This angel was made  from an antique newel post and stands 51" tall. I enjoyed the process more because I know her new owner and felt free to add a few elements that I knew she would appreciate.  She has layers upon layer of paint as I searched for her color. She tried on pink and green and a yellow green and black......  I wanted to draw attention to her lovely shape by painting her parts different colors but only made her look like she belonged in a circus.  She wasn't pleased.  Finally after hours of painting and looking and standing with much toe tapping I found her color and she began to smile.  She has gone to the most beautiful home where she will be loved and will spend her life watching over her family of giant dogs, Great Danes and Newfoundlands, and various other creatures and humans who come and go.  She can look out over a beautiful lake in the wooded foothills of the Rockies when she isn't busy keeping an eye on Lea.  Lea will keep her busy, as she is always going here and there and trying this and that, and wears her heart on the outside. 
Psalm 91
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—

even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Thanksgiving

I took a tutorial from Jane DesRosier (Gritty Arts Studio) to learn how to make this tiny doll.  Her teaching style is so fun and relaxed.    She is only 6 inches tall.

Jane is one of the many people I find myself thankful for this season of Thanksgiving.  I have learned a lot from her about art, but more  importantly, I have learned more about trusting God.  Jane has been transparent about some things in her life that most of us struggle with but keep hidden in our hearts closet.  I have watched her grow through things faster than anyone I have known.   She wears her faith where everyone can see and Glorifies God with her artwork, often including scripture in it.  She has been through many changes and outright battles since I have come to know her but has remained on the narrow road.   Always generous and encouraging. 

I have to mention the snowman head is in a tiny vintage Japan childs tea cup....2"wide...did I tell you that Jane taught me to sculpt with paper clay....I am loving it!




Trust in the Lord with all of your heart
lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
                                    Proverbs 3:5-6

"I Gotta Find Peace of Mind " LAUREN HILL (watch to the end) Beautiful

Another tree

This is what I was up to today....

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy leaves are so unchanging;

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy leaves are so unchanging;

Not only green when summer's here,

But also when 'tis cold and drear.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy leaves are so unchanging!



O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;

How often has the Christmas tree

Afforded me the greatest glee!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me.



O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy candles shine so brightly!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy candles shine so brightly!

From base to summit, gay and bright,

There's only splendor for the sight.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy candles shine so brightly!



O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

How richly God has decked thee!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

How richly God has decked thee!

Thou bidst us true and faithful be,

And trust in God unchangingly.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

How richly God has decked thee! !"

Finally my mystery balls are finished. ( posted a couple of months ago) They are loaded with vintage surprises. Some are on ice cream sundae glasses and others are bobbling around on old rusty bedsprings. Their hats are made from old woolen trousers and are decorated with various vintage finds that include mercury glass beads and balls, tiny bottle brush trees, metal tinsel garland and covered in glass glitter and mica flakes.. They are all ready to go to Hoopers Christmas Show. Like all dolls they each have their own personality. I have to give credit to The Primitive Nook for the pattern. I took her creativity and added my own flare...

Happy Birthday Susan

.   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.   Galatians 5:22-23

This little sweetie is a birthday present for a friend of mine. She is only 9" tall to the top of her tiny pom pom on the top of her hat. Her old bottle is only 1.5" in diameter. So nice to make something just for FUN

 I was recently  brought to rememberance of a woman who impacted my childhood. Her name was Mary Ann Freeman. Every summer she would come to teach the childrens church at the Normal (yes that is the name of the town ) Holiness Campmeeting. She was an evangelist. She was so vibrant, a regular pied piper. She had all of the noisy instruments from sticks to tamborines and cymbols.  It was so fun to rummage through her big  leather suitcase for our favorite instrument of praise and then march around the open sanctuary making a JOYFUL noise. Before the childrens meeting she would go out and pick up kids in her car. Note, this was before seat belts. Her car would be packed full of noisy children wiggling and laughing. I was camping with my family on the grounds but she would take me out with her on these forays. When the car was bursting at the seams with kids she would stuff me between herself and the door. Oh, I felt special when MaryAnn was in town. Once she took me shopping and purchased a store bought dress for me. It was about 50 years ago but I can still remember...  how beautiful and oh the joy! Thanks Mary Ann for making one little girl feel so special.

I had a great time at the annual fund raiser/ arts & crafts show, for the Conrad Mansion. I finished this antique newel post angel just in time and she sold right away. In fact I only had one box of stuff to bring home. It was a success and I am going to  have to get busy because the show I was planning on doing ( I just stuck the Mansion show in for fun) is in two weeks and I don't have much left. Which is a blessing.

Old worn out things make me feel all happy.  I love tiny old baby shoes that are so worn that you know many different feet have worn them over the years.  This one I filled with old bottle brush trees and some vintage tinsel garland.

Here is my little snow girl... I love this time of year when it is cloudy and wet and cold because I can sit down and create.  When it is beautiful and the sun is shining I cannot keep myself on task inside.

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

Mother Teresa

Michael, my youngest son, took this picture last year but I had not noticed how beautiful it was.  This is the dawn of a new day.

I was given the gift, from a dear friend, of a Tres Dias. It was a beautiful and life transforming event.

Autumn is in the air today. The morning air was crisp and I feel inspired to get some work done for the shows I have coming up. Yea, Christmas...Santas and snowmen , angels and sparkle, sparkle, sparkle.

This is where I went today...I am having a hard time working when creation is calling me out to play.

Mothers day

a few years ago two of my adult children (Zach and  Windy) got together and sang this song to me for a mothers day surprise. I was so overcome that I couldn't speak.

IN MY LIFE     by THE BEATLES

There are places i'll remember



All my life though some have changed


Some forever not for better


Some have gone and some remain


All these places have their moments


With lovers and friends i still can recall


Some are dead and some are living


In my life i've loved them all






But of all these friends and lovers


There is no one compares with you


And these memories lose their meaning


When i think of love as something new


Though i know i'll never lose affection


For people and things that went before


I know i'll often stop and think about them


In my life i love you more






Though i know i'll never lose affection


For people and things that went before


I know i'll often stop and think about them


In my life i love you more


In my life i love you more

Lock me in my Studio!

Related Words for : procrastinate


dilly-dally, dillydally, drag one's feet, drag one's heels, shillyshally

" What is REAL?" Asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes, said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once, like being wound up," said the Skin Horse. "you become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
"I suppose you are Real?" said the Rabbit, and then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive. But the Skin Horse only smiled.
"The Boy's Uncle made me Real," he said. "That was a great many years ago; but once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always." THE VELVETEEN RABBIT