HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loveth at all times."

"What is the secret of your life?" asked Mrs. Browning of Charles Kingsley. "Tell me, that I may
make mine beautiful, too." He replied: "I had a friend."

Love much, there is no waste in freely giving;
More blessed is it, even, than to receive.
He who loves much, alone finds life worth living;
Love on, through doubt and darkness; and believe

There is no thing which Love may not achieve. - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

A Cold January Day And Nothing To Do But Stay In

A couple more photos of groupings in my home.  The one has an Aladdin Drape Oil Lamp in it, some cloth Shabby Chic hearts I made, a framed Antique Easter card.  The second photo shows my antique dresser top in our bedroom.  To the right of clock you will see a photo of my father as a baby.  Yep, the guys wore the long gowns in those days! A couple Boyd Bunnies sit in front. Vintage Crystal hold my charm bracelet and gold bangle from Arabia.

A COLD JANUARY DAY

A good day to stay in reading or sewing or designing. Decided to take a few photos showing some of my vignettes in our home.
The first pix is of my antique composition Effanbee doll Patsy. She is the large Patsy approx. 27". I have her sitting on a stool in corner of our bedroom holding a Boyd bear in her lap. Before moving to Indiana I had her completely restored by a doll maker in Florida. She is just special. Still bears the original Effanbee heart tag on her wrist.
I also have pulled out a few books from my library and scanned a few pages here and there. One of my favorite authors is the Indiana Hoosier Poet James Whitcomb Riley.  My father would read from an antique book of his poems, to me before going to bed. Then we would have our prayers.
Today I looked at one verse of  "A Life Lesson."

THERE ! little girl ; don't cry !
They have broken your doll I know ;
And your tea set blue,
And your play house , too,
Are things of the long ago;
 But childish troubles will soon pass
           by.-
There !  little girl; don't cry !

I typed the verse as written in book.  This book is Child Rhynes, James Whitcomb Riley , Hoosier Pictures by  Will Vawter.  Copyright 1890. This antique book I have was presented to a young lady in 1929 at Christmas time.

SNOWBALLS AND HEARTS

Thinking about this time of year, cold, snow, snowmen and snowladies, then getting ready to springboard into reds and pinks for Valentine's Day.
So what do I do, rearrange some of my creations in the front living room that are noticably WHITE ! LOL
I have fun with vignettes! Using my creations along with vintage and antiques.
This time of year after the Christimas Season us artists are in dulldrums so to speak. Our creativity spark just isn't there, so I decided to enjoy what I have out now.
Mind you there are only two white hearts in the white vintage McCoy vase.
Enjoy !
Susan

SNOWY SNOWY WINTER

This is the time of year that I hunker down and enjoy quiet hours creating in my studio. After all the Christmas is down, I leave up snowmen and anything that depicts snow. Perfect for this time of year until we decorate for Valentine's day.
I finished my SnowLady doll last night.  The inspiration for her came from Create & Decorate, but I changed her around, using what supplies I had on hand. 
Her body was made from white linen fabric leftover from what I have just recently used to create new curtains.  Her dress, apron and cape are from vintage embroidered fabrics. The cape was then edged with the teeniest pom poms you ever saw.  Her hat is wool felt, the glam belt is a piece of sequined trim. I used vintage silver tinsel around cuffs on legs and arms.
Her super baggy pantaloons was made with vintage flocked fabric. Of course the flocking looks like snowballs!
I used a paper mache ball for her head. I sprinkle glass glitter on head and hat.
Enjoy!
Susan

She is approx. 24" long to top of hat.

CHRISTMAS

Due to my health issues wasn't able to get our 10 1/2 ft. tree up this year.  We have boxes and boxes of antique ornaments which normally takes me 3 days to get it all on, lights included.  Anyway, decided to put out a couple more of my Alpine trees and decorate them.  Here is one in our front living room.  I used vintage flocked fabrics to make the "poufs" then added vintage gold tinsel and bulbs. On the base I added a new large floral poinsettia wreath. It fits perfectly over the base. Thought this was a new flip on a Christmas tree skirt.  As you can see this is in whites. I love white, our home has lots of white shades.

Merry Christmas

MORE HARVEST PICS

Here are a couple photos showing some of my fav Harvest items.  The one is an antique paper mache' jack o lantern. On my antique hutch in dining room I have a jar full of orange putka pods that look so much like teeny tiny pumpkins, in the background you will see a stack of various sizes antique wooden tureen bowls. Been collecting them for years. Couldn't resiste the Pumpkin Candle one year, so it sits proudly on a candle mat I made.

Enjoy !

WHITE PUMPKINS

My white pumpkins. I created these with various textures and shades of white fabrics, including a velvet. The stem is made of a pale green brocade. The vines are made using a green eyelash yarn.

HARVEST PHOTOS

I can not believe how much time has elapsed since I last posted on my blog.
Too many things happening with a slower body ! :)
I did take the time to shoot a few pixs of our  Harvest items in house.
The Pumpking Wall Quilt is in our family room. I use this wall as a focal point for my quilts. This part of our home is decorated in Country Folk Art. The quilt is my design. On the center band is a recipe for Pumpkin pie, written in brown fabric pen. Wanted a rustic look.
The pixs of my white pumpkins are in our front living room. This part of the home as is most, is decorated in White Country Chic. My terminology. :)  Love the Mediterrerean whites. When on vacation through Greek Islands the open and airy feeling of white intrigued me. For some reason unable to get the first pix righted.

 

SOME PICTURES OF MY FLOWERS

I have in my photos: Bee Balm, ConeFlowers, White Wave Petunias, Sweet Annie, New Dawn Rose, Ceoposis, Tiger Lily, Native Indiana Sunflower, Coral Bells , Brown Eyed Susans ,and my Raspberry Patch.
There is nothing as relaxing as walking about your flower beds, admiring God's creation, working in the dirt, feeling a light breeze skim over your sweaty clothes, cooling you. Just look at some of the beautiful colors. Awesome !