~

Noah is in love too! And an uncle at eleven years old.....

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Psalms 139:14

Thank you my sweet friends for each and every comment you've left here......I'm am always astounded at the love that is shown here in this land of blog......and you wonder why I love blogging??? It is because of YOU dear friends!!!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday ~
xxoo, Dawn

Our angel is here!

What a wonderful, amazing day!!!!
Madeleine Clara Edmonson is here ~ weighing 7 lbs 13 oz and I'm not sure of her length quite yet as they had not taken her measurement yet......
we are all. in. LOVE!!!

My son, kissing his daughter. What a precious sight this is......to see your child with his child ~ Emily is doing wonderful!! She did such an amazing job. Sweet Clara is doing wonderful as well ~ she was born around 8:30 pm, March 23rd.

Thank you all SO, SO VERY MUCH for such sweet wishes for our new little one, the mother and our entire family. We are all quite exhausted but after a good night's rest we will be able to enjoy this precious bundle even more tomorrow!

Thank you again dear friends, and that's truly what you are to me....dear, sweet friends.

Have a wonderful Tuesday.....I know I will!!!!

hugs and love to you all,

Dawn