SAY IT IN COLOR

The LAST LEAVES...

2012-01-09T18:48:00.010-06:00

It is January and these are the last leaves on the Spanish Oak Tree .... my favorite tree in the yard. Christmas was really wonderful this year with the kids and grand kids here. A few people were missing, but real Christmas will be celebrated in Heaven someday with a celebration like no other!! Yes, we all gained weight .... so what?!? Tried some new recipes which were a success, especially the "skillet green beans" by Pioneer Woman .... which we will repeat for sure! Dick and I are still working towards downsizing .... and eventually moving. We are working on the new "old" house 20 miles away and trying to go thru all the years of stuff here .... to rid ourselves of "encumbrance" to be freer in many new ways and hold tight to the fondest of memories .... and looking forward to what is ahead for us with this move!!! We are truly excited. The following pictures are some of the things done with grand children ... the stuffies , which they drew, colored and then sewed and stuffed....they were a hit!!! Then some ball point pen drawing inspiration from a small class I am taking from Alisa Burke..... and a little watercolor "food" inspiration from the "stew" I made ..... and a trumpet vine at my neighbors. Winter really hasn't hit here yet! BUT the leaves.....oh those glorious red leaves.....so beautiful with the evening crisp sun shining through .... this tree I wish I could take with me .... but I am sure there will be one near the other house for me to photograph! We don't usually get those colors around here. Enjoy and I will try to update you on some progress of the move. We did tear out two walls last week , you know kind of like the DIY shows you see on TV.....we had fun doing it , but tried to save the good stuff! We'll share photos later.....hugs and big BLESSINGS!!!

IT IS ALMOST HERE!!!!!!

2011-12-20T00:22:00.008-06:00

Oh My!!! One week ..... LESS!! .... left!!! I am behind, but catching up and anticipating the grandchildren coming to Mimi's and Grand Dads!!!! YAY!!!! I was doing good until my computer and scanner wanted to take several long naps today!! I am trying to finish a little book I made for my grand kids to go with a special ornament I bought them at "The Mustard Seed" in LaGrange!! What a cute shop!!! I went there three times in one day! Anyway, I'll show you the booklet and ornament when and IF I get it done! Pray for my machines .... they are only four years old, which according to MAC and PC people....that is old! I am 65 yrs old and I still work!!! So I will show you the Christmas card we made for this year. (I painted it and Dick wrote & mailed them!) He had the hard part! The verse was different.... but I JUST HAD TO PUT IT. I have several people in my life that have had medical hardships this year ... one precious friend in particular has been very sick and a mystery to the doctors. Her nick name is "Ampie" .... so if you are in prayer mode please pray for her to be comforted from her severe pain and to begin to heal. She is young and was very vibrant. Worked very hard to have a home along with her husband and has been a good mother to two girls. She is loved. The other reason I put it on my Christmas card was I thought the one part fit God's CARE for His OWN Son after He was born, guiding and protecting them as they went their way. It was such a huge and monumental event that only God really knew how special that the time had become fulfilled ..... what so many had been anticipating and waiting for .... and His birth was the beginning of showing us how very much He loves us and knows that we need Him. That He, Jesus, would be the only answer to any ailment or purpose in life ... even beyond death. So He came here to let us get to know Him, experience His love in a human way ..... a love like no other could show us. So Ampie , this is for you ..... I love you too! ....here it is ...."He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalms 91:4 In Spanish it is this...."Con tus plumas te cubrira; y debajo de sus alas estaras seguro; escudo y adarga es su verdad." Salmos 91. verso 4. Blessings to you all during this special time of reflection of how God has provided for us THE ANSWER .... not found in anything else. MERRY CHRISTMAS..

RUNAWAY? HIDE? OR PUSH ON ... FORGIVE AND PLAY!

2011-12-02T11:47:00.009-06:00

We have been definitely busy downsizing and fixing our next spot, so I haven't blogged much! But while going through things a few things have come back across my heart lately that made me think about how kids forgive one another..... better than we do!!! When you are hurt by someone, do you RUNAWAY? Do you HIDE? Maybe you PUSH ON ....which feels right ..... but do you (speaking to myself) FORGIVE? When I am hurt by someone I do runaway and I hide to protect myself and I push on .... but usually I can't get past the fact that I love that person who hurt me or disappointed me and it doesn't go away. SO I am learning and wanting to FORGIVE THEM, SO I CAN CONTINUE TO LOVE THEM .... either closely or at a slight distance. BUT I CAN LOVE THEM IN SPITE OF HURT .... I CAN and I DO. It also made me remember how the children played when they were all here last year.....they had the greatest of times and couldn't wait to be together..... then they would get selfish and fight or get mad or hurt at the other...... but usually five minutes later they were back to normal having a great time. That is what I want to learn ..... to get over myself and get over hurts!!! And to learn not to hurt others!! I am trying ..... it is "THANK GOODNESS" not a trait of God .... to runaway, to hide, to just push on, to pout and hold a grudge or guard the hurt in His heart feeding on it..... I have much still to learn at the age of 65!!! Praise God, I can still learn and He can still be patient with me. And thank goodness He loves me and He loves them equally! Who was hurt more? Jesus in His being rejected and dying in humiliation on the cross or all of my past hurts in the past? Then look how His Father lifted Him to such a glorious place because of His love for His Son and for us! I think for sure I can get over my hurts and forgive ..... He did. Honestly, each person who has ever hurt me is a person I can't get over because I LOVE them...... so I forgive them!!! ALL! And I HOPE they will forgive me. I am working on it with His help!! Blessings to you all!

FUN DAY FUN STUFF....

2011-10-19T11:52:00.010-05:00

"A" was for their last name, and "G" was her maiden name....wish I had pics of each letter with all the different children....maybe later! This was a joy to do for them!!! A picture for the author page.... An old page piece from a book.. AND now the fun day with a grand daughter!! The old fifties case was a dirty blue color and we got to work to make it something new!! The first pictures are of a small "ABC" book I made for a special new baby in our circle of friends! There was a "tree letter" for each letter with different pictures of children or a horse etc painted on them....then a blank page opposite for the new parents to add their story each day....the cover paper was a manipulated antique page from an old book....and inside a little collage from another antique book....I used my "Zutter" for the first time to cut the pages and align them....can't wait to do more personalized little books with my art!! THEN here is a series of an afternoon project with my grand daughter before she moved. She needed a bag for hair stuff etc....so we went to the garage and found this old makeup suitcase from the fifties and we mixed a color of purple she so desired and we printed, quickly, some photos and began to arrange it the way she wanted....It was all HER design and with her favorite Kitty, Sunny! ....and all her cousins, grandparents and family! Her favorite things this year while living next door were the birthday parties, cooking, spending time with family, friends and the cat!! So here is her finished suitcase!!! It was another "special day" to remember for us two!! My first grand child!!! Enjoy doing something with one of your family or a friend today!!! Blessings to you!!! sherry

DWELL IN YOUR HOUSE....

2011-10-05T15:16:00.008-05:00

I have started the downsizing process of going through things to eventually move to our "new spot in life" ....and I found this older spontaneously done piece I did in Mystele's class. I LOVE what it says..."Stay awhile ..... find the music of your heart .... find your gift ...... arise to the occasion ..... Dwell in your house(in yourself) .... it's yours!" I see the car with it's bags packed and stacked on top ..... basically, life is a fast trip, with us always searching ..... then I see the eyes are like windows .... to your own house so to speak .... then I see .... the arrow pointing to the Cross ..... once there, you will find your heart, no matter where you are .... and HE will never fail you or forsake you!! I may print this bigger .... to remind me of HIS never ending love, care and promise!! Have a GREAT week .... Blessings!!!! sherry .... we close on our next house the 11th ....and it won't be our last ....I may do a before and after series over the year of moving and change .....keep watch!!! The creative processes "hopefully" never cease!!

EXCITING NEWS!!!

2011-09-23T09:13:00.009-05:00

I know I haven't blogged or posted for a long time....truth is....I couldn't TOP what I wrote below about the "The Wind.... Being Still". Since that post God has ""been moving"" in big gentle giant steps! I am amazed once again how He works...... We have made the decision to downsize and MOVE to a smaller house and smaller yard and in the next town south in a real neighborhood!! We have always lived in the country and always worked really hard at taking care of all that we had. From fifty acres to 3 acres to a third of an acre!!! But we are SOOO ready for LESS to take care of. We have prayed, looked and prayed more.....and have purchased a smaller house on a corner in a neighborhood where I even know the neighbors!!! It is closer to the church, the grocery store and to the Doctors!! Forgot to mention that Dick will be closer to his playground at the airport too!! Another "project" always excites me....although I hope this one is smaller in nature. I will have a large room for my studio.....YAY!!!! ..... and for the kids when they visit.....they want some funky lockers with real locks for their stuff....I have agreed and they will have their very own spot in Mimi's new house!!! I have always heard that saying that "LESS IS MORE".....and I am loving the sound of it!!! It will free me up to just "BE" and have more time with people and with my passion of ART and SEWING. Hopefully some teaching will take place there too!! ....maybe! GREENPECKS will remain open physically here at the shop in Round Top until the house sells and then business will be from the next house....which will be announced later. It is antique weeks, now thru Oct 2, here in Round Top, with many people in the fields during the favorite buying venue of the year. So we have been pulling things from the attics in the house and garage and selling and even giving away!!! IT FEELS SOOO GOOD!!!! "The Apothecary", on the square in Round Top purchased THE ROUND TOP COLLECTION inventory and has moved it "up" town, one block away where it soo deserves to be .....! I read the post below with the "quilt" and can see that He, GOD, heard my heart's desire....again!!!! Now, back to humming praises and packing more stuff to sell or give away!!! Blessings and Thanks on this day!!! Will return soon!!!

REMEMBRANCE AND HEALING...

2011-09-11T09:46:00.002-05:00

THE WIND...being still

2011-07-07T10:10:00.010-05:00

The 4th of July has come and gone with all our guests leaving the house empty once again. We had close to 70 people and many more hotdogs!! It was very HOT and DRY and we were thankful for what breeze we had as we watched the parade go by. I didn't venture out into the heat much this year and stayed inside. I've been staying inside a lot!! I needed to work on a QUILT AD for an upcoming publication ...so I took an old worn 100 year old quilt I bought around 40 years ago and hung it outside on a cedar tree branch to photograph it. It was briskly blowing around and wouldn't stay on the branch and the sun was bright and I needed shade to shoot it. After the fourth or fifth try on my little step ladder it finally hung on the fat branch and gently moved in a soft breeze.... and the sun went behind a cloud! I snapped my camera up quickly to begin to shoot the photos.... then on the computer analyzing them and picking one to manipulate and paint..... I began to think of my life lately and how I am tossed by the wind!!! And how I want to only be "gently" blowing in a soft breeze ..... MYSTELE is having a group of us do art or write about "BEING"......each Wed. I am late posting , but here is the work in progress of the log cabin quilt that I hung on the tree branch .....and click the following to see the incredible reflections of scripture that help me to see that He can calm the wind in my life and I can be stilled in my soul ...... the best "ME" I can be is to be in His boat, but not fall asleep to the power He has in my life! I really think there is an opposing force that tries to keep you from who HE made you ..... just as you are with what He has given you to nurture your soul. This quilt picture makes me feel like BEING STILL, and just KNOWING He is God .... TRUSTING Him to continue to mold me and use me ... even though I am further down the road in years! Be Blessed and Be Still in your soul...... my prayer is to be who He made and not be afraid of who I am not..... to be me.

LET ME HEAR ....

