Harmony Quest

Sigh... Still not enough time

2010-04-05T01:17:00.003-06:00

Sooooo, last post was in January with hopes of finding time to keep up with my Bloggieland. Honestly, I just don't know how to juggle so many things; family, home, full time work, friends, etc. I so admire those who do it seemingly with ease. Truth is, some of my happiest, most content moments were spent connecting with those of you I've had the pleasure of meeting here and through my on-line shop. I'm not giving up the hope of finding balance - I've always sought it - hence the chosen name of Harmony Quest.

I played with my digital art today for all of a whopping half hour before work and I loved it! I must admit though, that so many months have gone by that I have forgotten a trick or two. But I enjoyed myself just the same. I must make time for more!

I hope you have enjoyed a wonderful weekend of family and Easter blessings and treats. As always, I send you all the very best of wishes and hopes that you're content in all that you do. xox

It's been a long time...

2010-01-09T01:28:00.004-07:00

Well dear ones, it's been such a long time that I'm sure you think I've forgotten about you and dropped off the face of the earth! Not so at all. I think of all my dear friends I've made in Bloggieland and through my Etsy connections very often. I've missed you all!

I've gone through many, many changes in the last few months. I must say, most of them positive ones. However, through those changes I haven't found the time I'd like to keep my online business going or post here. I endeavor to structure my time so I might one day soon open my shop again and run it as a part time business. And... I certainly want to get back to Blogging as I have found so many truly talented, beautiful, giving friends here that I want to stay connected with.

I have been working full time for the last 3 months as a Guest Services Agent in the Concierge Lounge at a hotel resort in my city. I absolutely adore this job! I meet the most fascinating people from all parts of the world and live vicariously through their life's journeys that they share with me. It truly is a perfect fit for me. Always curious about people and how they live, my appetite is quenched through my interaction with the guests.

What will my future bring? Of that, I am not certain. But for once, I'm OK with that. I am learning to let go of the need to have everything laid out and planned. I am grateful for today and I look forward to tomorrow. That's enough for now. That in itself is a huge lesson for me - the one who likes to be in charge of destiny. I laugh just thinking about that. Destiny is teaching me who's really in charge and I'm liking it. I'm moving forward, not away.

My thoughts and good wishes are with you all for the best of health, happiness and contentment for this year and always. Here's a Year at a Glance Calender for you - hope it reminds you of me when you look at it - it comes with hugs and a wink ;o) The meaning behind the collage art can be found a little down the page in a prior post if you're curious. Take care of you ♥xox♥

Time to Relax...

2009-10-16T12:24:00.004-06:00

I know this is a very busy season for all of you who create to sell and most of you do it while juggling families and jobs outside of your homes as well. Lately, I've found myself pulled in too many different directions and when that happens, it's time to refuel and remember to be kind to one self so that one can carry on with tasks at hand at our peek performance. There are many things I do to relax and ground myself to get a refreshed perspective. Top of the list of relaxation for me when I don't have much time on my hands to get out, is Music and images of Nature. Mix the two together and it's magic for me. So I thought I'd share a couple of YouTube links that are among my favorites - perhaps they'll give you what they give me - a sense of calm, even if it's only for a few moments ;o)

Have a wonderful weekend xox♥

Links:

Click Here
Click Here

Another Halloween Treat...

2009-10-06T13:07:00.002-06:00

Since Halloween seems to be such a favorite Holiday for so many people, here's another treat for those of you who love to create - hope you enjoy! xox♥

An Early Halloween Treat for You...

2009-09-28T13:21:00.003-06:00

Thought you might like a fun little month of October calendar to put up on your fridge or memo boards - I created it last year for Halloween and my girls loved it. Now I'm sharing it with you - my Sweet Bloggieland friends. xox♥

A Fun Little Quiz...

2009-09-23T09:48:00.006-06:00

While visiting one of my favorite Blogs Simplify, this morning - I came across a little quiz that the author took and said was spot on for her. I thought it would be fun to try it and here are my results:

Dawn's personality type:

Popular and sensitive, with outstanding people skills. Externally focused, with real concern for how others think and feel. Usually dislike being alone. They see everything from the human angle and dislike impersonal analysis. Very effective at managing people issues and leading group discussions. Interested in serving others and probably place the needs of others over their own needs.

Careers that could fit Dawn include:

Teachers, consultants, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, clergy, sales representatives, human resources, managers, events coordinators, politicians, diplomats, writers, actors, designers, homemakers, musicians, religious workers.

Give it a try! Take the quiz of 41 questions - Click Here.

My Ocean on the Prairies...

2009-09-22T22:12:00.008-06:00

I can't believe that I have lived in my city for 8 years and have never been to the near by National Park of Elk Island. Have I ever been missing out! I took my girls there this past weekend and was so captivated by it that I returned there again today, all by myself for a few hours of contemplation and solitude.

Many people visit there for education as it is a National Park historically rich in culture, as well as a conservation of nature at it's finest and it's inhabitants which include Bison, Elk, Deer, Moose and all kinds of Birds. Others come for the camping, hiking, boating, cross country skiing in winter - all the outdoor leisure activities that one could possibly think of.

Why did I visit there? To spend a wonderful day in nature with my girls. What did I find? I found my Ocean in the Prairies. The park is vast - it has many lakes. The one that took my breath away was one that while standing on the shore, I forgot that I was in Alberta. I was transported back to the West Coast while I looked at the sandy beach, white caps in the water, gulls, an island in the middle of the lake begging to be explored if I had a boat. The most mesmerizing thing of all, was the sound of the constant wind blowing through the leaves on the tall trees. Fall is here and you'd never know it - it was 32 degrees celcius today - but although unusually warm, the trees know their seasons and the leaves have begun to turn there fall colors.

Is there somewhere you are longing to be - is there something you're longing to have? Take a little look, go explore - it just might be closer than you think - and if it's not exactly the 'it' you're longing for - why not allow your imagination to pretend it is - even if only for a moment. Try it - you might be pleasantly surprised, I was.

Pimp & Paint's Give Away...

2009-09-04T10:27:00.004-06:00

I'd like to invite you to go have a visit to a wonderful place in Bloggieland... Pimp and Paint. Luthien is the dear one behind this lovely Blog and she's so delightfully funny, clever and talented and shares lots of 'how to' info on all kinds of fun projects. She has just posted her 100th post to her Blog and is offering a beautiful pendant as a give away to celebrate! Go have a visit, leave her some love and good luck in the draw for the pendant! Congratulations Luthien - you are inspiring! xox♥

A Wonderful Holiday...

2009-09-02T12:56:00.003-06:00

I'm baaaaack! The girls and I had such an amazing time in Victoria and Sidney! My heart and spirit are still there - I guess that's what happens to all of us when we come back from holidays, doesn't it? I treated the girls to 2 nights stay at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria - in a word - stunning. That is a place I have passed by countless times in my past and always dreamed of one day staying there - so we did. We were such little tourists there, exploring all kinds of attractions and time just flew by. While in Sidney, we enjoyed lots of walks along the ocean front and a day at Sidney Spit, a beautiful sandy beach you can only reach by boat. I was also able to take the girls to the High School I attended as it was open and to my surprise, my Class Graduation picture was hanging in the hall. The girls tried their hand at shrimping for the first time and it was so much fun watching my little city slickers taking the shrimp out of the net that they caught.

I used to live in Sidney as a young girl and it has changed so much, for the better. Or is it that one has a different appreciation for things as we get a little older and wiser?

I'm easing in to the reality of being back home in Edmonton and the girls are back at school as of today. September will bring regular schedules and routines back in to our lives and although we love the summer, it's always nice to welcome the coming fall season.

Hope you all have enjoyed your summer as much as I have - I'm wishing you much love, happiness and success in all that you do as we go forward in to the busy seasons ahead.

Love Dawn ♥xox

Mini Vacation Time...

2009-08-25T09:16:00.002-06:00

The girls and I are off to have some fun together for a few days before the start of a busy school schedule. My Victoria is so excited because although she's flown on a plane before, she doesn't remember it as she was so young - so she's off the charts thrilled about it! We all are excited!

See you next week and best wishes for a happy start to a new school year for all of you who have kids school age.

Love, Dawn xox♥

If...

2009-08-21T13:43:00.009-06:00

August 18 marked the date that my Mother would have turned 83 years old this year. I posted awhile back that she passed a few years ago of Alzheimer's Disease. I'm happy to say that although I miss her dearly, I can look at her picture and smile, think of a memory shared and laugh, but most of all, I feel her presence often and I love the feeling of unwavering support and love she gave me and to this day, I still feel it.

She had a fondness for poetry and one of her favorites became one of my own favorites and so I thought I'd share it with you.

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build them up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Wow, if only we could all actually live this way, hmmm? Lol! Well, I guess most of us try don't we - at least some of it anyway! I have very fond memories of my Mother reciting different parts of this piece throughout her life, depending on what she was facing at the time. She was so articulate and spoke softly and a smile would slowly appear on her face as if by mearly uttering these words, all would be well... and so it was.

