Abducted by aliens; returned home at last

Okay, so it wasn't really aliens. Just been at the "down" end of the seesaw for the last several months. But the tilt is headed in the other direction now.


After participating at a few craft/gift fairs this Fall, I have items left over that I really want to sell. So I've put out a flyer inviting folks to come by my house on Saturday to check out my stuff and hopefully BUY!

These are my "Heavenly Princess" canvases, evolved from a class I recently took. Christy Tomlinson offers a "SheArt" class, which I took because A) I love her messy and spontaneous style, so different from my own, and B) Christy is just so darn cute!

Each canvas has "Princess - Daughter of the Heavenly King" somewhere, along with an inspirational saying or Bible verse. No Princes yet, but they're coming!




You can see my Vintage canvases here, and here, and here, and here.

 

The canvases shown above are 6x6; those below are 6x8. The sides are finished, so no frame is needed.

The next canvases are 8x10, followed by 6x12.

I also made some wreaths out of pages from old hymnals. I had seen this style of wreath online, but not made from hymnal pages, so I thought, Woo-Hoo! I've come up with something unique! Not so much, it turns out. A friend told me she received the same type wreath, made from hymnal pages, as a gift. Oh poo...

But they're very pretty, even if I wasn't the first to think of it! And I really like that they can be used throughout the year.

This is a close-up of the paper rose in the center. I said bad words while I was making those roses. Lots of bad words.

Anyway, this is just a sampling of the wreaths. There are 12", 17" and 25" diameters, with one or two rows of cones. The color is from spray glitter, which is sealed and will not come off on your clothes, floors, furniture, pets...

Until next time, hope you're enjoying a wonderful life!

Beverly

Giveaway winner - I can't find you!

I have been unable to find the winner of my giveaway - and it's a great giveaway! The only information I have is "Darrelyn" and a link to her blog. There is no "contact me" button, and no email address on her profile. And, I have tried and tried and tried to leave a comment on her blog, to no avail!

So, Darrelyn, if you see this, contact me right away! If I have not heard from you by June 20, I will choose another winner. Hope you get this message in time!

I'm Back!

Just a quick note to everyone to say I'm finally back after my computer had a major hard-drive crash on May 24! Got a lot of catching up to do and some new art to post as soon as I have a chance. Breathe, Beverly, breathe....

And the Winner Is...

...going to be getting a big box of cool stuff in a few days!

So, with a bit of fanfare...

...and a drumroll, please...

Congratulations

to

wait for it

wait for it

Darrelyn!!!

I'll be getting your goodies box into the mail tomorrow!

Thank you to all who entered. I've enjoyed reading your comments and I hope that you enjoyed

Giveaway Day 2011!!!

It's Over!!!

Giveaway Day is now officially closed. I will post the winner,
chosen by Random.org, tomorrow morning at 9:00 EST.
Thanks to everyone who entered and especially to
all the new followers.

On the Soapbox Again: Body Image

I'm a big girl. I haven't been "pleasantly plump" since high school, and I've been shopping in the plus-size section for about 30 years now. It grieves me to see the term "weight problem". Okay, if you're so heavy it's robbing you of your health and ability to live a relatively normal life, then that's a problem. Aside from that, why can't we just accept that "this is the size I am. I may have been smaller, or even larger, at one time, I may be smaller or larger in the future. But right now, this is me. AND IT'S OKAY."

My legs are fat and stubby, but they get me from place to place. They ache from fibromyalgia and my left knee is tortured by RA, but these are my legs, and I love them.

My arms are flabby and the batwings swing back and forth like crazy. But these arms hug my grandchildren and friends, these arms connect to my hands that paint and knit and sew and play the piano and create art... I love these flabby arms.

My belly and backside make me resemble a gigantic apple. So what? That's the way they are at this point in time. I can't say I love them, but I accept them, and I do not hate them and I do not hate myself because of them!

Now here's where the fat is a good thing: at age 57 I have no wrinkles on my face. None. not even crow's feet around my eyes. Why? The fat keeps 'em filled out! LOL

Ladies, I'm not saying you shouldn't try to change your size and shape if you want to. I'm not saying, "Fat is where it's at". What I am saying is don't be ashamed of yourself right now, don't put your life on hold "until I lose [x number of] pounds". I've got news for you, if you cannot or will not feel good about yourself now, you still won't when you've reached your "perfect" weight. You'll just find something else to focus on and be unhappy with.

