I WON!

Sharon

of

The Vintage Studio

http://myvintagestudio.blogspot.com/

Drew MY name in her November Giveaway!

I have never been "lucky" at winning contests, drawings or even the lottery so I was extremely surprised!

I am so excited! (as if you can believe that)

My kitchen is

BLUE

accents and this gorgeous plate will go perfectly with

 my Great Grandma Bohling's flow blue oval dish. 

When I saw Sharon's post about the giveaway, I wanted to win so much.

Of course I posted about it so you could have the opportunity to win

(we're friends and that is what friends do for one another, right?)

 I even teased you in saying

 not to enter but you (all 69 of you) entered anyways.

I was going to be glad for whoever won my plate, honestly I was.

It has been a rainy, dreary weekend in GA...cold too.

So when I got on the computer this afternoon Sharon commented that I needed to look at her recent post.  There was my name.

Sharon and I not only share the same name but the same passion for Vintage tags. 

You should see all of the beautiful artwork she does on the Christmas tags.

(She is one step in front of me, however, she has a gorgeous Etsy store!)

Oh, Sharon, thank you so very much for the

computer generated thingy that chose my name. 

All of a sudden it was not so cold and dreary anymore!  I wonder why?

I can't wait to receive everything in the mail.  There is a sweet towel, a darling book,

and .....

Kris Hurst

of

Blissful Elements

http://krislhurst.blogspot.com/

made this lovely collage to add to the goody pile!  Isn't it lovely?

Thank you, thank you, Kris for adding this framed work of art.  I will hang it in my bathroom so that I can think of you each time I am getting prettied up for shopping.

Kris makes the sweetest Christmas trading cards...stop in there, they are lovely!

Thank you, Sharon,  I will treasure each and every piece!!

Blessings to all

Sharon

Look at my NEWEST & PRETTIEST ornament!!

Lori Di Anni

(http://scrapmomsmusings.blogspot.com/)

made this beauty!

Lori and I were partners in an ornament exchange hosted by

Debbie at MarionberryCottage. 

 I had so much fun making an ornament for Lori. 

(She hasn't received hers yet..snail mail so I am kinda' nervous that she will like it)

I had never connected to her blog before the exchange. 

So I not only got a beautiful ornament but a new blogger buddy!

 This is the very first time I have ever done an exchange and I am so excited to finally see her wonderful work. 

PLUS she has the tutorial on her blog! 

 (I hate to tell you I don't know how to link you directly to that

 particular post....sorry but I am learning, slowly) 

Because she is, so graciously doing a tutorial, I am sending

you the

pictures directly from her tutorial. 

No, I didn't make this one!

Lori gets all the credit. 

Isn't it beautiful?

 It is lovely paper folding (which now I am going to

have to add to my list of things I need/must do.)

You should see my artroom....oh, no, I guess that is not a good idea! 

I can barely find my new extended work space. 

Tomorrow I MUST MUST clean up a little. 

(My reasoning)

But I am using everything that is out sho why take the time to put it away.

It is 3:30 in the morning and I am just now finishing up on the

 beginnings of a bead store front

 that will be a snow scene.  So glitter & stars are EVERYWHERE!

You should have seen the look on my hubbies face

when I said I wanted to get the Christmas decorations out of storage....

NOT a pretty look, for sure!

Please go over to Lori's

http://scrapmomsmusings.blogspot.com/

to see how she made this one.

Thank you, Debbie for hosting this ornament exchange.

I have loved every single moment.

Thank you, Lori, for my beautiful

Gift Of Love!

Gotta' tare myself away and go to bed before my hubby gets up!

Night everyone,

Sharon

Christmas anyone? #2

Deanne at Inspirational Tips

 http://inspirationaltechniquesandtutorials.blogspot.com/

has a lovely tutorial on covering CD's.  On the first CD I used a wired garland that I found at Walmart and the second I followed her directions.  I think they turned out so lovely. 

