Monets garden!

Hello all,
I must show you one of the highlights of my trip to Paris!
My artist friend and I took a day trip to Giverny, where Monet had lived
and painted his famous water lily paintings.

The drive to Giverny was soooo wonderful!
The trees were all starting to turn colors, so it was amazing and then add in the quaint picturesque villages and the Seine river winding it's way around each corner, I'm telling you it was almost more then our artists brains could take!! lol
And we hadn't even arrived at Monet's garden yet!

The interior of the house is so darling, and we could just imagine Monet and his family living their days there.
No photography is allowed in the house but we were able to take a photo out through the window looking out to the garden.

The gardens are immense, there is the first section with all the wonderful blooming flowers and then there is a separate area that overlooks all the lily ponds and the bridges. One of my favorite spots was the nasturtium garden, it was such a vivid green and looked like a page out of a fairy tale!
At one point we got out our sketch pads and sat on a near by wooden bench that overlooked the famous green bridge. It was actually kind of surreal to be sitting there, in Monets garden sketching!
A couple of tourist groups walked by and gave us looks of approval on our renditions of the scene, so that was pretty amazing!

After our garden and pond adventure, we meandered up the cobblestone street and there was this stone wall with gorgeous red leaves emerging from the cracks that totally took our breath away, so more photos!

Our last stop was at the end of the street (where our driver was awaiting our return).
We climbed the stone steps up to an old church that was in the midst of renovation and sat down and brought out our sketch books again to do a quick rendering of an old white iron gate and wall.

We really didn't want to leave this wonderful little bit of paradise, but Paris was awaiting our return, so we found our way to our hostess tour guide and with joy in our hearts and minds we waved goodbye to the little town of Giverny.

It was an experience I will never forget and will become even more special to me now whenever I gaze upon a Monet painting.

Hope you enjoyed a little bit of my adventure too.
Talk to you all soon,
deborah

I've got the Paris blues!!!

Hi all,
I have returned from the beautiful city of Paris, and let me tell you, once you have been to this romantic city, it will never leave your soul!

This was my third trip to Paris and I still cannot get enough of it.
The amazing architecture, the jaw dropping art,
the lovely french accents, the gorgeous city scapes,
......
I could just go on and on, but hey why don't I just show you some photos?

The first thing my friend and I did was walk from our apt. to the Eiffel tower, she had never been to Paris before and so of course before we did anything I had to take her to this famous landmark. We opted for the experience of walking up all 686 steps!!! It was totally a challenge but we got a total sense of accomplishment when we finally got to the top of the stairs! Not to mention, great exercise! lol
You then have to take the elevator to get to the very top and at this point we were happy to get the ride up the rest of the way!
The 360 degree view is soooo beautiful at the top and the wind just whips you around like a rag doll! It is an experience that one never forgets!



This is the view of the building that we had from the window of our apt!
Isn't it beautiful?
Every morning I would throw back the curtain and just sigh with utter awe with the atmosphere and the history of Paris.


Well, that's just a little preview of my trip. I have many more photos and bits to tell you about but for now I must say au revoir. So, keep coming back to see more and later I will also be announcing my last Paris shabby chic winner. The winner will receive a little bit of Paris along with a collage, so keep your fingers crossed.
talk with you soon,
deborah

Paris awaits

Au revoir all,
I will talk with you all in a week.
deborah

So many ideas, not enough time!

Hi all,
Do you ever have stages in your life where you just have so many creative ideas floating around in your mind that you end up doing none of them because it is kind of overwhelming?
Well, I sure do.
But I am determined to not let that happen so I figured that if I write them down here in black and white print for you all to see, then it will help me to bring the ideas into fruition and hopefully hold me accountable to my creativity, lol.

So here's a few of my ideas.

