Something old, something new....

I scanned a wonderful page from one of the old books I found Saturday ~
I hope you can use it in some way....

Here are a few of the treasures we unearthed Saturday too ~
I found a few goodies for me :)
I cannot WAIT to make this silver tray into a collage....

The books were so inexpensive and the more rugged and worn, the better!

I know you've seen one of these serving pieces before,
it's not old but I've always thought they were neat!

And this, an old stamp holder....

an old folding ruler ~

This is the largest, heaviest pair of scissors I've ever seen!

I found these journals last week at Books-a-Million
and loved that they are covered in creamy fabric....

I've been wanting to make a few velvet strawberries lately,
but this is about as far as I've gotten....

Our lunch with our old classmate Ray and his wife Holly was so much fun!!!
It's still hard to believe that we hadn't seen each other in thirty years....
Ray creates pottery (as well as being a teacher for gifted students)
and he gave Dawn and I both some of his art pottery!!!!
I think it's beautiful ~

I have some wonderful news too....our second oldest son,
David, is now engaged to his sweet love, Jerri!!
We are so excited and they are going
to have the neatest wedding in October ~
they will be married out in the country on some land
with a little cottage and a barn ~
they will be roasting a pig!!!
It's going to be such a blast ~

Thank you so much for stopping by to see me...
I hope you have a wonderful Tuesday sweet friends!!!
hugs and love,
Dawn

What makes you happy?

It doesn't take much to make me happy...6 bucks will do! I found this amazingly old book while treasure hunting yesterday, and just LOOK at the date...1855!!! My goodness!!! And for six dollars? Honey, you are MINE!

Yes, the pages are stained and spotted with age. There are even pages missing ~ but who cares. What is important is that this wonderful old book is still here, after so many years.

I love the embossed cover and the beautiful old handwriting inside ~

And there was this precious image inside that made me think of you ~
and how much you would love it!!!

Such good stuff to share with you:

Just LOOK at the precious snowman that Marianne of Songbird made from my tutorial in Artists Class!!!! I absolutely LOVE him sitting on a box....can you tell what special job he will have for her holiday gathering?? :) He's so wonderful Marianne, thank you so much for sharing him with me!

You've got to see these eco-friendly Christmas ideas from Mitzi on Mitzie's Collectibles Blog! What's so neat, is that I have several of these ornament boxes that I've saved not knowing what to do with them! I knew they had wonderful graphics but....what to do with them?
Well, now you know.....

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

Such simple things can be so special ~

Do you feel that way? I find that the most simple, commonplace items make me smile now. And group several of these gathered treasures together?? Pure sweetness!!

They can be old, ragged, worn or stained...it doesn't matter one little bit. As a matter of fact, that makes me love them all the more!

After finishing up my tiny glass cabinet, I filled it with some of these things. Items that when I glance at them in the studio, they make me smile ~ scuffed baby shoes, old spools of thread, tiny little cardboard boxes and even stained china.

In your creative space, whether it be a small desk in a guest bedroom or the breakfast table in your kitchen, surround yourself with a few gathered treasures that make you happy!

I'm so thankful for each of you wonderful friends.

I look forward to sharing some little something with you every day and appreciate you taking the time to stop by and see me ~


Wishing you a very happy Friday ~
hugs and love, Dawn

What are you drawn to?

Beautiful, old ecru lace?

Sweet, vintage buttons ~

Beautiful images ~

Bird cages filled with flowers ~

Wonderful old children's things ~

Windows with no glass?

Bunnies, bears or old books?

A sparkling clean gallon pickle jar ~

The tiniest of antique satin change purses ~

I believe this just barely scratches the surface....

Wishing you a very happy Friday sweet friends ~
xxoo, Dawn

A library is a wonderful place ~

I love books. Mostly picture books....I guess I've never outgrown that. I've read fiction in the past, seems it was before having children though. When time was in abundance and I didn't feel so compelled to make my time "count" for something. Not that reading fiction doesn't count. It can be a great stress reliever which in turn is really good for the reader and for all who live with them!

