Tuesday Treasures ~ Great Quotes on Patience

My mom used to say you can never have enough patience. She should know having raised 10 children. I found this post from ShareThis worth repeating:

All human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope
- Alexandre Dumas Père

Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.
- unknown

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.
- Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy

He that can have Patience, can have what he will
- Benjamin Franklin

Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.
- Barbara Johnson

The secret of patience is doing something else in the meanwhile
- unknown

The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.
- Arnold H. Glasgow

Patience is passion tamed.
- Lyman Abbott

Patience can’t be acquired overnight. It is just like building up a muscle. Every day you need to work on it.
- Eknath Easwaran

Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, but not in one ahead.
- Bill McGlashen

photos by Stock Exchange

If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.
- Buddhist Proverb

One minute of patience, ten years of peace
- Greek proverb

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Patience is not passive; on the contrary, it is active; it is concentrated strength
- Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

Patience is a virtue, Virtue is a grace; Both put together Make a very pretty face
- unknown

Patience has its limits. Take it too far, and it’s cowardice.
- George Jackson

I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.
- Margaret Thatcher

You must first have a lot of patience to learn to have patience.
- Stanislaw J. Lec

All commend patience, but none can endure to suffer.
- Thomas Fuller

Infinite patience brings immediate results.
- Wayne Dyer

Which is your favorite quote?

Monday Musings ~ Spring "Nesting"

The calendar tells us Spring is officially here. With the changing of the seasons I always seem to get the "nesting" instinct. It seems to be an inherent part of my personality and a creative outlet for me. In the past I have often made seasonal changes in my home by changing the function of rooms. My husband jokes that I do this to keep him on his toes. I admit when life redefines itself outside, I crave change in my indoor environment as well. The rearranging and recreating allows a new perspective in my living space, and often leads to inspiration in my life.

In this economy, we're not always able to make the more expensive changes like painting, new furniture or even purchasing new home decorative items. This is when the concept of redecorating works especially well. I have always personally enjoyed the challenge of creating with an "upcycled" state of mind. In using what you have, whether furniture or home decorative pieces taken from another room in your home, you get that new, fresh look, save money and accumulate less!

I tend to create new vignettes each year and rarely repeat the same thing, yet do use many of the "same" items. It's all in how you combine and display. My husband and I love books and have quite a collection. Books can be a great way to add that finishing touch to an arrangement. Another inexpensive touch are plants. I usually purchase a small pot of violets, primroses, hydrangeas or herbs to use inside in the Spring and replant in the garden once the weather allows. Another green that is easy to plant yet looks great is a container of grass. Grass seed is very inexpensive and a little goes a long way. We always have patches in the yard that need to be touched up, so we often have a bag of seed around. (I buy it in the fall on clearance and save for the next year). When my children were younger we would plant grass in a larger container, placing our dyed eggs and other spring creations for a sweet Easter vignette (and more often became the Easter Dinner centerpiece). If you have a cat you can keep him/her happy by planting wheat grass.

Today I will share with you just a few things I have done this year in a few rooms of my home.

This is a spot near my phone. The little chick with a boa was a gift to myself a few years back to remind me not to take life too seriously. The handmade, painted wooden box holds pencils and pens.

We always have a bowl that is our "catch-all" by the door for keys and such. I love this blue and white bowl with a hopping rabbit motif. The perfect whimsy for Spring!






I always have candles on the kitchen table. I especially like this glass globe I found last year in the clearance section of TJ Maxx (a favorite store). It has a separate, recessed place for the candle which allows you to change the natural elements seasonally. ( I Love these tiny shells. Ok I realize it is more of a summer theme, but I need the reminder that warmer weather is coming).

Below is a oil painting that hangs above my stove given to me by a friend, paired with a bit of French flair (I love a lamp in the kitchen area - cozy feel to it's golden glow in the evening). The Raku pottery behind the lamp was a piece my son created that I especially treasure.
Now we are going into the living room where we have built in bookcases with a window seat (a favorite spot for my dog). Here is a collection of pottery from places traveled and gifts given to us over the years - I love the "en masse" effect. The iron garden piece against the back anchors the arrangement.





I love this bookend of a very shabby chic rabbit doing his job well. (ok, I admit I have a thing for rabbits).



Lastly I share with you a "piece" of a vignette on the mantel of my fireplace. I enjoy smaller scale items and love the tiny bundle of Lavender.
I hope you have enjoyed my photos and a slice of my home. As mentioned most of the items I have had for many years and simply regroup them seasonally. I often store items "off season" in a storage cabinet in my basement and when the nesting instinct strikes I dig deep within the cabinet and into my creative psyche to follow my muse and see what inspiration strikes. Happy Spring!

By the way, I found I enjoyed creating vignettes so much that I just launched a new shop on Etsy called Seasonal Vignettes. Feel free to click on the hyperlink and stop by!

Quote of the Week

Saturday ~ Featured Artist ~ Sascalia

Dreaming of Spring

Today's featured artist has a shop on Etsy where she sells Mixed Media Paintings and Prints. Her shop is named "Sascalia" which is a combination of her children's names. Sascalia was born in rural France and describes her childhood as one filled with freely exploring nature and horseback riding. Those carefree and happy memories are what influences much of her art today. Although she grew up in France, she currently lives in England with her husband and three children, working out of a home studio. She describes herself as a self taught artist who's colorful work is inspired by her love of nature ~ especially flowers, trees and birds. She also enjoys capturing beautiful faces. I have shown a few of her pieces here which I feel beckon Spring, but I encourage you to visit her shop on Etsy to see all of her wonderfully, whimsical artwork: www.sascalia.etsy.com You can click on the prints to be taken to the piece in her shop.

You can also visit her blog at: http://sascalia.blogspot.com/

Fabulous Friday Feature ~ Spring Menu of the Week

Last Friday I featured a recipe book/blog share for those of us not sure of "what to cook for dinner". Need some additional ideas? I just signed up at a website featuring cookbook author Linda Larsen for "Spring Menus of the Week". Recipes are emailed to you on a weekly basis. What I especially like is that the recipes change with the seasons. I don't know that I will try each one but it might give me some new ideas. So, for a bit of "Spring" inspiration in the kitchen - click on this link and share your email - "Spring Menu of the Week".

Thursday Thinking Green ~ Green Economy

This depressed economy might be just what is needed for everyone to rethink life and view many things in a more sustainable way. Here's an interesting article outlining 7 fixes from the Green Economy.

The 7 suggested ideas from this article are:

• Green Energy - Green Jobs
• Clean Energy Victory Bonds
• Reduce, Reuse, Rethink
• Go Green, Fair Trade, and Local
• Community Investing
• Shareowner Activism
• Building Community

Click on this link to be taken to the original article which gives more details:
7 fixes from the Green Economy.

My Sea Vignette on IndieSpotting!

This vignette - "the sea was emerald green", from my new shop "Seasonal Vignettes" is presently on the front page of "Indiespotting": http://tinyurl.com/dnxuyy

Tuesday Thoughts ~ Resolve

Illustration by Shel Silverstein ~ The Giving Tree

I've been pondering of late on the "state of things" in our country and around the world. I have always tried to be an optimist. There are periods in our lives where this can certainly be more challenging than others. Personally, we have suffered a number of financial set backs these past few years, many of them outside of our control. But I do believe in these times of economic uncertainty, we have to hold onto what really matters in life. We have to believe we can all make a difference. In the choices we make as individuals each day, what kindness and care we show to those around us and not just the people we know. I believe it is so important that we not be discouraged by the constant barrage of negative news, but look toward what is positive in the world and try to do our best to bring more goodness into our little piece of it.
I leave you with a quote I found recently from an unknown author...."Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work, hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest, prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor."

Let's go on and make this world a better place, regardless of our circumstance. If we all try as individuals we will succeed as a whole.

Monday Musings ~ Happy Anniversary My Love!

Happy 23rd Anniversary my love!