2011-06-27T19:27:00.017-05:00

Recent collage bookmark... Pilar, Peyton, Olivia, Tito, Elena, Eli, Sonny the cat, Luke the dog,, the rabbit in the yard, the old cat Rodney, the squirrel, and Sunshine, the cat who went to heaven to be with Rodney, her brother.... Grand dad and Mimi.... Grandpa, Grandma, Jimmy and my Kellie.... Julius, the donkey with a cat...size is weird....but he is a miniature donkey in real life!! The ever popular old golf cart that each kid learns to drive on in front of the water slide!! The play house.... And our Olivia...in front of a nest of mockingbirds in the tree behind her............................................................................................................................ For me to do art with children is to be still in my soul .... while playing ... and sometimes I TRY TO LISTEN and feel or know His loving kindness and care. Sometimes I have a REALLY STRONG hunger and thirst for Him more than at other times.....and especially His affirmation of my worth. Why, I don't know exactly, but it is an area where I struggle still. I think children are much easier than adults, who require so much of each other. High expectations drive me crazy and cause me to rebel, probably because I grew up pleasing people, which fed me for a long time but never lasting. That is what I love about Him, He loved me before I was fixed or cleaned up. He just wooed me to Him and I said "yes" and He said "You are worth it" .... and died a horrible selfless death on the cross. Life is too hard "without" Him, and I am thankful for His forgiveness and promise to me, no matter how I feel or perform at times..... life eternal with Him was my gift. Where is that "grace and mercy" when we deal with one another? He didn't do it because we were sooo good, He did it because we were soooo rotten and hopeless, even trying to be our own Gods as though we could really do a better job than Him .... I don't even want to try anymore, I just WANT to REST in Him .... knowing He loves me and cares for me and even blesses me with these children that are so fantastic, artistic and creative .... that I get to do art!!! THESE PAPER DOLLS from cereal boxes will be living in a fold out book with pockets and scenes from Mimi's house with the cousins and animals and other visiting grandparents .... we have been working on it .... Olivia, 9, and I , so she will have it with her when she moves and begins to miss us all. All of us are represented and there will be many more scenes and memories...... THIS PROJECT was from Carla Sonheim ,under tutorials, hope I spelled it right .... I will post the link ..... it was a week of fun creating it with "special moments" with my eldest grand daughter .... Olivia .... one of my artists. ENJOY and BLESSINGS!!! Also added a bookmark I made with scraps.

SEEK MY FACE...

2011-06-10T08:53:00.006-05:00

It has been so hot outside and the drought is something we can't control. We humans are so used to controlling every aspect of our lives that we can ... but there are some things we can't control. I found this scripture while doodling and drawing old fabric scraps and watching the children play BLISSFULLY with no worries. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends it's roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but it's leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought, nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:7,8. I just thought it was something to give us thoughts of the HOPE if we SEEK HIS FACE....a quote in my devotional on the 6th. I hope you have a BLESSED day and REST in HIS ARMS of CARE. ......and I hope you get to paint !!!

THE JOY OF IT....

2011-05-20T18:09:00.009-05:00

The hungry second born (born that day!) of the beautiful blue eggs my mockingbird laid in her beautifully built nest....which was in a wire basket on my trellis where I could lower it each day to check on them....she never fussed!! Those little nubs of wings that will turn into beautiful wings so he can fly! The nest was so beautiful, even had horse hairs in it that she got from the neighbors barbed wire fence where the horses tails swish across the barbs leaving long hairs... Click on the pictures to see them up close!!! Look at the beautiful fungus on the tree twigs.... a loosely built nest on the outside and then a delicate more tightly woven nest on the inside.... Those feathers beginning to develop ! NOW for a nap til supper!! This is ONLY one week later!!! I FORGOT TO MENTION....Flat Stanley Star Wars style from LaGrange Intermediate school, came for a vacation to our house and got to climb a tree with the grandkids! "D" for daughter... God and Family, cherished, the apple of His eye..."Home is where the heart is...."....for my daughter's Mother's day card.... Card below designed by my grand daughter for her Momma...the top attic opens for a sweet note....we used stamps too....she wanted no color....simple and classy, just like her Momma! she put our bird nest up in the peak....it was Mother's Day.... For a friend's daughter.....praying for her to flourish and heal with upcoming surgery.... "A" for Adams....or Anything! A design gathered from an old white on white hankie.... The JOY of what? There is so much hurt, disappointment, loss, self-righteousness and self centeredness .... what JOY could I be talking about? Sometimes you just can't put it into words ..... or you may be critisized for it anyway .... and you just aren't up to the analysis of others .... so you don't try to explain it.....I'm sure you have been there! BUT!! .....BUT there IS JOY ..... JOY in these words spoken this week ...... why are we so lacking in the work we try to accomplish for Him? These words ( Isaiah 33:6...And HE will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The "fear of the Lord is his treasure"....it is key, I think, for authentic success) words rang LOUD in my head when I read them over and over this week. Then there is the JOY of ART and the colors and joy of getting to be creative with it .... for me anyway! Here are some pieces of ART I have been playing with and the house card my grand daughter did for her Momma. THE JOY OF HIS LOVE ..... even for "just me" .... inspite of myself or the yukky and sometimes disappointing world around me. I BRING YOU THE WONDER OF HIS CREATION AND THE JOY OF IT....enjoy these incredible pictures of my "Mockingbird Babies" and enjoy the art.... Blessings to you!! Have a good weekend.....

A MOTHER....

2011-05-04T23:58:00.010-05:00

Beautiful wife of Jimmy (Daddy) and Momma of my three awesome grandkids! We love this scripture in reference to our kiddos....3 John 1:4...."I have no greater joy than, to hear of my children walking in truth." New design from elements in the old designs seen below...for a friend's grandchildren....would be a pretty marriage certificate with England in mind! Antique certificates of my friend's family...you can see different elements used from each for the new design...with their own church inserted.... Below is the final design she picked for five grand children.... My Mother was in a wheelchair for thirteen years at the end of her cherished life. I have had so many thoughts of her lately with Dick home after knee replacement. We have used her old wheel chair, and several other things she left behind in 2001. I even looked for her whistle for him to use in case I didn't hear him....but no need, I've been close by. When we restored this old house we made sure it was handicap friendly....and didn't get to use it fully with her....but with Dick these last two weeks, we have given the design a real try every day.... and I have to say it has been so wonderful to have things set up for Dick to use with ease and for me!!! Thanks Mother!! I miss you!! Happy Mother's Day!!! Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful daughter too.... who has the same big smile my Mother had! She is a wonderful Mother to her children....really wonderful!! Of course we are proud of her and our son too...they both have great families!!! Happy Mother's Day to my daughter in law who is also an awesome Mom!!! I am going to list some old quilt squares that I found, undoubtedly made by some Mother or Grandmother or Aunt...the colors are so happy and the primitive designs speak of home. There is also a newly designed Baptism Certificate I did for a friend . She brought me three antique family "Baptism's" and "Confirmations" from three generations of her family....for me to design a new one for her grandchildren. So the new design has elements from all three of the antique certificates that were all in their family. The complete wording is not present yet. Anyway, enjoy these fun colors and think of all the MOTHER'S ....who have put bright spots in your life... one way or another. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to you all and great BIG BLESSINGS!!!

WHERE I'VE BEEN...and back!!

2011-04-11T00:48:00.013-05:00

The cottage where my grandchildren live next door for now...... a short walk to my back door ..... each day....... a blessing. My doll from 1956 ... ironic, the grandchildren have worn us both out!! This is how I feel! We are both a little frazzeled..... A pile of extended relatives.... it was a long day!! It says...."SLOW"................I WISH!!!!! Swinging ...... lasts about 2 minutes!!! No FOX News tonite!!! .....it's movie time..... Some on the floor..... some on the couches.... My NEW decor....someone has moved in!!! My 40 year old kid's toys from the past have made a comeback!!! That's what I get for not ever getting rid of anything!!!! It comes back to haunt you .... in a wonderful way. Thank the Lord for the WII Games!!!! Lunch preparations ..... in plastic and wood .....yummmm Legos .... wonderful millions of pieces of legos!! .... and I BOUGHT THEM....what was I thinking...? The toy house matches my house!!! Is that Mimi hanging from the rafters? Earlier in the day ... they were bored ... humfph!!! So we took an old sheet .... made a tent fort, they drew targets on the plastic lids , which were also shields.... and with our trusty water guns and water soakers we divided up and I drove the attack vehicle.... at times surprising the enemy ....we were soaked!!!! This was at least a two hour battle .... no photos of the defeated driver .... she looked like a giant wet hen!! Now this is true distraction ..... relaxation? .... well, maybe just distraction...... The most enthusiastic with lots of screaming was the three year old ....I am surprised the neighbors didn't call the police!!! A pretty nifty tent fort.... if I do say so myself!!! I love old sheets .... we built houses with blankets and chairs when I was a youngster ....and lots of clothes pins!!! YES, they do still make them!!! READY FOR BATTLE!!! The cat hid all day!!! Sunny , the cat was a present to us a few months back....from some generous stranger passing by! Sweetest cat!!!! My grand daughter was blessed .... so blessed because Sonny looks just like Sunshine (her first and only cat five years ago that got run over.) It was like "Some one " knew.... she was here in Texas again..... A birthday in February....you can barely see my Christmas tree to the right.... most people don't notice it is still up..... at least they don't "mention" it! And besides .... my grand kids don't care if it still up....they still turn the lites on sometimes when they come over. Now for some sanity and some beauty ....a gift from HIM in my yard. He is GOOD!!! Our famous Texas "Bluebonnets" with a few Indian Paintbrush!! Old Irises ....given to me from friends long ago.... Yellow Antique Rose "Graham ...something?" Just a ROLL of photos to show you life lately..... and why I'm too tired to post art or anything you might want to see .... here it is .... I CAN say we had a GREAT ANTIQUES FAIR ... and I'm still recuperating and trying to finish up paper work. Even though life has been on a different track lately .... I feel very blessed and thankful for all of THIS in my life! If you go back a few years to my Christmas open house, you'll see a very clean and very decorated house .... but NO MORE!! ALAS! ... the grandchildren have taken over and done their own decorating!!! I will end it with the ever present beauty of my yard which helps me to breath and feel His love and care for us .... even if we can no longer keep up physically .... or keep up appearances!! You may see my Christmas tree in a few photos .... yes, in March!! A grand-Mimi has to make choices .... and it hasn't been the Christmas tree!! Oh, what can I say?!?!? .... just enjoy the photos for what they are and then say a prayer for me if you feel led! ... really do! , even though I am laughing I would welcome prayer!! So pray for me ..... Or for the grandchildren, ...... or maybe for their Grandad!!! GREAT BLESSINGS to you during the upcoming SEASON OF A NEW LIFE ... the celebration of a HOPE for our hearts to know our future in the Ressurrection of Christ!

ROUND TOP ANTIQUES FAIR THRU APRIL 3rd !!!

2011-03-18T10:55:00.009-05:00

That's right!!! ANTIQUES FAIR THRU APRIL 3rd!!! People are already set up and selling! Our county seat in Fayette County had the "best retail sales in their history" the last quarter....that means this year should be a good one!! So come see us....we are so overstocked with trying to get the Spring items to fit in the shop that we decided to have a SALE on FALL and CHRISTMAS the rest of MARCH and thru APRIL. We carry ALL SEASONS ALL YEAR.....and if you are looking for something you missed last Christmas it is probably here. The SPRING FLOWERS Are beautiful.....well enough said, I have to get to work....WE ARE OPEN ALL WEEK FOR TWO WEEKS!!! BLESSINGS!!!

LUKE....

