Snail Mail

You have got to love getting surprises in the mail.

Stacey of Amazing Arts sent us a package of her latest release stamps for Christmas and Mail Art. Still stamping and playing but thought we would share these with you for now.

Thanks Stacey you are really sweet to share.

Friends Forever

“Friendship with ones self is all important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.” Eleanor Roosevelt

The photo is courtesy of Beachys Cape Cod as part of a challenge and she will be posting links to everyone who has participated at the end of the week. If you are into shabby or vintage or whimsical check out her Etsy shop for special one of a kind items.

This photo is of young girls from the 1930s in England. Could not really work on this knowing that a world war was about to interrupt any dreams they might have had about their future.

In the spirit of November 11, wether you call it Remembrance Day or Armistice Day or Veterans Day and Thanksgiving that is fast approaching for many people in blog land, these friends have been fast forwarded to 1945 when peace was declared and we hope their friendships survived. Added a little gold medal for their efforts.

The Pope’s Christmas Speach 1945.
“We give thanks for peace, but is this true peace? Or, is it but a post war phase. Mankind is now awakening to a realisation how much wisdom, patience and goodwill are necessary to really bring about peace.”

Tagged Again

Francine of Callaloo Soup in France tagged me for 7 random facts again …. It has taken me a while to find 7 new ones.

Francine's colourful blog combines the flavour of her native West Indies with a little French mixed in.

To scratch up 7 new facts we used prompts for the Fancy Simple Blog Girl Power Challenge this week

Real Name? Mandy

Pink - Love it or Hate it?: Rarely use it & only in moderation

Signature shade of lipstick, lipgloss? Berry

Do you have a best girl friend? Of course – world is not the same without one

Are you a mentor to someone else? Am humbled when someone says that but important that we all step up & do our part in developing the future.

Tomboy or Princess? Depends on the day

Are you a mom? Will always say my daughter is my best ever creation

Do you and your mom have any rituals? On my birthday I phone to say thanks for having me !

Signature Scent? Angel, mmm chocolate undertones

Favourite female tv character? Mary Tyler Moore, she had her act together

Have you reminded your friends of how much they mean to you lately? Thanks everyone for cheering me on through the challenges !

Back Up

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies with in us." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Am starting to wrap up this year’s presents of things we have been creating for special friends. Turning them over to sign off and wrap I realised how plain the cardboard on the backside was and had to give them a quick little touch of printed papers and trims.

Couldn’t have the back end letting us down, what about you, what is going on with your back end?

Happy Mail

Was blessed this week with happy mail from friends. Lizzy brought back this darling embroidered handkerchief from her travels to Galway and a lovely store called the Treasure Chest. Beautiful stitching and details.

Stacey of Amazing Arts sent a batch of new stamps for us to play with. If you are looking for a special or unique stamp Amazing Arts is sure to have one or be willing to prototype a stamp just for you. Talk about service.

Peace

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now;
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment
In peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.

Lyrics By Jill Jackson and Sy Miller, 1955
One of my favorite songs from the folk masses we went to in the 60s.

Photo from Saint John N.B.

Golden Moments

“Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived.” from the film "Star Trek: Generation

That was an abnormal source for me but could not go past it today. Moments should be cherished as golden opportunities. Tomorrow is too often an option that not every gets a chance at.


For everyone who asks, how did you do that, I will start trying to explain the different parts that play a part of the pieces we post.

The photo is courtesy of Beachys Cape Cod as part of a challenge. This photo of young girls from the 30s got me to wondering what dreams did they have for the future? How much did a world war interrupt their plans and where did they finally end up?

Details : Back board is a recycled hard cover to a damaged book. Printed the picture on to a scrap of canvas that was already roughed up and the splattered paint only added to the vintage flavour. Music paper for the back ground linking the photo to the other features. A lace doily was used to frame a printed velum clock face and sticker clock face. Xyron ribbon to get it stick in place as we shaped it, love that xyron. Delish chipboard letters for the title sponge painted to give them a soft texture finish. Metal findings as the finishing touch to frame it all up.

“Every moment is a golden one for those who have the vision to recognize it as such.” Henry Miller.

A picture from the port city of Saint John N.B.

Pretty Little Packages

“Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” Mother Teresa

Pretty Little Packages for my swap partner Wendy of Windy Angels. She asked for a theme of vintage fabric and the beach which has been the best fun to work with.


While out looking for fabric at the thrift store unearthed the most amazing treasures

Framed vintage picture of dancing islander girls














and a surf shirt that I grabbed because the fabric looked good, felt like pure cotton but on further investigation, has real French Finished seams, beautifully stitched and real wooden buttons. Only one tiny tag remains identifying it as Silver Surfer.