 I thought I would go "cheap" and use a piece of core board scrap to cover the backside so I could make twice as many ornaments.  It worked fine except that it took alot of time and patience to cut, form and decorate it.  So I got smarter/wiser and decided to use two way tape to hold the ribbon in place until I finished decorating the backside with another CD.  I then used my handy dandy E6000 glue and ran a rim of glue all the way around the back CD.  I then used clamps to hold it together while I worked on another one.

 (I have no patience in holding something in place till it sticks

so the clamps are one of my favorite tools.)

I have some lovely yarn that is a Christmas green with long metalic fringe so I made a few with the fringe, with the ribbons and with the garland. 

What do you think?

Which one is your favorite?

I decided to make the ornament reversible so that no matter where it hangs it can be viewed from either side. 

I made one, then two and before I knew it I had eight of them done! 

Red Glass Ball with a Porsche exterior.

This red ball has been around for at least six years.  I leave them hanging on my back porch all year long.  I got the brainy idea to mosaic these beautiful seven inch balls with a clear glass.  I started to thinking that car window glass has a netting or something in between the layers and that it would hold together once broken. 

My hubby and I stopped at a car body shop and asked for a glass from a wrecked car.  They did not have any broken glass but had a windshield from a Porsche coope.

They gave it to me for free when I told them what I was planning on doing with it.

(I think they thought I was nuts and wanted me off their property.)

Do you have any idea how hard it is to break a windshield when you want it broken?  Very very hard work.  Finally I layed out a tarp on the driveway, got my hammer and struck it on the end of the glass.  Yep, it broke in thousands of pieces with one hit!  But the majority of it is fused together so I could apply it to the ball without any trouble. (BE SURE to wear gloves!!!)

 I was able to get four covered balls from one windshield.

There you go!

 I may never own a porsche (let alone know how to spell it),

but will always have a little piece of one!

At Christmas time I hang a bow with some pine from my trees and

 I have an updated look for the season.

Do you have any unique ideas for ornaments? 

I would love to hear about them.
Thank you, Deanne for reminding me of this project!  Be sure to go over to see all of the lovely things she creates!!!http://inspirationaltechniquesandtutorials.blogspot.com/

Don't you love Christmas? 
It brings out all of our creative senses.

Blessings,

Sharon

I am creating Christmas

My Blog Friends are such

blessings to me

and

that means YOU!

Okay, I have to admit something...

I am a honest blond lady.

After I wrote that post about

The Crap Blog Detective.

I turned on the Moderation thingy.

I went on my blog this evening and not a single person had even commented about it!  So I decided,well, I will post another idea and forget it.  I didn't know that when I turned on the moderator that I had to go approve each comment! 

There you all were, all the time!!

Don't ya' know that that is how the Lord must feel sometimes.  He blesses us and blesses us but we don't even look around to see His writing on the wall...lol

Your sweet comments humbled me and sent tears to wet the face and heart.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, dear souls for your sweet words of encouragement
 and
for blessing my life with your unique friendships.

No, I am not upset. 

I got that all off my heart real fast.   

That is why I wrote the quote:

"Don't let anyone pull tomorrows clouds

 over todays sunshine."

Okay, so I have been busy!

I made this "snow scene" for my buffet in the living room at Christmas.  I wrote to Jenny at http://jnichelle.blogspot.com/ asking for indulgence to post a picture of the one I created out of core board.  She has one in the background of her beautiful tree sculptures that I just loved.  I drew a pattern, cut it out of the core board (WalMart) then sprayed it with glue, topped it with large glitter then used a glue gun (sprinkled immediately with more glitter) to make the snow on the buildings and the trees.  (I used one of those 400 gold foil doilies on the inside for the round window & put pieces of vellum on all the windows so that I can run a string of lights behind) 
Total cost? 
$2.89! 
for one sheet of core board.

I had made this same thing years ago but it was eight foot tall buildings and trees for my church in Des Moines.  It went behind the 25 foot Christmas Tree that we loaded with ornaments from our church members.  But I had forgotten all about it until I saw Jenny's. 

 (BY THE WAY you have only one more day to sign up for her giveaway.)

