MERRY CHRISTMAS

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!  And God's blessings to everyone!

Christmas Holy Card

I have been collecting Vintage Holy Cards for several years and I find that I have a hard time doing or parting with them.  I was hoping that this year I would have the time to make something with them or at least get them scanned into my computer but of course life got in the way again.  I have several Christmas ones so I will post them for you to see.  


In regards to Christmas decorating,  I hope to get up and going this week - finally - this is my favorite holiday and I just could not get going early enough and I've gotten grumpy about it.  I have to keep reminding myself that it's not just about decking your house but also a time to prepare yourself to receive Him and what blessings He brings.  

Take care everyone and don't burn out on Christmas -  remember, "He's the reason for the Season".


Trying not to be grumpy , Jenny

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

First, I would like to wish each and everyone of you a Blessed Thanksgiving Day.  I hope you are blessed abundantly in the company of family and friends.  


I wanted to share my very first paper wreath...I am too happy with it even though It took a while to get all those cones done.  I got the clip art from the Graphics Fairy, it's a fabulous site with oodles of free downloadable clip art.  Check it out.


I chose the work family and the crown because family is extremely important in our lives.  

 I hope the pictures are not out of focus.  I didn't have my glasses on.  Take care everyone.


Jenny


ladonaboutique

Remember these?

Well I finally got to finish this cloth pumpkins.  I scoured the net for patterns but finally decided to just trust my own intuition and go with it.  I check out a few tutorials and went for it.  I am glad I did because I usually change things anyway, even if I have a pattern - something about being creative I guess.  Anyway here is what I came up with.

Before:

This is what the large ones looked like - $2 soft pillows.

After

Doesn't this look like an apple?

Bye friends...

Sharing Fall goodness

Aren't these pomegranates beautiful?  My sis sent them to me because she knows how much I love to eat them and how I like to take pictures.  

Happy Fall Saturday everyone!


Also stay tuned as I am preparing a scrapbooking giveaway sponsored by MyMemories.  Hope you return and enter.

Linking Up To I Heart Macro

Very Late for  I Heart Macro Sunday but nonetheless, here are some pictures of what I have on my work table - can't seem to get any projects done - just too much work and I get home exhausted, with all my creativity zapped out of 

me .

I was playing with my camera and discovered it had a color feature.  I turned on the sepia option and this is what I came up with.  I love how the paste brooch turned out- missing a stone though.  

These next ones are the original colors

And with these I chose the vivid color option.  Can you see the difference.  It's slight but I can see it.

Check out other entries here:

Guess what these are?  Give up?  

They are gigantic stuffed baseballs (they must be throw pillows) I picked them up at a local store as they were clearing them out.  What I deal, $1.99 each, they are around 15 inches round - yes a few are a little grimy but nothing that a spot cleaner and Fabreeze can't take care of. Guess what I've going to make with them?  Something easy peasy...stay tuned.

Have a great weekend. 

To all in the East Coast

This peace lily heart collage is for all of you in the east coast.  Especially, Lovey, Michelle, and Cassandra. My wish for all of you is that you find comfort and patient during these trying times.

Peace Out!  Jenny


ladonaboutique

I HEART MACRO

My first entry to I Heart Macro and I am loving it.  There are so many things you can photograph and share with the world.  

This is one of the very last single buds of my Agapanthus.  Most have gone to sleep and will return next summer.  

And this Peace Lily bloomed way out of season - they bloom in the spring.  I moved her and in return she gave me this bloom - I think she was very happy to have been moved.

Take a look at all the entries here:

                                                   

Have a great Sunday!

Jenny

Places i-Heart

This collage is made up of pictures we visited this year so far, and of around our home.  Just love this...

Have a great Sunday!


Jenny

Will You Give Me a Hand?

Image from The Graphic's Fairy

I am venturing out to ask this because I really don't have an idea as to how to go about it.  I see that many of you post on particular days on a specific theme.  For example "I Heart Macro" for Mondays, "Texture Tuesdays", and "Bead Table Wednesdays.  

My question is, is there a collective list somewhere of all the theme's by day?  I'd like to see what is out there and possibly join to help me connect and blog more with you.  I find that I need inspiration and a little kick in the behind to get going and maybe this will help.  Anyone have a list?

Thank you and have a great week.

