"Bunny Brown & His Sister Sue"

Earlier this week, Mixed Media Monday's theme was "On the Beach" and Crazy Amigo's challenge was "Colorful Vintage Art." I combined the two when I made this little decorated canvas. I own an original 1927 version of a Bunny Brown book, which was part of a series of children's books written by Laura Lee Hope, who also (supposedly) wrote the Bobbsey Twins series. She wasn't a real person, I just found out after all these years--LLH was a pseudonym for several writers working for the company who produced the books! Anyway, I scanned my book cover, which shows an illustration of two children on a beach. (The illustrator was, by the way, Florence England Nosworthy, who WAS a real person!) I edged the canvas with ink after placing the background papers and the image, and then added shells, glitter, (which unintentionally looks like sand in the photo I took), and ribbon to hang the canvas with.

GOTHIC ARCHES - "Chocolate"

I'd love to be able to devote more time to my blog and to spend more time "creating" but I'm not real good at organizing my free time--seems as though I'm always so busy--but other people are much busier than I am and still make time for art. How do you all do it???? Anyway, here is my arch for the theme this week at Gothic Arches. When I first read, "Chocolate" I didn't have a clue as to what to do, and then I thought of a collage sheet of old labels I'd purchased a couple of years ago. I remembered I had a few Kohler Chocolate labels and thought I'd scan one, enlarge it, and use that. My arch isn't delicious and "chocolaty" like the wonderful submissions on Gothic Arches this week--(check those out, they are terrific, by the way!)--but it is finished, and I rather like it, I think. As always, click on the photo to enlarge and see more details.

A Beautiful Giveaway!

Anne, of Bulles Dorees, is having a little giveaway. Check out her beautiful artwork here!

Sunday Funnies - "Laughing Gas"

Here's a clip from the old Batman TV series; it's very corny and silly, so much so that it made me laugh really hard!

Playing "Catch Up"

FISH ARE FROM PAPER WHIMSY & BATHING BEAUTY IS FROM ART-E-ZINE, I BELIEVE. SHELL AND STARFISH STAMPS ARE FROM STAMPINGTON, AND LETTER STAMPS ARE FROM MARTHA STEWART CRAFTS.


IMAGE IS FROM NANCY DOOREN, STAMPS FROM RHONA FARRER, PAPER LACE FROM MRS. GROSSMAN'S, FLOWER FROM DOODLEBUG DESIGNS, BUTTONS FROM AN ANTIQUE SHOP.


GLITTER FROM STICKLES, PAPER FLOWER FROM PRIMA, STAR STAMP (UNKNOWN). CLICK TO SEE BETTER!

I arrived home from my trip Tuesday night, and in between unpacking, laundry, housework, visiting family, tending to the garden, driving my husband to the airport early in the morning, picking up my grandchildren from school and babysitting, etc.,(whew!), I managed to finish the Gothic Arch I started before I left for my trip, (and subsequently messed up and had to start over), for last Sunday's Gothic Arches theme of "Home is Where the Heart Is." Run-on sentence, I know!
(A note about the arch--I've always thought it would be so much fun to have a cottage as my home; the picture is a scan I made from a story called "The Magic Cottage." It appears in a book published in 1931 that belonged to my mother; it was her 3rd grade reader, and she often read stories from that book to us when we were small. Since it was my favorite book when I was growing up, my mom gave it to me many years ago, and I also read to my own children from that book when they were growing up. Now I find myself reading these stories to my grandchildren! How wonderful is that!)

I also made a couple of ATCs today for ATC Wednesday's theme of "Lace" and TGIF's theme of "Fish"--now I'm going to sit down and relax a little, and watch last Sunday's episode of Desperate Housewives!

Visiting Boise Today!

I am here:



to see her!




Be back soon!

Sunday Funnies - "Painless Dentistry"

Who knew that going to the dentist could be so much fun? This clip is from a short film that appeared in 1937, titled "Dancing on the Ceiling."

A Beautiful Spring Day!

TGIF, everyone! Today it's beautiful and very warm here. I thought I'd post a couple of photos of the robin that greets us every morning; he (or she) is busy singing bright and early in our backyard, and comes back to check in with us several times a day! This is his favorite perch, on the very top of one of our young trees. (I took these pictures on Easter morning; click on them for a great close-up view!) I will be off to Idaho tomorrow (Yay!) to visit my mom, my sisters, and my son, his fiancé and my baby granddaughter Lily. I'm sad to leave my hubby for a few days, but so excited to be able to be in Idaho with family I don't get to see as much as I'd like. I'll keep you "posted" (ooh, bad joke, I know) from there. Have a great weekend!

Theme Thursday - "Glamour Girls"

Today Theme Thursday's challenge for the week is "Glamour Girls" and since I am crazy-busy right now, getting ready for a trip to Idaho among other things, I'm re-posting a photo of an ATC that I made last year. I have always been intrigued with Jean Harlow, who was THE glamour girl of her day. She was very, very famous during the 1930s, and I've always adored her films. Tragically, she died of kidney failure during the height of her career, when she was only 26. You can read more about her here and her official website is here.

