You found a wonderful bird's nest . . . now what do you do?

I've had several emails and comments about bringing a nest inside, and how do I prepare it? Well, you're right, they do have little critters in them and it's best not to bring those in the house right away! What I do is place the nest in a plastic grocery sack and spray liberally with bug spray. I don't really think it matters which particular kind though. Tie the bag in a knot and leave outside for a few days. After a couple of days, the smell is usually gone. Then bring it in to use in your display!

Stay warm sweet friends!! xxoo, Dawn

The little bird girl ~

I finished my altered baby dress!! I added the two pockets that I had shown earlier and a tiny pocket at the top just for found feathers! The little egg charm hangs from a rustic hanger that I made from a twig and twisted wire. A handmade tag with speckled eggs, a twig and birch bark are in one pocket and a little nest is in the other. I love the way it turned out!! It's not a dress to be worn though, just displayed....I do have a few little dresses I want to make for Clara though! You could even tuck in a few more nature finds!!

I'd love to offer it for purchase to my sweet readers first. If you're interested in purchasing this little artwork, it's 24.00 plus 6.00 priority shipping to the US ~ just email me at: sewmanyroses@yahoo.com

UPDATED: The little bird girl dress is sold!! Thank you so very much ~

Next, I've got to get busy on the invitations for the baby shower!!! Time's already flying by this year...

Wishing you a great Thursday sweet friends,

xxoo, Dawn

Encouragement ~ a true friend's gift

I love my friends here. What precious words and thoughts you always leave me....the encouragement and kindness is so amazing and uplifting in a way that I've never seen before. And, as you are given these gifts of encouragement from your friends, you want to give in return ~ because your heart is overflowing....isn't this how it's supposed to be?

A few pages from another library book The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady ~

Love to you all sweet friends ~

Wishing you a wonderful Thursday,

xxoo, Dawn

Some beautiful things for you to see ~

I thought while visiting with the family in the evenings this past weekend I would sit and go through yet another file of clippings that I had stowed away. These are the oldest that I own and I had been wanting to see what I would still love and what I would want to toss.

There were a lot of beautiful pages that I kept that were timeless, classic ideas that were just as beautiful today as they were ten or more years ago. You know the magazine they were from?? Yes, Victoria! But there were plenty from others but seems as those from Victoria still make me 'sigh'......

Here is a beautiful botanical image I scanned that I've been wanting to give you ~ I hope you can use it in your artwork in some way or just frame it!! Just right click to save to your computer ~



Well, we all know that "favorite things" was wonderful and this page was no exception! Look at all the bird goodies. You may have to click to enlarge this one ~

And lastly, look at this project ~ wouldn't these make beautiful Christmas gifts?? I love this idea ~

Well, Brent and Emily are back in Savannah safe and sound. The house is quiet and we all miss them so much. I can only hope that someday soon they will live closer to us so I can get my hands on our sweet grandbaby as often as I can! Oh, and Thursday morning is the ultrasound!!! I'm counting the days.....have a wonderful Monday!!

xxoo, Dawn

Free images from my wonderful new book ~

I just couldn't wait, I had to scan in a few of these beautiful plates for you ~ feel free to save them to your computer . . .

Thank you so much, Kathy!!

I have the most wonderful surprise to show you!

OMGoodness.....I have the most wonderful friends here in this land of blog!! I received the most thoughtful gift Tuesday from Kathy at Shocking Pink Thread ~ a beautiful old book about bird homes!!! She had it wrapped so sweet, in vintage wallpaper no less ~ tied with antique lace, tulle, ribbon, flowers and bird tags....it was all so very beautiful and I saved each and every thing.

When I opened this treasure up, I could not believe my eyes!!!! Kathy!! Thank you so, so very much for this beautiful gift, I will treasure it always and I promise to scan and share some of these with all of you too! Just take a look:

This was so very sweet......Kathy, you know just what I love!!! Thank you again so very much ~

Brent and Emily arrived Tuesday afternoon! We were all so glad to see them and see Emily's sweet baby belly too! I've already been pulling out the boxes of baby things that I've saved and have given her some goodies....today I'm going to be digging for more ~ I love giving her things that were Brent's and she's appreciates them so much.

