Vintage Bucilla Christmas Needlework Jeweled "Holiday Candles" Panel

I found this kit in bag with other non related items and then realized what a treasure it was.  It didn't have any instructions, but I was able to figure out without who made it by the kit number and found some examples.  Nice find and finally put it together.  I added a few new embellishments that weren't included to make it a little unique.  Surprise when I found what it looked like in the original package. Kit # 1645 from 1973 a 50/50 wool rayon which I'd love to point out is way better to work with than 100% polyester kits they make now.  This kit was hard to find but now I've seen a few at various different prices.  It's just glorious!     

This is the work in progress I wish I would have taken more pictures as I worked on it, but oh well maybe next time around I will since I have to more kits I'm making for gifts.

 

The final finish piece hung added some special parts different gold trim which also worked well on the ornaments too.  I think the kit was sort of cheesy and didn't really look like an ornament.  

 

I added tiny snowflakes that looked more interesting from a Hero Arts sequin pack and added large sequin snowflakes on bottom to fill the space better. I didn't like the whip stitch or whatever you call it.  Seems a little tight I was thinking of doing a zig-zag on sewing machine on my next try.  I added some different trim on the candles as well. 

Small sequin snowflakes

 

Large sequin snowflakes

Redesigned the ornaments

Added different sequins

Large beads for center

A little sparkle and fringe never hurts

 

NASA Happy 50th

Mermaid Water

The sad year of 2017

Happy Valentines Day!

Finding moments that we could miss if we didn't look!

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.

♥ So love the people who treat you right.

♥ Forget about the one's who don't.

♥Believe everything happens for a reason.

♥If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it.

♥Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

Garden Delights and the Grasshopper

It was a warm autumn afternoon in September, and I saw this guy sunning himself on a grassy wheat thing. He looked as if he was resting from a day of frolicking and hopping around in the garden. I reminded him that winter was just around the corner, and he hadn't done anything for himself to prepare for the cold days just ahead. He looked annoyed with my suggestion and hopped away. I wonder where he is sunning himself today? Well I don't think it's in the garden now that it is frozen and covered with snow? Will I see you next summer my hoppy friend or at least your cousin!

Froggie afternoon on a rhubarb leaf

Ok so I see this frog sitting on the rhubarb leaf in the garden. I asked him if I could take his picture and seemed very cooperative at what I was trying to accomplish, and didn't try to get away. There was no permission forms required by Mr. Frog he just sat there and let me several pictures of him. I got as many as I could before he got tired of the whole endeavor. Thank you for your time Mr. Frog......I wish it was always this easy taking pictures.

Which direction do you go?

Life is full of weird signs. This one for example is going either way. I love how everyone takes post shots at it, and someone actually tried to paint out part of the arrow to make it just one way. (oh that would have been a mess). Ok is that ironic or what. Pot shots, going either way, and making a either way going one way. So anyway every time I see this sign down my street I think to myself which way do I go now? I guess I can go either way...lol......is that a pot shot on life seriously I'm not going to mess with the signs that's for sure I just follow them!......Oh I love ironies it makes everyday life interesting!

Chasing the sun into the storm

I love looking at clouds and lately here in Phoenix there has been some pretty amazing ones with the weather and monsoons. So I hate not taking the opportunity to shoot a few and see how they turn out. As with most metaphors I thought when I was taking these that life has throw us some really serious storms into our lives some more intense than others. Each finding the strength to make it through as they evaporate away or the wind carries them in a different direction.

However when it's all said and done and you see the sun shining through again you realize that it's over and a new day is beginning. I known everyone has heard of that one, but sometimes it takes circumstance and being in the storm to really take hold of it.

The clouds bring serious rain the rays shine through. Billions of tiny droplets reflect the beauty in shape form and color, and in a moment it's all gone. Strangely sometimes the clouds never bring rain or all the nasty stuff that comes in a storm. They just float by casually making their way to another place.

I have yet to see the same cloud with the same colors or anything ever similar to the day before. They are an amazing work of art. I guess how I look at each cloud might determine the outcome of my picture in my everyday life and the final digital image. Unusual circumstance makes unusual days and wondrous stormy clouds to gaze at and wonder what tomorrow will bring.

