A few ideas for you.....and wishing you a wonderful Memorial Day ~

I want to wish each and every one of you dear friends
a wonderful Memorial Day ~
So many have sacrificed so much for our freedom....

The photo below is a looking up from my work table....
I just love stacking things to the ceiling!

You know what a frugal chick I am ~ well, when it comes to art supplies
I love finding good stuff for a great price!!
I stopped by Hobby Lobby (are you sick of hearing about this store?)
last week because they have a 40% off coupon
every other week and I can't stand to not use it :) and found
several isles of 66% off home decorating things.
I did get to use the coupon on a Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine too!!!

What I love to do is find canvases or other items for a great price
that I can use as foundations for my own artwork!!
I can gesso over them or even apply old music sheets or ledger papers
directly over the original design.

I love this burlap covered piece....
now to figure out what I can turn it in to!

This is a stretched canvas that I will be transforming as well ~
(the design is really neat but I bought it to use for my own artwork.)

So my idea for you is to look at things a little differently.
If you're at the thrift store and see an awful painting on canvas,
grab it! Then gesso over and create your own artwork on it!!!!

Plus, I've got to share a wonderful art challenge
that Lisa of Tarnished and Tattered
has come up with!!!

She found these amazing soap boxes at Target and a few other places,
I think the brand of soap is Pure & Natural....
Well, you can go out and purchase your own,
remove the soap and use it of course then
alter the soap box!!!!
She's going to have a show and tell on June 28 where
we can all post photos of our own altered boxes on our blogs!!
The great thing about all of this???
NO POSTAGE REQUIRED!!!

So head on over and grab Lisa's button at the top of her right side bar
if you'd like to join in,
now....what can I do with mine???
hmmmmm, I'd better get to thinkin'....

PLUS, Mitzi of Mitzi's Collectibles has a great new project
featured
on her blog!!!!
An altered suitcase.....
I can SO see mine ~
I would love it to be covered in copies
of old handwritten letters.....




Sending you all love and hugs,
Dawn

I love what I do ~

Wife, mama, mimi, artist....I really do love it all!
I love making things and finally finished something new ~
I'm calling this mixed media collage
"The beauty of their dreams"
The quote I featured is my favorite ~
If you're interested, it's been added to the shoppe.

I love new bloggers....well I love most all bloggers
but I love having new friends join our community, don't you?
There's more love, more inspiration and more friendship all around!
And please don't forget, if you are reading this blog....
and you've been toying with the idea of starting your own,
DO IT!!!
Blogger.com is free and it's such a sweet place to be...



I recently met Penny of At Home in English Valley
and would love for you to stop by
when you can to say hello!!!

Another new blogger I've "met" is Laura of Just for Luv....
please stop by and welcome her as well!!

And I discovered Michelle at Michelle's Folly....
I'm so glad you're here blogging too!

Thespa of Vintiquities Workshop a 100 Post Giveaway HERE!!!

Shari of Plays with Paper is celebrating her 101st Post with a giveaway HERE!!!

Barbara of Treasures from the Heart is having a giveaway HERE!!!

And Paula of Castle and Cottage Signs is have a giveaway HERE!

A little artwork, sweet new bloggers and wonderful giveaways...
And last but certainly not least,
a wish for you to have a great Thursday dear friends,
hugs and love,
Dawn

Do you see the simple, classic beauty?

It seems I always return to nature for inspiration.
The beauty of nature is classic and timeless.
When I create a piece of artwork that is nature inspired,
I love thinking that in maybe ten years or so,
it would still be enjoyed for it's classic style.

Below, a cutting I pressed, backed by burlap and then scanned for you...
Feel free to use this if you'd like!!

A few quotes I've gathered too,
feel free to take these as well sweet friends....
Just click image, then click it again to fully enlarge
then right click and select "save image as" ~

Wishing you a beautiful Wednesday dear friends!!
hugs and love,
Dawn

Kindness always makes you smile ~

I have a few little image gifts for you!!
A wonderful old photo of a woman...
don't you love her dress?

A few more sweet images ~

The cards above came in the most wonderful
surprise package from Marie of Spun by Me...
they were accompanied by this precious gift ~

Look at her expression....
A beautiful little angel gently holding a bird's nest ~
Marie said she thought of me when she saw it
and knew she had to send it to me!

And look sweet Marie! She fits wonderfully on
my tiny side table in my studio.

And look at this gorgeous rose she included....
Dear sweet Marie, thank you so very much,
I just love her!!

Also a package arrived from sweet Lisa of Tarnished and Tattered!

Lisa and I both love books and have tons of the same ones...
well she discovered that there were a few
that I didn't have and she knew I'd love them ~
plus she added the most wonderful Japanese sewing books!!!!
Lisa bought them in San Francisco at a Japanese book store....
Thank you so very much sweet Lisa, I love it all!
Now I've got to figure out what to make first :)

I love this Tinsel Trading book!

A few peeks inside:

Another wonderful decorating book.....

A few peeks inside:

Have you ever seen how neat the projects are in Japanese sewing books?
No, I can't read the instructions but the patterns and photos guide you.

Sometimes I can't even believe how many precious friends I've made here.
Just when I'm feeling blue or having a rough day,
my dear friends here in the land of blog make me smile!!!!


I hope you have a great Tuesday sweet friends,
hugs and love,
Dawn