This part of my blog is all about the things I collect or the things I make myself. I love so many things, I paint and draw and want to learn oils and pastels. I knit and crochet but want to learn tatting. I embroider and can turn my hand to most things given a chance. So much still to learn and do. I live in hope of some day reading all my books, learning all I want to learn and now I am learning to blog. You will often find my original poems, poor as they are I offer them here. I also appreciate other people art and will feature things I find that I have enjoyed. That includes pictures of fairies and fantasy or maybe just anything beautiful.
I try to use my own photo's as much as possible, sometimes I borrow from the web. If I inadvertently use your picture without giving credit, please do let me know and I will either credit or remove it, I hope you will do the same with mine.
If you wish to leave comments on my blog you can do that by joining google if you do not have a blog yourself, please comment if you can I appreciate that.


Sunday, December 29, 2013

Fairy folks..........

I have been busy looking for pictures to keep on my new computer. I have always been fascinated by fairy folks. They are so incredibly beautiful.
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They inspire peoples imagination. They inspire creativity. They inspire art and crafts.
So, here to enjoy are a few of my favourites.A walk in the glades of the woodlands you may see something unexpected
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The art of fairy, is so beautiful. They can be naked without being crude because they are fantasy creatures. Tiny little beings that flit hither and yon.
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Hiding under the toadstalls and among the blades of grass
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They are so small they can sleep in a birds nest among the eggs, or sit upon a finger
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They love the Beck and the banks of the streams to sit among the flowers.
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Do you think about the fairy folk as you walk among the flowers, and you come across a fairy ring in the open meadow.
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Fairies sitting on a mushroom or toadstall maybe? Were they dancing all night? and sleeping the day away after the sun comes up?
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Just a sweet few of my pictures. The artists are awesome and I love to try to emulate them. In no way can I even come close......... but the fun is in the looking.Enjoy these and soon some more.
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Saturday, December 21, 2013

Less sparkle and glitter this year..........

This year I didn't do much in the way of decorating. I have Tristen and he is into everything and as I do NOT want everything broken or taken and hidden I decided to go less. I couldn't help it but I have bought 3 small trees. I figure next year I can use them in other rooms. I wanted them anyway so got them this year.
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Simple but sparkly.......the balls I bought are plastic. Not like the nice old ones I have but still pretty. I have them all in dishes and glasses to just sit around and look cute.Some simple things to do is to put fake flowers, poinsettias and gold twigs in the plants you already have. Changes the look totally.
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The small balls in a glass bowl instead of a candle
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I used my cake stands and dishes to put the rest in.
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Ah well its not my best effort. I admit it. I do have a couple of new Santas sitting around and a new snowman. I figure if I get too many the older not so cute ones will go on the front porch next year. You can decorate the house without a lot of involvement or expense. In the beginning I would go to thrift shops and pick up a lot of holly and ribbons. Wreaths too are great to replace pictures. Normally all my pictures come down and are replaced by Christmas things.
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I have collected things over the years so that I can do that. For example, a couple of needlepoint pictures that are so pretty I don't know how people can get rid of things people put so much work into. Well they have a happy home with me now. I rescue cute things all summer. Next year I will go all out. This year, too much else to do. Maybe I better get the Christmas dishes out this year. I did at least change out the coffee mugs for Christmas ones.
I also have my Santa Crow from Magic Love Crows sitting in a prominant place on the bookshelves. Once I get the nuts and treats sitting around it will look like Christmas.




Saturday, December 14, 2013

Angels from Craftymoose.............

I have been shopping on Etsy at one of my favourite places. Craftymoose. I just got these adorable Angels in the mail today.
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I asked for 3 of them and Debbie made me 3. Here they are. She is very talented and pays so much attention to details. They are so well made.
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I bought them as gifts but I am keeping one for myself. See the little crowns in their hair
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They are quite large and stand on their own. The ball is filled with some kind of tinsel stuff that shines. They have a collar and a wired ribbon for wings.
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I have bought other things at Debbies shop and have loved everything that I have bought. She is very nice and talented too. See her things on Etsy
https://www.etsy.com/shop/craftymoose
I think I have posted some of the beaded flowers that I bought before. They were just beautiful and so much detail. Do visit the shop when you can, and these things are unique and make wonderful gifts.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Christmas is for children.................

I suppose most of our good Christmas memories come from childhood. I never really believed in Father Christmas, except maybe for a couple of years. I knew my parents bought the gifts because I always found them. I suppose before that I may have.
I do remember sitting in my bedroom window watching through the frosty pane, looking at the sky and waiting.
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Well I never did see him. I know I fell asleep. Did I fall asleep looking out the window and Mum laid me down? Or did I give up and take a nap?
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Some years I would awake to find the gifts on the end of my bed. That year I really did wonder. Usually though, probably as I got older, we would open our gifts Christmas morning and later yet, on Christmas eve so we could sleep in.
I know now my parents tried to sleep in, and by putting the gifts on the end of the bed it would keep me in there and playing. No. How dumb was that idea. First thing was to share the fact that Santa came never mind the gifts. I dont think they got to sleep in until I was old enough that I would prefer to sleep in.

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For me, looking back it was the later years that come to mind. Family. I loved that the house was a bustle of friends and neighbours and family all stopping by.Everyone got a drink and probably a mince pie. Mum made the very best pastry. I have never had anything like it, hers was different. I have never experienced anyone else's like it or bought anything like it.
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We didn't have much but Mum always had a couple of bottles of Sherry, maybe Port and lemon and a drop of the hard stuff for the men. Whiskey usually.
She would make her mince pies and some fairy cakes and usually Scottish shortbread and cheese straws. In any case everyone enjoyed themselves. In those days most people walked everywhere so a nice drink at each stop was welcome. Then the walk down to the pub, everyone invited. A jolly group that I joined as I got older. Fun times with my uncles, granddad and dad. The women of course were all home cooking. Just the neighbour ladies would pop in for a nip and to try the pies. After dinner I would go into next door and put up with Charlie Mac's gropes and kisses and a glass of sherry. Mrs Mac and the girls didn't bat an eye but I know he embarrassed us all. Me, I was not offended and took it in my stride with an eye roll and gentle reprimand. I guess I thought thats what men did. That was my experience of any but my dad anyway................Charlie got merry when he drank and sang. Yeah, time to go back home the men would have finished their nap by them and the ladies got to clean up so it was dish washing time next. Then to take another look at the gifts.
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The men would be laying around with their silly paper hats from the Christmas crackers. Snores and hands around their full bellies. Took ages to do the dishes but with Mum, me, my aunt and grandma it was not so much of a chore.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Christmas glitter........

Apart from the deep meaning of Christmas which is first and foremost the whole reason for the season, I must admit I love the glitter. The Magic.
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The lighted up houses and trees.
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The beauty and glitter, the candles and tinsel.......its all so lovely. What on any other occasion would seem maybe tacky, it just looks right.
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The tree decorations for me, take me back to other times. Memories of friends and family no longer here. I have several ornaments from my childhood and some that were gifts of people who are gone.
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It remains my favourite time of year.
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