2011-03-15T22:29:00.008-05:00

A boy and his dog.... there is something so special about it. A special connection ... for a boy to have "his" dog. My son, Scott, had several favorite dogs growing up and today as a married man with a family ... has his beloved "Dodger", a big ole Chocolate Lab.... a sweet dog who hung his head over the playpen looking at their newborn when she was sooo tiny.... a gentle dog. Then there is this boy, Tito, that is our grandson by adoption .... HE ADOPTED US.... and we have been so blessed ever since he was born right next door .... he is not the only addition like that to our family of grand kids!! Anyway, he had wanted a dog for a long time, and it just wasn't time for them to have one .... until his uncle said he had one for him when Christmas rolled around. WELL!!...HE was so excited, reading all he could on how to take care of him, what he needed for toys, and maybe a sweater....oh my, the list was long!!! The first thing I took over to his house was a small carrier we had with a new pillow in it so he could bring home his "Chaweenie" (chihuahua and weenie dog mix) from the long trip to get him at his Aunt and Uncles before last Christmas. Just the site of the carrier had him giggling and chuckling in a constant blissful way! He named his little dog "LUKE"....and I must say there is a special connection between them!! Here are some photos of the first week with Luke.... is that a happy face on a boy or what!!!! Love these photos and wanted to share them!! Here is also a cartoon, really old one from out of an old book from my parents....a laughing dog from a cartoon newspaper or comic book cutout to save. I wanted to send it to Diane at My Art Journal who has a dog named "Bob", see his story through her blog. Then there is an endearing story of the dog adopted by DJ here...a beautiful dog named "Tulla". I don't have a dog, but I DO have the children to watch as they discover their new pets.... and the "JOY" of it!!! Blessings!!!

AUNT EDDIE MAE....

2011-03-07T18:53:00.011-06:00

Today was a sad day in many ways. The funeral of my Mother's little sister, in her eighties, went home to be with the Lord. That is a good thing .... that you go home to the Lord. I was overwhelmed with tears in church last night, as I thought of how she was the last of "that generation" in our family, and how it made me miss my Mother. She died in 2001, but it is still hard because she was so very special to us all. I have a brother named after my Aunt Eddie ... his name is Edward, but it was with her in mind when they called him "Eddie". He is still living, but I miss him because he has separated himself from me ..... for many reasons I can think of, but not sure "exactly" why. We really never got along after we were adults. I didn't go to the funeral, a short trip, today, ... too vulnerable .... it was just too hard this time around ... it is too painful. Selfish, I know, ... but I just chose to hide away. I seem okay as long as I stay away and keep busy with other things. Well, I stayed away today and sat in the studio to try to do art .... I had an overwhelming sadness. I had started this piece last week but it didn't seem to go anywhere, just didn't come together and had no desire to finish it ...... until I looked at a page from scripture still laying on my desk from doing the beatitudes .... and there it was .... it just popped out at me!!! Matthew 5:23,24. Click on it to read it.... It is in the old scripture language on the art, but it hit home for sure and it was sooo convicting considering my brother. I DO love him and I DO forgive him and hope he WILL forgive me for what it is that has him so angry at me. ANYWAY, loss is hard, either in death or in life....both have loss. This art piece was easier for me to do with him in mind and what the Lord might be doing through it .... either for him in time to come or for me today. I added the hearts .... for the desire of a loving relationship as a brother and sister, which I withheld from him for years in anger ..... very hurtful to a younger brother. The little bird is flying with a heart in his beak to hopefully drop it in the right place ... for healing ..... before it is too late. I will miss Aunt Eddie and do I love you, Eddie, my little brother. Blessings.....

THIRST...for God

2011-02-23T13:23:00.008-06:00

"THIRST" is the last in this series of Be Attitudes until I finish the next set. These have been so pleasant to do...."Like conversations with God." I keep thinking, WHAT is so special about them or doing them?! It is the relaxing flow of play with shapes, color, words ...like making mud pies when I was little....and the whole time I'm having those quiet conversations with God in my head. It is a wonderful time .... sometimes until 5AM!!! Sometimes when I'm in that mode, so engrossed in the play that I have ceased to exist for the world until it is finished and then I show it and say....Here I am!! And then I play catch up with sleep, chores and business all the while dreaming of the next window of time to get to go the spot (my studio) where I make "mud pies" (art!) again....til whatever hour!!..... I like the peaceful look on "THIRST'S FACE"....the words come from "The Beattitudes" in the Sermon on the mount....in MATTHEW 5...verse 6. We are anxious for Spring as I am sure everyone is.... Please pray for my friend GRACE, who lives in New Zealand with a heavy heart for her country and people after the horrible earthquake. What IS EASTER... REALLY? Is it about God's only Son paying the price to set us free...I mean really free even beyond death and suffering? Free for Eternity. Seems much more clear and special these days. Just contemplating....The Passion of Christ is graphic, but it is what He endured for all of us....not one people or person completed the fulfillment of God's Word...we all did and fulfilled God's plan. You can read all about it in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament. Or simply John 3:16,17. Have a blessed and grateful week!! Easter season or resurrection day is the biggest gift of all!! Enjoy!

BABY BE ATTITUDES!!! or TENDER PLANTS...

2011-02-19T20:37:00.007-06:00

Many people have been asking about these "Be attitudes" and I am going to list them on a post soon with the sizes and price each or by the set....just need a few more days to figure it out.....in the meantime here are the babies!! I have always loved the scripture in Deut that says...." My words fall like rain on tender plants...".....that to me is how gentle God is in teaching you when you are hungry and thirst for more of Him....read the whole verse....I just LOVE it!!! When I did NOT deserve it....He was GENTLE and MERCIFUL to me teaching me softly about His love ...." absorbing His love and words like dew on tender plants....oh, anyway, here are the babies....then I have another new one coming up....."Merciful" ... a little larger. I have ordered white washed 1 1/4th inch wide barn wood frames for the shop. I WILL get the prices together and sizes with photos soon! And with Pay Pal for those who want to pay that way. Thank you all for such interest!! I have another set in mind with the Proverbs.....and there is a few more in this set....the 6x10's (image is 4x8 approx.with out white border)will be around 12.00 each and the longer skinny 6x15 (image is 3x13 without white border) around 16.00 each. THEY are made with elements cut from art pieces I have painted.....now used as collage to embellish these little people. Blessings to you....ENJOY!!

A DEVINE MOMENT...

2011-02-14T09:50:00.008-06:00

Have you ever reached a point where you took the risk to step over into a "Devine Moment" and knew if you did you could never turn back and it would change you forever? .... you know you need to step over but didn't know what was in store because only God knows and you still know you must step over? Well, it is a story too long to tell, but has to do with my precious little church buying land to expand our church for our children! An account of Jonathan's Devine Moment in scriptures ... I Samuel 2:6-18, tells the story of him entering into a Devine Moment, better than mine .... his military strategy was the opposite of what regular intelligent military strategies would be, but he knew he had to make the move and step out ... taking the risk .... God's hand before him with no other choice, waiting for him to "take that step" and TRUST ... it is a good study for us to TRUST what we know only God knows, because we DON'T know! It is not always that Devine Moment ... but when it is.... WE KNOW IT ...... and we have to make a choice. Here is another "Be attitude" art piece. I love doing these...you never know how they will turn out and I just love the surprise of each face! Enjoy and Big Blessings to you!!

THE CHURCH LADY?

2011-02-03T12:57:00.006-06:00

Here they are framed....just a trial set....for the shop This "Be Attitude" was hard because I couldn't quite get her face or expression right....maybe it is right. Anyway a funny thing happened with this one....I showed it to my grand daughter, age nine, and she read it.....then she said, "Mimi, this would be a good Valentine for a husband who has left his wife!" Well, I had to laugh because she didn't know it was scripture (Matthew 5:11), so her imagination made it what she thought. We are from a family of strong women who also point that finger when we need to to get our husband's attention or make a point! We DO still have our husbands too...ha...Anyway, here she is...... she reminds me of maybe some of the "Church ladies" that have been bad mouthed through the years, but were maybe right. Her glove makes me think of the days when they wore hats and gloves to church....anyway, enjoy!! I have a few more coming...that I like more! Again, if you want to read the Beatitudes...see the link to it in the post below. BLESSINGS!!! Keep warm!!!!

ANOTHER BE-ATTITUDE....."MOURN"

2011-01-29T20:10:00.005-06:00

Here is another "Be-Attitude" .....as I named them...... I have taken old paperback Bibles I buy at the used store and tear scriptures out of them that I want to use on art pieces. I've had these "beatitudes" from scripture laying around from a previous project and I have always wanted to learn more about them and what Christ was trying to say when He told them to the disciples while sitting on a mountain (Sermon on the Mount) after He saw the multitudes. He knew something about us .... and what we needed .... truly needed. I hope I haven't miss represented these "beatitudes" with the art I have paired them with ... and I may have slightly. These have caused a lot of conversation and many of us to wonder what exactly did the beatitudes mean? So if you want to read them and do a little fun digging .... here is a fabulous place to go to .... "Blueletterbible.org" ....but specifically when reading them ... click the blue numbers by the words you want more meaning to and it takes you to the original meaning it had in the Hebrew or Greek at the time it was written! Have fun and forgive me if some of these have been paired wrongly with the art. We have giggled with them and wondered with them .... so I hope a good thing! I would love them in a devotional to lift spirits .... who knows where they will end up. But here is one more ...... with more to come. ENJOY and BLESSINGS!! And thanks for all the positive feedback!! This one is "Mourn"...number three.

SALT....MEEK'S NEIGHBOR...

2011-01-25T22:34:00.007-06:00

IMPROVED...more elements and a little more color! Yes, she is the salt of the earth .... and yes, she has some flavor to her that you don't forget because she is so sincere!! I am so hooked on these things.... I MUST make more! I was thinking of what to call them.... they did evolve from my cereal box series.... but these need a name ..... hope to have a whole series by the time of our show. Would love any comments or suggestions you may have! I've had a few fans already in our Gut Art Class.... Short I know, but I need to get back to the studio!!! Blessings and ENJOY!!! ...even my husband likes them! So far, they are the Beatitudes.... Be Attitudes?

DECORATING THE DORM....

2011-01-21T23:43:00.009-06:00

This piece of art is all from my original paintings...three different ones combined with "layering" and "brushing out" with photoshop....the bright flowers were a separate painting and here I manipulated the colors to force some turquoise and purple and brighter reds ... I call it ..."stretching it"... forcing the saturation a bit ... but it worked here I think. All new learning... kinda fun! Their blankets...not cut yet....their school is BUA...red and black colors...can you believe how lucky to find the "B" on the bear's college sweater...and the black and red colors? This is two pieces of art creating one and adding the type....the girl is layered on top of a floral piece...needed to make it longer so added sections at the top and bottom...all photoshop with two original scans....fun. Found another to add words..."The Lord is my Shepherd" in Spanish...ready to frame. This month has been about college, encouragement, education, enrolling in school and all on a budget!! Two kids from our church are in college for the first time .... so as the " sort of " adopted Grandma at church, I offer rides and hauling since I have an old suburban that still hauls lots of kids stuff around!! Well, one girl and her Mom and I had the best ever time hitting the sales at ROSS and at the Goodwill in San Antonio... a few hours from here .... to make her room feel more at home and cozy.... then she said the her apartment dorm mates never sat in the living room because it was dreary and boring and dark and cold....plus they wanted to gather there more for movies and visiting after studying..... SOOOO...off I went to Walmart to see what I could find and this is what I came up with....bargains.....eight blankets out of "on sale" chenille....8.50 for each girl to have a nice size throw to cozy up with and then I got some of those $5.00 14x18 poster frames and used striped wrapping paper I already had to put behind some of my art I manipulated to bring out their colors ... their school colors were black and red but "our girl" loves turquoise .... so I had to get some in the mix! There will be a few pillows too in the turquoise and red .... and of course some scripture on the art to encourage them!!! It is a small Christian College where they go... I feel like a Proud (Grandmom) Mom of a college girl, even though my (daughter) college girl is now 41 with three kids!! A note on the art: I learned layering with photoshop, so I was able to combine several paintings or art pieces together to create really colorful art to suit them....Maria had picked out all the prints she liked and then I played with them. Got a few lamps too (from the garage stuff) black and a black book shelf. With their red and turquoise popcorn bowls it will all make a fun room. Thanks for all your prayers and your sweet comments. Have a joyful week...Blessings! .... and enjoy. This was great playing and fun to "mix" this up!!! Let me know if you like all those colors!?!!

HATE HURTS...

