Simple beauty ~

I couldn't stand it anymore....

it was time to make something!

Last week a gave you a peek at the beginnings of this new piece ~

so instead of more fluffing on the house, I chose to finish it!

While making art, I always have so many ideas but

it seems I end up with quite simple pieces.

Maybe I under-edit but I just want the elements that are there

to stand alone ~ to show their beauty.

I could add tons and tons more things to this piece

but the simplicity speaks volumes to me.

She's now listed in my Etsy shop too!!!
And she is now sold, thank you so much Melissa!

Thank you for visiting me sweet friends....

Have a wonderful Friday,

hugs and love,

Dawn

My giveaway gift for you ~

I have to admit....as an artist,
sometimes the creativity just flows out of you...
but sometimes, you have to squeeze it out!

And that's OK, we have many other parts of our daily lives
that can keep us from creating, even our mind can do that.
Our moods especially....but the feeling you get,
when you begin gathering items together,
trying different elements with each other
and when things begin looking the way you love,
THAT is the feeling I love!!

I hope you like this sweet tray assemblage.
I've featured my favorite baby photograph (or one of them)
and simply added wonderful old elements ~

Be sure to CLICK HERE
to enter my giveaway
for a chance to win this assemblage!!

I hope you have a very happy Thursday sweet friends!

hugs and love,
Dawn



PS: I love for you to stop by and welcome Julie of Vintage with Laces ~
she just started blogging YESTERDAY!! xxoo

Finally! A little creativity ~

I have to admit, I've been in sad mood this week.....
you know, when you feel sadness wash over you
and you can't even explain it??

And you have nothing to be sad about ~ your life is wonderful,
you have so much to be thankful for but it's still there, dragging you down!
I attribute it to my hormones (yes, I am at that age)....
because normally I'm just not that way. I love to be positive and upbeat......
usually when I concentrate on the many blessings in my life,
I can push it away.
Because I am truly so very thankful for my family,
my friends and all of the goodness around me.

My sister-in-law posted a wonderful quote on facebook the other day
and I just have to share it with you because it speaks volumes to me ~
I'm not sure where it came from but here it is:

When we constantly choose to be grateful, we notice that every breath is a miracle and each smile becomes a gift.
We begin to understand that difficulties are also invaluable lessons. The sun is always shining for us when we are grateful, even if it is hidden behind clouds on a rainy day.
A simple sandwich becomes a feast, and a trinket is transformed into a treasure.

Perfect, huh??


Anyway....I'm feeling better this evening and I truly believe that it's also because I made myself sit down and begin creating. What great therapy!!! Here is the result below....my finished Doll Dress Assemblage ~ for sale at The Feathered Nest Shoppe ~
SOLD! Thank you so much sweet Zori......xxoo

Another little goodie that I added to The Shoppe is this 100 yard roll of seam binding in a subtle shade of pumpkin or rust....perfect for your fall or Halloween creations!!
SOLD!!! Thank you so much dear Sandy!!!! xxoo

A thankful heart is a happy heart ~

Wishing you a wonderful weekend dear friends,
hugs and love, Dawn

A poster turns into artwork!

I'm addicted to matte gel medium....there. I said it! It's such a great thing...pricey to me but I always try to have a coupon at Michael's when I buy it. 40% off saves a ton! I use the gel medium in my collage work and have painted it over lace and fabric as well as paper and it holds wonderfully! Plus it dries to a wonderful matte finish....not shiny showing brush marks....

I just bought a new jar of it (it's found in the artist's paints and paint brushes isle) and also noticed that a certain brand of their stretched canvases were on sale 40% off last week. Remember the beautiful poster that I found at Paris Market in Savannah? I've been trying to think of a neat way to display it other than traditional framing so I found a canvas just about the right size to mount it to. It was a little bit wider than the poster so I cut strips from an old bird book that would cover the exposed area and also overlap down on the side. I painted the gel medium onto the canvas first then added a strip and then painted the medium over top as well. Measure and cut these strips first as the medium dries fast!

I decided to collage the poster to the canvas too. I wanted it to feel more like a piece of art. This was a little tricky as it is so large but I painted the medium onto half of the canvas front quickly then positioned that half of the poster, smoothing out as much air bubbles as I could. Next I painted the medium on the other half of the canvas and then pressed down the remaining part of the poster.

I applied the medium over the top of the poster too! Whenever you use a lot of this stuff, especially on a large piece of paper, you can get some serious air bubbles. I had plenty but don't care. I smoothed as much as I could while applying the medium on top but love the look of the small folds here and there. Stained, tattered and wrinkled....sounds beautiful to me!

It's not dry in these photos but I take a few later to show you how it ends up looking. The medium is a little white and cloudy when you first put it on.

I may add a few more simple elements and then it will be ready to hang!
(By the way, the poster is made by Cavallini)

Some ecru lace I found last week on Etsy from two different sellers
.....stained, delicate....and lovely ~

Wishing you a wonderful, creative Tuesday sweet friends!
xxoo, Dawn

New artwork & a few free images for you ~

Remember the jar that I found at Antiques in Old Town Saturday? Well, here it is! I just had to put a nest in it! It's secured so it won't move around inside, as are the eggs and feathers. I have it resting on a big ol' wonderful leaf that Noah found for me one day when he was nature hunting for me. It has a speckled egg tag and a drawing of a sparrow on top ~ soon to be listed in my Etsy store :)

A custom order I just finished tonight: (this one's for you Nancy!)

Another custom order for a fairy in a jar (I still need to add the poem tied around the top). What's wonderful about this is that image is my customer when she was a little girl!!! She's going to give this to her ten year old granddaughter on her birthday ~

A few scanned items for your saving pleasure!! Click to enlarge, then right click to get the small menu and save to your computer ~

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday dear friends ~ make time to do something you love :)

xxoo, Dawn