Art From The Heart, Children's Art

Two of our granddaughters came running up to me at church with pictures they had painted for me.Now this is art from the heart! They both know I love this season best, and they know I love blue. I love my grandchildren, and the gifts they create themselves for me are the most special gifts I can receive, gifts from the heart! ( I think I am going to frame the picture above, and hang it on my dining room wall.)

"Grandchildren are the crown of old men ( old women too).." Proverbs 17:6 Thank-you Granddaughters !

Lake Lawrence Christmas Bazaar, Bazaar Booth Design Ideas

Lake Lawrence Christmas Bazaar 2011 took place this past weekend. This marks the beginning of the holiday season for me, Thanksgiving , Christmas, New Year's, a few family birthdays...I hope you don't mind, but I am going to write about something I have looked for with little result on-line. Creative booth design ideas and some personal opinion on things that help make any bazaar, Farmer's Market, etc., work for you and others. One of the most perplexing things for me regarding bazaars is how to display the items I have for sale in a way that shows them off in the minimal space I am renting ,and really, when you pay for space at a show or bazaar you are renting it and even inches matter ! The spaces for rent here are 8ft. X 6ft. Some people rent 2 or more spaces. Here is a very beautiful display of baskets handwoven by Laurie of Laurie's Handcrafted Baskets . The open wood shelves, the rustic interior of the lodge itself, combined with the lights all compliment the beautiful baskets she weaves. The "basket lady" is one of the big attractions to this bazaar and she demonstrates basket weaving here. Connie Barclay from Olympia is selling her pottery. She had a few pieces for sale I coveted. Notice her open wood shelves providing a clear view of her wares, and she also had a nice table-top display, clean and uncluttered. This is my booth and I am still trying to figure out how to display a lot of fiber art without having the space claustrophobic for me. The rack displaying weaving is actually two crib rails from the baby crib my husband and our children slept in. The crib rails are simply zip tied together at the top.The crib head-board is used as an attractive half-wall separating my booth from that of my neighbors. The rails and head board are precious to us and I am happy to be able to use it to display my fiber art.What you cannot see behind my weaving is a comfortable chair that matches my colors, my spinning wheel, and 3 small drawers where I keep my cash box, wrapping paper, boxes, business cards.You have to be able to move around in your small place and also make it open enough for people to browse your items for sale. I am still learning. Some sort of lighting is always necessary and I find most places that rent booth space are lovely, but lacking in lighting.I used what I had at home, an IKEA lamp, but have ideas for next year that will make better use of space and not be so obvious. This booth sits next to mine. Terry Halverson (Scent With Love Candles) & her husband have been my "booth neighbors" now for 3 or 4 years. She makes the most heavenly scented candles and creative gift items.Look at the ingenious and efficient use of space here in this little area. Her husband designed and built the shelves to display her candles and creations. They have a corner booth and make wise use of the space. This peg board display Terry's husband made is right next to my booth, separating us in a way that makes it clear where each booth ends & begins, yet is still a "courteous" display, taking into account her neighbors . This is the other side of Terry's display, her husband also built this and it breaks down and folds up for efficient storage in the car.The whole display is attractive, calls attention to what she sells, and also enables her to move about inside her 8' X 6' space...and very important, be a GOOD bazaar neighbor. I am so sorry the lighting did not allow for me to get a good picture of this pretty lady. She always had a big smile and friendly demeanor , making you want to stop and browse her lotions , creams, and centerpieces.I lost the info I gathered on her products but will add it to this post when I find it.Look at her display. She is in a center space and the table is her display. She has a creative and attractive arrangement showing everything off to advantage. I like her rustic centerpieces too.I hope she did well here. You can see, simple table-top display works very well, especially when you combine ways to display items by adding vertical display . This lady is selling many little things that are hard to display but I think she succeeded. The table sits to the back side of her little area,she mounted many of the hair accessories on vertical display boards, and off towards the front/side she had her racks of children's clothing.She too was always cheerful and pleasant. When I would walk by I would see her smiling and talking quietly to her "booth neighbor". The only thing I can see that would help her booth would be lights. Lighting seems to be dim to low at every inside bazaar I have ever participated in. Fortunately,it is easy to remedy once you figure out what kind works for you. ( I haven't figured that out yet!) This is Joyce's booth, directly next to the previous booth. Look at how creatively she has used her 8' X 6' space.You actually feel like you're in a little shop when you stop here, and there is so much eye-candy at reasonable prices you have to browse for quite awhile.Joyce uses old crates, old lace curtains,hat-boxes, lattice, re-purposed kitchen and farm items to display her wares. I always find something Joyce is selling that I know just needs to come home with me. Joyce too, is a kind and easy person to be next to at a bazaar. My other booth neighbor is Hallie of Hands On Fun Toys *Hallie's puppets were a hit and seeing the little children and adults smile at the puppets made me smile too. Hallie and I discovered we were not only booth neighbors, but live very close to each other too and have a great deal in common.This allowed for some pleasant conversation during the quiet times of the bazaar. When you are going to sell at a bazaar, it helps to not only consider efficient, open, and attractive ways to light and display your wares, but also remember you are actually becoming part of a little community for a few days. The more pleasant, courteous, and kind you are, the more encouraging you are...the more it helps your booth neighbor and YOU! If you are kind to your neighbors at bazaars, and your neighbors are kind and encouraging, it is contagious.There have been so many kind people I have met over the years of selling at bazaars who could have resented me for possibly being competition but instead were helpful, giving me tips to do better, and I in turn am quick to refer people back to them if I find my products are not what the customers are looking for. Being enthusiastic for everyone to succeed helps the whole group and people shopping cannot help but feel the atmosphere is friendly, and maybe decide they would love to spend their money there, supporting the community and getting unique gifts and items too. I know this because I have also browsed and shopped at many bazaars, shows,and markets. I can feel tension and spite, and see it on vendor's faces. I have had vendors be rude to me or seen rudeness shown to other shoppers. I flee such booths, they won't get my money no matter how much I wanted to buy what they were selling. I hope a little bit of this post is helpful to you, and I would love to know if anyone has some great ideas for creative ways to display fiber art that use little space. I would also like to say I love being able to sell at Lake Lawrence Christmas Bazaar- look at the lovely lake outside the window of the lodge! Our daughter and her husband were married here so the lodge holds fond memories for me. ~"We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation ; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers." Seneca

Remove Vexation , Life Is Fleeting

I have been getting ready for the annual Lake Lawrence Christmas Bazaar which is this coming week-end.My home looks like a wool workshop and I am hurrying to catch up with all I did not accomplish this past summer because I was busy playing and having fun with my grandchildren. This nativity shepherd has a very large flock of sheep, many of these sheep will be adorned with bells, leaves, or stars, many will also be left unadorned, and these little sheep will be for sale at the bazaar. The weather has been cold, but the days have been sunny and beautiful. I have wanted to spend the days walking in the crisp autumn weather with my husband and my dogs. I have wanted to take walks at Alder Lake, drive around our beautiful country-side, sit in the sunshine and take in the last days of this year coming quickly to end...but I am instead busily crafting away for an upcoming bazaar.Next week I will take the time even though the bazaar is next week-end. But I ask,what if this is your last week here on earth? What if your busy-ness keeps you from what is important right now? Only you can ask and answer these questions for yourself, but I have decided I will enjoy this time of crafting AND enjoy time outside in the fall weather I love, and most importantly, with the husband and family I love. "So, remove vexation from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting." Ecclesiastes 11:10

Skull and Horns, Tragic Tale of Two Brothers

~~~Poor Thistle, this is all I have of him, his skull, complete with his amazing four horns! He died a tragic death at the tender age of 16 months. Victim of his brothers violence!~~~

~"Look on it's broken arch, it's ruined wall, it's chambers desolate, it's portals foul; yes, this was once ambition's airy hall. The dome of thought, the palace of the soul-" Lord Byron~Here is Thistle(below), shortly before the dastardly deed was done. I WAS going to take Thistle to the Fair for exhibit. Thistle was my choice of ram for the honor of being admired and gawked at for 5 days. Alas, his brother way laid my plans. Mind you, I do not credit Goth with devious plans , just being guilty of being bigger, badder, and goring his brother to death!

~"Beneath this stone there lies a skull, Which when it breathed was monstrous dull, But nor tis' dead and doomed to rot, this skull's as wise, pray is it not ? " Shakespeare

~Here ( below ) is the big guy, the bully, the goring , ramming destroyer . ( you should see our fences ! ) Goth and Thistle were playing the way rams do, that is to say...they were head butting and ramming each other. Really, rams do this for FUN ! Goth runs full force into humongous trees just for fun. Well, poor Thistle got his beautiful horns stuck in a hay feeder and Goth pierced Thistle's lung with his horns. Poor Thistle, he died. ~The day of the foul deed was foul indeed. It was one of those rare summers that temperatures exceeded 90 degrees. My beautiful ram was dead. But there was no way I was going to bury those magnificent horns and skull. I wanted to keep them. My poor Hubby was outside in the heat, untangling Thistles horns from the feeder, while trying not to inhale the smell nature takes on when decomposing an animal, and then he saved the head for me....I love that man ! ~Thistle AND Goth went to the fair . Goth entertains the crowds, Thistle hangs on the wall behind him over a picture of himself in better times, as a grim reminder of the power of a ram, EVEN WHEN HE IS HAVING FUN !

~" Are you talking about me ? "~

~I thought I would end this post with a very interesting tale from the Bible. A tale that has bones and skeletons coming to life ! "Then he said to me, " Prophesy to these bones and say to them; 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones; I will make life enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord. So I prophesied as I was commanded;And as I was prophesying there was a noise, a rattling sound,and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. .......Then He said to me, ' Prophesy to the breath, prophesy son of man, and say to it, " This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds oh breath; and breathe into these slain, that they may live." So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath entered them, they came to life and stood up on their feet- a vast army." Ezekiel 37:4-9

~You can read the rest for yourself!~ ~Be safe and thankful this season . Thankful for the bounty we have and the life you've been granted. Use wisely...and if you find yourself face to face with a ram....well....DON'T !~ This is a re-post of a true tale from Cedar Pond.

She Chose This Teacup ~ O Happy Day !

She chose this teacup. I laid out the teacups and the pot of peppermint tea and told her to choose her teacup. This delicate pink and white teacup is very simple, and I believe, elegant. I found it at a thrift store for $5.00. My granddaughter and I had the whole day to ourselves, and what a sweetly happy day it was. This 4th of 6 granddaughters is a very happy little girl and she brings her big smile and happiness with her. She is quick to cuddle her grandma and share whatever is going on in her life. We spent the day at a few places that especially please her, but her favorite place besides her own home is MY home!