2011-01-17T22:52:00.009-06:00

Hate does hurt .... I traveled to a near by town and visited and talked with a girl 16 yrs old today who broke down and cried because of the prejudice in her own school and town where she has lived since she was a preschooler. In the early years she was so excited about school and went to school with the joy of an intelligent and promising school girl. She has always been smart and made good grades.... and as she grew up in this small town she was anticipating going to a famous University. She is smart enough to. But financially it is impossible for her family. Her last name puts her in an ethnic group that has experienced so much hatred and anger from so called good people who are evidently fear based...even Christians. I haven't seen her for over a year, I am ashamed to say and I now regret it. I love her and she is an awesome, awesome kid. I feel I have really neglected her. I was shocked when I felt her tears and desperation of needing an education so she can live a better life... and "get out of here..." She IS American and legal, but doesn't feel like "either" one. I feel her hurt so deeply and I am so ashamed of many people in my own country. It HURTS and BREAKS MY HEART....and I'm sorry but I needed a place to say it and tonight it is said here. Please forgive me but maybe this can do some good.... somewhere. Anywhere. Please pray for her ... she is worth it ... she is sooo worth it ... pray she doesn't hate her own country. God knows who she is. As I was grieving her feelings I clicked on this ....and it was what I needed to see, ....and hear. I have no real art for this except this drawing of a young woman who asked me for food the other day while in San Antonio. It is NOT her, the girl I speak of .... just a drawing of despair. I am sorry for this post .... it will be a better week next week. Blessings to you and spread some compassion, love, and hope..... especially to the young. I found a piece I did about when we are in the valleys and hills... the promised land we are to possess that God provided for us .... that it, (we) would be watered by the rain from heaven...not the water we had to carry in buckets or by foot from the river like when in Egypt....Deut. 11:10-15

Meet "Meek"...

2011-01-07T21:05:00.006-06:00

She can't believe they consider her to be meek.... Petals from collage paper of my zinnias outside..... I've been delaying my post because I had a fabulous teaching that I heard that I wanted to share and just can't seem to come up with the right words to portray the depth of meaning it had for me...so I will wait on it and may have some art to go with it at a later date.....BUT.....BUT....today I was encouraged to show Ms. Meek.....(meekness) and maybe I'll add Peacemaker to it. It was the result of just a fun class with Mystele and a response to an artist by the name of Jill Krasner with her wonderful collages. I just had a couple of small gessoed pieces to work quickly on and used only left over collage stuff on my table...and some bright colors as the base.....when I found or saw the faces I began and just added what was there to collage with on my table of scraps...they are the size of bookmarks....and they just make me smile or giggle. I hope you enjoy them..... I do love collage!! Blessings for a New Year! And sorry I have been sooo busy and not posting....but I did add the Valentine stuff in the shop photos to the left.....ENJOY!!

CEREAL BOX Christmas Card

2010-12-09T22:55:00.010-06:00

Above Final...the Magi who followed the star to Bethlehem...to give the new born King GIFTS....Matthew 2 Below without any drawing added ....then, above drew what I began to see...click to enlarge for details....this is a fun way to paint! No plan, just play!!! A surprise Christmas card called "THE GIFT", developed from this "found" story in the randomly painted cereal box cut out section. I have several pieces of art now that are all on saved cardboard from cereal boxes ... why cereal boxes? They are free, very pliable when gessoed on the grey side and I am not intimidated when I paint on them like I am when I watercolor on my expensive Arches paper! I flatten the cereal box, cut them to size of the biggest flat part and gesso them. Then I have a stack of them waiting for my playtime in the studio where I drip or smear on acrylic paint and spread it around or layer it with a brush or knife until I am happy with it. This one ... I was "happy" with the results .... and especially happy that I stopped where I did and didn't "over finish" it ....(makes me think of how Christ is never finished with us ... we are a work in progress...) I printed it on 5x7 vellum, cut them to go on top of my card stock, off white was best, and to fit inside my 5x7 Dark Green envelopes I got on sale last year ... then printed the before and after on the back of the card with a Christmas story ....(you can read about the Magi, or three Wisemen in Matthew 2)... then my sweet husband writes and sends all the Christmas cards for me! ... anyway ... it is our Christmas card for 2010.... the kids were reading Luke chapter 1 and 2 last week and I wonder if what you read comes through onto your art .... if maybe it is on your heart? Enjoy!!

ABUNDANCE & GRACE in NOVEMBER

2010-11-18T12:04:00.018-06:00

Final...almost, needs a few more touches and a signature.... I hope you all enjoy the process .... and I hate to even mention it, but ask that you please respect the copyright of these ... as they are in the gallery and as prints if you are needing one....just contact me through my website to the left ...thanks!! These all all more vibrant in person!! I have been studying Psalms 51 and it seems to be affecting my art ....I didn't realize how much what you read affects what comes out of you .... so I'll be reading more!! God SPEAKS ..... loud and clear all the way from New Zealand!!! A total stranger to me ... but not to God .... called me out of the blue to just BLESS me!! She talked for over an hour about sooo many interesting things and it ALL was BALM and INSPIRATION to my soul .... a GIFT from the Lord ... He just blows my socks off sometimes with those special connections. Anyway, besides "GRACE" that visited me ... the WORD .... "ABUNDANCE" comes to mind this month. And I've done (or He has!) an abundance of art pieces to share with you. All of these are what is called "Pulled Art" ...From Mystele's class ... where you put on or lay on paint colors of your choice, randomly until it begins to tell a story in the shapes .... all so much fun .... BUT THE ONE CALLED "FORGIVEN" is the one that no way did I do alone .... it is one of those things that you "know" He orchestrated using your eyes and hands to complete .... I am awed by what came out of it and it is Psalms 51 ... which is about David's guilt ...(and ours), the idols that get us into trouble, that break our hearts and how to deal with it .... THEN the others are pulled out of more fun happenstance ..."SNOW QUEEN" has Psalms 100:1,2,3 on the hills ... and THEN "EMBRACE" has a thought that came from the Blog " A Splendid Adventure" by sweet Mary on a post called "Serendipity" on 11-11-10. Taken from Romans 12:2, if you want to read it.... And there is the cardboard "HEART" with collage and a scripture from Psm 51:6 as well, just fun ....and an ABUNDANCE of it this week!!! ENJOY.... I know it is long, but I'll be busy for a couple of weeks with THANKSGIVING ....got LOTS to be Thankful for!!! Love and Blessings from my heart to yours ....may you be comforted and loved by HIS EMBRACE!

Good Mornin' Sunshine!

2010-11-05T08:50:00.008-05:00

Good Morning Everyone! Well, it is morning as I write this and the sun is coming up through my window and I hear the birds singing outside....even though we have a real November nip in the air! I wish I could get up as chipper as this every morning!! ....but I am a nite person and usually sleep rather late! But not today...it is really beautiful outside this morning! I don't have anything special to write about except that I love life, my art, my kids and grand kids all around me, my friends and family and my precious little church I have gone to for four years now. I have honestly never experienced such a precious place as my little church. You would have to be there time and again to understand why. Anyway! ... here is a fun collage I did last week ...on gessoed cereal box cardboard, something I save for the kids to do art on...and one of my very favorite substrates to work on with collage....and with all the grandkids living next door for a while I have an unlimited supply of empty cereal boxes to prep!! Honey Nut Cheerios being the favorite! The background words are from Psalm 51 ... where David's heart is broken with his own sin ... a great Psalm for beginning again and laying it at His feet. I love that He can't begin anew in us until our heart is contrite and broken from our own weight of sin and we give it to Him asking for help and forgiveness. What I love is our broken hearts are the ONLY acceptable sacrifice to Him. Like a Mama that has her stinker child crying in her lap with big tears of sorrow....doesn't every parent welcome a child's sorrow over his bad behavior! I love how it mentions rebuilding the walls .... our walls to our soul.... fixing our house so to speak. I love His words... love them! Enjoy my little house collage ... it was fun play! I forgot to mention that I tried a doodle they call a tangle....and I decided to call mine "Prayer Doodles"...a free form shape you add design and doodles in with no plan....just a relaxing doodle that gave me a special time to think and pray for certain people including myself, I need it too! Blessings and have a great week. Thanksgiving is soon you know....

CHILD'S PLAY....

2010-10-22T01:48:00.006-05:00

Now with eyebrows and a little charcoal outline.... and her title....and signature....and a little lip color.....she's done....the story is told....she is looking at God's creation and her life....as Olivia said... I've been taking a class with Mystele, called Gut Art, also called pulled art, where you scribble, throw a little paint or color on a canvas or paper, add more.... take away....and look for a story.... WELL, I had some simple scribbles that when I turned it upside down, had nice lines of a face and some nice scribbles looking like plants or something. So I put it aside for today to start developing....and when Olivia came over (my grand daughter, age eight), she immediately picked it (12x24) up and commented on the face she saw! When I told her what it was...pulled art...where you find a story in the shapes, she insisted on doing it herself. SOOO, I got the craft paints out and she began developing and drawing what SHE saw in the scribbles....it was really fun watching her loosely find and enjoy painting what she saw....explaining as she went....seeing the face, then the funky hair, two colors, then the flowers and leaf shapes, then the blue lake and the hills, then said the green/blue middle area was the sky, then she saw the eagle, a golden brown eagle.....I had already decided to put the black edge that seemed to border what she was seeing....she named it "God's Creation...Genesis 1"...she said it was like the lady was looking down on God's creation.....and her life. Well, she told me each color she wanted and I mixed until she was happy and when she finished, I had her outline it with black charcoal....well, she was pleased as punch!!! And so was I!!! She is hooked and now wants her own paints and brushes and canvases! We settled on gessoed cardboard for future practice and craft paints for now....but she is ready to sell!! I had such a giggle, because she is planning to hang it in the gallery....and it IS a "little?" better than some of mine!!! HA!!! Today was a grand art day for us both!!! Blessings!! ENJOY!!

ADD A LITTLE SPARKLE....

2010-10-13T17:17:00.013-05:00

Click to see the better colors....these look dull... I just noticed the piece of wood showing (hanging on a wooden tree hook on the door) right under the paper with the scripture....well, it is one of the Castanettes that I played when 10 years old living in Spain!! I leave it there and demonstate my talent on occasion! Ha! I've never been into doing arrangements, especially out of silk or artificial flowers. My yard is usually full of flowers, leaves and good smelling dirt in the vegetable garden and have never had the need for the artificial. So when one of the young women at church gave me a dull garrish brite orange and brown plastic wreath to "try and fix up"...as she said.... for the small entry door .... I said ....uh ....ok ..... Well, I was stuck with no supplies and a long way from a store. So I picked crepe myrtle dried blooms (FORGOT TO MENTION ...I sprayed them with a red-ish maroon automotive PRIMER color I found in the garage!! the only color that would work....and I'll use that color again!!) Then added gold and red glitter to them adding them to the wreath.....and then I added pink transparent paint over the really brite orange little pumpkins to soften them then added glitter there too. She said to add a scripture somewhere....so I printed part of a painting with the right colors and glued it in place ....added the soft polka dot ribbon...it was all I had....but I think it turned out A-OK! The scripture is in Spanish for our church and it says, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song." Psalm 28:7 The last photo is an aerial taken by my husband of just the town of Warrenton (population less than 50) before all the crowds....during the Antiques Shows in our county and Round Top.....and this is just one little town! We are rested and enjoying our fall weather!!! Blessings to you all for a blessed Fall of Thanksgiving!!!

PRAISE....anyway?

