New Friend

I have a new friend I would like you to meet. It never ceases to amaze me the TALENT that some people possess. Please meet Dorthe of Den Lille Lade, a very Talented Doll artist. We met at Etsy, where she bought a bird from me and a doll...or two...
We soon discovered that we like the same kind of things, VINTAGE EVERYTHING!!!!

I love Dorthe's WORK. Fabulous!!!

Dorthe Lives in Denmark. (On an Island that I believe to be in the Baltic Sea.) She makes fairies, and has a shop also called Den Lille Lade. She also makes collages and and I love they way her blog looks...Beautiful.

Don't you love getting to know other folks in this world of ours. So many sweet and special people.
Thank you Dorthe.

my real "job"

Here I am at my Real job. I work with some fantastic people, who are for the most part patient, caring and kind. I have been a nurse for a long time but as you can see, I am thinking of the Land of Baggaraggs, even at "work."

The Tombs

And so my thoughts are creeping towards the fall.I begin to long for cooler weather, with the brush of cobwebs on my bare neck at night when I walk Albert. I think of closing my door on the dark, imagining that I am turning the dead-bolt just in time to keep out the stealthy thing that was following me up the walk. I long for the smell of cinnamon, apples and pumpkins baking in my oven.That aroma makes its way like an Autumn fog to the studio.

Potions

Potions looks out over the line of Folks that waits outside her Cottage, wanting a Potion. Some have a spotted fever, some an unsightly wart or maybe a black fungus emerging from their ear, BUT most want a little something called LOVE. So desperate are they for LOVE in their lives that they are willing to stand in the pouring rain without a bumbershoot to pay the last coin in their purse for IT. The Elusive IT: LOVE.
It is tiring work, but this little witch knows its Power, knows that LOVE heals, that LOVE endures.
She is made of painted muslin, coffee dyed, baked and stitched upon. She has a tiny watch vial about her neck, that may be opened if you desire. She is about 14.3 inches tall.
May you be Happy.

The Ghost Bird

There was a toad in the pool this morning. It was clinging to the pool sweep over by the drain, and when it saw me coming to rescue him, jumped into the water and swam away for dear life. It obviously did not recognize me as a form of HELP.
I patiently waited for him to come to the surface and watched as he chambered up onto the hose of the pool sweep, quite exhausted by the effort.
I was able to fish him out and was rewarded by finding another tiny companion, swimming listlessly in the outlet as well.
I had a thought about it all, besides the one where my kids chide me for picking up toads with my bare hands...
and wondered how many times I too have turned away from HELP, being unable to over come my FEAR, and walk the Path toward that which would HELP me and my situation.
I have been bossed around by Fear much of my life. I am ashamed to admit this cowardice, however it is none the less true.
I think I have mostly been afraid to succeed, as failure is what I am comfortable with, it is the familiar  water of my Pool.
So. May I have sense enough to NOT turn away from that which would help me, teach me, GUIDE me, and May I not resist the urge to Succeed. may I attend to the thoughts that inspire me, and NOT dismiss them. May I act on them, actualize them and Recognize their source as being inspired.
May I have the good sense to appreciate the Prayers that are answered.
And may I have courage enough to act, TO ACT, TO ACT, even when I am Afraid to do so.
May you also.

Summer struggles.

Good Morning from the Land of the Baggaraggs. Arrggggh ( Pie-rat talk)  but its humid and hot. Mowed the grass yesterday and midway through got in to the pool to cool myself off. We lovingly refer to the Pool as the Polar Icecap, as its always COLD...being under the trees.
I am grateful to have a Polar Icecap Pool to dip myself into, and a Lawn to mow.
although I am slow in sales, I would like to openly thank God for an Etsy shop, and My gift of Creativity.
There are many things that have happened in the course of this summer that have been a weight on me, and my heart has at times been filled with anxiety. My daughter has been injured, my dog is sick, and ...I need a surgery myself.
We struggle don't we? I have little energy at times to PUSH Back against this encroachment to my contentment. I become immobilized. Worry freezes me. I loose my Emotional Balance. 
Here is what I think really helps...

Find another person who will bow their head with you and Hear your Prayer. Pray out loud with them.( I did in the medication room the other evening at work, and I feel BETTER)
try to eat something GOOD everyday.
try hard to help some one else...it makes your own burden lighter.
Like Winston Churchill said NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER.
Push back against your physical limitations, Push back against the thoughts that LIMIT you.
I promise I will too. I Promise I will try my Hardest every day. and I will remember to be grateful for everything and to say THANKS.
May you be Happy and Free from suffering. Robin 

A little Night Work

Working nights can be hard on folks. Flying off 5 nights a week to St. Stygians Asylum to care for the depressed and psychotic can have an effect on a Witch. Maude keeps her chin up though and flies on, carries on and administers her Potions with tender, loving care.
Maude is 18 inches long and made of muslin that has been dyed in coffee and baked. She has also been painted and sewn upon. Maude is one of a kind. She has a hook for hanging and would enjoy a break from her nightly duties at the St. Stygian Asylum.

