~ Paper Flowers and Eclectic Treasures For You ~

It's been a very cold, snowy day here.

I have a cozy fire and some little friends gathered

around. I keep hearing Brutus' snoring and the deep breathing of Liberty as she sleeps nearby. The dear dog is getting older.

I hope that you're enjoying your 

Valentine's week.

With all of the loving thoughts

and expressions going around.

"There is only one happiness in life;

 to love and be loved."

George Sand

Yesterday, I baked 5 loaves 

of banana and zucchini

bread. It was delightful to have that

sweet smell floating 

through the house.

And soon I am going to go

 make some cookie dough

 for sugar cookie hearts 

for friends and the grandkids. 

Are you baking for Valentine's day?

********

Do you ever think about how wonderful

it is to live in such inspiring times?

There are so many resources and ways to fulfill

the creative longings in our heart.

There are so many

fabulously talented and creative

people out there sharing their magic and

knowledge and skills.

I've learned so much and

I'm grateful!

And then there are books.

Are you a book person?

My grandparents always bought me new

books for my birthday. 

I still have some.

And I'm so thankful that my parents

always sent me back to school with

my Scholastic Book order

form all filled out and placed in an 

envelope with the money 

to pay for my new books.

Someday I'll do a book post.

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine and 

man cannot live without love"

Max Muller

I've been enjoying this 

 mantel so much.

{The antique mirror with her elegant gold roses

feels very at home as the 

blush pink,  paper flower sits nearby.

Sparkling crystal is happy to be near

the Carnation Family as 

their colors reflect in the glass.} 

Do you like mixing old and new with

whimsical and elegant?

It reminds me of life.

All the goodness and textures 

blended together to display the

 beautiful and interesting 

and exciting story.

Do you like old tins?

I found this one at a thrift store.

I love the delicate roses and 

fairy-like butterflies painted in

the soft blues, yellows and pinks.

"Love planted a rose and the world turned sweet."

Katherine Lee Bates

Chalkboards are fun to 

share quotes and doodles on.  

This is a child's from long ago.

I wish I knew the story behind it.

Confession time. 

This saying is actually from three years ago

at Thanksgiving. It brings back such good memories that I am reluctant to erase it.

Paper flowers can be whimsical and pretty.

 They're fun and easy to make.

Their textures and puffy layers 

are cheerful and charming.

These colors make me think of winter.

Sometimes in the evenings 

we have beautiful pinks

as the sun slips away for the night.

Do you like the white flowers?

Since the growing season here in the mountains

is so short and I love flowers so much,

I have started collecting them from

different stores. 

Walmart carries a few pretty ones and

they are reasonably priced.

These looked so happy with their big, 

bright white

petals and soft pink centers.

"God's love is like an ocean;

you can see it's beginning but not it's end."

Rick Warren

Miss Prim ROSE is very curious.

I don't allow her to stay on my table because 

she is a bit reckless. 

haha

She found a sponge that I had been using for acrylics and had to smell it.

What a cutie :)

I hope,

 Dear friends,

 that you find your week is filled 

with love, laughter, friendship 

and many

ways to celebrate 

all the love in your life.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! 

XOXO

Thank you very much for 

your friendship

and for visiting my blog.

Love and blessings to you.

Tamara xo

A Love Story ~ For Terri and Honey and Gideon

Have you ever lost a beloved animal friend? Most of us have at one time or another. I know I have. It's easy to love those critters that become such an intricate part of our lives. And we grieve and miss them when they're gone. Sometimes the circumstances by which they leave us are very difficult to bear.

Early this last spring, a good friend of mine lost her friend and mount while birthing her new little colt. It was very sad. She had done all that she could to save the mare but, sadly, they lost her still. Her injury was a deep tear inside that occurred because her boy was so large. It happened at the vet clinic at Ohio State University from a hemorrhage.

I was very saddened for my friend because of this great loss. And it weighed heavy on my heart for some time. One night I awoke and this little poem came to me.

It's about Gideon. He made it through with loving care and devotion. And he thrives today. It's about
Terri and her Honey horse.

Remember when the days were long
When life was easy like a song
And time played out just like a melody?

You'd brush me down, we'd saddle up
We'd ride the trails and fill 'ar cup
We moved like one in perfect harmony.

You'd rub my legs, your hands were kind
Your words were gentle on my mind
I felt the love you had inside for me.

And now I've left behind my son
He's running free, his name is strong
You're part of him and he's still part 'o me.