PLUS....I made

a couple of beaded poinsettas for this beautiful green votive holder that my sis recently sent me as a "love" gift.  It is totally made of beads in a light green.  Ya' know me, I just wanted to add a little more to it.  So the poinsetta idea came to me.  Then I found a book,
"Beaded Ornaments for the Holidays and Beyond." from Bead and Button Magazines.  I don't have the money to be spending on patterns but when my sweet daughter asked if I would split the cost.  Welllll, what can one do when they get something for half price....lol  In the spring I will add spring daisies or something in spring colors. 

 It will be fun to "redo" it each season.

(Thank you, Big Sis for the sweet and thoughtful gift!!  I love it!) 

( Thank you, Big Sis for the beautiful love gift!  I adore it!)

So here are the poinsetta's.  What do you think? 

So that is why I say I am making Christmas around the Kyser household.

Making Christmas ornaments, well sorta' along with everything else. 

I can't show you the three other ornaments that I made until I get them to their rightful owners. This is the first year that I have gotten up the nerve to participate in ornament swaps. 

I love Christmas ornaments and have collected them since 1965 so the idea of a swap was right up my alley. 

I am so excited about it.

Again, thank you for your love, kind words and concern. 

All is wonderful with my world.

Blessings to each one of you,

Sharon

Sharon at My Vintage Studio

 http://myvintagestudio.blogspot.com/ 

has a wonderful giveaway!!! 

The only problem I have is if you win it I don't!  Go over to see all of her lovelies!  Goodness, this one has MY name written all over it. 

Here are just a few of the things she will have to send to ME! 

(Besides she has a beautiful name!)

Sharon

Comment Moderation

Dear Friends,  Here is the "key" to happiness. 

"Never let anyone pull a cloud over todays sunshine."

Okay, I hate this but I have gotten a rather rude comment on my last post....

sooooo

 to eliminate that problem I am putting on a comment moderation. 

(What a pain in the neck)

I kinda' feel "wow, someone does read my posts and I MUST be making some good points or I wouldn't be notified by the

Crap Blog Detective."

I am so sorry that people can be so ugly

but that does NOT deter me from

enjoying each and everyone of my sweet friends. 

It was suggested by LuLu that I do this and I think it is best for your edification.

So whoever wrote

The Crap Blog Detective

"Shame on you"

I am hoping you will have a better day

and

find something "useful" to do

with your time

besides annoying others.

You are sincerely in my prayers

Abundant Blessings to you today!

May the Lord give you a change of heart 

and replace your mean spirit

with one of uplifting others.

To my blogger buddies,

I apologize for this interruption.

Now we can get back to having fun creations.

Have a wonderful day to each and everyone.

Sharon

Funny lady!

Maggie from http://grandmayellowhair.blogspot.com/ is so very funny.  Now I just found her (don't know how)  and I went over to check it out when she left a sweet comment.  She is SO funny!  She has a very serious job and seems to delight in the humor she finds around her. 

Now you know she has to be somewhat funny with a name like

"Grandma Yellow Hair".   

The Lord knows I need to learn how to laugh and Maggie does it for me.  This joke just made me roll.  It hit a cord with me as I can sooo relate to the humor.  She has invited me to her ranch to set on her PINK porch~ 

Yep! PINK PORCH.. 

Go over and read her funny stories.  It will be worth your while & while you are there please drop her a note!  WE all need encouragement, once in a while.

Thank you so very much for stopping in & IF you have time let me know if you think of this joke & if it is as funny as I think....

Blessings to each one of you.  You make my day!!!

Have a delightful and creative day today!

Sharon

Kreativ Award

Sweet Carole sent me this lovely award!http://abohemianmarket.blogspot.com/Carole http://abohemianmarket.blogspot.com/ has been so kind to me and always leaves a comment no matter what the project I am working on.  Her words of encouragement always spur me on to creating more designs.  There are people like her & many others that bless my life!

The rules of the game are listing things no one knows about me:

1.  I am a fourth child of five chldren. 

(My oldest and youngest brothers died in the same year 40 years ago.)

