A Project Begun. About Creativity and A Visit To Ohio .... Life as I Know it

I'm sitting at my desk working on this post 

and Sunny is on my lap.

If you aren't sure who that is, 

you can visit my previous post and see a picture.

He's my sweet, adorable and 

very pokey bearded dragon. 

haha...

AKA Sunny Boy or Dragon Boy.

He's just the sort of pet I wanted.

He's my little friend that will sit near quietly while 

I work on projects or writing;)

I worked outside some this morning, transplanting

and watering. 

I'm almost back to square one where my

  gypsy camp gardens are concerned.

I was pretty discouraged at 

first but it's slowly fading

and excitement is filling my 

heart as my vision grows.

 I read in Mary Reynolds' book,

The Garden Awakening, that

nature is more powerful than nurture.

I experienced that first hand this past year.

I poured my heart, soul (and money)

into gardening this past year only to 

meet with losing many plants. 

There's one thing that grew...

My frustration!

But all is not lost.

 I'm learning to persevere

and to use my creativity and I'm thankful for 

 the abundance of resources that are available.

More about that later.

I'm just getting over a cold, 

so getting a post done will be

perfect while I rest up after 

playing music last evening.

I just wish my house wasn't in

 such need of attention.

But life is so rich and full 

and I am very blessed.

*********

I have some photos to share of a 

project that I started

recently. I am a collector of all sorts of things.

My wheels get turning and 

I can't throw things away

sometimes! This time it's empty boxes.

Match boxes, candy boxes, a Royal Crown box, 

which was a Christmas gift from Jeff.

There's a wooden cigar box 

that someone gave me.

(Even my friends collect cool stuff for me. 

Bless their hearts!)

My table is quite scattered about with bits of 

fun as I think about what I want to use.

If you are the creative type, you know how that

works. But goodness... 

My table doesn't always look like

this. I have to tidy up between times that I sit and work.

I'm almost finished with all 

of them and I'll share soon.

Below is a photo of one that's finished.

It's my least favorite.

I love the paper but was less than 
satisfied with the way the 

leaves looked after I was done.

But creating is like that.

Do you ever feel that way with a

finished project? 

But we keep at it.
 That's the only way.

I read this and I can see how this could work against creativity. 

One of the worst enemies to 
creativity is self doubt.

I have also read that overthinking will squelch your creativity.

It's all a learning process so if you have an idea, just try to go with and not think 
or plan it too much!

And naturally, some projects need planning out. 

That's part of the learning, too.

Isn't it a peaceful place to be when you finally

come to learn that it doesn't have to perfect and there's

SO much room to grow?

**********

In March, it worked out for Jeff and I to visit our

daughter that recently flew from the nest.

Oh how we miss her and we 
had such good times visiting.

We took some lovely walks, 

played music together

and did some shopping. 

Ate out and had some good 

heart to heart talks.

HMMM....

 Let's take a poll!

Which one of us does she favor?

We had a fun time at Country Bits.

It has antiques, cards, handmade 
candies, and other goodies. 
SO much to look at with many different vendors and there are two levels with many 
rooms upstairs and down.

If you're ever in Cambridge, Ohio, 

you won't want to miss this place!

It's one of our favorite places.

It's also one of my favorite places to go junking.

It's quite dangerous! 

My daughter is the Queen of Sarcasm 
and she found these tiles. 
This was one of our favorites ;)

I took a drive one day. 

When I'm home, I can't help 
but to drive around on 

the dirt roads where I grew up. 
Do you ever do that?

It's so peaceful and while I'm driving, 
I think of the people that were in my life then and the experiences that I had. 

Sometimes, it makes me sad but I never

want to forget those special people and times 

that made me who I am today. 

I often long for those days.

Do you like to visit favorite
 places from your childhood?

I learned to drive on our Ford Tractor 

putting up hay.

I was 11 and my dad's first farm hand. 

I loved it.

 Then he bought a tractor with power steering 

and that was so much easier.

Before I got my license, I would 

drive it on this road to my 

friend's house. My parents didn't know...

for awhile that is. But my dad never said anything.

Country living is the best! 

Downtown Cambridge is still thriving and has some of the most beautiful buildings. It has some of the quaintest stores 

and specialty shops. 
This one is near Kennedy's Bakery

 where my daughter now works.

We had such a wonderful time. 

It was very hard to leave. I was so thankful for the time with my daughter and family but sometimes seeing them makes me miss 
them more. 

What do you think of  the new font? 
I think it looks pretty
but is it harder to read? 
I always want to keep my blog as reader 
friendly as possible. I used the largest font size so maybe that will help.

Thank you ever so much for coming by 

and following along with

my reminiscing.

Blessings,

Tamara 

XO

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

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

Thrifted Lampshade: Reloved in Burlap

Hello and happy March!

This spring-like weather is really coming on fast here in

the AZ mountains.

Our Apricot tree is beginning to bloom

and this morning when I went out to water,

I heard the lovely sound of buzzing bees.

I'm normally excited about this but this year

it's too early and I'm a little concerned.

This morning I cut up a bag of crisp,

juicy apples and threw them in my

large crockpot on high.

I'm making applesauce and already the yummy 

aroma of roasted apples is floating through the house!

I do love the domestic life.

I've been working on my rosette project. 

Oh! It has been so fun and I'll be ready to share

it later this week. 

 I love it so far.

I have also begun the online course,

 Elements of Clay, with Alissa Millsap.

We will be working on some Bohemian- 

styled projects. I've never worked with

paper clay so I'm excited and thankful 

for the chance to learn.

I know me so I'm sure it will be slow going.

But that's ok :)

***********

 Today, I thought I'd 

share this little re-do project with you.

It was so easy and pretty quick!

I'm pleased with how it turned out.

I found a set of lamps at our local

pregnancy center, thrift store.

I really liked the pretty details and

thought maybe I could do something with the dirty shades.

If nothing else, they could be replaced.

I decided to give a try at re-covering them in burlap.

I didn't know how. I'd never 

done anything like this before. 

The shade has a bit of a curve to it and

I didn't really know how to measure the pieces.

So I just held the burlap up against the shade and judged

about how big the pieces needed to be.

I used hot glue to attach one edge and then 

pulled the remainder of the piece

as taut as I could...but also being careful at the same time

to not distort the weave and over all shape.

Keeping it as even as I could, it was glued in place.

I wanted to be sure that the lines were symmetrical.

I am not a fan of symmetry but in this case,

the lines needed to be close to perfect.

If you've never worked with burlap, it is easily pulled

out of shape.

 Once my pieces were secured, I trimmed the excess off

as closely as I could.

I then added the lace to cover the seams.

Again, being careful with the lines. 

A lamp with lovely details..

Embellished with a burlap rose.

 Here, you can see how I finished the underside.

Just trimming the burlap as evenly as possible.

I do enjoy the look of burlap. It's often used in a more

rustic manner. Here with the lace and burlap rose

do you think it has a bit of shabby country charm?
I enjoy beautifying my home and especially if I can 
re-love something that has had a previous history.

What's been happening with you? 

I hope that life is treating you well.

Thank you for stopping by!

Tamara xo

Partying at:
Wicked Awesome Wednesday

Share Your Cup Thursday

Vintage Charm