What style do YOU love?

As I've been straightening and cleaning our home after the big move this past weekend, I've thought a lot about style. Decorating style. And how I don't really have one ~
well, not one in particular.....
I mean, I love French Country but no, that's not it ~

I've always loved Shabby Chic even before it was shabby or chic.....
it really is timeless, don't you think?

I love primitive style too. The age, the timelessness of it.....
but that's not really my "style" either.

What about cottage style? Now we're getting warmer.....but I can't say that it's definitely my decorating style either as I love very elegant and fancy things too ~

I finally came to a conclusion about what style I really love and
what describes our home best.....
I'll call it "Gathered Style"!
Because that's what our home is, a gathering of items that don't really match, the wood finishes are different, some items are painted and some not. Some things are elegant, some are very rustic and primitive but each item is gathered because it made us smile.
So it comes home with us and is worked into the puzzle we call home....
filled with the people and things we love.

Wishing you a wonderful Monday my sweet friends,
hugs and love,
Dawn

A couple of goodies ~

I forgot to show you something wonderful I bought at The Plum Tree the other day....Cindy has used this in the store for years and I've always loved it ~ she was selling it so I knew I had to have this beautiful old print! It's printed on canvas and bound around the edges like it was used in a classroom but also has a signature...so I don't know what the print was used for in the past but knew it would look wonderful in my studio!

I found a bundle of something at the grocery store Saturday, in the flower department....the bundle is furry and listed on the tag it said "filler" I guess in an arrangement. Well, I thought they'd look wonderful dried....and used in my artwork! We'll see how they dry though ~ Do you know what they are?

The kids have moved and are sleeping in their home for the first night! Our home is really quiet tonight but also calm....calm is good, right? They'll be back Sunday to get a few more things and then begin settling in ~ their house is so adorable and they're so excited to be back out on their own. Now to start working on a cozy guest room for a precious little girl!

Have a peaceful Sunday sweet friends,
xxoo, Dawn

Today is the day ~

The day that one precious little girl gets her very own bedroom!!! It's time for Brent, Emily and Clara to move into their new home ~ and it is ADORABLE! I'm so excited for them. After living with us for 8 months, they are ready to have their own space again I'm sure.

So our house will be in a bit of a mess this weekend.....Noah will be moving up to the big bedroom over my studio that they are leaving and he's so excited. He's eleven going on eighteen you know..... The boys will all be here to help get everything accomplished. I guess that's what happens when you have five sons, you have your own moving crew!!!

Wishing you a great Friday dear friends!!
hugs and love,
Dawn

Humbled and thankful ~

A sweet little baby for your artwork :) I love his(?) little smile ~

Yesterday sweet gifts arrived on my door step. Kindness gifts. You know the kind....you open them and your eyes fill with tears because of the effort and giving that was involved ~

Lisa of Tarnished and Tattered sent me a box of wonderful things and I just have to share her goodness with you! Look at the banner she made me!! I've already hung it and it just warms my heart to see it as I walk into my studio....

And look at the other goodies she included!!

These images are printed on petticoat or crinoline fabric! How cool is THIS?!

Lisa included a beautiful old book with some of the most wonderful images....I have to share them with you. I'll try to scan them for you too ~

Bees for the bee assemblage??

Dear Lisa, thank you so, so much!!! How kind and thoughtful of you....
I absolutely love everything!
You are just amazing and I'm so glad that you're blogging now!

Please check out Lisa's blog HERE, she's the mother of triplets
and creates the most beautiful things ~

Another wonderful image I have to share with you....found at my favorite shop The Plum Tree!

I've met some of the most precious friends through this blog ~
I'm most humbled and thankful to be a part of this little blogging universe.

I hope your Thursday is filled with goodness!
hugs and love,
Dawn

Fairy art ~

After making the little plate the other day I couldn't resist making another!
It's a simple design with a beautiful fairy image ~
I enjoy making these collages using plates that have been forgotten but are still so pretty.
Just adding a few elements transforms it from ordinary to wonderful ~
For sale in The Feathered Nest Shoppe :)

I love how just a touch a creativity soothes me...

Here's an amazing fact....
When she was little, I used to babysit this precious girl singing (dark hair) ~
Megan of Casting Crowns
If you have time, listen to this wonderful song!

Wishing you a great Wednesday dear friends ~
hugs and love,
Dawn

A giveaway to share ~

I love telling you about wonderful giveaways!!! This one is from Margaret at The French Bear.....and just look at the preciousness (is this a word??) that she's offering!!!!

Just CLICK HERE for Margaret's random act of giveawayness......

Just sharing the giveaway love ~
xxoo, Dawn

Little gifts and bees ~

I made this collage on a dessert plate recently ~ it's a little gift of thanks to a wonderful customer of mine, Marcy....she's so sweet for buying my artwork!! Your fairy shoes are on their way too!!