2.  I am a very shy person and often feel very alone in crowds.

3.  I love Christmas time the best! 

I am a giver so it is  a good time to pull out all the stops.

4.  I was blond as a child and still frost my hair today to cover up the gray.

5.  I am the Mother of two wonderful children & we are very close.

(four grandchildren but still hoping for more)

6.  I am a loney person.  I love people but they don't seem to get the real me & I think because I have some talent in so many areas that it intimidates strangers.

7.  I grew up on a farm in Winterset, Iowa I went to a one room school house until the third grade.  My first house had no running water and an outhouse.

Now I am to pass this on to other people that I want to know more about.

LuLu  http://coastalsistersnews.blogspot.com/

Karen  http://karenharveycox.blogspot.com/
Heidi  http://shabbychicpapirskatter.blogspot.com/

Mary  http://megardengal.blogspot.com/

Thank you Carole for honoring me with this award.

You and it is appreciated!

Sharon

Double Sided Stars

Just wanted to show you a few more stars. 

My favorite one of this group is this sweet little girl, praying for Christmas to come.

These two stars are double sided.  The first one I held together with glue then run a bead of glue on the outside edges.  Then I sprinkled it with glitter.  But I got smarter!  I then tried one glueing it together and using copper foil tape to run around the edges.  It was much easier, alot less messy and took on one half the time!  So for my time, effort & glittery sticky fingers, I would say "try the copper foil first!"

Angie B. of

http://HopeMoreStudios.blogspot.com  

had a free tutorial on these sweet stars. I wanted to show you a few more of the fun ones I have come up with using her idea. 

(Be sure to stop my Angie's place.  She needs a little warming thoughts sent her way.)

Next are the insides to the Christmas box I had recently completed.  (Of course, the front of the box did not come out in photos) 

I also got the large Christmas ornament done by adding a tassel at the bottom, four longer tassels on the sides and topping that with a red crystal. 

(No photos of that either, sorry)

Busy, Busy, Busy, Me.

I am getting all sorts of projects

"off my plate".

Company just drove in so I must go for now. 

I love your sweet comments and

hope you will stay tuned for the
"Rest of the Story".

Sharon

p.s.  Be SURE to go back one post to see the Cleo necklace I just finished!

Cleo is open for review

Cleo is completed!!!

She is a beauty!

I could not get a good shot of the tiny details.   This necklace consists of five tubes of the tinyest bead (size 15's) & two tubes of a tubular bead called a delica, along with numerous Czech beads for a focal point. 

It was so very time consuming but worth it all in the end.  It is a dressy necklace, with all of the its sparkle and Czech beads.  I have NO where to wear it, even though I love it so much.  (Therefore, I will be putting it up for sale, if you are interested.)  It just needs a good home and a fun place to wear it!

My first attempt of taking a photo is on a dress form I found for, (guess who?) 

 LuLu of course!  (http://coastalsistersnews.blogspot.com)

What do you think, LuLu, does she wear my necklace well?  Or is it a bit much?...lol

I hope you enjoy seeing my interpetation of
 Jimmie's Cleo.

She was a pleasure to finally  put into my "COMPLETED' file.

Have a wonderful and productive weekend!

Sharon

p.s. Be sure to check out the latest stars that I have completed for the ladies cookie exchange.at church on Sunday.

I see stars everywhere.

Angie B. of Hopemore Studio's had a nice tutorial on this star pattern.  (Please stop in to see her lovely creations.) I didn't find it until around 11:30 last night.  The next time I looked up it was 5:30 in the morning! 

 (Would you say I get involved & forget what day it is, let alone the time?)

I have twelve more stars cut out, folded and waiting for me to get back to them.

The red stars are made from a red foil sack I purchased at the dollar store.  I had to spray glue a piece of card stock onto the back side before I started to fold it.  I don't think it was not strong enough paper to hold over a period of time.  (I always want my pieces to last for several years.)

