Pink Roses, Rusty Things and a Valentine's Wish For You...

Hello Dear Friends~

I can't begin to tell you how much I've missed you!

I'm sorry that I haven't 

been by to visit you as much as I would like. 

I've been enjoying so much time

with the little Fairy Princesses! 

I have actually thought about giving up my blog altogether,

 but I don't want to!

So I will keep trying to figure this out.

I hope that you're doing well.

I wish you the sweetest Valentine's Day ever.

XOXOX

Wishes that you feel loved and treasured and celebrated.

My husband gave me these lovely roses 

for my birthday month. 

And here they are with a few of my collected treasures.

I love old and rusty things! 

And the old, oil lamp base was

so charming that I had to have it.

What would you do with it?

Oh, I'm just so happy to be back and to say hello!

Thank you for coming by and I do look forward to

 getting back in touch.

THERE IS NOTHING ON 

EARTH MORE TO BE PRIZED
THAN TRUE FRIENDSHIP

Thomas Aquinas~

Love and blessings to you all and 

thank you for your sweet visit.

Tamara

decorative, altered book... a dream is a wish that your heart makes

It's Thursday and the morning is quiet.

I'm listening to the soothing music of Eva Cassidy.

She has a voice like a songbird and 

the songs are very soulful.

It fits my mood this morning. 

I'm always tired after our evening of music.

It's so fun but you know that fun is usually work, too!

I've done my watering which takes

 about an hour and half.

The morning is beautiful and being out 

is one of my first loves. 

Just listening to the birds,

collecting squash from my garden and 

watching the butterflies flit about.

Liberty follows me around like my personal body guard.

Oh, how I love that sweet dog!

*****

Today, I wanted to share a couple of pictures from 

this altered book.

It's just an old book that I picked up from the Thrift Store.

I have made these to sell and they are gone 

so I'm making some more.

This time, I tried tone on tone and I love the way it turned out.

I'm sorry that my photos are not very clear. I even checked them in my

editing program and zoomed in.. They were clear. I wonder if it's blogger.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Here, I'm trying to sort out my layout. I used several different

mediums. Which is my favorite way to create. Colored texture paste,

gesso and rubber stamps.

I used an old library card to create the lines. 

I am very fond of the grunge look. 

The ragged edges with smudging and distressing.

I have learned to use a splattering technique 

and try it whenever

it fits a project.

Here is the finished book.

A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES

What wish is your heart making, friend?

Life should be filled with dreams and wishes

and of course, seeing them come true.

And we know that takes sacrifice, hard work and holding on 

like your life depends on it! 

And in some ways it does..

Isn't there SO much more to life than just breathing?

And what is life without that hope of our dreams in our hearts?

It's NEVER too late to reach for the stars. 

So we keep it ever in our sights.

Here's a link to Eva Cassidy singing

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

What a bunch of lovelies I'm with here. We were out for a movie.

We have a s historical theatre here in our town.

It was built in the early 1900s and we try to

 support them  as much as possible.

And of course our family is a little movie crazy!

It has a tiny concession area and the bathrooms 

can barely fit two people.

But aren't those places special?

They have history and character.

I'm so happy that the new owners didn't

do too drastic of an update when they bought it.

Just think of the lovely people that have 

gone on first dates there and

taken their kids for their birthdays.

Oh... What a magical thought! 

Brutus would like you 

to think that he's always working in the gardens but 

here is proof that he does nap sometimes. 

Haha!

What a cutie..

Do you love this brilliant color of Blue Flax?

I have always loved these in the wild and 

was thrilled to find them for sale in

a local nursery last year.

Celebrating life's special moments.

 Jeff surprised me for our

anniversary and made us both appointments for pedicures.

What a thoughtful and unique gift! 

Hello Beauties! 

I just love seeing these majestic elk. 

We see quite a few when

we drive to Alpine every Wednesday to play music.

Not a great picture; I took it on my phone.

Life is so full. 

I'm learning to navigate it without carrying guilt for the 

things or people that I can't get to.

I hope it's that way for you, too.

We do our best don't we?

And, knowing that, we have to let the rest go.

That's so healthy for you and I.

Clink.. clink..

HERE'S TO YOU!

Here's to HAPPY~

AND...

 here's to a lovely day, a wonderful weekend and

doing whatever is in your heart to do.

Enjoy

Relish

Celebrate

My heart is overflowing with gratitude for all that life is.

Thank you for coming by and s special thank you to those who take

the time to say hello!

Peace and blessings~

Tamara xo

Taking Time ..... Thoughts and an Altered Tea Pot

Hello and welcome to.. 

Where Blessings Gather.

