A Little Bit of Everything

 

Well, the "Williams Girls" (me, my sister Debbie, and our niece, Tessa) had a weird visit last week.  They arrived late afternoon last Sunday to a big, nasty, "Thunder Sleet" occurrence.  I don't think I've ever seen anything like it.  We were iced in until Thursday morning.  And, although we managed to enjoy our time together...well, it would have been even more fun if we could have gotten 'out and about.'  They left yesterday morning, undoubtedly happy to be going back home.  I sure did enjoy seeing them though!    Today I went to the Neighborhood market and brought home these beautiful tulips.  Pretty....and about as opposite "Thunder Sleet" as you could get.    I thought you might enjoy seeing them too!  (Thank you, sweet girls, for coming to visit!!)

 

Love this pretty pink color....and love the weeping tulips no matter what their color.   I wanted to say that I actually crocheted that tablecloth one summer when my kids were small...five and six.  It took me six weeks....and there has not been another.  I'm proud of it.  And, you know what, it seems like yesterday!

 

 A close-up of one of the tulips.  Don't you think pink and yellow look just great together?  I love roses sharing those colors also. 

Tessa just graduated from college recently...degrees in ceramics and photography.  She made this bottle and I treasure it.  Hoping she finds a job and gets to do what she loves....I wish that for everyone, don't you?    I found this 6" x 6" canvas at the flea market...recently.  It's parked here until I figure out where I really want it.  The greens in these items just made it really stand out.   And, the sentiment, given past history at my house, made this piece extra meaningful to me. 

 

This is a Kelly Rae Roberts print....I have shown my little collection on the blog before.  My daughter has given me several pieces of Kelly Rae's work.  (Funny that my daughter's name is Kelly also!)  I may show you those again pretty soon...and this one may join the others OR be placed somewhere else in my home or studio...who knows...as you know....my mind changes often.  However, I will love this piece where ever it lands here.  Remember to breathe deeply....and enjoy the little (and very big) things of life while you are doing it.  You never appreciate them until you don't have them any more.  By the way, you can visit Kelly Rae and read her blog if you click here. 

 

My daughter and her husband were eating chips with a sandwich week before last.  She reached in the bag and pulled this potato chip out.  Crazy, huh?  Rick said, "Call your mother!"  So, they saved it for me.  I guess you can find a heart shaped thing just about anywhere!

 

No kidding...I think it's pretty neat.

  

One more little thing.....bought this big old spoon at the flea with the intention of doing this very thing....using it as a 'dipper' for a bowl of buttons.   This bowl is ten or twelve inches across.  Lots of buttons.  One of my biggest pleasures...finding them any and everywhere.  Wanted some color in the bowl, so added the Christmas red Cardinal salt and pepper shakers I bought at WallyWorld for the holidays.  Pretty cute, I do believe.  The spoon is extra big...almost like a shovel!

 

So, there is what I call "a little bit of everything."  From flowers, to buttons, to artwork, to potato chips.  Never know what you might find at my place!  Y'all stay warm, safe, and have some fun.  See you soon.  Big hugs, pat

PS.  Are you as annoyed by the time change as I am?

"Art Girls"....Some of My Favorite Things

This is a photo of our 'front' bathroom....and for some reason unbeknownst to me....I decided today was a good day to show you these photos.  These are some of what I call my "Art Girls."  Most of them created by two of my favorite bloggers.  So, let me tell you about them.  Actually, you probably already know these artists, but you may not have seen these particular pieces.

This first small piece was painted by one of my favorite bloggers...Sharon Tomlinson.  I love her wonderful faces.  This one is an original and was painted on a 'page' from a child's board book.  Don't you love her too? 

Then, there is this beauty....another of Sharon's original pieces.  I just had to have her....Sharon taught me how to use decorative paper napkins in mixed media pieces.  And, gave me encouragement in trying that technique out for myself.  I am grateful, as I've enjoyed many hours 'playing around' with lovely paper and paper napkins.  If you've never visited her blog....you will learn something from her and enjoy it too....so why not check out what she does HERE.  Sharon lives not very far from where I grew up....tell her I sent you.  You will love her faces too!

These two pieces were created by Kelly Rae Roberts.  My daughter knows I love Kelly Rae's artwork, which is licensed and found in stores everywhere....so occasionally, I am gifted with a piece of her work.  Lucky me!!!  And, I also like it because my own daughter is also named Kelly! You can read all about Kelly Rae and her work Here.

This beautiful mirror was given to me by my daughter for Christmas.  It's quite wonderful...and I just had to hang it in this room with the other 'art girl' pieces...even though this one doesn't have a girl on it.  I love it hanging here and think the knobs are just great and the perfect place to hang some 'jewels.'  Reflected in the mirror is the opposite side of the vanity in this bathroom...more on that as we go.   This piece makes me smile....and I really enjoy the green frame around the mirror....as you all know...it's my favorite color~

This piece is one of my own creations.  Not on the level of Sharon's and Kelly's....but helped along by the inspiration I have received from their work.  Scrapbooking paper, text from a book or two, paper napkin roses, and vines hand drawn....I did enjoy making this.  Oh, the heading..."Thursday, April 16, 1916", was taken from a vintage ledger from my son-in-law's family store.  There were several ledgers...some over a hundred years old.  My son-in-law has kept the really nice ones for safekeeping, but there were some that were falling apart...those he gave to me.  I have used pieces of them on several different canvases so far.

 

This piece was such fun for me to create....just playing around with my chosen 'ingredients' and seeing what I could come up with.  I even used crystals for this lady's earrings.

  

This small piece of Kelly Rae's is so cute.  Another gift. 

As you may remember, around here, they call me the Queen of Everything.

A close up of this dear girl....Sharon...so inspiring!!

And, the Butterfly lady again....my name for her, not Sharon's.  She's quite lovely....I wonder what she is thinking?

 And, again...the mirror.  such FUN!!!

 Another girl from Kelly Rae.....delightful!  I also love the colors she has used.

 

This one is just great......and reminds me of Valentine's Day!!!   Love that tiny heart!

 

 Now these have nothing to do with the Art Girls....they just exist in the same room with them. And, since they appear in the same photo at the beginning of this post...though I'd show them too, as they truly are some of my 'favorite things' too.

 

 A little 'birdbath' with a tiny glass cloche....holding things dear to my heart.  That tiny handmade basket was given to me long, long ago by a friend.....no longer here, but not forgotten.  Little handstitched buttons there too.....so vintage...so sweet and delicate!  LOVE!

In my house (and out in my backyard studio also) you will find buttons in all kinds of containers and in all kinds of odd places.  I discovered this old jar a while back in my local flea market.....it just screamed 'buttons' to me!

And, this is the view in that mirror - given to me by my friend, Jim.  A lady embroidering.  Now, where would he have gotten that idea?

This little girl just had to be hung in this room with all my 'art girls.'  She's an old print...yes, from the flea market.  She reminds me of my niece, Gina.  A grown-up now...but I still see her in my mind at this age.  Both are beautiful!  And, yes, a real bird nest....and egg!

So, there you are!  Two of my favorite artist's work....for me to see as often as I'd like....wonderful!

Visit their blogs...you'll enjoy the visit!!!  Take care, pat