Snow T

SO much snow here in Northern Virginia

great tea drinking weather

beautiful history making white stuff for this area

you can see the hairs on this mockingbird’s chin by double clicking

if you’ve been to visit my Magpie’s Nest lately … you’ve already seen loads of snow pictures

just can’t stop clicking

snow is SO photogenic

here is Buddha with a winter hat and coat

fruit treats for the birds

more snow is on the way today into Wednesday

bring it on

although Mr Magpie may have another view of the situation

wishing one and all a very Happy T Tuesday

you can stop by Kimmie’s Art in Red Wagons for the complete list of tea people to visit

Gothic Arches: Crackle

Crackle is the theme over at Gothic Arches this week

I have been majorly distracted with our wonderful snow … every window in the house has a great view of the white stuff

I am happy to finally get myself in my art room … it is always fun to make something

here are some of the things that went into my arch … thanks to Eliza I have some lovely Polish book text and a beautiful postage stamp … one of many she shared with me

the Stampendous Crackle stamp cube has always been a favorite of mine … hadn’t used it in a while

pieces of mica also added to the crackle look along with some Ranger crackle paint that I forgot to add to the supplies photograph … my arch began with some thinish balsam wood and measures 5.75 x 5 inches

natural light was fading so my photos are not as sharp as usual

“Life is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination” ~unknown

snowpocalypse … the day after

YES … more snow pictures

blue and white are some of my favorite colors

I am totally distracted from art

flitting back and forth snapping photos of nature’s bounty

I know there are those who do not care for snow

I LOVE snow … makes me feel like a kid

weather reports are saying we may get as many as six more inches midweek

that of course remains to be seen

larger storms are easier for the weather people to predict

they were spot on with this most recent winter blast

I had to stick my head out the door this morning and yell at the newspaper delivery guy

“You’re awesome THANK YOU” as he pitched the paper  … carefully wrapped in plastic … into a snow drift!

really sorry for anyone that has lost power

this view from my computer chair … is so beautiful!!! … I think I could fill up a blog with Snow pictures … I did add a SNOW category to my tags

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OK, just two more pics

Charlotte … these snow shoes are for you

Winter Wallop 2010

we are in the midst of the Blizzard of 2010 here in the DC Metropolitan area

it started … again … yesterday

I know these look a lot like photos I’ve shown you before … but this is NEW snow on snow

more snow than we have seen in many many years … still coming down … making history in these parts

… names like Winter Blast …

Snowmageddon

Panda Storm

weather helps to remind us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves …

winter tells us to slow down … go within … be patient and ENJOY!!!

Nature has no mercy at all.  Nature says, “I’m going to snow.  If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that’s tough.  I am going to snow anyway.” ~Maya Angelou

Have a HeART for Haiti

The lovely and talented Kathy of Amusing Muses … also known as Alberta … has come up with something wonderful that everyone can take part in on some level … for all the details and a very touching story … visit her here

even though Haiti is not in the headlines like it once was … they will need help for many years to come

I must again thank my sweet friend Estivalia in Chile for coming to my rescue … like magic she makes links appear on my sidebar making it look easy!  it is all a mystery to me still!

Thank you dear Estivalia … you’re the best!

I Love this quote from Kathy’s blog:

“Hope is the dream of a soul awake”  ~French Proverb

charmed from Missouri

one last bit of charmed QB5 mail for this swap … Nathalie sent her offerings in a decorated brown sandwich bag … a great touch

she turned her dangle into a necklace that has its own special decorated matchbox

she stamped “HOPE” on a vintage bobbin that is magnetic on one side and chose a beautiful elephant bead for mine … Nathalie just happens to have a few stamped bobbins in her RubyFloy Etsy shop along with lots of other treasures!

Nathalie’s lovely brooch …  available in closeup with just a click or two of your mouse … started with yo-yo’s … aren’t the vintage buttons great … one is glass … no one uses library cards like she does … such fun!

for a peek at what I sent Nathalie you can visit here

charmed from New Zealand

another QB5 swap envelope arrived in my mailbox …  art mail is THE best!

Carole named her charm “A Magpie’s Nest” … aren’t those the most wonderful bird bottle caps

Love the fabulous color combo she created with the glass beads and fiber!

and just look at the details in her pretty brooch … a beautiful blend of materials … you can click for a better look to see the precious glass heart and tiny key … stamping on fabric is such a great touch many thanks Carole!!!

see more about our swap here

Winter Morning

By Mother Nature and Ogden Nash

“Winter is the king of showmen

Turning tree stumps into snow men

And houses into birthday cakes

And spreading sugar over lakes

Smooth and clean and frosty white

The world looks good enough to bite

That’s the season to be young

Catching snowflakes on your tongue

Snow is snowy when it’s snowing

I’m sorry it’s slushy when it’s going”

Winter Morning Poem by Ogden Nash

we’ve been hit with snow again here in the Washington DC area  … snow on snow … with more on the way this weekend … the photos with the yellow glow are ones I took at midnight last night … I like the way they are not quite in focus … it certainly is a winter wonderland … a winter to remember … we never have this many snow events all in a row (more than 24 inches already this winter) … never say never … Enjoy * Enjoy

comfort

Linda’s first challenge with the Wednesday Stamper team is “The Past” … a lovely theme with many possibilities

WELCOME dear Linda!!!