I remember sitting by the pool 30 years ago in my black polyester slacks, roasting, and wanting more than anything to be in that pool with my children. So one day I went shopping for a bathing suit. There were only 5 to choose from, 4 dowdy black ones, and 1 bright, shiny blue one. Guess which one I bought? The blue one! It really brought out my eyes. (batting my eyelashes rapidly) And I went to the pool, dropped my cover-up and jumped in with my girls and we had a blast. Oh, that water felt so delicious in the hot sunshine!  Oh, the days I had wasted not enjoying this!

There was no way not to notice the shocked expressions on the faces of the other polyester-clad moms. After about 2 weeks, one of those moms showed up in a bathing suit. After another week or so, several more ladies sporting brand new bathing suits jumped into the pool and cavorted about with their children and had FUN! I'd like to think that having one person break the unspoken rule that fat people can't appear in public in a bathing suit was the catalyst for other women to pluck up their courage to come out of the [black polyester pants] closet!

Be brave ladies! Resist what the media tells you that you should look like. Refuse to accept rudeness from people who think it's okay to disrespect you because you're a woman of size. Love yourself just the way you are!

I must confess that I have to preach this message to myself from time to time. In the Bible, James 4.7 says, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." The devil loves it, delights in it, when he can keep us imprisoned in self-hatred. Resist, resist, resist! The scriptures also tell us, in Psalm 139.14 that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made...". I am thankful that what God sees as important, and the only thing He regards as important, is what is inside in our hearts.

My hope and wish for you all is to learn to love yourself, warts and all, and understand that what is in your heart is what really counts.

Giveaway Day, the Sequel

So, Giveaway Day is actually 3 days. It closes tomorrow - Wednesday - so if you haven't finished visiting and entering, you better get busy!

Thank you for so many nice compliments and comments. I really am getting excited to put all the names in the hat and randomly draw out the winner. It could be you!

PS: several of you left comments but no way to contact you if you're a winner. You may still leave your info in a new post.

It's Here - Giveaway Day!

I'm so excited and I hope you are too! Today is the day you could be a winner - on my blog as well as on many, many other blogs participating in Giveaway Day. Click here for a list of all participating blogs and shops. You have 3 days to visit and enter, so grab a cuppa and start clicking!

To enter here at the Seesaw, simply post a comment telling me what you like about my blog and you're entered. It's that simple. Be sure to leave your email addy so I can contact you should you win.

And of course, it always makes me do the happy dance when you become a follower!

So what might you win here? Take a look:

And some closer views:

  

  

It's going to require a bit of strategy on my part to fit all this into one priority mail box! But I will, and it will be shipped out to the lucky winner on Friday, May 27. (Sorry, no international shipping)

The giveaway closes at midnight on Wednesday, May 25.

On Thursday, I will announce the winner.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

PS: If you are the winner and I cannot contact you, that would be so sad!
Be sure to leave your email addy or other method of contact.

Blessed!

Once upon a time in a land far away, there lived an ordinary woman who had a nice career in civil engineering and land surveying. She was very good at her job, and the paycheck was quite handsome.

One day, this woman realized that this was not what she wanted to do with her life. She didn't want to wake up in her senior years, look back on her life and think, "That's not how I intended it to be! My first love, my real love is music. That's what I want to do!"

And so, she quit her job (a move she does not recommend unless you have savings to live on for a while, which she did not). After a couple of rough years she found herself living once again in the neighborhood where she grew up. And after floundering about for a few months, she found her first piano student. Within a year, her students numbered over a dozen.

Fast forward 19 years, more or less. I'm sure you've figured out that the woman in the story is me. Today my students performed in their Spring Recital. As they performed, one by one, I thought about how blessed I am.

I am blessed because I am able to make a living doing something I truly love to do.

I am blessed because my students are funny, smart and loving, and because we laugh a lot at lessons and generally have a blast.

I am blessed when my students laugh at my corny jokes and walk in to their lessons just bursting to tell me a new one.

I am blessed when the lesson is finished and the student exclaims, "Already?"

I am blessed by the students who began lessons as young children and are now in high school and still love to play, still enjoy their lessons, and who count me as a special person in their lives.

I am blessed when former students, now in college or married, attend the recitals and hug me and say how much they've missed me, thank me for teaching them, and tell me they still enjoy playing.

I am blessed when former students who have gone on to major in music in college, email me to say, "Thank you for making me learn scales and cadences and theory! So many of the other students are struggling because they weren't taught those things."

I am blessed when parents tell me how they appreciate the way I make lessons enjoyable and how I relate to their children.

