Happiness, Peace and Joy to All!

Hello Everyone,

May all our Family, Friend and Blogging Friend’s Christmas be filled with special moment, warmth,  peace and happiness, the joy of love ones near, and wishing you all the joy of Christmas and a year of happiness.

Double clicking on photos will enlarge them.

Grandchildren are such a Joy!

Some special Tree Ornaments from Friends and also made by Moi!

And Yes Our Winter has arrived and it will be welcome until January and then it can disappear!    vbg

What a Wondrous and Joyous Year My Sweetie and I have celebrated together. We are Thankful for each day we’ve spent together.

I will be taking a short blogging break and I will see you all agian to chat in January!

Take care.  Warm Hugs  Judy



MY NEW DREAM CREATIVE STUDIO: HANDMADE WITH LOVE

                                                   Hello Everyone,
About this time last year My Sweetie gave me two gifts for my 60th birthday in 2010. First to take me to the Lovely Magical Island of PEI. We took this trip in July. Lots of these photos are posted several posting back on my blog.

The second was to renovate my sewing room into "My Dream Creative Studio"!  My Sweetie started this huge project in May and finished it the middle of September.  I am soooooooo excited and pleased to share with everyone photos of "My New Dream Studio": Handmade With Love by My Sweetie!

The photos below is of what my sewing room looked like "Before" the renovation begun.. Oh, it was sooooooo very very messy.  LOL

The below photos starts out by showing you the signature that "My Sweetie" put on all the lovely furniture he made for the new room. The middle "Fancy Cupboard" was the last piece to be made.

The inspiration for the "Fancy Cupboard" came from Anita's Blog called

"My Country Cottage Garden". Anita's DH had made her a fancy cupboard for in her sewing room a couple of years ago. Anita was very kind and shared with us some of its measurements.  

I wanted some added special features to mine which My Sweetie designed.  The "Fancy Cupboard" has a large display shelve so I can create scenes to take photos of My Creations. My Sweetie also made me the "Laying Tool" or "Stillo" which he painted in "Pink"!!The bookcases were designed by My Sweetie.

After all the mess was removed, which by the way "took some time" we started the painting. Then we added the new Ceiling Fan and Lights. Then came the new "Tuscany" flooring which I absolutely Love.. The wall color was called "Sourdough" and all the trim paint was called,"Sugar Soap"! The furniture was painted with the "Sugar Soap" too! 

My Sweetie Made two large Bookcases along with the Fancy Cupboard. All the edges of the book cases were made fancy along with the top and bottom wood trim.  No edge was left flat. LOL

One of the most exciting aspect of the "Fancy Cupboard" was the bottom shelve doors which was My Idea. They have removable panel so I can change the fabric from time to time so I can have a new look.  I love the pastel pink fabric I used called, "Posh, by Chez Moi" by Moda.

The top shelve glass is called, "Seedy" which gives them an antique look. The "Seedy Glass" was special order and took 3 weeks to arrive.  All the bookcase shelves were made to accommodate all my Art Bins! One bookcase I use for the Art Bins and the other one for my books.

In these photos you will see the other wall with my sewing table which was made in Australia. The other white unit I bought sometime ago. I also bought the fancy light switch years ago when I lived in Oregon.

The closet area was transformed into shelving for most of my fabric stash. There is three separate units and now most of my stash is finally organized. VBG 

The display board on the wall I made from art foam board and I covered it with very pretty Pink French Toile fabric. It hold several "Fabric Post Cards" friends have made for me over the years. I change them often.

I also found these new storage bins that I now used for my yarn.

In these photos are a close up of some of my treasures.  I especially love my "Smokers" I bought while living in Germany!

The beautiful Pink Garden Globe with Roses and Dragonflies was made for me by a dear Friend Sherry who is a "Art Teacher in Texas". I could never bring myself to put it outside.  

The wool art was made for me several years ago from My Dear Sis in Australia. I also have my small collection of "Pincushions" displayed so I can admire them all the time.

 I have waited many many years for "My Dream Creative Studio". "Dreams" do come true especially when you are married to a Sweet, Kind, Loving, Very Creative, Talented Wood Artist who is now retired!

