Busy weekend...

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a quiet dinner, just the 2 of us and celebrated with family on Friday. Spent Saturday morning at the market and the afternoon bargain and treasure hunting. Today we ran errands and finished our Christmas shopping. The four days sure went by quickly.
I spent some time on my Gratitude album for this year and it's ready for photos...

It's created from a kit I found among my stepmother's things after she passed away. Our Thanksgiving was bittersweet, our first since she passed. Seems fitting to use an album that belonged to her.
Will be busy most of this week getting ready for the first Saturday of Mistletoe Market.
Hope your week is great!
Be back soon.

With gratitude...

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Butterfly dreams...

Sharing a postcard today...

I created this card for a challenge at Three Muses, the theme was In Your Dreams.
Not a lot of extra time this week, working on getting ready for Mistletoe Market.
Hope you had sweet dreams last night.
Have a pleasant day.
Be back soon.

Happy Monday

Hope you had a lovely weekend.
I spent Saturday morning working on my display in the Heritage Crafters Gallery at the community market. The market was quite busy and I enjoyed meeting a lot of great folks. By the time I left that afternoon, I was pretty pleased with my display however had a list of things I want to do to make it more appealing. I have an even longer list of things to make. It's so wonderful to be fortunate enough to do what I love everyday.
Spent yesterday morning at my dad's, he is recovering quite well from his foot surgery, he's up and around with the aid of crutches. He's having surgery again in January and will be laid up much longer.

Just fascinating how the leaves have all fallen from one side.

Found a lot of great books at the flea market last Saturday, 11 hymnals, 2 cookbooks, 1 flower book, 9 children's books and a book on the White House, all for $8. I've already removed the Christmas hymns from one of the hymnals and made a few ornaments which I'll share soon.
Have a fantastic Monday!
Be back soon.

Tis the season...

no, I'm not trying to rush Christmas. It makes me sad to see decorations up, music playing and endless advertising before we have even celebrated Thanksgiving.
It's football season and yes, I'm a big fan. I'm crazy about college football, it's exciting, they play with their hearts. In honor of the season, thought I would share one of my images with you. I bought this almost 20 years ago in an antique shop in Indiana. I believe, and I could be wrong, this is a University of Cinncinati player. Quite ironic since I've been following their season closely this year. Go Bearcats!

Hope you have had a wonderful week. Mine has been extremely busy. Participated in Bella's Girls Night Out last night. The market was open during the event and when I arrived, I was surprised to find that they had my permanent space ready for me. Got partly set up and will tote more items down on Saturday and get really creative. Met lots of the vendors and the crowd was good.
Have a happy Friday.
Be back soon.

Another door opens...

Photo taken at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and that when one door closes, another door opens. Last week I submitted several items for review and I'm excited to announce that I'm going to have a display in the Heritage Crafter's Gallery at the Community Market in Lynchburg. The gallery is open 6 days a week and is a popular place for Christmas shopping. I'm also participating in the Girls Night Out Holiday Open House on Thursday evening. Things seem to be falling into place, this is just the opportunity that I've been hoping for.
So needless to say, I'm feeling pretty good right now, lots to do to get ready but feeling pretty good!
The weather yesterday was fabulous and we were out of the house by 8am. Spent the day running a few errands and junk shopping. Also took lots of photos, I'll post a few soon.
I may be absent a little over the next few weeks as I prepare to move into the market, hope you understand, I promise to share lots of photos and details of my new venture.
Hope your week has started well.
Be back soon.

Lost...

I created this postcard for a challenge at Three Muses, the theme for the challenge was Fowl Play.
Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
Be back soon.

Happy Friday the 13th

I'll be out and about all day today, things to do, people to see.
It's going to be a fabulous day, hope your's is too.
Be back soon.

Said the butterfly...

Sharing another postcard...

Said the butterfly

Love this quote. I use a lot of butterflies in my art, there's something so magical about them.

Hope you are having a wonderful day.

Be back soon.