I created this 4 x 4 canvas using layers of papers, paints and crackle medium … the flower is a photo from our garden last year … the little girl is part of a freebie image from Last Door Down the Hall

two familiar rubber stamps … a B Line Designs and my favorite burst stamp from Judikins …  as you can see it is very well Loved

charmed from Switzerland

it’s no secret that I Love to travel … the next best thing to getting out there and doing it …  is receiving ART MAIL

what a thrill it is having treasures from around the globe arrive in the mail box

just look what Margaret sent me for the QB5 brooch and charm/dangle swap … that colorful Kali image will be super in my India altered book … it is a little folded box of some sort

she created a charm/dangle with a wonderful blend of interesting elements

with custom colored metal crowns

and here is her lovely brooch … great colors and texture

the QB5 (Queen Bee 5) ladies never disappoint!

for a peek at what I sent Margaret for the swap you can visit here

Groundhog Day: Can Spring Be Far Behind?

there comes a time in winter when I begin to long for fresh cut flowers picked from our garden

tulips at the market begin to look especially inviting

resistance is futile

thanks to my little sister who has collected hands for many years now … I too have a “thing” for them

here is another of the heart button pins I had made some years ago …  similar to the one I showed you in my Winter White T post in January

so glad you could stop by for tea today

“The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination.” ~Ward Elliot Hour

… be sure and visit Kimmie and the other T Tuesday posters

*Happy Tulip T and Happy Groundhog Day*

thanks to a friend …

a thank you for someone who is always so very thoughtful and generous!

it is extra fun to create a piece for someone that you know will appreciate each and every detail

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the bird nest post card image is a freebie from Gaby … the lovely 1900’s lady is from Collagevisions

goodies have landed and more

my cards (below) finally arrived in Poland

thanks to LaWendula for a great swap partner once again … you can see what the lovely Eliza sent me here … be sure and click for a closeup view

we are so fortunate to have great mail service … I never want to take that for granted … where would we be if we could not send and receive mail !

if you would like to play along in the next Paper Swap … you can get the details here … it is a chance to connect with artistic and generous people around the globe

oxoxo

speaking of paper … I was inspired some time ago by my QB5 friend Linda and tried my hand at bleaching crepe paper streamers … this year I decided to try dying white crepe paper … using food coloring and some with red beet water

having the woodstove and ceiling fan on help dry the streamers quickly … next step is to do a running stitch so I can gather the paper and make fancy flat frills like the one I used here

where would we be without paper too !!!

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~G.K. Chesterton

Margaret’s 2010 Dress Up Project

the lovely and talented Margaret from Alice and Camilla has issued an invitation to join her in a monthly dress making challenge … you can visit her here to find out more about it

I was looking and looking for the perfect “wardrobe” to alter when I realized I just happen to have an old Mindy doll suitcase that has been patiently waiting for attention

the first dress in the “wardrobe” is a velvet kaftan embroidered with seed beads … it was intended as a Christmas ornament (World Market) … I could not resist it, especially on sale after the holidays … it came with its own beaded hanger

inspiration and ingredients for my first “homemade” dress for the project came from this doll that someone, long ago, decorated with satin ribbon and trims

here is the “winter white” dress I created … snow is falling here in Virginia as I type

lace look scrapbook paper …  recycled ruffle … ribbon and lace …  wait until you see Margaret’s creation … it is absolutely divine !!!

All are welcome …  come and play!

Special T on a Thursday

dear friend Lennie and I headed for the country yesterday … a two hour drive each way to meet two special friends for tea …  not as long  a ride as it sounds when you’re chatting the entire way

of all things … I forgot my camera which hardly ever happens

so I can’t show you the beautiful rolling hills in shades of gray and brown and the wonderful trees showing their ‘bones’ against gorgeous white fluffy cloud filled brilliant blue skies …  the fields of glowing green planted with winter wheat (we believe it was) … but I do have a few photos of treats that I brought home and there were lots … our friend and hostess, Judy Post, really outdid herself … her house and table were SO festive and lovely

tasty hot soup … gorgeous tea sandwiches … delicious scones … in special shapes … a wonderful selection of tea cups (Judy collects them) and a choice of piping hot tea … fresh fruit and more … Lennie brought primroses for everyone and fun signs … I got “LOVE”

lots of Love … tea cup favors cleverly filled with soap by our hostess Judy

Pat had wonderful tea cup bird feeders and birdseed for each of us … no two alike