I am blessed when my students sit down at the piano in front of a hundred or so family and friends, and although nervous and scared, they play their pieces and always make me proud!

I am blessed when, after the recital, students want to have their picture taken with me.

I am blessed because God has allowed me to learn that a big paycheck does not ensure job satisfaction. Teaching piano is not especially lucrative in dollars and cents, but to me it is fulfillment, and it is joy.

Some might say I'm lucky or fortunate - I know I am blessed!

I hope you are blessed in your life too.

See the Goodies Here!

Don't forget: Monday, May 23 is Giveaway Day! Dozens of bloggers are participating by giving away handcrafted items and/or supplies! Be sure to visit me on Monday - entering couldn't be easier. Just leave a comment and you're entered!

And to clear up a bit of confusion:

anyone can enter the giveaway

at any and all of the participating blogs.

On Monday morning I will post the link to the

Giveaway Day blog entry where you will find

a list and links for all the participating blogs.

And you can enter to win at all of them!

Please post about my giveaway on your blog!

Link back to this post so everyone can see the photos.

Ever had one of those days that had absolutely no respect or concern for your to-do list? Yeah, that's the day I've had. I promised you photos of my giveaway goodies today, and technically it is still Saturday, so here you go!

There's so much included, I had to do two separate photo setups!

Here we have some floral rubons, some Nostalgics stickers,

a bit of Dresden trim, a box of photo splits...

...two sets of embossing markers and a set of watercolor crayons...

...some ribbons, paper measuring tapes,

a bag of tiny bows and fabric flowers,

tiny word charms, used postage stamps ...

...some plain chipboard shapes and board books to alter...

and much much more!

I'm very excited about this giveaway!

Hmmm, I wonder who will win my big box of stuff...

Who Would Be A Mermaid Fair?

"Who would be a mermaid fair, Singing alone, combing her hair
Under the sea, in a golden curl With a comb of pearl, on a throne?
I would be a mermaid fair;   I would sing to myself the whole of the day;
With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair; And still as I comb I would sing and say,
'Who is it loves me? who loves not me?' "        Lord Alfred Tennyson, The Mermaid

The Artist Trading Cards Yahoo group recently hosted a Mermaid ATC swap. These were very enjoyable to make, and I hope you will enjoy seeing them!

 

It's very difficult to see in the scans, but I handpainted the mermaid on each card,

as well as a few accents in the images, with metallic watercolors

to give them an under-the-sea shimmer.

I also used some decorative buttons that I painted with metallic acrylics

and added teeny-tiny beads to the ocean floor.

And for the finishing touch, fibers at the border.



This one is my favorite - I'm an avid fan of

John Waterhouse's exquisite paintings of beautiful women!





Don't know why, but my scanner just did not like this one!

It isn't actually cut off on the right side, it just appears to be.



I'm curious: do you suppose mermaids use shampoo?

That's it for this post!

Don't forget: May 23 is Giveaway Day!

Click the link in the sidebar for more information.

May 23: May Giveaway Day!

No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth. Just got a bit snowed under. But now I'm back. Remember that giveaway I've been promising? Well, here are the details:

Click here!

May Giveaway Day!

May Giveaway Day is now officially a tradition at Sew,Mama,Sew! Mark your calendar for Monday, May 23rd! Anyone with a shop or blog can give something away, and there are loads of folks signed up to give away handmade items, supplies for making your own handmade items, as well as supplies for sewing and knitting!

Why should you participate?

1. You'll be exposed to blogs with great ideas!
2. You will get directed to shops with wonderful items!
3. You'll have the opportunity to win a cool prize!
4. You know exactly when to tune in!

So come visit me on Monday, May 23 for a chance to win a huge assortment of scrapbooking/collage supplies from me! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment - it's that simple!

Giveaway will close and winner announced on May 25; prizes will be mailed out by May 30. Sorry, no international shipping.

Check out my blog tomorrow and Sunday for pictures of the great items I'm giving away!

Happy Mother's Day!

Definition of "unrealistic": going out for lunch on Mother's Day and expecting to get your food before dinner time. My mom and dad, my two sisters, my nephew and I decided that this year, instead of cooking, we'd go out for Mother's Day. We  made reservations at the country club for 1:30. I will give them credit for having our table ready. At 2:50 we received our food. It was very good - but 2:50? Really?

