Sweet spring ~

I don't know exactly when it happens.

One day you are shivering and looking for cozy throws

then slowly but surely

the temperature climbs to a wonderful level

and then you REALIZE something!

It feels like spring!!!

We've been having beautiful, mild weather

for the past few days here in Georgia.

It's such a nice change and always welcome.

Believe me, we cherish our delightful 70 degree weather.
Here in Georgia we relish each and every minute of it
because we will blink and

it will be boiling and 90 degrees before we know it!!!

Well, I think these beautiful days have inspired me.

I actually created a new piece of artwork!!!

It's been quite a while since I made an assemblage.

I had this precious little birds nest that

I'd purchased in a ziploc baggy

at an antique store.

I kept staring at it knowing it should be the feature

of a new nature assemblage.

Here's what I came up with!

Isn't it funny how something as simple as the weather

can inspire us to create?

You can find my new piece in

my etsy store if you'd like to take a peek!!!

I hope life is treating you good ~

As always, thank you so much for stopping by

to see what I'm up to around here!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

The beginnings of something new ~

I just have to share what I'm working on ~

even though it's totally not finished!!!

I found an amazing box and knew, just KNEW

it would be beautiful altered.

Here are the beginnings, I have to share with you ~

I'm not quite finished but have painted the entire box a soft cream color

including the hardware (which I LOVE painted!)

I've also used an antiquing wash all over...painted on, then

wiped off so the goodness falls into the crevices and cracks.

Next, I've added my most very favorite image onto the top ~

I can't help it, it's just beautiful to me...

I've painted a rough coat inside as I've not quite decide what to do yet...

maybe line with sheet music and add a handmade gathered luggage pocket in the lid???

I just have to share because I know you love what I love!!!

Happy Friday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Making a little art ~

I played a bit more in the studio today!!
I finished up my nature inspired cabinet of curiosities piece ~
I've collected so many wonderful things that I had a hard
time choosing what to place in each cubby!  

The nest I used is the tiniest little thing I've ever seen!!!

You can't ever go wrong using pieces of nature in your artwork....

they are simply BEAUTIFUL!!!

This cabinet can be found in my Etsy shop now :)

Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday precious friends!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Creativity is so good for the soul ~

I had a total sourpuss attitude today.

I can't explain exactly why, but I did.

I hate that. But I know myself well enough by now that when I'm like this

I need to shut up.

I need to simply keep to myself and try my best not to be ugly to my family.

Finally I managed to get into the studio to make a little something.

Nothing huge, ginormous or magnificent but just SOMETHING.

OH! and have I introduced you to my newest assistant, Minnie?

She just LOVES my studio!!!

Well, I had just purchased a big ol' bag of fragrant lavender and

decided that lavender sachets would be simple and relaxing.

Hey, maybe they would turn my attitude around!

What I came up with:

Simple....but so sweet ~ and by the time I was finished, I was smiling!!!!

What is it about creating pretty things????

It truly IS therapy.

Try to make time to make something beautiful,

you'll be glad you did!!!

Happy Thursday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Un petit journal ~

Fancy, huh?

I just love that it says a small nature journal in French ~

We have a new Good Will that opened just a few days ago so

I had stop by to have a look!

I only found a few books and this was one of them.

It's not very big and is a wonderful kraft color....

Yes, the pages are printed on, but I have an idea to slice out a few

and continue embellishing them with some of my nature finds!

I started with the outside and completely covered it...

I just slathered on my fav matte gel medium,

pressed the paper on and trim out excess

with my handy exact-o knife.

I had to add the name of this sweet journal ~

See the color of the pages? A great foundation for my project.

I started digging in my files to find images that I'd already printed ~

I've even pulled out my pressed botanicals so I can add them too!

Well, it's a start!!

Now to begin the inside pages....

My prairie girl has reached her new home and she fits in perfectly!!

Thank you so much Deb....

Wishing you an amazing Wednesday precious friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

My sweet prairie girl ~

She's finished!

The actual artwork measures 10" x 14" and is a multitude of layers.....

The beeswax forces you to be loose ~

which I have to admit, is quite hard for me.

I'm very structured in my artwork ~

everything in it's place, you know?

~ Double click on any of my pics to see more detail ~

I always love including some type of text, name, or quote in the artwork...

Why is that?

I don't have a clue!

I also love making something....then adding a foundation to it ~

you know, something more substantial to showcase the rest.

So even though this piece started on the back of an antique ledger cover,

I wanted to place it on the larger canvas to give it just a little

more importance.

Of course, you see I had to work in the wired-in-look too!

I just love the textural quality of the wire.

The tracing paper allows the image from underneath to show through after

the beeswax has been applied between each layer.

I've even added a few pressed fern fronds from my home too!

My prairie girl was printed straight onto a sheet of crinoline fabric!!!

Yes, I admit it, I crammed it straight into my printer...

sometimes you have to be BRAVE to be an artist!

Lisa sent me a few sheets of the crinoline and I had to experiment :)

That girl is brave with new techniques,

I'm a little more of a chicken!

My prairie girl is now listed in my Etsy shop ~

The moral of this post?

Don't be afraid to try new things,

you might just love it!!!

Have an amazing Tuesday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Back in the saddle again...

~ Adorable pic found here ~

Remember THIS post when I told you about finding my pressed flower collection?

I love them all so much and have been wanting to use them in my artwork ~

If you don't feel like clicking to the other post....

I added a few new flowers to my lovely yellow pages flower press that day ~

Hydrangeas and a single gladiola bud.

Here is the before shot:

Well, I checked on them today and LOOK at them now!!

Just GORGEOUS!!!!

So much texture and still traces of pale color ~

These little treasures give me so much joy....

Here's the before photo of the gladiola....

Look at this wonderful beauty now ~

No, it's not as vivid at all...it's even changed colors but

now it has those muted tones that I love.

I love the veining...

I bought these wonderful 2" beveled glass squares a few years ago

at an estate sale. The man was a stained glass artist....

So, I thought, add a tiny clipping from an old ledger book and

one of the pressed hydrangeas ~

I've added the copper foil tape and now I just have to solder it

and add a hanger on the top....a snippet of seam binding and it would

be a perfect charm for a knob or handle ~

And don't fall out of your chair,

but I even worked on ANOTHER piece of artwork!

It's not quite finished either but you know I HAD

to get back into that wax pot!!!

She's not quite finished yet...

~ The Prairie Girl ~

It's good to get into that creative saddle again ~

Seems our muse comes and goes, doesn't it?

Throw in real life, laundry, cooking, etc.

and it's hard to grab those precious moments

to nurture our creative soul.

I hope you have a great Monday dear friends,

big hugs and much love,

Dawn

My giveaway offering.....

One of the giveaway goodies I'm offering right now...

CLICK HERE to enter my blog's fourth anniversary giveaway

...is a piece of my artwork ~

Well, now that the studio is clean (somewhat),

it felt so good to finally make something!!!

Here's my small gift ~

I hope you like it!!!!

I cleaned up my little fairy garden this past weekend too....

it had gotten so overgrown and rough looking ~

now it's all tidy and ready for any random fairy strolling by!

We have had the most gorgeous weather here in Georgia the past few days!!

Mild temps and beautiful sunshine ~

it's always so motivating when the weather's nice :)

Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday precious friends!!

hugs and love,

Dawn