Judy also needle punched snowman pins as favors … she is a master of Russian needle punch

we made time to stop by a great little shoppe in Broadway … full to the brim with lovely items … they hope to serve tea in the future there and have tea classes which sound really interesting

Judy generously shared some of her mother’s vintage lace and fabrics … some from the early 1900’s  …  Judy’s mother was an expert seamstress and dressed dolls in her collection in period costumes that she created … Mrs King also crocheted beautifully … Judy comes by her talents honestly … what a treasure trove of precious pieces!!!

lastly a great quote from a selection that Judy shared with us

“The tea party is a space for the soul.  You leave your cares and work behind.  Busy people forget their business.  Your stress melts away, your senses awaken.” ~unknown

it was one fabulous hen party … thank you dear friends!

five hundred wishes

Wednesday Stamper’s theme this week is “money” … any time I get to travel to a foreign country I always enjoy the beautiful and different look of the bills and coins

I used a copy of a bill from Hungary … if you click/ double click above you will see the closeup view …  not sure where I got it … as I have not been lucky enough to visit Hungary … yet

here are some of the ingredients that went into my postcard

I started  with scrap paper used to catch drips on my table top … one B Line Designs stamp ... the lovely lady is an image that was offered on a past challenge for Art Creations Friday

“They say that nobody is perfect.  Then they tell you practice makes perfect.  I wish they’d make up their minds.” ~Winston Churchill

Hope Ditty Bags for Haitian Children

heard it from a friend who heard from a friend who (with a tutorial on making a bag even) and I just knew I needed to share this with you … here is something you can do even if you don’t sew … you can buy a bag for the goodies

*image from Cat at Baumcat*

Hope Ditty Bags for Haiti Children

Tote bags with essentials

Put inside:
1 toothbrush
1 travel size toothpaste
3 granola bars
1 small toy
***
Then mail to:

Debbie Woodward
1500 Jackson Street NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

it is requested that you ship by the end of January

T Shop or Not

here is a peek at part of a local grocery store’s tea department… it is quite extensive … I was just looking

I cannot tell you the name of the market because as it turns out I was told (nicely) that photos were not permitted in the store … who knew!!! … it certainly had never come up before!

no plug for that store I guess

hoping your T Tuesday is full of fun surprises

won’t you join me for a  cup of my favorite homemade Yogi Tea and have a listen to some Jack Johnson

I so enjoy music where you can actually hear and understand the lyrics

be sure and visit with the other tea folks over at Kimmie’s blog

LaWendula’s Paper Swap: Cards

LaWendula has done it again … Paper Swap #3 is all about cards … I am partnered with the lovely and talented Eliza in Poland

her package arrived in Virginia today … I was very excited about the lovely “real” postage stamps on the envelope

little did I know that she had tucked lots of gorgeous Polish stamps inside along with so many other treasures

Postage stamps have fascinated me ever since I was a girl

*click for closeup view*

Eliza created these lovely cards … each with the nicest details

and just look at the wonderful collage goodies … cards with my initials … gorgeous playing cards … one with my favorite #13 … amazing vintage postcards and some precious Polish text book pages

thank you very much for a wonderful swap Eliza!!!

my envelope is en route to Eliza in Poland and should get there any time now

what a lot of fun!

it is a thrill to be able to connect with people all over the globe … for information about LaWendula’s next Paper Swap, you can visit her here

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speaking of fun in blogland … I would like to thank Jeanie of The Marmelade Gypsy for presenting me with the Kreativ Blogger Award … thank you dear Jeanie I feel honored to be included in your seven

58 can equal 13 … yes it can

my postcard is for the Mixed Media Monday “games people play” challenge

playing with numbers … I find that numbers prove again and again to be a beautiful connection with a special lost Loved one … it would take a long time to explain just how … each time it occurs I know it is a gift  … a touch of spirit

speaking of gifts … here is a long overdue thank you to Pauline in Malta for sending me some lovely lace doilies … I bravely tea/coffee dyed one and cut it into pieces

*click for a closer look*

the lovely lady is from Collagevisions

pattern tissue … crackle on the left is one of my photographs … parchment cupcake frill … ribbon … number from a dry cleaner tag …  metal rose button with the back snipped off (gel medium is such a wonderful glue)

“We sat side by side in the morning light & looked out at the future together.” ~Storypeople

Time for Love

this week the Sunday Postcard Art challenge is “Time”

the sweet girl is from Collagevisions

the robin red breast is from our garden

I woke up this morning with this beautiful song in my head