Very honored ~

I love this photo ~ I took it way back the beginning of the year I believe....

some of my very favorite things to collect!

Yet another repeat baby....so sorry, I need to go shopping!!

I received a beautiful magazine in the mail today.

I'm so honored that Stampington added my Advent calendar to

this current issue of Handcrafted!!!

This issue is a gathering of past published artwork using

tons of different mediums...from sewing, to sculpture, to collage and more.

I found a few close-up photos of this labor of love calendar...

It was quite a doozy to create!!!

I loved using so many trinkets and treasures as little ornaments ~

I've had a few folks asking about the different glues I use ~

Below are my basic favorites!

I use Fabri-Tac for EVERYTHING!!

The matte gel medium is what I use to collage papers to surfaces.

I have several more goodies that I've acquired over the years

but these are my stock items!

I hope you're staying cool and comfortable during these

terribly hot days of summer ~
I am SO thankful for air conditioning!!!

Have a great Tuesday sweet friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Don't you love finding something you'd forgotten you had?

I love wonderful books. Not so much novels and fiction but the intructional kind of books. The books that teach you how to create certain things or show you ideas how to display your flea market goodies.

I'll admit it too, I have a ton of them. Most have been purchased on ebay, or at discount stores such as Ross or Tuesday morning. Some have been found at Amazon too. I'm always looking for a new one and always looking for a great price.

We've been preparing for Brent and Emily's arrival this next week, shifting things around abit to make them comfortable and give them plenty of room. As I'm glancing over my bookcase, for no particular reason, I noticed a book that I had totally forgotten about!!! Look at the precious ideas inside ~ the author is French and it's really evident in the elegant and simple projects.

After the holidays I am going to try so hard to complete a few goodies for our new granddaughter....

I finally hung up the Advent calendar that I made for Somerset ~ I'm not taking the ornaments off though.....we're just enjoying it the way it is, kind of like a piece of artwork.

I came across a beautiful Christmas card that I had to scan for you ~ I love the typestyle used! Left click to enlarge and right click to save to your computer ~

We still have a busy few days ahead of us this week with the kids moving home ~ but we'll be ready!! I hope that your day is a wonderful one, try to take the time to do something you love ~

xxoo, Dawn

I just LOVE wonderful mail!

Do you do this? You get something great in the mail, say a package that you're not quite sure of the contents but you just KNOW it's going to be wonderful, so you set it on the dining table.

You look at it.

You walk by it.

You even finish folding that load of laundry and think of it....anticipating the wonderfulness (don't know if that's even a word!) ~

Well, I'm that nut, and finally I do indulge myself and Monday THIS was my gift, Somerset Life!! OK, I know that I have a few things featured but this magazine (it so shouldn't be called this) or beautiful publication, is AMAZING!!

The wealth of ideas are so beautiful, timeless, artistic, and creative.....it truly shows you how to make your life and your surroundings more beautiful ~

There are so many wonderful artists featured in this issue too!

On newstands October 1st . . .

Just a little peek:

My sweet friend Nancy of Fete et Fleur has an article! Plus, there are so many other bloggers and artists with their work inside ~

My little mittens and rag balls with instructions!

And a little surprise I put together a few months back ~

an advent calendar!

I've taken a few detailed photos of the actual calendar now that it's back home ~ one of the little glass ball ornaments didn't make it there (see if you can find it) and it's a miracle I packed it safely enough to travel all the way to California!! It's really big!!

Each little pocket contains an ornament created from a special momento to hang on the tree as that day passes ~

There is so much more in this issue of Somerset Life I didn't show you...

be sure you get an issue, you'll love it!!

I just want to stop, right here, right now, and thank each and everyone of you who takes the time to read my blog, to offer up a kind comment or an encouragement to create.

It truly is because of my sweet wonderful friends here in the Land of Blog that I've had any confidence at all to have something that I made in my crowded little art room published in a magazine at all.....thank you for encouraging me and for cheering me on ~ I hope I can do the same for you :)

(((((((((hugs to each and every one of you!)))))))))))

I hope you have a great Tuesday ~

xxoo, Dawn