Welcome to Town...Welcome to My Nest

Belle and I drove up to the mountain for a few days of rest and relaxation as well as spending time with my sister Sherri.

There's the mountain we are headed to...only a little longer, Belle. :)

Love this mountain village...and there's the mountain again. Getting closer...

Lil' deer greet us at the entry...

Roads are a bit treacherous. Thank goodness for 4-wheel drive. Hold on, Belle...

Deeper and deeper into the forest we go. Almost there now...just around the corner.

And there it is...Niecy's Nest. I love this haven I have been blessed with. :)

And look, Belle! Real deer to greet us as we arrive. They are such gentle creatures. Love these lil' guys!

Where is your sanctuary? In the mountains? By the beach? On a deck or back patio? In your "studio"/sewing room/craft room? Tell me all about it. I'd love to know.

May you be blessed with your space and your time being who you are!

hugs, denise :D

Artful Blogging

Have you seen this most marvelous magazine?

Filled with beautiful blogs to visit, the magazine is such an inspiration.

Visit their website at http://www.stampington.com/artfulblogging/ to learn more. I bet you'll be hooked...I know I am!

Happy blogging and blessings to you all,
denise :D

And The Winners Are...

Thank you to each and every one of you who left a lovely comment on my Aging Artfully Blog Post for a "Chosen-Just-For-You" Blog Give-Away Prize. I enjoyed reading all of your comments. They made me smile. :)

My sweet lil' Belle helped with the drawing of the names...

First we printed each comment and cut them apart. Mama had to do this part. Belle hasn't quite mastered the computer or scissors. :)

Then they were folded and put into 'the pot'. This was an old fashioned drawing. (No random drawing devices were used.) More fun that way...and fun is what it's all about!

Then Belle selected the winners. Well, Mama had to help on this part, too.

When we had finished drawing the twelve...yes, 12!...lucky winners, Belle went back to her place on the couch. "Whew, Mama. That was some hard work," sighed my sweet lil' Belle.

I decided to choose twelve winners...a dozen...just because! And they are - - -

Rhea

Dorly Weitzen

Robyn

Julie C

North Star

Etqulter

Daphne

Shirley

Carol

Plum Tuckered

Cher

Carolyn H

If you left a post and see your name, please contact me at deex355@aol.com with your full name and mailing information.

Thank you again for all the wonderful comments.

Blessings from Belle and me,

denise :D

For My Special Sister

I am obsessed with Industrial Chic line of jewelry making supplies by Susan Lenart Kazmer available exclusively at Michael's.

Check out this awesome collection at the Michael's website at
http://www.michaels.com/Industrial-Chic/Industrial-Chic,default,pg.html and some of her work at Susan's website at http://www.susanlenartkazmer.net/

I wanted to make something special for my sister Sherri for Christmas. So I gathered some charms and chains and a heart (because I love her so) and a bird (because I love birds and nests) and a snowflake (because our mother loved snowflakes).

After some arranging and rearranging I created this necklace for my sister. I focused on a variety of metals - brass, gold, copper, silver - and a bit of black. I purposely did not use a specific color scheme because I want her to be able to have a wider choice of what to wear it with.

The number 5 with the snowflake also has a special meaning. There were 5 of us kids growing up. :)

The chain is a combination of the metal tones I choose.

I think she will like her lil' gift from her sister.

Blessings to our sweet sisters-by-birth and our special sisters-by-luck that we love and that love us,

denise :D

Blue Monday Beads

It's been awhile...well, actually a looong while...since I posted a 'blue' photo for Blue Monday sponsored by Sally at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/.

I wanted to share this photo of some of my late mother's beaded necklaces. My dear mother was always so classy. She designed and made her own necklaces. She was so ahead of her time. :)

I have begun using her heirloom beads and baubles to create artistic pieces. What a legacy she has left for me to share with those I hold dear.

Blue Monday Blessings to each of you,
denise :D

Aging Artfully

I've been working on this cute cross-stitch by Lizzie Kate. I absolutely love the whimsy of her patterns...this one in particular. It has wonderful words to live by...or age by. :)

Starting on my New Year's Resolution to complete at least one WIP (Works In Progress) a month. Got lots of WIPs around my house...cross-stitching, quilting, jewelry making, punch needle, primitive rug hooking, stamping, mixed media. You name it...I've probably got it started somewhere around here.

I'm stitching this peice on 28 count Cashel linen using wonderful overdyed threads from Weeks Dye Works (Moss) and Crescent Colours (Caterpillar, House Wine, Morning Glory, and Ye Olde Gold). Gorgeous...simply gorgeous.

And you...what are you working on? Leave a comment to win a special cross-stitch prize. (Or a special quilting prize if you're not a cross-stitcher...or a stamping prize...or jewelry making prize!)

May you, too, Age Artfully,

denise :D

Brrr...SnOw!

Brrr...It's cold - cold - cold today. We have a winter weather watch advisory for the next 24 hours or so here in Far West Texas. This is the desert...we aren't used to blistery cold weather in these here parts.

The weather reports say we can expect 2" - 3" of snow today. This is my backyard where there is already about 4" of snow accumulated on the patio table and chairs.

And in the front yard...the palm trees would surely appreciate a heated blanket wrapped snuggly around their big ol' trunks.

Enjoying a day of reading a good book and drinking warm lemon tea.

Stay warm, folks!

Hugs, denise :D