Thank you!

I have been working a lot and I set up at the wine fest yesterday, so I haven't been posting. I'll be playing catchup later today, what I've been working on (I've been playing with my new sewing machine) and small stones that I have in my notebook (and on small scraps of paper).

I just wanted to say a quick thanks to all of you, my blogging friends! Thank you for all of your support and comments and for just being my friends. I love the fact that this community of lovely people represents so many different parts of the world and at the same time represents shared interests and a closeness of spirit that sometimes astounds me.

I haven't forgotten my giveaway either, so stay tuned for that! I love you all!

Dianne

Tuesday Tea...

Drinking Publix Lullaby Time Tea (again) and hunkering down... We've had a rather nasty squall line moving through the area... heavy rain, high winds, hail and a few tornadoes... It's one of those nights for jammies and a warm cuppa!  Anyway... remember my idea for a tea cup orphanage???  Well...

It's still under construction, but it's becoming a reality!

And here's my heart for the Heart Swap at the Mosaic Magpie!

Happy Tea Tuesday!  Don't forget to visit the rest of us at Kimmie's!

Small Stone for Sunday...

Warm hands... fancy colorful hands...cheer a cold heart!

I just listed these and more embellished glove in my Etsy Shop!  Check them out, there's a button on my side bar.

For more stones go here
A River of Stones

Today's Small Stone...

Fingers move in silent rhythm. Calming as thread is pulled gently through woven fibers. Even the soft whir of machine is somehow comforting... bringing forth memories of Mom sewing mother-daughter dresses.

For more stones go here
A River of Stones

Friday's Stone and Haiku my Heart...

Against blue and white,
a midsummer's day on wings...
ready for it's flight.
DDD2011

For more Friday Haiku visit Haiku my Heart

For more small stones visit A River of Stones

Thursday's Stone...

While sitting out on the balcony Wednesday evening, the Killdeers were still feeding as it got dark...

(John James Audubon print)

There's a Killdeer out there, cloaked and winging.
I hear its voice, clear and ringing...

For more stones go here
A River of Stones

Late Stone for Wednesday...

I wrote this prose while sitting on a balcony looking out over the Caloosahatchee River Wednesday night.  It was a beautiful night... I didn't have a photo, so I found one to use... This photo of the Chattanooga Waterfront was taken by Mark S. Wurst...

Bridge lights cast jewels on the dark surface...
They shimmer and dance in the night's shallow breath.

For more stones go here
A River of Stones

I haven't forgotten my giveaway! Please be patient... I have to go out of town again for work tomorrow and the Wine Fest is this weekend.  Stay tuned!

Tuesday Tea and a Small Stone...

Tonight I'm sitting here on the sofa in my new jammy pants... I love flannel! I'm drinking this...

Most of you know that I'm somewhat of a chronic insomniac and I find that this tea helps me relax enough to get to sleep. So, it's become a nighttime ritual... Tazo has a nice bedtime tea that works well too. Tazo Rest has rose petals and valerian root in it. I do have to get packed for another short road trip tomorrow before I get too mellow though.



For more Tuesday Tea visit Kimmie's and look for us on her sidebar.

Here's today's Small Stone...

A solitary scarlet leaf perseveres, laden with the heavy jewels of dawn's misty arrival.

For more stones go here
A River of Stones

Still Catching Up...

Saturday's small stone...

My mind not having much to say... my hands must begin...

Sunday's small stone...

My hands want to do... to sew, string or paint...
but my mind wants to sleep.
Fortunately, dreams inspire me.

Today's small stone...

Bare branches shudder in the wind against a low, gray sky.
A brief break in the rain brings Robins down to search the wet grass for a meal.

I'm now caught up with my small stones.  For more visit A River of Stones.

Small Stones and Playing Catch Up...

After being sick most of the week, on the road Thursday and Friday and at my dad's yesterday, I find myself trying to catch up today.

Thursday's small stone...

She almost had it... the little purse of wishes,
but it was not meant to be.

Friday's small stone haiku...

Envied profession...
surrounded by lovely things
at the antiques shoppe.

For more Small Stones visit A River of Stones.
I'll catch up for yesterday later.

Friday I was in Englewood all day for a meeting.  Englewood, FL is a lovely little village on Lemon Bay.  After work I browsed the art galleries and shops there.  Friday's Small Stone was inspired by a visit to one of the antique shops there and the conversation I had with the shop keeper. He was delightful and happily showed me any and all of the jewelry in the front cases that I wanted to see... We talked tea pots (there were some gorgeous ones there) and collections and vintage jewelry... What a wonderful way to make a living... buying, selling and talking lovely things! I am very envious...

I always try to visit the Art Alliance when I'm there and Friday was no exception.  I didn't remember my camera and my phone was dead, so I couldn't take photos of the amazing art there... but I did buy a small print of a wonderful mixed water media piece...

