Loves Old Boxes..............

I love old boxes. I collect them. Well of course I do don't I, what don't I collect right?.......well I have two old trunks to begin with. My friend Nancy loves to finish old furniture and she will finish anything she gets her hands on. Me, well I leave them "rustic". That means I don't want to mess with the smelly stuff and do all that work. So........thanks to Nancy I have a nice collection of nicely finished off boxes. The two trunks came from her. The one in the bedroom is full of my dads old army blankets and souveniers.


I find the boxes (and baskets) very handy to store things in. Better than plastic boxes and I can keep them out on display. This old tool chest I have yet to find a use for but the other one is now a laundry cupboard. Looks a lot nicer when I don't have all my outdoor plants inside.


I like crates, used for vegetables and other things. Good for magazines and books. Toy boxes in Tristens room and for storage under benches.


You can see the ones Nancy had her hands on, they are nice and shiny and polished. The ones I find are just rough. I do like painted ones though and like those in their original condition. This one (and my English box) have bird seed and supplies in them.

Small cheese boxes I use for pencils, colouring pencils, patterns and just about any little thing I want to be able to find. You can see the wooden barrel, yes Nancy polished that too. That holds a collection of walking sticks and my Dad's old cane fishing rods. I also see I have some dusting to do. Don't look OK.

Picnic hampers and whicker baskets are handy too for storing things. Of course if I were to get rid of all the stuff I need to store I would have a whole lot more space.

I also like small useless boxes too.

This is an egg crate that Nancy finished and well, all the things Nancy does not want ends up at my house because I cant bear to see them go in a garage sale. I always get first dips. Some day I will just have to go through my entire house and get rid of things. Sigh!!!!

Some crates make wall shelves, I have an old Coco cola crate and this Pepsi one and they are on the walls in the kitchen.

Well I know what I will be doing tomorrow.......polishing.
Sharing with Ivy and Elephants so you can all see my dusty house.
Also with Inspire Me Please
I am also linking up with Inspire Me Wednesday

Last Sketch Book...............

It is taking much longer to fill this sketch book but I have enjoyed it just the same as the first. However, I think I need to be done. I now need to actually do something constructive. I have a few more pages to fill and will take my time with those. I would like to try to do some ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) or Artist Trading Cards. I am not sure about selling them but that will have to be seen what I can come up with. I will get some ideas from my sketch books. In my sketch books I have used or drawn on other artists for inspiration. When I begin now, with ACEOs they will all be originals.
So for now I will post some pages from this last sketch book.On this page, the girl is copied from and advertisement if I remember correctly. I was trying to get the pose.



I enjoyed myself by drawing a few horses, I was in the mood for them for some reason.





Another thing I have enjoyed doing is Sunflowers. They are such happy flowers and a delight to draw and paint. I will be doing more of those, and bees, I love doing bees.

I also like fairies and think I will paint some of those after this. All my sketch book things were done quickly with no skill, I will have to do better when I begin again.

My naked lady got painted. I like her.

This one is an experiment in trying to get a masculine face that looks like a man. Hmmmmmm its difficult for me




I also enjoy drawing animals

Well thats just a few from this sketchbook, but I think thats enough. This really is just for my record when I print out my blogs. If someone enjoys them then that is a bonus for me.
I am sharing this with Adorned from above with thanks
Also with A Dedicated House Make it Pretty Monday
Going over to Ivy and Elephants to join those fine folks
I am also sharing with Inspire me Monday at Create with Joy
and with Inspire me Wednesday

Romeo and Juliet..................

I am not a big fan of Shakespeare really, but I have to admit to a few of his productions that I adore. One being Romeo and Juliet. I don't think I would have enjoyed it quite so much had I not seen it in movie form. For that I am grateful. The new sets and the big picture just makes it all so real. Last night we watched the newer version. Have to admit it was because I thought Romeo was "hot" ........

They are so very young. Nothing brings this into reality like the passion. The bravado of the young men. Then the reality of death. I don't think we can ever love like that again in our lives as we do at 15 or 16. I suppose if life works out for us then we marry that first love but in my experience there is not often that happy ever after and so the death of Romeo and Juliet made them the perfect love.
The only thing this version lacked was the wonderful music of the 1968 version.

The music was and still is incredibly romantic.

While listening last night to the familiar words, I realize how many things we say today come from Romeo and Juliet.
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;

My favourite and I do believe written on John Kennedy Jr's Christening cup
“When he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun.”

“Don't waste your love on somebody, who doesn't value it.”

“Do not swear by the moon, for she changes constantly. then your love would also change.”

“See how she leans her cheek upon her hand.
O, that I were a glove upon that hand
That I might touch that cheek!”

So many I would have to write out the whole script. It is sooooo romantic. More so as they redo it. The actors speak with real feeling in these modern versions where many of the stage productions are just acting.This newest version is the best acted of all. Well anyway, that was my movie for the night and I wanted to share it.