TMTA - "Eyes" and Ten on Tuesday

I'm a little late for Ten on Tuesday, and a lot late for TMTA (the theme is "eyes" and, well, Bette Davis--do I need to say more?) but I thought I'd post both, anyway. Ten on Tuesday's list for this week is "10 Signs that You're Getting Older" and since I just turned 56 (oh my gosh!) on Monday, I thought it was appropriate. And let me just say to those gals who commented on turning 30 or are close to it and feel like they're getting old: Ladies, rejoice--because you are young, and so blessed to BE young! Believe me, looking back, I remember feeling like I was just so old when I turned 30, and now, I would give anything to be that young again! If I could have a "do over" I'd stay out of the sun, and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!--(which is what I'm doing now, of course, but it would have been so much more helpful in the long run if I'd done it then). Okay, now that I've climbed off my soapbox, here's my list:

10 Signs that You're Getting Older
1) You need glasses to read.
2) You listen to NPR and "oldies" instead of rock and roll.
3) Your metabolism slows down and it's harder to stay thin.
4) Your knees are stiff.
5) You wear turtlenecks and scarves to hide your neck.
6) You don't like loud music anymore (see #2).
7) Adolescents and teenagers bother you.
8) You hate Hannah Montana (see #7).
9) You fall asleep while you're watching TV in the evenings.
10) You visit your hair stylist every month to get the gray covered up!

Time Flies

Here I am at 6 weeks old. The photo was taken on 5/25/53--now it's old and wrinkled like me! Just kidding--well, not really! Can you guess when my birthday is???

HAPPY EASTER 2009

May God bless you all on this happy occasion of Christ's Resurrection. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Easter!

(P.S. "Sunday Funnies" will be back next week!)

My Backyard Visitors

I thought I'd share a few photos of some of my little backyard friends today. I've been working on some artwork that I'm sending off, and I thought I'd take a break to post something a little different. It's a beautiful day here, and I think I'll go out and plant some flowers! I just love the little birds who come to our feeders; it always makes me feel so cheerful to see them. Here are, (in order of appearance, ta da!): Yellow-billed Magpie, Red Winged Blackbird, female Anna's Hummingbird, American Goldfinches, male and female House Finches, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, male Goldfinch, male Housefinch. As always, click on the photos for a better view--I hope you're all enjoying your Easter weekend!

A "Vintage Inspired" Giveaway!

Kathi over at Vintage Inspired Jewelry, is having a wonderful giveaway~her jewelry is delicate and artistic, and so very beautiful. To see more of her creations, visit her Etsy shop~a delightful and amazing place!

TMTA - "Togetherness"

Togetherness is the theme for TMTA's weekly challenge this week. Here's my ATC!

GOTHIC ARCHES - Open Theme

I finally was able to finish this for the weekly Gothic Arches challenge--so much has been going on here the past few days, with a daughter and 4 year-old granddaughter needing a place to stay for the past 3 nights because they're in the middle of moving, and caring for the little one who is now sick, etc. Today I have some free time (yippee!) and so I met my other daughter for coffee, stopped by a little antique store here in town and bought some really pretty lace, and now I'm actually getting to play with my stash of images and art supplies! You can't tell by the photo that the edges are even and are glittered because the photo program I used cropped the arch unevenly, but you can get the gist of it if you click on the photo to see the arch up close. The little lass in the nest is from Paper Whimsy--I bought some collage sheets last year (or maybe it was the year before????) and discovered them the other day in one of my cigar boxes. (And, no, I don't smoke cigars, ha ha!) I've think this little gal is so precious, and wonder who she was and where she lived, so long ago. Wouldn't it be fun if the pictures could move the way they do in the Harry Potter books, and tell us a story? Oh, I do live in a dream world, as my dad used to say!

Sunday Funnies - The Wiere Brothers

Well, since the ladies performed last Sunday, I have to give equal time to the gentlemen this week! This is a very interesting little video from 1930--about halfway through, it gets very silly, but is amusing, I think, and the dancing "horse" at the end is really pretty good! The clip features "The Wiere Brothers"--they were a European comedy trio who performed in vaudeville and in short films. Coming from a long line of circus performers, they were great dancers, instrumentalists and jugglers. Enjoy your Sunday!

Theme Thursday & ATC Wednesday

Always trying to catch up, I am--I just have too many irons in the fire, I think--so busy all the time! Here are my little offerings for Theme Thursday (the theme is "Paris") and for ATC Wednesday (the theme is "hat") this week. I want also to thank everyone who has taken the time to stop by my blog and leave such nice comments--I honestly try to get around to all of you when I can, and it may take me awhile, but I usually will get over to see your blogs, too.