I hope that your week is going wonderful ~ I've been cleaning and visiting with family, not a whole lot of creating getting accomplished right now.....thank you always for stopping by to see what I'm up to, I appreciate it so much!!!

Have a happy Wednesday!!

xxoo, Dawn

Sweet friends ~

I scanned a couple of pages of the bird journal that my sweet friend Karin of One Perfect Little Miracle gave me when she came for lunch the other day. I love the precious handwriting and the care the sweet woman took to create her journal. What an honor to be able to look at it ~ Thank you so much Karin for entrusting me with it.

Feel free to save these for your artwork . . .

Look at this little sweetie that arrived in the mail Thursday! The tiniest little bird figurine from Relyn at Come Sit by My Fire gifted this to me just as a "thank you" for her winning my last giveaway ~ Thank you so much Relyn, I just love it!! I happened to have another one a little larger that looks like his moma so they look sweet together under the cloche on my buffet ~ Relyn has a beautiful post today about caring for one another...

Our minds are such a powerful tool. We can think negatively and exude those feelings or we can think positively and reflect that attitude as well. It's our choice each and every morning we rise from our beds. Sometimes when my mind wanders in that negative direction .... I stop and tell myself, "don't even go there..." Funny how "The Secret" has been around for such a long time and we just didn't realize it, just read these words...

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Phillipians 4:8

Thank you all so very much for your sweet words on my last post. Don't worry, I'm fine. I love blogging. I love my friends here. I love the inspiration I gain from visiting you and from your feedback. I love being a sunny spot in anyone's day that may stop by to see me ~

Wishing you a great Friday dear friends!

xxoo, Dawn

These are a few of my favorite things ~

Wednesday I did a few things around the house and started writing an article that's due Friday...eeek! It's progressing nicely but doesn't leave much time for creating new goodies. I strolled through my photographs to find some of my treasures to share with you.

You may remember some of these or maybe not, no matter...seeing these beautiful treasures again even inspires me by just looking at them!!

A gathering ~

Fairies ~

Rhinestones and lace ~

Antique papers and images ~

Old tattered books, antique buttons and keys ~

More antique lace ~

Birds, nests and speckled eggs ~

More tattered old books ~

More antique buttons on their original store card!

Uh, more old buttons, sorry, I'm a little obsessed here ~

Vintage baby dresses and doll clothes ~

Old sheet music ~

Wonderful old baby shoes ~

Antique embroidered linens and again, surprisingly...old lace!

Just looking at what I love to collect inspires me!! Pull those collections out, group them on a side table or hang them as a valance, drape them on your lampshades or sew them on your ready-made pillows, stack them by a lamp or nestle them onto your shelves....just so you can SEE these wonderful things that inspire you each and every day!

Wishing you a wonderful, inspired Thursday!

xxoo, Dawn

Inspiration. is. everywhere...

Fall does this to me. I just want to do EVERYTHING....everything that runs through my mind, ideas I see, or books that I read....I want to accomplish so much ~ but I can only do what I can do, and that's OK. It really is. The tree below is from our back yard, can you believe that blue sky? Magical ~

A most amazing treasure arrived in the mail this week from Barnes & Noble. The wonderful Robin Brown of Magnolia Pearl has written a book chock full of her style, ideas and decorating. I know her style is over the top and I just LOVE it....trims, velvet and lace. If you love her style, you will LOVE her new book!! I've tried to give you a tiny preview below:

Another goodie in the mail! I'm scared!!! I've got to learn this though...the possibilities are endless!!

This is a totally crazy post, but look at what my son Brad found for me in a tree ~ not too high up but it was abandoned.....a giant nest!!! Maybe a squirrel's? Too big for the house but would be beautiful displayed on my front porch ~ I'll have to make a display with it as the centerpiece.

Enjoy your weekend sweet friends and thank you always for stopping by to see me!!

xxoo, Dawn