Perhaps something in those words will speak to you - it's wonderful how that happens - sometimes we get to read or hear exactly what we need, when we need it.

Have a wonderful weekend dear ones! xox♥

Keep Moving Forward...

2009-08-12T11:22:00.001-06:00

I am so enjoying this summer with time spent with my girls and friends! I can't help but feel a little pang of indulgence guilt as I am not spending much time at all tending to on-line business. All I can say is "It is what it is" and be grateful that I'm able to take this much needed time to just 'be'.

On the agenda the last couple of days has been back-to-school shopping - yay (not!). My girls love to get organized for school early and even though it's a bit of a task, I'm always grateful to get it done early especially when I see all the crazed parents trying to find supplies at the last minute... that's not fun - I did that once and promised myself, never again!

Even though the summer is still a few weeks from its end, my mind is ever busy with thoughts of the year ahead of me. Recently I read a little excerpt of the life that Abraham Lincoln lived - I'll share it with you cuz sometimes we can all use a little reminder to feel gratitude for all that we have.

Excerpt from The Best Way Out is Through,
by B.J. Gallagher

Many people do not know that Abe Lincoln endured many hardships and heartaches throughout the course of his life - at times struggling with severe depression. Consider the following:
He spent his childhood working on the family farm, with long days of back-breaking toil. Unfortunate circumstances forced his family to abandon their home in Kentucky and move across the river to Indiana, in search of better opportunities.
His mother died when he was just ten years old, leaving his father to raise the children.
He went to work for a none-too-scrupulous businessman, who ran the business into the ground, leaving young Abe unemployed.
He ran for the Illinois state legislature and lost, finishing eighth in a field of thirteen.
He signed a note to buy into a general store with a friend, but within a year they were out of business, overwhelmed by a better-organized competitor in the same town.
He fell in love with Ann Rutledge, became engaged to marry her, only to have her die unexpectedly. He was heartbroken and severely depressed.
He fell in love again and married Mary Todd. Together they had four sons, three of whom died before reaching adulthood.
He was finally successful in getting elected to the state legislature and made two attempts to become speaker. He was defeated both times.
He wanted to run for Congress but failed to achieve his party's nomination.
He ultimately won a seat in Congress. But when he sought to run for the U.S. Senate, he couldn't muster the votes and withdrew from the election.
He was selected as a Vice Presidential candidate, but due to late entry in the field, he couldn't win enough votes.
He ran for the Senate again but didn't win the seat because his party failed to gain control of the legislature.

But despite all the struggles and setbacks, at no point did Lincoln ever give up; personally or professionally. He endured great pain and sadness, but he didn't let it stop him. He just kept going.

Finally, he ran for the highest office in the land and became the 16th President of the United States, at a time when our country was facing its worst internal crisis ever: the Civil War. Lincoln won the war, ended slavery, and unified the nation.

If ever there was a man who exemplified perseverance and the enduring of personal discomfort, it was Abraham Lincoln. If he could have such pain in his life and still achieve all that he did, how can you - how can I - let discomfort stop us from achieving our own goals?

As I am Canadian, American history taught at school was brief and so I didn't learn detailed accounts of prominent leaders. But when I read this, it reminded me that his is just one story of many, and when we are faced with adversity and all things that seem impossible we need only to reflect on those people who have seen and dealt with real struggle and kept on going.
So dear ones, if at times you feel a little overwhelmed with the tasks at hand, know that you are not alone - many have struggled before you, many will struggle in times to come. But it is in you, if you want it bad enough, to keep going and never lose sight of your dreams.
Love, Dawn xox♥

Tick, Tock - Time is Flying! ...

2009-08-04T11:59:00.004-06:00

It's August 4th already and it seems like summer only started! I can't believe how fast it's going. I have a full month ahead; friends and family visits, my Stephie off on a holiday with her Dad in mid Aug. and then I'm taking the girls to BC for a few days vacation towards the end of the month. Somewhere in between all that, we need to shop for back to school supplies, finish the basement development and find work outside the home. Phew! I'm tired just writing about it, lol!

I hope you all are enjoying a wonderful summer and that you always find time to create - I'm going to heed my own words and make time to create this afternoon! xox♥

Inspirational Blog Party! ...

2009-07-31T11:13:00.004-06:00

Hello Sweet Bloggieland Friends! Here's a little post today to remind you all of a fabulous Blog Party at Inspiration Avenue. I hope you find some time to visit - better yet, participate! The gifts offered to the participating winners are scrumptious!

Our wonderful Team Leader, Sharon of Mana Moon Studios, asked each of us Inspiration Avenue members to share our thoughts on the following - my answers are from my heart:

"What inspires you most about our team?"

Without question, it is the beautiful people that it is comprised of. Not only are they extraordinarily talented in their own medium, they are some of the kindest, most compassionate women I've had the sincere honor of coming to know. They are selflessly supportive of one another and provide a tireless source of encouragement to each other. The on-line venue for artists is immense to say the least, and to have found such a treasure as Inspiration Avenue amongst the vastness of the internet is like finding the perfect home for the creative soul.

"Out of all the work you've done, what piece of your own creation inspires you the most and why?"

One of my most treasured digital creations is the Starry Nights Digital Collage. I have many passions and interests and my art always reflects them. But this particular piece is full of elements that inspire me each and every day - things that I carry with me in thoughts to always move me forward in my life's journeys. The endless sky of Stars reminds me that the Universe is full of lessons and gifts if I remain open to its teachings. The gates represent the entrance and exit in to each journey I will travel. The butterfly represents safe passage through my journeys on its graceful wings. And on the wings of the butterfly are steadfast reminders to me that there is always an Angel to watch over me while my feet are planted on the earth and my dreams are reaching for the moon and stars. May we all have safe passage through our life's journeys and always listen to our dreams and wishes because they are the whispers of our authentic selves.

If you find Inspiration in this particular Digital Art piece I created, I welcome you to download it and print it out for your own personal use. If it gives you a little smile and comfort when you look at it, then know that I am smiling with you and I am honored to share a little piece of my Inspiration with you!

Happy weekend to you all and don't forget to drop by Inspiration Avenue for the "5 Degrees of Inspiration" Blog Party and leave some love for the beautiful people behind it! xox♥

A Lovely Blog Award...

2009-07-26T21:26:00.003-06:00

I'm always so very grateful to receive such lovely awards for my little place in Bloggieland. Thank you so much to Push the Button Alpha for thinking of me for this sweet treat.

You must, must go visit this beautiful person's Blog. I adore it - mostly because the writings there inspire me so. I love to be encouraged to be philosophical and to think outside the box and every time I visit there, I do just that. So to that I say a big Thank You - for the award - but especially for gracing your readers with such mind candy! xox♥

I haven't been here much lately... tomorrow I will share a little why - til then! xox

Blog Party Invite! ...

2009-07-16T11:23:00.004-06:00

August 1, 2009 - "5 Degrees of Inspiration" Blog Party

My wonderful team members of Inspiration Avenue are hosting a Blog Party! Yay! I won't be participating due to personal time constraints, but I am sharing the news with you cuz there are some beautiful prizes to be had and these ladies are so very talented that I wanted you to go have a look and sign up to participate yourselves!

Have fun, get inspired, write about what inspires you and make connections with some amazing people - it doesn't get any better than that! xox♥

I'm back - refreshed and happy!...

2009-07-08T16:52:00.003-06:00

I had such a lovely time away - just me and a dear friend for a few days. I missed my girls of course, but sometimes a gal needs a little time away for just herself♥

My summer plans include lots of time spent with my girls and hopefully another 'holiday' coming again soon - probably won't venture too far away - summer is wonderful though, isn't it?

Hope you all are able to make some wonderful summer holiday plans of your own. xox♥

Away for awhile...

2009-07-02T11:03:00.002-06:00

So much excitement is going on in my house today! My girls and I are going to the Jonas Brothers concert tonight! Yay!!! They are off the charts excited - must confess - me too ;o)

I will be away for a few days following that for a much needed little holiday... I'll post when I return. Hope you all are keeping well and happy xox♥

Summer is finally here...

2009-06-28T08:21:00.007-06:00

Well, summer has finally arrived. Although it won't truly feel like it until Monday arrives and there is no school schedule to rush around for - Yay!! I love this time of year. I'm an early riser - not by choice, lol - I'm so not a morning person ;o) But on school days I'm up at 6am and my days are full all the way to around 11pm at night. And June is a crazy month for my girls with final exams etc.

They both finished the year with happiness and anticipation of summer and the next year of school. My Victoria is a clever cookie... she has accomplished excellent grades with 'Honors with Distinction' recognition awards and she'll be in Junior High in September. My Stephanie has done well too and will go in to Grade 12 - that will be an exciting year for her for obvious reasons, but extra special for her as her Cosmetology class will be attending various 'shows' and training in that field in California for a week.