There's no one else I'd rather teach him
You're the one God knew could reach him
He'll know about love, life and legacy.

Gideon has my strength and spirit
God wrote his song, you'll help him live it
Through happy days on the ranch of T-N-T.

Blessings to you all,
Tamara

Vintage Tag Valentine with Waxed Paper Envelope

I enjoy giving cards and gifts to people. And sharing a small token of friendship or kinship

is such a warm way to communicate to someone how special they are.

 

While thinking of my daughters, sisters and friends,

I was inspired to make these little Valentine tags.

 

To make the tags, I cut some vanilla card stock 4.75 x 2.75. 

With a ruler, at the top corners, I measured one inch across diagonally

 to cut the corner off

to give it the cropped look. A paper punch works fine for

the hole at the top.

 

One of the funnest parts of the project is choosing the stamp.

Followed by the color of ink and fabric that

matches the design and effect I am looking for.

 

 

 I scrunch the paper to give it that aged look. I then took a light brown inkpad

and rubbed it over the crinkles. It picks up the color very nicely.

 

I cut the donuts to cover the holes with the Tim Holtz Tiny Tags and Tabs die.

The small hearts were made with a Stampin' Up punch.

 

Lacey trim really added the feminine feel that I wanted. When cutting it, measure

 one and a half times the width of the tag.

I just held it into place while sewing  it on. I really enjoy working with

mixed media!

 

Ideas flow and the heart just creates as I go. The feeling of

 unbound creativity is like....

 

A river that has no end.

Flowing, flowing.

 

 

  

 

The strips of  frayed rag that thread through the eye of the tag were just torn from scraps

and tied at the end. Finding a bead with a hole big enough to pull the pieces through was a

bit of a challege. But I happened to have the perfect hues to compliment the fabrics.

 

I learned something about tearing strips. You can't tear against the selvage! I

never realized how strong it could be.

 

 

And in the next photo, you can see the little punched heart that

I stitched to the lace. To me, the look of stitched paper has such a neat

 look to it.



 



 After the little cards were finished, I really wanted to put something

together to slip them in. A special type of packaging that would

add a little elegance. I decided to try waxed paper. I wasn't sure if it was going

hold up under the sewing machine. It was a bit fragile but taking a little extra care,

I was able to do it.

 

Here's how I made the envelope:

 

1) With the brand name paper, I tore off a piece wide enough to cover

two of the tags with about an inch or two to spare

because you will need to trim the excess waxed paper off

after you sew your side seams. (This will depend on your tag size.)

Then I folded it with the finished sides together and this

made the perfect length envelope.

 

2) I wanted a pretty, fabric ruffle on it and so I found a scrap that

matched the colors of ink and fabric strips that I liked and used.

The strips can be the width and shape of the ruffle size and look that you want.

  I had planned to give it a tapered look and so I cut my pieces at

an angle. I didn't measure the length. But you want them at least

one and a half times the width of the envelope if you want

to gather and make a ruffle. Mine weren't exactly the same but this

is part of the charm of handmade items.

 

They are one of a kind!

 

 

3) Next, I gathered the fabric and then placed it where I wanted it on the

waxed paper. I didn't pin the ruffle to the paper. I was afraid that it might tear.

Setting the stitch length at 3.5,

 I gently held it in place, lifting the presser foot to help it over the thicker spots.

  Because the paper is so thin, the feed dog doesn't grab it

as securely as it could. So, it helps to gently ride your fingers on each side of the

presser foot to push just a bit. 

 

 

 

 

 4) The side seams are next. Fold the paper in half bringing the smooth edges

together until they meet evenly. Crease the bottom and then stitch just to the outside

of the ruffle. Trim off the excess to the desired seam width. To finish it off,

I added some lace that matched the ruffle on the tag and topped that with a pretty

little vintage button.

 

 

 

Over all there were some colors that were a little too plain or stark looking for the design.

To fix that, I found some complementary colors and just did some softening and

blending by inking my fingertip and applying where needed.

 

 

And I was very pleased with the final appearance. I thought that it

 

 turned out very sweet and so I made three more.

 

***********************

 

I would enjoy hearing your opinions on it!

 

Thank you for visiting and a very

 

Happy Valentine's Day

 

to you all.

 

Blessings,

Tamara

Black Fades to Gray

These past months have been so enlightening and liberating. During this time, I have come to
realize that many areas of my life have been out of balance for a very long time. Many of them
relate to my beliefs.