Angie had asked if anyone had a good idea on how to cover up the back of the star.  I thought that paper doilies would work great.  So I pulled out my gold foil doilies and found that the ones that I have, over 400 of, are way to large so I cut it down to make a ruffle around the star.  I then glued another flat star on the back just to finish it off.

This picture is from my Grandfather J's primary reader from 1903.  I love the little boys laugh, it just makes me smile each time I see it.

The last one I made is one of my favorites.  It is simple, sweet,& dainty.  I cut out a flat star to back it to (it also holds the star in shape) and glued the two together.  I ran another line of glue around the edge and dipped it in Martha Stewarts copper fine glitter. 

(I love glitter!  Do you or am I just getting tacky in my old age?)  Sparkle, sparkle and more sparkle is my theme, escpecially at Christmas.  I have sparkles all over my art room but most importantly

all over my face.

I have more for tomorrow.

Let me know what you think about my takeoff of 

Angie B's great tutorial.

Blessings to you and thank you for stopping by,

Sharon

Christmas anyone?

I ran across this picture tonight and thought it is so sweet. So I wanted to share it with you.  I don't know where I got it but I have had it for several years.

Isn't he adorable?

I am starting Christmas presents already 

because 

I will be traveling back to my home town to see my precious son & his family.  It will be the first time I have been back to Iowa for three years.  I miss my grandson, son, daughter-in-love & my sister.  They live within 35 miles of each other so it will be a great time to catch up & fall in love with them all over again. 

(I, however, am not looking forward to the cold!)

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday.

How about you?

Are you thinking....Christmas yet?

I have entered an ornament exchange so my mind is going in all directions.

I hope you enjoy the Santa.

I think he is adorable.

Blessings to all & try to take the time to let me know what you Christmas plans will be for this year.

Sharon

BEADING AT LAST!!!

I am finally back at it!

I have been so busy with the Journals of Love, A Beautiful Life, & my Christmas albums that I have not been beading lately. (Way too many irons in the fire!) This week I have been beading once again. It feels so wonderful to be back creating my passion again. The above picture is a necklace that Jimmie Boatwright created. (She is a friend that I met at Hobby Lobby then again at the Atlanta Bead Company. We became fast friends and continue to keep in contact through beading.)

Jimmie has become a teacher and is creating way above my level already. She designed this lovely "Cleo". I am in love! I just had to make it! The necklace I am working on is three fourths done. Guess what happened.... I ran out of the size 15 bead. I did not know that it takes three tubes of the tiniest beads to complete this project. Well, I got all the the center and one half of the tassel part completed. I used every bead I had in a wonderful soft gold. Now what do I do??? I usually get my beads from Artbeads but this particular size and color came from a friend that I bead with, Deb. (I have written an email to her promising her anything I have in trade for just enough beads to finish.) I am such an impatient person. I wanted to complete it NOW! But once I get it finished I will have to show you what a stunning design piece.

I usually get together with my first bead teacher, BJ Kahn. She does such stunning pieces and has patiently guided me through each piece. I have learned brick, peyote, ladder, Russian Spiral, and numerous other stitches from BJ.

This week I just could not pass up the class that Jimmie was teaching. She developed this pattern all by herself. Isn't it Divine? For some it may be a wee bit much, but for me.....I think it is fabulous!

I have been working on more Christmas ornaments. I finished one this evening but I have a feeling my tree will have a very limited amount of my hand beaded ornaments this year. They are a lot of work (several hours and alot of beads are involved) but they are turning out beautifully.

We are having company this weekend so I just wanted to stop in and tell you that I am still around. Beading, around and around....lol

Have a wonderful week of creating beautiful works of art!

I would love to hear what you personally think of the necklace that I am working on....

Blessings to you, dear blogger buddies.

Sharon

It is all about me......selfish? No, FUN!!!

Natasha Burns challenged us to make

"something for ourselves".

I am feeling kinda' stingy right now.

(My Mother always taught us that

"it is better to give than to receive"

or

"Now, don't be selfish, Sharon, you must learn to share".)

I can hear her right now.

