It Needed a Little Sumpin' Sumpin'

I've been doing a little feathering of the nest here and there.
It's been slow going,
but I've managed to work my way into the dining room...

where I have a wall of frames...

that really looked incomplete.

So I took a page out of Gina's book
and was inspired to finish this project.

I know!
It's been well over a year!

But I did it!

And it works so well in there,
as I have a whole bird and nest thing happening in that room.

I have to admit, that when I tucked it away after Paper Cowgirl last year,
I really didn't like it.

But I'm happy with it now.

Thanks for the inspiration, Gina!

Friday's Flowers ~ No. 20

Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes along.
~Samuel Butler,
"Speech at the Somerville Club,"
27 February 1895

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This has been a very full week.

A week full of "new"...
new schools,
new people,
new goals,
new expectations.

A week full of "advice"...
advice given,
advice taken,
advice ignored,
advice withheld.

A very full week.
A week where everyone here has learned something.

Around the World In 20 Tags

Well, almost 20.

Wendy hosted this really fun tag swap awhile back.
Remember my Greece tags?
I finally had a chance to photograph the whole tag book.

There were supposed to be 20 countries represented.
However, the US Postal Service evidently really liked two sets of these tags, and decided to keep them for themselves.
Super frustrating for the tag makers and also Wendy.
(I've had a swap package almost lost in the mail, just going one town over from where I live. Luckily it showed up at the last minute... looking pretty rough, I might add. It really sucks.)
Wendy, being the good sport she is, made a quick fill in tag of one of the missing sets, but just ran out of time for the other lost set.
So we actually have "Around the World In 19 Tags".
Who knows, maybe they will show up a few months from now.

Okay, on with the show...

U.S.A- Michelle Cox, Canada- Rachel Velder, Mexico- Pam Kern, Brazil- Wendy (fill in tag).

Ireland- Marlene Haveron, England- Jane Palmer, Spain- Cheryl Bass.

Italy- Rochelle Gaukel, France- Peggy Lucas, Germany- Wanda Clark, Holland- Marian Ballog.

Egypt- Bianca Gaspard, Morocco- Kimberly Laws, Jordan- Sherry Wescott.

India- Natalea Kandefer, Australia- Beth Holcombe, Japan- Wendy Robrecht, China- Cindy Bellamy.

Fun, isn't it?!

ps. I didn't add a pic of mine... you've already seen it.

We're Still Eating Blueberries

I thawed out some of our picked blueberries this weekend,
and made a pie.

I threw in some blackberries too and
even though I didn't have time to make my own crust,
(Don't judge me! There wasn't time.)
it is DE-lish!

Would you like a piece?
Better get some quick before the Farmboy finishes it off!

Friday's Flowers ~ No. 19

In summer, the song sings itself.
~William Carlos Williams

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As far as the boys are concerned,
their Summer song has come to an end.
School starts Monday.

Sure seemed like a short song this year.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Egads!

It's here!!!

And now the boys are wondering if they will be eating cereal for dinner until all of the project have been stitched.

Hmmm...
possibly.

A Gilded Bracelet

The last day of the Gilded Nest event,
Shea taught us how to wire wrap.

This was something I had been wanting to learn how to do for quite awhile.
The best part,
I learned much more than just wire wrapping in this class.

I'll admit, I definitely need a lot more practice if I ever want to make jewelry that is actually wearable in public.
But I'm okay with that,
because it's really a fun to do!

Friday's Flowers ~ No. 18

What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.
~Jane Austen

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I love warm, yellow sunshine.
But when it feels like it is 107 degrees outside with over 50% humidity….
Well, you get the picture.
I miss my hammock time.

Love At Frist Sight

As I walked into the Church and rounded the corner,
our eyes met.

It was love at first sight.

I tried to fight it.
But despite my efforts, my eyes drifted that way throughout the day.

By the end of the day,
it didn't matter to me what the Farmboy might think.
Love cannot be denied.
The beautiful dolly was coming home with me.

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Isn't she gorgeous?!
This is the art doll I purchased from Colleen Moody.
I swear if I didn't know any better, I would think she was made specifically for me.
She fits me and my home so perfectly!

Yesterday I realized that I was too general in the post on the making of Lucie and I don't want to take credit where credit isn't due.
Colleen had all the dolls already sculpted for us because there wasn't enough time for them to dry and allow us to put them together.
I did paint her, make her legs and completely fashion her clothing and crown.
She, Colleen, provided us with paperclay, so I'm foreseeing much doll sculpting in my future.

Hope you're having a beautiful week!

Lady Lucillia Whitelake

Back in the late 18th century, in the South-East of England, there lived an Earl.
The Earl of Whitelake.
He owned a vast expanse of land, know as Whitelake Downs.
The Earl had five children.
The older four all boys.

The youngest, a daughter.

Lady Lucillia Whitelake.
Those closest to her called her Lucie.

As you can imagine, being both the only girl of the family, as well as the youngest, Lucie was doted upon by everyone of the estate.

Despite the attentions she received, Lucie was as sweet as one could find, from the top of her tiara to the tips of her daintily slippered feet.

Lucie enjoyed the outdoors and spent much of her time roaming the estate.

Some days she could be found walking the wooded trails or collecting wildflowers from the meadows.

But most often one would find Lucie picnicking, taking tea or reading under her favorite apple tree down by the south pond.

Lucie's life was one of love and happiness.

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And I am just tickled pink with her!
I created Lucie in Colleen Moody's class at The Gilded Nest event.
When I grow up, I want to be Colleen Moody.... okay, maybe I can just be a doll maker.
I can't wait to show you the AMAZING doll I purchased from Colleen.
The Farmboy raised an eyebrow, but I know y'all will love her as much as I do!

Friday's Flowers ~ No. 17

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844

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Have a beautiful weekend!

It's In the Bag! ~ Part II

One of the aspects of the flea market bag swap that I really liked, was that it wasn't exactly a traditional one on one swap.
I made a bag for Heather, but she made a bag for someone else.
My bag came from Kim.

And she hit the nail on the nose!

The color is perfect.
The material is perfect.
The style is perfect.

It also perfectly held all of my goodies when we spent the day at Canton.

And when I'm not using it, it looks perfect hanging by the front door!

It's In the Bag!

I am wiped out!
Those Gilded Girls sure know how to host an event!
It was fantastic, but it may take me a few weeks to recover from the fantastic-ness of it all.

I, being me, of course did not take a single picture the entire weekend.
I've come to the conclusion, that I will just have to take this whole not photographing events as a fact of life and embrace it. I guess I just get way too involved in soaking up the experience to do anything more than just that, soak.
With that being said, I can share swaps and projects.

I did one swap.
A flea Market bag swap.
Heather asked me for a messenger bag of turquoise, green and pink, ruffles and polka dots, and feminine.
So this is what I gave her.

I've never made a bag before, so this swap used up quite a bit of brain power.
I thought I would simply be able to go out and find a ruffled messenger bag pattern.
Oh boy was I ever wrong!
So I took a what I could find (which was a wonky looking bag pattern) and altered the fool out of it.

It has two pockets on the inside and a large one across the back on the outside.
It's nice and roomy and will hold quite a bit.
I know this, because I almost filled it to the brim with junquing essentials.
(A little known fact, I have a tendency to get carried away sometimes. Okay, so maybe that's not really a little know fact.)

Here is one of the little goodies I popped into the bag. A junque journal for notes on measurements and such.

I'm pretty sure that I won't be making another bag anytime soon, but this really was a fun swap.

Next time I'll show you the gorgeousness that I received!

Have a beautiful Monday.