But then, as mothers like to do, my mom quelled our complaints with, "Well just be thankful you got your food. There are starving children all over the world who would wait for days for good food like this!" Okay, she's right, of course. But my sisters and I looked at one another and cracked up. At 57 years old, I'm still my mom's little girl. Life is good!

Here is the card I made for her. Which, of course, as the reigning Queen of ProcrastiNation, I finished at 1:30 this morning. There are four - count 'em - four layers of foam taped glory, plus some Ice Stickles to give it a punch of bling.

The image is from The Graphics Fairy.

Hope all of you had a wonderful day!

When You Care Enough To Send Handmade

This is probably the most beautiful sympathy card I've ever seen. Anyone receiving this would know you really care. To rephrase a well-known tag line: when you care enough to send handmade. 

This was made by Robin Shakoor, and you can visit her lovely blog, Designs By Robin, by clicking here.

She also has generously posted instructions on how to recreate this card yourself.

Don't forget to leave her a comment on how much you love this card!

100 for 100 Blogcandy Giveaway!

I know you're going to want to visit Gerri Herbst's blog, It's All Treasure, to enter her 100th follower celebration giveaway!

Gerri went through her stash and came up with 100 treasures to give away to some lucky person!

And although I'm encouraging you to enter,

and I sincerely wish you the best of luck,

really, truly, deep down in my heart - I hope I win!

For Mothers...

So I decided to go ahead and post the Mothers canvases before I run out to do some errands.

If you've seen my other canvas posts you already know that the square canvases are 6x6 and the rectangles are 6x8. I used lots of bits-n-bobs from my stash: old buttons, pressed flowers and ferns, postage stamps. Plus vintage images from the thousands I have on file!

I love the sentiments I used on these. Wish I could take

credit for them, but no. Also wish I could remember

where I found them - again, no!

Thanks for taking a moment to look. As always, I appreciate your comments. And I would love for you to become a follower!

Be YOU-nique!

Well, chickadees, are you ready for some more canvases? I hope so because I got more comin' at ya!

In my teen years, my Aunt Frances was very special to me. Her husband was in Viet Nam and she was here  with three young sons, two of whom are now deceased.

One summer when I was staying with my grandmother in Williamsburg, Aunt Frances lived two blocks over. She loved for me to come hang out, and I loved being there with her. She loaned me her copy of Valley of the Dolls, which was scandalous in those days! And when I had one of those nasty summer colds, she fed me orange juice and soup to help me get better.

Aunt Frances has passed on now, and I cherish my memories of her.

I don't remember where I found this quote, but I loved it, especially since most people I know would say I'm unique, which is much nicer than weird!

These canvases are 6x6, lots of layering in the backgrounds,

with pressed flowers and ferns. old buttons, vintage images and other bits-n-bobs on top.

I hope you enjoyed these canvases and would appreciate your comments.

And go ahead and click on that "follow" button while you're here! Wink, wink, nudge, nudge...

In my next post, I will share the last of my canvases -

all about Mothers! I'll try to get that up today.

I Love A Giveaway!

I'll bet you do too! You must check out Raeven's blog, Raeven's Nest. She is a lady after my own heart and is having a great giveaway soon! A Strathmore art journal and a set of Pitt pen brushes - and maybe some other goodies thrown in for fun!

While you're there, check out the rest of her lovely blog and leave her some comment love!

I Smile Because You Are My Sister...

In a continuation of yesterday's post of my friendship canvases, today I'm sharing the ones I did about sisters.

As before, the square ones are 6x6 and the rectangles are 6x8. Lots of glueing, painting, stamping and stencilling in the background.  

Real pressed flowers and leaves, old buttons, bits-n-bobs from the stash, and of course, vintage images on top! But no foam tape - what was I thinking?!?

Ignore that man behind the curtain... uh, no, that's not right...

Oh, yeah, ignore the date stamp on the photos! My camera has issues.

The sentiment on this next one makes it my absolute favorite! I had orders for lots of these. I customized them to the number of sisters (and some brothers too) that the client wanted.

I also had orders for similar canvases to commemorate loved ones that had passed on. The clients supplied me with photos and a list of any specific elements they wanted, such as a favorite Bible verse, favorite hymn, hobby, etc. It was quite fortunate that I had a stash of old hymnals that a church was giving away a few years back!

Making those was very special, but I also felt such a deep responsibility to deliver something that would touch their hearts.Unfortunately I have no photos of those. Big sigh...

Again, thank you so much for visiting and taking a look.

I appreciate your comments so much -

and you know I'll be doing the happy dance if you become a follower!

Have a great day!