Jenny

Lovey's been published

My blog friend Lovey from Fabric Photo Memories has published a very lovely craft book.  She is the writer, photographer, did the layout and got it published all by herself.  What an accomplishment, huh?


Lovey was one of my first blog friends who offered her suggestions and help while I learned to navigate the blog world.  Since, I've admired her work and dedication to preserving and honoring beautiful African American ladies from the 1700's and early 1900's.   She creates beautiful photo collages and essentially is archiving and preserving history.

Meet my friend Lovey

This is the cover of the book.  Isn't it beautiful?

Click on this picture for sales information.

Here are some samples of her collages.  I simply love the all the materials she uses in her compositions - vintage lace, jewelry, etc -  they adorn the photos just so.  Don't they make nice hanging photo collages?  

Here are some lovelies awaiting their turn.  

Lovey also has an Etsy shop,LoveyJ, where you can purchase her original work as she meticulously collects all her material and vintage findings for her creations.    
Friends I hope you enjoy perusing Lovey's work.  I am happy and proud to call Lovey my friend and hope you have the opportunity to become her friend too.  
Thanks my friends!

"Say hello to my little friend"

I'm a very happy girl now.  I have my new toy to play with - my iMAC!  Not bragging ladies, just sharing my happiness with you.   But let me also share my frustration with my old computer.  It was just not cutting it any more.  I literally had to turn it on, walk away, let it load up and then return in 10 minutes.  My husband tried everything but could not get it to run any better.  It all happened after I saw that popular commercial promising that your computer would run faster and  better after you did x,y and z.  Don't believe it, it's a bunch of crock.  It messed everything up, it hid files, slowed it even more, crashed, blocked us from accessing anything literally, and kept finding a gazillion errors and viruses- all fake.  He called the so called company and of course, they tried to sell him a program to clean it up and to maintain it.  They helped, supposedly delete their download, but it just would not work.  He finally started researching on going to different blogs and found that it was all a scheme to sign you up for their service.  

If you happen to get in the same mess I did, I suggest you go to thisbleepingcomputer.com.  They provided us with information to be able to restore the computer to a workable state.  However it was not the same.  At least they gave us resources to be able to retrieve all our information and thousands of family treasured photos.  We probably could have taken it in to clean up even more, but we decided it was time to upgrade. I've been a Mac fan for years - that's what I use at work - but my husband has slowly converted. 

"Say hello to my little friend"

I hope to you don't ever experience this.  You can't believe the anxiety I experienced when I thought I had lost everything. The moral of this story is don't download shtuff you don't know anything about, k ladies?  Has anyone else experienced this?  Hugs to all of you.


Jenny

Welcome to "Where Bloggers Create 2011" 3rd Annual Blog Party

Hello WBC Party Friends !




My Desert Cottage

Thank you Karen for coordinating this great event!
Thank you for coming by or coming back and visiting.  I am always happy to entertain blogalistas - is that a word - I'm using it anyway.
Here are a few pictures of my work area.  I cleaned up for you just a bit cause it's usually not this clean, I must confess.  Hope you enjoy.  


This is what you see as you enter.

 My Blogging station

A closer look.  That thing with the black screen is going away soon.  It has been misbehaving and has been giving me fits so I have upgraded to an iMAC...YAY!

This is my view at my work table.

This is what I see from my work table  if i look up.  I use the white boxes  to store supplies I really don't use often.

And this is directly in front of me -looking up.  More storage and beads and baubles in jars I have repurposed from mainly Yankee Candles.  They are just big enough to hold quite a few strands of beads.

Paz & Amor are still hanging around in their love nest...they hang from the ceiling.

My sign - sorry for the bad picture. I made it out of an old frame and covered cork board in fabric and finished it off with off white flowers.

This is my view out into the foyer and living room as I sit at  my work table.

These are a few pictures of different areas.  

See all the jars?

Final pictures and vignettes

These beauties are getting ready for the "Mes Bijoux Vintages" store on Etsy very soon.

My filing station - my moms sewing box with folders...lol!

My mom and dad

 Inspirational board.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit.  Please keep the door open for me - I will be by to visit with you soon.  


Karen thank you for all the hard work you put into this event.  God's Blessings to you and to everyone visiting.
JennyKaren Valentine from My Dessert Cottage