2010-10-03T12:03:00.012-05:00

Today is officially the last day of the two week Round Top Antiques Fair all over this county..... and in my excitement I was going to write a BIG PRAISE TO THE LORD for such a fabulous weekend.....and then I thought...."Would you be doing a BIG Praise if you hadn't done well?" And as I was cleaning up from such a busy two weeks in the shop, I was reflecting on how I got to this point in my life in the first place..... It all started in a Bible Study years ago in the eighties....I was working in our restaurant, which I really did NOT cherish....and longed to be out of it! At this bible study that I had just started going to...a girl read this scripture...."Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart...." Psalm 37:4,5....and I thought to myself...."Oh, yeah, right!....humpf!....and then I remember sitting there during that next few moments thinking what the desires of my heart would be. And my EXACT thoughts were this..."If anyone would EVER want just one piece of art that I could do....that would be the desires of my heart...." At that time I had only done some crafts and taken a few art classes .... hoping .... and loved art none the less! That was 27 years ago this year....and I have been creating art ever since .... and yes, someone has liked it. THE KEY?....the key was what I learned that day after me asking the leader to elaborate on that verse more...as it was really appealing to me since I was so miserable in the restaurant business. She and the rest of the women took the verses a little further and talked about the part that says..."Delight in the Lord...."...basically it was to learn to give God ALL the glory for whatever you did....however small or however great....and no matter what, to "delight in the Lord". At times when I am grumbling or angry or tired and frustrated ..... I think long and hard......and it always comes back to that day at that little bible study......and that one little verse .......that seemingly impossible verse that was read.... and I know how this all got started .....I think He heard my thoughts......that day and knew my love for art ......and my need for people contact and of course I HAVE to DELIGHT IN HIM and give Him THE GLORY or the CREDIT!! ....even if we did well or not.....thank You LORD for a great Antiques Fair Weeks with such wonderful people who blessed us! Blessings!....the manipulated photo above was a vase of flowers I took to Easter Service year before last.....just something beautiful we were blessed with in the yard that year.....I was way too busy to take any pictures of the fair weeks....sorry. Enjoy!

A Great Day.....

2010-09-26T09:11:00.009-05:00

Why is it a great day? You know all of those canvases that we have painted and we just don't really like them?.....then we begin to paint on top of them and try to create a little differently and a new painting appears.....not always, but trying and maybe growing in the process....if you don't fail at first....you don't grow and learn in trying again.....and maybe again and again.....BUT the best part is you aren't always the one in control. Sometimes you are being taught by the One who loves you for who you are, but helping to tweak those areas that need to grow....BUT He doesn't throw you out in the process .... like we (speaking of myself) do sometimes to others. Then came this devotional today "Strength in Weakness" Click here ..... (it really spoke to me.) .... I needed to hear it today .... the "bird dog" has been on the loose around here chasing the birds ..... when you least expect it ..... he won't win though .... not even in the end. Soooo it is a GREAT DAY! I can't write something without at least putting something beautiful to look at .... like this old plate I found years ago and have never seen another ... .a treasure of mine. On the back it says..."Scripture Illustrations" "KEC"....I Samuel Chapt III....it is at least 100 years old or older....if you know something of these ..let me know. In this picture I have repaired the cracks it has in real life....the computer doctor cleaned it up a bit. Don't you wish we could do that with ourselves?! Blessings!!

TREE LETTERS.....

2010-09-05T11:31:00.002-05:00

The one below is a twenty fifth Anniversary piece and they wanted their dog, Sally, on it who had recently passed.... I've done these "Tree Letters" for fifteen plus years ... can't remember when I started them exactly, but they are still requested by customers needing to give the gift of "Remembrance", "Newlyweds" or "Newly Born" in birth or in Christ. A few went to Russian Students that were at Baylor playing tennis. It has been a joy to do all of these "special names" over the years with their chosen scripture for each person. You end up thinking what the person is like while you are painting their initials or their full name....when you don't know them....you end up praying for them as you draw and paint their name. It has become a special order when I get a new name ... for whatever reason it is being requested and I feel blessed to get to do it! Enjoy and Great Blessings to you this week!!

NEW POSTCARD....

2010-08-28T20:22:00.010-05:00

Before below and the after is above....the lines under the truck are actually petal lines of a gerbera daisy from one of her textures....it just gave that dry August ground interest! I took this photo for an AD campaign .... maybe .... and then started fooling around with it digitally. In DJ Pettit's Class (listed in my favorites under Gentle Whispering Hues) we learned how to do layers and photo manipulations. We also learned how to use photos of different texture to add texture to our photos and use or manipulate them in an artistic way. On this photo I used three of her new FREE textures she so graciously shared with us. Really I was just wasting time playing and the more I played I began to like what was transpiring ...I thought it looked like those old forties or fifties photo postcards that have that super enhanced saturation that make them look almost surreal, but colorful. Anyway, I've decided to use it for a card or postcard to advertise the Fall Collection at the shop. (But I will wait until I see if I won the competition I entered!) I guess wasting time can be productive!! Don't tell your kids or husband that...teehee. Honestly, we all need to play ..... enjoy the present moment ... and relax. BLESSINGS!! TODAY, THE 31st, WE JUST FOUND OUT WE WERE ONE OF THREE WINNERS ON THE PRODUCT DECOR IDEAS FOR THE ROUND TOP COLLECTION!!!!! WE GOT A BIG PRIZE!!!! WOOHOO!

JUST PLAY..... and TRUST

2010-08-25T15:32:00.004-05:00

Now that I see this, I think I will add the word "TRUST" to it..... The TRUST part I am still learning. I say I totally trust the Lord, but does my daily life really show it? When fear sets in over "the news", "illness", "children's well being", "debt", "God's Will", "our future here", "Prayer"....among other areas that I THINK I trust Him....but do I REALLY? I've been praying about that for a while and have had some very interesting God "THINGS" happen lately that had been evidence of His LOVE and proof that I can and MUST trust Him.... and really I WANT to completely....actually I HAVE to....there is no other choice.... so I CHOOSE to. Actually, isn't that wonderful?!?! We CAN TRUST and have Faith in Him ...my stories are too long to tell, but trust me....ha...you CAN TRUST HIM!! While contemplating and drawing a very detailed watercolor of my "Tree Letters" to do for a God Sent order.... I needed to loosen up and so I did this painting..... from the "found" or "pulled" method that Mystele has taught us to experiment with, and I have to say it was so relaxing and fun to do.... it did loosen me up for the night of detailed drawing I needed to do.... I was in the groove! Thank you, Lord!! You are faithful....Blessings!! sherry

THE BIRD DOG FINISHED....and school headbands for Pilar

2010-08-18T12:12:00.005-05:00

The picture above is a little off on the color...it is richer colors in person. My favorite part is the trees in the far left upper corner....and the fun stockings on the big blue bird...life is not sooo serious! Goofey, I know, but it was fun... I finally finished "The Bird Dog" as a result of Mystele's "Story Telling Basics" Class....as discussed in the previous post with the first posts a few weeks ago on the discovery of the the BIRD DOG in the painting....which gave it a story....it may be my story of life right now. As I look at it, it has A LOT going on.... which is how my life is right now. I am always too involved with projects and so many things in different areas of life. I also live in a beautiful place with lots of birds and flowers and trees and solitude if you want it....and I love it.... HOWEVER, the Bird Dog is ever lurking to disturb my peace and rob me of my joy in Christ or try anyway. I know the Lord uses it to make me stronger and more dependent on Him. The Bird Dog itself is not evil because he hunts innocent birds....and the bird dog who lurks in our lives may not be a dog, but a person or circumstances and they are used by evil to upset the flow of peace in our lives. BUT .... he is small in comparison to our Keeper (Christ) who will be with me always!! The painting was fun and I got lost in it which I love to do. Time becomes unimportant when I'm painting or playing with paint. It is soo soothing for me. The next thing is I made two headbands for Pilar, age 9 who has beautiful black thick heavy hair and she is letting her bangs grow out and it is driving her crazy hanging in her eyes constantly. SOOO I made these two thicker stronger but funky headbands that stretch for her upcoming school days. She is also really into being fashionable (new) and she is artsy and loves hair stuff, but it never works for her thick hair..... hopefully these will. They aren't in her beautiful black hair yet, but propped on my knee to get a photo. The pink one is crocheted with chain of 62 and a needle # 10 ...then five rows, then sewn together and flowers added. The red check is wide bias tape with elastic sewn in the middle pulling slightly to gather, then joined in the back to fit child's head. The felt flowers are sewn with random design and then stacked and sewn on headband. I hope they fit well and stay in her hair. I had a thought of putting a long line of hot glue along the area that touches the hair(after it is dry of course!) to hold to her hair in better....??? what do you think?... not sure about that part... anyway...ENJOY and BIG BLESSINGS to YOU!! Keep a watch for the bird dogs... in your life.

PLAY, PLAY...

2010-08-13T01:40:00.004-05:00

Just some PLAY I learned in DJ Pettit's class with a beautiful Iris in my yard that I photographed in May or June....I really love these colors....flowers for me are a must!! I deheaded my zinnias today in 99 degree weather...HOT August and not much else blooms in this heat except zinnias....but they are struggling. The bees were all over a native white flower vine and the zinnias getting what they could of nectar...lots of very busy bees! This art looks pale here...it is darker in person. I may print it on vellum and put it on an off white card stock for a card...ENJOY....I DID....Blessings!

The Bird Dog...

2010-08-11T21:47:00.006-05:00

The unseen story....just paint randomly layed on. Above I saw the old lady with red glasses and green hair piled on top, and long nose. A big face at the top with maybe a mustache?....Naw.... The birds began to come out...NO PAINT is added at all during this process...only graphite or drawing...the shapes seen. little houses, trees, lake... Above a house, birds, flowers, SEE the Bird Dog on the upper right? More flowers, birds and trees... and the BIRD DOG that showed up... He made the story a story...click on pictures to enlarge... to see the complete drawn in story before painting.... The BIRD DOG..... That is the name I came up with for this developing story in this canvas (piece of wood). It is about 6.5 x 23 inches or so. I did as Mystele (in our free class, basic story telling) has been showing us and enjoyed randomly (with nothing in mind) laying gesso, paint, collage, and other items to add texture to this canvas. Then I let it dry .... then I sat it up to look at and to find the story ... one way I saw a big face at the top, but could never make the rest come out. Then another way I saw an old woman with her hair piled on top of her head, and she had glasses on and a long nose that I couldn't get away from .... she was there, clearly....but I just didn't like her or have a feeling for her .... I'm feeling old lately and it was just too depressing .... believe me, she would have turned out ugly .... really ugly .... so I searched and searched for some other story in the canvas and it began to develop! I saw a couple of little houses, a lake, some trees, a sky line, and birds kept coming through....lots of birds ... and flowers. Well, it was not much of a story UNTIL....THE BIRD DOG showed up! I guess that is why the birds appear to be still, very still, ready to take flight if he gets any closer! A little like our lives sometimes! Do you see him? He is small and pointing! OKAY, I have my story and I kept drawing in what I saw in the shapes and colors. NOW ..... this where I usually mess up a good thing!!! When spreading the "unknown" shapes and colors, I am really free and loose ..... BUT when I "know" what that shape is, ( a bird, tree or dog) .... I begin to fill it in like a coloring book and become tight with my brush applying the rest. Hmmmm ... I will leave you these without the finished product ..... and post the results later .... and I will also take any advice! No spiritual message here, except watch out for THE BIRD DOG!! Enjoy and Blessings!!

A SPECIAL VISIT...

2010-08-05T09:24:00.003-05:00

Monday was day one for a new online class with Mystele .... and I was ready to go with my little canvas smeared with paint. It's an excersize called "pulled" or "found" art where you randomly smear paint on a canvas , let it dry and then return to see what you see to begin the story in the canvas, which I did on Sunday night. Monday came with a call from Elizama, and I needed to go spend the day with her to advise and encourage her in her life's events. She is one of my kids ... and as we talked, laughed, prayed and cried ....watching her tenderly nurse and care for her baby brought the situation into focus with so much hope for her future with her little family. ANYWAY, I came back home that evening and decided to try and focus on my art class and take a look at my little smeared canvas ..... and there she was in the canvas!! The class is called "Story Telling" ..... so here is my story of the day with Elizama. Sometimes we just have to relax in our art to see what is there waiting for us. The scripture on the leaf, randomly picked from a pile of leaves I had cut out for a collage, said " Be patient with those weak in the faith." It was prophetic! The map signifies..."Where will they go?" The answered prayer for the story is that they have found a place to live, and want to have Bible Studies at their home every week, which Trini has agreed happily and faithfully to do! Trini, Maxi and their family are awesome!! ENJOY THE PROCESS!! BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!

NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY!!!

