I LOVE WINTER...I REALLY DO...BUT...

I truly love the snow and all its pristine beauty.  There is nothing more peaceful than walking outside at night through the woods when the snow is falling.  There is not a sound. Something very therapeutic and cleansing about it all!!!
And since old man winter seems to want to keep dumping all this glorious white stuff all around us, I am forced to focus on my art studio space.  Purging and finding the proper homes for all the items that have been pushed aside as I search for just the right piece of fabric or the perfect button to add to a project is becoming quite the chore.  And since my altered book projects, 3 of them in progress, are at a standstill, I will share some of the ones that I have completed!  The beginnings of the "Creative Chaos" in my home!

My favorite things...books...I suppose that is why I work in a library!  The used book store has so many possibilities.  And I know the books I have chosen to alter, enjoy the new journey they have embarked upon!   Several are now on display at  a 1759 Revolutionary War Farmhouse for a Valentine's Day Open House.  They invite the visitors to touch and become immersed in their new journey.  Once I get "my space"organized, I shall get back to the true passion of my artistic side!

THINKING SPRING!!!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful!  Those of you in the northeast know what I'm talking about! 
Enough said about that!

And since we have no place to go...we sew, we sew, we sew:)  Made some cutesy valentines today!
Tomorrow's another day!  Hope we have no place to go again so I can play some more in the studio!

Did you check out Nina's cute little crows?  http://www.etsy.com/shop/happyherbssoap LOVE THEM!

WINTERSPELL...

More snow today...and my woodstove is doing its job! And you all must go to http://www.etsy.com/shop/happyherbssoap and get some of Nina's WinterSpell incense...It is so enchanting!  I need a new batch already, as it has been burning nonstop.  SWEET!  Too bad I have to leave it soon to go out into the cold!

Baby, It's Cold Outside...

Ok, here is my favorite impromptu journal page, from last spring.  This came about by a book I received from my children for Mother's Day, The Artistic Mother.  It is made from an old bookcover, with gesso, acrylics and water soluble crayons; topped off with some rubber stamps, paper scraps, vintage trim and an old family vacation photo with a hanging heart that tells it all!

Here is:  MY FAMILY: FOREVER BONDED!

I decided to post it after following the Journal Journey on Roses On My Table.  And since my art journal has some experiments gone wrong that are not really post-worthy, this is a better choice.  Also, Betty's last post/giveaway from her blog jumpstarted me. 

Visit Betty at http://bloubell-alteredexpressions.blogspot.com/

And you can find Shona Cole's book, The Artistic Mother on Amazon...

Let It Snow...Man

Well, it's a good thing we love the snow here:)  Another 7 inches or so, no school, no work...a wonderful day to play in the art studio!

The wood stove is burning hot~and so is Nina's incense.  Candles are lit all over the house as the wind picks up.  IT'S ALL GOOD!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Winter In The Big Woods, Again...

YAY! SNOW DAY!...No school, no work (means no pay), but a day in pj's drinking hot chocolate and making peanut butter/kiss cookies and sitting by the fire watching Nina's "Rebecca" dvd...well, nothing could be finer!  Perhaps I can even persuade the little darlings to make a snowman named, Just Bob!

Had a wonderful day at Nina's soapmaking studio yesterday at Two Crow Cottage.  I got to grind up all those lovely roots, and herbs and flowers and such that she uses in her all natural soaps and incense.  Then the sifting process, which is much more tedious, as the grind must be a fine powder for incense blends.  I even got to mix my own blend.  I made a batch of it up last night and my cones are drying nicely on my shelf making me smile:)

OH, TO LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST!  COULDN'T LIVE ANY PLACE ELSE ON EARTH!

Here's wishing everyone a "Great Creative Day"!

Affectionately posted by:
Vicki, who is outofhand today with papers, fabric, and lots of ribbons and lace.

Winter Wonderland...

Oh, to live in the Northeast!  The remains of the blizzard are melting away. It's a brand new year... Putt putt in the foreground has a new driver...and me, well I have a few new gray hairs as a result.  It has been so comforting to have everyone home all at the same time.  Yet, the time has passed too quickly and we must all reconvene back to schools and work, etc...
The crafting corner has been in full swing over the holiday season in preparation for an upcoming Valentine's Day event.  This year will be full of new milestones.  May they all be positive and uplifting and bring everyone great joy!
I want to thank all of my friends for their continued support of my "artistic" endeavors.  It gives me inner peace to be able to use my hands, envision in my mind, and draw from my heart and soul that which becomes my art.  I am an Artistic Mother, and you can join my friends and I on our journey.

http://happyherbssoap.blogspot.com
http://artyteaparty.blogspot.com

I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
(And as I burn Nina's "Prosperity" incense, I wish everyone a PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!)


Affectionately posted by:
Vicki, hula-la