Something Spooooky

I decided to experiment with canvas this past week, and I like the results! The strip of paper at the top is from a card deck of scary stories. It was too funny, and I had to include it. It says,
" She was nervous when her husband said they were to stay in the abandoned house, for it contained the corpse of a hermit who had once lived there, enshrined in a coffin in the loft."

Um, nervous. Ya think so??

~ Fancy Finery ~

Splurging on an old 1922 fashion magazine this weekend

gave me the perfect springboard to create two envelopes

for special friends.

Special goodies to be tucked inside...bliss!

~ Shabby Chic Interiors ~

I admit I was sceptical about the new Rachel Ashwell book, Shabby Chic Interiors. Was it a ploy to scoop in some last minute income in the midst of a breakdown of her company? But nothing could be farther from the truth. Each page is beautiful, bringing home the lesson that even in the midst of her personal sadness, she sticks true to her principles and ideals. Inspiration for us all...

~ Farewell To Summer ~

What a great summer it was (sigh). We topped it off a few weeks

ago with a trip to New York City.

I found this gorgeous outdoor flower market in a small neighborhood.

Flowers to drool on...

Ahhhh...

We told the kids they were in charge of finding the restaurant

on the last morning there. I said we would we watchingto see if they

followed all the safety rules along the way...

They held hands...

Life is good...

~ Treasures ~

This week has brought lots of new treasures from places far and near! I found these beautiful pink paper flowers at Michael's (of all places! I'm usually not a fan of their fake flowers) and some great old photos from the flea market in New York. Now...what to do with it all! Ahh....!

Once you have started seeing the beauty of life

Ugliness starts disappearing.

If you start looking at life with joy,

sadness starts disappearing.

You can not have heaven and hell together,

You can only have one.

It is your choice.

~Osho

~ Sunday ~

I finished up this board book that I made for my mother-in-law. It's got pictures of the kids doing all the things we did this summer..and man did we do a lot! One of the good things about the school year is that is makes you break down time and appreciate where you are, where you've been, and where you're headed! I took some great pics of New York Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There is so much inspiration there! More to come...

Paperweight Creations

I decided to combine three favorites...paperweights, lines from Nancy Drew,

and vintage patterns.

This is what I got...

I really like how they turned out, so they will go to the shop.

Although it is hard to part with them...

Especially this one....

Is This Weird to You?

My mother thinks I am completely nuts. We went together to a small town across the state line yesterday; popping in to see a friend of hers who has a booth at the Amish Market there. Delicious sandwiches...yum! Anyway, there was an antique mall nearby and of course - come hell or high water - I was going to get in there! So we did. I picked up this baby picture from a bin and said, "Oh, look at this one! Don't you just want to pinch those cheeks?"

My mother replied, "No."

Then, she looked at me like maybe we should stop by the local hospital. Seriously. I only recently got her off my back by swearing to label the old pictures from flea markets so my 'children would know they weren't family.' Ugh. Maybe I do have some sort of problem! I just can't pass them up. Especially because they oooze stories. Well, that's my view.

My 'Wish'!

I got my yummy packet of 'wishes' from Andre Singarella at One Hundred Wishes.

We all know...she rocks.

I decided to go for the new tape rolls in beige, pink, and striped pink.
I can't wait to try them out!

And you would think tape can't be gorgeous....

Keeping my crafting vow by finishing another card for a friend...
"And yes: is when you stretch out
on your couch and summon up ten thousand
daffodils, all dancing in the breeze."

~Joyce Sutphin

Back from the beach and full of plans laden with vim and vigor.

Will I ever get it all done?

My find of the trip...this beautiful 'bathing beauty'. She will hopefully be a reminder during the dark winter days of how I feel today.

As Robert Browning wrote, "I am full of sunshine now."

Excited about heading to the beach tomorrow.

Looking forward to recharging and regrouping, and hopefully finding some inspiration along the way.

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy or too impatient.
One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach -waiting for a gift from the sea."

~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

~ Thursday ~

I've been crafting instead of gettingthings ready for our trip to the beach.

I'm gonna pay for that!

Made this birthday bag for my friend, Juli. It makes me think that I actually enjoy that size surface, and getting sticky with modge podge. I always enjoy Pam Garrison's art journals. Maybe I will tackle that someday soon?

"Nobody is ever met at the airport when beginning a new adventure.

It's just not done."

~Elizabeth Fernea

Happy Fourth of July!