I Love Thee
~ Eliza Acton

I love thee, as I love the calm

Of sweet, star-lighted hours!
I love thee, as I love the balm
Of early jes'mine flow'rs.

I love thee, as I love the last
Rich smile of fading day,
Which lingereth, like the look we cast,
On rapture pass'd away.

I love thee as I love the tone
Of some soft-breathing flute
Whose soul is wak'd for me alone,
When all beside is mute.

I love thee as I love the first
Young violet of the spring;
Or the pale lily, April-nurs'd,
To scented blossoming.

I love thee, as I love the full,
Clear gushings of the song,
Which lonely—sad—and beautiful—
At night-fall floats along,

Pour'd by the bul-bul forth to greet
The hours of rest and dew;
When melody and moonlight meet
To blend their charm, and hue.

I love thee, as the glad bird loves
The freedom of its wing,
On which delightedly it moves
In wildest wandering.

I love thee as I love the swell,
And hush, of some low strain,
Which bringeth, by its gentle spell,
The past to life again.

Such is the feeling which from thee
Nought earthly can allure:
'Tis ever link'd to all I see
Of gifted—high—and pure!

Quote of the Week

Happy 18th Birthday Evan!

Where did the time go! You are a true inspiration to us and live your life with such dignity, honesty, and respect.


May you continue to embrace who you are and always find strength in knowing we will always be here for you. Love you so much! Mom and Dad

Thursday Thinking Green ~ Recycling Books

Here are a few creative ways to recycle old books:

1. Secret Hollow Book:
Hollow out an old book with a ruler, pen, exacto knife, and Elmer’s white glue. Tutorial can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/qply7

2. Create a set of Bookends.
Turn those old books into bookends. Tutorial can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/bfbfca

3.Create your own "Audio Book" or iPod case.
Seriously. The tutorial can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/58afft

4. Create an invisible book shelf.
Interesting concept. Tutorial can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/2x59q9

5. Remember the Seinfeld episode of the coffee table book? Create your own:
Learn how to make a table out of books using this tutorial: http://tinyurl.com/dj994k

6. Set a good book free with BookCrossing.com
Over 755,524 people in over 130 countries have decided to let a favorite book go free. You simply register your book - leave it at a favorite coffee shop or wherever - and track its progress. Learn more at BookCrossing.com.

Wordless Wednesday ~ My Favorite Place

Mon Beau Collier on IndieSpotting!

My Beau Collier Jewelry Piece (Beautiful Necklace) - from my Etsy shop Simply French Designs, has been posted on Indiespotting. How fun! It is the third item all the way on the right on page one. Here is a screen shot, click on it to be taken to the page on their site:

Tuesday Treasures ~ In a Word

One of my favorite sites is called Wordle. It is a tool for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends." visit: http://www.wordle.net/

Monday Musings ~ Word Share ~ An Invitation for you

The Rain has passed....

I have selected an image. My own photograph of a field across the street from our house after an August storm. I have suggested a title (but you can come up with your own) and invite you to respond with a poem, words, reflections, quotes, song lyrics, etc. Leave them in the comments section or email your comments to me at dds@theartistscloset.com and I’ll add them to the body of the post. Thanks for participating.

Quote of the Week

Saturday's Featured Artists ~ Global Children's Art Gallery

I found an interesting website on the Internet recently that features children's art from around the globe. The Natural Child Project is a website filled with interesting articles and parenting resources. The site also has a fund-raising site which sells children's art as prints, posters, cards, and clothing. Jan Hunt is a parenting counselor, maintains a newsletter and monthly column on the Mothering Magazine Website, is director of The Natural Child Project website, author of The Natural Child: Parenting from the Heart (2001) and A Gift for Baby (2005). Her vision is "a world in which all children are treated with dignity, respect, understanding, and compassion. In such a world, every child can grow into adulthood with a generous capacity for love and trust."

Feel free to click here to be taken to the home page of the website: The Natural Child Project.

Neptune's Castle

Phazer mechanical pencil and colored pencil
Elisabeth Y. K.
Age 12
New South Wales, Australia

Dream
Oil pastel
Yodkwan P.
Age 7
Krabi Province, Thailand

Poison Tree Frog
Colored pencil
Michael B.