It just happens to be my preference, liking non-fiction books. Emily and I took a trip to the library today. She's reading all she can about pregnancy and babies. I was the exact same way. Knowledge is power when doing something you've never done before. She found her handful of books. Me? I found NINE! Yes, just nine. I could open a library in my bedroom right now but I still managed to find nine books that were very interesting to me! I look for very old books, informational books or how-to and also books about artists. I found the most wonderful book about the art of Beatrix Potter. I had to scan in the precious work below, I can't remember seeing it before but you may have. I've always loved her artwork......

Another book I found is one about Da Vinci's work ~ don't you just love his art? It's truly breathtaking.

Believe it or not I've still been battling this cold, it's almost been a week now but maybe by the weekend it will be gone?? I've not been terribly creative as a result of not feeling well and I truly yearn for it. Hopefully I'll be able to carve out a few moments in the next few days to make something. Does it make you sad not to create? Well, maybe not sad, just not accomplished in some way. I hope that you all are feeling good, staying healthy. I'm so very glad you liked the French images!! I love sharing my stash with you and hope in some way it will encourage you to make something beautiful ~

Wishing you a great Wednesday!

xxoo, Dawn

Such sweetness from a friend and an AMAZING publication ~

Can you believe these treasures?? To some these items may look too old, too worn or too shabby....but Mandy at Wish on a Whisker knows my heart!!!! Saturday in the mail this precious little parcel arrived. Oh Mandy, I love it all!!! They are like precious treasures to me and perfect to use in my artwork! Thank you so very much sweet friend ~ Just look at her beautiful handwriting on the envelope!

I finally got my hands on the premier issue of Where Women Create!!!! I've been waiting so patiently for this new publication from Somerset and it's HERE!!! I love, LOVE to see how other artist's studios look. To see how they store things, how they organize their supplies, and just to LOOK at the rooms. Seeing their studios inspires me. It's amazing how visual we are isn't it? Just seeing these amazing old things like what Mandy sent or seeing these incredibly talented women and their work spaces can light a creative fire in me!

This is one you don't get rid of....you don't throw away, you don't give away ~ you'll keep it and refer to it again and again. It's 15.00 well spent! Here's a tiny peek:

Thank you all so very much for the amazing response on the Christmas Treasury Tutorial ~ I hope you all are creating your little hearts out! I've had a special request for a new tutorial for the store and I'm going to get started on it this week.....it's going to be a Bird's Nest Assemblage Tutorial!

I can't believe the boys only have ten more days of school then they are out for a week for Thanksgiving!! This season is already moving like a freight train, don't you think?

I wish you all a wonderful week ahead and a very happy Monday!

xxoo, Dawn

I have the most wonderful surprise to show you!

OMGoodness.....I have the most wonderful friends here in this land of blog!! I received the most thoughtful gift Tuesday from Kathy at Shocking Pink Thread ~ a beautiful old book about bird homes!!! She had it wrapped so sweet, in vintage wallpaper no less ~ tied with antique lace, tulle, ribbon, flowers and bird tags....it was all so very beautiful and I saved each and every thing.

When I opened this treasure up, I could not believe my eyes!!!! Kathy!! Thank you so, so very much for this beautiful gift, I will treasure it always and I promise to scan and share some of these with all of you too! Just take a look:

This was so very sweet......Kathy, you know just what I love!!! Thank you again so very much ~

Brent and Emily arrived Tuesday afternoon! We were all so glad to see them and see Emily's sweet baby belly too! I've already been pulling out the boxes of baby things that I've saved and have given her some goodies....today I'm going to be digging for more ~ I love giving her things that were Brent's and she's appreciates them so much.

I hope that your week is going wonderful ~ I've been cleaning and visiting with family, not a whole lot of creating getting accomplished right now.....thank you always for stopping by to see what I'm up to, I appreciate it so much!!!

Have a happy Wednesday!!

xxoo, Dawn