I haven't been creating lately... my schedule has been too hectic on the home front, and I'm missing it. Hopefully we'll all settle down a bit now as we ease in to a summer time schedule and I'll be able to spend some time with my creative spirit. Here's a couple of digital collage treats for you to play with in hopes that you are able to find time in your busy schedules to enjoy your creative spirit ;o)

Happy Sunday and week that follows, everyone xox♥

2009-06-18T14:02:00.005-06:00

It just never ceases to amaze me all the wonderful people I have come to know and continue to meet through Blogging. I consider it a privilege that I get to enjoy the words you write through the experiences you live, the creativity and art you share, and the enormous giving and caring spirit you so generously give of yourselves. Thank you to all of you.♥

I have been given 2 more Blog Awards within the last couple of days. I am truly grateful to be considered for such things and I thank you very much. Because these are awards that I have received in the past as well, I've decided to bend the rules just a little (when don't I, lol). Instead of listing Blogs that I will forward the award to, please visit the Blogs I have listed below. They belong to fabulous women who are to be commended for all that they share through their own Blogs. They are the wonderful ladies who gave these awards to me. When you've had a visit with them, come back and peruse my list of Blogs I like to visit. I know you'll find something there to inspire you, relate to, and learn from.

Kitty Designes
Push the button Alpha
Mana Moon Studios

Early happy weekend everyone.... "... And the award goes to......" All of you!!! xox♥

Fun with the number 8...

2009-06-12T10:30:00.001-06:00

I've been tagged by sweet Sharon from Mana Moon Studios. She's such a dear lady with a huge giving spirit and I love this particular tag game, her answers were wonderful. I'm happy to play along too ;o)

8 Things I'm looking forward to...

1. Trying something completely new to me.
2. Visiting a friend I haven't seen in years.
3. The end of this school year, bringing summer.
4. Jonas Brothers concert with my girls.
5. Summer thunderstorms.
6. A flat tummy, lol.
7. Being quiet amongst nature in the mountains.
8. Finding my muse again.

8 Things I did yesterday.....

1. Smiled and laughed til my sides got soar.
2. Exercised for an hour.
3. Spent alone time with my eldest daughter.
4. Spoke on the phone with a dear friend.
5. Had lunch with a wise senior friend.
6. Watched golfers tee-off.
7. Got my car washed.
8. Thought about the future.

8 Things I wish I could do...

1. Take a trip to Paris.
2. Make more hours in a day.
3. Be financially free and share it.
4. Take a long walk on a tropical beach.
5. Lighten the load of a friend.
6. Meet in person the beautiful people I've come to know here.
7. Surprise a friend with a trip of their dreams.
8. I'm with Sharon on this one - I'd love to fly - I do have lots of flying dreams, lol.

8 Things or shows I've watched lately...

1. My daughter experiencing the feelings of her first love.
2. My other daughter being a wonderful role model for younger kids.
3. My girls laughing.
4. Grey's Anatomy (recorded the season and am finally watching it, lol).
5. Fried Green Tomatoes - Again! - Love that one.
6. A Mother Duck guiding her babies across the street.
7. Discovery Channel
8. Bachelorette (Cuz Jillian is from close to where I live, lol)

8 Of my favorite Blogs...

1. Mana Moon Studios
2. LuLu Kellogg
3. Push the Button Alpha
4. Thursday Sweet Treat
5. Everyday Possibilities
6. Here Be Dreams
7. My Romantic Home
8. Etsy Cottage Style

I found this little tag game fun and please feel free to consider yourself 'tagged' if you'd like to play along too - no obligation here - just a little fun if you choose. It's so nice to get little personal glimpses of the wonderful people of Bloggieland.

Happy Friday and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! xo♥

ATC Background for You...

2009-06-04T10:06:00.008-06:00

Oh my, where does the time go? I can't believe I haven't posted since last Thursday! And that was a vent post, oh dear - time for a cheerful post ;o)

My girls are really getting anxious for summer. June is a little tough for them to get through while summer is approaching - final exams, early anticipation for the next grade level, etc. So it's been a very busy week, but a wonderful week just the same.

I haven't even had much time to create digitally this week.... hmmm - I better take my multi-tasking skills up a notch, lol. Here's an ATC Background I did manange to create for you to play with.

Hope you're all well and looking forward to your weekends xo♥

Venting About a Bad Day...

2009-05-28T14:55:00.002-06:00

Yup, it's been one of those days where things just go the wrong way. I usually like to post on Thursday's and considered not posting because of today's events, but then I thought a little venting might be good for me, lol.

My Stephanie had her cell phone stolen this morning and because she's in school, couldn't call me about it until lunch time. Well, you can guess what comes next. Almost $200 in Internet connections and calling charges between 9am and 12:30pm were incurred by the time I could call in to freeze the account. Yes, someone had a wonderful time with all that 'free' access through her phone, didn't they? Fortunately the charges can be reversed on the next billing cycle due to the fact I reported it stolen. Phew!

The most unfortunate thing is that is was a Blackberry. I don't even have one of those and when she asked if she could get one, guess what the answer was? She has a job at Starbucks and she loves her job; she's the go-to girl when someone wants a shift covered and of course she gets her own hours, so she earns a pretty decent paycheck for a gal her age. She worked a lot of hours to get that phone and all the little accessories she bought for it. She's very upset to say the least. I'm pretty sure she'll be replacing it with a much cheaper phone ;o)

Picking up my Victoria from school today was the next adventure. I'm traveling on the road and all of a sudden a firetruck with sirens blaring and lights flashing decides he can't get around cars on his side of the road, so he veers in to my lane to get by and whales on the horn. Scared the pants off me as I pulled the car in to an intersection so he could get by. Sheeeesh.

Last thing, I promise - lol. I turned in to the school parking lot to find a traffic jam with a truck stalled with hazard lights on. I saw Victoria waiting for me, so I went to give my horn a little honk to wave her over my way so we could escape the jam. My horn got STUCK. Yup, there's me in the car with my horn blowing, looking like a complete idiot! I got some really lovely looks from other parents, I'm sure they thought I was being impatient and honking for them all to move. Sigh.... It stopped, but not before I drew the attention of a couple hundred people - it was track and field day today - the place was packed.

So there you have it - not all my days are filled with pretty butterflies and digital fun, hehe. I hope you all have had a much better day than I did and I wish all of us a wonderful weekend ahead. xox♥

Aaaachew...

2009-05-25T15:05:00.007-06:00

My goodness, allergies are kicking in big time with all that's coming in to full bloom outside! Yuppers, although I love this time of year, it comes with a few minor nuisances such as that ;o)

Thought I would post a couple of images for you to play with. Hope you're having a wonderful start to your week. xo♥

Wonderful Finds on Etsy...

2009-05-21T12:54:00.008-06:00

Awhile back I posted that I would like to feature an Etsy Seller each Monday. I discovered that this idea was a little tricky for many reasons unless of course you're featuring someone you already have a connection with. First, there are some sellers who don't want to be featured because they worry about copyrights etc. (understandable). Lots who do - but then because only one is chosen each week, some feel a little left out or picked over. There's a few who would like to be featured, but perhaps don't fit in too well with my blog (adult themed items and such - yikes!). Sometimes it's just plain tricky to get approval from some to go ahead and feature them.

Now I know there are so many of you lovelies in Bloggieland that do features on others all the time... and you do it very well. I've decided that for now, instead of doing features each week, I'm including an Etsy Mini of 'Wonderful Finds on Etsy' aka 'My Favorites' over in the right hand column. This way, I can share with you some of the most lovely things I've found on Etsy. I really enjoy looking at others favorites too when I visit shops and I almost always find treasures that I may not have otherwise found. I will still feature other Artists and Sellers every now and then though, because I love to shine a spotlight on fabulous work ;o)

Sending you early Happy Weekend Wishes! xo♥

Happy Friday Everyone!...

2009-05-15T11:06:00.003-06:00

Yuppers, I love Fridays... it's pizza and slurpee night at my house, so I don't have to cook - Yay! I watch movies or play Wii with my family - sometimes in to the wee hours of the morning because we don't have to get up early Saturday - Yay times two! Friday's I try to catch up with all my sweet Bloggieland friends to see what you've all been up to... and how I love my visits to each of you!

It's the long weekend here in Canada - Victoria Day (Queens Birthday). So my girls get a long weekend. Traditionally it's usually the weekend that we get our gardens in shape and potted florals out, but we've had some unseasonal weather the last couple of days... so that may have to wait a wee bit longer. Last week I was able to leave my bedroom window open while I slept and the sound of the frogs singing in the neighborhood ponds was so wonderful to fall asleep to.

But there is unpleasantness looming... I have to 'Spring Clean'. Yup... I posted way back when, that I would be getting down to business and doing some organizing around my house. Well, that never happened - it's sooooo easy to put that job off! Well it really can't wait any longer, so I must tackle it starting this weekend. Sigh

My new rule is going to be: If I haven't used it, touched it or looked at it in the last year or two, then it's outta here! Yup, I'm going to be really strong - ok, well my intentions are good. Now, of course you know I am not talking about my supplies, bits and baubles right? LOL A girl can never have too much of that!

Hope you lovelies have a wonderful weekend!♥ xox

"What makes my heart skip a beat" Blog Party...

2009-05-12T19:01:00.012-06:00

Lovely Marcela at Etsy Cottage Style is having another wonderful Blog Party and the theme is "What makes your heart skip a beat". When your visit is finished here, go have a peak at what other lovelies have shared.

Hmmmm... where do I start? I could write a novel about this one! Don't worry... I won't, lol. I'll give you a list - the short version ;o)

Well, one of the obvious things would be my ♥girls♥ of course, but for this Blog Party, I'm going to list some other yummy things.

♥ Images... old and new especially of castles, floral vignettes, and the Victorian era.
♥ Digital art... oh how I LOVE to create digital art!
♥ Beads, baubles, buttons, jewelry and all things sparkly, then add lots of ribbon.
♥ All things Shabby Chic, Cottage Chic, Paris Chic... you get the idea, hehe.
♥ Baroque and Rococo art, architecture and furnishings.

Those are a few things, how about experiences...

♥ A thunderstorm at night that produces the most amazing fresh air.
♥ Sweet birds chirping their songs.
♥ The smell of beautiful fragrant flowers and perfumes.
♥ The sweet connection of a dear friendship.
♥ Random acts of kindness.

Truly, my list could go on forever. There are so many things that inspire me. I'm grateful for all that "Makes my heart skip a beat". Or as I like to call it... "Makes my heart sing".

I'm so looking forward to visiting you to see what your heart is singing! xo♥

♥ Happy Mothers Day ♥

2009-05-09T19:05:00.006-06:00

This is a day that fills my heart... I love my sweet girls and we are very close indeed.

It's also a day of remembering my Mom who passed of Alzheimer's Disease 3 years ago... I loved my sweet Mom and we were very close indeed.

When I was little, I wanted to give my Mom something special for Mothers Day along with the usual hand made card she reveled in. I came across a decorative plate that had beautiful words for a Mother as if I had written it myself, I thought.

My Mom treasured it and it always hung in a special place where she kept things that were dear to her. After she passed, the plate became mine and it now sits on an easel near other things that are dear to me. The precious words read:

Mother

To one who bears the sweetest name
And adds a luster to the same
Who shares my joys
Who cheers when sad
The greatest friend I ever had
Long life to her, for there's no other
Can take the place of my dear Mother

For all of you beautiful, wonderful Moms... Happy Mothers Day♥ xoxo

Another Sweet Bloggieland Award...

2009-05-07T13:28:00.005-06:00

I must say, that Blogging has opened up a wonderful world to me. I have had the sincere pleasure of meeting so many beautiful people in Bloggieland! The talent, generosity, spirit, encouragement and true eye candy that so many offer through their Blogs is nothing short of inspiring and I'm so grateful to ALL of you who take the time to share so much♥

Sweet Nina of Vintage Nina has given me this lovely Award. Thank You so much! You must take a moment to visit her blog, because she represents ALL of the beautiful things I love about Bloggieland! Her loving, caring creative spirit shines through in all that she writes about and her artwork and hand made creations are beautiful. Lovely♥

Now it's time to pass on this Award to 4 other Blogs. This is truly the hardest thing to do because I enjoy so many Blogs... so I've chosen one's that I want to share with you in case you haven't already found them on your own... all are beautiful, inspiring Blogs to visit.

Cupids Charm - If you haven't found this one... you are in for such a treat. Joy is the talent behind this Blog and in it you'll find some of the most gorgeous romantic jewelry designs. But that's only a small part, Joy is an accomplished artist having been published in various Somerset Publications including "Artful Blogging". There's really so much more I could say about Joy's Cupids Charm, but you'll have to go see for yourself. Delightful♥

Push the Button Alpha - Andrea is the wonder behind this Blog. She inspires you by sharing some of the most thought provoking writings of both the well known, and her own words. I LOVE it when someone can entice me to step 'outside the box' and contemplate life experiences through different perspectives. Soulful♥

The Painted Nest - Deborah is the lovely creator of this Blog. She exudes one of the most kindest of spirits as she revels in promoting others and selflessly encourages all through her sweet nurturing words. Her vignette pictures are so pretty and it's always a treat to see what's new. Gracious♥

Nice and Easy Antiques - Clara & Marcela are the lovelies behind this Blog. While you're visiting, be sure to visit their Nice & Easy Antiques Shop - lots of treasures to be found there. Their Blog is full of eye candy for the shoppers in us, home decor ideas for the decorators in us and wonderful project ideas for the designers in us. All are sprinkled with lots of detailed images and thoughtful quotes, sayings and personality plus! Creative Inspiration♥

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Here's a special Thank You... for all the wonderful people whose Blogs I visit, and all of you who follow me - you make my creative heart sing♥

You may download this little sweetie-pie and use it for personal use or your shop packaging... just not for resale please. Enjoy! xox

Secrets of Savvy Etsy Sellers...

2009-05-03T16:58:00.004-06:00

I was doing a bit of catching up in Bloggieland this afternoon and want to pass along some wonderful free info that was posted on my Inspiration Avenue Team Blog.

Julie of On the Dot Creations has posted a new, absolutely FREE e-book, titled "Secrets of Savvy Etsy Sellers". That's right, it's free - no strings attached. How often does that happen? lol Click on the picture to take you to the e-book download link.

At first glance, it looks like it offers some great advice; some things new and others you may already know, but it's always good to have a little refresher. ;o)

Hope you find it helpful♥ xo

Engagement Party Vignette...

2009-05-01T14:17:00.012-06:00

This was a fun way to use my Sweet Hearts Art Stickers; an Engagement Party theme.

I remember just how all the 'little' things added up cost wise when I was planning my wedding and I quickly learned to prioritize, and do some of my own creating to add a special touch in decorating the tables, etc. to stay on budget. You can easily create your own invitations, place cards, wedding favor labels, 'save the date' cards, etc. In the last year, I have been invited to 3 different weddings, all of which hand created invitations were given. All had a very different look to them, but were equally beautiful.

Don't know where to begin? Does your wedding follow a theme? Find some images that appeal to the look you're going for - Etsy is a wonderful place to purchase gorgeous graphics inexpensively - do a search for 'Collage Sheets'. You'll find all sorts of images that you can create your stationery items with. Print them out on sticker sheets or paper and cut them out. Then choose coordinating card stock, decorative papers, embellishments and ribbon and have fun making some samples until you make the one you love. Don't be over-whelmed with the thought of having to do more than you can handle if you have a large invitation list. When you make them, set up an 'assembly line' and add each element to all cards one step at a time. You might surprise yourself how quickly you can get things done. Of course, help from friends or family and a yummy bottle of wine might help too! ;o)

Perhaps these pictures will get you started on a few ideas.♥

Paris Chic Afternoon Tea Vignette...

2009-04-30T09:05:00.006-06:00

Paris Chic style is truly one of my favorites... although these Harmony Pink Butterfly Art Stickers would be lovely for many different occasions or handcrafted pretties, I couldn't help but make a vignette about Oo La La Paris♥

I've posted before about how much I love digital collaging and altering butterflies and I must say, that little passion is not waning as I've made more and a couple of them will be featured on Art Cards I've made for my Etsy Shop.

I remember when my girls were little, we'd have tea parties with their miniature tea sets and we would invite their favorite stuffed animals of course! Both of their Nana's enjoyed many tea parties with the girls too. I didn't have the extra time back then to make little place cards, invitations and cup cake toppers to make it extra special. Hmmm... maybe it's time for a Big Girl tea party with all the trimmings♥

Birthday Party Vignette...

2009-04-29T11:36:00.007-06:00

Well, James and I did indeed 'build' the light box. We sort of modified it a bit in that I chose not to glue it together so I could change the length of the legs depending on what I'm shooting. I need lots of practice and I've discovered too that I need much brighter lighting, but Victoria and I had fun playing with different shots.

I did 3 different vignettes that I'll post over the next few days. The main purpose is to feature the Art Stickers I offer in my Etsy Shop... I love it when sellers add pictures in listings of their items in use, so I wanted to create my own suggested ideas for the use of my stickers.

Here's the Birthday Party Vignette using the Shades of Blue Butterflies Art Stickers. Victoria set it up and took the pictures, I think she did a great job. Funny how ♥pink♥ always plays a big part too, lol.

I just received treasures in the post, scrumptious colors of vintage seam binding and glorious other ribbons... sigh, I'm in my happy place! Off to finish some tags now ;o)

Hope you all are having a lovely day♥ xo

I've been Featured!...

2009-04-23T12:38:00.005-06:00

Oh my goodness, 2 posts in 1 day? Something must be going on here... Yuppers!!! I got a message through my Etsy shop that my Upper Lane Personalized Labels have been featured along with some beautiful labels made by other fellow Etsians, at FoundHandMade.com Yippee! Click here to see my feature.

Here's the Site I've been featured on... click the banner and it will take you there. It looks like a wonderful venue featuring many artists and shop owners that sell hand made or vintage. Have a good look around while you're visiting, they offer some other information categories to peruse too. Particularly interesting to me, was their page of Alexa Traffic Ranking stats on lots of different on-line places where hand made is sold - all on one page for easy reference. Very informative.

