About Me

My photo
I LOVE to design and to paint whimsical items that will put a smile on your face. Each day I share my simple life with you as I try to encourage, to inspire and sometimes JUST to make you smile as I recount my life growing up on a dairy farm! I've never had many material items in my life, BUT I have been blessed beyond words with love and encouragement from WONDERFUL Parents who instilled in me WHAT was important. I have had EVERYTHING that I needed and WAY too much of what I wanted. I am slowly learning to be a better person each day through my interactions with my friends on Facebook. Some day I hope to be as good as people seem to THINK I am! I am BLESSED! Welcome to my little corner of the world...Please stop by and visit often!

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Serendipity Sunday

It has been a while since I have posted a SERENDIPITY SUNDAY.




That certainly is not because I haven't had any blessed surprises. I just find myself posting something on fb.

I am blessed to most always get good views on my blog, but I find myself at a struggle with what I really should post.




I know, there can be too much of me! 😁😂🤣

I guess, I think, I should always post an inspiring project for you,  but every now and then, I just feel called to share some thoughts...

Oh, no....she is thinking again! Watch out.

Yes, watch out indeed! 




AND that brings me to my first SHOUT OUT to God for safe keeping through the storms. 

While I was sleeping on Saturday afternoon (yep--days and nights are mixed up, again), a tornado touched down, without a warning, and destroyed one house and heavily damaged another. It was about 3 miles away, as the crow flies. 

One house that was destroyed belonged to a family whose husband died recently.  My heart goes out to all.




I have to admit, I sometimes think we ARE given more than we can handle. Nope, I don't think it is HIS doing this. It is just a result of mankind having choices. I don't doubt that God is faithful, because He is, but I do think sometimes, some people get hit way worse than they deserve! 😔 I hope y'all understand what I am saying. I still love and serve God, but it breaks my heart to see people suffering.

Oh, and on the flip side, lest you think I am drinking that half empty glass--we most often get WAY better than we deserve! ♡

Another man was also killed trying to put up covering on his house. Praying for his family.



Our storms of the night have just passed, and I pray peace for those still in the path.

I offer Praise for a friend whose husband is sick for an unknown reason, because one reason for his illness was ruled out--it was an ugly possibility --but now, the search for the cause still evades them. May peace settle on their home and May they be led to the right person to help heal him completely!



The beginning of the year brought news of a fb friend's unexpected death! She was a quirky and a bright spot in this world, and our lives are dimmed by her death, but it inspires me to try to shine just a bit brighter, in her memory. My heart breaks for her 2 puppies, who were her great Joy. Judy, you are missed.




Another fb friend was admitted  to the hospital on Friday night because she has been battling mono and great exhaustion. Join me in praying for a clear biopsy on her liver! Get better, Cheryl! There is much beauty waiting for you to create.♡

Oh, I give a huge praise for a new $15 keyboard.




Yep, you think this is a crazy one, but it extends the life of my slowly dying laptop. Somehow, God will make a way for me to buy a new one, that actually connects to my slow dial up internet...yes, high speed internet remains on my prayer request,  but when the time is right,  it will happen. I remain hopeful, and feel blessed for what I have. As Mother said, sometimes, it is like Slugo's house, here, with things pieced together! 😁😂🤣😃

I am most grateful for all of those "pieces"! 😉😊




As I am finishing up a deadline project (almost done), I sit here listening to my sweet Charcoal snoring, and my heart if filled with good thoughts of those I love, and of things I love to do. 

Yes, I most certainly could do more and do better, but I want to give myself a break and give thanks for what I have done.

I hope you will do that for yourself, too.




We live in a world where people have "bad hearts" and do bad things. 

Our screaming at each other on social media does nothing to solve this problem, and, yes, in my opinion, creates a bigger problem, because, we are just fostering more "bad hearts".

LOVE is the only answer.



If what you post doesn't promote love, then stop posting it.

If you don't have a solution,  then pray for what you can do to help, instead of inflaming others.

What can you do to promote love?



Be kind.

Pray.

Promote Art.

Paint pretty things.
Sew whimsical creations.
Write uplifting music.
Create poetry in any form.

Dance!

Sing...🤤

Accept that others might be right.