This old shirt looks like it has stories to tell, I could not bear to cut it up for the stocking and used it as wrapping instead. Good thing too this stocking is brimming over & bursting out all over with little packages of goodies.

Happy Mail

Virginia Woolf is quoted as saying “ when I receive a letter, I feel loved “ such a nice sentiment as we all feel better after connecting with the special people in our lives.

Today was one of those kind of days, happy news on the phone and in the mail box with fresh shipment of (fabric) maple leaves. Happy dance at my house.

Misty Morn

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T. S. Eliot

Foggy & misty mornings are unusual in this area and a real treat to be taking some photos without the sun glare.

Hopeful Pleasures

“Once you choose hope, anything's possible.” Christopher Reeve


Products courtesy of Magic Moments

A couple of sneak peeks for the vintage stocking swap with a theme of hope & angels.

"It isn't the great big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones." Jean Webster

It is getting to that time of year when folks are a little more hopeful and wishing for pleasures. Every year my dad would add peace on earth to his wish list.

This year we are hoping for a pleasant visit with family in Canada.

What are you all hoping for?

For anyone working on a wish list there are two places you should be checking out Beachy’s Cape Cod Cupboard has a etsy shop full of one of a kind treasures and hosting a little rak for a lace corsage & address book, all you have to do is post comments on her blog.

Anna Marie of Evoking Art Every Day is hosting an rak of her latest mini book kit.

Ancestors

To forget one's ancestor's is to be a brook without a source, a tree without root. Chinese proverb

Photo of an altered project I submitted to a competition recently with a collection of family photos, postage stamps, coins and fun things. That is a photo of me with my little sister in the bottom right hand corner. What a cute little smile she had.

Products courtesy of Magic Moments

Diamonds

A mini book I submitted recently to a competition, it was supposed to be on the theme ‘ALL About Me ‘.

Like diamonds women’s lives have many ‘facets’, daughter, sister, cousin, friend, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother but not one of these labels really says who we really are.

'Praise like gold and diamonds owes its value only to its scarcity' Samuel Johnson

'There are three things that are extremely hard, steel, a diamond, and know ones self.' Benjamin Franklin

'A diamond with a flaw is better than a common stone that is perfect.' Confucius

Windy Angels

Mary Anne at Follow Your Bliss is hosting a vintage stocking swap and my swap partnter is Wendy of Windy Angels who blogs beautiful slide shows of photos from Western Canada.

Here is a little peek at some of the accessories to her stocking that is still under development. The pink flecks are an opals glaze they look a bit more like bling than pink in real life.


"How you spend your time defines who you are." Oprah Winfrey








A quicky done for a holiday themed challenge, guess this is a little out of season but my favourite flowers are hard to pass by at any time of year. Used reproduction of 1947 David Jones Spring advertisement and vintage Easter greeting card, mounted on crackle glazed book cover.







Lastly sunrise in Pillar Valley



"Happiness,
not in another place
but this place
not for another hour
but this hour”
Walt Whitman

Little Treasures

When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another Helen Keller

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in Canada.

Thank you to Phyllis of Shabby in the City & Shirley of Reflections for these little raks that arrived on my doorstep late this week.

Phyllis manages to find the best treasures and sells in her own little on line flea market shop, sure beats rummaging around on ebay.

Shirley of Reflections is on the Australian Scrappit Design Team, some of her work will be on display Paperific in Melbourne. She made the little green Keepsakes folder and we must ask her secret for keeping all those letters aligned so nicely. On her blog Shirley has been cataloguing quotes and sayings that are a great starting point to inspire creativity.

Thank you Phyllis & Shirley you made my week, now I better get off line and go make something myself.

Days are flying past quickly and we are into October already, that means on the Bittersweet Site you will find a new rak just waiting for you to register. Jill has the yummiest flavours & scent combinations in the prettiest packaging, just perfect for seasonal gifts.

Celebrate Beauty

The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes
Frank Lloyd Wright









Photo of one of the little animals in care with mum















The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate
Oprah Winfrey

Is Chocolate a Vegetable?

Vegetables are a very important part of the healthy diet plan
Some of my favourites include
Carrot cake
Pumpkin pie
& Chocolate
What are yours?

Sandi at Whistle Stop Café has the most amazing range of products in her little shop and an RAK for those who are popping in to get to know the Whistle Stop. All the more reason to stop in and see what she has going on over there.