1.)I've been thinking of starting a line of creations along the lines of teacups, teapots and such for my new shop on the soon to be launched site of Lollishops.
2.)I'm going to give a blog tea party for all my blogging friends in a couple of weeks. They'll be tea and cookies and even party favors.
3.)I'm thinking of writing a book about creativity and menopause.
4.)I want to start a blog all on the subject of Vincent van gogh

believe me there's more, but at this moment in time that's all I can grab from my brain right now, so if you see me starting to just lounge around eating bon bons looking like I have nothing more to do with my time than to , well, lounge, just give me a little shout out reminding me that there's creating to do and to get busy!

talk to you soon,
deborah

The count down has begun!!!!

Hi all,
I have 6 days left before I leave for Paris, France!
Finally the apt. details are worked out and the driver is scheduled to pick us up at the airport when we arrive!
The journey to get there will be a long one, but when we step off of that plane onto foreign ground it will be worth the hours in the air. At least I keep telling myself that, lol.
I wish I could just snap my fingers and be there. I am not a happy flyer and if I could just appear suddenly on top of the balcony of the Eiffel tower, that would be tres magnifique!

I am so excited to show my penpal artist friend around this beautiful city and wow her with the art and architecture.
She and I met while taking an art history class a couple of years ago at our local junior college. She now lives in Maine, but we have been writing letters back and forth since then.

One day she had written that it would be a dream come true for her to go to Paris someday and I wrote back, "let's go". And that's how our little adventure transpired!
I believe that if you have a dream, then fulfill that dream!
None of us know how long we have on this earth, and really when you think about it, life is really short.
So, now in 6 days, I and my penpal will partake of an amazing adventure full of new situations, and new people, delicious food and breathtaking art and we can't wait!!!!

Whatever your dream or dreams may be, don't hesitate.
Start thinking about how you can make that dream a reality and just take the jump and don't look back.

Talk to you soon,
deborah

And the winner is..... or should I say winners!!!

Hi all,
Yes, I am finally announcing the August and September winners of the Paris Shabby Chic giveaway!!!
And they are......
Misseskwitty and Jeanknee!!!!!
Congrats to you both and I hope you love the collages as much as I loved creating them.




Both of theses artists are very talented and I am
so honored to call them my etsy friends!

When you get a chance make sure you check out their shops.

One of my fav items in misseskwittys etsy store are her little birdie bookmarks. They are so cute and look darling perched on top of the book page keeping your spot to where you last were reading. They would be a perfect gift for that book lover friend or relative and would make wonderful Christmas stocking stuffers.

And jeanknee has the most pretty party decorations! I special ordered her petite pink candy cups a couple of months ago for my daughter in laws baby shower and they were the hit of the party. So if you love foo foo and pink, be ready to shop like crazy!!!

Okay, remember there's still the October Paris Shabby Chic giveaway and I'll be shopping for it
in Paris! I can't wait to see who the winner will be! Maybe it will be you!

I'll talk to you all soon,
deborah

New birth!!

Hello all,

My first granddaughter was born yesterday and I had to show you how beautiful she is!!!

All 8lbs 120z of her!!!! She's a chubby girl and darling!!!!

I can't believe that my baby, my youngest child, is now having babies of his own!

Life is so wonderful and God is so good!!!

talk to you all soon,

deborah

I want to go back on my Vacation!

Hi all,

Now you can see why I want to go back!

Our whole week was spent on this private dock (ok, some of the time we were in the house too!)

but we all really did hang out alot on the lake, because it was just soooo gorgeous!

The weather was perfect, somedays, a little windy, but that kept it from getting too hot.

We had 5 kayacks with us, so whenever we wanted to take a little stroll on the water, we did!

Doesn't my hubby look so relaxed and pensive out on the water?

and the sunset was awesome!

Only the Creator of all time can paint like that!

I couldn't resist showing you all my daughter out on the edge of the pier enjoying the peace and quiet, and I think my son was permanentely attached to that kayack the whole week!

Here is the view from one of our hikes. Which eventually led us to a crystal clear lake. It almost, (i said almost) made me want to camp here!

and for those of you who know me, that is a huge statement!!!! lol

You know how some vacations, even though they are great, make you so happy to get home?