The simplicity of this Royal Stafford bone china teacup appeals to me. The inside of the cup and part of the saucer is a very pale pink , the photograph does not do it justice.

My granddaughter and I drank a total of 3 pots of peppermint tea. She likes a lot of sugar in her tea and I think she also likes the sound of the tiny silver spoon clinking against the china as she stirs the sugar in. I put a program on T.V. for her to watch as she snuggled on the sofa and sipped her tea. It was raining outside, we were warm and happy inside. " Pleasure is spread through the earth In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find." William Wordsworth

"If you are not happy here & now, you never will be." Taisen Deshimaru "What a wonderful life I've had ! I only wish I'd realized it sooner." Colette

"If you search the world for happiness, you may find it in the end, for the world is round and will lead you back to your door." Robert Brault Surely you all know someone to share a cup of tea and a smile with. Maybe someone who can use a word of encouragement with their tea, or someone who'll encourage you. A friendly cup of tea is so simple, yet offers more to the soul than words can express. Share a cup of tea with the ladies listed below and take away some good cheer , maybe a recipe or two, an idea for your own tea time with a loved one. Remember, no matter your circumstance, you are blessed !

• Terri at Artful Affirmations *
• Martha at Martha's Favorites *
• Lady Katherine at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor *
• Wanda Lee at the Silken Purse *
• Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

I know one of my great blessings, a blessing often taken for granted, is having an abundance of very precious people in my life to share a cup of tea or coffee with. People who share their lives generously with me, people who take time to be uplifting and encouraging.God is so good to me. Are there special people in your life you can encourage? Are there special people in your life who encourage you? Praise God for them all ! "Every now and then, when the world sits just right, a gentle breath of heaven fills my soul with delight..." Hazelmarie 'Mattie' Elliot

Be Thou My Vision ~ Slane

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art-

Thou my best thought by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thy my true Word, I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord; Thou my great Father and I Thy true son, Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one.

High King of Heaven, my victory won, May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my vision O Ruler of all.

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

"Therefore we have as our ambition , whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him."

II Corinthians 5:9 * Old Irish melody. There are many more verses, some worded differently, but I love them all .

Blizzard, The Cat

This is Blizzard, formerly called Buddy. Blizzard is technically our granddaughter's cat but her allergies have ordained Blizzard live with us. We are happy to have Blizzard stay with us, but his transition from kitten-hood to adult-hood is trying, for me. This is Bliz in a restful state. Here is the first time I have seen Bliz and Miss Marple nap together. Usually they have mighty wrestling matches that sound like two Tasmanian devils battling for their very lives, and taking out a lot of furniture as they wrestle and run around the house.Miss Marple has become a more sedate cat now-a-days and only attacks teddy bears once in a long while, but Bliz is taking her place as resident teddy bear stalker. Bliz is determined to catch my parakeet Bob. I am trying to get some crafting done for an upcoming Christmas Bazaar but rescuing Bob is becoming an all day thing. I keep a spray bottle of vinegar water for discouraging Bliz, but it only lasts as long as it takes me to put the bottle down and resume crafting, then Bliz is after Bob again.

Bliz, leave the parakeet alone!

"Who me? I'm not even looking at Bob".

The other night I heard strange noises in the kitchen coming from above, and there was Bliz on top of my refrigerator. I saw he had rearranged some of my precious pitcher collection on the high shelf close to the ceiling. This isn't good, but at least he is also getting the cobwebs I can't reach. Blizzard was re-named by our granddaughter because of his arctic coloring, blue, gray, and white. I think his personality fits a snow storm too...quick and destructive! Actually, I am enjoying him. He is fearless and follows the vacuum cleaner around. He loves the dogs, and anyone who comes over is treated to Blizzards' love and affection. Kind of like a dog in a cat's body, he even retrieves thrown objects, but this dog climbs the drapes and rests on top of the refrigerator.Good thing I have a cozy room with a litter box to confine him.