Summer thoughts.

Its the summer of Birds, and It is the summer of Fish. It is the summer of late night swims in the pool and sleeping deeply, long into the quiet mornings. It is a mysterious summer, where pine needles collect in piles in the driveway without a witness to their descent. It is the summer of thursdays with my son and his girl and my sweet grandbaby. Lunches on the porch and playing in the water. It is a summer of worry about my daughter who has injured her shoulder, and has unrelenting pain. Worry about making ends meet the other ends and pulling it all together, not for myself but for my children and my grandchildren.
For me it is a summer in pajamas, feeling the soft cotton legs of my old bottoms wear and rub against the soft cotton skin of my ankles. It feels as if part of the fluid water of my swimming resides in my legs.
It is the mornings of the summer, where on a hard chair I sew my thoughts into things, surrounded by the detritus of thread and paper and fabric and feeling, that I step into my spot as creator. May you be happy. May you be peaceful. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you be at ease. May you be free from suffering. Robin

Violet the Spool angel

Violet likes to be called Daisy. She cannot remember where she left the car keys and believes that everyday is Tuesday. She is fascinated with watches and likes to take them apart, claiming she likes to know how things "tick."
Violet has been know to leave the water running in the pool, overnight. We woke to the gentle lapping of waves at the back slider last Tuesday, and it wasn't because there was a high tide. I called the water company and pleaded for leniency.
Violet is made of muslin and had a hand sewn nose. She has been coffee dyed, baked and painted and then glued to a vintage spool of blue thread. She stated that she would have preferred to be glued to a watch but I couldn't oblige.
Violet is almost 6 inches tall and comes with the sewn paper envelope.

http://oldfarmhousegathering.blogspot.com/

The Old Farmhouse Gathering team is having a

Flag Day Appreciation Challenge!!!

Mark your calendars! Beginning Saturday, June 4th through Saturday, June 11th, you will have an opportunity to vote on your favorite Flag Day item. The rules are simple:

• No pictures will be featured on the OFG Blog, however, shop locations will be listed first thing Saturday, June 4th as well as the poll to cast your vote. (Poll will be located on the sidebar.)
• You will need to go to Etsy and type in the search bar FDOFG and visit each Etsy shop to see each participants item.
• Return back to the OFG Blog and cast your vote.
• Post a comment, leave your name and email address (we need this to contact you and have you respond with your mailing address) ~ If you prefer not to leave your email address, make sure you email Debbie at SugarMtnMercant@aol.com

The winner of the Challenge will receive a prize AND one voter (chosen at random among the comments) will also win a prize. Winners will be chosen and notified on Sunday, June 12th.

The Can of Sardines

Here it is. reluctant I am to part with them...The one and only Can of sardines. Made of Osnaburg, the can is sewn and painted and has a handmade key of wire that has curled back the lid revealing four glorious sardine fish.It measures 7 inches long by a little more than 5 inches wide

Bucket List

I have been thinking about making a Bucket List. You know the things that you want to do before you kick the Bucket. Its one of those defining moments, isn't it? One of my work friends Just had her Bat' Mitzva, and I am sure that she is the same age as me...said it was a part of her Bucket List.
Well, I think I have to Think...in Winnie the Pooh speak, about what I would like to do before I KICK the Bucket.
How about you? What do you want to do before you "Kick the Bucket?"
Jeez, I had just started to give myself permission to do the things I love and I am turning 57...now I have to think about this? Hah.
I would urge you not to wait to do the things you LOVE to do. Not Have to do. LOVE to do. I think my Bucket list will focus on those kinds of things.

May you be Happy. and fullfilled. have a great weekend. Robin. P.S. this Photo was taken at Selby Gardens by my Brilliant daughter Friedel.

The Three Bird garland

                   Not to be confused with the Three dog night, is the Three bird garland. They are the quintessial Summer Harbingers, and would look fabulous hanging in your Kitchen window, or any spot where they can get a glimpse of the sunshine.
This Garland is 44 inches long and has three hand-did birds hanging from tiny closed hooks. The garland is made of scraps of fabric and vintage lace and bits of this and that

The Banana Wanderer Bird

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74915232/the-banana-wanderer-bird


I found the Banana Wanderer in a Travelers Palm eating Cheerios. Voracious appetite this one. He is in constant search of bananas however is oddly unable to identify the Fruit.
He is made of Upholstery Fabric and vintage lace, and has a lovely striped ribbon adorning his middle. Vintage button eyes. he comes with his Specimen identifying Envelope that is sewn and finished with a vintage vegetable button.There is a thread for hanging.
He measures 4 inches by 3.4 inches.

Vera, a spool angel

Vera is a spool angel with moss hair sewn to her little head. She is a collage of colorful fabrics and will arrive in this hand sewn paper envelope. Vera is attached to a vintage spool and stands 5 inches tall.
Vera refused to tell me her story. She made some insulting remarks about my writing abilities and said she would save her tale for her new "People."