I've started gathering supplies to make a new assemblage. For awhile now I've wanted to make one about bees....I'm attempting to make a mini bee skep with jute to rest inside the assemblage ~ we'll see how that turns out!

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee,
And revery.
The revery alone will do
If bees are few.

EMILY DICKINSON

THE BEE.

Like trains of cars on tracks of plush
I hear the level bee:
A jar across the flowers goes,
Their velvet masonry

Withstands until the sweet assault
Their chivalry consumes,
While he, victorious, tilts away
To vanquish other blooms.

His feet are shod with gauze,
His helmet is of gold;
His breast, a single onyx
With chrysoprase, inlaid.

His labor is a chant,
His idleness a tune;
Oh, for a bee's experience
Of clovers and of noon!

EMILY DICKINSON

I've been very fortunate that our oldest son, Brent had a class in college on Photoshop. So he's been giving me mini lessons and I've been playing around a bit! I guess you noticed the new banner ~ I wanted to see if I could make my own and I did!!! It may not stay as I play with Photoshop more and more ~ I would love to make one a little more complicated but it's a start ~

This Friday is when Brent, Emily and Clara begin moving ~ they are so excited!!! I can't wait to see how precious Clara's little bedroom is going to be. It will be really quiet around here but thank goodness they'll only be about 3 miles down the road :)

Wishing you a great Tuesday sweet friends,
xxoo, Dawn

Your blog can be what YOU want it to be ~

As you stroll through blogs, sometimes you may see a blog that you think, "I want my blog to be just like hers!" Looking a certain way, or having posts that are always uplifting and cheerful but what I wanted to say is that your blog needs to be for you and about you ~ If posting about an event in your life helps you work through it, by all means, post about it. It truly is an online journal.

My blog is what I want it to be ~ about my creative endeavors and simple things that happen in my life. Some are not so pleasant, just like my sweet Noah breaking his leg, but the support I received from my dear friends in blogland during that hard time was AMAZING!! Now, I don't share every little drama that happens to me during the day but my blog is not about that. It's about time away from the hectic day-to-day things and about being creative and especially about being inspired by other blogs and your kind words!

Your comments inspire me more than you'll ever know sweet friends!

Have a happy Monday!!
hugs and love, Dawn

Simple offerings ~

A few little images for you to use ~ they are the old engraved style.....

I received my wonderful Somerset Life Calendar for 2010 this past week!
It's just as beautiful as I imagined ~ I just went to the Stampington website to buy it :)

I hope your weekend is going wonderfully ~ relaxing and restful sweet friends,
hugs and love,
Dawn

Tiny dresses make me smile :)

My sweet friend Rose knows just what I love! She emailed me a few days ago to let me know about an Ebay auction of fifteen little doll slips, FIFTEEN! Well...I won them!!! They've already arrived and I love them all. Now I need to get busy turning them into something wonderful. But really, they are great just the way they are ~ with their little stains, rips and patina of age ~
Thank you for thinking of me Rose!

Wishing you a wonderful Friday dear friends!
hugs and love,
Dawn

An inspiring friend ~

My blog has enabled me to meet some of the most wonderful people!! Last year a sweet woman, Sandy Denarski, contacted me to let me know how much she enjoyed my blog and that it inspired her daily. But after reading an article that she had written for Horse & Rider magazine, SHE is the inspiring one!! I'm am totally amazed at her story and loved reading about her life-changing decision. Knowing she did this to take care of herself, gives me hope that I can follow down the same path!! Please read about Sandy and her success story HERE ~

Sandy has also started a blog for Horse & Rider that she will be posting on regularly! Be sure to stop by and welcome Sandy....plus she will soon begin her own personal blog as well ~

Sandy, I'm so glad you're here and I just want you to know sweet friend, YOU inspire me.......


A scan of a beautiful horse print that I own ~ for you wonderful horse lovers

Sandy and her precious horse Nitro ~

I'm so glad you're here sweet friend!!

hugs and love,
Dawn

Just make a little something ~

I've realized that when my creative mojo is missing....all I need to do is make just a little something and I feel it coming back ~ also listening to my favorite music in the studio is another thing that I love. I'll pull out supplies and begin going through them, remembering where I found each one (sometimes) and as soon as I start layering a few things together, things that belong with each other, the creativity in me begins churning!!

Our lives are so busy with families, work, cleaning and cooking but if I can just carve out a small amount of time to make something, I then remember how good it always makes me feel ~

A sweet little paperweight that I put together ~ for sale in The Feathered Nest Shoppe ~

I found these shells the other day, they're perfect for beautiful pincushions!

I've been trying to pull out a few projects that I'd started and finish them up ~ this French journal is just begging to be finished!

And for your baby viewing pleasure, sweet photos of our precious Clara ~
who will be FIVE months old Sunday!!

Don't you just want to squeeze her?!

I hope you have a great Thursday sweet friends ~
xxoo, Dawn