Well, this was not one of them! We really truly did not want to go home!

But real life did call us all back to our schedules and such, but this is one vacation none of us will ever forget.

Hope you also had a fantastic summer and made memories that will last a life time.

blessings,

deborah

It's going to be a girl! and it's all about the Pink!!

Hi all,

Just wanted to show you a few photos from the baby shower I gave for my daughter in law a couple of weeks ago.

We had 16 ladies and it was so great to be together in celebration of the soon to be baby girl.

My decorating style is very old world style, but it was so fun to have a girly pink day!

I wish I had gotten photos with more detail in them though, because I had some great party favors from a shop online called jeanknee, her creations are so darling and the ones she made for the shower were perfect for this "pink" day. Check out her shop http:/jeanknee.etsy.com when you get a chance and you will just ooohhh and ahhhh over everything!

And my sister in law made the cake and it was just as tasty as it was beautiful. All pink of course but with dark chocolate on the inside!!! Yummmmmm

The greatest part though was that my daughter in law had a chance to sit and relax and be surrounded by her family and friends.

And of course, big brother to be, had to have a little something to open up too. Doesn't he look sooo cool in his sunglasses? And that expression is just priceless!

I also received a lovely compliment when one of the ladies asked me if I give retreats! Hey, I might have to think about that.

I love giving parties and I'm already planning my next one. I think it's going to be an autumn tea in celebration of the falling leaves and coming

harvest, and guess what?

You are invited too!

Talk to you all soon,

deborah

We have a lovely winner for the July Paris giveaway!

Bonjour!

Yes, we have a winner for the July Paris Shabby Chic giveaway!!!!

and I couldn't be more thrilled!

Congratulations http://southernladysvintage.etsy.com/ !!!

Out of over 50 names, I pulled your name out of the toile box and I was sooooo excited!

Ms. southern is a member of the Cottage Style Street Team

http://cottagestylestreetteam.blogspot.com/

that I am also a member of and she is such a sweetie and always is on the thread posting away. So if you haven't checked out her shop yet on etsy, you should! She has lots of vintage goodies for you to look at as well as her felted brooches, wonderful gift tags, and more. And if you need a little destressing in your life, her music on her blog, http://www.southernladyvintage.blogspot.com/

is soooo soothing, you just want to listen to it all day.

Remember, if you have already left me a previous comment on my blog for the past giveaways then you are automatically entered into the August Paris giveaway, so you still have a few more chances to win.

I'll be on vacation for the next week and the lake house that we are going to doesn't have internet hookup so I won't be able to blog or check my etsy shop!!! :0

So, it's going to be me, sitting in my beach chair with umbrella, dangling my feet in the water and reading!!! Just like the good ole days when there was no such thing as a personal computer!!!You do remember those days, don't you?

Have a great week and enjoy the sunshine.

deborah

Sneak peek for Paris July giveaway!

Hi all,


Just a quick sneak peek of the July Paris shabby chic giveaway.
If you like white and cream and a little bit of silver glitter thrown in then this collage is for you!!
I'll draw the winner on Saturday!

talk to you soon,
deborah

My new muse, ACEO's

Hi all!!
Today, I want to show you my latest art creations! They are called ACEO's.

You may ask "what is an ACEO" and I will answer they are tiny works of art!


ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions, and Originals". The cards have one main rule and that is that they must measure 3.5inches by 2.5inches the size of a trading card. Just like the baseball trading cards.


Art cards were originally meant to be traded and in fact they still are, the difference is that ATC's are traded only, and ACEO's are sold.


The cards are sold as originals or editions. If it's a print it should say so somewhere in the description and all ACEOs and ATC should be signed and dated on the back.





Art cards have been around for a long time and were really popular in the 1600's.


In the impressionist days, the artists would trade cards amongst themselves so they could study each others styles and techniques. They even used the cards to trade for food, supplies or lodging.


Then in 1887 "baseball" cards started to appear and in the 1960's the size of the card was regulated to it's 2 1/2x 3 1/2 size.


Today, there is a resurgence of trading cards and I am loving them too!


There is no limit to their designs. You can paint on them, rubberstamp them, collage on them, draw on them, etc. Your imagination is free to fly!!


If you find that special ACEO that you just totally love then you can even frame them! They are definetely little works of art, so don't underestimate them just because they are small.
Some collectors have hundreds in their collections!!!





Hope you enjoy looking at mine, because I am loving creating them!

talk with you all soon,
deborah

Blogging with no obligation!!!

Oh boy, do i lovvvveee this idea!!! Blogging with no obligation! I guess I'm not the only one who has been feeling super duper guilty that my page just sits here, day after day with nothing new added!
You know how sometimes you have so much you want to say and write about and then sometimes you just go through a dry spell of letting it all fall to the wayside? Well, that's where I have been lately with my blog. I guess it's kind of like artists block, but it's called writers blog, right?
Anyway.......
Here's where I first heard the phrase bwoo
http://www.tartx.com/blog/?page_id=233
So if you are wandering around the blog world in a state of denial like I have been lately, then this could really ease your mind and your wandering, at least a little bit! lol
And with that thought I will end.
talk with you ?
deborah

Winner of Paris Shabby Chic June giveaway is....

Congratulations ettaking!!!

Out of 54 entries ettaking was the lucky winner this month!!

I love this artists etsy shop because the subjects of the photos are very unique and full of color!

The photo of the Eiffel tower is just sooooo gorgeous!

Check out the link to see for yourself http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5055535

Hope you enjoy the Paris collage ettaking, and when you get to your dream trip to Africa someday, we'll be awaiting to see your amazing photos.

Stay tuned in the coming week or two to see a sneak peek of the July Paris shabby chic giveaway!

Sneak peek of June Paris giveaway!

Bonjour!!!

Here's a sneak peek of the June Paris giveaway.

Remember, if you have already left me a comment on past posts then you are still signed up for the monthly giveaway. But if you have never left me a comment telling me where you would love to visit someday, then just leave your comment here and I'll add you to the list.

Bonne chance to you all.

deborah

I'm in a Paris state of mind!!

Hello,

I have been thinking about Paris alot lately, and thought I'd put up a few of my fav photos from my trip that I took a few years ago.

My hubby and I spent 2 weeks in France for our 25th wedding anniversary and it was the trip of a lifetime! I had never flown before either so it was definetely memorable! One of the things I love about Paris is that you can walk everywhere, which really was great because it helped reduce my calories from all the chocolate croissants I ate!

And of course the other great thing is the art!!! I couldn't believe that I really got to stand in front of orginal art work that I had only seen in books before. It was so emotional for me to actually be standing in front of the canvas in the same way Renior had stood, or Van gogh, or Degas. Total inspiration, that's for sure.

Hope you enjoyed some of my Paris memories. And never forget, that dreams really do come true!

deborah

And the winner is..... Tiedupmemories!

Congratulations

Tiedupmemories! You are the winner of my May Paris Shabby Chic giveaway!!

As you can see, for the month of May, I thought I'd create something with lots of pink. Hope you like it.

For those of you who are hearing about tiedupmemories for the first time, let me tell you that she is a lovely jewelry artist and her pieces are exquisite! So go check out her shop on Etsy at

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5420388 and you will be so glad you did.

Now, for those of you who did not win this month, don't lose faith! there is still the month of June, July, August, September and for the October winner a very special surprise straight from Paris herself, and I'm not talking about Hilton! lol

So, if you already have put your name in for the last two giveaways, then you are automatically set up for all future Paris giveaways. If you are a newbie to my blog and have not posted for my giveaways yet, then leave me a post, telling me where would be your favorite place in the world to visit. I will then place your name in the toille box for the remaining Paris Shabby Chic giveaways.

talk with you all soon,

deborah