Sunday, April 27, 2008

Happy Days


“Until you have formed the habit of looking for the good instead of the bad there is in others, you will be neither successful nor happy.” Napoleon Hill
April 2 peas card sketch challenge to create a mosaic background

Recycled postage stamps (Aust) and Red Rose Tea (Canada) collector card all with the butterfly theme.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Patriotism


“Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance. It is also owed to justice and to humanity. Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong.” James Bryce

Happy Anzac Day for my Kiwi & Aussie friends.
Do credit should be noted to Albert Namatjira for the background watercolour of Papunya Country.

An altered book I am working on with the theme of Australian wildlife.

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. Native American Proverb


Sunday, April 20, 2008

Earth Day


Everybody needs beauty as well as bread places to play in and pay in where nature may heal and give strength in body and soul John Muir

You can click on the pictures for a close up, yes those are real branches on the page.












Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world Ralph Waldo Emerson 1903-1882



Two Peas stamping Earth Day Challenge click here to see more.

Sailing



No pessimist ever discovered
The secret of the stars or
Or sailed to an uncharted land or opened a new doorway to the human spirit
Helen Keller

Bon Voyage for friends & family taking off on adventures this week.

Sweet Fairy

There is only one difference between a long life and a good dinner: that in the dinner, the sweets come last. Robert Louis Stevenson

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat. Mother Teresa

A kitchen fairy from the Cassa Bella Projects.


Background is a recycled a page from an old recipe book, add a sliver spoon and toss with some craft fabrics and trims. Their suggested quote was “One can not think well, love well or sleep well if one has not dined well.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Where we love is home



Where we love is home,
Home that our feet may leave,
but not our hearts.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, from Homesick in Heaven

A hundred years from now . . . it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child Forest E Witcraft

Another shadow box piece from the CassaBella series

The background paper is sheet music and the windows are trimmed up with dictionary pages for the words house & home. Butterflies are cut from a cosmetic tissue. The screen door was backed with organza ribbon.


Almost running out of flower shaped buttons, if anyone has some they would like to share, drop us an email to propose a swap.



Monday, April 14, 2008

Ambitions


“Religion, art and science are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man's life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual towards freedom.” Albert Einstein


“There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Anais Nin

A little shadow box work.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Woodland Fairy


Come fairies take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame. W.B. Yeats

A little woodland fairy ATC to celebrate happy events.

Courage & Confidence


“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt

The photo was taken on day that the beach was closed to swimmers because the surf was too dangerous. The gulls were busy scurrying around the waterline picking up dinner and dancing around those waves that looked so scary.

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Enchantment


What could be more beautiful than a dear old lady growing wise with age? Every age can be enchanting, provided you live within it. Brigitte Bardot {way to go Bridgitte!!}

For anyone who loves a touch of whimsy and enchantment, Genevieve of Bella Enchanted Blog is hosting a Mermaid themed swap.
You will need to be quick to get in on this one as everyone seems to love these little ocean fairies and good swaps fill fast.

Crosswords


Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another. Napoleon Hill

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. Mother Teresa

Your know I just love classic literature and good quotes. Some weekends I spend as much time looking for good words as I do creating.

The theme for this month's Altered Book Challenge was ‘monsters’ and other than a Cookie Monster, this was the best we could do.

Our family has always loved a good crossword puzzle, it was part of our weekend rituals to spend time with newspapers and crossword puzzles. Both my parents loved reading for the sense of adventure, to learn about new things or places and am always thankful for their nurturing the love of words. After all there are so many good ones to choose from.

Do you think there are bonus points for scrabble letters used creatively upside down? And yes, that is a dictionary page that we are peeking at underneath.

Aspirations


Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead. Louisa May Alcott

Photo taken at sunset on a local beach.
Have a great weekend everyone.