One of the things that I attribute these imbalances to is this. Though I had a father
and a mother, and they were both present physically most of the time, they were unable
to be a presence in my life. Their own circumstances were overwhelming. My mother was
in and out of mental institutions before I was 8 years old. My father worked construction
and he drove long distances to the sites where he was a Master Mechanic. Usually an
hour to two hours one way.

I am not blaming my parents. These are just the facts. They did what they knew. They were
just trying to move ahead and do the best they could with the very difficult circumstances that surrounded them.  Life is not always fair and blaming circumstances or people only makes
one weak. However, it does help to reflect and understand.

I remember feeling very alone and that my life was icky. Just messy. And I always felt like
I was odd and stupid. My family wasn't like other families whose
parents did things with the kids. They talked about things. I remember taking a walk with
my older sister once and talking about life and how good that felt to me. It hit the spot way
down deep in my hungry heart. As I look back I understand that these feelings were all related
to a life that felt very much out of control.


I made a decision to live for God when I was 10. But I never felt good enough. And this
began a very long journey for me. A journey of trying to do right to feel loved and accepted
by the One who created me.

Through the many years on the road to living close to God and trying to please Him, I took
many different paths. All of them supposedly the "right" one. There were truths that were
definitely come to and clarified. But my search for the "perfect" path was not to be found.

Being of the "black and white" personality made that very difficult for me. I was very
determined. And so I tried so hard to make things make sense. I needed a box for all
my activities, beliefs and philosophies to fit neatly into. This was a place of comfort a
and ease.

All the while, He was waiting for me to come to the end of this road that I thought was
leading me into the right.

The accepting of the gray has been extremely liberating. At times, however, freedom can
bring a lot of questions and a feeling of insecurity. Not having the answers can be
intimidating and leave a person feel vulnerable.  My understanding of  "the way things work"
has gone from nothing to a little bit to a little bit more.

For the first time in my life, I am at peace with not knowing. I believe in the past, my
insecurities, and my need to belong always kept me stirred up and anxious. I am so glad to
be ok with what I don't know and who I don't fit in with. I am free to be me. To live. To love.
My husband says that I have come out of my cocoon. I am like a transformed butterfly.

I am so thankful that God didn't forsake me during my searching and questioning. I never felt abandoned or rejected. He has once again, proven Himself so loving and real.( It sounds as if
my journey is over. It's not. There is still healing to be done. Questions will still arise and
more is to be revealed. But the peace I have is lasting. )

Our Dog ~ Liberty

This is one of the sweetest things.

She works so hard at pleasing us.

There is definitely the element of protection in her

little dog heart.

I don't believe there is anything this little

bit of a dog wouldn't do for us if she had the chance.

She is a whole lot of love wrapped up in a fur body.

The neighbors cat moved here just to be with
'Miss Liberty.'   Mr. Kitty snuggles with her every chance he gets!

 Here is a little story that I love to tell about her:

One day Liberty and I were taking a walk. It was a little cool so I had

worn my down vest. It warmed up rather quickly and so I hung my vest

in a bush along the road.

Somehow, Liberty and I got separated and I couldn't find her. She usually comes

with a whistle. But not this time. The walk takes about an hour.

After walking to the turn-a-round and back, I was approaching

the hill back to the house. And still, no sign of the dog.

As I drew nearer to the top of the hill, I saw something laying near the

bush where I had hung my vest. It was Liberty!

After we had gotten separated, she had gone back to the place

where my vest was.  I was very surprised. I thought

that was SO smart and it showed her loyalty.

She surely has won our hearts in various ways. Doing her tricks,

trying to get the other cats to like her. ( She licks them and lays on

her back close by to show her submision. It's so cute.)

She gives hugs by pushing between our knees when we're standing

or by crawling behind our legs if we're sitting. And she gives

LOTS of kisses.

Pets add such a special dimension to family life as they offer their

 devotion and teach us about unconditional love.

Tornado Victims~ How You Can Help

The way God designed our bodies is a model

for understanding our lives together as a church:

 every part dependent on every other part,

the parts we mention and the parts we don't,

 the parts we see and the parts we don't.

 If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt,

 and in the healing.

 If one part flourishes,

every other part enters into the exuberance.

1 Corinthians 12:26

We have lit a candle in our home

 to remind us to pray for those who are

 left suffering in the

 in the aftermath

of last weeks powerfully,

deadly storms.

______________________________________________________

Here are some ways you can help!
_______________________________________

                                   

The greatest stated needs at this time are labor and finances.

