On my mind....

I feel the need to share something with you that I feel very strongly about.

I've been wanting to post on my blog about "so-called" copy cat art.

I've covered this topic softly on my blog before

but it needs to be addressed strongly now.

When you produce a tutorial,

share instructions or teach a class

and you give or sell these instructions

to your blog readers....

you are RELEASING that knowledge to others.

When you do that, you are LETTING IT GO.

Your students will now produce these art projects

with their spin on them or their own version.

Also when you release this information

you must be prepared to TRULY release it.

Do I sell my tutorials then follow with,

"Oh, by-the-way, you can't make these, sell these

or even mail them in to be published because THEY ARE MY IDEAS??"

No...I move on and create something new as a true artist would.

Have you ever copied anyone else's idea or artwork ??

Or even taken simple elements of another artist's artwork

and incorporated them into your own?

I have a hard time believing any of us haven't.

That's really the wonderful thing about blogging...

sharing ideas and techniques with each other.

Plus, if I share projects on my blog to thousands of readers,

I fully expect, and even hope, to see other art pieces similar to mine.

Do I own cramming a nest in an old box??? NO way.

What I DO own is my style...how I can make the piece look ~

you can try as you may, but it will NEVER look exactly like mine.
That is what I own.

My style.

It is sad when artists are insecure
and believe they own a certain way of making art

or a certain type of art piece, for example, like altering bottles.

So many folks are altering bottles now

it's quite common around the blog world.
What about luggage pockets?
Do I own the right to use a luggage pocket in artwork
just because I used them a few years ago?
No.
Others can use this wonderful element
and create their own work of art....

No one person OWNS the right to alter a bottle....
use a baby shoe
or even a luggage pocket.

but you do own your STYLE.

Yes, I sell tutorials.
If you choose to teach a few friends
or even hold a class on one of them to share,
I would love it!
To spread creativity and nurture that spirit in others
has to be one of the best things about being an artist.

What I love is sharing, inspiring and encouraging others to create...

teaching then hoping it's information you would love to pass on as well!

Edited to add:

This post is my opinion and truly how I feel about this subject.
I had first considered hiding these comments but
your opinion is as valuable as mine.

It's not how much we have or how important we think we are...what truly matters is how we treat one another in this journey we call life.

hugs and love,

Dawn

Sweet speckled eggs ~

For a limited time only ~ while supplies last!!!

I've added The Feathered Nest egg soaps to my shoppe....

a perfect gift for Christmas!!!

~ JUST CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE SHOPPE ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

Everyday ideas...transformed into Christmas...what can you come up with?

So did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving??

I hope you did sweet friends ~

We have two....one Thursday with Dennis' family

then another Saturday with my family.

The only "great" thing is that

at Thursday's dinner someone brought an unwanted guest...

a stomach virus!!!

Over 3/4ths of the family's has had it now including myself.

I'm hoping this new week will be a healthy week!!!

It's time for us to bring out the Christmas decorations around here

and sometimes I love looking at past projects to see if

I can transform them into something for Christmas...

A tiny banner I made a few years ago...

I can see these made for Christmas,

can you tell how small it is?

Remember Martha's  pom poms?

You can find some wonderful holiday tissue paper right now,

after making these I can see a tiny misting of spray adhesive and

then sprinkling them with clear glitter to add sparkle.

Mini pom poms would make sweet light weight ornaments too....

Christmas cards displayed on a simple strip of ribbon....

I didn't make this last one but always wanted to!

I've not been very creative lately....except for my snowmen ~

I'm eager to get in the studio!!!!

Wishing you a very happy Monday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

More thankful thoughts....

I love having a blog. It's all about sharing, isn't it?

Sharing ideas, thoughts and happenings in our lives ~

I've had such a thankful spirit lately....

for my precious family, my sweet friends and

all that we've been blessed with.

Do you ever just lay in bed filled with thankfulness

to have a warm, cozy play to sleep???

Tears fill my eyes thinking of little things like this ~

I don't have so much to share but these simple things

and how thankful I am for you!!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

My wish for you....

To gather together with your loved ones,

your dear family,

your sweet friends,

even your precious memories of those not present...

and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

I am so thankful for each and every one of you...

Love you much precious friends,

Dawn

Relishing THIS very moment ~

Today my mind drifts to my precious grandmother....

as she sat at her sewing machine and made my dolls clothes ~

she also took me to my very first shopping mall! How cool was that....

Every summer I would visit for a week and she would

take the time to teach me something...buy me a jewelry kit or

have some kind of art to work on during my visit ~

My grandfather was the ultimate host....

during my week's stay he would always want to know if I needed anything...

A coke?  Maybe a bowl of ice cream?

He worked for IBM back in the day....and retired from there as well ~

He was an artist though and always had the best stuff for me to play

with in his office!! Papers, pens, pencils, rulers, tape...

When Thanksgiving rolls around,

I think of my sweet grandparents,

the memories we shared....and as I grew up,

married and had our babies ~
They loved our babies.

My grandparents have both passed now but I am

so thankful for my memories of them....

Seems the holidays always brings back the

memories of those we love and have loved ~

I pray for us all to relish the moments with those we love...

relish THIS very moment

as it will soon be just a memory ~

Happy Wednesday my sweet, sweet friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Thinking thankfully.....

I love thankfulness.

I think it's so important to have a thankful spirit ~

Not just this time of year but each and every day.

When you're thankful....you don't have much room for

moaning and groaning about what you don't have

in your life ~

I'm so thankful for my wonderful husband

who has always supported my crazy, creative spirit

and taken such good care of me and our precious boys.

He always works so very hard...when he's sick,

tired or exhausted.

