Theme Thursday - Pattern

Zentangles are such fun to do.   I have a zentangle journal that I doodle in on occasion.    It seemed to fit this week's challenge of pattern.   Happy New Year everyone!

Three Muses - Book

I love libraries, I love books, and I love the smell of old books.    I have to admit I had a bit of impish fun with this one.  The book cover is fashioned by me, and the title and name of author are strictly for laughs.   Hope you enjoy it!

Take a Word - Music

I feel as if I'm in a time warp, as my family is celebrating Christmas next Saturday on New Year's Day.   My gifts still await the giving and opening, my son is snowbound in Raleigh, N.C. and my daughter and grandson are flying in from Oregon tonight.   It was nice to have the diversion of creating something for SPA and TAW.   My thanks to Joe's Sistah for the background for this piece, and the dancers and musicians are from Flickr Collage Images.   I hope you are all dancing your way to the New Year!

Sunday Postcard - Open Theme

Open theme today for Sunday Postcard, so of course I chose vintage!   The image is a freebie from Land of Nod (thanks much), and background ephemera from Art-e-zine.    Thanks for finding time in your busy holidays to stop by!

Three Muses - Tidings

Marie has asked us to share some Christmas memories.  Mine are centered about the little one-room school and the country church that were the hub of social activities in my childhood.   Tradition on Christmas Eve was to attend Nigh Chapel for the children's program, hymns, and the reading of the story of Christ's birth from the Bible.  Then, the sound of sleigh bells heralded the arrival of Santa, who always brought brown paper bags of treats for everyone.  These contained hard candies, chocolate drops, nuts, an orange and a shiny apple.  I  never questioned that these treats were from the North Pole until the year my parents were on the "treat committee" and, with friends, prepared the bags of treats at our house!    This was probably the same year I learned Santa was Johnny Cashmer, a rotund farmer with rosy cheeks who lived in the neighborhood!   Who knew?  Any Christmas shopping was likely done from the well-fingered pages of the Sears & Roebuck catalog.   We looked forward to receiving the package from my father's mother, which always contained her potato candy (a confection made from a boiled potato, powdered sugar, and peanut butter).  Christmas Day was a gathering of family.  Gifts were simple, few and well chosen, and the afternoon was usually spent playing games of all sorts.

Close your eyes.  Imagine no charge cards, no over-spending, no retail mania, no exchanges, no batteries, children who talked instead of texting, adults who visited instead of watching television, and everyone remembering what Christmas is all about .....

Take A Word - Celebration

Celebration of Christmas is a conglomeration of images for me.....trips home and the wonderful smells of mother's kitchen, children singing in our little country church,  adults joining in the traditional Christmas hymns, sleigh bells,  anticipation of a visit from Santa,  the happy chaos of the gift exchange, and heads bowed in prayerful gratitude as the family is seated around the Christmas table.   Merry Christmas all!

Three Muses - Odd Couple

A little over 25 years ago, I was sketching Santa figures on 1-inch pine, cutting them out with a band saw,  sanding them, painting them with oils, then sanding again to age them.  This odd couple is a product of that hobby, photographed and superimposed on a googled background, with a little digital tweaking.   I don't know how odd they are, but I do know they're one of a kind!  Thank you for stopping by to have a look!

Take a Word - Childhood

There's nothing like the innocent eyes of a child...born without prejudice, without hatred, without bias....so trusting and full of hope. We could learn so much from them. Thanks, Marie, for the word this week! My little charmer is from Flickr Collage Images (SuzyQue).

Sunday Postcard - Robin

This is the view in my back yard two days ago. If Robin Redbreast had visited then, he'd have been in for a shock, and looked somewhat like this!

Three Muses - Flowers

Amidst all the Christmas posts, here's a glimmer of warmer days for those of us in the frozen north! The flowers are compliments of CR Designs, the flower girl is mine. Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas from Me

Today, I'm addressing my Christmas cards. I want to send this copy to all my friends in Blogland. Sharing thoughts, ideas and art with wonderfully talented people from lands near and far has been such an enriching experience for me. Thank you for your kind comments and blog visits. Bless you one and all!

TakeaWord - Mail

Mail is the great challenge word at Take A Word this week. The letters are copies of art mail I've sent to friends, the stamps are my own, as is the girl. Other bits and pieces are googled. I hope your mail brings good things to you this week, blog friends, and thanks for stopping by!

Theme Thursday - Fun Images

The theme at Theme Thursday is "fun images". I've always heard the term "behind the 8-ball" used when describing someone in trouble. Here's my guy behind the 8-ball, but he doesn't look the least bit concerned! This was a fun challenge, guys! Thanks for stopping by.