Monday, December 16, 2013

VACAtion

If you haven't noticed.....I am taking a vacation from posting. I'll be back in January for sure. The fall season of craft fairs in Oct.and Nov. put me somewhat behind on my schedule....then we spent Thanksgiving with the family in Mississippi. This weekend our daughter graduation from USF and now we can prepare for Christmas. Congrats Lindsay Heruska! You did it!


We had a great time of celebrating this weekend.

I will quickly share a craft I completed on a canvas bag.


I purchased 3 bags at HOB LOB. After printing off this map from the Graphic's Fairy ......I printed in on an iron on piece of fabric purchased at JoAnn's Fabrics.  I added the pink ribbon from Michaels! It made a great gift for a sister.....she is traveling to Africa next month for a mission trip!


Now you folks take time to thank the LORD for his special gift to us! Merry Christmas!

~Lynda~

Saturday, November 2, 2013

October Memories

I have been a slacker, lately, when it comes to posting.....We have spent 2- 4 day weekends out of town plus preparing for the Fancy Flea in Plant City....just feeling overwhelmed.

The two weekends in October were absolutely beautiful! Wonderful weather....fantastic time spent with family celebrating birthdays!






How about this GRANDson? Gheez did I have fun with him this visit! He is so much fun to watch....growing so fast, playing patty-cake, running in his walker, crawling around and pulling up on everything!



Our son, daughter-in-love and grandson


My husband and I at the pumpkin farm.....


The entire family was able to make the trip....so glad to have my daughter and her hubs could make the trip too....


The boys took the jeep "off road".....better take this thing to a car wash in a hurry!
Thanks, Grant and Mandi, for hosting the weekend!

The next weekend was the sisters' trip to the Country Living Craft Fair in Stone Mt. Ga.

The fall harvest display was the meeting place for lunch......incredible color here.

Vendors everywhere....fabulous merchandise....so much to choose from!




I had my photo made with Cari.....HGTV's star of "Cash and Cari".....she had an amazing booth!


I can't thank my sisters enough for the lovely weekend! They organized everything....even a scavenger hunt for the birthday presents!




It is stunning how two weekends away can make you want to retire......not old enough yet...

The color change and cooler weather was refreshing....ready to tackle middle school again!

Thanks again, Sisters! What a blessing you are to me!

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Sewing Canvas Bags

In my never ending pursuit to enjoy crafting I talk myself into trying new things I have not perfected. This disclaimer is intended for you not to focus on my crooked sewing skills, but to appreciate the effort to try new crafts....



While scrapbooking has been my major focus for many years, I have made several attempts to rekindle the love for sewing I had as a teen.


I began by stamping on linen with black STAZON ink using various stamps I have in the cabinet. Stazon ink is an archival ink that is water proof.

I used the Tim Holtz Alterations tattered florals diecut for the flower made with linen and an old blue denim dress. A white button hand stitched keeps it together. Three blue denim flowers were added to the right corner to cover up my crooked stitching to provide visual balance....lol


This bag just had a rectangle of linen and a linen and white canvas material flower added.

I used the Faded Text Background stamp by Stampabilities to stamp the linen for the front and the flower. The clock is Stampin' Up, and the female's face is copyright Dawn Houser made by Inkadinkado. 





The last bag was stenciled using a black sharpie, trimmed at the top by black rose ribbon.


The above canvas was made by layering paper cut to resemble books. Graphics off the internet, and my ephemera stash.....

I have more practicing to do before I can stitch straight....I gather...
Perhaps my time should be spent making books out of toilet paper rolls. I find paper less intimidating!

Do have a wonderful fall. Our travel calendar is full with two trips planned to visit the leaves north of 80*FL......As I was walking across a middle school campus today, I overheard someone saying how cool it was this morning....all the way down to 65*.....how funny is that for those living north of the Mason-Dixon line?

Women hold up half the sky.-Chinese Proverb

Have you read it? Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

It is life changing!

Blessings!

Lynda

Linking with :
Stephanie Lynn Sunday Showcase

Grey Days
at Petite Michelle Louise


http://www.petitemichellelouise.blogspot.com/
By Stephanie Lynn

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Christmas Joy Tag

Bonjour Peeps!

     Everyone seems to be decorating for fall. I decided to jump right over to Christmas. Perhaps if I ignore the pumpkins and scare crows I'll have Christmas done in time.

So ....I decided Saturday to go through my Pinterest Board "Christmas Tags". So many wonderful ideas....time to be inspired by one and go with it!

Inspiration came from Felicity over at Stamperschef.blogspot.com post from 12/9/2011 regarding Tim's Tags Day Five. I just couldn't get those flowers on red paper out of my head.....


