Hello November!!!

It seems that this time of year ALWAYS gets my creative juices flowing!

The cooler temperatures and the changing of the seasons

makes my mind spin with all kinds of ideas.

Here are a few of the things that I've made lately.

It seems all of them are under glass for some reason!

Please be sure to check my Etsy store as a few things have

been listed in there and some of these items have already sold.

Does fall inspire you to create too???

Two altered apothecary jars with French labels

and other pretty embellishments!

This one is in my shop!!!

These have all sold but I just LOVED making these bird-inspired jars.

Nests, eggs and pieces of nature all captured under glass ~

And lastly, I've been making ornaments using 6" glass test tubes!

They are approximately 1" in diameter. I've added glitter snow,

a tiny bottle brush tree and other goodies to make a pretty Christmas ornament.

They can hang on a knob or on the Christmas tree!

And of course, loving natural elements, I had to try to make a few botanical test tubes.

They are my very favorites! I love drying flowers and other greenery

so I've made little gatherings for each test tube.

These have all been added to my Etsy store ~

It's so nice to be able to use the things that you've been gathering and collecting.

I have dried flowers everywhere, stems from pretty bushes,

feathers and other fragments of nature to use.

But it seems when you place them under glass

it gives them a special kind of importance!

Thank you always for stopping by to see what I'm doing and

I hope that I can inspire you to make something beautiful ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

WHOA! Looks like a tornado went through the studio!

I mean it!!!

I had to finally stop today and start gathering the debris and

putting each and every item back where it belongs!

My sweet sister-in-law placed a wonderful order with me and I had stuff

slung all over the studio!!!

I took a few photos of my finished projects if you want to take a look:

Several of these bottle brush trees, adorned and captured in jars...

Here they all are....I so hope the recipients love them!!!

Have you ever used one of these clear plastic "paint" cans for gifts?

I packaged each of the three ornaments in a clear cello bag, then used Christmas gift wrap

to make a fold over topper and stapled it on. I placed all three ornaments around the outside

and filled the center with wonderful, clear shred!

I added a bit of gift wrap to the top and of course had to add seam binding bundles to each side!

I even managed to make a few extra bottle brush tree jars to sell in my Etsy shop!

This one's already sold but you know I had to show you...

I just love this amazing shade of blue, don't you?

This sweet one is left...placed in my Etsy too ~

Now just to finish a few little snowman ornaments and then I think this little workshop

will be done for the season....and I'll be back to creating everyday new goodies.

Thank you always, always for stopping by to see what I'm up to!!!

You always inspire me and I love sharing with you ~

Wishing you a wonderful Friday dear friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

My little Christmas workshop ~

I thought I'd give you one more little peek at our tree this year ~

I place a 5' tree on top of a skirted table in our living room....and with the high ceilings

it works out so wonderfully! All I move is ONE lamp!

I have this beautiful Nativity statuary that I love and placed underneath this year...

Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.

Perfect for the gifts, don't you think?

My sweet sister-in-law has ordered SEVERAL gifts from me so my little workshop

has KICKED it up a notch!!!

Here's a glimpse at what's going on around here....some are extras

because that's just how I roll :) (if I have to make one, why not make five?)

they will very soon end up in my Etsy shop too!

Stay tuned because time is running out!!!

I found the most beautiful craft paint to use on the bleached bottle brush trees!

Folk Art makes several different shades of metallics and this is Pearl White....

IT'S BEAUTIFUL!!!

Yes, I know my sweet snowboy is looking kinda pearly and shiny but

you just wait, after a little glitter and the proper hat and scarf,

he will be ready to charm you!!!

Today...I am so very thankful for you!!!

Just for you simply taking the time to stop by here ~

to see what I'm up to.

Wishing you love,

wishing you health,

wishing you blessings....

Happy Wednesday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

My little forest...

I finished my sweet Christmas trees!!

Each one is just a tad larger than the last ~

The sugar dishes are quite tarnished but I love them that way.

By adding a few old pearls, fragments of vintage jewelry,

beautiful vintage buttons and of course...seam binding,

they're now ready to celebrate Christmas!

The little one is now sold but the other are now listed in my Etsy shop!!

I hope you have a wonderful Friday dear friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Back to playing again...

After being so rudely interrupted by a little thing called diverticulitis!

And it wasn't such a "little" thing...OMYgoodness ~

it's quite painful but thank goodness it was diagnosed quickly

and the meds have worked wonders in just a few days.

Thank you all so much for your well wishes!!

I wanted to share my most recent project with you ~

Last Christmas I made several adorned bottle brush trees.

Well, I still have a good many left that had already been bleached
just waiting to be painted and decorated ~

I don't know why I love painting them, but I do.

On these three trees, I used a Martha Stewart white perle craft paint...

it has a subtle shimmer to it.

I like to get down the dark roots and really lay the paint on.

Next, I used a little flecking tool that I have (but you could use a toothbrush)

to fluff the bristles back up as sometimes they would get matted with the paint.

Wow, you'd think I'm working for Martha BUT I love these two glitters

and while the paint was still wet, I held the tree over a plate and
sprinkled on both glitters pretty heavily.

Don't worry, you can save the overflow in a separate container!

Here's my little tree, you really can't see all the glitter on it but it's beautiful!

Next, I added a few pretty pearls (from old pearl necklaces found at the thrift!)
using my favorite "go-to" glue, Fabri-tac...
no, I'm not working for them either but just love the stuff!

Then, I ran across these wonderful, tarnished silver
sugar and creamers from my stash

and thought they would be sweet containers for my little forest!

I'm still going to adorn them a wee bit more...

maybe an old earring for a tree topper, a tiny banner and of course

I may try to work in a bundle of seam binding on the handles, we'll see!

All three soon to be placed in my Etsy shop ~

WOW, time is whizzing by oh-so-fast!!!!

I have so many things I want to make and do before Christmas...

Who has time to be sick???

Good health truly is such a treasure ~


I'm linking up with Becky of Timewashed Blissful Whites Wednesday!

Wishing you a beautiful Thursday precious friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn