The Nativity

I wanted to share some photos of a Nativity I made in ceramics in the early 70's before my sons were born. I gave it as a gift to my parents. This year when we cleared out a lot of their things in the "Big Victorian Home" I came across it packed away in the "Christmas Closet".   If you gave it to them, then it was yours to take and I knew mother had no room for this in her new apartment. I believe I used metallic paints.

                                                              There are 18 pieces total

                         Their are 3 large Camels. one sitting and 2 standing tall  (8 high and 10 wide)

                  I set it up under our big screen TV this year, it looks great at night with the lights I've added

Mother had several rocks and quartz that she had collected thru the years, tucked away with the pine cones. I added the evergreen and tinsel tree and hope to find more white cotton to cover this bigger area

We will be attending the Children's Mass tonight, seems some snow is falling once again. Our choir always has the most beautiful music 1/2 hr before. And our church is decorated in Huge Red Poinsettia's and lots of Candle lights. Maybe some pictures to follow. We have a beautiful Nativity set up at the center alter.

Then Oyster stew,  relish  and maybe the Coconut Cream pie I've been passing up.

Wishing you and yours, a Wonderful Christmas.

"Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store or under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends."
                                                                         --Dr. Seuss.      Thanks for being my friend.

A Late ATC Post

It's been a while since I've taken time to post anything. Just haven't been up to par lately. Seems life just took me down a path in which I was dealing with things that must have brought me down to not being able to put my favorite words  to paper, or do my favorite things this time of year.  All very unusual for me. But blogger seemed not so easy to work with and best I not add to the frustrations.

I participated in a Christmas ATC exchange early in December and wanted to share the lovely ATC's I received. Each week I added a few Christmas decorations to our home, some small trees, a Nativity and these little ATC's seemed to make it all worthwhile. Thank you all for the fun.

                  This was such a pretty Angel image I received from Jane..elegant pearls and sparkle

        This is the Mother & Child, some Ava Maria notes, elegant gold and a sparkle finish from Karla

         This is the Holy Family, a precious angel in the background based on a large snowflake from Trisha

This is a little gift from Kimberly who hosts the always fun ATC swaps at ArtJoyStuff. Based on a piece of wood the wall hanging has layers of paper, fabric the stitching around the little Santa has girl, and adorned with a white fabric flower.  Thanks for the gift Kimberly and for hosting the always fun swaps.

I am thankful that my photos posted and want to wish  a Wonderful Christmas to you and yours. Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I may have a post later with scenes from my Nativity.

It's WOYW #183 PHOTOS or NO PHOTOS?

I'm hoping when I go to download a photo it works. It's been a week of research here and there to get to this point.

The STAMPING GROUND is the place to get involved in Ms. Julia's weekly WOYWW, (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday). Drop by and she has all the info you'll need to become involved with people from all over the WORLD, having Workdesks their share.

Oh, what a relieve it is...an actual photo, it took awhile but I ended up removing some old photos. They don't give real clear instructions on how this all happens.  It's a thing for more money if you want more space.  Pretty clean desk, I made a few gift cards for Christmas giving. Sounds like family can use $ this year more than more STUFF.  Easy for me too, but I'll end up with a few gifts for the sake of unwrapping!!

Our craft fair went well, wonderful weather here and now it seems life is somewhat back to normal.

Was going to load 2nd picture and guess what my message is back...How can I eliminate 80 photos and only have room for ONE to download.??  Very strange to me. Maybe it's time to look for a different  search engine and blogger.   Back to square one. Wish me luck. I am open to ideas.

Thanks for stopping by, have a fun time with WOYWW this week. Enjoy preparing for the holiday season.

WOYWW #182

Good Day to All of YOU,

It's here quickly again, the day to visit Julia at the STAMPING GROUND  if your new to find out what's going on with WOYWW  and the rest of us peep about people know the purpose, but have to visit to post our name and address.

I tried to load a photo of a few items left to pack up for our Craft Show Friday, set up is THURS
and I get this message  "" Whoops! You're out of space. You are currently using 100% of your 1 GB quota for photos. Upgrade storage""    SO how long will it take for me to figure out this message.

I cannot find my camera, I think it's packed, but I can tell you there's hardly a path to reach my creative desk.  I've moved furniture from upstairs, downstairs, I've Christmas messes everywhere and I took today and just left.. Visited my parents, did some last minute shopping, packed up some of my things into my car. I've played games on Facebook. went out for supper and now I'm here... AND so it the mess.
I'm tired, wore out and frazzled. I stand and look at the array of things that to be put in place and things that need to be hauled upstairs to be donated and I take a deep breathe and walk away.

SO VERY SORRY for NO PICTURE...will try to have things in better order next week and  will find out what I have to do to share a picture once again.  Overload.  My computer, My Life.

Have a great WOYWW, thanks for stopping by

IT"S #181 WOYWW

Oh here it is Wednesday, just before the celebration of USA's THANKSGIVING DAY on Thursday.

But I am taking time to participate in Julia's WOYWW  over at the STAMPING GROUND. This is #181 and so many more people join in each week. Click the link and she has ALL the details.

Have a desk full of antique wallpaper cones. Hoping to be created into all varieties of Tussie Mussie's for the Crafty Affair. Finding out my arrangement of the storage drawers is not very handy with my new set up. But I suppose it is good exercise!!  Have to assemble all the frilly embellishments and make some creative fun.

The other table has some surprise ATC's for a swap for "O Holy Night"  Hope to have them in the mail yet today.
  I have a small turkey cooking as Thursday my sister is having our family for the traditional holiday meal. I can hardly wait..it's ALL my favorite.  Turkey, stuffing, mashed potaoes, sweet potatoes, big relish tray, cranberries, scalloped corn or green beans and usually Pumpkin pie, but I think she said she has Key Lime.  WE go EARLY for a few Bloody Mary's.
All of our kids are at a distance and not making the Thursday visit.  No doubt they are doing the Black Friday shopping event. Not me..no crowds or power shopping. When you retire you can shop during the week and enjoy the surroundings and have a nice lunch and some quality quiet times. Life is precious.

Enjoy WOYWW, thanks for stopping by. In case I don't make a special Thanksgiving post. For those of you who Celebrate ,  here's wishing you and yours a HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY. We truly do have a LOT to be VERY THANKFUL for.

TGIF A CRAFTY BREAK

Woke up energized!!! Sun shining bright and MoJo is here:

Have a few little items for the Crafty Affair to share with you today:

                  A little bottle brush tree on top of a salt dish, 2 little teddies in snowflake shakers

                        Bottle brush trees with beads, tinsel , in a tart tin and on top of an antique jar lid

                                           
     A little angel from an old bottle, a tiny pincushion, a bottle brush tree in a antique heart shaped tart tin

Have a table full of Antique Wallpaper, with a project pending all cut to shape and waiting for glue
Was time for a break, a "little" lunch (DH is gone today), then maybe some pricing on finished items.

Hoping for a fun evening with sisters later. And a phone call from my sons would top off the day.
Thinking of the holidays and a little sad....Military duty takes a lot from a family but I guess we all have to be tough to get thru.

Have a great weekend, I am hoping you have the sunshine and warmth we are experincing for this time of year. Thanks so much for stopping by and I really appreciate all your comments.

WEDNESDAY'S #180 WOYWW

Julia over at the STAMPING GROUND  has created a monster. Over a hundred creative people love posting there workareas and peeping about the others creative spaces. Stop over and get the details.

My desk today is a mess. Time flies by and our Christmas Classic Craftshow will be here and I won't have 1/2 of my ideas done. And what bothers me is it is MY own fault.  No MOJO, no Christmas Spirit.

I found the reflectors at a resale shop and can't wait to do something with them. Most of the items here will be made into ornaments. Angels, some religious pictures and Santa's. Lots of tinsel, glue, beads, lace and metal.

Last week I spoke of my Ribbon Angels you can go HERE to see my post on them. I'm off to meet some visitors from Wisconsin and check the heat at my folks' home. Temps here took a dive...20's and 30's and we don't need broken water pipes.

Thanks for stopping by, will make my rounds later this evening to see what you all have been up to.
Maybe it will give me some Christmas motovation.