The families are trying to salvage anything they can.

They are spending hours each day just trying to clean up and

gather items of any worth.

This work is exhausting both mentally and physically.

There are MULTITUDES of very large trees, beams,

 timbers and walls that have to be cut up, disassembled

 and moved! Could you possibly offer your

strong arms and backs?

 

You can help by sending finances or gift cards.

Would you consider offering your time?

Storage is badly needed. There are many supplies coming in

 but NO place to store these items.

The address for the Crawford family is:

Kathy Brodock

P.O. Box

Oneonta, Al. 35121

The Crawford's were able to salvage most of their clothes.

The Lee family can recieve help through:

Providence Church

401 S. Carol Ave.

Morton, Il. 61550

(The Lees are the family that lost their father and husband.)

There are MANY families in the area who have

needs. If you desire to help the Lees in particular,

please state this on your check or money order.

Remember any amount can be used and will be a blessing

to these families.

Thank you so much!

Because of Love

        Trying So hard to get it right..

And feeling so weary...

                                   feeling like giving up...

                                                                      
                           Going to the River.. a place......Living Water flows....seeking rest...

Listening ....

 closer to the edge... I am drawn in..

I feel the grip of expectations loosening as I wade

in the coolness of the healing waters...

The grace...the mercy...forgiveness...

There is strength...love...compassion...

SALVATION

The reality of Truth flows here;

Lies and deceptions are exposed.

Freedom becomes an existance; it surpasses being a hope..

I am no longer wading... The River is engulfing me...

I am overcome.... with It's goodness...

********

   Peace     

Love  

Joy  

*********************************

This is why He..

**********************

humbled Himself..

became a servant..

was scorned...

was beaten...

was mocked...

spit upon...

and bruised

***********

He suffered and died-

To save us from our sin.

That we may have Life...

of the richest and fullest kind..

Why?

Why did He not save Himself?

Because of

~Love~

for you and me.

We are so grateful for the love that was spilled out for us.

 May God Bless you and your family on this

Resurrection Day.

Mothers Put Your Children to Bed

When I read this, it reminded me of when my

own children were little. It WAS sometimes a challenge

to put forth the effort to be with them. Sometimes I didn't stop my activites

in time and I would go in and they would be asleep; Such sweet little faces.

But I was so sad when they fell asleep without a kiss from mommy.

Especially if there were unsettled issues of the day.

 There were 6 little ones, ages 5 and under as well

 as three older children ages 9,14 and 16.

Jeff would pray with them each night and I would tuck them in.

What precious memories those are today. We

we didn't do it perfectly, and we are thankful that God is faithful.

It is He that sees our hearts and multiplies the fruits of our labor by bringing

forth the increase.

******************

Mothers Put Your Children to Bed

There may be some mothers who feel it it to be a self-denial to leave their parlors, or firesides,
or work to put their children to bed. They think that the nurse could do it just as well; that it is of  no consequence who "hears the children's prayers." Now, setting aside the pleasure of opening the little bed and tucking the darling up, there are really important reasons why the mother should not yield this privilege to anyone. In the first place, it is the time of all times when a child is inclined to show it's confidence and affection.


All its little secrets come out with more truth and less restraints; its naughtiness
 through the day can be reproved and talked over with less excitement, and with the
tenderness and calmness necessary to make a permanent impression. If the little one
has shown a desire to do well and be obedient, it's efforts and successes can be
acknowledged and commended in a
manner that need not render it vain or self-satisfied.

We must make it a habit to talk to our children, in order to get from them an expression
 of their feelings. We cannot understand the character of these little things
being committed to our care unless we do. And if we do not know what they are,
 we shall not be able to govern them wisely,
or educate them as their different natures demand. Certainly it would be unwise to excite
young children by too much conversation with them just before putting them to bed.

Every mother who carefully studies the temperament of her children will know how to
manage therm in this respect. But of this all mothers may be assured, that the last words
at night are of great importance, even to the babies of the flock; the very tones of the voice
 they last listened to make an impression upon their sensitive organizations.

Mothers, do not
think the time and strength wasted, which you spend in reviewing the day with your
 little boy or girl; do not neglect to teach how to pray, and pray for it in simple and
 earnest language, which it can be understand. Soothe and quiet it's little heart after
experience of the day. It has had it's disappointments and trials as well as
 it's play and pleasures: it is ready to throw it's arms around your neck,
 and take it's good-night kiss.

Mother's Magazine