Pieces of D

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Peace on Earth!

2011-12-16T15:00:00.001-05:00

Hi. I want to thank you all for your suuport through out the years. I'm going to suspend this blog for for a few reasons. Some of you know know about the personal turmoil going on in my life and I need to work some things out with regard to this. I also have started my new tea business and really need to focus on it with regard to my time both on and off the computer. Last, I've been inundated with spam comments, which take up even more time during comment moderation. I love you all and would love to see you from time to time on my tea blog. God Bless and Peace to you all!

Sincerely,
Dianne

Tuesday Tea...

2011-12-06T18:08:00.000-05:00

First, I want to welcome all my Tuesday Tea friends to check out The Bohemian Tea House. It's my new blog to chronicle my path to my loose tea business. I hope all of you will join and and follow my progresss. I hope all of you are having a stressless holiday season! A lot to ask... I know... but very important!

Now, you all know that one of the things I love is to put together mismatched tea sets and sell them, bead teaballs and foster and adopt out orphan tea cups. Since I'm focusing on opening a loose tea business I thought it would be wonderful if I could do more crafts that relate to tea.

So... what to do with no longer used and cracked teapots??? Make bird houses out of them!

It wasn't my idea, but what a great idea it is!

I'm going to put some poinsettias around the opening in this one. I'll post another photo when I do.

Here's another... I used wire wrapped with grapevine fibers for this one!

They even have draingage so if rain gets in, it will drain down through the spout!

Now I'm going to enjoy some of my newly blended Caramel Creme Rooibos and before bed I'm going to brew a cup of my as yet untitled bedtime tea... Don't forget to visit Kimmie to see what my Tuesday Tea friends are drinking!

A Quick Hello!

2011-11-30T18:33:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Good food... good company... good times! I went to two different dinners... Great food at both... but I have to say... the absolute best thing I ate was my hubby's raspberry cheescake bars... There're soooooooooo good... and there are still a few left. I've been keeping busy working on my new business venture. I will be heading to the Florida Estates Winery next weekend to hopefully sell some of my art and crafts, but I've not been making anything, as I've been concentrating mostly on getting this business going... There's so much to do!

Cool and Groovy Garden Party

2011-11-21T12:01:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was my friend Lois' Cool and Groovy Garden Party. Every year just before the holidays, she invites her creative friends to set up in her garden to sell their goods. She sends out invitations and puts up flyers to bring the customers in. We have fun and entertainment and sangria and sell our stuff to wonderful people.

She has hundreds of items she's made set up all over her house, porch and yard...

in her dining room... and bedroom...
Sorry, but all my pics of the living room didn't turn out :(

in the wooded lot next door... through this gate...

Sorry... can't remember this beauty's name, but here's her stuff!

We set up in the yard... Here's my stuff...

Brenda and Becky's stuff...

We had a wood carver the first day, but I forgot my camera. Entertaining neighbors come and put on a show. Of course they invited Lois up to play the tamborine with them...

It's always so much fun! This year I also set up a tea station for market research. You can read about that here.

This may be my last post for a while on this blog, as I'm really trying to concentrate on getting my tea business up and running. You can follow me at The Bohemian Tea House. I'm even considering just listing all of my crafts in my Etsy shop and only doing tea at events. I'll let you know when I get things posted there.

I'm sure I'll be participating in Tuesday Tea, either from here, or the tea house.

Embarking on a New Journey...

2011-11-17T12:33:00.000-05:00

As many of you know I've recently become unemployed after more than 10 years at a regional environmental government agency, more than 5 at a state environmental agency and many years in the private sector prior to that. In this economy, jobs are hard to find, especially for those over 50. My husband has been ill and has been out of work for more than 2 years, making me our sole provider.

So... what to do? I thought about being the full time artist that I've longed to be, but my production of pieces has been sporadic... not enough to support myself, much less myself and my family. I want to do something I'm passionate about, but don't have much capital for a business start up. I also wanted there to be an environmental element and a social justice element. There also had to be a spiritual connection. So I asked the questions: What am I passionate about? What can satisfy the environmental and human elements? What about the spiritual connection? The answer... Tea!

For the past few weeks, I've been working on planning the opening of The Bohemian Tea House. I plan to blend, package and sell fair trade, organic teas and herbal tisanes under my own label. Primary sales will be online and at local farmers markers. My goal (besides blending and selling wonderful organically grown teas that help to support workers on the plantations) is to eventually have a mobile tea room selling and serving my own artisan blended teas (and perhaps some baked goods) at venues and events throughout the US, or at least the southeastern US.

I will need your help dear friends... I'll be asking you to answer some questions in future posts as I start my market research. Of course I'll be posting some about the process here, but will be documenting my journey on a new blog: The Bohemian Tea House. I've just now set it up, but if you get a chance later, please visit. And if I'm not posting as frequently on Pieces of D, it's because I'm working hard on acheiving my new goals. Wish me luck and stay tuned!

Tuesday Tea...

2011-11-15T11:28:00.000-05:00

Today I'm having Celestial Teas Chai with Indian spices. It's so soothing... Last night I finished and boxed up for shipping my (late) tea box for a swap I'm participating in. Luckily my swap partner is a bit late too. Anyway... here's the box...

I covered a Tazo tea box wth a cocktail napkin in fall colors, lined it with gold tissue paper,

put these great paper flowers on it and trimmed it with some green looped fringe.

Hope she likes it... I packed it with little goodies too! Happy Tea everyone! Please visit Kimmie to see what the other Tuesday Tea participants are up to!

Fake nose not needed...

2011-11-12T10:36:00.001-05:00

Just call me Rudolf!

This is what my nose looks like! I was supposed to set up at the Florida Estates Winery today to sell crafts and vintage teawares. My sinuses are so messed up my nose feels like it's on fire! I went through an entire box of tissues yesterday!

I've now been using my stash of soft vintage hankies... use one up, rinse it out in hot water, hang it to dry, use another until that one is dry, then re-use it... and the cycle goes on. So I sit in my warm house in jammies and socks, drinking hot chai tea, blowing my nose... Hope you all are having a great weekend... Actually, with the exception of having to blow my nose every few minutes... mine isn't that bad!

Tuesday Tea

2011-11-08T11:45:00.000-05:00

Short Tea Tuesday post... have been looking for a job, while drinking my usual morning black tea. I went to a job interview yesterday and after the interview, the manager said when they pick the top 3 candidates they will invite them back, one-at-a-time, to meet staff and have coffee. Coffee??? But I don't drink coffee... Oh well.. I learned long ago to carry tea and Stevia with me... So, if I'm picked as a top candidate, I'll go... tea in hand and ask where the microwave is! Be sure to visit Kimmie to see what the other tea drinkers are up to today!

Great Holiday Shopping Idea!

2011-11-04T10:05:00.001-04:00

Don't put shopping for the holidays on the back-burner this year! Blurb has an offer to share with you that now through 11/30 you can save 15% off your Blurb order with promo code AFFILIATE15OFF. Here are some really great gift ideas:

Make a truly special gift with the Instagram Photo Book with the photos you've taken with your cellphone.
Gather up those sacred family recipes and create a cookbook perfect for family and friends!
Create a custom notebook for all the kids to take back to school. You can use your family photos or pictures from summer vacation!

Blurb has all the tools and customization for you to make unique gifts for everyone on your list. Please use the text link in this article or the banner on my blog to get to the site so I can get credit for the sale. Thanks so much!

Happy Shopping!

A Review of California Tea House's Lemon Meringue Pie Tea

2011-11-01T17:53:00.001-04:00

Oh my goodness! I'm late for tea! I'm just getting my days all mixed up... I spent the day with my friend Lois, planning her annual "Cool and Groovy Garden Party." I thought it was Sunday and she thought it was Monday! It's Tuesday... Tea Tuesday!

Since I'm late, I'm going to repost the review of the latest California Tea House tea I've tried... Lemon Meringue Pie Tea!

The aroma of this tea, when I first opened the pouch, was heavenly! I love vanilla and you can tell it's in there with the lemon grass and lemon preserves.

While waiting for the kettle to boil I admired the lovely color, set off by the lemon grass pieces.

Once steeped, the flavors came to life with the rich red color... I love vanilla and the vanilla beans came through, as did the lemon preserves, to produce a lovely lemon creme flavor.

Rooibos tea has many health benefits.. It's full of antioxidants and is naturally caffeine free. It tastes great iced too! This tea is so good and when Stevia is added, it satisfies my cravings for something sweet. It would make a wonderful dessert tea!

So, the next time I get a hankering for lemon creme cookie sandwiches... I'll just brew a pot of Lemon Meringue Pie Tea instead!

Check out all their teas by clicking on the banner on my blog! Also, make sure to go see Kimmie to visit our other Tuesday Tea friends!

Trick-or-Treat!

2011-10-31T13:40:00.000-04:00

I have lots of candy in my witches cauldron...

but the kids have to pass this to get to the door.

Do you think they will???

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Friday Haiku...

2011-10-28T11:30:00.000-04:00

Summer gifts remain
to vividly punctuate
intense autumn skies.
DDD2011

For more Friday Haiku visit Haiku my Heart.

Tuesday Tea...

2011-10-25T11:06:00.000-04:00

This morning I slept late... which was good... For the last 2 days, my allergies have been so bad... sneezing constantly is exhausting... So this morning I'm sitting here job hunting, blog hopping and researching projects...

I'm drinking my Monkey Paw black tea with Stevia and milk...

from my favorite mug... It's very whimsical and pretty...

Who says a tea bag caddy has to be a tea bag caddy...

This lovely little votive holder fits my tea ball perfectly!

Of course the tea ball is beaded to match the mug and caddy!

Happy Tea Tuesday everyone! Don't forget to visit Kimmie and look at her comments to see what the rest of us are up to!

Friday Haiku...

2011-10-21T11:08:00.000-04:00

Summer's lush carpet

is slowly blanketed by

autumn's cool return.

DDD2011

For more Friday Haiku visit Rebecca at Haiku my Heart.

Tuesday Tea... and Dreams...

2011-10-18T17:27:00.000-04:00

Do you have a dream? More than one? Maybe an alternate dream in case your main dream doesn't work out? I have a couple... maybe a few... One of my dreams is to have a tea business... blend my own teas and serve them in a cute bohemian tea room... A shack of a store front where I can sell and serve my teas and my art and crafts. I guess I've been collecting for this my whole life... what with my love of teapots and orphaned cups... and thrifting...

I think I'm off to a decent start with a couple of tea sets I've put together... Above is what I call my "Worldly Set." It looks like a combination of different cultures and eras, don't you think?

This is my "70s Bohemian Set." Apart from the Depression Glass "Cubist" pattern sugar and creamer, it's very retro... a vintage Avocado green teapot with raised fruit and some 1970s Avocado green mugs.

You all know I have a whole collection of tea pots and am always looking for more. I think when I finally get to open my bohemian tea shack... I'll be prepared!

Now I'm going to take my chai tea and visit some of your wonderful blogs... Be sure to visit Kimmie to see what everyone else is up to!

Thrift Store Adventures

2011-10-13T12:27:00.001-04:00

So... of course while in Dawsonville, GA for my Aunt Marlene's wedding I HAD to visit her favorite thrift store! The Market Place Thrift Store just off GA400 is an awesome place! The ladies there are so nice and so very creative!

I love how they've painted and antiqued several of the pieces of furniture... like this purple desk and reupholstered stool...

and this wonderful green desk and the lamp with the cute, shabby, chenille shade...

The vignettes are so cute...
look at this old chair with the
ceramic acorn and orange shoes!

Artwork is everywhere... like this hunting dog painting...

rose and
duck
prints...

Isn't this red chest
and old door vignette
amazing?

And this old settee... I could see this in my house...

Of course I had to look for old teawares... I'm not sure what you call this, but it's a brass teapot, suspended in a sort of cradle over a burner to keep the tea warm... I was afraid to take it off the self to take the picture!

Old kitchen items...
an old mixer...

and canning jars
in a caddy...

Porcelain figurines... these have fabric dresses that have been coated with porcelain(?)! Aren't they beautiful?

Of course there were clothes and jewelry,
but I tend to focus on home decor items...
like this great purple dresser...

more bird prints and knick knacks...

Love this mosaic watering can!

Isn't this crewel work gorgeous?
My mom taught me to do crewel and floss embroidery...

What an amazing place
and the prices were great!

Being on a severe budget, I only left with some old cigar boxes to alter and a box of cute watch bands to make some cuffs from... but... as long as my Auntie M lives there... I'll be back! You can count on that!

The Market Place Girls are working on a website. In the meantime you can reach them at
marketplacegirls@gmail.com
645 Auraria Road
Dawsonville, GA
678-696-1435

Tuesday Tea...

2011-10-11T11:34:00.001-04:00

This morning I'm reviewing California Tea House's Golden Monkey Paw black tea. It's a beautiful whole leaf tea, with amazing color and flavor.

Aren't these leaves just gorgeous??? Being whole leaf tea, it is full of flavor and beneficial antioxidants...

And the color of the steeped tea is so lovely... This is a fullbodied tea with a smooth flavor that will hold up to sweetener and milk! I invite you to visit their website (please use the photo link on my sidebar, so I will get credit should you decide to buy some) and browse all their wonderful teas!

They are a delight for the eyes as well as the taste buds! And they have a tea community with a chat forum and blog. When you participate in the community, you can earn reward tokens which you can redeem for tea! Plus... shipping is free! All the time!

Don't forget to visit Kimmie for the Tuesday Tea Party! Look for comments in her tea post to see what everyone else is up to.

Flowers for Jenny...

2011-10-08T16:39:00.000-04:00

Well... the flowers are ready... I hope Jenny and Joe are!

Fish Bowl?

Fish Bowl Chic!

Fitting for these two... who, I was informed earlier today, are quoting from Dr. Suess for their vows...

This will be their second marriage... to each other... Yep, second time around for this couple!

I Tried!

2011-10-06T15:56:00.000-04:00

I tried to reformat it... Couldn't figure it out! Then I couldn't put it back like it was! Aren't the old templates (Minima) available in 3 column anymore??? Oh well... guess I'll be looking for a book to help!

I'll try to reformat again tomorrow...

2011-10-05T20:50:00.002-04:00

Help!

2011-10-05T17:35:00.000-04:00

Okay... I have switched back and forth from the old to the new interface and CANNOT find how to change to a 3 column layout. I've consulted the Help link and cannot find any of the tabs it suggests. Can anyone help? I would greatly appreciate any help I can get! Thanks so much.
Dianne

Under Reconstruction...

2011-10-05T17:02:00.000-04:00

Please bear with me. I'm trying to change my blog to a 3 column layout. So far, the info I have gotten from Blogger has not been applicable. If anyone has a trick, please let me know! Thanks!
Dianne

Tuesday Tea... Back from the Woods...

2011-10-04T15:19:00.001-04:00

Well, I'm back from my aunt's wedding. It was so beautiful... if I do say so myself (I helped with the centerpieces and made her the goodies from the previous post). She was a gorgeous bride and she is so happy! So, while I'm sipping my rooibos tea this afternoon, I thought I'd share a few pics of where I've been enjoying my morning (and evening) tea for the past few days.

Here is her porch, looking up from the lake...

this lake... Lake Lanier...

sipping tea with these little guys and their friends...

watching the Dogwood leaves turn...

and fall wildflowers bloom...

and finding bright colors on the ground...

I so love it up there. I was the only one in my family not born near where these pictures were taken... The only Floridian... and... while I love being a Florida native... going to north Georgia has always been like going home to me.

Happy Tea Tuesday everyone! Please visit Kimmie to see what my tea buddies have been up to!

For an Autumn Woodland Wedding...

2011-09-28T10:01:00.000-04:00

So... My aunt is getting married this coming Saturday at an outdoor venue in the Georgia mountains. You've seen the bird cage I decorated for her to hold the cards on the gift table in a previous post. Here is her guest book...

Her wedding theme is birds, so I just had to add a bird to her guest book...

And since it's autumn, it had to have falling leaves...

I stamped the inside pages on opposite corners with this cute little bird...

And I had to alter a couple of pens for the occassion!

A little bird told me...

they will live happily ever after!

I'm leaving tomorrow morning and will be back sometime on Sunday. So, I'll see you when I get back!

Tuesday Tea and Talk Shows...

2011-09-27T10:46:00.001-04:00

When I was a kid, I watched daytime TV with my mom... Before her "stories" (soap operas) started, we watched a talk show or two. The one I remember most was the Merv Griffin Show. For those of you too young to remember it, it was a talk show that had celebrities as guests and they talked about what was going on in the celebrities' lives... not unlike your typical late night talk show today. But daytime talk shows today tend to focus more on the real life of everyday people. Since I haven't been working, I've started watching one or two on an irregular basis. My favorite is the Nate Berkus Show! It has the obligatory celebrity, but mostly it's about design and fashion and how to acheive your own... no matter where you are in life. I didn't even know who this guy was until I saw him on an episode of "Design Star." (Am I getting too hung up in TV??? or worse... reality TV???) Anyway... on his website he has a daily giveaway... Yay!

Today's giveaway - a cool toaster!

(Photo source Nate Berkus Show)

So I thought I'd share that with you while drinking my California Tea House Golden Monkey Paw black tea... which I let get cold... (and is in a cup with gold trim so I can't microwave it) oh well... there's more in the pot! Stay tuned for a review of this one on the tea blog!

Happy Tea Tuesday everyone! Don't forget to visit Kimmie to see what everyone else is up to today!

I Let the Cat Out of the Bag...

2011-09-26T10:27:00.005-04:00

Or... the bird out of the cage...

This was supposed to be a surprise for my aunt's wedding, but I slipped last night on the phone with her. She wanted a box for her gift table to put cards in... Her wedding is bird themed, so I thought... why not a bird cage?

Her wedding is October 1 and will be held outside in the Georgia mountains... Her flowers are red, white and yellow/orange bicolor roses and rose hip berries. I couldn't find the silk bicolored roses, so I used the big orange rose hips for that color. There will be birds on the napkins and other decorations. I'm still working on her guest book... which will have a cute little bird on it too.

I know... I need to get on it... I'm leaving Thursday!

Another After Shot!

2011-09-25T11:41:00.000-04:00

Remember this?

My granddaughter's future vanity stool, looked like this when I bought it for $4...

Now it looks like this! The seat could have turned out a bit better... Who knew poly satin is so hard to upholster with! It will need to be reupholstered soon... but by then maybe I can find the hot pink plether I found before (and didn't buy!). It will go well with her bright white antique vanity (it was her great grandmother's) with the pink crystal drawer knobs!

Tuesday Tea...

2011-09-20T09:50:00.000-04:00

I'm sitting here drinking my usual morning black tea and thought I would share a blog post I wrote for the California Tea House Tea Chat Blog, Tea Health category, last night. It's a review of their Bedtime Chai II. It has yet to be published on the blog, but you can reach their website via the link above or by clicking on the button on my side bar...

Yes I'm one of those people... one of those who can't turn off their minds to get to sleep... one of those chronic insomniacs that take hours to fall asleep regardless of how tired or sleepy I am... and to top that off... I have Restless Leg Syndrome... not to mention the stress of today's economy...

So... every night before I attempt to get to sleep I sit out on my front porch and have a pot... yes a pot!... of some kind of "sleep" tea. For two nights now, I've been drinking California Tea House's Bedtime Chai II. Although, the jury is still out on whether it will help with the RLS, I've slept better the past two nights than I have in quite a long time...

It works well for me and the taste is wonderful! It is not wildly spicey like many chais. You can taste the Chamomile and Vanilla Bean and each individual spice, but the sweetness of the African Honeybush shines through! I highly recommend this tea if you have trouble sleeping... or even if you don't... It tastes that good!

Don't forget to visit Kimmie to see what all the tea posters are up to!

A New Before and After...

2011-09-18T19:34:00.001-04:00

Take a burlap covered lampshade from Target and some black fuzzy trim...

add some black ink and a big fleur de lis stamp...

and you get this cool piece!

It will look great paired with either a sleek or an ornate lamp... and will work with any color!

I'm trying to increase my inventory for show season... More to come...

Garage Sale Finds...

2011-09-17T11:29:00.000-04:00

There was some confusion this morning as to whose idea it was to go garage saling... IT WAS NOT MY IDEA! It was Bruce's brother's idea... "for something to do." But since Bruce wasn't going... and was willing to part with some pocket change... I went!

Got these great vintage sugar and creamer sets for $2 each!

A vintage milk pitcher and orphan Lefton China tea cup for $5!

This great Dixie Furniture Company night stand for $10!

And this cool lamp for $3!

But what to do with it....

Of course you KNOW I have some ideas!

Sassy Shoes and Some Before Pics...

2011-09-16T09:18:00.001-04:00

I claim to not be a shoe person... But ohhh I so am a shoe person! Once in a great while I see a pair of shoes that I just have to have! Like these...

My new gladiator boots! Aren't they just scrumptious? Pics soon of me in them...

And here are a few projects I'm working on...

An old metal piano stool...

that will become my granddaughter's vanity stool.

A luggage rack that I picked up off the side of the road, will become the base for a pretty tray table...

and a couple of photo frames, dresser trays in the making, and an old mug rack will be a bracelet display.

Stay tuned for the makeover results! This old stuff and this old me!

Tuesday Tea...

2011-09-13T12:05:00.000-04:00

What do you add to your tea? Honey, lemon, Stevia, milk, mint? The possibilities are endless... In the mornings I always drink a strong black tea... Lately I've been enjoying it with ... ready for this? Coffeemate French Vanilla creamer. I love vanilla in my black tea and once in a while I get on a kick where I add milk. The only sweetener I use is Stevia. So when I'm on a milk kick, I use the creamer... It adds the vanilla that I love and the "milk" ... I know it's non-dairy... and it's sweet enough that I don't even need the Stevia.

So... in my pot is some strong black Ceylon tea that I will add creamer to... The flowers in the little vase on the tray are Basil flowers from my herb garden. Basil is something else I like to add to my teas... Sweet Basil adds a delicate spicey touch. I didn't grow any Sweet Basil this year, but I did grow African Blue and Cinnamon Basil. I've been enjoying White Tea in the early evenings with a sprig of Cinnamon Basil steeped in it. It adds a very subtle hint of cinnamon.

African Blue Basil

Is there something out of the ordinary that you like in your tea? Happy Tea Tuesday! Be sure to visit Kimmie to see what the rest of the ladies are up to.

Vintage Makeovers...

2011-09-12T16:42:00.001-04:00

Here are a couple of things I've been working on... First, the candy dish...

I got this pretty little hand painted plate for a quarter at a thrift store.

I had a set of frosted glass candle sticks at home, so I mounted it on one of them...

and made this cute little raised dish for candy... keys... jewelry or whatever!

Now the old rusty cheese grater... which I got for $2 at the same thrift store.

I had my hubby cut a groove in a block of wood to mount it on. It needed a groove to slip the bottom of the frame into, because I wanted it to be able to sit on a dresser or vanity.

I then covered the base with decoupaged metallic gold tissue paper, glued in the frame and added more tissue paper to hide it. I also painted the edges with metallic gold acrylic paint to match the paper.

I adhered an old pink flower brooch to the loop handle at the top and added a pair of vintage leaf earrings....

I thought it needed more bling, so I glued a strip of rhinestones across the top and bottom....

and voila! I have a cool, shabby chic earring tree!

I love it! And it's great for both wire and post type earrings, since it sits upright and doesn't hang on a wall.

Friday Haiku...

2011-09-09T09:21:00.002-04:00

We are still waiting for this in Florida... but it's getting closer!

The sky grows paler...
a prelude to icy gray.
Colors warm below...
DDD2011

For more Friday Haiku visit Haiku my Heart.

Tuesday Tea... A Heavenly Match...

2011-09-06T08:33:00.003-04:00

Good Morning! Thanks so much for all of your lovely comments about my anniversary post! For our anniversary, we went to breakfast, then out to Green Key (a nearby island park). More on that in another post... Today is all about tea! I'm having my usual black, this morning it's Ceylon, with milk and Stevia.

Isn't this the coolest little tea room you've ever seen??? Oh how I would love to run something like this! You can find the post and more photos here. I found it while researching tea blogs.

I was researching tea blogs, not just because I love tea (as you know), but also because I've started writing for California Tea House's Tea Chat Blog! You can find the link on my side bar and here is the link to my first post! It's posted under the "SpiritualiTea" category of the blog. Not only do I get to do one of my favorite things... write about tea and related topics, but I earn incredible loose leaf tea! A match made in heaven...

Happy Tea Tuesday everyone! Don't forget to visit Kimmie to see the other tea posts for the day!

Anniversary...

2011-09-04T22:45:00.000-04:00

Seven years ago today, Bruce and I wed among a handful of family and friends while waiting for Hurricane Frances to make landfall in Florida.

Shortly after our dinner reception, which our best man couldn't stay for because the Skyway Bridge was about to be closed and he had to go over it to get home, the owners of the Bayboro House Bed and Breakfast boarded up the windows of the main house...

Bruce and I smuggled my dog, Fred, into the 100 year old cottage out back, where we stayed for two nights. My father, who was supposed to dog sit, was unable to make it down, due to the storm... Everyone else was evacuating... so he had to stay with us...

It was a lovely, windy day of alternating clouds and sun...

but all in all... was full of light...

Friday Haiku...

2011-09-02T11:41:00.001-04:00

( copyright 2009 Jim P. Brock )

they gather en masse...
jewels scattered on the ground...
a magic carpet
DDD2011

For more haiku love visit Haiku my Heart

Tuesday Tea...

2011-08-30T12:58:00.001-04:00

Wow I can actually join Tuesday Tea early enough in the day to have caffeinated tea! I'm enjoying it with the Bird of Paradise flowers I cut from the vacant yard next door...

I'm having my normal morning tea... black! Yes I know it's past morning, but I drink tea all day. This is my green Aladdin pot with gold trim. I got it from an antique store in my parents' home town. I'm drinking from one of my orphans... The flowers are only on the inside to I see them when I take a drink. The glass and silver dish is something I found at a thrift store and it's perfect to hold my Stevia packets.

I completed Jenn's pen
for her guest book.

It's covered in gold tissue paper and I attached some silk hydrangea flowers to the top and adorned it with a gold glittery bow.

Here's a black 8x10 photo frame I converted into a memo frame...

I spotted the raised detail of the frame with robin's egg blue acrylic paint to coordinate with the clothes pins. The paper covered clothes pins are perfect for hanging notes, photos or even fabric swatches in an office or studio. The paper strips are glued on and coated with Modge Podge.

I hope you're enjoying your Tuesday... Please visit Kimmie to see what the other ladies are up to!

Question...

2011-08-28T21:34:00.002-04:00

Has anyone out there monetized their blog? Is it worth it?

My Friend's Wedding...

2011-08-27T14:53:00.000-04:00

My friend Jenn and I are planning her October wedding! We've gotten our dresses and shoes, serving set, all the silk flowers for bouquets and centerpieces and all the other decorations. I've made her a guest book. I'll be making her a hairpiece with one of these butterflies too...

and her mom's corsage (it's upside down so you can see it better)...

a sample boutonniere...

and the first brush for a centerpiece.

I haven't started on our bouquets yet... but they will be similar to the centerpieces. Her dress has all these colors in it... is tea length, flowing and has a handkerchief hem.

I'm having fun with this and it's keeping me somewhat busy... I'd really like to do this kind of thing for a living... for small and intimate weddings at least...

Wouldn't that be a wonderful way to keep romance in your life?

Time for Art...

2011-08-26T09:28:00.002-04:00

I guess I'm a full time artist now. I was let go from my agency after more than 10 years there, 5 1/2 years with another environmental agency and over 10 years in the field in the private sector. I'm not bitter. I'm stunned and distressed at the moment, but not bitter. I'm proud of my career and accomplishments. Proud of protecting places and the life that fills them, like the rare Pine Lily above on the Myakka River Prairie...

After serving on the Myakka River Council for more than 14 years for 2 different agencies, I feel like an era has come to an end... but now I have more time to focus on creating nature inspired art and prose.

2011-08-24T22:25:00.002-04:00

(Photo source: blog.shoemetro.com)

The other shoe dropped today...

Muddling through...

2011-08-14T18:57:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine uses this term... muddling through...
It seems appropriate now... I'm still waiting to find out if I will be "offered" the "separation incentive package" at work. If I'm offered, I'll have to take it or my position will be eliminated. Thanks $#@&*^% Governor Scott! I've been weighing my options and trying to figure out how to reinvent myself if this happens. This is not the best time to lose my job... Is there ever a good time to lose your job? I don't think so.

I've been dreaming about actually being able to support myself with my art... Maybe now is the time to see...

I've been painting some. Both are approximately 5 x 5 inches, oils on gessoed scrapbook paper.

A Funky Wren...

and a Palm Warbler on a flower stem... They are such pretty little birds...

I've also been helping a friend to plan her wedding. We've gotten our dresses and shoes and I'm doing the invitations. I'm also doing the centerpieces and gazebo decorations. It's fun and something I wouldn't mind doing for a living... or at least helping an event planner or something. I think doing weddings would be a great way to keep romance in your life... but I imagine it would be a stressful occupation. Anyway, I'm trying to keep my chin up in the face of so many obstacles in my life.

I have been visiting your blogs dear friends, even though I haven't commented lately. I hope your summer is going wonderfully... It's been soooo hot and humid here...

Friday Haiku...

2011-08-05T18:54:00.000-04:00

I'm parched...

(photo source: livedynamite.com)

Prayers grow skyward...
trunk, limb, twig, leaf, flower... then
seeds of zen rain down...
DDD2011

Fill you heart with haiku here:
Haiku my Heart

Tuesday Tea...

2011-08-02T18:27:00.002-04:00

I missed last week's tea... but I did get all my pretties into my hutch. Charmaine and I had a great time unpacking and placing... It was like Christmas! So... as I sit here with my iced blackberry sage tea, I'll show you how it turned out.

Here it is from the other side of the table... Sorry I can't show you the entire hutch... it sits on tapered legs and has 3 drawers under neath.

My grandmother sits proudly on top with a few vintage pieces...

The top shelf holds my McCoy midcentury modern sets an art glass egg and lady's head vases...

my grandmother's silver glazed English pot, souvenir glasses and her cobalt crystal vases... Sorry about the glare... the middle doesn't open and the glass is curved so the glare is unavoidable...

Here are the other McCoy set and lady's head vase... Also throughout the hutch is my mother's Capodimonte porcelain flower collection.

The middle shelf holds various Asian teapots, including my Yixing pots from China and my grandmother's mayonnaise dish. Behind these are my antique dresser trays. This one my great great aunt painted. Her initials are on the back with the year... S.E.B '93... That would be 1893!

This pot I got on Ebay and then later saw the same pot at a thrift store... before I moved here, Charmaine's friend had bought it for her... so we each have one! More Capodimonte roses... these are candle sticks. This dresser tray was on my grandfather's dresser...

More pots on the middle shelf... my little duck Yixing pot is here, as well as one of my childhood teapots. The painting was done by my late, sweet mother-in-law. It was in my husband's grandparents' house and she gave it to me when they went into the nursing home.

The lower shelf holds some very special stuff.... Here is a very, very delicate bone China tea set. Even the cups have little feet and the fluting on the tops is so pretty... There are no markings on this set, it is obviously hand painted and gold trimmed. It was passed down to my grandmother, who passed it down to me. Her crystal wine glasses are here too.

Here are all the violets! The cigarette case and ash trays, candy dish and coasters were handed down from my grandmother as well... The little round lustre vase is my hubby's and I found the taller one at a thrift store and bought it for him to match the other.

This tea set and fruit compote with saucer was purchased over a number of years from Woolworths by my grandmother. Service for 8 was bought a couple pieces at a time... including dinner, salad, bread and dessert plates, bowls, cups and saucers, fruit compotes and saucers, the tea set, gravy boat, serving bowls and platters... Have I forgotten any??? The labels on the back of these dishes range from "Nippon" to "Made in Occupied Japan" to "Made in Japan." When Charmaine and I had tea and unpacked everything, I used the cup and saucer from this set. Of course... this shelf is rounded out with more Capodimonte flowers... My mother loved them!

I hope you enjoyed your tour of my China hutch! Happy Tea Everyone! Please visit Kimmie to see what everyone else is up to this Tuesday!

Friday Haiku...

2011-07-22T19:42:00.000-04:00

(Photo by Paul Williams - visit his website here)

morning mist settles
heavy on crystaline wings
grounding dancing flight
DDD 2011

for more Friday haiku visit Rebecca at Haiku my Heart

Tuesday Tea...

2011-07-19T17:43:00.000-04:00

Just before we moved a few months ago, the little tab on the skeleton key broke off in my hutch lock... So... the door has been locked with no way of opening it. When I packed everything up, I had to use a bent up coat hanger to retrieve teapots and such from the right side of my hutch, as I can't reach all the way across the front of it from the other door... Just this past week, the hubby was able to get it opened... of course by cutting the bar, but he was able to do so without damaging the door any further.

So... here's my empty hutch...

Tomorrow I plan to invite my neighbor over for tea and finally unpack my teapots, sets and other "hutchables" and place them in their places of honor... I'll be sure to get photos of the process and of the hutch with all it's belongings... So Happy Tea Tuesday! I'm going to have to brew more Rooibos for ice tea.. It's quite refreshing and has no caffeine, so it's great for evenings.

Don't forget to visit Kimmie to see what the other Tuesday Tea-ers are up to!

Butterflies from Heaven...

2011-07-17T13:51:00.000-04:00

A paper butterfly for "The Butterfly Effect Project."

Please see my sidebar for the link or click here.

These 3 are painted in oils on gessoed scrapbook paper. They are about 3 x 6 inches.

My plan is to have them matted together as they appear here.

The one in the middle is a Zebra Longwing... the state butterfly of Florida. The others are longwings too, but I would need to look them up to tell what they are. Enjoy!

Friday Haiku...

2011-07-15T18:43:00.000-04:00

Photo by Paul Williams

from wooded cover...
doe-eyed curiosity...
boldly approaches...
DDD2011

To read more Friday Haiku visit Rebecca at Haiku My Heart.

Experimentation...

2011-07-10T11:18:00.001-04:00

I've seen such cool paintings lately of birds and flowers against a collaged and/or "modern" background, so I decided to experiment with it. Meet the "Red Knight." Titled for the pages decoupaged and peeled on the hardboard support.

I then mixed clear gesso with a sage green acrylic paint and washed the background with it. The paint drips, smudges and circles are acrylic paint and the Knight himself is done in oils. I wish I could get all his wonderful colors in the photo... but that's something I need to work on. He has violet, plum, lavender, orange and yellow highlights. I'm thrilled with the bird, but the jury is still out on the background.

As for the water damage in my office... Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. Actually I was lucky in that my files, computer and personal things survived... Well most of it anyway... I had a Van Gogh poster (The Iris Garden) that apparently didn't survive... It's just gone... and I can't find my college diploma. It was hanging on the wall along with my planning certificate, which survived undamaged... so I'm hoping that my diploma was packed away by the restoration contractor along with my wedding picture that was hanging below it. The grandchildren photos on my desk survived... so again, I'm hoping my diploma is just packed away somewhere. My art dolls and other artwork survived as well... also my little Airstream trailer model (my retirement motivation) and the teapots that I had there are fine.

Unfortunately... on my way home, after moving files and such to a temp office... I was waiting to turn left into my neighborhood and someone pulled out from a stop sign and hit my poor little "Black Olive" car. This time... it's undrivable... Sheesh... A couple months ago, I hit a street sign and landed in a ditch to avoid hitting a bicyclist (in a hard plastic neck brace no less... he couldn't turn his head... do you think he even could have seen me???)... hence the "poor" little car. I love my little car. Is there no end to my bad luck???? I feel like Schleprock!!!

Mr. Jay

2011-07-07T10:39:00.000-04:00

I don't think he's finished yet... but here he is...

This photo doesn't show his wonderful colors...deep blue hues (of course), violets, lavenders and yellows too. I think he's very "painterly," which is what I've been trying to achieve. I'll get better photos later... maybe after he's finished.

For now... I have to head to my office to salvage what I can from the water damage.

Tuesday Tea...

2011-07-05T19:38:00.001-04:00

My holiday weekend was extended! I got a phone call from work yesterday saying that my building had water damage due to a malfunctioning sprinkler system. We aren't to return to work until Wednesday! Paid administrative leave! How cool is that! It was great for me, because I was sick in bed all weekend with an ear infection. I was finally able to get to a doctor today... So... I went by the bookstore and found this book...

I am enjoying it so much I'm more than 1/2 way through already! It's a wonderful read... especially if you love gardening, cooking, magic and hope! So I'm drinking iced Rooibos tea and reading... It's been a lovely afternoon... and I won't give away the ending of the book... I can't... I haven't finished it yet!

Happy Tuesday my friends! Please visit Kimmie to see what our other Tuesday Tea drinkers are up to! I'll be visiting later... but for now I'm getting back to my book!

Friday Haiku...

2011-07-01T18:31:00.001-04:00

Haiku My Heart....

Photo by Russ Hanson

Bright but silent horns
await the winged symphany
of a feathered song...
DDD 2011

For more Friday haiku, visit Haiku my Heart.

Tuesday Tea...

2011-06-28T18:31:00.000-04:00

Hi Ladies! It's been a while since I had tea with you... and I'm so glad to be back! Tonight I'm having Hedley's Rooibus, with pomegranate and blood orange. It's just as flavorful as black tea... and caffeine free.

Hey do you remember this little orphan of mine?

Well, I was in a thrift store a week ago and look what I ran across!!!

Of course I snapped it up...

and reunited them!

Of course the reunion wouldn't be complete without the beaded heart-shaped infuser!

Happy Tuesday Tea! Don't forget to visit Kimmie's to see what the other Tuesday Tea participants are up to...

