messy Tea

life is messy sometimes…there is no getting around it…many years ago a young couple across the street was given  a nice sized tree as a house warming gift…

they proudly planted it in their front yard anticipating the shade it would provide in the years to come…the tree grew and grew way past the second story of their house…

the couple divorced and moved away…

not long after the new owners moved in the tree had matured enough to start making pods…

curvy brown pods… some almost a foot long….lots of them every autumn…you don’t even know they are there until the leaves fall..

the present owner is contemplating chopping the tree down…

I am a huge fan of trees…and marvel at them every day…but I must confess I’ve had my moments of not Loving this particular tree…the wind blows the rattly pods into our yard and all down the gutters edge…

we sweep and rake them again and again each autumn filling several large bags before they finally all fall down…

the neighbor has his work cut out for him…with LOTS more than that to deal with…I have tried to see the beauty in them…

they are a nice shape…I fondly call them “poop pods”…oh my…who said that…not sure if the tree is some sort of Locust…

it took a rest last year and there were no pods…we were all overjoyed…so maybe it deserves a chance if it is only going to be a pain every other year from now on…

as I was raking a bunch yesterday I had the idea that they might look nice sprayed gold…we could add them to the greens we put outside for the holidays…I couldn’t find the gold paint…

this red is not really doing it for me…

not a big fan of spray paint anyway…this can is probably ten years old at least…I tried to find some redeeming quality but off to the city compost heap they will go…

happy last T Tuesday in November…I am enjoying a cup of homemade Yogi tea with the rain gently falling outside…trying to find my *twinkle*…

won’t you join us for tea over at Kimmie’s…there are more bloggers that join in…you don’t even need to drink tea

“Optimism is a kind of heart stimulant – the digitalis of failure” ~Elbert Hubbard

Six Players: Tree of Life…remembering Gina Wise

Duane’s theme for his book is TREES…I was inspired by Gustav Klimt’s 1909 Tree of Life and decided to draw my version of a Klimt tree…

I am not one to draw much…a bit of doodling is usually it…

my tree was created on 9 x 12″ piece of 140lb watercolor paper washed with walnut ink…

I went over my drawing again and again using pencil…paint…metallic markers…chalks and gold krylon pen…

as a finishing touch I added one of my wire bird nests…I was pleased with the results…

because of playing with this piece for Duane…I was inspired to create a Klimt dress for Margaret’s November Dress Up challenge earlier this month…

had to wait until Duane received his tree to tell you the rest of the story…he will be folding the page and adding it to a star book he is creating for his Six Players swap pieces…

~*~

on a somber and very sad note…one of our Six Players…the very creative and talented Gina Wise passed away suddenly…even though I only knew Gina through our swap group and the wonderful pages she created for my India theme…I have not been able to stop thinking about her…

she has reminded me of the impact that our creativity can have…

touching people we’ve never actually “met”…

enriching them with generosity and kindness…

this is the tag she had sent along with my India pages…

front and back…

her theme for the Six Players swap was WHITE…

my heart goes out especially to Gina’s Mother and family…it is so out of time for a parent to have to bury a child of any age…

Gina touched my life ever so briefly and yet…

I will not forget her…

prayers and healing to all those left behind…

this life is so very fragile and precious…

tell someone you Love them…

Peace * Love and Light to all … Be Well oxo

paper gift bags

all thanks to Terri at Pringle Hill Studio for sharing Robin-Marie Smith’s video on how to transform a humble paper bag into something so much more…I got busy and made a slew of them…using mostly lunch bag size (5 1/8 x 3 1/8 x 10 5/8 in…13 x 7.9 x 27 cm)…

a very nice way to use up scraps of fabric…paper and lace…bits of this and that…

there is an opening at the top where you could slip in a little gift or card or

add ribbon to make a hanging pouch even…there is something so relaxing about sewing willy nilly with no worries about straight lines or if it matches…feels good to just play

thankful smiles…

with waves of gratitude and Brightest of Blessings to all…

just had to post this fun video that our youngest son shared with us…

thought I’d also share our Thanksgiving Grace with you again this year:

“As we gather together today, may we appreciate this food and remember those who are hungry,

May we appreciate our family and friends and remember those who are alone,

May we appreciate our health and remember those who are not well,

May we appreciate the freedoms we have and may there be Peace on Earth,

Bless the hands that prepared this feast

Bless those present and absent ones as we give thanks for all the unknown blessings already on their way.”      oxo

Casino de Paris

this week’s theme at Wednesday Stamper is “pointy hats”…I went into my Tallulah file and found this Paris dancer who fit the bill…ooh la laa…

