A forgotten pleasure ~

In the midst of

having a family,

raising babies,

teaching myself how to sew

and create anything new I can get my hands on,

cooking meals,

making sure everyone has clean clothes

and trying to keep a clean home for us all....

I have denied myself a great pleasure in this life ~

READING!

Now, I'm not talking about decorating books,
art books and magazines....
I mean books with no pictures :)

I have this little hang-up that I want to see the results of my time spent.

When reading a wonderful book,

I've always felt a little guilty when finished.

What do I have to show for it?

As I've gotten older, I'm slowly realizing what I'm missing!!!

My husband went to the library the other day

and brought home a book to read

A Home-Concealed Woman,

The Diaries of

Magnolia Wynn LeGuin

He's actually checked it out before too.

The reason being, is that the book is a personal diary of a woman

from 1901-1913 and

her home was only about a half a mile from where

we used to live a few years ago!

I'm fascinated by her lifestyle, writings and family ~

so if you've not already guessed, I picked the book up and

am enjoying it so much!!

I even found the book on Amazon!

It's expensive but I'm sure you could find it in your library as well.

So now, I'm half-way finished with it...

and yes, the hubs was going to read it himself

and I snagged it away from him ~

Maybe he can check it out again? :)

Do you love to read?

Also, do you wait until everything else is done for the day,

then read?

I hope you have a great Thursday dear friends!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Finished artwork and a very special giveaway!!

I finished the nature journal! It's amazing how long it took to complete this piece but it's OK, I enjoyed every minute of it! Each page is collaged and tabbed ~ each with it's own definition . . . I hope to get it in my Etsy store Friday!! I've pictured each spread for you to see . . . (If anyone is interested in this nature journal it's 32.00 plus shipping, just email me at sewmanyroses@yahoo.com)

UPDATE: SOLD ~ this little nature journal is heading to Denmark!

I also finished a mini composition book too. Look at me being all productive!!! Don't you just love these two images on the front and back? Too sweet ~ I hope to list this in my Etsy store Friday too.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Now, for the very special giveaway!!!

Joy and Cindy at The Plum Tree are hosting

A Card Collection
for Our Troops

Giveaway!!

Just create or buy cards for the troops to use

or cards to encourage and support them

then send them in to The Plum Tree!

Your name will be entered to win

a $30.00 Plum Tree Gift Certificate!

Please click HERE to visit The Plum Tree blog if you have any questions and their address is listed right at the top in the banner.

I hope you have the best Friday ever!

xxoo, Dawn

Happy Thursday sweet friends ~

I walked out on the front porch Wednesday and found a box from Somerset filled with items that I had sent them months ago. I won't reveal all of the art pieces now but they will soon be featured in a few upcoming issues!

Here are a few photos of the mitten and ragball ornaments that will be in the next Somerset Life ~ I can't believe that in just a few weeks we'll all be talking about Christmas ornaments anyway!!

A little bit more was added to the journal ~ and more pages started. I really like the way it's coming together and I'm finding that adding all of the additional art to the pages is making them much more sturdy. They were really fragile to begin with. I hope to be adding it to my Etsy store soon!!

Have a great Thursday!!

xxoo, Dawn

More in-progress photos ~

This is kind of fun! Seeing the photographs as this journal develops. It's about 8 1/2" wide by 5 1/2" tall and was a small music book. Well, all of the pages were out of it and just crammed inside. I've glued them all back in and now I'm altering them into a journal. There are eight pages (and I've only worked on 1 1/2!) so that will be sixteen, counting fronts and backs! The pages I'm showing may or may not be finished, I haven't decided yet....that's the fun of it :)!

The image below is a scan I made of the top of a beautiful wooden box. I've always loved it and thought I would share it with you ~

Wishing you a very happy Wednesday!!

xxoo, Dawn