...fluttering about

...hello my sweets!

i have fluttered safely back home

and have missed visiting with all of you:)

it may take me a few days to re-calculate

and get back into a rythm

HA!!

 

in the coming weeks,

i have a few lovely Jeanne d'Arc style holiday pretties

lined up to share with you

and very soon,

a giveaway!

 

 

to thank all of you fabulous readers

for joining along

and always showing such support

for my creative heart and soul...

 

 

your encouragement means so much

and i am grateful for all of you in this blogging world

especially if you find yourself inspired,

 and take the time to comment when you visit here,

in the land of odds!

 

 

so stay tuned dear hearts!

sharing this short post with

Faded charm's: White Wednesday

here's to all of you!

...ethereal dream catcher tutorial

...to sleep

perchance to dream...

i'm sure you've seen a dream catcher...

they pop up every now and again

R.A.'s shabby chic couture ones are divinely

fab-u-lous

but as i have not found my way to the land of milk and honey

~ YET!

~ HA!! ~

that price sticker is a wee bit steep for me to fork over for one

(not that they aren't worth every penny!)

(i'm just sayin')

so what is a girl to do

to satiate a small desire of her heart

and to perchance

snare a dream in the process???

you know me all to well

YES!

we make one!!

before we do,

shall we explore the actual purpose of a dream catcher?

(just humor me and say, "a-huh"!)

a traditional dream catcher

was intended to protect the sleeping individual from negative dreams,

 while letting positive dreams through.

the positive dreams would slip through the holes

 and glide down the feathers to the sleeping person below.

  negative dreams would get caught up in "the web"

 and expire when the first rays of the sun struck them.

sounds like something i could incorporate into my dream land!

and i bet you already have most of what you need,

 stashed away somewhere in your studio like i did!

(priceless)

you can use an embroidery hoop

like i have here

(yes, i spry painted mine a matte, sparkly champagne color) 

a hoop or circular shape was used

because it symbolized strength and unity

and decorate it with whimsical findings,

you know,

 bits and pieces of your everyday life,

for me, that includes feathers, pearls, lace, roses and silk ribbons

but you may have a love for other materials

so this merely a guideline

~ use what YOU love

lacy, crochet doilies are something i have a slight obsession with

so i have a few at my fingertips at all times

so it just seemed natural to use them here

no web weaving required.

whatever size hoop you will be using,

just make sure you doily is slightly larger.

position your doily between the two hoops

when you are happy with it's position,

simply push your two embroidery hoops together.

that is the beauty of using this type of hoop

no fuss, no muss!

see, wasn't that easy?

now for the fun part...

embellishing!!

i tore strips of a white sheet into 1 1/2" wide strips

then hand stamped the word "dreamer" randomly down the length

 of my new "ribbon"

to make your own sheet ribbon:

start on the selvage edge, make a snip in your sheet

and tear it all the way down

it's that easy!

as you are playing with "the look" of your dream catcher

it helps to lay your pretty materials on each side

 to see what you like and don't like with it

here i added some lace ribbons...

and of course,

some sea silk ribbon!

on the top, i added a rose...

not traditional

but as these are my dreams

i need ethereal blooms!

a swan feather with the word "beauty" hand stamped upon it

gets tucked beneath my rose bloom

and a few downy feathers are attached along each side

along with some wired pearl streamers...

when you are pleased with your selections,

simply tie them together and then tie them onto each side

and voila!

an ethereal dream catcher!!

oh-so-lovely!

and with all of your personal pretties incorporated

how could you not have anything but happy, positive dreams

gliding down to you?!

i plan on making a few of these beauties for christmas gifts

as we could all use a little more whimsy dreams,

couldn't we?!

i hope you enjoyed your visit today.

and were inspired to create a dream catcher just for you!

also sharing this post with:

My Shabby Streamside Studio's: Holiday Decor Showcase

Common Ground's: Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage's: Feathered Nest Friday

Freckled Laundry's: Air Your Laundry Friday

Romantic Home's: Show and Tell Friday

2805's: Potpourri Friday

Vintage Farmhouse's: Creative Things Thursday

here's to sweet dreams!

xoxo

...to be as a mute swan

  

...hello out there

to all you dear girlie's!

today's musing is about something close to my heart

a beautiful swan

i have several of these ethereal creatures

adorning my home

their elegant presence,

 inspires me to always be graceful in my everyday life.

next week,

we are traveling back east

in search of our future lovely nest,

truth be told,

i am nervous about those small details...

i am seeking grace.

~

~to be as a mute swan ~

you never hear her approaching

for she quietly glides across the sparkling water,

facing forward,

a sight to behold,

s-i-l-e-n-t-l-y wise,

always ready to face whatever challenges that lie before her...

oh dear, there is a storm moving in...

but ~

this does not deter her,

and she continues to glide.

unwavering.

calm.

even when the wind sends out it's worst howls

and tries it's very best to blow her away from her chosen path,

she wades,

feet pedaling,

head strong,

quietly ~ gliding along...

that old, nasty wind will have a piece of her, regardless!

and whisks away a few of her precious plumes

but still,

the mute swan continues on...

never lashing out,

although, so very close to tears.

she struggles on

 believing that just beyond her sights

there is a peaceful place to rest...

she only has to trust in her inner strength

with all her might.

ravaged by the fierce storm,

she clings to the gentle voice that woes her on...

"be still, and know that I am"

glide on

oh beautiful one...

you inspire me so...

to be as a mute swan during a difficult storm is not easy ~

i wonder what wisdom she would impart

if i were to humbly ask...

as the Sonshine

grows more apparent

i realize ~ as she gazes my way,

she has already imparted her wisdom

without ever speaking...

i am ashamed of my own disbelief at times,

i lower my head

and beneath my feet

are a few of her beautiful plumes

carried to shore by those once turmoiled waters...

 i bend down to gather a few,

upon further inspection,

i  can surmise that these feathers

never went under water during that storm,

but merely floated upon the top of the water.

that beautiful swan was made to ~ float!!

how magnificent is that detail, i ask you??!

as i make my way home,

swan plumes in hand

i hear ~

"so do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself"

just

"be still, and know that I am!"

~

sharing today's musing with

Faded Charm's: White Wednesday

here's to gliding along!

...sheer whimsy

...hello my dears!

how would you fancy a cup of tea with me and a petite tale??

yes?!

why splendid!

please, come sit right over here

at a special reserve table

most especially for you!!

as you smell this most lovely intoxicating fleur ~

magical things start to appear all around you...

don't be surprised if you should gaze upon

a lace winged butterfly fluttering by

they light to dance upon the lacy napkin edges!

and how absolutely enchanting

it would be 

if you were able

to see a fairy or two!

as these are just a few of the things you may see in the land of odds...

shall i light your candle??

everyone knows there is something magical about candlelight glow

perhaps it is the soft flickering light that entrances us...

i am not sure

but,

have you ever seen a moon glow candle??

the fairies bring me just one

every year, they like to trade for some beautiful silk ribbons...

ah yes,

tea by moon glow is something very special indeed!

aren't you delighted that you stopped by?!

everywhere you turn

magic is present

wings...sparkly bling...

it's all here ~

waiting for you to discover!

and not to worry when your tea is finished

 ~ in the land of odds

you will always have an open seat upon your return:)

~

and that is the end of my very short tale!

~

sharing this whimsy post with

Faded Charm's: White Wednesday

here's to a magical cup of tea!