3 Palms in Phoenix....it's nice to be back again!

The sun was warm today, and it felt good on my skin. The chill I got in Alaska seems to only go away when I come back to Phoenix and warms up my old bones only in Phoenix...lol. Ahhhhh it's nice to be back in the sun! Alaska was beautiful as I always remembered it, and I always miss it when I leave, but I know I'll go back again it's only a matter of time. Funny it was starting to get cold the chill was already in the air and the leaves were already turning the flowers were fading, and life was getting ready for another harsh winter and this was as I was leaving! Amazing all in 15 days.....;)

Alaska Bound

i everyone! I just wanted to let everyone know I will be gone for a few weeks and won't have access to my computer to read all the great and inspiring posts you do. I can't wait to get back to see what everyones been doing! (I might actually go through withdrawals) Have a great rest of the summer see you in August sometime. I'm hoping I'll have great new pics to post of my trip.......ahhhh I think I might need my parka or a light jacket.....lol

Head in Sand

Today was one of those days I felt like wanting to leave my head in the sand. It started out a bit rough not being able to find things I needed, and being in a rush all over the place. It was like everything was out of sink. The day settled at the end with a huge crashing of the symbol. I didn't want to hear, and my ears won't stop ringing (it's a struggle to stop thinking about). The timing wasn't so good. Then I wonder if somethings maybe they are best left unsaid or maybe it is a matter of timing? But when do you know it's a good time? If my head is always in the sand I guess it's never a good time......Well.... No matter how well meaning it was.....still made me wanna dive for the sand. I'm probably just being a drama queen, but oh well the picture fitted the mood.....I've always thought it was funny, and this is a really good way to work it all out!

I hope today will be a better day!

Mermaids

Just love the colors and the little mermaid frolicking around in the limonade and bubbles. It's a wonderful piece of art from the early 20th century advertising.

Everything and the kitchen sink

If you had everything and the kitchen sink that would be alot of stuff. Would you have the bathroom sink and the wash tub as well? What other sinks have I left out?

What if you had everything but the kitchen sink? Would you feel bad because you didn't have the kitchen sink? ok just funny thoughts to think about.......

Mannequin Kiss

Princess and the Pea

I was going through my pictures and I came across this funny one illustrated by Dulac. I loved this story when I was a little girl and I thought it was funny that this girl could be so picky that they could feel a pea though all of those layers of mattresses. Funny thing I was probably around 8 when I read it, and I could sleep on pretty much anything. Silly girl I thought!

Now I'm 48 and I can't sleep on anything, and I'm pretty sure I could feel a pea through 20 mattress pads now. Ahhh to find the perfect mattress I think it gets much more difficult as you get older. Maybe one layer for every year of your life I think that is really what the story was about. We are all princesses at varying different ages with varying elements making the best of that crapy mattress at some point or another. Just a funny though I guess! What was the author saying? was he thinking the same thing? well I never thought about it till now.

Inspiration of early 20th Century Illustration recycled 75 years later!

One of my all time favorite artists Maxfield Parrish


One of my favorite musicians Enya
I was wondering if it was just me, but these images are very similar. I think Enya liked Max too!

Friendship stone

I went to lunch with a friend from High School today. We lived across the street from each other when we were in Jr. High and High school. We didn't hang out much because we had different friends or circles that we were in. How different our paths seemed then when we would pass on the street or in the halls. But maybe it was the differences in our life's that made us very unique but so much the same. We both seemed to be meandering down the same path but didn't realize it......and then to find out we both live in the same city again within a few miles of each other. (Oh the wonders of Face Book)

And now after all these years we don't have any circles we hang out with no stereo types of clicks to worry about. It's just us as we are now and how we've become. Over the years I had always wondered what had happened in her life where she was and what she had done. It was like making a new friend ahhh neighbors again. She jokingly suggested I should buy the house across the street from her......

The image I posted here to commemorate friendship and because we both love to take pictures in cemeteries. She would love this one. I think it's a common headstone you see in older cemeteries maybe someone had the same thought. I decided to give it to special people in my life maybe rekindling friendships or making new ones. So I call it my friendship stone!

I thought they looked so interesting when I saw them. What were they thinking? Do mannequins think about stuff? When Dakota was young they frightened him. Maybe lifeless cold people staring into nothing empty not feeling. (ok that's the same as lifeless I suppose) as a composition I felt it was amazing and great subjects to work with. Possibly a thousand and one metaphors to go with!