I truly enjoy working in my sewing room now. To me it is very warm, relaxing, and peaceful space. When I look around at all the love that went into this room,I am Truly "Very Thankful" and it brings a big smile to My Heart.

I have also learned some new photo collage editing on Picasa.  I have to thank "Stina" from Sweden for being so kind to answer all my questions.  Stina lovely blog is called, "Kviltstina". Stina is a very talented quilter!

I hope all My Friends will leave me comments on their thought of My New Dream Studio! I thank you all.

I would also like to wish all My Family and Friends,including our Service Men and Woman a Lovely Thanksgiving Holiday. We have much to be "Thankful" for!

Hugs

                                       
                                                                   

A LOVELY STORY OF FRIENDSHIP AND KINDNESS

                                                         Hello Everyone,

I would like to tell you all a wee story that started out sad but ended up "Happy & Lovely". 

I made a special "Art Page" for someone who ask me to trade with her.  I said I would be happy to do so.  I worked for weeks on it and had added some of Wendy's lovely tatted motif she had made me some time ago to it.

Please visit Wendy's tatting blog called,
"Umi & Tsuru".  You will see lots of tatted treasures and beautiful beaded jewelry.  

The sad part I never did received an "Art Page" back which was suppose to arrive at the end of September.  Wendy saw the Art Page on my blog and notice that I had used some of her lovely tatting on it. 

I wrote back and told Wendy I was sad that I  used the lovely tatted motifs because the person who received it never said, thank you or made any comment about the art page at all.   I truly believe this person has a good heart and maybe someday I will received a art page back from her and if not that is OK too.   

So Wendy who has the most "Kind, Thoughtful, and Generous Heart" volunteer to replace the couple of tatted motif for me.  I offered to make Wendy a "Crochet Cupcake Pincushion" in trade. 

Due to having eye surgery I am a bit behind in creating the pincushion but I hope to finish it soon. On the day before my eye surgery Wendy's wee package arrived in the mail.  It made my day seeing the package.  I wrote Wendy and told her the package had arrived but I would NOT open it until she had received the  pincushion I was making for her. Wendy wrote back saying to "Please" open the package because she was excited for me to see what was inside.  When I open the wee package, to say the least I was overwhelmed, humbled,and in awe of all the lovely tatting motifs I had received. Please see below the photos I have taken of all these "Cherished Treasures"!!  

I will treasure all the lovely tatted Roses in all the beautiful shades of pinks and purples. All the very pretty Dragonflies big and small. And the  Lupins and Queen Anne Lace to remind me of PEI really touched my heart.  The Pink Rose Snowflakes are truly very unique, special and gorgeous. I have never seen anything like them. All these tatted treasures will be put on "My" CQ" and other special projects. 

A special saying about "Kindness" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow comes to mind.

Kind Hearts are the Garden,

Kind thoughts are the Roots,

Kind words are the Flowers,

Kind Deeds are the Fruit,

Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds, 

Fill it with Sunshine, Kind Words, and Kind Deeds.

Thanks Wendy from the bottom of My Heart!! 

Hugs   

                                                                 

MAGICAL, GENTLE, BEAUTIFUL, FRIENDLY PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, Part 2

Hello Everyone,

This will be the last posting about our very lovely trip to PEI. Even thought it has been awhile since our visit the images and memories of this trip will never leave my mind.

The above photo is of the Birth Place of Lucy M. Montgomery.  I really enjoyed looking at the lovely furniture of the time. 

This is the room were Lucy M. Montgomery was born.  Isn't the room very pretty. Lucy mother died of TB only 3 months after she was born.  Shortly there after her father left to go out west and Lucy went to live with her grandparents.

This is the home where L.M. Montgomery love visiting and it is here where she wrote AOGG.

This is the front of the Green Gable Museum.  You can look out the front windows and see the very famous "Lake Of Shining Waters" or Barry's Pond.

The above photo is of the "Lake Of Shining Waters".  In the movie when Anne was riding in the buggy coming home with Matthew from Bright River Train Station they came upon this beautiful pond that was glistening in the sun and Anne said, No this pond is to beautiful to be called, Barry's Pond,  its rightful name is "The Lake Of Shining Waters"!!

The above photo was the desk were L.M. Montgomery wrote 4 of her well known books.