Thank you so much for all you do sweet man  - you are loved

and appreciated more than you'll ever know.

I'm thankful for our five dear sons....

what true blessings!!!

Yes, we've been a busy mom and dad for just about

twenty-eight years now but these boys

were always my dream in life ~

a dream come true!

No matter how much work, stress or worry

has come our way, I'm SO incredibly thankful

for the gift of our five sons.

Just a few of my life's blessings.....

Have a wonderful Tuesday dear friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

A few simple joys ~

Sunset through the living room window this past Friday afternoon....

Our precious granddaughter Clara
playing Saturday afternoon at Mimi and Papa's ~

Playing is a very a serious business you know....

Working on my little army of snowmen,
here they are waiting for their hats and collars ~

I don't know why I love tiny stuff so much....

but when I was working on the snowmen ornaments

I had to make a teeny tiny one!

A bad photo of my teeny snowman in progress...

My simple weekend in a nutshell :)

Noah is out of school this week for Thanksgiving!!

I love no schedule...but I DO have to get this house presentable

for my family next Saturday for our Thanksgiving dinner ~

we go to Dennis' family's dinner on Thursday.

I'm feeling so much better sweet friends....

and what a blessing!!!

We take our health for granted you know ~

it's so good to feel good!!

Have an amazing Monday dear friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

And the winner is.....

Michelle from Rose Garden Romantic!!!

You won a sweet snowman ornament!!

Thank you all so very much for your precious comments,

I wish I could send you each a gift!!!!!

much love and hugs,

Dawn

Last day to enter my giveaway!!

And I know you're wondering....

what in the world is this woman going to give away??!!

She's stalled enough :)

I've been such a loser ~

battling this mixture of bronchitis/sinus infection and just

when I think it's gone....it all returns!

Too much information I'm sure....

I would love to give away one of my precious snowmen ornaments ~

Please click here if you haven't entered

my 1500th Post Giveaway!!

Giveaway ends this evening at 6:00 pm EST

Have a wonderful Sunday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

What's making me swoon right now?

I would rather have a pile of tattered, old, stained lace and trims

than rubies and diamonds.....

I'm joining Debra of Common Ground's Inspiration Friday!

What's even crazier?

I'll want to hoard this pile and stare at it all the time.....

I know, I need help.

hugs and love,

Dawn

Fluffing and Freshening....

Between moving to a new old house...

the hubs going to college and working all day at the soap biz....

me flying to Texas and being sick as an ol' dog,

the little antique corner we have at Antique Griffin was sorely neglected!!

Antique Griffin is having a Holiday Open House this weekend

so it was time to get my behind in and fluff our space a bit.

I've been REALLY trying to let go of a few things

so we're not so crowded here in the little farmhouse.

I devoted the entire day to sorting, pricing and fluffing up our space at the antique mall ~

If you happen to live in the area of Griffin, GA

there are TONS of deals to be had this weekend!!!

Our tiny spot:

Now I'd better get busy on my giveaway gift!!

Wishing you a wonderful Friday sweet friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

My little workshop ~

I'm working on a tiny army....

of sweet snowmen ornaments!!

I have an order for twelve of these little guys and

since I finally felt a good bit better (THANK YOU LORD!)

it was time to get the assembly line going on these guys.

I'm such a goob, I had to print out my own tutorial!!

It's been awhile since I made one ~

And while I'm sitting at my desk in my still messy studio,

I looked up and saw these precious little bedroom booties that

Lisa gave me....I had to take a photo for you ~
I know you're not supposed to love "stuff"
but I can't help it, I love them!!!
I told Lisa I should turn them into a pair of earrings so
I can keep them with me all the time :)

Do you do that?

Surround yourself with stuff that makes you smile?

Keep those treasures out so you can enjoy them ~

But then I lowered my head and got my hands back to the task at hand....

cranking out a slew of snowmen!

They still need to be painted..plus hats and collars made...

I know I haven't shared what I'm giving away yet

to celebrate the 1500 Posts.....
(enter here if you haven't :)

but I will soon...promise :)

Have a very happy Thursday precious friends!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Simplicity can be so beautiful ~

A sweet something arrived in the mail yesterday!!

A parcel from Winnie & Tulula's....

I bought a couple pair of net panels for our living room at the farmhouse

and had them shipped home. Thank goodness,

remember that suitcase was so about to blow!

I took a few photos to share with you :)

Now remember...I'm still really far behind in hanging pictures

and decorating this poor little house ~

These panels have the feel of a bridal veil without all the lace and pearls ~

but what they really remind me of is the netting on a beekeeper's hat!

Don't laugh at the goofy ladder back chairs...

I need more seating in this tiny living room

and for now they're doing the trick.

The clocks on top of the armoire haven't been arranged,

they're mostly just crammed up there :)

I love the craziest stuff.

See the old cash register drawer on the table?

A few laboratory beakers and a neat old jar with

our name on it (has an extra "d" though)

A close up look at the net panels ~

I love this little stitchery....the old magnifying glass and rosary ~

And you probably can't tell, but this old wisk broom is so small!!!

So, I look at this room as a blank slate....

Ready for some fluffy pillows ~ and gorgeous things on the walls.

My spirit is ready but I have been sick for a week and a half now

and I'm so SICK of being sick!

Thanksgiving is just around the

corner and my family will all be coming here

the Saturday after for our family dinner....

So I've got to get the lead out!!

I also have a box of curiosities on it's way to Georgia

that my sweet peep Lisa sent to me because you

remember the state of that little suitcase, right?

Maybe I can incorporate those in the living room too.....

Don't forget to enter my 1500th Post Giveaway if you haven't already!!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn