My Paintings are on Display

Warning: Me, me, me, ME, me - and more about ME.

I finished the Santa paintings and they are hanging in the window of the local toy store.

There are three of them smiling cheerfully at shoppers.

And they are 3'x4' - but don't look quite so large from the street!

They look really cool at night (in my humble (ha!) opinion)-

I also have individual paintings for sale in the toy store - since several of my pieces are appropriate for kids' rooms.

Like this cute little guy.........

(and don't ALL kids need bible verses in their rooms to memorize and "hide in their hearts" ?!?)

The most difficult part was not the actual painting.

The hardest part was mustering up the courage to actually tell someone that I paint.

And THEN asking to place my art in the toy store for SALE. (Risking the criticism of "others" -yikes!)

Which reminds me........I am reading a really good book by Anne Graham Lotz - The Magnificent Obsession.... I got it "free" by donating here.

One of Anne Graham Lotz's heroes is Abraham. In the first chapter she talks about how Abram (Abraham) arrives in Canaan and is quite different from everyone - because he has a different God. His God is not like their god(s). Here are a couple of paragraphs that hit home.

"I have discovered that as I pursue knowing God, I too have found myself in the minority. I am surrounded by others who seem so different from me in their values and priorities. Canaanites today are those the Bible describes as worldly. Their pattern of behavior is based on what everyone else is doing, on what feels right to them, on what seems to work for their advantage. Their preoccupation is with personal pleasure. Their priority is "me first." And their lives are so fast paced they have no time for God or for their neighbor. Yet many of them are very religious, like the Canaanites, worshiping a god of their own making. ....

......... It's reasonable that you and I should stand out from those around us. Absolutely. Obviously. Is that what you're afraid of? Are you afraid of being so different that you draw the stares of your coworkers? That you provoke whispers behind your back? That someone will raise an eyebrow, curl her lip and leave you off the social register in your community?" -Anne Graham Lotz

Now, tell me, again - exactly WHY do I even care what anyone here on earth thinks about my paintings?

Please visit the other posts at DIY day!

and The Gypsy's Corner Three or More Tuesday

Gifts for Crafty Friends

Do you have someone "crafty" on your Christmas list?

I have a talented niece who likes to make things.

Last year I sent her a cool kit I bought on Etsy to make necklace pendants.

It was similar to this.......

(But not nearly as BIG - sorry, Hannah!)

This kit makes 15 pendants, 5 bookmarks, 5 thumbtacks, and 5 magnets and is $28 from Kristenskrafts.Etsy.com

Etsy has a variety of kits available - I found many cool ideas!

Make your own Soap kit!
$10 by KarensSoaps.Etsy.com

How about a make-your-own Penguin ornament ?
$11 by PaperandString.Etsy.com

Remember those cute glitter houses I showed you last week?

Well, here is a kit for a glitter church - $21.95 from Littlepinkstudio.Etsy.com

Make your own coin pouch - just $7 from Kendraha.Etsy.com

For a crafty knitter friend....... this cute owl knitting kit with pattern and yarn......

$15 by AmyGaines.Etsy.com

How about a Terrarium Kit? $15 from
LCimler.Etsy.com

This little doll painting kit would be fun for kids/teens!

$9 from GooseGreaseundone.Etsy.com

This next one is a kit to make a vintage wreath. $28 from Sweettweelab.Etsy.com

This holiday card making kit looks cute.....
$10 from dianaj1012.Etsy.com

So many great choices!!!!

And since these gifts are all about changing a KIT into

a cute "Something" - I included this post with many other projects at

Happy Thanksgiving! (here's a little history)

First Thanksgiving by Jenne Augusta Brownscombe

From the pen of Edward Winslow (Mourt's Relation):
"our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

Norman Rockwell

And the first proclamation by a President:
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor - and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be – That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks – for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation – for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war –for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions – to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually – to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed – to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord – To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us – and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
GO. WASHINGTON.

President Lincoln actually began the annual observance of Thanksgiving, as some of the presidents prior to him chose to acknowledge the day and others did not.

