Just wanted to add some photos of a few of my favorite collectibles that just lay around my house and make me happy!

A tarnished baby cup and utensils that go right along with all of the baby shoes that I collect. An old box that I use to keep some of my tatting thread in. And a doily that some dear lady tediously crochet many years in the past.

 The old apple peeler still works and I often think that the "new and improved" tools are rarely ever as useful as those first invented.

Drooling over shops again

 As I look around at other Blogs and drool, I get very anxious about posting some pictures and sharing what I feel others with the same interest would appreciate. I feel the need to apologize for not having more content yet. I do hope those who have viewed will bookmark and come back for a visit.

We all know how busy our lives get when all we really want to do is go junquing, design or decorate, create and just live in our little wonder-worlds. Ho hum... still dreamy from looking at other beautifully designed blogs and wish I could snap my fingers and make mine what my heart desires!

Today shall be busy and so I shall return!

Nostalgic Photos

I've changed the header above several times in the past few days. I think I may keep this one at least until I have more time to play with the graphics programs. The photos are my own. I think the old doily and baby shoes against the barn wood and box gives me the feel of the nostalgia that I'm looking to share.

Yesterday morning, I spent the first four hours after and during my coffee-time, baking oatmeal cookies, peanut butter cookies and a chocolate pudding cake. While the oven was on, I wanted to get as much done to share with family members that I will be seeing this weekend. Even if I wasn't visiting, it always seems a bit of a weekend-time-saver, if I get some of the cooking out of the way ahead of time. The temperatures have been in the mid fifties at night and upper seventies in the daytime, so with that chill in the air, I do get in the mood for sort of "nesting" activities.

Grandkids in Mo. started their first day of school for this term. The year will finish out quickly, I'm sure. Before we know it we will be planning Thanksgiving & Christmas as it seems once school is in session, it all goes so fast.

I'm so anxious to meet some of you who have the same interests. 

2nd Drawing in 2 weeks

I've been busily working on creating this blog and although I am not all that fluent with all of its features, I am managing. I've learned a lot in the last few "quiet" days that I have had. Concentrating on me doesn't come all too often.
Also, I would like to share another drawing that I have been working on. I'm pretty proud of the fact that I have put into motion some ideas that have been long suppressed. Two drawings in two weeks is pretty exciting for me. I may just finally be on the roll that I've practically been tasting for some time!

It is a drawing of a little collection that I actually have hanging in my kitchen. I know that it is a bit light and that style is something that I will try and work on in future drawings. I usually don't have a heavy hand with a pencil, so it is difficult for me to perfect gradient. As of late, it is just so important for me to get these drawings started and work on them in any free time available.

Thanks for viewing and please leave a comment if you'd like.

Grand Dad's Baby Shoes

What beautiful weather we are having in the mid-west. It feels like a precursor into Autumn and really gets my creative juices flowing. The sounds and smells in the mornings from where I sit on the front porch and drink my coffee, are so refreshing and inspirational. Its a great start to my days!

I have picked up the pencil again and have finished a drawing for my sister in-law. (If she wants it.) I collect baby shoes and recently she brought a pair that belonged to my late Father in-law, her Father. The thoughtful gesture from her made me weep with both excitement and sentiment. I was truly touched and absolutely love the little worn black shoes. They seem to be filled with long ago memories and I can practically hear the giggles and coos.

So I decided to construct a little composition and draw the little vignette. It is done strictly with one Mirado Black Warrior HB2 pencil.

This drawing was a lot of fun for me and already, I am anxious to start another. My husband who is an illustrator and graphics designer is known to say that you can solve most of the worlds problems with just a pencil. Using this medium sure made me happy!

I hope somebody will take a look and give me some feedback. I never realized how time consuming blogging can be and finding all the special links and connections to get out there and get noticed is not as easy as I thought that it would be when I first started this. I do try to take time every day or so, to learn more about the special features, etc. But busy lives are stretched sometimes and I am a patient soul.

Thanks for looking!

New Grandbaby

We've known about our newest Grandbaby since very early into the pregnancy and are very excited about it. We shared a phone call this evening with our daughter in-law and learned of the gender. We now know that we are having a girl! No doubt this baby will be cherished (not using the word "spoiled") as are the first five grandkids. Children are such Blessings and I believe they keep us young. Witnessing them grow and seeing the individuality in each is simply amazing.

I'm looking forward to the up-coming farm life activities. The honey is needing to be extracted and there's tomatoes that are ripening quickly. I will be appreciating the work-up in the kitchen and am always very pleased when the larder gets stocked. The price of groceries lately have been strangely astronomical and there's very little said about why. Although we know the obvious reasons, it just seems a bit unusual when in one segment of the newscast we listen to, the report is on starving kids in the community having to rely solely on food banks and the free school lunches and the next segment is about profits. I'd be interested in hearing one about the waste that goes unmentioned.

 Continue to pray for those less fortunate!

I could easily be here all day and into the next (week), explaining all that my life has been included in since I last posted. As interesting as it was and while through all of our blessings and adventures etc., certainly deems worthy of documenting, I will just move onto making myself simply write again.

I love to create altered art, one-of-a-kind gifts and any number of pleasing and hopefully useful home decor items that I believe somebody will love. Finding the time all to myself to just create is sometimes a difficult endeavor for me and often-times, I will get frustrated because I get pulled into other directions, instead of getting to do what I want to do. I wonder sometimes if it is God teaching me patience.

I tell myself that anything that I accomplish in any given day, should be regarded as a true Blessing and nothing less. The ideas keep coming and although they don't always get put to a physical faze, as long as they come, it's good. Most of them do get drawn or written out, sometimes scratched on a scrap of whatever paper is in front of me, even if I lose it anyway, at least it was an attempt. I could probably just make a book of the ideas that I get and make a living off of the book. I wouldn't have to do the work... maybe just a prototype, as I usually don't have patience to make quantities. I am more of a one-of-a-kind person because there are just too many things that I want to try. Which leads me to...

Does anyone ever have the problem of never having enough supplies to create with? I can have a whole barn full of "stuff" and still not be satisfied. Especially now that I've been loving the mixed media and altered art. If I never had to come in and take care of the family, I would be elbow deep in art stuff from the time I wake till the time I sleep. Reality check!

It's good to be here again, but it's time to go create while I have good light coming in through windows!