Life is full of sweet surprises!!!

Well, one wonderful surprise is this sweet little sparrow nest that the mama

built inside of the wreath on our front door!

I'm still taking photos as times passes....I can't wait to see the babies!

This is the next WONDERFUL SURPRISE!!!

I received a precious gift from one of my blog friends,

a true soul sister as she has been featured in Somerset Life

in the past, as have I.

Just look at what this sweet Melissa has gifted me!

So many BEAUTIFUL elements to create with!!!

You inspire me so much dear Melissa and I appreciate

each and every gift from you!!!!

Here's to us both creating and using our true talents!

Thank you so, so very much.

I've been in a funk for too many years but

you've truly inspired me!!!

Hugs and love precious friends,

Always,
Dawn

Just a few of my very favorite things ~

My sweet friend Lisa and I send each another birthday gifts every year.

Most times they are late but you don't care...

because a gift is a gift!!!

Especially from someone that "gets" you!

My birthday is the day after Christmas (yeah, it ain't cool)

and I received a box FULL of treasures from Lisa last week.

Oh.my.land!!!!

It's all SO AMAZING!

I took a few photos to share the goodness with you.

I may have to explain a few things...

because I'm a weirdo and she knows what I love!

From left to right: Lisa went to an estate sale of a lady that loved sewing baby dresses.

So she bought homemade patterns and even some items that were in progress of being

created! Old lavender colored seam binding, a handmade tag from Lisa....

marbled book cover interiors.

Look at these gorgeous calendar pages!!!! I'm going to HAVE to frame them!

In the center...is my very favorite gift.

It's a small deer!!!

I love nature and he is so beautiful to me!

Fragments of amazing lace, fabrics, sweet books and patterns from the sewing lady.

Then there's this gorgeousness.

A beautiful altered box that Lisa made.

It's filled with even MORE lace fragments and treasures!

He really is so beautiful ~ maybe not to everyone but he is to me.

I found the perfect wooden box at TJ Maxx to house him too.

I'm going to create an assemblage with Taco as the star (of course I named him!)

Just wait, it will be wonderful! I'll be sure to share with you too!

In other news....our front porch is looking pretty good this spring!!!

I had to share a little photo ~

Clara and Murray are growing like little weeds!!!! Clara's 8 now and Murray will be 5 in September!

Baby Owen is now FIVE months old and such a happy angel!!!!

I finally bought new glasses and still am trying to adjust to the progressive lenses.

Good grief. What a labor that is!

I'm still using my readers to look at the computer screen after spending 275.00 on the glasses.

WHAAAA?

And lastly...a precious Mother's Day gift from Heather and David.

A sweet canvas filled with photos of all of my babies and grandbabies!!!!!

It's so beautiful to me.

I hope you all are doing so good. Please forgive my absence.

Life takes over sometimes and you just have to live it!

Hugs and love to you all,

Dawn

These truly are the good ol' days!

Seems the older I get the more I realize

that the here and now,

the gatherings with loved ones and

the moments we all share together,

truly are times that should be treasured!

We need to cherish each and every moment

with our family and friends.

I found this gorgeous old painting the other day

and knew you would love it!

Artist: Sir John Everett Milais

It's been a while since I've received a gift in the mail but

last week, a box was delivered to my door and I was totally surprised!

Months ago a blog friend/reader emailed me wanting my address

that she was de-stashing and cleaning out everything and would

I like a few of her old laces and things. Why, OF COURSE!!!

I had forgotten all about this and when I opened the package,

I could not believe the beautiful gifts tucked inside!!!

The gorgeous embroidered net lace at the top center of the photo below

was her pram cover when she was a baby!!!

She told me she had no one to leave these things to and

knew I would appreciate it all.

Dear sweet Gina, I love it ALL!!! I've displayed the pram cover

in my studio, hung up the baby dress and coat...so I can enjoy them

each and every day! Thank you for your precious gifts, I'm so very honored!

And speaking of precious times with friends and family,

last weekend we had the most fun

at my son David and Heather's gender reveal party!!!

They are expecting a little boy!!!

His precious name is going to be Owen,

I cried the minute they told us that.

Another dear grandson!!!

She's due January 7th and it seems like the time is whizzing by!

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

Hugs and love,

Dawn

A simple but beautiful idea!

I don't know where I saw this idea...maybe Pinterest??

But I decided to try it.
There weren't many details, just a photo but here is my version!

You find a glass cylinder container.

Print a beautiful image onto vellum and cut it to size...

Next, find a smaller glass cylinder container and place

a tea light or small votive candle inside and light it.

It turned out SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

Just please make sure the inner glass container is

MUCH taller than your candle and it's flame.

ALSO...just look at this precious mail love I received this week!

Teresa of Maggie Grace Creates knows how much I adore lace and

has been cleaning out her stash...so she sent me THIS massive pile of it!!!

Thank you SO very much sweet Teresa ~ I will try to make you proud

and make beautiful things with your generous gift!!

Plus, I wanted to share a photo of a Christmas gift of mine.

I may have shared it before but it is a mini photo studio that

my sons Brent and Chase gave me. The lighting is SO perfect

and it provides the perfect backdrop for my projects!

The name of it is My Studio and they found it on Amazon!

They know their mama well, right?

One more little thing,
here is a beautiful postcard I received in the mail this week from FRANCE!

My dear friend Cindy of Lilly's Lace sent it to me while she was on vacation.

What a thoughtful thing to do!! I will treasure it always ~

And finally, I'm working on something new....

a kind of variation of my treasure organizers!

I'm making SINGLE treasure pockets...
filled with some of the treasures from my studio!!

What do you think?

They will be able to hang and will be filled with goodies and treasures!

Stay tuned...

Happy Monday precious friends!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn