And the Winner is...

 

I finally found some time to make a post to announce the winner for my Easter giveaway.  Thank you to everyone who left me a comment! I truly appreciate all of you!  And the winner is number...

(I just love having numbered comments!  It makes picking a winner so much easier.  I wrote a post about how I put numbers in case you're interested.)  Anyway...

Congratulations, Sonya!  Sonya has a blog called "Counting My Blessings" where she shares about faith and family, arts and crafts, gardening and thrifty finds.  Go visit her and see the wonderful collages she makes. Again, thank to everyone who joined my giveaway.  Til the next time, hugs and blessings to you!

Edit:  Sonya wrote such a lovely post about  her win!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Goodies in the Mail!

Happy Wednesday, blog friends!  I haven't been that successful in cleaning up my desk.  That's why I'm only showing you a little part of it!  On my desk today are a few pieces of my art (the ATC of the woman and the princess drawing on the left) and some lovely things that arrived in the mail. There's a cuff bracelet that I won as a prize in the One World One Heart event last February.  It is made by Barbara, also known as Lady Faith, of Blossom's Bloomers and she titled this piece "Diamonds are a Steampunkers Best Friend." Pretty!

Then there are some artist trading cards (ATCs) that I received for trades at ATCs for All.  The ATC of the Madonna and Baby was specially made for me.  And I also got some lovely fabric cards that I have put on display before I put them in my ATC album. Aren't they pretty?

For more desks to peek at, drop by Julia's Stamping Ground.  And while you're at it, why not show us your desk, whatever state it's in!

A Joyful Easter Giveaway!

(The Giveaway is now closed.
Thank you for all your comments.
I will announce the winner in the next post.)

 A very blessed and joyful Easter to all of you,
my wonderful blog friends and visitors!  

"Gentle"

St. Augustine once said 

“We are an Easter people and alleluia is our song!”

and indeed, Alleluia is my song!

And to celebrate, I'm having a giveaway!

I was preparing for a 300 follower giveaway, 

until I realized that Easter is an infinitely better reason to celebrate!  

My giveaway for Easter is an original 5.75" x 8" mixed media piece entitled "Gentle."  I made it using colored pencils, watercolors and collage on a gessoed sketchpad background.  The flowers on her hair, the bookpaper leaves, the music sheet heart, the buttlerfly and the lace on her dress is collaged on.

For me, this piece is a reminder and encouragement to focus on things above...

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God." Colossians 3:1

It is an encouragement for me to speak with love, to listen, to be gentle... (2 Timothy 2:24)

If you like "Gentle," and would like a chance to win it...

1. For one entry, simply leave a comment on this post.

2. If you are a follower and would like a second entry, please leave a second comment on this post.

3.  If you would like third entry, make a post about the giveaway, or post it on the sidebar of your blog and link it to this post.  Please make a third comment on this post to tell me where you added it to your blog.

You may use this image

I will be using the random number generator, so please make sure you leave me a comment for each entry you make.  Since I will be going out of town, I will pick the winner after May 22. 

May you have a wonderful Easter season!

Pilgrim's Progress

I have just been to visit Plymouth, Massachusetts so the word pilgrim has been on my mind.

Pil·grim (pil′grəm)

noun

1. a person who travels about; wanderer
2. a person who travels to a shrine or holy place as a religious act
3. ☆ any member of the band of English Puritans who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620
   (from YourDictionary.com)

In Plymouth, is an important symbol in American history...

...Plymouth Rock, the traditional site of disembarkation of the Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620.  The Pilgrims were English Separatists who came to America to seek religious freedom.

Here is the Mayflower II moored at Plymouth Harbor.  It is an accurate replica of the Mayflower which transported the Pilgrims to America.  It was so interesting for me to see these places where the pilgrims first settled in America.







I see myself as a pilgrim too, not only traveling and seeing new places, but journeying through life, just as this song says...

Amen. May all who come behind us find us faithful.
Linking up with Then Sings my Soul Saturday.

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Complete Disarray!

My excuse for the chaotic state of my desk is I just came back from a trip to Boston.  See the evidence of all the pamphlets I brought home (more about my trip in later posts)...

It may seem funny (my hubby thinks so), but on my shopping list was freezer paper, since I wanted to try out inkjet printing on fabric.  Then there are some books I bought in an Essex antique store for a dollar each (even the big one about drawing the human figure).  One of them is dated 1902!

 

Did you notice that I even brought home a shell from one of the stuffed clams we ate in Rockport, MA?  

I bought a new Canon Power Shot G12 camera and I hope to learn more about photography (are my pictures any better today?)...
 

  

And here is my giveaway painting.  If you would like a chance to win it, just leave a comment on this post before May 22 (if you haven't yet).  Please be sure to leave one comment for each entry you make.

And why in the world am I showing you my mess?  Because that's what we do on Wednesdays for "What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday"?  Come join the fun!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Tourist Stuff

Guess where I am today!  On my "desk" are a few things I bought at the SoWa Open Market, where I had a wonderful time last Sunday looking at all the art and indie design shops.  That little handmade bookmark is from AnneMadeDesigns.  And the bottle of DG3 is from Bead+Fiber.  Then there is a bracelet from Recyled SilverWare.

That's all I have time for today.  Linking up to What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday.  Til next time, happy WOYWW!

What's on your Workdesk Wednesday: A Hodge-podge

 

It's another one of those days when there is hardly any space left on my desk.  I bought a new clipboard (buried under the books and watercolor paints).  If there isn't any space left on the desk, at least my WIP will be on a flat surface when I paint!

 

The book about the "Basilica of San Marco" is there because my eldest son was in Venice for Easter and while he was there, I was reminiscing about that wonderful place (and trying not to be envious).

I have been doing the Royal Canadian Air Force Exercise program (whaaat, exercise!?)    I figured I would try it since it only takes 12 minutes a day (the shorter the better).  It's been a month and so far so good (giving myself a pat on the back and so "chuffed"! - I learned that word from WOYWW).  It starts out really easy and progresses as the days go by.  I want to make a chart for the different exercises so that I don't have to keep opening the book.  If you are interested to try it out, you can download the Royal Canadian Air Force Exercise program here.

Then there's a pamphlet of Las Casas Filipinas de Azucar, a place a few hours away from where we live that I want to visit. 

It is described as "a community typical of the 18^th to early 20^th century Philippines...where old and decaying architectural  pieces of a  bygone era...have been carefully and painstakingly reconstructed from different parts of the country and rebuilt, 'brick by brick' and  'plank by plank.'"

Not much progress in my Mother and Child project...
 

and on my computer screen, a live video feed of a nest of eagles that Traci shared about in her blog.  So interesting and educational!

This week I actually got to post twice in between Wednesdays!   Watching the Royal Wedding inspired me to share about my own Easter Season Wedding.   And my David Wilkerson "coincidence" was also something I had to share.

There's still time to join my Easter giveaway if you would like to! 

Check out more desks joining What's on your Workdesk Wednesday this week.
Happy WOYWW, everyone!