Happy Sigh... ok, back to work I go now ;o) ♥xo

Make a Light Box for Great Photos...

2009-04-23T10:08:00.005-06:00

Well, I've been a busy girl lately doing digital art for my Labels and Art Stickers for my Etsy Shop. I've also been doing some Art Cards and Gift Tags to add as well, but since I've mostly done digital on the computer for quite awhile now, I'd forgotten how tricky it is to get the 'perfect' shot of an item close up. So, I've been playing around with light, different locations in my house to shoot, set up, etc. I finally decided that perhaps a Photo Box or Tent would be in order because I just am not happy with the results I'm getting.

I decided to do a search on line to price one out or learn how to make one myself. Now, I've seen lots of suggestions on making these before, but I haven't been inspired enough to try it as the directions are not very clear and I just can't find the 'stuff' to build one.

I found this link today and am absolutely thrilled, so I thought I would share it with you♥

Bill Huber has done an amazing job with detailed instructions and photographs on how to make an excellent, inexpensive light box. He's even given examples of photos taken in the finished box with different backdrops and lighting, etc. Click here to go to his instructions.

On that page, there's yet another link to Kevin Criscione who has also done this light box and offers even more suggestions and photo taking tips. Click here to go to his instructions. Once there, just click on the Welcome button to get the tutorial started.

I can totally see this as a plausible project and it sure beats spending big moola for a professional tent! So... I hope James doesn't mind giving me a hand this weekend, cuz I have a light box to build with a whole lot of pictures waiting to be taken! ;o)

Maybe you take amazing shots already, or have done this research yourself and built your own... but if you're like me, *pulling hair out - trying to find just the right lighting, just the right setting, etc., etc.* then perhaps this little bit of info may be useful for you.

Have a wonderful weekend lovely Sweets! ♥xo

Yay, A Blog Party!...

2009-04-15T23:15:00.014-06:00

Blog Parties are so much fun - it's great meeting new lovelies♥ from Bloggieland too!

I'm taking part in the Etsy Cottage Style Blog Blue Party. What's it all about? The yummy color Blue of course ;o) Participants are asked to simply post about anything related to the color blue. One of the suggestions was to share some of our latest creations. Since I haven't had time to prepare anything else for you (the real deal - my camera battery is dead and it's late and there's no way I'm going to capture some Sweet Blue images for you at this time of night anyway, lol ;0), I'm going to share some of my latest creations.

I've added a new line of Personalized Labels in my Etsy Shop and these are among my favorites.

This one is called Upper Lane. Lots of scrolly lovelies on this one.

LOVE this poshy one, that's why I called it Truly Posh.

This one has Blue in it and I call it Cottage Chic, so I thought it would qualify ;o)

How about some more Blue... Heather Blue Scroll

I guess it's pretty obvious that I like the color blue, it's such a lovely color with all of it's varying shades. Even my Blog Banner is full of blue!

You know what's funny? I always thought I loved the color Pink the very most. But, when I look at a lot of the digital collage work I've done, I have more Blue than any other color.

Ok, I think I've covered my fair share of Blue here, lol. My goodness - I think most of my entire Blog set-up is Blue! Sheeesh - It's true - Blue has replaced my Pink... sigh.

Thanks so much for visiting and I'll be popping in to your Bloggieland homes to see your lovely Blues too. xo♥

PS: While you're here, please help yourself to any of the images I've posted in past posts - they're labeled 'Free Image'. Perhaps you'll find a little something you'd like to have♥

Sweet Bloggieland Awards...

2009-04-14T13:12:00.005-06:00

A while ago, my sweet friend from "Mana Moon" gave me a Karma Award. Then just recently, another lovley from "Shhh...Confessions of an Artist: Lunatiger" gave me a Sisterhood Award. Isn't Bloggieland a wonderful place? I am so honored that these ladies chose to give me these awards and I thank you both very much.

The rules for these awards were very similar, so I decided to just post the ones that came with the Sisterhood Award.

The rules for this award:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 5 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

So I have chosen to pass on the ♥love♥ to:

LuLu from LuLu Kellogg (aka Coastal Sisters)
Catherine from La Perle Jewellery
Sharon from Mana Moon Studios
Angie from Art Angel Studio
Abbie from Down Abbie's Road

Go have a look at the blogs of the incredible ladies I've listed above♥

So Sweets, pass on whichever or both of these awards you want to. If doing so isn't your thing, then no worries - just wanted you to know I think you're wonderful!

The truth is, I've come to love Bloggieland and have read some fantastic blogs. I'm also grateful for all of you lovelies that follow me here, so here's some big "Karma" and "Sisterhood" Love from me to you too♥ xo

Happy Easter Sweet Friends...

2009-04-12T09:27:00.003-06:00

Happy Easter! However you spend your day today, I hope it's wonderful for you. ♥

Can you believe my girls still love an Easter Egg Hunt? Yup, they certainly do. They told the Easter Bunny that now that they're older, he could take them off his list under one condition... that he would pass on a few Egg Hunt secrets to Mom so she could carry on hiding yummies for them.

So that's exactly what I do! It's quite fun - I make riddles and clues and they have to solve each one to find the next. Our favorite treats include; Reese's Peanut Butter Cup minis, Robbin Eggs, Cadbury Mini Eggs and yummy flavored Jelly Beans. Of course, the treasure at the end of the hunt always includes a solid Bunny. Yum.

Hmmmm... I think I hear the stirrings of waking family upstairs. I'm off to have some fun ;o)

Will you have some treats today? If you were here, I'd share mine with you♥ xo

It went too fast...

2009-04-05T08:09:00.002-06:00

Spring Break is almost over - the girls are back in school tomorrow... sigh. We had such a wonderful time together! James took the girls skiing, they had such fun. We have enjoyed Mini Golf, a movie at the theater, shopping, Wii, looking through old family pictures, and crafting among other things.

I was looking at my last post and laughed as I had hoped to accomplish some things around the house as well. Not one single thing on that list was even thought of, lol! Oh well, the basement and sorting, etc. will still be there to do. A week off with the girls was way more fun!

Back to routine tomorrow and a whirl wind of work to do to list new goodies for my Etsy Shop. I need to catch up with my Bloggieland list and visit all of you lovelies too! ;o) See you soon xo♥

On Vacation... Sort of ;o)

2009-03-26T12:04:00.007-06:00

Spring is coming; the sweet little birdies outside are growing in numbers and chirping their pretty little songs. We still have a little snow outside too, but it's quickly melting in the bright sun - Yay!

My girls have Spring Break holiday for 1 week - time off from school! I LOVE having them home.

I'd love to write that we'll be jet-setting off to somewhere fabulous... hmmm... Paris would be nice, or maybe somewhere tropical like the Bahamas. NOT! That would be nice, but it's not to be.

So what will we do? Well, we're trying to get our basement developed so the girls can have their own space to hang out with their friends. I did hire someone to do it, but his health issues have prevented him from coming very often, so things get done in little spurts - then nothing for a long while - sigh. All that being said, there are definitely a few things that we can do down there that are manageable, so that's on the agenda.

Spring around our house usually brings that feeling of wanting to re-organize and change things up a bit, as well as getting brave and finally purging all of those 'maybe I'll use this one day' things that we haven't even looked at in the last year, hehe.

So, doesn't all that sound exciting and fun? LOL

Actually, we do have some fun things planned too. James is taking the girls skiing for a day; they all love it - me? Nope - I just can't get used to the idea of putting slippery sticks on my feet and charging down a steep mountain. I tried it a few times and I'll probably give it another go at some point, but for now I'm quite content to wish them fun on their ski day together minus me!

There is much to do and see in our city and we plan to be 'tourist' for a day or two and enjoy some attractions. The 3 of us girls will probably do some shopping too, they grow like crazy and new spring lines are calling their names at the mall!

Have any of you ever seen the movie "Christmas in Wonderland" with Patrick Swayze, Carmen Electra among others? Not the greatest, lol - but it was filmed in our mall and the girls and I got to be extras in it. We were Christmas shoppers - we're in a couple of scenes, but if you blink - you'd miss us! AMAZING experience - we had sooooo much fun! Anyway, the mall is considered to be one of the world's largest with several indoor attractions such as a massive waterpark with numerous slides, wave pool and bunjee jumping. Also there's an amusement park that has rides and games you'd typically find at an outdoor seasonal fair. There are movie theatres, mini golf, bowling alleys, arcades, under-water sea world, skating rink - the list is endless. Of course, the shopping there is amazing too. So you see, there's lots of fun to be had.

I've taken all of my listings out of my shop and posted there that I'm on vacation. Since we're not going far, I'll be checking my emails daily and I'll probably post here at some point too.

My shop will be open again on Tuesday, April 7 and I'll be launching my new line of personalized labels and paper goods at that time.

Hope you all are seeing signs of spring where you are, see you soon! ;o) xoxo

PS: Help yourself to the images I've included in this post; they remind me of beautiful spring.