2010-08-03T09:32:00.010-05:00

Here is the new POSTER for the FALL COLLECTION .... it is all displayed .... hard work that brought back memories of having the store on the square in Round Top!! Probably one of my favorite memories.... working until the wee hours in the morning decorating with no interruptions .... allowing the creativity to flow!!! NOW if I could just paint pictures all night and still function as a person, I would be the happiest of persons!! Anyway, this is JUST a poster and to catch up on at least having a recent post on my blog.... I am doing some art, but nothing is finished and I need to get pictures.... It was fun designing this poster!....I may frame each poster I make and put them in my office....it is art too!! Will be back soon.....the new TALL sign is almost done...getting the 16 foot posts this week and the sign maker said next week it will be done....then I'll look more professional and you'll see the sign from town!!! I HOPE!!! BLESSINGS!! ....An extra note.... I have added two favorite blogs for you....two very rich real people who put themselves out there to benefit others "I Can Fly" and "Jo and Ted Stone. blogspot" . I love them both! They share their losses in the most Glorious (because it glorifies God) real way.... which leaves you rich with a special care that is available to us all. Thank you both for your "Lion Hearts". BLESSINGS AGAIN AND AGAIN!!! sherry

MY HOUSE WAS CLEAN.....

2010-07-13T11:05:00.009-05:00

A page that was cut out , then ruffled to add to the oval already with ruffles...I finished it all ....to stiffen....with a layer of mod-pauge or could use gel medium.... This above piece is my favorite....now what to do with them!? Below is my new sign that goes on the roof of my shop....YAY!!! My street sign will have more info on it....this one is to just identify which of three buildings on this 3 acres is the store! Yes, my house was all clean and orderly for the up coming Fourth of July crowd coming to my house. It was two days before the first company came and I had a BURNING DESIRE to be creative.....I mean I HAD to create something .....anything!! I didn't want to drag out a bunch of supplies, so I just used what was handy.....a thin marker, my watercolor pencils, mod-pauge, a cut piece of cardboard, a CBS catalog and old paper scripture pages, scissors.....and my hands! I was suddenly immersed ....in heaven! I just began to draw leaves and cut them from the catalog which had different tints of color on the pages and I added the same colors but darker.....then took the pile of leaves, glueing them down as I grabbed them randomly glueing them on the larger cardboard cut, gessoed heart ....then I formed a small paper rose for the small red heart with mod-pauge. ....still don't know what I am going to do with them....keep adding formed or "ruffled paper"...I think, until I know it is finished. But then I played with making some ruffled scripture strips and torn oval from a jelly jar wrapper from Spain....I just kept playing....I love the ruffles best and want to make more. I know this is not finished but I just wanted to share what I got to BE FREE TO DO BECAUSE my house was clean!!! THAT always motivates me!!! Enjoy what was done, and I hope it inspires you in a spontaneous area of creativity!! The sky is the limit!! Big Blessings....and Enjoy! .....oh!.....and there is one of my new signs for the roof of my building!

AMERICA THE FREE....

2010-07-08T14:09:00.014-05:00

These are in reverse order of the day, as it is getting dark here with the finale of fireworks!! My son, Scott, wife Carrie, and Peyton above and then Carrie's sister and husband, Janel and Dave, and boys, Preston and Andrew below....it was great to have you all!! Nana and Papa below....come back!!!.....the other Grandparents! Kids are never bored at this age!! Buckey the Longhorn will be retiring this year...we'll miss him at our house!! Thanks Bobby and Bonnie for the years of bringing him to park in the yard!! Are any young ones being trained for his position? The famous Round Top Brass Band! Cowboys and..... Cowgirls riding with true colors.... Transportation way back then...... ....and now.....Even this big truck, beautiful, got in the parade! Just like the bears and the banner say..."God Bless America" From tractors to hot rods... to politicians campaigning....that is a great freedom!! Go ABE. Hey!!....we are behaving and having fun....I promise! No need for CSI to investigate that here! YUMMMM..... All the grand kids piled on with Grand dad.... My hero....my sweetie! Children are our cherished heritage....everyone of them!! All of them!!! Each and everyone!!! Happy fourth....and happy retirement BUCKEY!! Here are some pictures of our 4th of July Parade passing in front of our house..... a yearly tradition in our town with family and cherished friends. Who DOESN'T seek "to be FREE?" Even, "we" who live in a free country "seek freedom" in many different ways. Above are evidences of what kinds of freedom we already have in this blessed Nation. I hope you will reflect and cherish the freedom we have had from the beginning that was also paid for by our veterans and others.....they especially understand what "freedom" is and to be cherished....some giving their lives for us to stay free. THEN there is another cherished freedom.....not only can you obtain it in the USA, but anywhere your heart is open to receiving it and it's eternal blessing! Many in foreign nations have it but don't have the "freedom" to live it or to share it or even talk about it without being persecuted!! Here is not only a cherished freedom like we still have in our Nation that so many seek, but the Freedom that goes beyond life itself! TRUE FREEDOM..... "...if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:32,36 Blessings!

THE "GIRLS" ..... my zinnias

2010-06-24T00:23:00.017-05:00

12x16, done using Jane DesRosier's (Gritty Jane) texture idea of paper squares...then painting on top. First coats and beginning drawing... A simple journal page....got Zinnias on the brain! Some photos of the humblest of zinnias.... ..... they are so beautiful, strong and complex in their design. Almost architectural and perfect. There are so many different kinds, shapes and colors of the same thing. They thrive on the sun to become so beautiful and pleasing to look at. After a while, their color fades and their energy is refocused. They appear to suffer and struggle when finally they dry up and their once beautiful, now dead petals blow away. All that is left is the core, or their soul so to speak....that place where the petals held on to for so long. Then the core or soul or seed head dies and breaks open.... releasing all the seeds of new life she was nurturing and forming all along. All along her purpose was to bloom, die and then release new hope for the future. Her cycle continues for an eternity... her purpose for living never ended. As the dried core blows away and the seeds spread all around on the ground, the rain comes and it sprouts new life in a tiny delicate green sprouts that amazingly being touched by the sun grows into a a strong, mighty and beautiful creation to behold. She has given her soul or seed head to begin maybe a hundred new beauties! Her purpose for living is never in vain.... especially when touched by the warmth of the sun and fed by the rain.....Go Girls, Go!! Two people I know went home to be with the Lord this past week. One was a loved younger Mother and Grandmother and the other was an older Grandfather and Father, also very loved. They both "suffered well" with great grace.... as was quoted by a family member. Both left many, many seeds behind, many seeds that were touched by the "Son" that had nutured their own growth and their own unique beauty they each beheld while they were here ... each one different but uniquely beautiful and so pleasing to behold. See you later "Cici" and "Ted"..... see you there. I can't help but wonder knowing we too will someday go home to our Father, if I will be able to "suffer well"? I don't know and so I continue to try and learn and fill myself with the Son and His Mercy and Grace. Also, now when I gather up and "hold on" to all those dead looking seed heads, I will still know and appreciate more all the beauties and possibilities I hold in my hands. But I will "let them go" so they can spread and the new sprouts can come. I have LOVED this flower since early childhood when we planted our own first little flower garden beside the garage wall by the back gate in hot North Texas as children. What grew from those first seeds has stuck with me all my years and through today as I take these photos of yesterday's dried seed heads. My daughter reminded of these references in Scripture as well....I Peter 1:23-25, Isaiah 40:6-8, James 1:10-12, Matthew 13:31-33, Mark 4:7,8.......Blessings to you! An additional note....I would like to link you to the Obituary/ Blog of Ted and Jo Stone, who we had the priviledge of knowing through dear friends....they also counseled us in our marriage and were encouragers in Christ and just someone you could always go to in honesty and never be criticized, but nurtured and loved through whatever you were going through. Ted went home to be with the Lord as mentioned above, but Jo is still here and will continue in her awesome God Given ministries to people! If you ever visit with me I will walk you through the awesome way she walked me prayerfully through releasing things from my childhood that has had a deep hold on me for years....I will never forget it and how my focus went to the One (who I already knew) but who delivers, Saves, Loves and never forsakes!

IT'S TIME....FOR ANOTHER FELT CUPCAKE....or should I say BUCKET!?

2010-06-12T10:48:00.006-05:00

My shoe beside it to show the size... The size of ice cream container I used....my favorite though is the small one...just right for a cupcake! Working and sweating in this Texas heat will drive you indoors under the cool fan....and so to rest my feet this last week I just had to get my hands on something sweet....yes, coffee and a few dipping oatmeal cookies or sherbert ice cream would do ... but I was really referring to the felt cupcake pincushions I made in the past. And I decided to try a larger version, with it being developed as I went....so very relaxing for me and doing this you seem to think a lot and maybe pray a lot. So being still working with my hands is valuable time for me.....and here are the results of the larger version of the felt cupcake (bucket/basket?) pin cushion. Here are a few pictures of different size ice cream containers that can be used for the base...I have only used the two smaller sizes.....but here is my process....I first roll up a rock from my driveway in a lot of paper towels or any paper and hot glue it into the bottom of the container (I don't use the lid at all...but something might come up....hmmmm like a flat pin cushion!) That needs to be done (the rock) to weight it down...... then I glue two or three layers of cardboard into the bottom void so it sits flat....which will be covered with felt....next I begin to cut and pin on the felt, around the outsides and trimming it as I go....a circle for the bottom. And I cut a large circle of either old feed sack print or another cotton print to co-ordinate with the colors....it needs to be a circle larger than the circumference of the top of the container....I sew a gathering stitch around the outer edge of the fabric circle and pull the thread, gathering it to make a ball of sorts (stuffed) to set on top of the felt bowl or bucket....filling in MORE poly filling as I go to get it really full and well stuffed.....I basically baste on or stitch with thread the parts together and then in the end I stitch/decorate on top with blanket stitch or decorative stitches (with embroidery thread) and appliques or rick rack to decorate it....and I do that decorating in the end after it is all together....you could do it in a different order if you like....anyway this one was so big I decided to add a basket handle with brown felt and then added a twisted lime color lining, leaving the fuzzy selvage which I think made it more twiggy looking....like I said it is developed as I go....which is fun for me.....SO here it is....now you make one and send me a picture thru my contact info on my website listed to the left....I would love to see it....or tell me in the comments so I can go to your blog and check it out.....I love these silly pin cushions...all sizes and shapes....very gratifying!! ENJOY and BIG BLESSINGS to you!!!

I PROMISED THEIR MOTHER I WOULDN'T...

2010-06-03T22:18:00.010-05:00

I promised the boy's Mother (Roma) that I wouldn't paint their newly renovated room a flourescent lemon grass green like they wanted....I talked them into light sky blue walls with just a brite green and navy stripe around the room...for their soccer theme. ...a house that just finished being renovated for a family of seven. WELL...you won't believe what color I'm now painting my new wall in the new part of the shop!!??.....LEMON GRASS GREEN!!! Also mixing it with some old doors I had....I hope those boys don't come over and see my wall color!!? Here are some pictures of the work we are doing for the Christmas Room, the Fall Room, and a Valentine area. The Americana and Patriotic display is finished and I'm breathing again! I've already had good response to having the Round Top Collection here with Showroom Status...that means a lot of examples to see or buy...and more people through the gallery! Here is some of the Spring stuff that is left and the new 4th of July items in the store...a big celebration in Round Top has inspired many of the pieces for this patriotic season. It has been fun to unpack and arrange and play with....and still a lot more to do to get ready for the Fall collection coming in late July and then Christmas arriving in late Sept....reminds me of when I had the store on the square!! And I have loved having more people through the shop already and we are even going to get together and have a sitting around and hook rugs day that I will host....should be lots of fun!!! Here are also pictures of my Mother's Day gift I picked and Dick paid the balance on....my painting from Mystele, called "BE STILL"....I love this painting and what it represents for me....and I showed it to Pilar who is my little artist....and she just touched it and ran her hands over it and then we talked about what "Being Still" might mean and then she got her markers and paper and did five pictures without stopping except to contemplate....I loved watching her and am learning by watching her express her thinking....I love all her colors and her drawing of the scene....she was in the process of making decisions...her own....something you have to do in doing art...making decisions....she has begun to fill in the whole page now after really looking at and touching Mystele's painting! Thanks Mystele!! I hope your Mother's Day was as special! Blessings!!

