A birthday gift and a poem...

A while back I went browsing in a second hand book shop and found a trilogy of books The Poet's Year An Anthology. It was published by Cambridge University Press in 1923. Anyway as the title hints at there is a poem for each day of the year so I thought I would share the poem for today with you if you want to stay a while and read it:-
Lone flower, hemmed in with snows, and white as they,
But hardier far, once more I see thee bend
Thy forehead as if fearful to offend,
Like an unbidden guest. Though day by day
Storms sallying from the mountain-tops, waylay
The rising sun, and on the plains descend;
Yet art thou welcome, welcome as a friend
Whose zeal outruns his promise! Blue-eyed May
Shall soon behold this border thickly set
With bright jonquils, their odours lavishing
On the soft west-wind and his frolic peers;
Nor will I then thy modest grace forget,
Chaste Snowdrop, venturous harbinger of Spring,
And pensive monitor of fleeting years!
WORDSWORTH


I love to watch for the new snowdrops and this poem
reminds me of that flower waiting to push through the
earth to herald warmer weather....
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It was the birthday of one of my friends today - so I made her this shrine necklace.
I love the shrine kit which I got from Retro Art Cafe I used one of my favourite Paper Whimsy girls in the centre, added some lace and swavorski crystals and there you have it.

As I have had so many comments on my One World, One Heart post I have decided to make another pendant (possibly one like this) as a 2nd prize in the draw. You are welcome to leave a comment about this post here but if you want to go into the draw and haven't already entered then go to the post on the 22nd January titled ONE WORLD ONE HEART.
Thanks for dropping by... xxx

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

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So the Gypsy Caravan is really rolling along and more and more participants are joining in the fun.
I have listed my item and if you still wish to join in then click on the Post dated 22nd January and titled One World One Heart - the prize is the fob watch... Good Luck if you are joining in xxx

So apart from blog hopping - and what fun that has been; (there is such a diverse manner of artists out there - Lisa is a genius for doing this each year to unite the bloggers of the world.) I would like to share with you my recent work.

As part of the I.C.E. Altered book RR I have created 2 spreads.
The top photos relate to Patricia's Songs of the 70's book. I choose to do American Pie as you can see from the pics...
The 4th photo is for Carol's Book - here theme was based on the book which was A History of Art. Carol wanted us to incorporate an imagine that was in the book and do what we needed to create a spread.
So these are my contributions.

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If you read my blog post for the OWOH giveaway you might recall that I had originally made that bird house for another lady, but my mate Lorraine saw it and fell in love with it so I gave it to her. That meant that I had to create another Bird themed piece for Girl of the Month and here it is.
I am really pleased with this, it started life as a battered looking letter holder and I altered it...
I used Acrylic dabbers, crackle paints, distress ink to colour it. Then I used images from Tuscan Rose, the bird is from Technique Tuesday. I used a couple of eggs for the centre which I purchased from Paper Whimsy and I really like the way it turned out... I am not mentioning the name of the lady who is to receive this in case she reads my blog but it will be going in the post to her tomorrow.

That is all for now...take care and I hope you have as much fun as I have had, and continue to have blog hopping

One World One Heart

Welcome to my post for the OWOH GIVEAWAY - I just want to point out that the cut off point for comments is 12 midnight GMT... Due to the fact that so many of you have left comments I have uploaded pictures of the 2nd Giveaway I have made below this post
BUT...
YOU MUST LEAVE COMMENTS HERE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DRAW... ON THIS POST, OKAY :-) IF YOU HAVE ALREADY LEFT A COMMENT ON THIS POST YOU WILL BE ELIGBLE FOR THE DRAW ANYWAY BUT IN THAT CASE FEEL FREE TO TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF THE 2nd GIVEAWAY, FEEDBACK IS ALWAYS WELCOME

AND
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE BIRDHOUSE IS NOT PART OF THIS GIVEAWAY, IT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SUBMIT BUT DUE TO RESTRICTIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES I CHANGED IT TO THE PENDANT (SORRY FOR ANY CONFUSION)
THAT IS IT... XXXX




