Anxiously awaiting my sweet friend's return ~

Which sweet friend you ask???

My most wonderful 22 year old sewing machine!

It's been on the blink now for several months and

I've been using a Brother machine that just pales in comparison.

Soooo, I finally am having it tuned up,

repaired and I just can't wait to get it back.

Having used it for so long, it truly does become like an old friend.

I'm hoping to hear from the repairman any day now to pick it up!

With all this fabric and lace...I really DO need to get to making about a zillion things!

I ordered a new book the other day from Amazon and just LOVE IT!

The name is 'Stylish Weddings' by Jenny Doh
and it has some beautiful ideas inside.

No, I don't plan on creating for a wedding any time soon but

I've always loved creative ideas for weddings because you can

use the ideas to make gorgeous everyday items!

The good thing about this book is you can peek inside too!!!
Just click the link below to take a look ~

Stylish Weddings: 50 Simple Ideas to Make from Top Designers

I love running across great finds ~ and you know I have to share with you!!

PS... Only a couple more days of my 25% OFF Etsy Sale!!!

Stop by if you want to see what I have to offer ~

Wishing you a beautiful Friday dear 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 sweet images for you ~ and randomness

Can you believe this precious little girl???

Susan of Art of Mine found this photo for me

while we were out junkin' together Saturday!

I just couldn't resist her....

Free for you!!

And another gift for you....

this beautiful woman ~

Here is the sweet bust that I found too ~

I have a thing for figural statuary....

but I promise, it's going to the antique space :)

Not the small suitcases though,

I love to use them for storage in the studio.

A better photo of the old cigar box, I love it ~

Beautiful lace....someone worked so very hard on this, right Lynn?

On a keepin' it real note...

I thought I'd show a few pics around the junky studio...

yes. I am messy.

I will get tired of it though and eventually put things away.

It's just remembering where I put everything after I straighten up!

Still haven't displayed this sweet rack the way it should be....

You'd think I'd work on a few altered peat pots!!!

At least I'm prepared, right?  :)

I guess this is another one of those random posts...

not too interesting

but just a few peeks into my little corner of the world ~

Don't you love this precious bird, it's a stamp!!!

Rose of Bella Rosa found this stamp on Ebay!

The minute she showed it to me I knew I had to have one ~

They have a great stamp selection

if you'd like to browse around :)

Just click HERE....

I hope you have a wonderful Tuesday dear friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

Snippets of inspiration for your Friday ~

This is just a simple post ~ I wanted to share some beautiful things with you that I just love ....

The sheet music cover I've posted before (I used this image for the front of my apron) but love it so much I had to upload it again for you!

I scanned this sweet little girl for you to use in your artwork or to frame, I love the title "the wee nest"

I love pastoral paintings ~ they have such a wonderful quality about them....I love them even more if they have sheep in them ~

I was surfing the web and found some beautiful pressed flower artwork at Pressed for Time and I love the way this artist has incorporated her pressed flowers into the antique image!

More of her beautiful work ~ she sells prints of these lovelies and they will never fade!

And these....omygoodness....just look at these beautiful works of art ~ I would love to have one just to place on a bust that I have so I can enjoy how wonderful it is...the artist is Sally Kingston ~

I have several songs on my blog playlist by Thomas Newman. Well, if you've started your Pandora.com stations, try creating a Thomas Newman station ~ it's beautiful!

Wishing you a very happy Friday sweet friends ~

xxoo, Dawn

The printed page ~

I love books. Not novels and fiction. But the kind of books that give me inspiration. They are chock full of ideas, beautiful images, gorgeous decorating or how-to-make-this books. I have a pretty large collection as I just can't get enough! I'm going to start sharing a few with you, with tiny glimpses inside to give you an idea of what they are about.

This first book is one that I just bought ~ I've been wanting it for quite awhile now and just LOVE it!!!

Paper-Mache Treasures with Teena Flanner. Teena creates the most beautiful, vintage-inspired paper mache items. This is her book with complete how-tos on how she makes these beautiful things. You can visit her blog here ~ Don't you think her artwork is beautiful?

I've seen this book, Vintage Vavoom on many blogs and finally purchased my copy. I LOVE this book, too! Such beautiful eyecandy sprinkled all throughout. Tons of photos (love that!) ~ A wonderful book to sit with in the evening and enjoy the displays in the photos and the great ideas.

Lastly today, my first attempt at the foundation of a fairy shoe. It measures a mere three inches long and I'm not sure where I'm going with it . . . maybe attaching natural materials to it? We'll see ~

It's sunny and quite mild today, my cold has vanished, my muse is on my shoulder ~ it's going to be a great day!!

xxoo, Dawn

There is an angel...and her name is Alice ~

My sweet, dear swap partner of the "Junque in My Trunk" swap, Alice of Romantic Thoughts, sent me.... the. most. amazing. package!!!! WHY??? She wanted to send me a supplement to what she had sent me earlier in the week. I am just astounded at her taste, generosity and loveliness!!! This sweet girl is young enough to be my daughter and has the most refined and amazing taste. I so loved the package she sent me earlier in the week but she felt as if she needed to send me these precious items to add to the already beautiful bounty:

My dear sweet Alice. I played with these treasures for quite a long time this afternoon! I am amazed at your precious generosity! You really did not have to do this but......Please be expecting a piece of artwork, created by myself and totally in your taste, to adorn your beautiful home. You are a beautiful, vintage soul and I thank you from the bottom of my little ol' heart for each and every treasure I received today ~ you truly are an angel.

xxoo, Dawn

Kindred Spirits ~

How in the world can two girls, one so far north, another in the south, be such kindred spirits??! My swap partner in Heather of Pretty Petals Boutique's "Junque in My Trunk Swap" was Alice of Romantic Thoughts. I visit her blog and just get lost in the absolute beauty of it all. Heather, you must have known how much we truly have in common in our taste!! We even bought each other the exact same box to pack the treasures in!!!! Look at how she wrapped this precious gift to me:

Her handmade card ~ knowing that I love birds and nests!

A gorgeous initial "D" held by a precious bird ~

Just feast your eyes on the bounty!!!

Look how gorgeous these rolls of vintage papers are!

Look at all the wonderful trinkets and treasures!

Alice knew I love old papers and photographs ~

Doesn't he look like a little fairy jumping into the rainwater gathered in the flower??

Dear Alice, thank you so very much for each and every thing. I love it all so!!!! You really took the time to gather items that you knew I'd love! ~

Heather, thank you for pairing us together as partners. I know you took the time to see how much we have in common with our tastes!!!

I hope you don't mind all of the photos, but you are my sweet friends and I love to share with you!

xxoo, Dawn