Age 11

Pennsylvania, USA

Self-Portrait (I imagine myself as a hybrid of a grasshopper, frog and mouse)
Watercolor
Zack D.
Age 8
Yerevan, Armenia

Fabulous Friday Food Feature ~ Cooking Art

Here is a Simple but fun recipe from the book "Cooking Art:Easy Edible Art for Young Children" by Authors Mary Ann Kohl and Jean Potter. Feel free to click on the image of the book if your interested in purchasing or looking at it further. Younger children love this activity!

Painted Toast

1 piece of bread per child
Food Coloring
Milk

Directions:

1. Mix the milk with a few drops of food coloring. Make one or more colors.
2. Using a clean paintbrush, have each child dip their brush into the tinted milk and make a design on their bread.
3. Place the bread in the toaster oven and toast.
4. Eat!
   

Check out the related websites to cook with your children:

The ABC's of Snacking - ideas for each letter of the alphabet
Cafe ZOOM - recipes from the children's show ZOOM

Thursday Thinking Green ~ Non-Toxic Toddler Art Supplies

Toddler Art Project Supplies: Non-Toxic Grocery Alternatives to Paint and More
You may have all the safe, non-toxic art supplies your toddler needs in your kitchen cupboards!
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/93082/toddler_art_project_supplies_nontoxic.html

Wordless Wednesday - Precious Gift

Tuesday Treasures ~ Express thyself

Express yourself. Through Music, Art, Writing....

Feature on Cottage Style Street Team Blog

I am honored that one of the teams I am a member of on Etsy is featuring my shop "Simply French Designs" this week on their Team Blog. The Cottage Style Street Team (CSST) is a wonderful group of women who share a passion for Cottage Style, whether it be shabby chic, seaside, European or otherwise. I thought I would share their blog link here so you could check it out if you like by clicking on the team avatar below:

Monday Musings ~ Remembering

Many moons ago, before I was married, prior to having children, I was employed as an Art and Play Therapist in a Family Program supported by a Child Abuse Council in a large city. This was a specialized, therapeutic childcare program for abused and neglected children ages birth-five. The Councils mission was three tiered - to prevent abuse, to stop abuse, and to rebuild the child and family after the abuse. I worked in a structured program that addressed the latter with children ages 2-5. This wonderful setting offered the children a loving, therapeutic setting while their parents simultaneously participated in a program of parental training and counseling.

What always amazed me was the absolute resiliency of children. Not just in the sense of what some endured physically but the emotional capacity of a child to love despite what they suffered. I admired and respected their courage and ability to work through so much difficulty. We strived to create a non threatening, loving environment, offering opportunities through play and art related activities, where they could face their struggles and misperceptions of life based on their limited, often horrific, experiences. So often most were willing to go forward, and express incredible insight for such young children, and in the end, seem to have a very different view of their world.

Through painting, drawing, creating in so many mediums, and with the innocence only children have, they were so willing to delve into what was very painful - recreating it through art, destroying the piece and what it represented if need be, hopefully letting go and moving in a forward direction in their young lives. Art gave them this ability to shout, scream and express what they felt inside and could often not articulate because of their age. I do believe, the results were empowering and healing for them as individuals. Their confidence seemed to increase and they blossomed. I'm not saying that by the time they were five they were completely "healed". I don't know that one is capable of forgetting all you experience. But how I admired their capacity to forgive. Our hope was that in expressing this and confronting their feelings at such a young age, the cycle that so often occurs with abuse, would be broken.

I met some pretty amazing children whom I am sure are now amazing adults. I've thought about them often on many different levels, wishing them wellness, peace and love in their lives, hoping the time we spent many moons ago creating brought some recovery to their very young lives.

I have found this wonderful organization on the Internet for using the "arts to heal." (I did not work for this organization but just found it to be interesting) Click on the image to be taken to their website:
all photos are from the "Free Arts for Abused Children" website.