The print is mounted on black gessoed vellum, which is mounted on black gessoed foam core. It will be framed and put in my office at work. I love to surround myself with art at work. It makes it so much nicer to be there! The artist, Joanne Stramara, was there and we had a nice chat. I love the use of the nautical chart!  She said she teaches the technique used in this piece at the Alliance... If it were only closer!  Maybe one of these days when I have to be down there, the class will be conveniently scheduled...

I hope you're having a lovely weekend! Mine's a 3-dayer, so I still have one more day to play!

Wednesday's Small Stone...

Today's small stone...

Like the child I once was...
wrapped snugly in my blanket, I slept on the sofa last night...
the glow of the streetlight coming through the window,
Propped up to breathe better, my pillow in my clutches...
dreaming of camping out in living room forts.

Photo from
http://blog.buildllc.com/2010/04/couch-cushion-architecture-a-critical-analysis/

For more stones go here   A River of Stones

Tuseday's Tea and Stone...

Yesterday I stayed home from work... sinuses... Too bad they aren't like a spleen, something you can live without. I went back today, but only lasted a couple of hours then came home and went to bed. I'm up now, drinking Zhena's Gypsy Tea Luminous Lemon.

It's very soothing and full of antioxidants, which I think I'm in need of.

For more Tuesday Tea visit Kimmie's blog and look on her sidebar for us.

Today's small stone...

the dory rows across the still sea,
black against the mist....
like a crow winging through a gray sky...

"Is either real?" asks the old sage.

For more stones go here   A River of Stones

Small Stone for Monday...

gray day, rain, pain... precious sleep...

A River of Stones

100 Followers!

Wow! I just got my 100th follower! Thanks Deb! Back when I had 89 followers, I decided (but didn't announce) that I would have a giveaway when I reached 100. So... I am going to have a giveaway!  In the next couple of days, I'll gather up some goodies, photograph them and decide on a deadline and announcement date.  I guess that's how you do it... So stay tuned!

I'm so grateful for you all!

Small Stones....

For today...

Stitch by stitch, her hands remembered.

For yesterday... okay maybe it's not such a small one...

Picking up the pieces thrown.
Separating those that are my own,

shaping and hardening their form
to protect myself in case of storm.

Without the mastery of a guild
brick by brick myself I build.

I mortar my bricks back together
and stand against the coming weather.
DDD2011

Now I'm caught up!

A River of Stones

I've also joined the Heart Swap at  Mosaic Magpie!

A Small Stone for Yesterday...

Thoroughly exhausted from the trying week... she is now a pampered and coiffed redhead, kickin' in her purple Keds.

A River of Stones

Small Stone...

Having grieved over little paws gone...
withered hands stroke creamy fur...
Both have been rescued.

A River of Stones

Today's Small Stone...

I ushered discontent into a place of laughter...
regret brings no sun...
mea culpa

A River of Stones

Tuesday Tea and a Small Stone...

Tonight for Tuesday tea, I'm drinking this tea.  It's sooooo good...

Take a look at my newest vintage acquisition for my teapot collection...

Its midcentury modern design is soooo cool, don't you think?  I found it at a thrift store for $5!  Five bucks!  It doesn't have any markings on it, so I really know nothing about it... other than I love it!  It's my third midcentury modern teapot.  The others are McCoy. I'll have to do some research on this one.

Anyway, happy Tea Tuesday everyone! Check out what the other participants are up to on Kimmie's sidebar.

Now for the small stone...

The color of a worn leather boot... it had dried in the winter wind and fallen to the ground.  Brown and brittle, she saved it from underfoot and gave it to me.

A River of Stones

Some Fabric Cuffs and a Small Stone...

Here are some things I've been working on lately...

Fabric cuffs...

The lace one I made a while back. It features a huge vintage earring...

The peace button one I made just before Christmas...

This one (my favorite of these) I made the last time I had to travel for work, a few weeks ago sitting in my hotel room.

Small Stone for 1/3/11...

The note was unfamiliar... the bird, Robin sized, perched in the China Berry tree. The morning clouds veiled the light just enough to hide the bird's colors...  A Robin?... It's January!


A River of Stones

Today's Small Stone...

The gray day turned into a silver night.

A River of Stones

Small Stones...

I'm participating in "A River of Stones" for the month of January. I missed yesterday, but will post two today. This one is for something I noticed yesterday...

worn demin... whispery, threadbare
a striated cloud on his knee

To participate or just to read the stones visit A River of Stones.
Thanks Annell!

New Items Posted on Etsy...

I just posted this oil painting...

and some other new items in my Etsy shop, Pieces of D!  

Self-Keeping...

My mantra for 2011... Self-Keeping...

For various reasons the past 2 or 3 years has seen me letting my own keeping go.  I'm not bitter or melancholy. I have no regrets... but it's time... for me to look after me.

After years of watching over others...

It's time to be my own angel..