If you're new here let me tell you a little bit about my blog.

It's where I share about anything and everything

as it brings a blessing to my life!

There are so many things in this world that enrich my everyday

 and I enjoy writing about them.

I'm a hugger, so here's a 

squeeze to new friends and old friends as well.

I hope you enjoy your visit!

I know life is not without it's challenges but I hope

 that each one of you have at least one special 

something gracing your life.

One of those things for me is the joy of taking a

simple object like a plain, black teapot and with paint,

paper and other materials,

transforming it into something that, 

hopefully, inspires or encourages someone. 

 Whatever you have sitting around that is calling to you to 

  give it a little makeover, might be fun to try!

Use any theme or colors that you love.

Working everyday or found treasures into something creative or 

unique is one of my favorite things to do.

And my message of course is to 

TaKe TiMe~

The bad news is that time flies..

The good news is that you're the pilot!

Michael Altshuler

Butterflies 

Flowers 

Bits and baubles

Paper and paint

Are what I like!

Ribbons

Beads

Stamps and ink 

A bit of wire

What do you think?

Just a little poetry fun.

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

I hope you're having a wonderful summer so far.

Some are talking the end of our fair season already!

My goodness! I hope not...

What a lovely summer it's been.

I know the time will pass but we can make the most of it

and find the magic in it.

We can find the hidden nuggets as we live in the present and not

allow circumstances to over-shadow the beauty of the moment.

Thank you so much for coming by.

I am slowly making my way around to visit again.

Blessings of beauty, joy and peace to you.

Tamara xoxo

Vintage Suitcases, Books and the Mysteries of the Past ~

It was a cloudy morning that has turned into a sunny 

Monday here at our mountain home. 

And there are little surprises popping up in my flower gardens.

Hyacinths... Poppies and Lilies 

are peeking out to see if it's safe to 

come out and say a proper hello! 

It's all very exciting.

And there is talk about

additions to the gypsy camp.

It's one of my places to dream. 

It's there that I play

so much music and even make believe. 

Even though.....

 I love the winter months and

 the magic and beauty of snow is one 

of my favorite things!

 The handsome and lively elk and deer visitors 

come to call, too and it's so fun

 to watch the young ones 

run down the pond hill and 

play chase around the field!

And then to watch that herd of fifty 

run all together as one is a beautiful sight, indeed!

Even though ... 

all of that will have to wait until

another time,

I do hear the gypsy camp beckoning...

Such excitement in the air!

_________

Today, I have a couple of photos of a decor change that 

I made with some thrifted, vintage suitcases and some of my favorite books. It was a much needed change as I hadn't changed it

for several years. 

(I won't tell you how long.. I'm too embarrassed!)

Suitcases!

They sort of embody that adventurous, wanderlust spirit that

stirs up the gypsy in me. 

Do you ever look at them and wonder?

Who packed them?

Where they travelled and why?

Was it their honeymoon...

a business trip?

Were they traveling with the circus?

Oh my.. Don't you just love the mystery?

My husband and I really like the change. 

I like using what I already have and I'm learning to

just switch things around. 

I like the neutrals here with just a splash of color.

I'm starting to hang some of my art around the house.

I also really like plants blended in with neutral colors.

Wooden boxes and crates are another favorite to use in

my home. I love the history that they represent.

I am not very good at decorating but 

I'm learning. I use to think that I had to be loyal to one

color palette but my gypsy soul loves 

it all! So I'm learning to create

small places with groupings of colors that I love.

It usually has some sort of quirky twist.

That's just me. 

Books are not just for reading.

They can be such lovely things to decorate with. 

I have stacks of them all around my house. 

Do you like books?

What are some of your favorites?

I hope the beginning of your week is off to a 

good start. Thank you for coming by.

I hope your week is lovely with an 

element of enchantment and beauty.

Blessings,

Tamara 

Book Pages and an Old Spring ~The Angel That Spoke to Her Heart...

Hello Everyone...

The passing days have been

bustling with celebrations and outings 

with family and friends. 

Yesterday, I played hot potato with the giggles.

The expressions they make are priceless!

I've been hanging more lights and setting candles, 

and checking my lists. But I'm also working at being still.

Finding some quiet to reflect on the beauty

of today.. not only because it's the lovely

Christmas season but because.... 

every day is a gift~

Here's a lovely song and video by George Winston

for you. It's called 

SNOW.

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

Today, I wanted to share my little angel.

I've been talking about her for a while now.

If anyone would like details of how she is made, I'd be glad to email.

She was built on a heavy spring that I found at a thrift store.

I do enjoy angels in general. They're such a symbol of:

HOPE

PEACE

COMFORT

PROTECTION 

and ambassadors of good things!

