They simply belong together ~

I finished two more little pumpkins!!!

The first one is about 6" in diameter and these last two

are 5" and 4" in diameter...

I grouped them together on an old plate

and just knew they should be sold together!

I thought I'd share a couple of photos with you ~

the real stems really make them wonderful.

I've have them listed all together in my Etsy shop!

This afternoon I was starting dinner and

I noticed a little something outside the window.

It seems the shadows are getting a bit longer....

the sky is a little less hazy but crisper and a clearer blue.

It's still pretty hot here but we've had some cool mornings

that hold the promise of fall!!!

Happy Wednesday dear friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

A few more ~

I decided to make a few more of the little white pumpkins.

The first one hasn't sold, so I thought I'd make one a little smaller and then

a third one even smaller to create a sweet set!

They're almost finished and I'll be sure to share a photo of all three

in a grouping as soon as I'm done.

They'll have much more impact displayed together!

A few beautiful images for you to use ~

I hope your week is going so good!!!

Wishing you a beautiful Tuesday precious friends.

hugs and love,

Dawn

Using the stash ~

If you only knew what I have crammed up in this studio!!

But I finally decided to use some amazing real pumpkin stems

that my sweet friend Lisa and her children collected for me a few years ago.

SO, I created a fabric pumpkin!

No, this one's not made with luxurious velvet fabric you normally see
but a beautiful, textured cotton.
I decided to paint it after I stuffed it with poly pellets and polyfil.

I just thought it would give it much more body
plus I could brush on a little matt gel medium here and there
over the paint to sprinkle on a little "frost" or crystal clear glitter :)

I even added a little "frost" to the stem!

I love this little guy...he looks big but is about 6" in diameter.

Of course I had to add a sweet bird tag tied with hemp cord that

worked beautifully into tendrils!!!

This sweetie is listed now in my Etsy shop if you want to see more ~

I'm still wondering if I should make more...just look at the stems I have!!!!

I have to share this precious photo of our granddaughter Clara.

She absolutely LOVES kindergarten!!!

Her mama took this pic last week one morning before leaving for school ~

she's such an angel baby.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend sweet friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

A busy, busy bee!

Well, now I've moved on to soap!!!

We've got a ton of orders and we are doing some

SERIOUS catching up around here!!!

Just trying to squeak out a living and pay our bills...

I miss you when I don't post so I had to pop in and say hello ~

Thank you always for stopping by to see me dear friends!!!

Happy Tuesday angels,

hugs and love,

Dawn

A few new goodies!!

Which button is the PERFECT button???

That's what I'm always asking myself when making something new ~

So I dump out jars of them so I can pick through

to find just the right one.

Aren't they like little jewels???

I even have them sorted into colors!

That really helps when trying to find the right one.

I found a beautiful old earring that's perfect for one of the sachets!

Yes, it was in the pink button jar for some reason and I'm glad it was.

I just removed the clip-on back and sewed it right on!

Here are the pretty lavender sachets I just finished!!

I've used quilt scraps, doilies, vintage laces, embroidered linens and

gorgeous old buttons. Each sachet truly is a one-of-a-kind!!

I just love using these forgotten fabrics, buttons and trims to give them a new life.

They've all been listed in my Etsy shop if you want see more photos ~

OH!!! And I had a new idea!!!

I took this precious, tattered and stained baby bonnet and

FILLED IT WITH LAVENDER!

I simply sewed up the front, filled it with fresh lavender buds and

then sewed the neck closed. I added an antique lace bow and sweet button

to finish it all off. Then the ties became a hanger!

It's listed in my shop too ~

I love looking at beautiful, old things like this.

They outlived their original purpose but by re-purposing them

we still get to enjoy their beauty.

I've been busy!!! And that's a really good thing ~

Wishing you a wonderful Thursday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Post # 2,364...wow.

I just noticed this.

How many posts I've put together since Feb. of 2007!

Wow...it's really amazing, isn't it?

I don't know if blogging is all that it was when I first started though.

Yes, there are a zillion blogs now but blogging just seems different.

Everyone is coming up the newest DIY idea or what to make out of pallets

or a tutorial to share (even if it's totally crazy)

just hoping and hoping that they hit Pinterest paydirt

and get pinned into some kind of epic stardom.

Me, I'm just here making little things and sharing my life with you.

No stardom here but I do have a heaping pile of friends

all around the world ~

Friends that I've known now FOR YEARS!!

That right there is why I still blog.

Plus I do love being able to sell my wares and share ideas!

Now that the studio is so nice and clean,

and I can see my fabrics so easily,

I decided to make a few more lavender sachets.

It's so neat to be able to use a fragment of a torn up old quilt,

a piece of a vintage bark cloth curtain,

lace from the bottom of an antique slip and

beautiful old trims from Germany just to create

a simple lavender sachet.

They're not quite finished but I had to share a peek with you!!

Soon to be listed in my Etsy store ~ stay tuned!

Thank you so much for always stopping by to see me ~

your sweet comments are always treasured!!!

Wishing you a beautiful Wednesday dear friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

It's just the way it is ~

Stress...worry...and angst can totally suck everything good and wonderful from you.

I simply freeze up for some reason.

I do nothing. I don't know why...

But as a creative soul I just can't continue in that pattern.

I want to share, I want to make and create pretty things!

While I pause to return to my art doll,

I've started digging in my wonderful fabric stash!!

I have several pounds of lavender buds that are begging

to be added to a beautiful sachet....

My simple thought for this day dear friends:

Happy Monday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Just a little experimenting...

I guess you've noticed that I've still not finished

my little paper clay doll yet.

That's what I do.

When I worry I'm going to mess something up, well,

I stop.

Yes, I know when I paint her little face that if I don't like it

I can simply paint over it all and begin again.

But I really don't want to.

I want her to be precious right away!!

Anyway, I love Karen Milstein's beautiful paintings and

she offered a eye painting tutorial in her shop SO

I had to try it. Just to give me a push to finish the doll especially.

I didn't have the materials that she requested but I made

an attempt using paints that I have and winging it!

I just wanted to share my first attempt at painting an eye ~

I used simple craft acrylic paint and water.

I'm pretty pleased with the outcome but it doesn't really look like a little girl eye....

I'll definitely have to practice more!!!

I also wanted to share that I'm having a little August sale in my Etsy shop!!!

Simply type in

AUGUSTSALE

in the coupon code box when checking out

and receive 25% OFF your entire purchase!!!

Just four days only...sale ends Sunday night, Aug. 10th.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT!

I hope you're having a wonderful week!!!

Wishing you a great Thursday sweet friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn