Primroses

The garden is just abuzz with new growth, bees and even butterflies. I just love watching spring unfold its beauty and freshness. Primroses are some of our earliest and have spread everywhere. I bought pansies a few days ago and planted them. I just love these flowers and even though they do not last into the hot weather I can't help buying and having at least some. The variety of flowers is always such a testimony of God's glory and his love for us that he would make such beauty for us to enjoy. My garden is my little bit of heaven on earth. Come sit and I'll serve you some tea and cookies.

Mini-Book

This is an origami fold mini-book I did for some friends in Arizona. I like butterflies.

OUR ONLINE SHOP

Some of you may know that we have an online shop. This was started with a two-fold idea. One I wanted to teach my daughter some basic principles of running a business (I was a broker for almost 20 years) and further, I felt this would be a way to raise support for our missions work here in Ukraine. Above is just one example of many items we have. This is a felted cuff with a vintage piece added. You can see more by visiting our shop. Just look down the right side for the Vintage Terrace 2 box.

2010 Life Path Challenge

In honor of the recent Earth Day and because I'm still thinking along these lines I decided to make another tag out of re-purposed items. I had this pretty shiny piece of insulation left over from house repair and the trims were leftovers along with the yo-yo. So there's my part of going green in the arts and crafts area. Earth Day is a good time to bring to mind the idea of using up what we have instead of just always buying more.

Challenge Question:
WHAT ONE THING DO YOU MOST REGRET ABOUT LAST YEAR, AND WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT THIS YEAR?

Fabric Post Card

This fabric post card is part of a swap I did with Swap-bot.com. I've never made a fabric postcard before so it was a fun experience in using the fabric paper technique and adding beads. If you are interesting in instructions for fabric papers just page down to March 6th where I post them.

Paper Dress Garland

I love making things for my granddaughters. I entered a swap for the paper dress garland just because I knew it would make me do it for the grand kids as well. The garland shot was a bit big for much detail so I shot a couple close-ups for you. Their mom will be here in Ukraine soon so she'll take it back for them.

Graduation Celebration

We had a special graduation celebration not long ago. Soon our little chick will fly the nest as she steps into her next season of life. As you can see she is enjoying her graduation present of a new netbook. Her first to have new and not someone's hand-me-down. Please join us in praying for this next chapter in her life. L-R, Coleen, Jeff and Leah

Artist Trading Cards, Zentangle

These cards are two I traded with a new friend back in America. She's the one that did the two ATC's I posted just a while back. I've wanted to learn the art of zentangle and so the one on the right is one of my first attempts. I have more I'll show you later.

Spring In Ukraine

These are Siberian Iris. They are very short, about 4 inches tall. Like the crocus, they come up early before the earth becomes green. They are such a marvelous expression of God's creativity. The ultimate Creator who decorated the earth. Aren't we grateful.

I Hope You Dance

I found this song on another blog. It's by Lee Ann Womack. Though country music is not on the top of my list, I think the content is certainly worth listening to. As Carly did, I would also like to dedicate this to my two daughters, Sarah and Leah.

2010 Life Path Challenge

I call this tag Black & White Going Green. Why going green? Because one day I was rummaging around in my garage and I found this small piece of tar paper. I thought I should make something with it. Now that is going green.

For those of you new to this blog we do a weekly question. I interpret mine with a tag. You can do it as simply writing what the question means to you or you can do a creative piece to interpret your answer. In time you'll have a really cool book of "You." Questions you never would have asked yourself.

Question for this week:
WHAT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU COULD DO TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR WORK LIFE THIS YEAR? HOW CAN YOU IMPLEMENT THAT?

The header above is our group Flickr site. Click on that to go to the site and add your picture. Would love for you to come play with us.

Having Fun

A little pretty made for a friend.

Spring In Ukraine

Grape Hyacinths in my garden with a visitor almost bigger than the flowers.

A Lovely Gift - ATC's

A friend sent me these beautiful ATC's (Artist Trading Cards). Unfortunately the camera didn't pick up the glitter on the butterfly that was equally shiny. I love shiny. I'm a bling sorta girl. I'll have to find out how she did that crackly stuff. It really put in the wow factor. Thank you Lindy.

Spring In Ukraine

The last of the crocus family of flowers. These last year were a complete surprise because they just popped up from who knows where. I did not plant them and they are not in a place I would plant them. I am nonetheless thankful for their marvelous beauty. There is something so pure about a white flower in nature.

2010 Life Path Challenge

Monday, time for our new question. Don't forget that there is a Flickr gallery where you can put your artsy expression if you are doing that. Just click on the header above and it will take you there. Anyone can join. Nothing to sign up to, just come back each week for a new question. The most exciting thing is that you'll have a cool book at the end of the year with many intriguing questions.
Question:
WHAT SKILL DO YOU MOST WANT TO LEARN OR IMPROVE THIS YEAR? WHAT WILL YOU DO TO ACCOMPLISH THAT?

Spring In Ukraine

Another from the heart crocus family in my front yard. The flower color is so intense and yet the grass is still so dull and hasn't yet started growing. Isn't it just wonderful?

Sisters In California

L-R: Lucy and Coleen

Spring In Ukraine

A couple years ago I found a store that sold crocus bulbs by the bag full. So I brought a bag home and thought for a time how I would use them. Finally it came to me that I would plant a heart shape of crocus bulbs to express my love for my family. Now each spring we have this lovely heart that comes up in the front yard. The whole heart doesn't photograph so well, but I wanted to show you how lovely they are so this is one of that group. When my dear husband Jeff saw it he said, "Do you see the trinity in both sets of petals?" A marvelous sample of God's creation.

This is actually the back side (folded) and won't show, but you see the fabric that I was working on to produce this interesting fabric paper.
Inside, this is what will show in the recipients book.

Close Up

These are pictures of a "tip-in" I've done this month for a swap at Making Mini-Scrapbooks. You can click on the title to get there. A tip-in is simply a page you do for someone's book and they do for you. This is a fun place to craft with mini-books as the main topic. By doing occasional swaps I always learn something that is so useful when I teach classes.

How To Photograph Sparkle and Glitter Projects by Tammy Malone

Just click on the title to visit this very helpful tutorial.

Spring in Ukraine - March Pictures

The ground is still brown and dull except for these little wonderful displays of color. It is almost like an artist's blank canvas and those first splashes of color. These are my little soldiers all lined up and beautiful. How can one not believe in a Creator when they behold such loveliness in nature?

Stampington & Co. Card Tutorial Using Beeswax

Just click on title.

Easter Cards

Unlike in the United States, Easter continues to be celebrated here for some time after the holiday. Here is a sampling of cards the kids did in Sunday school. I am art director of the church and therefore have the fun of coming up with projects. Every card or project goes home with a Bible verse on it.

2010 Life Path Challenge

Here's my tag for this week made from a technique of tissue paper on cloth with pieces of wrapping paper sandwiched in between, held together with layers of thinned glue. If you would like to show us some of your art just go to the banner above in the header and click to go to the Flickr site where you can download your artsy piece.
Question:
WHO ARE YOU MOST THANKFUL FOR THIS WEEK AND HOW COULD YOU EXPRESS THAT TO THEM?

If you are new here I invite you to come play along with us and write or do some craft to represent the weekly questions. If you continue to play along you'll end up with a really neat art collection that answers some probing questions for your life. I'm doing a tag book. Jaine is doing an altered book. You can see some of both above. Others are journaling. Come out and play.

Southern California Spring

Day Lily