Getting back into the studio to create!

Yes, I've made a few antique button necklaces recently

but since we moved into our new home

I've not really made a piece of artwork.

It's funny how you can totally slip out of that groove.

But life happens, you can even forget how much you love it.

When I finally DO make something?

It all comes back to me!!!!

Just making something from forgotten fragments is so rewarding.

This is an antique plinth board or enormous molding.

It is so old, aged and was a wonderful backdrop for this piece!

I created the heart pattern, sewed it from drop cloth fabric and then painted it.

I also used some antiquing solution to age it around the edges.

It didn't need to look pristine with that wonderful board behind it.

I wrapped the heart with brown hemp cord and tied and antique key to the front.

Next I drilled holes in the board and added the rusty twisted wire to hang.

A few embellishments were added to the hanger,

untwisted twine and some thinner wire accents.

Of course I had to add the little metal frame and the "love much" wording!

The heart has been wired onto the board to secure it.

It's really a quite simple piece but it truly speaks volumes to me.

I'm calling it "The Key to My Heart"

I've recently added it to my Etsy store if you like to take a peek!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT

It's been over a year since I made anything.

Moving into our new home totally sucked the life out of me.

It was wonderful and stressful all at the same time!!!

We will soon be here a year and I'm finally settled in enough

to feel comfortable up in our new studio.

So don't give up on yourself.

It just takes time to adjust to change or get through what's going on in your life.

Fall will soon be here. Cooler weather always inspires me!!!

I hope to be sharing more artwork and goodies soon.

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

Even if it's not much of anything, HAHAHA!!

Hugs and love,

Dawn

A little inspiration and catching up ~

I found this wonderful photo that I posted a couple of years ago

from our guest room...

just a few treasures that make me smile ~

You KNOW these sweet birds make me smile! Be sure to click the image to make it larger
and save it to your own computer to use in your artwork....

I love the face of this precious baby from my fairy in a jar tutorial...

no matter how many times I see her, she makes me smile!

And isn't this heavenly?

Twine that I purchased at an estate sale years ago,

I still have them and love their simply beauty.

I was searching around on the Belle Notte Linens website and found a few

beautiful things that make me swoon ~

So in my last post I shared that we were working on about 800 toy soaps.
They are all almost finished and since my dear hubs is working six days a week
I've done them all myself! It's OK, I'm just so thankful for the order.

And to top it all off, we been blessed with orders from our General Store Soap Etsy
for about 600 egg soaps too!!!!
Each one has to be cleaned and finished before they are bagged up for shipping.
My thumbs feel like they may just fall off but I'm about half way finished.
Again, more blessings to help my family ~
I'm just sorry I've not been here but you know how it is...I know you do.

Our sweet daughter-in-law Emily had jury duty the first of this past week and

I went Tuesday to watch our grandbabies Clara and Murray.

We had a great day together and they were such angels!

Murray fell asleep while I was holding him and Clara was sitting next to me.

I just had to take a few photos of these angels ~ sorry, they are just phone pics

but are still so precious!!!

Thank you always, always for visiting me here ~

Wishing you a beautiful weekend dear friends!

hugs and love,

Dawn

The beginnings of summer ~

Even though it's not officially summertime around here

we sure do act like it!!!

Noah's out of school and enjoying being with his friends from

his youth group most of the time. Do you remember being 16 years old?

I felt the same way. Always wanting to stay busy!

He only has his learners license (thank goodness) for now

and is enjoying hanging out and swimming with his buddies and brothers.

I'm feeling so much better and have been busy, just not with creating much new.
But I guess making soap should count, right??

I did watch these two sweeties this week!!!

Our precious grandbabies Clara and Murray.

Their mama, Emily, had a doctors appointment and we got to spend

a couple of hours together on their turf.

It's so easy to watch them at their home as they have all their toys

and things right there.

Plus Murray has the perfect and safe "baby jail" to play in!

I snapped a few photos of them to share with you ~

Yes, Clara has her very own tablet....thanks to her Uncle Chase!

She is so great at operating this thing it amazes me!!

After playing and watching a Winnie the Pooh movie, Murray decided to catch a few zzzz's.

Look how grown up this five year old child looks!!!

Oh my goodness little Clara ~

Since we opened our General Store Soap Etsy store back up we've been very busy!!!

Here's an order we've been working on for the last few days ready to ship out ~

Thank you so very much for your sweet comments on my mammogram results.

You all truly are such blessings ~

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

hugs and love,

Dawn

So very thankful ~

Most of the time things are A-OK around here, you know?
But sometimes life throws a wrench in the works
and you just have to deal with it.

Sometimes we have days that simply beat us down.

I mean it.

They drain our spirit dry and squash our hope flat.

But then there are the other days...

those days that we finally realize

that we are not in control,

(even though we'd like to think we are)

and then something beautiful happens.

We see that our precious Lord above

is always, always on our side.

That He cares for us,

He listens to our prayers and

knows our needs.

Today I feel blessed and so very thankful....

I had a recent mammogram that was questionable and they requested that
I come back in for further images...
Well, I just have to tell you, I was so, so worried!!!
I had the second mammo Monday and all is well!
All is normal and good....
What a blessing!!!!
I truly am so, so very thankful.
I'm so sorry I've been absent but my mind has been elsewhere ~

Wishing you a great Tuesday my dear friends!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

In my little corner of the world ~

Believe it or not......

we. have. SNOW!!!

Georgia doesn't get snow very often,

and when it does, believe me dear friends,

it. is. an EVENT!

Our local news has been broadcasting all day long ~

students have been stranded at schools and

even having to spend the night ~

traffic is so jammed that even after midnight

people have not been able to make it home.

I promise you...it's not pretty.

We simply do not know how to drive in it or even cope with it.

To all my Northern friends, my hat is off to you!!

You have my complete respect and admiration.

I can't wait to kiss our baby snow storm goodbye in a day or so as

it is supposed to be in the mid 60's on Saturday!

Here are a few photos that I bribed Noah to take for me

(not really bribed, he just loves me)

this was early in the day and it snowed until about 9 pm!

And guess who was SO excited about the snow???

Our little Clara!

Just look at her sweet face (photos courtesy of her mama)

And look at our little angel Murray ~ this was his first snow!

His precious expression says it all.

Happy Wednesday my dear friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

Little goodies in progress ~

Well, I know I've made a ton of these little lavender sachets BUT

I've had several requests for them lately so what does a girl do??

MAKE MORE!

I've printed beautiful French labels and old sheet music images.

I even printed a few old postcards to see how they turn out, too ~

Hopefully I get these all finished today!

We'll see ~

I ran across some old photos and just had to share them with you ~

I've always loved make-up and apparently a lot longer than I thought!!!

Here I am about 4 years old with my play make-up ~

This is my precious Glum Glum...I was the oldest of eight grandchildren and

couldn't say Grandmom so Glum Glum is what I came up with :)

I was about five years old in this photo and I believe it was

Christmas morning...just look at that bed-head!!!!

She's showing me how to do something.

She was my precious creative muse, always inspiring me!

Fast-forward to about 12 or 13 years old ~

I raised bunnies for awhile!!!

Here are three of my five sweet babies.

A few comments on this pic:

This is the longest my hair has ever been in my life.

It was "hip" to wear a jersey with your graduating year on it.

And yes, I have a mouth full of metal braces!

I hope you don't mind me sharing a few sweet memories with you!!!

Wishing you a great Wednesday dear friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn