Perspective – Wordless Wednesday/Fortitude
Playback – Transferring Letters
Here is a timely ‘playback’ post from 2016. If your Christmas timetable is beginning to crash, and you would like to create a personalized gift quickly, here is an easy way to transfer lettering of all sizes.
Creating this simple ‘PEACE ON EARTH’ plaque was easy and inexpensive. A scrap piece of wood would work just as well as a purchased plaque. I used FolkArt artist pigments for the best possible coverage. Because I wanted the wood to look rustic I only gave it one coat of Napthol Crimson.
The Napthol Crimson alone was a little brighter than I expected; I used Liquitex Transparent Burnt Umber Ink to antique the plaque. It worked perfectly. Quick Tip: Utilize a disposable brush to apply the ink, wipe off quickly to remove the majority of the color.
I chose a font and printed out letters in the size I desired for the plaque. I was lucky; you can see I almost ran out of ink. To transfer these letters to the plaque, I colored a piece of children’s sidewalk chalk over the back of the printed sheet.
Taped onto the front of the plaque with painter’s tape, I could trace around the edges of these letters with a ballpoint pen and transfer the chalk to the plaque. The outline is easy to see, yet any residue left behind after painting can wiped away when the paint is dry.
I used gold acrylic paint to fill in the letters. A swipe of black paint along the right sides gave the letters a shadowy dimension.
PEACE ON EARTH TO ALL MY BLOGGING FRIENDS! A BLESSED DECEMBER TO YOU.
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Phloral Arrangement – Christmas Tree with Backyard Greens – IAVOM
My IAVOM (In A Vase on Monday) floral arrangement has a definite Christmas theme. Although no flowers are left blooming in my backyard, I have many evergreen trees and bushes to use in vases. The vase in this arrangement is a heavy-bottomed crystal bowl. The weight helps keep the long piece of floral foam/oasis steady. I used an entire piece for this project and trimmed the top corners. to a Christmas tree shape.
The bottom layers are inserted into the oasis with a downward curve, the following few middle layers are inserted straight out, and the top layers of greens are inserted pointed upwards. I added a few purchased roses and some baby’s breath. A friend created the tree with me, and it’s interesting how different our trees were when finished.
One caution if you create a similar tree, place the container in the sink for a few hours. Gravity caused the water in the oasis to drain downward. The result was overflow. I also put a plate under the arrangement; a bowl would have worked too.
Here is the same arrangement in color. Both of my sons wore the shoes around the bottom. The little pink slippers were mine as a baby. They look sweet around the Christmas tree; having them out allows me to cherish the memories again.
The baby shoe display is part of Xingfu Mama’s ‘Whatsoever is Lovely’ challenge. I applaud all who take the time to offer challenges for WordPress bloggers, and a big end-of-the-year thank you to the readers who leave such gracious feedback in my comment section. It is appreciated.
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Pleasures & Perspective – Joy in Simple Pleasures
I found my first Jersey Shore Shell this weekend. I have placed dozens around the area but was still looking for one. We went to Ocean City for pizza on Friday and then to Strathmere to collect some clam shells for painting. We found quite a few nice sizes and textures. As we were leaving the beach, my husband spied a Christmas tree. We saw clamshells surrounding the base even from a distance. When we approached we saw some were painted, but none seemed to mention being a Jersey Shore Shell, and then, oh the joy of it, the most beautiful of all revealed on the back the treasured words…Jersey Shore Shells. The artwork is amazing! I thank the artist from the bottom of my heart. I am thrilled with this, and I will be keeping it forever. It truly is a wonderful way to spread the GOOD NEWS. Thank you.
Jersey Shore Shells is a group for people who love to collect shells, and then paint those shells and hide them for other people to find. Add a message to the side of the shell that is not painted stating “Jersey Shore Shells on Facebook. Keep or rehide!” Painters can post pictures of the shells they hide. Hopefully people will post pictures of the shells they find.