A Few of My Favorite Things... on Etsy

2009-03-23T09:15:00.014-06:00

My 'Favorite' today is one that I am personally attached to. It's our new Team Shop on Etsy:

Inspiration Avenue

The shop consists of artistic creations that our sweet members donate. Proceeds go towards charities as well as operations of running the shop. I'm working on a digital art collage to list there in the next few days. You can find these lovelies following the current 'Sea Theme' in our shop right now.

Go have a look and 'heart' us as one of your favorites ;o) Then go back and check in often, because the ladies in this group are so talented and they each create such wonderful things!

Ok, I know - this one's been a bit of a 'shameless plug', lol - but I just couldn't help myself - I LOVE Inspiration Avenue!

For more eye candy, check out our Team Members Shops ;o)

http://www.angiekellydesigns.etsy.com
http://www.artangel.etsy.com
http://www.CoastalSisters.etsy.com
http://www.Coralseas.etsy.com
http://www.harmonyquestdesigns.etsy.com
http://www.LauraLeesTastyTreats.etsy.com
http://www.manamoon.etsy.com

Have a wonderful week everyone! ;o)

Graceful Wings of Butterflies...

2009-03-20T19:43:00.003-06:00

I was going through all of my image files, pulling things from here and there to incorporate in to my new label line today. I am always drawn to my Butterfly file because I just love the beauty, elegance and gracefulness of them. There are so many stunning shapes and sizes of Butterflies and I am completely addicted to altering and collaging their graceful wings.

I thought I would share this little pretty with you; I created it some time ago and thought you might like it to incorporate in to your own lovely creations.

Do you have some time to create this weekend? I hope you do - me? Yes, I plan to make some time to create with my hands this weekend. Lots of time has been spent on the computer lately and I'm looking forward to playing with lovely bits and bobbles ;o)

Have a wonderful weekend full of what makes you happiest! xxoo

Monday's are 'A Few of My Favorite Things... on Etsy'...

2009-03-16T10:51:00.019-06:00

Monday's... sigh, the weekend is over and it's the start of a new week. I like to spend some time on Monday mornings surfing around Etsy to see what kind of yummy things that catch my eye. I find it's a great way to get me in both a creative and business mode to start my week as I peruse all of the talent and wonderful things presented there.

I want to share with you one of my favorites each Monday.

Today I'd like to show you some beautiful findings and charms from Terri at:

Dime Store Emporium

I have purchased some pieces from her to create jewelry and assemblage treasures for my girls and me. I LOVE her selection; this is definitely a shop that I spend time looking at every listings page because I don't want to miss a thing!

A snip-it of Terri's Shop Announcement reads:

"I am always on the hunt for the most unique items, I have some great sources. Because of this, I am always updating my shoppe so please stop by often, I promise you won't be disappointed."

She keeps her promise... I've never been disappointed and even when I'm just being a looky-loo to see what's new, I'm always treated to lovely eye candy in her shop!

Go have a visit, her findings are a 10 out of 10 on my "Yummy" scale! ;o)

Etsy Shop Address: www.dimestoreemporium.etsy.com
Web Site Address: www.dimestoredaze.com
Blog Address: www.dimestoedaze.typepad.com

I have a question for you...

2009-03-12T11:56:00.003-06:00

As I mentioned in the previous post, I will be adding Personalized Labels / Stickers to my Etsy Shop within the next couple of weeks. I have lots of different designs in the works, this label is just a mock-up sample. My mind is running around in circles as to how I should offer them; digital download or printed?

So if I may ask you clever sweets to think about this with me for just a moment:

If you were a potential customer wanting labels, would you prefer a digital download of them personalized for you so you could print them out on your own sticker sheets, etc. printing as many as you want, any time you want?

Or, would you prefer to purchase them printed from my color laser printer in which case you would be purchasing by the sheet with 20 or so per sheet?

I must admit, I am very fond of selling digital downloads as there is no shipping cost to the purchaser and it's as fast as a few clicks of a button. But, I'm also aware that there are lots of people who don't have quality printers that produce images, etc. that they're happy with.

Hmmmm, what to do, what to do. Perhaps the obvious answer is to offer both options.

Just thought I'd put this little question out there to see what you think, thanks so much for taking the time to answer. ;o)

Yummy Scroll Designs...

2009-03-11T12:03:00.006-06:00

I just can't get enough of the ornate scroll designs of yesteryear. They are amazing to incorporate in to Digital Collage or just about anything else you create with.

I am working on a new line of Personalized Labels / Stickers that will be introduced in to my Etsy Shop within the next couple of weeks. I'm having so much fun creating them - lots of scrolly and poshy designs.

I was organizing my picture files and came across this little pretty I altered some time ago, I thought you might like to use it for your card making or scrapbooking, etc.

Hope you're having a wonderful week ;o)

Donation has been made...

2009-03-09T23:05:00.004-06:00

A donation has been made to the Cruz family in honor of their sweet Zachary that included proceeds from sales of some of my listings as well as a little extra on my own behalf.

Listings have ended now. Thank you so much to those of you who purchased through these listings and please know that your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.

To the Cruz family: Our thoughts are with you.

Some Good News and Sad News...

2009-03-05T15:24:00.005-07:00

I'll share the Good News first...

Through Victoria's efforts at selling the book marks, key tags and magnets at her school, she was able to raise over $70 to go towards the Water School Project! Yay for her! This is wonderful because for $50 a family can have clean water for life in Africa through this organization. She is so pleased and learned an invaluable experience about the gift of giving to others in need. I'm very proud of her, Good Job Victoria!!!! ;o)

Thank you to everyone who posted sweet words for us on this project!

Now the Sad News...

I learned through a sweet friend of mine, that sadly one of our own fellow Etsians lost her young son, Zachary Michael Cruz, last Friday in a traffic accident. The family is accepting donations to help with funeral costs.

Some vendors at Etsy have decided to help this family in their time of sorrow and need. If you'd like to purchase something that proceeds will go towards this cause, click here or type in 'Zachary's Fund' in the items search bar on Etsy and you'll find some lovely things there.

I have listings dedicated to Zachary and his family; you can easily find them under his name in the section area of my shop. Proceeds from the sales of these Digital Downloads will go to his family.

For more information, visit the Official Website for Zachary here.

Being a Mom, I can only imagine the depth of loss this family is experiencing. There aren't any words that will comfort. My thoughts are with them.

Extra Long Weekend...

2009-02-28T00:09:00.007-07:00

My girls both have an extra long weekend having had Thursday and Friday off so teachers in our area can attend a teacher's convention. It's so nice when they get time off school - sleeping in, having friends over, and just plain enjoying each other. What will we do? I don't know - for once there's no plan other than just to be together and I'm loving it.

My Victoria does have a school project she's asked me to help with though. She's making some magnets and she's asked me to make some book marks to sell at school next week. The theme she wanted to create with is places around the world. Of course Paris had to be among them as she's particularly fond of it and she would love to go on a trip there one day - actually all of us in our family would.

The money earned from sales goes to an organization called Water School; they are working towards providing clean water for families in Uganda. I'm really proud of her efforts in trying to make a difference in people's lives that are so deserving of clean water - the most basic but essential need for survival.

So in the spirit of giving, here's one of the book marks I made for her... hope you can tuck it in your favorite book and do some reading this weekend. ;o)

One of those days...

2009-02-24T14:54:00.006-07:00

Yes, it's been one of those days. But in the good sense! I just joined a new wonderful group of talented people on Etsy... Inspiration Avenue Etsy Team. It's no wonder they decided on that name because they are truly lovely people full of inspiration. I'm very pleased to be a new member and so look forward to the growth and opportunities that lie ahead! ;o)

My day got even better when a dear friend from my past called me. So nice to reconnect with people that shared your life once upon a time, and catch up on all that's happened over the years. 1-4-3-2 (Top secret code, hehe)

Hope you have some news or unexpected surprises of the wonderful kind in your lives this week and always! ;o) ~♥~

Art from Mother Nature...

2009-02-22T09:38:00.003-07:00

As I drove my Victoria to school on Friday morning, I was awe struck at the beauty that had been created while we all slept. Everything was coated in a glorious thick blanket of frost and it truly sparkled like diamonds. Living in Alberta, frost and snow are of course a regular occurrence during our winter season, but there was something different about this one. It was one of those times that I wish I had my camera at my side.

The trees that line the road to school were like a scene out of a story filled with ice castles and magic; even the ugly orange construction fence in the school parking lot had transformed in to a beautiful white sparkling piece of art. When I got home, I grabbed Victoria's camera and went for a walk in my neighborhood to capture some of nature's art, but the sun had been up for awhile by then and it was all starting to melt. Sigh... I managed to get a few shots that I can use in backgrounds for my digital collage, but the camera just couldn't capture the beauty that my eye was taking in. Ok - maybe it's not the camera - it's the person behind it! ;o) Victoria would have done a much better job! Anyway, thought I would share a couple with you.

This past week has found me busy with the business end of things, this coming week will be full of creativity, well... that's the plan anyway. We all know how that works; life gets in the way of the best of intentions sometimes. ;o)

Thank You...

2009-02-19T13:20:00.005-07:00

Just wanted to do a quick post today to say a big Thank You to all who visited me here from the 'Birds of a Feather' Valentine Blog Party and left your sweet words.