THANKS to the VETERANS

Today is VETERANS DAY in these United States of America.

I want to say THANK YOU to my Son for the sacrifices he has made all these years, while serving in the United States Army.  I love you and all that you stand for. A wonderful son, husband and father.  

. 

HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO EVERYONE WHO HAS GIVEN THEIR TIME and SACRIFICE SERVING OUR GREAT COUNTRY    THANK YOU SO MUCH    

GOD BLESS YOU

A Relaxing Sunday and the Ribbon Angels

A  mid-day HELLO!!

Our church circle hosted a Pancake Breakfast this morning after mass. So that got us up and at this cold, windy, rainy dreary day, we were on the early shift to work. So it is a great day to just be at home.

Once home I made some Potato Soup, which is simmering and no doubt be our Monday evening meal. Always tastes better the day after.  I also put together some Hobo Dinners or so called a

Boy Scout Dinner.
Place your individual piece of  foil on the counter:    add one hamburger patty, one sliced potato, a slice of onion, a sliced carrot, a small wedge of cabbage, 2 pats of butter, ground pepper/salt and fold up like an envelope. Place on a cookie sheet, at 350 degrees for 45 min. or til veggies are tender.  You can add anything you want or lots more carrots etc.  Make as many as you need to serve and each person has their own little Dinner in the Foil.  Always a good oven meal or in the nice weather can be done on your grill.

I wanted to share my Ribbon Angels today also:

 Two smaller ones, kinda my fav

 A little Elegance

One big, One small...they come in all sizes you know
And I truly hope they are saying some heavy duty prayers, as a close friend will be having a bone marrow transplant this week in Rochester.

My DH and I stopped at our local 2nd Hand shop after visiting my Mother and Dad and I just happened to spot these adorable little shoes

No doubt a Pincushion in their future.  Also the little white vintage gloves. Still in their packaging.  A few more shakers to add to the collection.

Thanks for stopping by. I love your comments and appreciate the time you spend leaving them.
May you and yours have a wonderful Sunday evening, snuggle up and enjoy your home. We sometimes take too much for granted. Prayers still for the East Coast.


Somehow my little signature disappeared it seems....a little day off perhaps.

God Bless    SYLVIA

It's #179 for WOYWW

It's a GOOD MORNING here in the USA:

My excitement for our re-elected President Obama has me off to a fun morning even though it was 2AM when I finally shut off the TV. I wish him and his lovely family the very best.

Then Julia at the STAMPING GROUND has What's On Your Workspace Wednesday to offer up to all of the world's most loved past time..peeping about others' workspaces. Stop over she has all the details.

The energy I've had this week has given me a busy creative space.

Getting ready for our craft fair I am working on some ribbon angels, in many colors. So there are beads, Christmas balls, glue and more glue, and a variety of wide to narrow ribbon. My little jello molds have proven to be the best sorters.  This project is helping me use up "STASH"...once I located it all  and had some fun time during our 2 dark, gloomy, rainy days I was able to accomplish quite a bit.
Will share them next week as they are not  being disturbed at the moment..It's drying time.

Have a wonderful week, thanks so much for stopping by, enjoy your WOYWW visits.

#178 WOYWW

Hello Everyone.
So nice to have some extra time to participate in Julia's WOYWW over at the STAMPING GROUND
A chance to peep about lots of others creative workspaces. Hop on over and she has the details.

I am almost organized throughout my crafty space, but have my desk in order to start making some Christmas crafts for our craft fair end of Nov.  This time I am hoping to keep things more orderly all thru the house so I don't have an aftermath mess.

I lit a Blessed Candle and said a lot of prayers for the safety of the people involved in the hurricane that hit the most part of  the Eastern United States. We were like glued to the TV all of the first night. Then today I
spent more of my day watching the Eastern Coast terrible storm and the devastation "Sandy" has created.
It is so very sad.. subways ruined, hospitals evacuated, people homeless and no doubt their cities will never be the same.And 24 inches of snow in some states also... most with no electricity for up to 10 days in some areas.
The 80 homes lost to fire will no doubt be the only ones with help as insurance might be available, otherwise if like the 2008 Cedar Rapids floods you are just out of  luck..and ALL of the historic downtown was ruined. and still has not recovered. Buildings being torn down and replaced and also goes for the Missouri River floods in Western Iowa and Nebraska last year..no help for water. No one carries Flood Insurance as this type of  thing has not really happened to any of these areas.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful time visiting WOYWW friends. That's what I'm off to do.