TIME FOR SOME PLAY...

2010-04-26T04:33:00.009-05:00

A busy week up until tonite....or should I say this morning!....since it is 4AM!! BUT...after watching a video from our GUT ART CLASS on tracing paper....I had to go up to the studio to play! It has been too many days since I last got my hands on some art supplies. This was just a drawing I had that I didn't like but used it to experiment with stamped tissue paper (I didn't have any tracing paper like the video suggested. It was nothing new, but just the right ingredients to play a little. I used Derwent aquarelle pencils, then applied stamped tissue paper with gel medium, then dried it, then played with the color using Caran D Ache water crayons. Just simple , but simply fun and wonderful feeling to play with color freely creating. Also I had two new visitors come to my house for a vacation!! They are cousins....Stanley and Stanley! ....yes, they have the same name! ....Even their first name which is FLAT!!....yes, FLAT STANLEY...'s are here for only a week! They can't get over all the interesting junk and old stuff I have in this house!! One of them climbed up on our old Ohio Buck deer head for a picture, then the cousin Flat Stanley got all excited that I had a toy antique house that he almost fit in!! THEN, Stanley discovered an antique doll chair that he fit perfectly in!! These guys kept me pretty busy taking all those photos!! I told them I had to work a little, so they sat by me while I sewed Montsey's curtain for her room and the other Stanley just had to pose in front of my art! He thinks I'm famous....I get a giggle out of that. I actually like having them around, does my ego....uh, I mean my HEART good! Tomorrow they are going to the garden with Mr Peck and I to check on the newly planted vegetables....they will get to ride the golf cart, my garden vehicle....Flat Stanley thinks he will get to drive....we'll see. Then they can give the miniature donkey and little cow an apple to eat. No, they won't ride the donkey, as he is not trained for Flat Stanleys. I'm glad they came together to entertain one another .... they are cousins you know! Dick promised them a ride in the 1946 Piper Cub too....it will be a long afternoon I think.... Blessings to you all....and thanks to those fourth grade girls, Montsey and Angela, (they are cousins too!) for sending me their Flat Stanley to visit us!

A SNEAK PEEK AT WHAT IS COMING!!

2010-04-22T20:33:00.008-05:00

We are busy cleaning the new room of the shop, here at GREENPECK'S for a new look and new goodies!!! I can't wait to have "MY ART" mixed in with this new product!! The "patriotic line"will be here the middle of May...so we have to get to painting!!! I'm putting these photos on with permission, so just remember the designs are copyrighted....but of course a flag is a flag!! I was in luck that we have all the shabby windows, doors, shudders, buckets, tables, old screens and old painted shutters and ladders to decorate with already!!! THANK GOODNESS the "rat" didn't force the "pack" to throw that stuff away!!! We are "packrats" to the inth-? degree!!! So thankful I have persisted in keeping all that expensive display...HA!! We have truly been praying about what to do in this time of our lives....the shop, my art, us going on dates, not worrying so much anymore about the future and trying to live one day at a time and really enjoy life and one another...you know, like the Pioneer Woman and her "Marlboro" man?!! We already have great people in our lives so that didn't need prayer, but I'm sure the Lord will send more! Dick said, "We really should keep busy doing what we love to not get old mentally!" Of course, I don't think we are old, just our grandchildren do....but what do they know?! Old people must really be cool because those "grandkids" always want to be over HERE!! God's special blessings to you all.....sherry

COMING SOON....

2010-04-18T14:24:00.010-05:00

Welcome to the shop!...at GREENPECK'S....some of the new items coming this week! Where your garden can bloom and grow....can't wait to get this on one of my tables!!...with real flowers in the little tubes... OH!...I'll have geraniums ALL year!! Email me for prices...or just come see!! MY BIRDS WILL LOVE THIS....I think I ordered four of these!! Wouldn't these be cute on a little girls wall, or your porch!? Napkin rings....I think I will put a place setting with my antique dishes and these! SO TRUE!!....and you can't believe how pretty the wildflowers are right now...we have pink primroses and purple wild verbena all over the back field....come to the shop and walk to the garden with me!! We'll pick a bouquet!!...I have free jars and water! I love this cross....and my daisies by the shop will be blooming soon! IS this sweet or what!? And I ordered lots of tulips to sit in the windows of the shop...the shop will look different....and I'm ready for a different look to go along with the art from the "artists" in there....Patty, Adam,Tito, Pilar, Peyton and me (greenpeck)....and more! I'll be open Thursday thru Sat ...10 to 6...or just knock on the door and we'll mosey over to the shop if it is a Monday or Tuesday! We have been VERY busy planting our garden and taking advantage of our beautiful SPRING weather! Our backs are sore but our hearts are happy! And the birds are busy with their nests too!! There is just nothing I like more than having my hands in the dirt....except for maybe having them in paint or using my art supplies! Where we live is a "special place".....a special place that has had a "special connection for sooo many people!! Like Jeff and Debbie" ......where it all started with a (metal) heart....now called "The Round Top Collection". An inventory to tempt you every season with beautiful and colorful items to decorate your home. Dick and I are pleased to announce that we will carry "The Round Top Collection" here right in Round Top at our shop...GREENPECKS. We will add it to our WEBSITE soon....email me for anything you have a question about. We are getting the first tempting items this week that are for Spring and Summer ..... shown above. Then the BIG 4th of July will be right around the corner with all of those items coming in MAY. We are also going to enlarge the shop space and get a new sign or TWO! We are both excited about it and are having fun planning for new ART as well and maybe a few other little surprises! I have still been doing the GUT ART CLASSES, although barely getting any painting done for working in the garden.....but I LOVE Mystele's GUT ART classes....and am working on more art for the shop! I've made some art paper journals (with original art on the covers) for those who like to journal and paint a little. There will be some rearranging going on in the shop too!! THEN wait til you see what will be here for the 4th of July!!....a sort of duplicate of the Round Top Fire Truck to hang on your wall or office or boy's room!! ....the shop will be open on the 4th this year...with our old original "Round Top FIRE TRUCK" parked in front! Well, have a blessed week.....I just wanted to catch you up on the "goings on" at the place here on our three acres...it is wonderful to have the store on the same property with the B&B and the garden!!....that way the grandkids are with you and helping too!!....and I've planted all my zinnia seeds....get ready for lots of blooming around here!!...the roses are already in full bloom.....so beautiful!! BLESSINGS!! GOD IS GOOD!...always has been!

ANTIQUE SHOW OVER....TOMORROW CAN BE A NEW BEGINNING....

2010-04-03T19:48:00.008-05:00

Everyone is packing up on the last day of the famous Round Top/Warrenton Antique and Marburger Shows....and it is quiet in our small town again...a little sad and lonely feeling as we sit on the front porch watching all the trailers going by with all their show stuff....and we are hoping they had a good show....and have a safe trip home. We had fabulous visitors, especially Kelly and Mandy, love you!...and we also had fabulous weather!! One of our new guests who is in an Antique Mall in Denton, Texas, Barbara, gave me a nice little surprise...the OLD print with "TEACH ME THY WAY OH LORD"...it is perfect colors and everything for my house! Thanks girls!! It should have been a present for Dick since he cooked the "scones" every morning!! I meant to get pictures of our B&B guests with their "goodies"...and in the fun I forgot, so I will post some little things I got on a quick run and some OLD FEED SACKS I have had tucked away for a long time....to some day do something special with. They are from some local Feed Companies near here and date from 1926 through 1950's. I think a couple of the big graphic ones would look awesome framed!! The cute little rabbit has a special message....standing in front of my bargain pillow cover from "Gatherings" in Georgetown....a PRECIOUS gal and shop!!! I did get some display goodies from her for the GALLERY....she almost sold out of her whole booth!!! The Zinnia wool pin I bought from Nina Miller...?(also a great artist!)....I think was her name at the FOLK ART BARN in Round Top....as well as the FLOWER PRESS made by the people from Colorado on the card above....these are dried flowers on the top of the press....something I plan to do with the grandchildren...from our garden blooms. They had gorgeous pieces framed with nothing but dried flowers...scenes and collages....just amazing things!! He said the trick is the special paper that makes the flowers dry faster leaving more color in them. Then today while it was slow I began to work on a cover for the GUT ART CLASS I'm taking....I had no plan, but we are to incorporate, sewing, paint, words...whatever comes....and this is what I ended up with....it is so personal that I put a frame on it and my favorite Bible story/scripture around it....on a brown bag background....the red is thick reddish yarn I zigzaged with loose threads, a painted collage paper and words I found to cut out....thus the red written part to complete what the brown words say....and really in my heart a celebration of what tomorrow represents for all of humanity for an eternity....He came to save the lost....enough said....have a glorious in heart day tomorrow ...and everyday too! BLESSINGS!!....and thanks to all the people who came to our little spot in Round Top!!....OH!! I wanted to thank Jinx and Nathan for coming!! We sure liked Nathan Jinx....he was a sweetheart....you tell those lazy girls they better be back next year or I'll give their spot to Nathan....teehee....missed you all! Jinx and Nathan have an Antique shop in Glen Rose....going West out of Glen Rose....can't wait to get there some day!!....AND if you ever need any silver replacement this is the place to get it....Antique Cupboard.com ....in Wisconsin....they have it all!! they stayed with us too....a long drive from Wisconsin!!

WASH ON MY MIND?....or Washington...

2010-03-27T21:25:00.009-05:00

When I finished the top collage of the big eyed girl....it was the night they were counting votes for the Health Care thing.....and then I was trying to figure out how to make her head bigger because it was too small, so on my art table were some map pages I had used in another collage and the colors were right ...and lo and behold "Washington" was the city with all those roads leading into and out of it....ha....I had to use it....and with the "Not so sure" look on her face....plus the advice of scripture...it became my FIRST "political" scripture piece...I just thought it was fun and so I called it "WASH....or Washington on My Mind". It also has that "Chintz" look....as well as the Mockingbird piece, from a Mockingbird in my peach tree a few weeks ago.....using designs from my old feed sack stash on both of them. The last piece is probably my favorite....it is the little feed sack dress my Mother made me when I was near a year old.....with the three little heart buttons on the back and her lovingly hand embroidered flowers on the front....the border is from from a piece of fabric that is in one of her scrap quilts and the frame is from 100 year old wood from a house made into a frame....it is big....this piece feels like my Mom's arms are around me! I especially needed that recently after a visit with my brother. This year I did art in too much of a rush....and I think it shows....but never the less there is at least some new things in the gallery, plus some individual zinnia paintings, and a baseball boy and girl on cardboard....but not time right now to get pictures....I had absolutely precious women yesterday and today...God really sends me his most precious girls.....we had fun and my heart is fuller!! Tomorrow, Sunday, I'm closed and going on a "date" with my husband to see the Blue Angels! A day of real rest ...no business......I hope....just give me a chair and a diet Dr. Pepper.....and my hat for the sunshine....(and maybe some ear plugs) I'm good for the day.....ENJOY!....and big BLESSINGS!

COWBOY CHINTZ...LOOK?

2010-03-25T03:27:00.010-05:00

The original (unfinished above) is on wood ....the prints are below...this was a fun, fun piece.... 12x16 ...my favorite...it is a little brighter in person... 11x17 These were done last month, Tallow Berries....originals are 8x8...the prints come with or without the antique German script on front...Mixed media on canvas. Here is one of the new pieces on top...and prints from it...I finished for the Antiques Shows in Round Top/Warrenton Texas....our famous twice a year l o n g show.....in the barns, the fields, tents galore, and front yards....from 77 people in town to 20,000 people....two weeks of pure junkin!!! WOO-HOO!! RAIN-SLEET-OR SNOW...nothing stops them from coming and having fun.... Anyway, I'm as ready as I can get..... with three more canvases to finish....maybe I'll make it!! I have prints of this one and the Rabbit below....11x14 and 12x16's....they are 26.00 each and the rabbit comes in an 8x10 too for 18.00. This one has zinnias around the outer edge ...all from my yard....the swirls are cut out from old Bible pages, a mixed media piece with vintage and new pieces...collage with painting on top of most....I thought it looked slightly WESTERN...pretty colorful!! Many people collect Chintz dishes with all the floral patterns and I love them mixed....so I had a "Chintz" kind of thing going....even with the next ones I'll post next week.....BLESSINGS and ENJOY!!