*click for details*

for my postcard I used scrap papers handy on my desktop…paints…gesso…gel pen and PanPastels with a bit of torn French text at the bottom…

along with these Magenta…B Line Designs and Hero Arts rubber stamps

Romanesco Tea…

…sounds intriguing don’t you think…the Romanesco I am referring to has nothing to do with tea really…

it is beautiful broccoli/cauliflower…first documented in Italy in the sixteenth century…I got so excited when I saw it…

it stopped me in my tracks at our local market the other day…there it sat like some sort of brilliant coral next to the cauliflower and turnips…it has a delicate and delicious flavor…we tried some raw on a salad…haven’t tried steaming any yet…

the market had some fun seasonal items like these sculpted butter turkeys…didn’t buy one of those…too cute to cut into it…

this bag screamed for me to take her home…she was the last one on the rack…

my herbal tea infusion is steeped with gratitude…tis the season here in the states as we celebrate Thanksgiving this Thursday…

a sign in front of a local church summed it up nicely:

“Don’t let Thanksgiving be just a day, make it a lifestyle.”

wishing you a happy T Tuesday…be sure to visit the other tea stops on Kimmie’s sidebar…

may you find lots to be grateful for each and every day…

my third anniversary giveaway winners are…

thank you to all who visited and joined in my giveaway …I certainly do appreciate your kinds words and good wishes …

after writing each person’s name on a strip of paper … I folded them and tossed them in a bowl …I know I said it would be a hat … the bowl does actually fit on my head … I tried it on…*no  picture of that*

after more tossing…the first name was drawn by our son:

Lynda Howells

even more tossing…the second name drawn by Mr Magpie:

Bleubeard & Elizabeth

and yes even more mixing for the third name drawn by moi:

Marilyn Rock

congratulations…as soon as I get mailing addresses I will send off goodies to the winners…thanks again to all for playing and making blogland such a fun place to be  ~*~ oxo

*footnote* … OKAY…you made me do it

just for the record … a glass hat is chilly

Six Players: India pages from Gina …

another rotation in the Six Players swap … my theme is India … remember Marlynn’s amazing pages here … Gina Wise has sent these gorgeous pages that she made for me …

with the loveliest details…fabric…paper and more…

little tinkling bells…two kinds…

sari ribbon fabric done with a special hot tool finish that added great texture and interest… the beautiful silver piece behind the perfect Indian playing card for the back page was done with cardboard…duct tape and a cuttlebug…pretty amazing result…

the tiny Krishna shrine has little metal roses adorning it on the top…

Gina also made a precious little matchbox shrine that is wonderful with so many special layers…my photos really do not do the richness and depth justice…I have it right here by the computer to enjoy daily…

the Mehndi hands on the front and inside pages are amazing …done on alcohol ink colored pages…

I’ve always thought how exotic and fun that would be to have done…the lovely ribbons Gina included make a great addition to my growing India stash too…thank you so much Gina

* * *

my bloggie friend Ana of i made it so has a new fun feature called “friday archive dive”…you can see the button on my sidebar…it’s a brilliant idea and a nice chance to go back and visit blog posts from the past…all are welcome to play along…you can see this week’s prompt here and find out all about it…

there is still time to enter my giveaway if you haven’t had a chance to pop by…winners will be announced on Sunday

Wordless Wednesday: Altocumulus Clouds in our neighborhood

Counting Stars

my postcard for the Wednesday Stamper “Stars” challenge this week

started with a gel medium transfer on a book page (you’ll get a better look by clicking on the postcard) … some paints…

one rubber stamp and some pretty Indian stickons with a few white gel pen highlights …

while we stayed in the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains recently … we could not believe how many stars twinkled in the night sky … without the glow of city lights the heavens put on quite a show…

I am celebrating three years in blogland…come on by and visit for my giveaway

Miracle Farm Tea

last weekend we had the good fortune to be unplugged for four days…

and spend time with our youngest son…

nestled in the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains …

we stayed at Miracle Farm Bed and Breakfast in “the farmhouse”…

there was a cozy woodstove with lots of interesting reading on the bookshelves…lovely vegetarian four course breakfasts…really tasty…

the water was well water and tasted so pure and fresh …

we had a couple of drizzly days…

which gave everything a fresh dewy look…

still pleasant for walking the grounds…which we did at least twice each day…

we were drawn again and again to a spot called “the beach” …

Mr Magpie made a video of the rushing water of the West Fork of the Little River which runs through Miracle Farm…

I kept wanting to call it Magic Farm …

such a tranquil and sweet place…

we enjoyed many cups of piping hot tea and coffee…breakfasts were delivered to our door in a big picnic basket…YES…we missed that when we got back home