A Little Painting

I have been repainting some items for my crafty area that I have either had in storage or brought home from my parents house.

   A little sewing box found at a garage sale  No doubt for some lace bundles in my crafty area

 A little chippy, tattered shoe crate found at our local VINTAGE SHOP 1

 An old, old chest my grandfather gave me when I was about 8yrs old. It was painted black when I got it, then I antiqued it when I was 14 or so and my sister reminded me it was still in the garage. It was my most favorite treasure growing up, it still locks and I was excited about locking things up so my 2 sisters couldn't find out what was going on in my life!!!  But sounds like they peeked about a bit. Today it got its final coat of Cloud White and is in my crafty studio. OH did it hold "Little Treasures" all those years.

 The little pink chair came from our local VINTAGE SHOP 2...it was blue. The little childs cupboard came from the Sept. trip to the MPLS  JUNK BONANZA and it was peachy color.

 The old spice rack and silverware box came from Mothers Kitchen and got there final coat today

The little wooden shelf unit was a Chippy Shabby grey, now a cloud white was a freebie at a garage sale
The little childs potty chair is about 65 years old and was used by all 4 of us as little people. Both pieces will be in my crafty studio.

I also have a few things to finish off in Sage Green in the morning. I have one large item I am going to take pictures of and ask for ideas on how to clean it..It is a mess from being in a machine shed, filled with bolts, mice and dirt. Almost to scary to have in the house at this point.

I have some products to distress these but with our weather change it may have to wait until spring. I needed to get things out of the garage and in place in my crafty area.

Prayers going out to the East Coast, with the weather reports sounds like there will be terrible storms the next 3 days.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy another week by doing the things you love.

HALLOWEEN TAG SWAP

Early October  sweet Kimberly of ArtJoyStuff hosted a HALLOWEEN TAG SWAP.  We usually have done the ATC Cards but she changed it up a bit and I have truly loved the little assembled grouping she put together for me.

She included a darling clip made from a clothes pin  that was attached to the brown paper and orange ribbon holding our wonderful tags. She grouped 5 tags with a chain and topped it off with her little wooden  tag.

                                                                Just Adorable

 from Holly Moore                       Paper Pieces of Me blogspot.com

 from Caroline Ouzts Hay             cmoh.blogspot.com

from Michele           .                  askmichelesomethingspecial.blogspot.com

 from Michele Murray                  nookcrannygifts.blogspot.com

from Sabrina                                   no blogspot

I sent these to trade

I am a little late posting this, as life had some priorities and this got set aside. I truly love all of these designs so much. It is always fun to exchange, swap and have fun with tags or ATC's, or whatever anyone enjoys doing. Special THANKS to Kimberly for hosting.

It's #177 at WOYWW

Mid Morning Greetings to All of You.

I was a late riser today!!! Party'd with my 2 sisters last night and it is so dark and dreary today. One sister had an over the hill birthday and with all 3 of us spending the weekend out of town doing our own things, we thought we were do to get together. I am so thankful being able to enjoy both of them so much.
It's a foggy, wet, warm yucky day outside and I think it reflects in my not so interested, gloomy attitude
But over at Ms Dunnit's blog the STAMPING GROUND there will be a 100 or more eager to peep crafters just waiting to spend time visiting and enjoying some creative talents.

 My desk is pretty cleaned up...not working here!!  Still have lots of cleaning/sorting to do. With the very nice weather Monday, I cleaned and pitched items in our garage and worked outside putting things away for winter coming up.

I separated my 2 tables and the other I will show you next week, it is for more crafting with fabric and lace. This one I will use for paper projects, stamping, coloring and card making.

Now it's off to stir some beef stew and bake a few biscuits. Lunch time and  my DH never misses a meal!!
Have a wonderful WOYWW day and Thanks for stopping by.