Thanks for dropping by to see my Giveaway for ONE WORLD, ONE HEART
There are so many wonderful participants in this years blog give away and I wanted to make something, to be a part of this inspirational, annual event.
The top image of the fob watch is my contribution.It has an image inside of 2 girl friends; embellished with a dragonfly brad and flowers. I have attached the word Destiny to the fob with sari ribbon.
If you would like to win this then leave a comment with your name and blog, if you do not have a blog, then hey now worries you are welcome to join in - just leave me a contact e mail and I will put you in the draw. The draw will take place the 12th February There are lots of other great bloggers participating as I said, click on the title of the post to be taken to the home site and you can see links to the other participants. (sounds like I am rambling so I will shut up!!)
The bird house was up for consideration as the giveaway but unfortunately I had to rethink because of the feathers, I suddenly remembered that there are countries where feathers cannot be admitted.
Never fear, the Bird house has gone to a new home and I am so proud to say that it has gone to live with my friend Lorraine. Why proud? well put it this way, Lorraine buys a lot of art, she has work by Kelly Rae Roberts, Paulette Insall and Joanna Pierotti adorning her walls. When I showed her the Bird House which is called "Listen to the Songbird" she absolutely loved it, no kidding... she genuinely did. She made me feel so good, especially as I have not created for a while after some negative comments so basically she lifted my spirits and made me Believe in myself. So Thanks Lorraine for loving my piece, but more importantly for giving me back my confidence which has been awol since before Christmas - xxxx
The bird house itself was purchased from Theresa Martins Etsy shop The bird image is from Digital Collage Sheets
Tim Holtz journal word "Soar" and "Listen" tag. The buttons and feathers are finds I made in my favourite haberdashers in Spain...

Good luck in the draw, hope whoever wins loves it Hugs xxxx Dawn

New Year Spring Clean

I can't believe how quickly this month is flying past. I have been on a Spring Cleaning frenzy (yeah I know it's not Spring) since getting back from Spain and just about have everything in order. I just thought if I do it now when it is cold and I am not going anywhere I would get more benefit from it.
That aside, what else have I been doing? Well I am so pleased that Waterloo Road is back on TV for 20 weeks too wahoooo! I love programmes about schools and teachers; maybe I hanker after my school days, who knows.
Also the 1911 Census came on line this week so I have been busy looking at the Indexes and adding new info to the Family Tree. I have left the researching alone for a while now and just got back into it recently, mainly due to all the Hornigold's on Facebook 2 lovely people, Angela and Mattie have both sent me photos recently showing family members - namely Stuart's great grandfather and gg grandfather. It was such a thrill actually looking on their faces.... I always envied those who had family pics, now I have some too, I know they are not from my side of the family but having them means so much to me...
Other things I have been up to include joining the Creative Workshop Ning Group (button link in previous post). Classes I am taking are Visual Journalling and a Photoshop one too. Now I just have to make the time to do the classes lol.
(This post has been sitting in my drafts so I will post and make a new one)

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS

A Ning Group for Creative Workshops

BLANK...

Blank page, blank canvas that's all I see at the moment. I have a myriad of ideas flowing in my mind but up to now nothing put to page or canvas. I have been busy doing things with the family so have resigned myself to the fact that this holiday is going to be just that, for the family and not worry too much about creating for me, time enough when I get home.
I aim to start Journalling when I do get home as my word for 2009 is "JOURNAL" instead of dreaming it, I want to do it.... I achieved a lot of 1sts last year so aim to do the same this year.
I think what I will do if I get a chance is put some color onto a couple of pages and see what I come up with travelling home.
Lots to do tomorrow; have to pack and prepare the villa so that it is ready for my return... always makes me sad to be leaving but I like to leave it nice. Took the tree down today - that in itself is a sign of preparing for home; don't you find that your home looks bare when the Christmas decorations come down (especially the lights)
I have only managed 1 book since being here, and I have not even finished that it is called "Under a Blood Red Sky" by Kate Furnivall. About Russia, work camps, friendship and love. I have other books waiting for me to read but they will have to wait. Talking of books I am thinking I will buy the Classic Books on the DS - good value and lots of books to read, handy to keep in handbag for those moments sitting outside school, doctors surgery etc.
Going out to eat again tonight, a return visit to "The Wok" for Chinese - really good food, good value too 9.95 euros for all you can eat.
That's all for now.... PEACE X