“Quietude which some men cannot abide because it reveals their inward poverty, is as a palace of cedar to the wise, for along its hallowed courts the King in his beauty deigns to walk.” ~Charles H. Spurgeon

Happy T Tuesday one and all … visit Kimmie’s Art in Red Wagons for the list of players on her sidebar …

I am celebrating my third blogaversy with a giveaway…pop by if you have a minute

mystery music…can you name this tune?

on our recent jaunt to the Blacksburg area we visited a couple of our favorite antique and junk shoppes…

these are just a few of the sweet little things we discovered…the Usher pin with the hands shaking is a favorite of mine and Mr Magpie spotted a few tiny swans that we couldn’t pass up…

among them was this little jewelry box for just one dollar …. wondering what the snaps on the top held at one time … the music part works and the ballerina twirls…but what IS that song?

Mr Magpie made a little video so you can hear it … you can also hear the tinkling of our angel fountain in the background … I hoped some one out there might recognize the tune … we have not a clue what it is…

I now have two pretty ballerina music boxes … too bad this one doesn’t play music … had to have it anyway…

*footnote: the talented Nigel of Freebird’s Flights of Fancy has solved the music mystery … here is what he said:

“The music is Brahms: Waltz No’ 15″

MANY thanks to Nigel … what a Prince!*

be sure and pop by my 3rd anniversary giveaway if you haven’t had a chance to visit that post

Magpie’s Nest Third Anniversary Giveaway

last month marked the third year for my Magpie’s Nest blogblogblog (bbb)…

I have been more than fortunate in winning some lovely gifts in blogland and thought it high time to share a few goodies with you all again …

even if you’ve won one of my giveaways before …

if you live near or far …

have a blog or not …

ALL are most welcome to join in …

I have quite a collection of old cabinet cards …

if you would like to give Susan

or Laura

or Aunt Mary a good home …

just leave a comment here at this post…

three winners will be picked randomly and announced on Sunday, 21 November…

each cabinet card comes with a different piece of vintage hand made trim …

one of my wire birds nests … a handmade chiffon flower …along with a variety of vintage papers and bits of this and that…

thank you all for visiting and for being so very kind … generous and inspiring … you touch my heart … you make me laugh … you make me cry … you open my eyes … and teach me so many things … reminding me again and again that we are each more alike than we are different…

blogging  continues to feel like being in a BIG room full of friends … it is a beautiful thing and I am SO grateful for the time you all share with me …

I never dreamed this magic bridge of connections across the globe was even possible …

thank you all SO much oxoxo ~*~ Patty

*thanks also to Photofunia for the photo manipulations*

*** the winners are***

Lynda Howells

Bleubeard & Elizabeth

Marilyn Rock

Veterans Day * Remembrance Day * 2010

Arlington Cemetery, Washington DC … June 2005

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” ~Maya Angelou

WS: Asia

the Wednesday Stamper challenge this week is to create something with an Asian theme…to see just how far reaching Asia is … visit here for a list of Asian countries…

inspired by a print at a friend’s house I wanted to give an old world look to my greeting card…I used a blending tool with lots of layers of stamping ink…I realize that I used a Chinese coin as an embellishment…I wonder what language the text is in?

the Stampendous crackle stamp came in handy…the Japanese Lady/Scroll (MK-120) stamp is from Marks of Distinction…

as always you can click for a closer view

Tea and Treasures Times Many

Happy T Tuesday …

just had to share what was waiting for me after our long weekend away with our son in the country …

*vintage tea cup photo above by Katsui Jewelry*

I was the lucky winner of gorgeous jewelry creations from Suz and Kat of Katsui Jewelry and Robin Thomas of A Nest With a View…they collaborated on a special giveaway with not one … but two wonderful prizes … be sure and visit their etsy shoppes … all full to the brim with hand crafted treasures…

Suz decorated the front and back of this pretty envelope for me…I was so excited when I picked up the mail at the neighbor’s that I opened the package there so they could see what was inside too…

a matched set of beauty…I could not believe my good fortune…

Robin created the beautiful double sided Peace pendant and special linen gift bag too…silver is definitely what I enjoy wearing …

Suz and Kat created the delicate earrings with Czech glass flower beads and pearls…they move sweetly as I am wearing them…Yes… I dressed up for tea today …

such a treat and honor to be connected to so many talented and giving artists … most of whom I have not even met in person … I keep counting my lucky stars for so much shared goodness and creativity … it’s a beautiful thing …won’t you join Kimmie and the other Tea Tuesday bloggers for a cup of whatever delights you here…

be sure and visit Halle here … she is having a generous and fun no strings attached giveaway …