Second Anniversary Giveaway

Today I celebrate two years of blogging and this is my 200th post.  I never thought I'd have that much to post about and am ever so grateful for being here, for the friendships, inspiration, tutorials, sharing. concern and above all encouragement received.  Words of thanks to all my followers for being here, are not enough so here are two giveaways, made by me especially for you.

Giveaway No. 1  Except for the basket on the chair, everything was created by me.  The scale is 1:12".

Giveaway No. 2  Suitable for the nursary. The little doll was inspired from a tutorial by Wendy.
The chair was made by me.  I gave a tutorial for making chairs like these in one of my very early posts.

The rules are as usual, be a follower of this blog, new or old.  Comment on this post to let me know you want to participate and, only if you wish so, put a link on your blog. The draw will be on  December 31.

Blessings to all

Flowers for the gallery

Saw this on the online AIM magazine, this month, and thought it will look well in my future gallery.
I may change  the flowers a little but I like the idea.

The column is one of my dear friend Jennifer's gifts.

The Christmas gifts are almost ready to be packed.

It's peaceful here now and the weather is lovely. I hope it stays so for long.

Tuesday is the two-year anniversary of my blog.  My giveaway is also almost ready.  Stay tuned.

Blessings and hugs to all

Cease Fire

Thank you followers for your kindness and  concern.  I am deeply touched and very grateful to you.  It's so
good to have understanding friends in many parts of the world. I wish  there will be quiet and peace with no casualties on both sides.

Maureen is having a giveaway on her blog, I already recommended it in a previous post.  Yesterday I found this picture in our newspaper with an article about Salvador Dali's exposition going on now at the Pompidou Center, Paris.   A coincidence!  Doesn't it give you ideas?

Now that things are back to normal, I'll begin preparing a giveaway.  Will post about it soon.

Blessings to all

Snowman teapot

I hate to, and never before, have mentioned our political situation in this part of the world, but it seems we are at war again. 5 days of rockets from Gaza on civilian cities. A young mother and two civilians were killed, a baby and her brother injured on the first day.   The Israeli air force is trying to stop them, a difficult task as the terrorists hide behind innocent civilians and hospitals.  They shoot their rockets from school yards and mosques.

Each time the alarm sirens are on we have to stay in sheltered rooms.  It's not so bad here, where I live,
but it's not easy in the towns near Gaza.

I use this opportunity to thank all my online friends who were concerned and sent me emails. I am so grateful to you all.

Since I have to stay home most of the time, I am working on my Christmas gifts.  Remember the bead necklace I showed in an earlier post?  I had another brain wave and made this cute snowman teapot
I used the white beads from the same necklace to make it.

Blessings to all

Preparing Christmas gifts

This year's Christmas list has grown large.  I have 10 gifts to send to online friends. Also Hannukka gifts for friends here.  I have to think of new miniatures that I haven't made before.

Made some Xmas cacti and one trial plant.

Also made these little felt dolls from a tutorial by Wendy Craig.  For the body of some dolls I used pompons instead of rounds of felt.

All the reduced paintings are framed and ready to go to the gallery.  The gallery will have to wait until
after Christmas and Hannukka.  I have little time and a lot of work  preparing gifts.
There is also a giveaway to think about.  Shortly it will be two years I am here. Celebration time.

A big welcome to new followers and thank you for taking the time to visit and join in.
Daydreamer, Sulamita, Taina
Idske de Jong - Cannot locate your blog.  If you have one, please let me know.
Maureen - There is a beautiful modern chalenge giveaway in Maureen's interesting and quite new blog.
                  Go visit, I'm sure you'll love it.

Hugs and blessings to all

Paintings from Peru

I finished framing all 14 paintings which Ilona reduced and printed on fabric for me.

Before I start working  on the gallery box, wallpaper, floor, etc., here are some of the framed paintings.

This is a painting by Arturo Nieto from Quito, Ecuador. It is in wax pastels on paper.
Nieto paints people of Otavalo, Ecuador, in their beautiful traditional clothes. It was said that  when he was too drunk to notice, his wife sold many paintings behind his back, to feed the family.

As you can see, I still haven't had  the original  framed .

 

The rest of the paintings are all from Peru.

These four are all by Peruvian painter Camino Sanchez.

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Here is how they hang on two opposite walls of our living room.  (Excuse the bad photos.)

Yesterday evening and today my reading list is unavailable.  I am really sorry for being unable to read your posts.

Blessings to all

 

Emeralds and Rubies

Hello all!

I took a break from paintings, babies, etc. and made some jewelry from bits of findings and finger nails stones.

I found two more bead necklaces to make teapots from. Here are some results.

As you can see, there are some marine miniatures, all in one necklace, for a seaside cabin if anyone is interested.

I wish you a wonderful weekend, with all my blessings.

New born baby

I was a winner of Lydia's exquisite, newborn baby giveaway.  The postlady handed me a beautifully packed parcel containing Lydia's hand crafted masterpiece. Lydia makes the most delicate, adorable babies which  I always admired, never dreaming that one day I'll own one. THANK YOU DEAR LYDIA!

He's so perfect and adorable. I just love him.

I am very lucky,  I think instead of a nursary I'll open a day care.  I'll need more babies, but first I have to finish all the projects in process, as well as my Chrismas swaps and gifts which already keep me busy working.

My heart is with all the people who survived the Sandy huricane. I am sorry for the lost lives and dwellings.

My blessings to all.