Jersey Shore Shells Facebook Group
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Postcards & Projects – Displaying Vintage Postcards
I enjoy finding ways to display my vintage postcards. I searched my file box and found over a dozen Christmas or New Year’s themes. The artwork on the postcards is often exceptional. However, they range in age from 100 – 120 years old and must be protected from too much exposure to light.
I used some cardstock I had on hand and cut it to 4.5 x 6.5 inches, giving me a half-inch border around each postcard. Glue and tape are definitely banned from attaching the postcards to a display. Instead, I used a paper trimmer and made small slits near the corners. I then gently inserted each postcard in two of the slits, creating a double-sided display for two postcards on one piece of cardstock.
A piece of twine attached through small holes is enough to keep such a featherlight piece of vintage art in place.
I’ll leave the display out for about two weeks, then place them in their file and back in the dark closet. It’s fun to take them out now and then read the old-fashioned, cramped messages. I enjoy daydreaming about the people who wrote them and imagine what course their lives might have taken.
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Play Back – Paper Stars
Some projects, like old records, CDs, and classic movies, deserve a playback. I started a new ‘P’ category to repost timely ‘buried’ posts. I found this one posted in December of 2012.* The paper stars I made eleven years ago from Atlas pages are still going strong. A few had to have their centers re-glued, but it’s astonishing how well they have lasted packed in a shoebox without any padding.
I have so much fun making paper stars at Christmastime. The stars can be used for any holiday: New Year’s, The Fourth of July, Easter, etc. They also could be created to hang from an indoor porch or ceiling for permanent decorations. Crafted from glow-in-the-dark paper, they would be a terrific non-electric night light for a child’s room.
My paper stars were created out of pages from an old out of date Atlas. I love the colors and shadings of the maps, and also thought it appropriate that stars commemorating Christ Jesus’ birth included countries from all over the world. I also used pages from favorite childhood classic books to create smaller stars for my tiny Christmas tree.
Since these pages did not have any color to them, I gently watercolored them with pastel versions of primary colors.
I’ll give a quick description of the steps I followed to make the stars, but the directions are condensed. I have included a video at the bottom that shows how simple the stars are to create.
To start I cut the maps into four inch squares. For the smaller book page stars I cut two inch squares. Because the Atlas pages were heavier, smaller stars and squares would not have been easy to fold and glue.
The next step involves folding four times, twice on the diagonal, twice straight across the middle. Along the middle line on each side, snip a cut about 3/4 of an inch for the 4 inch star. For the smaller star you will make a smaller snip. Trial and error is the best way to judge how long to make the snip.
At this point, you will turn the paper over on itself and glue the edge of the star point together. Hot glue made it quick and easy for me, but I have tough fingertips and am not too bothered by the heat. You want to use strong glue to grab hold quickly so you don’t have to hold the star tip too long.
Glue four points from each square, then glue another square into four points. After gluing, the middle of the star will have a raised dimension. I sometimes use a sharp pencil to push the star back into the proper shape gently. Glue two stars together, string a clear thread through the top, knot, and hang.
My star was created from a page of one of my favorite books, Anne of Green Gables. I also used Mod-Podge on these and my atlas stars to add a coating of glittery crystal.
I use books I find at local thrift stores and yard sales for projects such as these. You could also photocopy pages of books you love or copy old letters and photographs with a scanner or photocopier to use. Photographic stars would be a terrific idea for a party with the person of honor’s image on stars hanging from the ceiling or light fixture. Have fun making your stars. I had a great time creating mine. They are easy and inexpensive and are sure to please.
The original YouTube video I had included with the post is no longer available. I wasn’t able to find another with this same technique, so I made me own. I was going to edit out my stumble in the middle of it, and then decided to leave it, since it is the real me, and like me, I’m sure you have erred a bit when you’ve attempted some blog posts. So…I’ll let it stand as is. It makes me laugh.
*Upon reposting I will delete the original.
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Phloral Arrangement – IAVOM – Roses and Back Yard Greenery
My IAVOM (In A Vase on Monday) this week contains half garden/half purchased flowers. The foliage from my garden is Pine, Holly, and Aucuba leaves. The arrangement is my revolving Christmas table decoration. As the flowers fade, I remove them and add new stems.
The greenery will last for the entire month and even longer if I keep it. The Aucuba stem has rooted for me in the past, but the bush takes years to become full size, and it is easier to purchase a nursery plant if you want to include it in your garden beds. I love Aucuba greens. They are lovely for arranging flowers. The sturdy, long stems are like a grid inside the vase and will help separate your flowers and hold them steady.
A Christmas Angel and an old antique crystal dish holding extra ornaments are alongside the vase. I have many empty vases and bowls filled with baubles in dark areas around the house. They speckle the dark corners in the house with Christmas cheer.
The red mini-carnations are over a week old and still blooming nicely. They have a mild cinnamon fragrance. The white roses were a lucky find, purchased in the supermarket; it is rare to find roses with such a high petal count and without browning for under $10.00.
Flower Arranging Tip: To choose a bunch of roses that will last, gently squeeze the base of the rose where it joins the stem. If it is squishy, it won’t last. If the feel is firm, the roses are fresh. Slightly open Roses will continue to bloom. Flowers that end in a sharp point are unlikely to unfurl. Cut the stems underwater at a diagonal to make roses last even longer in an arrangement. This technique keeps the stem from forming an air bubble and allows the water to flow into the entire stem.
The white rose is my choice for Cee’s Flower of the Day.
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Photographs – Computer Programs/Ribbet
Are you like me? Sometimes, I gift myself with computer programs that enable me to blog more easily, write with better grammar, and listen to my words read back to me. I thought it would be a good idea to share throughout this week, along with some other reposts, the computer apps I use that make life easier and help me move toward completing goals.
Today’s app is Ribbet.com. The program helps me create beautiful photos with some tweaking for fun. I feel like a child again when I decorate my favorite garden photos with this app. The photo above is tweaked with Ribbet.
Here is my original photograph, a summer capture of Verbena blossoms. It’s very pretty on its own, but I love to play around with overlays to take images from normal to showy.
The Verbena Blossoms are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day
I uploaded the Verbena photograph to Ribbet.com. Square photos work best on my blogs, so I cropped the image first and Auto-fixed the colors. My computer shows content on the left side and a work area on the right.
To read the symbols on the toolbar, hover over them, and you will see the name appear. I used Effects to add a matte border to my photograph. You can strengthen the matte effect by sliding the strength bar to the right. You can use the same effect twice on the photo to create a strong image. There is also a Text symbol that enables me to add words.
I added some Bokeh lights using the Overlay filter. I did the opposite with the lights and diminished their effect so that they would only lightly highlight the photo. At this point, I was satisfied with the image and saved it to my computer.
I find both photos perfect for XingfuMama’s Challenge, Whatsover is Lovely.
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Poetry – December 1st
I have over a decade of archives. Throughout the year I’m going to pull out a few of my favorites, and a few of yours too. God bless you all throughout the month of December.
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Plants – Fragrance in Winter
Brightly hued-flowers surround me at any venue I visit this time of year. I love them but also enjoy the simplicity of Paperwhite blooms. The fragrance is authentic Spring at the beginning of Winter. The flowers are small, the size of a half-dollar, but they have a strong and resilient scent. Mine have been blooming for several days and they still are very fragrant.
The Paperwhites are my entry into Cee’s Flower of the Day challenge.
It is gratifying that all the work involved in forcing the bulb was done for me. I purchased the plant already growing, near bloom, and anchored in a sturdy bulb vase. My responsibility has been nothing more than enjoying the beautiful scent.
In another room, I have a Hyacinth bulb beginning to grow. I have done some tweaking to bring this flower into bloom. In early September I bought the bulbs. There are five in all, and I placed them in their package in my refrigerator produce drawer. When I put the bulb in a vase with the water level just touching the bottom, the roots quickly began to grow. I’ll update the blog when the plant blooms.
Whatsoever is lovely in my life this week is flowers blooming in November, filling my home with sweet fragrance.