Gather your supplies:


I used one snowflake stamp, a small joy stamp
Stampabilities Faded Text Background
Martha Stewart 3 pedal flower punch
White craft pad from Stampin' Up
Close to Cocoa stamp pad from Stampin' up
Red, white, and cream card stock
Patterned paper in contrast (I used a golden yellow patterned paper)
White brads for flowers
Star paper clip in gold and gold brad to fasten.
White ribbon for bow and top of tag


Red tag is 2 1/2" X 5"
Cut one tag and stamp snowflake pattern sparingly

Stamp brown faded text background on white and cream
card stock. Punch flowers and assemble. THIS TAKES THE LONGEST TIME
DON'T GIVE UP ON THIS STEP.....it is very tedious and takes TIME!!!!!!

Arrange flowers in a circle and attach with brads.
Tie bow with ribbon and attach with brad.
Stamp red Joy on white card stock and cut ends for banner. Attach
to the center of the flower wreath
Add gold star paper clip with brad.
Use glue stick to attach red tag to golden pattern paper cut 3 1/2" X 5 3/4" This covers up all the brads used to attach the flowers to the red card stock.


Use on the top of a journal, as an embelishment for a present, or hang from the Christmas Tree!






Have you decorated for fall? 

What is your favorite Christmas item to decorate your home?

~Lynda~



Sunday, August 25, 2013

Artist Park-Montemarte, Paris

Bonjour Peeps! This post will be a continuation of  our trip to Paris in June, 2013. I took so many photos it is impossible to share all of them with you.


After a breakfast on the Rue Cler.....stroll past the rose shop for more pics.....like I needed more.
Ride the Metro and exit Anvers. Look for the funicular which is a side car that goes up a track on the side of the hill. It takes you to the top where the church Sacre Coeur views all of Paris.

I have cropped all the peeps out.....summer is a busy time here!


At this point, we noticed new tents. I thought they had placed an area to protect the artist from the summer rains. It is really a summer dining area right in the middle of the artist park-and the artist are set up around the outskirts.



My niece decided to have a portrait done. It took a while so I snapped a few progress shots. The activity drew a crowd of young students. They were so polite, and requested permission to stand and watch, they didn't want to be in the way of my picture taking!


Above: students watching....below, I took a picture with one of my favorite artist I have never made a purchase from, until this year. She builds layers of paint on her flowers. Quite pricey, but since the watercolor artist I usually buy from did not have any small paintings available this year...... I decided to try something new.

I purchased one with reds and greens. You can see the restaurant behind us. I was somewhat annoyed with the whole thing until I realized this extra space would seat more of the summer crowd so we would be more likely to get a seat at our favorite restaurant at the end of the street.


I was right, it did not take long to be seated at Le Consulat.......

Looking through the window by our table you can see this:


Le Poulbot is one of the most photographed restaurants in Montemarte.

Le Consulat is well recommended. Best American hamburgers and fries in Paris that we've tasted.

Directly across the street from Le Consulat is the Galerie D'Art a pottery store that my sister loves.

I let the girls go in and held all the shopping bags so they could shop. I amused myself by taking tons of photos of the outside. It is an amazing shop and they wrap the pottery well for transport in your carry-on luggage.






After shopping here, we returned to the Artist Park to finish the day. More artwork was purchased.
There is nothing like buying directly from the artist. It is usually a better price than buying from a gallery. I was just so disappointed that JM Lambert had only huge, 300+ euro watercolors for sale....perhaps it is all he had left. I needed one more 8X10 to complete the master bathroom.
On to Plan B.....

Have you been blessed with a trip to Paris? Don't forget to visit the hill, Montemarte is a fabulous area for shops, cafes, and people watching!

Bonne Nuit!

~Lynda~  


Monday, August 19, 2013

Summer's End 2013

School Days are here again....

     The end of summer for us is the beginning of school. Oddly enough our last weekend of freedom before the children return to school was spent at the beach with my sisters.....we spent the first weekend of summer vaca in Paris together.

Looks like a bird convention......


Not great pics.....still practicing with my iphone.

Nice Hobie......great colors against the blue sky......


It was fun to visit Paris.....glad the youngest is organized, and a great event planner.....


While shopping in Daytona, we noticed this cute taxi bag by Betsy Johnson.......is a trip to NYC in the future????   Nah, but the bag is darling! It would hold a round trip ticket and credit card....

I have been crafting full swing to get ready for the Fancy Flea, Plant City, Fl  in November.

Inspiration came from a YOUTUBE video....Vicky Papaioannou, Art Journal Page:Reading

A preview of the canvas I am still working on:



The books are made with strips of scrapbook paper rolled to look like books.(use a pencil) I covered a flat canvas with embossed paper then attached the books with foam dots. I need a globe or something else teachery....is that a word? I watched the artist on a You Tube video, but now I can't find it to give her credit....she was amazing. I'll have to search my pinterest boards.....I think I pinned it somewhere....

I am hoping a teacher/librarian will find this attractive and make a purchase!  How is your fall shaping up? Back to school? Quiet moments with the children busy with homework? Be blessed and enjoy each and every moment with those precious darlings in your care!

~Lynda

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