Thankful...

... and so 

the season 

of 

"gratitude" 

begins...

Although I'd like to think of 

gratitude as a 365 day a year thing, 

I love, that we take some time at the end of each year 

to focus on gratitude,

gathering together with loved ones, 

and our gifts to each other.

In this spirit, 

I want to send out my gratitude and thanks to all of you,

who have been so kind,

 as to read my blog,

leave such uplifting and supportive comments, 

and consistently make me feel that I am 

doing something worthwhile

with my art and words.

Have a beautiful Thanksgiving !

BTW...

my appreciation is extended to all of you lovelies

with a WEEKEND SALE in my etsy shop.

Check out the coupon code

TURKEY

for a 15% savings on plates, birdhouses, and more!!! 

(2 for $15 ornaments are excluded from the coupon code as they are already on sale)

If you've been eyeing anything- 

now's the time to save.

oh... and I am grateful for homemade scones too!

Ants in the Pants?

"D O U B T S

are the ants in the pants 

of   f a i t h. 

They keep it awake and moving."

— Frederick Buechner

Does that just make you smile or what?

I just love this quote!!! 

It screamed at me, 

because I tend to think my brain is filled with more 

"art doubt" than "art belief " half the time. 

I know these words weren't originally quoted in the context of 

"art"... 

but I couldn't help but apply it, to that continued artistic quest~

the one that always makes me question what I am doing...

how I am doing it... and am I doing it right?

Thank goodness for  

"faith"!

 And it is with that faith, 

I am bursting with excitement over a new little project!

I've been stretching my wings a bit on this decoupage path~

creating a little collection of birdie houses~ 

a heart tug, 

that was born from 

a few smaller pieces 

I had created, 

with wood.

the beginning of something "new"... 

bigger birdie houses 

with a shabby chic~ frenchie feel.

taking a creative break in-between glue and paper time...

a watercolor warm-up... 

one colorful bird 

that I imagine 

might like to inhabit this birdie house.

Having "faith" that it's coming along...

and I think my felt friend likes it too.

~a BIG SHOUT OUT... I purchased my felt friend at Agoura Antique Mart 

a most fabulous, hip, antique shopping mart!

stay tuned ~  a couple more birdie houses happening this week...

Preparation & Fear.. with a CAPITAL P & F

Just when 

the caterpillar 

thought the world 

was over, 

it became 

a butterfly

~ proverb

Don't laugh everyone, but I am going to write a brief post this time...  really!

I found that sweet quote above, and was thinking about it 

all week in the middle of my madness.

I've been prepping for PATCHWORK Indie Arts & Crafts, 

(as you know from my past couple of posts). 

I don't know why it is that I get so nervous- you'd think I'd be 

getting used to this process by now. 

This particular event, I am sharing a "B O O T H" 

with a vendor that I met at a previous show~ 

zazu faure

She makes the sweetest and hip plush designs out of reclaimed materials. 

I bought a kitty for my daughter, before she had a cat of her own. 

She set it in the window of her apartment, and now 

her real kitty and plush, share the window together. 

Fabulous creations by Zazu.

So back to my meltdown... 

it's not planning the items that scare me, it's not meeting new people, 

it's not the setting up and tearing down... 

This time... it's the concept of a BOOTH that's scaring the begeebies out of me! 

I've attended so many shows, where the space is so planned out and done so well.

This will be a totally new experience- out of the comfort zone for sure!

The good news, is that I am anticipating learning a bunch 

to help me along with the next one.

And when the event is over, 

I'm hoping to be a butterfly, 

or at the very least, 

a much smarter caterpillar...

making the fun stuff! 

Hearts & birdie houses at www.twig2neststudio.etsy.com

 And yes, the wine was good- 

I needed the cork for texture on my hearts, 

so I had to drink it.

Linking up again with Studio JRU~ 

Enjoy taking a sneak peek, at the work of many talented artistes