Yes it's been a while...

2011-06-25T10:05:00.000-04:00

I know I haven't been around in a while... We made our move and have settled in to the new place. Things are a bit stressful at work. Every time we get a new administration in Tallahassee, state agencies are shaken up. With our latest governor, it's been even worse. We are all fearing for our jobs (not to mention taking a 3% pay cut, when you haven't even gotten a cost of living increase in 4 years)... How he thinks that putting government staff out of work will help reduce unemployment is beyond me. So... Being the sole bread winner in my house... I'm taking it day-by-day.

Our next door neighbor is a wonderful elderly lady that has lived an extraordinary life. Charmaine has traveled all over the world and has lived and worked in Washington D.C. She volunteers at local colleges and has so much to offer. I really enjoy hanging out with her. She also enjoys tea, has a small collection of teapots and a larger collection of English cups and saucers. Last weekend we went to lunch at a local tea room. It was lovely.

I've been painting some, but my muse has been difficult to rouse lately. I did my first beach/seascape in oils recently... Tell me what you think...

I'll try to be more present in my blogging... I know I said that a couple months ago, but I've had to make some sacrifices lately... and to be honest, I just haven't been in the mood to share. Hopefully this too shall pass...

Tuesday Tea!

2011-04-19T21:03:00.002-04:00

It's been so long I almost forgot about Tuesday Tea! I visited Collete and was reminded! So I'm hopping to visit the rest of the ladies after I post!

I'm enjoying a small pot of decaf black and Publix Lullaby, in my favorite hand painted Nippon cup, on my back porch and eating fresh Loquats from a neighbor's front yard! So sweeet!

I have a question for all you tea drinkers and herb growers and users out there... I have planted some herbs in my new yard... I used to grow many more than I have now.. I grew scented geraniums, basils, mints and lemon balms... all that taste wonderful steeped in tea..

I just planted this lovely French Lavender... I know it is used in sachets and cosmetics and such... but can it be eaten? I've not read anywhere that says it has use in cooking. I've seen teas with "lavender," but I don't know if the ingredient is what I have or something else called lavender. I'd love to be able to steep some in my tea... but I don't want to poison myself either...

Anyway... It's so good to be back among my blogging and tea drinking friends! Be sure to visit them all at Kimmie's! If I don't get around to all of you tonight, I'll be back Thursday night! Happy Tea Tuesday!

New Home... New Beginnings...

2011-04-17T12:47:00.000-04:00

I've missed you all... It's amazing how you can miss people that you've never even met! Thank you all my friends for your greetings and concern and curiosity...

We've moved into our new home and have been trying to organize all of our stuff.... I have my own studio and my husband has his desk area off the kitchen... We have a wonderful screen porch and a lovely front entryway. One drawback... our yard is pea gravel. It was all the rage in the 70s when the house was built, but I've been working in the planting beds along the front of the house and the entryway. I've planted roses and petunias, Mexican sage, French lavender, lemon balm, rosemary, savory, thyme, geranium and citronella. I also a few varieties of basil yet to plant. My neighbor has cheerfully provided some garden ornaments for my use (they were in her trash)... a 3 foot tall Roman column and one to match, only it was broken in half... so I planted some little petunia like flowers inside it. She also threw out a short stout column that I plan to put a urn on. I also have a beautiful red mandavilla vine to plant on the tall column. Pictures to come!

Searching...

2011-02-20T10:09:00.000-05:00

I've been somewhat absent in my blogging and blog hopping lately. There is a good reason... A week ago a representative for my landlady (Violet) called and said that she had passed away. She was a lovely elderly woman that we've rented our home from for six years. Anyway, the trust that now owns the house has to be liquidated in order to disperse her estate to her heirs. The house is not in a neighborhood that we really would want to buy in, plus, with massive medical bills over the past two years (my motorcycle wreck and my husbands winning battle with cancer), we aren't in a position to buy, so... we've been searching for another house to rent. The agent we have knew and worked with Violet, so she knows our situation and has been showing us very comparable homes. Anyway... until we find a place and complete the move, I will be hit or miss with my blogging. One benefit for you is that, we are going to have to downsize... That means DESTASH! So when I finally do my giveaway, there will be lots of things to giveaway. So stay tuned!

Haiku my Heart....

2011-02-18T18:06:00.001-05:00

a thrifted teapot...
assam, green, rooibos, oolong?
hmmm... which will I brew?
DDD2011

For more Friday haiku visit Haiku my Heart.

Tuesday Tea...

2011-02-15T18:57:00.000-05:00

Evening tea drinkers... Tonight's tea is Celestial Seasonings Madagascar Vanilla Red. It's African Rooibos with vanilla flavor. I love vanilla. Anyway... I'm getting ready to head south for work tomorrow... packin' my big tapestry bag. Its design has wine bottles and labels on it. I love that bag, and since I pack light and wear dresses that don't need ironing, it's perfect for me. I don't have any tea related photos this evening, so I'm reposting an old digital collage... Enjoy!

Please visit Kimmie and the rest of the Tuesday Tea participants here.

Happy Valentines Day...

2011-02-14T19:37:00.000-05:00

Hope you all have/had a wonderful Valentines Day...
It was a lovely day here...

Haiku my Heart...

2011-02-11T21:15:00.000-05:00

For color...we wait...
For new growth... new life... we wait...
For spring's warmth... we wait...
DDD2011

For more Friday haiku visit Haiku my Heart.

Tuesday Tea...

2011-02-08T19:18:00.000-05:00

I missed tea with everyone last week... but I'm here tonight... drinking my Tazo Rest. It's pretty chilly outside tonight here in Florida. I was going through some boxes this week and ran across a vintage tea pot I had forgotten about... Yeah, I know... Me? Forget about a tea pot? Well it happens once in a while. I was actually looking for my depression glass sugar bowl and creamer, which I found and "married" to the found tea pot!

They make a fine looking set... don't you think?

So what have I been up to lately? Well, I've been getting to know Geraldine...

Meet Geraldine, my new sewing machine. She's named after my Aunt Geraldine or "Sis" as we all called her. She was a phenomenal seamstress. She could make anything out of fabric and thread. When she lived in Washington state during the Korean War, she managed the Eddie Bauer sewing department. Her husband, my Uncle Jay was over there serving in the Army. The troops were having problems with their faces, mainly eyelashes, freezing. She did some research and found that Badger fur did not freeze. So she designed a parka with Badger fur around the face portion of the hood. It solved the troops problem with the cold... and earned her a bonus... $500 I think, but back then that was a good amount of money... Still is for me...