Writers have written many an eloquent word and quote about the beauty of fragrant flowers, and although the quote below doesn’t specifically mention fragrance, I like the image it suggests. How fragrant life would be if we looked at the whole world as a garden.
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” — Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
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Place – Small Business Saturday
Today is Small Business Saturday. Many of us have a town within driving or walking distance of our homes. It’s a perfect opportunity to stroll the sidewalks, visit small businesses, window shop, and have a cup of coffee and pastries in a cute cafe.
The small town near my home is in Pitman, New Jersey. When you visit ‘uptown’ you will find barbershop poles, a sign in the town center that says, ‘Keep Christ in Christmas,’ and hair salons, specialty shops, antiques, and cafes of all sorts. There is also a pizzeria with amazing pizza cooked in a wood-fired brick oven, one of my favorites in the area.
The shops are prepared for Christmas, with seasonal items on display. If you look closely you will see a sign in the window that says, ‘Fly Eagles Fly.’ We live near Philadelphia and everyone, well at least almost everyone, roots for the Philadelphia Eagles as our home team.
As we walked, a choir of Grackles sang to us from the trees in the town square.
The bird choir is part of Skywatch Friday.
I left behind a ‘Jersey Shore Shell‘ and hope it will bring a smile to someone’s face.
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Photograph & Poetry – Thanksgiving
Dear the people coming home,
Dear glad faces long away,
Dear the merry cries, and dear
All the glad and happy play.
Dear the thanks, too, that we give
For all of this Thanksgiving Day.
Harriet Prescott Spofford (1835 – 1921) – was an American writer of novels, poems and detective stories.
God bless you today on Thanksgiving.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MY FRIEND, MARY D. THANK YOU.
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Phlowers & Quote – Roses and Emerson
Sometimes, much like today, I need to focus momentarily on something simple and beautiful, and set aside every nuance that might darken my day. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote, this flower, both do me good during a day of running around, cleaning, and cooking. God bless you all on Thanksgiving Eve.
The roses are a mirage of my memory now. Photographed a few years ago in the Longwood Conservatory, the rose hall has been torn down and is being replaced by a new, more modern structure. I will miss walking alongside the beautiful bushes, and hope rebuilding will not be a protracted project.
My roses are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.
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Plants and People – Gratitude
We stopped at the local grocery store on Saturday to pick up a few things. As we walked through the parking lot, a voice called, “Are you hungry?” We turned and saw a fellow townie and an old elementary schoolmate of mine. This person has always been so very generous to us. When we had a pond, he brought me beautiful fish for it, and once, he carried a hefty landscaping rock into our yard. He watched over work done on our sidewalks and front yard when we had to have repairs.
Our friend asked us if we had a bag, and we said yes, and he said bring it over to my truck. We did, and he filled our bags to overflowing with sweet potatoes and the most beautiful cauliflower and broccoli I have ever seen. We had the vegetables that evening steamed lightly until tender. Oh my goodness, they were not only beautiful but scrumptious. My favorite was the purple cauliflower and the chartreuse broccoli. Do you see as I do and find the broccoli resembles small Christmas Trees when separated? I will find and grow the broccoli seeds next year. Thank you so much to our generous friend.
Postscript: I looked up this broccoli, and it is called Romanesco Broccoli. It is considered less bitter and a bit nutty in taste compared to regular broccoli. It also can be nibbled on raw and is perfect for a holiday Charcuterie tray.
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Perspective – Looking Up, Looking Back, Looking Forward
A week ago, WordPress sent me this message in my Reader:
Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!
You registered on WordPress.com 15 years ago.
When I read this, I thought I don’t think I’ve been blogging quite that long. The keyword was registered. I checked back on my first post, and it was published on 2011/09/28 at 3:02 pm.