Saluting Our Veterans

Veteran's Day, a day of thanksgiving and prayer as we honor those that have served.
Today has an extra special meaning for me as all 4 of my brothers, my father, stepfather and father-in-law and both grandfather's have served. Three of my brothers are still active and one is being deployed on January 10, 2o10 for his second time to Iraq. This will be the fourth deployment of one of my brothers in the last 4 years. I understand the sacrifices that are made and I am so very proud of the men in my family.
I made a card to commemorate the day...

Saluting Our Veterans
The little sailor image is from challenge 48 at Art Creations Friday. My card also fits into the current theme of Remembrance at Created By Hand.
To all veterans, I thank you for your service and I salute you.
Have a great day.
Be back soon.

Sneek peek...

Sharing a few sneek peeks into my Soul Journal...

Bits and pieces of a creative process, love, love, love it!

Are you ready to begin the process? I hope so.

More to share...soon.

Have a great day.

Be back soon.

Reflection...

Another ATC to share today. The background came from Art Creations Friday, it was for challenge 46 which I didn't get done in time however thought I would share anyway...

Reflection...
This has been me that last few weeks, reflecting on a lot of things lately. Thinking ahead to Thanksgiving and Christmas, planning for my recent show, preparing for Dad's upcoming surgeries, you name it, it's been on my mind.
My Soul Journal is coming along nicely and I am loving the concept as much as the process. My youngest daughter, Sarah, fell in love with mine and has decided to make one too. Hopefully, she will allow me to take a few photos so I can share. It will be interesting for us to compare ours side by side. I was excited because she is just 15 and has never had much interest in the artsy stuff I do, she loves to look but never any desire to create on her own, maybe that is getting ready to change!
Happy Monday!
Be back soon.

I am...

tired, excited, exhausted, hopeful...it's been a great week. The show this weekend went well, sales better than last year and my PhotoWords were a big hit. Met some great crafters, a successful show all the way around.
Looking forward to another busy week, took several custom orders at the show and need to get them filled.
An ATC to share with you this evening...

I Am...Me
This is for challenge 47 at Art Creations Friday.
I've missed posting the past few days, have lots to share.
I'll get caught up over the next week or so.
Hope you have had a great weekend.
Be back soon.

My knight in shining armor...

Image courtesy of Karen's Whimsey.
For 28 years, I worked outside the home, and my days were divided into work time and home time. Then, for 4 years, I had a retail shop that was located in my home. During this time my days consisted of work/home time, no real division between the two. It's easy to see how it happened because my job was born from my hobby. Since closing my shop in September, my days have become even more unorganized and for someone that is organized to a fault, I have been feeling a bit off lately and I believe it has effected my creativity, actually my ability to create. I still work from my home, keeping 2 little girls part time and creating and selling my art. What a great way to spend the day but I find I feel at the end of the day like I've worked all day and done nothing...hard to explain.I've decided that it's time to refine my days, work time during the day and home time in the evening. Create for others when I'm working and create for me when I'm "home". Sounds like a plan!
Something that I have wanted to do for a long time now is to create an art journal. I've been researching the process for a couple of weeks and have found a load of inspiration online. There seems to be a million different ways to create an art journal, it's amazing. A few days ago I was reading one of my favorite blogs, the last door...down the hall and fell in love with Elizabeth's journal pages, they are true works of art. I was especially intrigued with her entry on Soul Journaling and had to find out more. I joined the Soul Journal Yahoo Group, as she did, and have been reading and gathering supplies. Cannot wait to get started, this is exactly the type of project I have been looking for...thanks Elizabeth, I am inspired. Look forward to sharing my pages with you.
The graphic above is for Day 3 of the process, every girl needs a knight in shining armor!
Have a wonderful day!
Be back soon.

Fall Colors...

Thought I would share a few photos from our last ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

A few of the leaves I collected.

This is my favorite time of year...I love the beautiful colors, the crisp morning air, the smell of burning leaves and the holidays of the season. With Halloween past, it's time to begin preparing for Thanksgiving.

Another busy week ahead.

Hope yours is wonderful.

Be back soon.