I'll post what I've been making with Geraldine later this week. Don't forget to visit the other Tuesday Tea participants. You can find them at Kimmie's.

Withdrawing from OWOH...

2011-02-07T21:17:00.001-05:00

Due to reasons I don't wish to go into, I am withdrawing from the One World One Heart event. I apologize to those that have visited and left comments, but I'm deleting my OWOH post, so that there will be no misunderstandings. I welcome you all to my blog anytime and I hope to see you again. For those that are my followers, I will include the two paintings in my own 100 followers celebration later this week. Thanks so much for being here.
Sincerely,
Dianne

Thank you!

2011-01-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-01-25T18:37:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-01-23T11:56:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-01-22T20:38:00.001-05:00

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...

2011-01-21T19:46:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-01-21T18:36:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-01-21T18:24:00.000-05:00

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

2011-01-18T19:54:00.001-05:00

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...

2011-01-18T19:45:00.002-05:00

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...

2011-01-17T18:28:00.001-05:00

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...

2011-01-16T13:03:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-01-12T13:05:00.001-05:00

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...

2011-01-11T16:11:00.008-05:00

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...

2011-01-10T18:38:00.000-05:00

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

A River of Stones

100 Followers!

2011-01-09T21:56:00.000-05:00

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....

2011-01-09T20:49:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-01-08T08:44:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-01-06T19:11:00.000-05:00

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

A River of Stones

Today's Small Stone...

2011-01-05T18:46:00.000-05:00

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

A River of Stones

Tuesday Tea and a Small Stone...

2011-01-04T19:24:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-01-03T18:45:00.005-05:00

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...

2011-01-02T19:48:00.001-05:00

The gray day turned into a silver night.

A River of Stones

Small Stones...

2011-01-02T10:02:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-01-01T12:20:00.000-05:00

I just posted this oil painting...

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

Self-Keeping...

2011-01-01T07:12:00.000-05:00

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..

Parting Post Addendum...

2010-12-31T17:35:00.000-05:00

I never expected to be welcomed into this community of blogging like I have been. I hold you all dearly and I'm filled with gratitude for the friendship and love I get from you daily...

I wish you all peace and joy and a year full of light...

Haiku my Heart... Parting Post 2010

2010-12-31T09:30:00.002-05:00

Go wander the world

little girl in all your grace.

Find your blissful way.

DDD2010

Hope and Healing...

2010-12-29T18:46:00.000-05:00

For Allegra...

Tuesday Tea on Wednesday...

2010-12-29T11:09:00.000-05:00

I was going to post this yesterday, but went to visit family, who has cats... I am allergic to cats and when I got back I took more antihistamines and went to sleep. I did have a wonderful time with cousins, my Auntie M and her new fiance (who is just delightful and will make her very happy) and my beloved Uncle Jay. While there, my cousin Lynn shared her newest favorite tea with me.

It was wonderful and I had several cups! I will be getting some! Anyway, last week, I bought the latest edition of Sew Somerset (my first)...

It has this lovely little stitched tea cup art quilt on the cover, so of course I had to get it. But I also wanted to get it in preparation for this...

My Christmas present, which should arrive sometime this week! I'm so excited! More on it when it comes...

Hope you all had a wonderful Tea Tuesday and I'll try to be on time next week. For more post from our little group, visit Kimmie's side bar to find us and see what we have to say.

Taking a break for the Holidays...

2010-12-21T18:36:00.000-05:00

I'm going to take a break from blogging for a bit. I may show up at yours and leave a comment, but I won't be posting much, if any. I would have done a Tuesday Tea post tonight, but have a major headache right now. Anyway...

I wish you all a Wonderful Holiday Season and a Joyous New Year!

Rainy day...

2010-12-18T09:15:00.000-05:00

I canceled out on the wine fest today because it's raining and will be all day... So I guess all that Christmas stuff I made will be packed up for next year... or given away to friends and family.

Do you think these cinnamon tea sticks will keep for a year if I seal them up really tight?

Altered journals...

2010-12-17T21:43:00.000-05:00

Look what can be done with $1 bin spiral notebooks...

Not to shabby (or just shabby enough), if I do say so myself! They will be for sale tomorrow at the wine fest and in my Etsy shop later (hopefully there won't be any left to post and I'll have to make more).

Haiku my Heart Friday and Magpie 45...

2010-12-17T20:51:00.000-05:00

(Photo provided by Magpie Tales)

She looked upon him,
her heart filled with love and awe...
for her Holy Child.
DDD2010

For more Friday Haiku visit Haiku my Heart.

Tuesday Tea...

2010-12-14T18:29:00.000-05:00

I'm having Tazo Rest tea tonight. It is a blend of rose petals, valerian root and "citrusy" herbs. It's very good and helps me sleep. In the spirit of Tuesday Tea...

Here are a couple more orphan tea cups all ready to go to new homes... Aren't they gorgeous?

Be sure to see what the other Tuesday Tea ladies are up to by visiting Kimmie's blog and looking for us on her sidebar.

What have I been up to?

2010-12-13T21:37:00.000-05:00

Well you all know that I've been selling my creations at a biweekly wine fest. I made these last year for gifts and decided to make them to sell this year.

As of today, I've sold all of them I made this year. I've been making other Christmas ornaments too...

Like these fabric covered spheres... I bought a couple of fat quarters and ripped them into "ribbons" and used them to cover the styrofoam balls.

Then I added the bows and jingle bells to the bottom... Rustic and cute huh? And I have the left over "ribbon" to do something with later.

I also made these felt Christmas birds with jingle bells. I didn't have any polyfill so I stuffed them with gauze. They are hand sewn... since I don't have a sewing machine. Maybe I'll get one for Christmas!

Tuesday Tea...

2010-12-07T19:43:00.000-05:00

My allergies have kicked in big time! So... tonight I'm drinking Tazo Calm... hoping that it will help me feel better. Anyway... remember my Orphan Tea Cup Adoption Program idea? Well... I implemented it Saturday at the Winery anniversary.

I had two lovely orphaned tea cups that I put up for adoption along with beaded heart shaped tea balls and a sample of custom tea from Tea for all Reasons.

A lovely lady adopted this one and took it to its new home... Obviously, I still have more orphans for folks to open their hearts to... But so far I think that my adoption program is a success!

Happy Tea Tuesday everyone and please visit our other participants at Kimmie's. Look on her side bar for us!