Sweet snowguy ornament anda star transformation ~

Well, I finished him!!! He has a little dictionary collar and hat with silver trim. Plus he's so sparkly!!! I have the twine hanger coming out of the top of his hat so he can hang on the tree. I'll add him to the magazine giveaway, OK?? Just leave a comment ON THIS POST to win the premiere issue of Food Network Magazine and my sweet little snowman ornament!!! I'll pick a winner Monday after 6 pm EST!!!

Remember the rusty stars, and remember how I'm dreaming of a white (more like vanilla :) Christmas? Here's my simple transformation, a little white spray paint, then coated with more of a vanilla acrylic paint and a little tan as well then sprayed with spray adhesive and coated with two different glitters!!! Ultra fine white and diamond dust....tied with beautiful vanilla seam binding! I still want to print out something from the computer and add it too... probably a small banner that says "Peace"....we'll see!

Speaking of a vanilla Christmas, I have this idea in my head... I'm not sure if it'll work, but you know that I'm a frugal girl and I have tons of muslin scraps, right? What if I were to make several long strips of muslin that were clipped every couple of inches or so, then wash them so they will fray really nicely and then sew them all together to create my own custom vanilla garland??! It may look awful but I just have to try.....you never know!!


DH's parents gave us a truckload of firewood today and we've been enjoying this ALL DAY!! Isn't it wonderful? I love the crackling sounds that wood makes in the fireplace ~

Wishing you a wonderful Monday sweet friends!

xxoo, Dawn

This is it!!! 700 POSTS! How about a GIVEAWAY?!

My goodness!!! Can you believe how fast 100 posts whizzes by??! No matter, I love blogging, I love my precious blog friends and I can only hope that I can inspire you just a tiny fraction of how much you all inspire me by your comments, by your beautiful blogs, writing, decorating and wonderful artwork!!! What a venue this land of blog is ~ I should call it

The Land of Inspiration!!!

So my giveaway....well, I've been thinking about it and I'd like to give away this new upcoming tutorial!! It's CHOCK FULL of gorgeous images and three different project ideas.

If you should choose to purchase this tutorial, "Christmas Treasures" this week, the winner will get their choice of tutorials from Lessons from The Nest!

I'll also include my originals that have been created to demonstrate the tutorial! That way you can see first hand how they look and plus you have instructions and images to make more ~

• The shaker photo display

• A vintage postcard ornament

• A vintage tag to hang on the tree or to grace a gift

I may come up with a few more goodies to give away to other winners because I always love choosing more than one name!

So please leave a comment on THIS POST and please, if you do not have a blog, leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!!

The contest ends next Thursday evening at 6:00 pm EST so I can announce the winners in my Friday post ~

I'm still working on getting the tutorial in the Lessons from The Nest blog ~ hopefully by this afternoon!!!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I just had to show you this! A couple of years ago I bought this beautiful baby cap at Lakewood Antiques Market South (before it closed) from a sweet woman who handmade each and every one. I bought it because I wanted so badly to learn how to make one. I guess I thought if I had it I could study it and teach myself! Hah!

But little did I know I'd have a precious little granddaughter to wear it! Don't you love the scalloped edge?

Thank you always for visiting and inspiring me ~

hugs and love to you all!

~ Happy Friday ~

xxoo, Dawn

Finished artwork and a very special giveaway!!

I finished the nature journal! It's amazing how long it took to complete this piece but it's OK, I enjoyed every minute of it! Each page is collaged and tabbed ~ each with it's own definition . . . I hope to get it in my Etsy store Friday!! I've pictured each spread for you to see . . . (If anyone is interested in this nature journal it's 32.00 plus shipping, just email me at sewmanyroses@yahoo.com)

UPDATE: SOLD ~ this little nature journal is heading to Denmark!

I also finished a mini composition book too. Look at me being all productive!!! Don't you just love these two images on the front and back? Too sweet ~ I hope to list this in my Etsy store Friday too.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Now, for the very special giveaway!!!

Joy and Cindy at The Plum Tree are hosting

A Card Collection
for Our Troops

Giveaway!!

Just create or buy cards for the troops to use

or cards to encourage and support them

then send them in to The Plum Tree!

Your name will be entered to win

a $30.00 Plum Tree Gift Certificate!

Please click HERE to visit The Plum Tree blog if you have any questions and their address is listed right at the top in the banner.

I hope you have the best Friday ever!

xxoo, Dawn

Happy Labor Day!!! plus winners of the giveaway . . .

We had a nice visit Sunday afternoon at my in-law's house. I thought it might be too hot to sit outside together

but the breeze was blowing and it was nice under their big umbrella on the deck.

As you can see by the photos, the breeze also blew in the clouds and we had a bit of rain. Just enough to cool things down even more ~ and the four o'clocks opened for a drink!

After returning home, I printed out all of the wonderful, sweet posts that were left for the giveaway. I double checked for any repeats, or double posts (you know where you click your mouse one extra time to make sure your comment "took" and it posts twice), numbered each one and used a random number generator for the winning numbers.....here they are sweet friends:

For the Nesting Baby Fairy Jar ~ the winner is Diane of Diane's Musings!!

For the Altered Mini Thought Book ~ the winner is Kay of A Little Bit of Pink!!

For the Lavender Sachet ~ the winner is Judy of Judy's Postcards Plus!!

And for the Bookmark ~ the winner is Joanna of Sweet Finds!!

Please email me with your mailing address so I can get these goodies ready to mail off!! My email is: sewmanyroses@yahoo.com

Thank you all so much for the wonderful, kind comments you left me. What a treasure trove they are!! You are all such sweet friends and I'm so glad to be a part of this land of blog ~

Have a restful, relaxing Labor Day,

xxoo, Dawn

600 POSTS...how about a GIVEAWAY!!!

600 posts. How in the world did THAT happen? Am I a blog addict? One might say so, but to be more on the money would be to say is that I'm consistent. And another truth would be that this blog and the precious friends that I've made here, bloggers and not, are my creative inspiration!

Don't get me wrong, I love to make things and always always have. But to have you take the time out of your busy life, sit down and want to see what I've made, said or posted is a gift to me. And that truly spurs my creativity. You nurture my creative soul. I look forward to showing you each and every little thing. Just like a friend wants to show another friend what they've found, made or discovered. And of course, I relish each and every comment you leave me ~

Thank you for visiting my blog, thank you for your encouragement and thank you all so much for your friendship.

So in honor of my 600 post I'm having a little giveaway!! And there will more than one name drawn!

So please, leave a comment on THIS post and your email address if you DON'T have a blog so I can get in touch with you . . .

Thank you sweet blog friends ~ xxoo, Dawn

ps. Contest ends next Sunday evening August 31st at 6:00 pm EST!