Art Journal Cover

This is the cover of my art journal that is in the midst of being created. The on line class has been an awesome journey, so far. Since this is a completely new experience for me, my cover and pages mimic the art work of the teacher, http://teresamcfayden.typepad.com/minutia. I am loosening up a bit, but, not nearly as much as I hope to. My journal is in altered book form and I am sure I will have pages left after all of the classes have been completed. It is then that I will see what kind of creativity and imagination I can conjure up on my own !! The stamps on this cover are some that were in the box of "goodies" from my blogger friend, June.

Fun Mail Day

My sweet blogger friend, June, at www.junesartyretreat.blogspot.com, follows and comments regularly on my posts. She not only creates beautiful art, she also offers free art and pictures on another blog, http://artfreebies.blogspot.com. I recently mailed her some fun things from my stash of laces. This beautiful thank you card, along with two atc's and a gorgeous little box of fun embellishments arrived for me in yesterday's mail all the way from the UK. I enrolled in an on-line art journal workshop that began last week, so now, I have some new fun things to add to my pages. I especially love all the postage stamps.

Walking on the Beach

I am getting settled in back home after spending almost a month in North Carolina visiting and doling out TLC. Walking on the beach, wading along the shore, searching for seashells, and just enjoying the experience, at peace with the world -- It has been nearly 50 years since my bare feet have walked in the sand of an East coast beach !! I often wonder what Virginia Beach is like these days compared to "back then". I remember writing in the sand was just as much fun ! On one side of the yard and out the back door of the little cottage we lived in, was a "hedge row" of gardenia bushes -- a sight and smell to behold that summer of 1961.

Letters to Loved Ones Back Home

While your Dad was in the Navy, he was "out to sea" for a 3 month period of time. The ship went to Puerto Rico and back from Norfolk, Virgina. Oceana was the air base that your Dad was actually stationed. The few letters that I reread were from a husband and father that missed his wife and little girl, dearly ! Also, ship life was not a joyous time, it seems !! I had forgotten how he signed off at his letters end -- Love, Doug and Dad xxxx -- the x's for kisses to us. Most of the time, stamps were placed on the envelopes upside down -- a symbol of "I love you". It was 1959 and 1960 - we had our little mobile home and you and I were at my grandparents mobile home park in Ohio for the duration, plus a few months. When your Dad got settled back at Oceana and we got a few financial issues ironed out, my uncle moved the mobile home to Virginia Beach for us. We were happy to be a family again. Today would have been our 52nd anniversary. The letters will go into the "treasure chest".

Coming Up Roses

I have been trying to conjure up some creativity !! I had made some RAK cards and had roses left over. Cutting out all those tiny stems and buds was tedious to say the least, so, no way was I going to throw them away. This is a very simple greeting card, but, will be useful for most any occasion.

"When the Garden Sun is Setting"

"And your mind from care is free, When of others you are thinking, Will you also think of me". Your friend, Elton" These are the words my Dad wrote to my Mom in this autograph book on May 22, 1929. It is full of sweet little old fashioned verses that bring a smile to your face as you read them. Four and a half years later, they were married. Mom and Dad had only 8th grade educations as did a lot of South Dakota, pre-depression, farm children, but, that did not keep them from educating themselves. Many times, they would read our books as we brought them home from school. They kept up with daily news, the stock market and politics. Starting out as hired help to a farmer and his wife in Iowa, they built their own empire of farm land through the years. Their legacy to their children was more than in material things !! This book will be lovingly stored in the "treasure chest".

Silk Stockings

The actual history of "silk stockings" dates back to the 16th century and even earlier. "Nylons" came into being in the early 40's. Garter belts and girdles were essentials in the wardrobe to hold those stockings up. And then, the wondrous invention of panty hose --no more girdles and garter belts !! This little kit was in one of my Mom's sewing machine drawers ever since I can remember. I'm sure it is something she had as a young girl. The little cardboard spools have different colors of silk threads used to mend runs and snags in her silk hosiery. A couple of the spools with the more popular colors that hosiery might be, are near empty. The faded purple velvet top acted as a pins and needles cushion. I remember being so excited to have my first garter belt and pair of nylons when I was about 13. I think the occasion for getting so "dressed up" was a Christmas Tea Party with my 4-H club. The pair of nylons had seams going up the back of the leg and it was imperative that those seams were straight !! Seamless nylons were unheard of. Sometime during my younger years, I remember having a couple of pair of nylons that had beautiful embroidery-like work at the seams down around the ankle area. Those would be fun to have in the treasure chest along with this kit !! http://www.stockingsonly.com/ has a bit of interesting history. Click on "Free Hosiery Story" on their site.