This is also the room where L.M. Montgomery was married in and this is the organ that was played at her wedding.

This photo is an exact copy of L.M.Montgomery wedding gown.  The original is in a museum in Charlottetown. The wedding shoes in the photo are the original shoes she worn at her wedding. L.M. Montgomery married a pastor and they went on a 3 month wedding trip to England and Scotland.

L. M. Montgomery made this gorgeous "Crazy Quilt". I could not stop looking at all the lovely details and stitching in this quilt.  Truly Beautiful.

This is the famous "White Sands Hotel" in the Anne's movies.  But in real life it is called, Delvay-By-The-Sea. It is located inside the North Shores National Park which is truly beautiful.  Marilla always use to say in the Anne's movie that their farm was the prettiest farm on the "North Shore". We actually drove pass the hotel and when we got to this area and I was looking across this small lake at it I told My Sweetie this is the"White Sands Hotel" because I recognized if from the movie we need to turn around. So we did and we took some time admiring this very grand hotel.  

This is the front of the White Sands Hotel.  I can easily imagine back in the early 1900's during "Anne's Time"  when wealth ladies would be strolling on this lovely green carpet wearing their very beautiful lace dresses and holding their parasols. It must of been a site to behold.

This is the famous Lighthouse in all the Anne's movies.  It is called the "Covehead Lighthouse".  There is many scenes in the moves where Anne and Diana walks along the sea grass and looks out over the sea. A very lovely area, indeed.

And here is a lovely photo of the white sandy beaches of the North Shore National Park.  But as you drive along the lovely beaches they turn into the famous "Red" jagged cliffs of PEI.  My Sweetie and I spent lots of times walking along the beaches and I just had to get my toes into the sea.  It was very very cold but it warmed a bit after you was in it for awhile.

And this is a photo of the red jagged shoreline. The posted signed told us they loose a metre of shoreline every year due to the crashing sea waves wearing it away. And of course this is a photo of My Sweetie the very kind and wonderful man who brought me to PEI.  

There is another series of movies made by the Sullivan Studios and they are called,  "Emily Of New Moon"! This is the area along the "North Shores" where the movies were made.

There is more to PEI than the Anne's landmarks.  It has the most beautiful shorelines with small villages dotted along the way.  This small town is called "French River".  Do you notice that the small building where the fisherman unload their catch are all different colors.  Those colors also match there buoy's so they know what nets belong to who.   I was in awe of seeing this scene along all the shorelines of PEI!

One can not go on such a wonderful trip without bringing home some treasures.  Of course I had to bring home with me some "Anne of Green Gable" fabrics and some of them was given to me by a "Dear Friend Patti" who was my Pen Pal for many years some time ago.  We met for the first time during my visit and she invited me to her lovely home.  I truly enjoyed meeting Patti. She also gave me some "Lupins" seeds to plant in my garden next Spring. Thank you Patti for being so kind. 

I could not resist buying a "Anne of Green Gable" Anniversary Doll.  In 2008 the Island celebrated 100 years of the writing of AOGG book by L.M. Montgomery! Someday I will pass this sweet doll onto my granddaughter.   

I met a very nice lady named Barbara Henry.  She is a weaver and she came to visit us one evening at our cottage and we chatted on for a very long time.   The tea towel Barbara weaved and she kindly gave it to me as a gift. I ask Barbara many questions about PEI. I ask if there was a town on PEI called "Bright River" and she told me there is not.  But there is many towns with "River" in their name.  I also asked about the Bright River Train Station.  Barb told me they had a many train routes on PEI but they took all the tracks out about 20 years ago.  Thanks Barbara for everything.

More Treasures.

We also met Gail and her DH one evening at our cottage.  Gail was very kind to give us all kinds of information about PEI before we left on our trip and also suggested the place where we stay.We decided to exchange Fabric Post Cards.  The above card called, "Anne's Land was made by Gail.  We both ended up with pretty much the same theme of "Lupins" for our cards. Thanks you Gail for the lovely art card.  If you all notice there is a empty " Raspberry Cordial" bottle sitting along the card.  I could not resist having a taste of this famous drink.  Oh, did it taste very very good. 