Through my travels here in Bloggieland, I have visited soooo many beautiful blogs that are; inspiring, creative, insightful, giving, fun, - well - the list could go on. I'm grateful to have found you all and I look forward to meeting many more!

Also, Thank You to all of you lovelies that have chosen to follow my blog - it means a lot to me that you're visiting here! I love your sweet words too! ;o)

♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥

Birds of a feather...

2009-02-14T10:09:00.003-07:00

Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope you're all having a sweet day! ;o)

As for me? Well, I've been up since 5:30 this morning getting my daughter Stephanie off to work. She's my sweet one that would sleep for 14 hours straight if nobody woke her! Needless to say, I make it a point to get up with her so she's on time, besides I drive her there too. It's all good; as I mentioned in earlier posts, she works at Starbucks - free coffee for me - Yay!

So when I returned home, I didn't go back to bed as I found this lovely little blog party that's happening today. Well, I found it late last night, so I didn't have anything prepared! No time to create with my hands - too time consuming. But, I happily sat at my computer for the morning and created digitally. Here it is!

I know Valentines Day is traditionally about romance and the one you love, but today I decided to create about the other one's I love too - my daughters; especially since the suggested theme is 'Birds of a Feather'.

The 3 birdies represents me, Victoria and Stephanie. We truly are Birds of a Feather! Their crowns are pink for sweetness and innocence of age. My crown is a different color as age and experience has weathered it's appearance somewhat. We're sitting by our nest that represents our home; all 3 of we girls LOVE to spend time at home and never wander far for long. The rest of the page surrounds us with femininity and Victoriana; each of us are girly-girls at heart. Finally, the saying that surrounds us is:

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best." ~ Henry Van Dyke

I came across this quote when I first started blogging and surfing around. It really spoke to me because in a world where there is so much competition and so little self esteem, raising 2 daughters to be themselves and be proud of who they are, has always been my main mantra in nurturing their life journey. That quote said it so sweetly to me.

What fun I had creating this! Thank you to all who took the time to come and have a peek! I'll be visiting you as well.

Have a wonderful weekend! ;o)

Look what I found...

2009-02-13T21:15:00.004-07:00

Late night surfing Friday night and look what I found! I think I have inspiration for creation this weekend! Go check it out! ;o)

You don't have to be a member to participate and it looks like a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends that share common interests! What could be better than that?

Sigh... I'm really loving this blogging world! ;o)

What are you going to do this weekend? I hope it's a great one for you all!

Bling for my car...

2009-02-12T23:40:00.004-07:00

Ok, it's not exactly bling I guess, but I like it just the same. I have wanted a little something to hang off my rear view mirror and haven't quite found anything that strikes my fancy. So I decided to make something myself.

I created it the same way I did the key tags (look for the key tag post for directions). I used images and snipits from my collage elements sheets - find them here and here - they're available in my Etsy Shop. I also used a filligree stamping and a yummy fleur des lis charm and swarovski dangle. Add some ribbon to hang with and voila!

I'm glad the weekend is approaching, hmmmm - what shall I create? Not quite sure, but that's part of the fun of it for me. ;o)

Etsy Cottage Style Birthday Celebration...

2009-02-09T08:35:00.004-07:00

If you have a love for Cottage Style or sumptuously feminine things, then go have a visit at Etsy Cottage Style Community. Right now, we are celebrating our 1st Birthday by hosting games and lovely prizes from our members from February 8 - 12.

I donated a prize of winners choice of any 3 digital downloads from my Etsy Shop and had a winner on Sunday. She was pleased with her prize and the extra goodies I through in for good measure! ;o)

That was soooo much fun, I offered that prize again! The games are for members only, so if Cottage Style is your thing, become a member and come play with us!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

I've been tagged...

2009-02-06T12:11:00.003-07:00

Yup, I've been tagged, twice actually. I didn't play like a good girl the first time as I'm new to blogging and didn't really understand the tag game. But, I really love the idea because it's so fun reading random, unexpected things about all of you! So I'm going to play, sort of! I don't really have many people in blog world yet that I'm known to, so I'm going to list some random things about myself and link you to the 2 people who tagged me.

I'm supposed to list 7 random things about myself - So here it goes...

1. I love cats, I would probably be a crazy cat lady who had 10 cats if I could - ok - no I wouldn't, lol.

2. Occasionally, I eat candy - not just any candy - the hardcore stuff, like; fun dips, sweet hearts, candy necklaces, black jawbreakers and my favorite frozen drink is pepsi slurpees.

3. I am barely 5 feet tall (ok - short, or vertically challenged as I like to call it).

4. I love to stay at home - a good day for me is staying in my jammies with nowhere to go - my girls and I do this 1 day out of the weekend almost every week if we can.

5. Everywhere I go, I'm approached by people I don't know who love to tell me about their personal lives. I'm not exaggerating; I spend 10 minutes with someone and they share all about their divorces, mothers-in-law, children, jobs - you name it - I hear it. Maybe that's why I like to stay home? No, I'm just kidding - I love talking with people, perhaps they can sense that.

6. I love to play video games with my girls - my favorites are; Play Station 2 - Midnight Club 3 Dub edition (I have some pretty sweet decked out cars on that game) and Wii came into our house at Christmas and I'm loving de Blob.

7. I hate cooking - no, I really hate it! Fortunately everything I make is fairly yummy or I would hate it even more! I wish my girls would take over the whole cooking thing, but I guess I haven't exactly passed on motivation with my attitude about it, have I? Oh well, I'm making lasagna for supper tonight... yummy and pretty easy. ;o)

So now you know a little more about me... how about you? If you've played this tag game on your blog, leave me a message here with your link so I can visit you and have a read. ;o)

Thank you to the ladies that tagged me, I didn't quite play by the rules but it was fun! Now go have a look at their Blogs, I enjoy reading them. ;o)

Diamondaj

Artsnark's Artifacts

Have a wonderful weekend!

Altered Key Tag Project...

2009-02-05T20:13:00.004-07:00

Here's a really simple but pretty project idea for you!

The surface of the key tag is a sample piece of laminate that I had left over from choosing counter tops for our kitchen. You can find these at building supply stores - ask a service rep in the kitchen department if they have any discontinued samples you can have. They make excellent surfaces for decoupage, collage, etc. because they're already finished and durable on the one side, and the other side is porous but smooth to accept paint, glue, ink, etc.

The images I used are from my Charmed Butterflies 1 Collage Elements sheet. Find it here.

Here are the supplies you'll need...

1 - Sample piece of laminate (with hole at one end).
1 - Large key ring
1 - Small key ring
1 - 3/16 inch eyelet and eyelet tool
2 - Small finishing beads (optional)
1 - Small craft brush to apply adhesive
Adhesive - I used ModPodge
Background paper and images to fit tag.

Directions...

- Remove any product stickers if any, from the laminate sample (key tag) and lightly sand the unfinished side.

- Trace the key tag on to background paper and cut it out along with the images you've chosen.

- Generously apply a coat of ModPodge to the unfinished side of key tag and to the back of the background paper. Put in place and smooth out air pockets with fingers. Let dry for about 20 minutes.

- Trim away any edges that might be extending past the key tag and poke out the hole from the image side.

- Apply a coat of ModPodge to the back of the images and put in place. Again, smooth out air pockets with fingers. Let dry for about 20 minutes.

- Apply 2 to 3 finishing coats of ModPodge to key tag in all directions - left to right, right to left, etc.; this ensures complete coverage - don't forget the sides to keep paper from lifting. Don't worry if you get glue on the other side of key tag, it can be gently scraped off when dry. Be sure to allow proper dry time in between coats. Let dry over night after final coat.

- Attach the eyelet in the hole of the key tag.

- The small key ring attaches to the eyelet and the large key ring attaches to the smaller one for your keys. Sometimes when attaching the smaller key ring to the eyelet on the key tag, the ring separates a bit. I actually like it when that happens as I then add a small bead at the ends with super glue as a decorative, finishing touch.

There you go - easy-peasy! ;o) If you decide to make one, send me a picture - I'd love to see your key tag!

Happy Creating!

Time flies...

2009-02-04T23:13:00.004-07:00

All day today I kept thinking it was Tuesday - somehow I've lost a day! I've been busy creating digitally lately and I really enjoy that. But, it's time to create off the computer; I have such yummy beads and bobbles I bought from Etsy that I'm excited to get in to.

My Victoria took some pictures for me last night, so tomorrow I will post the Key Tags that I made along with project instructions.

Do you celebrate and/or create for Valentines Day? There are some hearts for you further down the page in previous posts... feel free to create with them and this little cutie too!

Happy Tuesday... I mean Wednesday - oh dear, it's so late I better wish you happy Thursday! ;o)

Victoria's Pick...

2009-01-26T13:34:00.016-07:00

I asked my Victoria (11 years old) a while back if she would photograph a few things for me as she's wonderful with her camera. She happily agreed but first wanted to take some pictures of a few of her favorite things that I have made for her. Well, it was amazing to watch her set up different displays to showcase what she was shooting. She was having so much fun trying different angles, props, etc. She got a little discouraged because of the lighting - it really is tricky trying to shoot things inside the house - especially at night! ;o) She's used to taking pictures outdoors so this is new to her.