Tree in a Bucket or Basket?

Remember that cute $3 Christmas craft project I shared, yesterday?

Here is the photo from Country Living..........

The photo was taken inside this beautiful saltbox in Connecticut............

Wow. Wow. Wow. What a perfect house.

They even have the same floor that I have in my kitchen!.........

Look how comfortable this dining area is.........

I showed my husband this galvinized bucket and explained how we could set the tree stand inside the bucket and not worry about water leaking from the tree stand this Christmas.

He gave me quite the set of reasons why a bucket will not work.

Then I found this tree in a basket in Southern Living........

Should I just have the kids help me set the tree inside the basket while he is at work?

(I'll post a picture once the mission is complete.

And "no" we do not have our tree, yet!)

Three Dollar Christmas Decoration

Found a cute idea in my Country Living magazine this month.


I bought these metal-rim tags at Walmarche for less that $3.

Then, I pulled out my letter stamps and ink pad.............

I found a ball of twine/string............

(Side note: Isn't my Thanksgiving table top cute?)

After stamping the tags with "Merry Christmas,"

I strung them on the string.

To keep them evenly spaced, I pulled the string through the silver key-ring-type-attachment to secure the tag where I wanted it.

(In Country Living, they actually removed the silver key-ring loops and used a separate string to tie each tag onto the string. -I chose to keep the loops on the tags.)

TRUST ME! This is a very cute project - I am just a VERY POOR photographer!!!!

Please visit Kimba at A Soft Place to Land for more DIY projects!!

Please visit Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday and

It's So Very Cheri

Christmas in Savannah

Snagged a chance to spend two hours in Savannah, Georgia, on Sunday.
Pure bliss.

If you have never been to Savannah- you are truly missing out on a unique city. It is a beautiful city, yet it is also a quaint-artsy-southern-working-sleepy town- ALL at the same time. Interstate 16 just spits you out in the heart of downtown Savannah as the interstate ends. One minute you are traveling 60 mph and the next you are stopped at a traffic light, staring at a beautiful historic square full of live oaks draped in moss and covered in resurrection ferns. The squares are surrounded by many buildings as old as Georgia, itself (and Georgia was a colony, after all). And there are lots of squares, thanks to James Oglethorpe and Colonel William Bull. And lots of history, thanks to our forefathers. And lots of misquitoes, if you visit in the summer.

Back to my Sunday......

One of my favorite stores is The Paris Market & Brocante on Broughton Street. Here is their cute website.

And here are some photos I took. -They are already dolled up for Christmas..........

Another favorite shop on Broughton Street is @Home (blogged about it on Monday -here).

Here is our favorite hotel in Savannah............

The Marshall House Inn

(did not get to spend the night in Savannah, this trip).

The Marshall House is on Broughton, also - a couple of blocks down from the shops I mentioned, above. It is Savannah's oldest hotel (c. 1851), so if you don't like "historic" - there are plenty of Hiltons and Marriotts nearby.

More "typical" Savannah views (the sun was at a low angle, so the photos are few).

And, here is a picture from an 1864 Harper's Weekly article of General Tecumseh Sherman's headquarters while in Savannah. ...............

And here is that same house, now............

And what does this have to do with Christmas?

Well...

it was in this house that Sherman penned a telegram sent to President Lincoln that read....

"I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the City of Savannah, ............."

His march through Georgia was finally over.

Please visit The Inspired Room for more Christmas posts!

New Ho-Ho-Ho Art

I have had a busy week of painting.

Can you count painting canvas as DIY??

I Did-it-myself, after all!

The first two painting are for a nursery or kids' room............

These are both 16"x20"


Ho, Ho, Ho!!
This next painting is 36"x48".........

(It is for window in a downtown store. Hence, the XXL size!!)

Here are a few more ....... in-progress (obviously)

Clearly - the cheeks and beard and mouth are not complete.

" Yes" - they need more than one large Santa, and "Yes", that is a laundry basket.

So, just lay a finger aside of your nose, give a nod, and fly with your favorite reindeer on over to Kimba's new Soft Place to Land website and join the DIY party, today!