An Award for me

Carol Stocker gave me this award, Thank you Carol :-) it is wonderful to get this from you xxxx
Here are the rules
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog
2. Link the person you received your award from
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you nominated.

So here goes my nominees are......drum roll....
1.Jan
2.Sherry Goodloe
3.Carol Heppner
4.Scrapping the music a new blog I have found
5.Adrienne Goodenough
6.Cynthia Powell
7.Sherre Hulbert

I have put some new people on this list, I still love all of my regular reads and don't want you to feel that I don't enjoy your blogs :-p just thought it would be nice to highlight some new blogs to me that I love to visit

Flowers from me to you

 
 
 
I tried to upload some pictures in my last post but they wouldn't load so I am trying to do it today. These beautiful flowers are from my gardens, the dandelion seed one from my garden in England and the Hibiscus and Passion flower from my villa in Spain. We are expecting sunshine for the next few days so these pictures are in celebration of that. Thank God for the sunshine mind you cos my oil for heating ran out yesterday and I am due a delivery by Tuesday next week. Last night I hunkered under the duvet on the settee watching the football...lovely and cosy lol.

Not much art work going on

But I thought I would drop a line to let my friends know that I am still around lol.
So what have I been up to? Well seeing as you asked I have been mainly getting my house in order. Thought I better do so as Stuart has go it into his head that he wants to move... best be prepared I thought so I have been in the loft sorting out all sorts of weird and wonderful things and getting rid of the old toot!!!
My art room has been a priority too with all the stuff I have I thought it best to have it in a "ready to move " state! 36 Really useful boxes later I still need more to organise....
I have been reading too, need something to help me unwind after the back breaking work in the loft. Currently reading No Time for Goodbye, really enjoying it... good page turner. A good choice for the Richard and Judy book club.
I recieved Exploring the Latest Trends in Mixed Media Art today - I will write a review when I have had a chance to devour it!!!
I have included the flower pictures here for a bit of eye candy as it won't be long before the cold sets in (not that it has been unduly hot here, summer came and went by all accounts!)anyway thought they were lovely pics to share - if you want to use them in your art feel free. [pictures not here at this time, start to upload and then freeze so will try again later]!!!!
Dwain is in the Maldives, having a great time no doubt. Jazz is out and about all the time now that he has passed his test and China has settled into 6th Form so all quiet on the home front.
Been to look at a few houses but none really have the WOW factor so I shall stay put for now.
Must take time to catch up on my fave blogs - give myself some MORE me time.
Anyway that is it for this brief post so take care all of you that drop by xxxx

Shoes and Book Spread

 

Yesterday I was able to work in "How the West was Fun" an Altered Book for the I.C.E. Yahoo group. Being a Betty Boop fan I thought it would be appropriate to make her the theme for my spread - after all it is How the West was FUN! So here it is. I colored Betty using Sakura pens so she has a nice rich glaze and the added the embellishments.
I went shopping to Bluewater on Saturday and found this wonderful shoe that was just screaming out to me to be bought and altered, so I shall endeavour to do just that some time soon.
 
Yesterday evening I was debating whether to stay home or go and watch Croydon F.C. play in the 1st round of the League Cup; staying at home would have given me 6 hours to myself but I couldn't do it as my son Jazz likes me to watch him play. They ended up winning 4 - 1 so worth missing out on those crafting hours lol.
We are experiencing some nice weather at the moment so that is a blessing. I keep seeing the devastation on the news that the hurricane caused in Texas, awful, just awful I am so glad that hurricanes are a rarity here! My son Dwain was supposed to go to Cuba last Monday but had his holiday cancelled because of the hurrican that hit there, instead he flew out to the Maldives with his girlfriend Charlotte on Sunday and I am sure they will love it there!
Anyway that is it for this post - take care everyone, especially if you are in a hurricane zone xxx Dawn

Glad to be back

It has been an age since I have posted. With one thing and another this is the 1st opportunity that I have had to sit down and post.
The summer holiday seems an age ago, since being back I have been busy sorting out the house, unpacking, rearranging my art room. Sorting China out for 6th form, watching Jazz's football team... washing, cooking, cleaning and I have been desparate to create. I managed to make 3 Gothic Arches for a Paper Whimsy swap, the only art I have done since late August - so frustrating. I have a couple of RR Altered books to work on but as my head hasn't been in create mode I have started them as I like to do my best for the book owners, tonight I shall be starting on them - promise!
I have lots of pictures of art received to take, Row Houses that I received from Charline and Jeanie
apologies girls will get round to it... THANK YOU for your art work it was lovely to swap with you both.
That's it for now, gotta get on... hugs
Dawn

Recently received art

 
This was created by Patti - see her blog here http://7rosepetalpath.blogspot.com
 
and this is another Patti creation.
 
This canvas was created by Joanna Pierotti... I have waited an age to acquire one of her pieces, find her here... http://www.mosshillstudio.com/
And this final piece was created by my friend Lorraine for my birthday, Lorraine is talented but doesn't have a blog yet - come on Lorraine finish that blog :-)