So here are her results! For the most part, I left them unaltered except to brighten them up a bit and crop excess.

I always make 2 of everything when I'm creating for my girls as they have similar tastes. The necklaces were my very first attempt at making jewelry using filigree, I loved how they turned out and the girls were so surprised.

I made them each a bookmark to accompany books I bought them for Christmas. Both my girls are totally enthralled with Paris (me too) so Victoria has the Eiffel Tower. Stephanie's had Marie Antoinette.

They love the designer Juicy Couture, so I made each of them a book with their favorite Juicy things in it. These are a few of the pages from Victoria's book. At the back of it I included a special letter from Mom inside an envelope. Much less expensive than the real thing, don't ya think? A lot of fun to make too. They loved these books!

Yummy Juicy Charms!

Love Notes from Mom <3

Doggy Couture!

As for the things I was wanting her to shoot? Well, she sort of ran out of steam so she's going to do it some time this week. I said not to worry, I would do it. "Nope! It's what I like to do, Mom" she says. I say, "Yay Me!!!".

So, more to come when my little photographer is ready ;o)

Belonging...

2009-01-19T10:06:00.003-07:00

A sense of belonging, you know... that feeling you get when you're spending time with your best friend or you visit a place where you can be yourself and the surroundings mirror your thoughts and interests. Sigh, everyone needs that in their lives, even only just for a fleeting moment - just enough to carry us through our busy routines until we can feel it again.

I wanted to write today about how grateful I am to have had many of these moments in my life. Some of mine have included; laughter with my beautiful daughters whom I absolutely adore, dear friends, a coffee shop full of aroma and Paris Chic accessories, spending time with a senior citizen with stories of a time gone by... just to name a few.

I joined a lovely on-line group this weekend, it's the Etsy Cottage Style Community. This is another place where I get that sense of belonging. They are a wonderful group of very talented ladies who provide friendship, support, encouragement and we all have very similar interests in what we like to create.

Where do you get your sense of belonging from? Does it come from family, friends, places, things you do? I'd love to hear them!

I managed to get some creating done this weekend, now I need to photograph them. I've asked my Victoria to do this as she's our prize photographer in our family. She's only 11. I'm amazed at the shots she captures when we're out and about on walks or drives in the country. Anyway, she says she'd be happy to take the pictures for me, so I'm excited to see what she comes up with. I will post as soon as they're done.

I wish you lots of belonging and happy moments today and always!

Dawn

Creating to music today...

2009-01-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

My Blog Playlist is turned up and I'm enjoying a lovely day of creating today. I love how music can add such pleasure to what ever it is you're doing.

Looking forward to this weekend, I'm going to continue with creating... this week I received lots of treats that I had ordered from some of my favorite supply shops on Etsy. Charms and beads galore, love it! I never have a set plan on what's going to be made. I set a few things on my desk that I want to work with and print off some of my images to cut out. Then, I just play with assemblage; when I'm happy with the arrangement, I usually take a picture to remind me of what goes where. That's because of course I then have to take it all apart to affix it permanently.

Do you have time to create this weekend? I hope so, maybe you'd like these lovelies to get your creative spirit going... Whatever you're doing, have a wonderful weekend!

Dawn

It's been a crazy week...

2009-01-15T12:43:00.002-07:00

Yup, I did manage to do some creating with Stephanie as I mentioned in an earlier post. But didn't get to finish what was started. A nasty cold is running through my house and Stephanie has the worst of it. Poor thing, she has final exams at highschool this week - she's really tired.

I've spent the morning surfing around Etsy and other Blogs; I think I spot a new addiction brewing for me! lol I'm very excited to make new connections and friends and I appreciate it so much when you leave a comment or contact me at Etsy... Thanks so much!

I added a playlist...

2009-01-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help myself, I added a play list. I've done so much surfing around of blogs in the last week and I've visited some really lovely blogs. I enjoyed the blogs with play lists, most often the music was a nice experience while I read.

So the songs I've added are some of my favorites to listen to while I create, I will add more as time permits. Music for me can evoke so many moods; I have varying tastes in what I chose to listen to, it depends of course on what I'm doing at the time. I love everything from Classical to Pop, the only thing I'm not really fond of is Country Music - some is ok, but it just doesn't do much for me. My daughters Stephanie (17 years old) and Victoria (11 years old) love that Mom loves the latest and greatest in their genre of music. We love to 'silly dance' to loud music while we're cleaning house! It makes the task much more pleasant - as if cleaning can be pleasant ;o)

I know music is a matter of personal taste, so if you don't care for what's playing here, you can scroll to the bottom of my blog (the play list is there) and press the pause button or turn down the volume on your computer. I do hope you enjoy it though, but don't fall asleep - it's purely dreamy and it inspires my creativity!

I'm off to pick up Stephanie from work - she works at Starbucks! I'm really happy about that - free coffee for us - she gets to bring home a 1 pound bag every week! Yay us! She wants to create with me today, so I will hopefully have some pictures to post. My Victoria likes to create too, but she's 'not in the crafting mood today'; she always changes her mind when she sees us having fun!

Hope you're having a wonderful day!

Undecided...

2009-01-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

I can't seem to make up my mind today. I'm doing Collage Sheets for Valentines Day and I can't seem to focus on a clear direction. I keep wavering between a selection using; color, theme or size. Wait a minute, I go through this for EVERY sheet I make, lol. I wish today had been a little more productive!

I spent too much time searching the internet about blogs this morning. So the one thing I did decide is to keep my blog appearance as is until I get more experienced with the whole thing. As I said in yesterday's post, there are so many things you can do with it, but I'm going to step completely out of character and just let things be for now! I tend to tweak and change things a little too often sometimes! ;o)

I plan to post a project idea using my images within the next couple of days, so do come back for a visit!

Take care...

I had no idea!

2009-01-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I am so impressed with all the amazing things one can do with their blogs! I spent the morning surfing around and found so many beautiful blogs! I even found ones that offer instructions how to add and change things; even links to sites that have great backgrounds, buttons, borders, etc. Wow, it must be really obvious now that I'm completely new to blogging! lol

I learned lots today and perhaps tomorrow I'll find some more time to add some 'pretties' to my blog. Wish me luck, because I'm like a fish out of water here! ;o)

Until tomorrow...

I Love to alter Butterflies...

2009-01-06T18:26:00.000-07:00

They are one of my favorite things to collage! I put together a collage sheet of 'Charmed Butterflies' for my Etsy shop today. I wanted to share a couple of them with you! Save them to your computer and use them as you wish... but they are not for resale; however, you may incorporate them into your own hand crafted items to sell.

Hope you and your 'altered fairies' like your new wings! ;o)

My Quiet House Today

2009-01-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

Well, my girls are back to school today after a 2 week Christmas break. I miss them being around the house during the day! It's very quiet.

I've had fun this morning perusing lots of different Blogs and have started to follow a few. I'm going to make that part of my morning routine for an hour or so because I think I'm really going to love blogging!

Now, time for me to get busy and create! I'm making new collage sheets for my Etsy shop with some of my altered butterfly wings - so pretty for fairies! Perhaps I'll share 1 or 2 for you to adorn your fairies with - I'll try to post them tomorrow.

Have a lovely day!

New Beginnings and All Things Pretty

2009-01-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

Each new year brings fresh beginnings and thoughtful intentions - What a perfect time to start a new journey!

I am completely new to blogging, so this is one of my new paths to wonder on this year.

If you've read my profile, you know why I chose to call my blog Harmony Quest. This is a forum where I'd love to meet people with similar interests and perhaps help one another in our quest to create art.

'Art' for me represents a vast range of mediums; Altered, Collage, Assemblage, Mixed Media, Photography, Sewing and Needlecrafts, Jewelry Designing, etc., etc. The list is endless, really.

My passion is for 'All Things Pretty'. What does that mean? lol Well, for me it is:

Victorian
Shabby Chic
Paris Chic
Cottage Style
Whimsical
Celestial

I could go on... ;o) Do you like these things too? How about:

Roses and anything Floral
Sparkly, Glittery things
The yummy color Pink
Vintage photos, buttons, jewelry, lace - sigh

Ok, you guessed it. I'm a true girly girl at heart! ;o)

I have a shop on Etsy - I absolutely LOVE Etsy. If you've never been, you must check it out. There are soooo many wonderfully talented people there... There you can sell your own hand made creations, vintage items 20+ years old, or supplies to make crafts. I love to shop there too.

So in the spirit of sharing and new beginnings, I offer you a 2009 Calendar that I created. Save it to your computer and print it out for you to enjoy! As with all images that I or others will post here, please be kind and respect the 'Angel Policy' - that is to only use the image for yourself, not for re-sale purposes.

I will check this blog often, daily if I can. I would love to hear from you, so please do leave your comments and come back again soon!

Many blessings and best wishes to you for 2009!