This is the card I made for Gail.  I also included Lupins and Queen Anne Lace.  I also included the famous "Covehead Lighthouse" and the lovely flowering Apple blossoms seen while Matthew and Anne was coming from Bright River to "Green Gables". 

Both my sweetie and I agree that the people of PEI are Very Friendly, Helpful, Kind, and thoughtful. We Experienced many "Random Acts Of Kindness" during our short visit that we will always remember.  We would highly recommend a visit to the Magical and Gentle PEI.

I hope you all have enjoyed looking at our photos of PEI. I really enjoyed sharing them with you all.   Thanks for visiting and leaving me all your lovely comments.  I truly enjoy reading them all. 

Hugs 

                                                                   

Magical, Gentle, Beautiful, Friendly, Prince Edward Island Part 1

Hello Everyone,

I have always "Dreamed" of going to PEI and seeing all the places I have seen watching the 6 movies over the years of "Anne Of Green Gables".

I hardly know where to begin to tell you all about the incredible wonderful trip My Sweetie took me on this past Summer through the New England states and then on to the Magical, Gentle, Beautiful and Very Warm Friendly people of Prince Edward Island.  I can truthfully say I am still smiling about our wonderful adventures on this trip.  

As I said, early that My Sweetie gave me this trip as a birthday gift.  We took over 650 photos  and traveled  4, 203 miles.  Can you Believe??  I have travel to many places in my life but this trip I shared with My Sweetie will be the most memorable magical and wonderful of all. Actually I have to say, My Sweetie has also watched all of the "Anne" movies soooooo he was as excited as I was when we visited all the wonderful landmark of these movies.  The following photos will be part 1 of 3 posting about our trip we would like to share with you all. 

Soooooooooooooo lets begin!!

This photo is of the Confederation Bridge which was build I think 9 years ago and is 13 miles long. It is definitely an awesome bridge and the views spectacular.

When you first arrive onto PEI the first thing you see is the "Anne Statue" waving and greeting you to this Gentle Island.  The Anne statue was a nice surprise indeed. 

We stayed at Anne of Green Gables Bungalow Cottages for 5 days which was very close to all the Anne Landmarks. Isn't this cottage so sweet?

Our cottage was in walking distance ( maybe 1 block)  to the Anne of Green Gable Visitors Center. I was so excited to finally see Green Gables. 

Here is the famous home of Anne of Green Gables. I could hardly believe that I was there and looking at it.  It was everything I thought it would be and more. It is difficult to express how excited I was to see "Green Gables".  I  slowly walking through all the rooms and admired and took in all the wonderful antique furniture that  was in the home when Anne lived there.  

But Anne's bedroom was just as I imagine it would be lovely.  I could imagine Anne in so many scenes in her bedroom. Do you remember when the peddler on the road gave Anne a dye that promised to turn her hair a beautiful raven black??? What do you all think??

Here is a close up of a Peony that was growing in Anne's garden.  Our Michigan Peony bloom in May and so I got to see Peony blooming twice this past Summer.  The Peony is one of my very favorite flower. Isn't it just beautiful?

Not far from Green Gables is the bridge down "Lover's Lane" that we all see Gilbert and Anne standing on many times in the AOGG movies. You can almost imagine Anne and Gilbert standing there.

Growing wild everywhere on PEI is the "Queen Anne Lace".  Such a lovely wild flower. Do you remember Diana picking the last of the Queen Anne Lace for the Summer and putting it into Anne's hair while they were in the "Haunted Woods"?

Here is a photo of "The Haunted Woods"! My Sweetie and I walked and walked and walked along the path of "The Haunted Woods". 

I was truly looking forward to seeing the "Lupins" growing wild all over PEI.  I was told that by July they would of already would of bloomed but guess what they were not. Huge smile.  PEI had a coolish Spring and the Lupins were blooming late just for me to see them.  I loved seeing them. They were all in beautiful shades of pinks, purples and white. I took many many photos of "Lupins"! A dear friend on PEI  gave me Lupin seeds to bring home with me so I can plant them in my garden in next Spring. So hopefully I will be able to see them blooming next Summer in Michigan.

OK, I hope you all have enjoyed viewing the photos of Part 1 of our lovely trip to PEI.   Is PEI as you imagine it to be??

Hugs