LOVE yourself so that you can love others.

Bite your tongue, or, scroll on by...

Sprinkle Love and kindness everywhere you go...

Smile




Thank you for being in my little corner of the world.

I am simply blessed to create~charlotte♡


Friday, February 23, 2018

My Italian Girl

Hey y'all...

I have been a busy girl, so far, this year. I have created 14 new patterns that I will start sharing soon.

I am working on my last immediate project, due this weekend, so while waiting for paint to dry--yes, it is a reality in my little corner of the world--I created this sweet little girl.



I forgot to take pictures of step by step...sorry...

I told you about my friend from Italy, Franca Marzi, sending me her stencil.

I could not wait to use it.

I used all Deco Art products.

I attached the paper with Decoupage.
I added some drips and then used Fluid Acrylics Burnt Umber mixed with Glazing Medium to "stain" the piece and to make it grungy.


I added dictionary pages on the side.
I cut strips into scallops.
I also put a scalloped strip across the top.


I stenciled the design with black.


 Here she is...


I lightly painted around the design with thinned Antique White.


Layers and layers of paint on her face--at one point,  she looked like Groucho Marx! 🤤

Whew, I am glad it is JUST PAINT!


I used my new Stencil Girl stencil to add a few words...

An Americana stencil to add daisies..

A stabilo pencil to add shading...


A stabilo pencil is so much fun. It is activated with water, so if you use it, you have to spray your piece with a fixative! You can get the pencils at Dick Blicks, or probably anywhere that sells art supplies.  The one I have is 8008.

This was fun!

Hey, if you are a painter, go buy my friends pattern. It is her first one. It is a cutie. Show her some LOVE.

I don't do a lot of things right, and I make more mistakes than I should, but I am pretty good at encouraging my friends, so help me encourage her.

Here is the link to go buy her pattern

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world!

I wish you friendship...blessings...peace...wonder...
hope.

I am simply blessed
to create~charlotte ♡




Saturday, February 10, 2018

A Bookmark of Love




I have met some of the sweetest people on Facebook.

I met Franca Marzi when I left a message on her Piccole Passioni page. Not knowing if she spoke English or not, I left a message for her, anyway. 😉😊😋

It was the start of a loving friendship.

I got this awesome Gift from Franca in the mail, all the way from Italy.


I cannot wait to use this stencil. 

I also got one of her mixed media bookmarks.

It made me go get the tags I had ordered in December with hopes of creating some tags.

Franca's Gift has inspired me to share this process with you.

These tags were purchased from my favorite Amazon Prime. Search AVERY 11005 and it should come up.

They can be picked up at office supply places, also. 

Or find something similar at your local craft shop.

Gather some supplies
DecoArt Stencils
Punchinello
Dry Wall Tape

I can't say this enough--use what you have! Crash your stash!!😁😂🤣



White Gelly Role Pen
Extra Soft Charcoal Pencil
Dictionary Page
Alphabet stamps


Of course, DecoArt Americana Paints
Use your favorite colors!


I began by painting both sides of my tags with Black Gesso because I could not find the white Gesso. I did find an empty bottle.😕



I brushed on some pink, some blue, some green, some pink, some blue some pink...lol


I just started adding stencils with different colors. There was no method to my madness. I just had fun.


For the middle tag, I drew a heart and then painted a very thin coat of pink around the heart. I wanted the stenciled work to show, but also wanted to emphasize the heart.

I finished everything by outlining it with my extra soft charcoal pencil.

Be sure to SPRAY the tags if you use charcoal or a brush-on varnish will smear it, and it won't be pretty.


I did this set using my fingers to add the paint.  It made me feel like a true mixed media artist! Lol😉


I painted my dictionary page with red and pink and then cut out my hearts.
I glued them on with DecoArt Decoupage Matte. I love that stuff!



I covered all my tags with 2 coats of Decoupage on both sides before I did my charcoal work.


After the charcoal work, I sprayed them with Matte Varnish.

I will add ribbon and they can be either bookmarks or tags


Do not forget to finish your backs!


For more tag ideas, visit an earlier post to refresh your idea memory! 😁😂🤣😃


Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world.


I am simply 
blessed to create~charlotte♡