A GOOD WORD...LISTEN...

2010-03-21T01:45:00.009-05:00

She is finished....unless I decide to add more....! Great Uncle bub Carpenter, he sure looks like my son!! sorry Bub, but you are a rabbit now...for a season! My old mohair rabbit.... Cleaned up sheet music cover..."For He Is Risen" is taken from the word "PIANOFORTE" and then placed in the little banner shape at bottom and then shaped for the rabbit to hold as a banner.... Old German script...anyone translate? My Mom's glass bead flowers...added one by one to the rabbits head for an Easter bonnet... After writing about following my heart a few posts ago.....and listing this work on the ning Gut Art group....we had to pick a WORD for the March challenge.....and I had already picked the WORD for 2010....as "LISTEN". I didn't pick it because I'm sooo good at it....I picked it because I'm NOT sooo good at it! But part of the main reason I picked it was almost like a wish or request.... and it is that I WANT to LISTEN to God speaking more....truly listen and LISTEN with my heart. Whether it is in art or personal life or just in my surroundings...... I want to stop my brain from "thinking" constantly.....rest my brain and just "LISTEN" ..... on these TWO pieces (one this week and the next, next week).... I listened to my heart. Easter is near and there is a lot of focus on rabbits dressed up and baskets of pretty eggs and jelly beans and pastel spring colors. Who can resist such pretties! But I kept hearing the Truth of what Easter or Ressurection Day really means.... so I made an "Easter Rabbit with a Message"...of the true meaning of Easter and why we celebrate such a glorious time. Many people ask me for pictures or vintage rabbit prints..... I do have some, but never an ART piece that is new from me to you....so here she is! The process....was totally digital..... it is an ART form, you know. It takes hours, it is all about picking the elements, what tones or colors, where to add elements, about balance and composition ....it IS painting...."DIGITALLY". My first that was purposed as a painting ... all from my heart and head. First I started with an antique photo of Great Uncle Bub....then my antique rabbit's head....then the cover of a music sheet from my Mom from 1892, then some antique hand written script from an antique Bible from Round Top that had several beautifully written scripture pages in German....then the little glass beads my Mom collected from years past...added them one by one in layers until it all came together....as one ART Creation....from my heart....for you. So ENJOY this one.....next week I'll have the finished "LISTENED TO MY HEART PIECE".....with LOTS OF COLOR!! It is my favorite....stay tuned! Blessings!!

NEXT WEEK...ART!!

2010-03-16T19:24:00.001-05:00

I AM working on some pieces of art....so stay tuned!!

I LOVE RED ... and COWS!

2010-03-16T16:23:00.010-05:00

It is one week before our people come to our Bed and Breakfast to begin selling at the Round Top Antiques Fair ....two whole weeks of it!! So I will post a a few quick fun things before I get too busy. First is ... yes... I like ...LOVE .... red! And two RED treasures I found this week are posted here. The first is the RED BANDANA BUCKETS, which I will use for our big 4th of July Celebration, I found them on Saturday at the Jersey Barnyard's Gift Shop, an absolutely precious place to take children and big kids too!! Here is their website .... www.texasjersey.com....if you want to experience a heart warming effort to show real country life with dairy cows, goats, chickens, rabbits...feed the baby calves and experience the real life on a farm...even a hay ride to the dairy ... yes a dairy where they get your milk to be exact! And you get to meet "Belle"... the famous Bluebelle Ice Cream Cow you have seen on commercials. It is worth it I promise!! ... and as we were leaving ...the gals were going to do all the feeding!! The next RED thing that I found is the little feed sack dress my own precious Mother hand made for me when I was about 1 year old or less, now I'm 63! I have cherished it for so long and want to frame it some way . Do you see that she hand embroidered little flowers on the front (she taught me to embroider and sew) and then she even picked two little heart shape buttons for the back. As I look at these pictures I imagined her sewing them on and it is still the same thread she used. I just wanted to share my red things for the week! Then I am posting some pictures of our Grand daughter feeding the animals at the Jersey Barnyard .... I won't show it all...you need to go there... it was a perfect day!!! Spring is here!! We live in such a blessed nation and I hope you will all take it in and appreciate all the hard work of our ancestors ..... that made it what it still is to this day. Don't miss our rich heritage, cherish your freedom and share it with others ..... God's Rich Blessings to you all! Happy Spring!!! ....I told you ... the Pioneer Woman has done something to me.....takes me back to the good times.

A NEW BANNER!!!

2010-03-09T20:44:00.005-06:00

I took pictures today of my clean and Spring looking porch....I bought a bunch of flowers...(Gerberas and geraniums)....just couldn't wait for Spring....and the "Banner" above is one I manipulated for a new look for the blog ... the birdhouse is one I put a bunch of buttons on ...so it came out really colorful! My back porch is ready for some morning coffee time...and today I sat out there with my camera and coffee and a small grey bird with a pointed little feather hat (like a Cardinal but smaller) came and roosted right on my foot up on the railing and chirped and chirped!!! I was so surprised and delighted....it was like God saying ...."Yes, your porch is the place where you come to Me often...and therefore here is a special blessing!" This photo art above I manipulated for one of my new Cards (5x7) in the shop...is the same one but slightly different...have a BLESSED WEEK!! OH!....the painting I was talking about earlier is still waiting on my easel....it is not working out....yet!

Freedom From The Fear Of Man....check it out!

2010-03-07T14:32:00.007-06:00

This is what I heard from a speaker J R Vassar...at the "Village" in Flower Mound, Texas ....(look for Sermons- JR Vassar on 2-28-10 and listen to what he says and don't stop because the last half is the treasure!!) I heard this the following week after I wrote the post below.....do you think I was supposed to hear that?! YES.....and it followed along with what I was trying to say below....I scared a few people with the post below and I didn't mean to.....it was written in total sincerity trying to become more authentic and free in who the Lord.... who made me and what He really wants me to do!.....and to be sure I'm not fooling myself.....and yes, lookin' for love....Jesus' love!! Watch for the next chapter....ha.

NEW REFLECTIONS....

2010-02-27T03:01:00.014-06:00

This was fun....just playing with unlikely stuff while I was thinking about being FREER..... "free" photos from "The Pioneer Woman's " Blog...................................................................................................................................................... I recently (this week!!) read "The Pioneer Woman's" blog about her story of meeting her "Marlboro Man"....from "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" as she calls it.....and to my surprise I was "totally" captured in the whirlwind of her life changing events for the few months leading up to her new life on the prairie!! I NEVER read novels or romance stories.....I usually just read the "scriptures" which are as well full of adventure and real life events that change your life.....but why was I sooo captivated by her story of those months and how she met her Marlboro Man? I even talked to my Hubby about it.....it moved something in me that has been laying deeply covered by life lately....especially the last five years or fifteen years!!..... or more...twenty five!?!! I have continued to push myself to be busy with all the "talents" the Lord has graciously given me.... art, sewing, decorating , keeping the gallery open, taking new classes, learning new and wonderful art, stressing over the B&B days coming up and scheduling sweet people....sort of a dread because I feel like I'm constantly, mentally on a fast and busy expressway, having to keep my eye out to not miss the correct exits, so I don't lose momentum with being sure all is planned and organized and accomplished, and painted and framed and finished......and so I don't waste time to be able to get it all accomplished....never really relaxing....being lazy in a semi-depression...yes....but never really relaxing.....kind of how "Ree" started to realize she felt about her life in L.A.....in the "Pioneer Woman's" romance story.....she was young and falling madly in love with THE man of her life and a life she never dreamed she would be experiencing....ever in her life or in her wildest imagination..... and she became excited that she was actually being FREED from who she THOUGHT she was and freed from continuing to live out who she THOUGHT she was....!! ...maybe living a roller coaster ride that she didn't know how to get off of!! ....an OKAY roller coaster....but a fast moving one that had a tight seat belt that would be hard to unbuckle from the momentum and jump from! WELL.....the strangest thing has come over me this week after being glued to reading and absorbing her adventure of a new life .... and also of some recent events that have affected my life in a sad way.... sad for some (close to me, that I love) who have chosen to throw away their life....by not knowing when to unbuckle and jump out of that roller coaster....that seemingly exciting roller coaster ride..... It has all really had me reflecting this week.....as I shared with Dick..... I want "off" this roller coaster I am on and have been on for years......I want to sit and read a book and not feel pressured for time .....I want to sit on an expanse of a porch and look at the sunset....and watch birds for a "long" time.....I want to just take off on an adventure when I feel like it....in the dirty car with him, with the kids in our life....not having to worry about schedules, commitments, work, money or any pressing obligations.....that are mostly un nessessary. I want to visit West Texas where I grew up, I would visit Spain where I cherished my life as a 9 to 12 yr old child, but it's just too far and too many crowds and pressure of travel, plans etc......I just want to strike out in my sweats or whatever I grab to wear.... throw them in a paper bag and go.....just start driving, stop in an old motel,(do they have those anymore?) .. buy a Delaware Punch and peanuts and not be in a hurry to go anywhere in particular....but just to see the wide expanses of plains, maybe wheat, cows, lots of cows, smell dirt and cow manure....just like "Ree" does now..... on her prairie.....I grew up going to a farm, helping to feed cattle, haul hay, gather eggs, eat homemade wild plum jelly on hot fresh biscuits and maybe gravy and homemade ice cream and fresh fried catfish from the Sandy Creek .... which was usually dried up .... but they always brought fish to Grandma's to fry up....so there had to be water somewhere in that little river. It's funny....I haven't missed "ANY" of that for years!!!...... until I read The Pioneer Woman's blog.....and I thought how wise she was to follow her heart ......and I don't feel like I'm following MY heart anymore anymore .... I feel like other things, ....obligations are "driving" my heart and it is soo used to doing those things that it doesn't even recognize the tiredness of it all .....of riding on that roller coaster for so long....which has been great, but I'm telling you....it is time to jump off.... and just walk a little while. I'm not sure what all this means..... but I am actually TIRED of ART ... at least producing art to sell .... I've been doing it since 1983 and it has been an incredible gift ....to me....to others....but something needs to change.....I feel like it is all finally burying me....smothering me....and I need air!....MY AIR....not any other air. CRAZY?.....maybe it is my age ....? I'm way through with menopause and THAT has been life giving in itself! I want to GO somewhere.....where there is not very many people or pressure....I want to just be.....JUST BE....the child I am....and that belongs to an awesome and loving and understanding GOD.....I want to be FREER in HIM than ever before in my life and I want all things that are incumbrances to being freer in Jesus to be pushed aside....away! ....if they are supposed to be.....and HE definitely knows if they are in the way....I just hope "I" will recognize and KNOW too. Here is a piece of photoshop art I worked on tonight during all my thinking.....for NO ONE ...just enjoying the process and creative playing....it is me in my simple plain Vogue tailored wedding dress of 1966 that my Mother made....but with a new creation of zinnia (from my yard) petaled Spanish looking "flowing and frilly" dress that adorns my old bodice and adorns my head....with a crown.....because "I am" His beloved child....(by His grace)...... I am stubborn, lazy, fatter, mixed up, strong willed, tired but very happy to be HIS child...."thankful" that no matter what....I AM HIS CHILD through His Mercy and Grace ...and always will be......eternally. THAT is something I CAN rest in.....and I think He is giggling about it! I wonder what tomorrow will bring.....? Hugs to you all.....and thanks for listening....and pray big for those around and near your heart that are hurting in some serious way....do it right now.