I have just finished Heathers class on making a journal for myself. I had such a wonderful time with that class that I decided I would make another one just around the Victorian Christmas. This is what I came up with. What do you think? Do you have any idea how hard it is to find graphics around the "Real Reason for the Season"? I just did not have any. I looked for two days, to no avail and decided that this book would be centered around the Victorian Christmas theme.

First, the box that holds the "A Beautiful Life" journal. (I just borrowed the idea from Heather)

The box that holds the book. It is simple yet says there is "something" inside.
The cover is another wallpaper book cover that I loved the graphic of the boys singing. You can not tell but I have used dimensional glue to "pop" the bells off the page and I added a piece of jewelry at the bottom that I dearly love.My first full page is a takeoff of "A Beautiful Life with a postcard, antique broach and two sweet little ones praying. Across the page I added an antique key, watch face and some beaded gold chain. (If you enlarge it you can see the snow sparkling and the moon in 3D)

Page 2

I really liked the way the Victorian ladies dressed. (I would have loved living back then but if I did then you wouldn't have known me...lol) The BIG red button was one of my Mommas & I could not pass up making it look like a wreath.

Page 3

This is one of my favorite pages because if you notice there is an angel that sets on top of the famous Santa & child picture. That little angel is a plaster placket that I have had for 39 years. I scanned it last year and have used the graphic for many cards and tags at Christmas time.

Page 4

This is a true Santa page. On the left side is a card that I received last year. I used an old lace collar from Goodwill to soften the page. On the right is a graphic from Heathers book. On top that I scanned an advertisement and then made it into a stamp to put Santa on top of the red piece of core board.

Page 5

I used the inside of a card board box for the right hand corner and added a silver flower broach. I picked up at Goodwill a burgundy beaded dress that had scallops, cut it apart for the trim. The tree on the left is three pieces of jewelry that I glued together to make the tree.

Page 6

I know you can not see it but all of the bulbs on the tree are 3D with dimensional "Glossy Accents".

Last but not the least is the finished product. I did not have a wide red ribbon so I used a deep rose that has a lot of green on the backside.

I had the white tassel that was a light pull.

Well, selfish or not, I enjoyed making this one.

Now I have to get back to working on Christmas presents and gifts for others.

Thank you, Natasha for hosting this challenge! I have enjoyed it very very much.

Be sure to go over to Natasha's post (also known as Artistic Creations)
http://natashaburns.blogspot.com/
to see all of the other creations because
"It is all about me" afterall...

Thank you,Marietta

I received a lovely package in the mail today from

Marietta at Sweet Old Vintage! (http://sweetoldvintage.blogspot.com)

(It is always so fun to get something in the mail besides bills..lol)

Marietta sent me the most lovely Victorian/Vintage ladies to use on

"Journals of Love"

gifts for cancer patients.

I just couldn't wait to use them immediately so the first two are completed and are being taken to North Georgia Cancer Center on Friday. I have made 32 journals so far but I am having difficulty in getting enough hours in a day.

I am working on Christmas gifts for the family to take to Iowa (when I get to go sometime in November or December.) I am also trying to get some things beaded as well as completing my Christmas Journal and numerous other sewing projects.

Life is good and I am so busy. I go for a cat-scan on Thursday then to the hospital to deliver the journals....then life just happens. I can not believe I have not been posting in the last couple of weeks. I have missed everyone and trying to play "catch up" is so time consuming, yet so well worth every minute.
( Below are some of the beautiful ladies that Marietta sent to me)

Marietta, Thank you so very much for your contribution to

"Journals of Love"

They are just the perfect size and the details are so precious. Your work is beautiful and I sincerely appreciate each one!

You will be blessed for your precious love gifts.

Please stop over to see Marietta! She has the most wonderful ideas and beautiful vintage pictures for us to use.

(http://sweetoldvintage.blogspot.com)

I hope everyone is doing great and that you will have time to do

"something just for you".

Which leads up to my next post...

I hope to have time this evening to show you something I made for the

"Something for you"

challenge.

Now it is supper time and I have to find the table so my sweet hubby can eat...lol

Blessings to all,

Sharon