She had begun to have her own personality.

She seemed so kind and gentle with her big, green eyes.

she is adorned with gilded beads~

 and wears a collar of vintage lace

    she shines with strands of silken hair

I am smitten with her.

And I was undecided about keeping her or selling her.

She travelled with me to a holiday bazarre over the weekend. 

And an elderly lady came by and the angel caught her eye.

She wanted to see her. I explained to her how she was made.

And then she said, 

"I have to have her. She spoke to my heart."

I told her that that gives me goosebumps and makes me happy!

I can't tell you how happy that made me...and sad at the same time for I 

hated to see her go. (She was the first that I'd made but there will be more.

She was such a pleasure to make. I'm overjoyed when it comes to adding details!

I get lost in time when doing the work but I find myself in the process.)

I guess we never know how a piece might 

touch the heart of another. That's a big part of it for me.

And the other part is the finding of myself.

I'm on my way.  I have houses and stars to glitter. 

My elf work of sorting purchases and assembling packages 

awaits as well!

And for fun, I have music to play

and there's a little Christmas canvas that I'm working.

With:

torn papers

glitter 

paint

 and who knows what!

Are you busy baking?

Working on a special project?

Oh there are gifts to wrap and cards to send!

I am going to take time for blog visits, too! 

I've been consumed with the news since last Friday.

So, while sitting wrapped in my cozy blanket, 

surrounded by twinkle lights and eating a

peppermint Tootsie pop ;) I send hugs and warm wishes for

the rest of your holiday week.

Tamara 

Linking up to party here at:
Craft Frenzy Friday
And here at
Shabbilicious Friday 
and here at
Share Your Cup! 

Thrifted Box Altered With A Bit of Romance

Hello everyone and welcome to my world of thrifting!

In this world of  discarded and unwanted items,

you never know what you may find to re-love

or make good use of. 

Isn't it fun?

Here is  a suitcase type box that my husband 

brought home for me. He's always looking.

Here's what they looked like. Actually, I only primed and 

altered one. I kind of liked them in their original state and

was a little unsure of changing them at all.

But I had the idea for at least one.

And I'm glad I did it. I'll tell you why a little later in the post.

After using the primer, I painted the box with my favorite color.

Vintage White.

What's your favorite color to work with?

The box needed a handle so I glued a nut onto the box and a 

vintage button onto the nut.

This is the back.

Do you love adding details and extras?

I do.

I made a muslin pocket for the inside and added a few embellishments.

And then I made a little tag to tuck inside the pocket.

It was one of my favorite projects so far.

At the Independence Day craft show, the old sheet music

caught a ladies eye.

She said she was a musician and loved the box.

She wanted to buy it.

She thanked me over and over again

and said that it made her day.

That's one of the reasons that I love doing this.

When the beauty of what we make touches someone's

heart, it's a blissful feeling, isn't it?

As I'm sure you figured out, that's the reason that I'm

glad that I followed my heart and altered the box!

I hope you're having a wonderful week.

I've had some hard things to deal with this week.

Some hurtful things. I'm learning not to let people

take advantage of me though. I'm learning late in my life

the value of me. I used to thing that that was selfish

and wrong.  But I've been learning in the last couple 

of years that it's healthy and right to take care of myself.

Heart...mind..body and soul.

It's been freeing and I feel that the ways I look at myself are

more healthy than they've every been! 

I wish those things for you as well.

Don't be afraid to give but don't be afraid to put yourself first

sometimes or to see yourself as important and lovely!

Because you are.

Lovely...

Full of grace and beauty. 

~Love~

Remember, you can't love others until you love yourself first. 

Thank you and be blessed.

Tamara XO

Joining the party at
Share Your Cup Thursday

Sweet Girl Rosette, Birthday Banner

The making of a birthday banner to

delight a little girl's heart.

acrylic paint

glitter

 card stock rosettes of various sizes

crepe paper streamers

rubber stamps

vintage jewelry

cabochons 

trims and ribbons

torn strips of fabric

strings of beads

cut out stars

1 1/2" mini clothes pins

 A pile of sparkles....

 Glitter on paint...

 Playing with paint and glitter...

 Using stamps in acrylic paint

Once Upon a Time...

there lived a little princess ~

"You are sweeter than sugar and more

precious than any pearl!"

She loved...

Pinks   blues   creams   whites

and 

ALL

things

SPARKLY... 

For the Beautiful, Birthday Princess~

My you feel priceless and cherished!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Wishing you all a day filled with dreams come true.

Thank you so much for coming by.

Tamara xo

Linking up

Share Your Cup Thursday

Shabbilicious Friday