In reality, I have blogged for about twelve years. It took me three years to get enough nerve and confidence to blog. Now, that would be my looking back. Looking forward to me means more time with my family and projects I’ve had on the back burner for years, finally being finished. The most current is finishing, editing, and getting ready to self-publish a work of fiction I started years ago. Looking up, well, for those of us who follow Christ, that is a constant, daily way of looking at life. I worry about the state of our world, but if I have as many years ahead with the blogging as I have behind me, I intend to keep blogging!
There were a few years when I blogged daily. There also was a year when I didn’t have anything to say. I might write and post more sporadically now, but I don’t intend to give blogging up. Why? It’s all of you, of course. I love connecting with people all across the globe this way. I consider blogging a blessing. Thank you all for reading, and also, thank you so much for posting about your lives. Thank you for offering fun and inspiring challenges for the times my thoughts are stagnant and I need a prompt. I appreciate all the challenges.
The photo I included was taken on the path between Cedar Lake and Washington Lake Park in Washington Township, NJ. It reminds me to keep looking up and forward and enjoy the times I look back too.
A little postscript: I smile when I can’t remember how I did a project or gardening tip and have to search it out in my blog to jog my memory. Does this ever happen to you?
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People – Veterans Day
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Phloral Arrangement – IAVOM Fairy Roses
We’ve had a hard frost and there’s not much left alive in the garden. Happily for me, there are still several roses blooming. They are rewarding me now after a summer slump. It’s easy to decide on what to use when your choices are limited.
Roses are some of the first bright blooms of spring after the pansies, daffodils and tulips. One of my best varieties is a brilliant pink miniature rose called Fairy. In the beginning days of November, it is loaded with pink blossoms. I almost hate to cut them, but since I don’t go out as frequently now that the weather has turned chilly, bringing flowers in will give me more time to enjoy them.
They are my IAVOM selection, and also a part of Cee’s FOTD. Included in the vase, a bottle I use for rooting cuttings, are pieces of foliage that are still surviving: Helichrysum Icicles and scented geranium sprigs. The vase itself looked a little plain so I dressed it up a bit with one of my necklaces.
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Planting – Putting the Garden to Bed – The Butterfly House
We had a hard freeze last night. The white frosting was still visible on the zinnias after the sun came up. It’s time to put the garden to bed.
The hardiest butterflies were cabbage whites and the skippers, but even those are gone now. Hopefully, the offspring they left behind are in their chrysalises over-wintering in sheltered spots.
Ten Black Swallowtail caterpillars, within the butterfly house, formed their chrysalis in late summer. We had a couple cold nights in August and this set off diapause, a state of hibernation, in the butterflies. Three of the caterpillars formed their chrysalis on objects within the butterfly house. Seven of them formed on the screening. Those who chose the screens were easy. I checked on them, tied a string to the top, and hung them from the garage ceiling, quite an exclusive high-rise to rest in for the winter. They are far enough up that they would be hard to find by a wandering rodent. When it rains I will climb a ladder and spray a little bit of misty water into the house to mimic what’s going on outdoors.
Three of the caterpillars formed their chrysalis on other items. Two of them on a piece of landscaping stone I had at the bottom of the house to keep it secure when storms struck.
The other formed on a stem. These also need to be in the garage but must have some kind of protective covering. Recently, in the grocery store, I picked up several mesh bags sold for fruit; the perfect solution. I placed them around the objects holding the chrysalis and put them on a garage shelf for the winter.
The raising of butterflies has never become commonplace to me. I enjoy seeing the butterfly house hanging in the garage. It reminds me Spring will come again and hopefully a bevy of butterflies will emerge.
“Butterflies that go through diapause enter into a hibernation-like state, where physiological processes are suspended. After adverse weather conditions clear, they will come out of this state of suspended animation and return to normal functioning.”
Bugs Under Glass
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Quote – Sojourner Truth
Today, after an early morning run to the store for Halloween candy, I was amazed by the clarity of the moon in a bright sky. I thought to myself, gazing at the moon and admiring its luminosity and beauty is a trait common to most people. Sojourner Truth, (1797 – 1883) American abolitionist and activist for African-American civil rights, thought much the same. I love the quote attributed to her that I included with my photo.
