Category Archives: holidays

December 8, 2016 · 12:53 pm

Christmas Gift Ideas from Creative Artworks!

High quality hardback. Limited Edition. Signed by the illustrator! Jane will also include 5 die-cut detachable images your child can hang on the Christmas tree or play with at no extra charge.

Go to http://www.janedaniell.info/tnbc to see the beautiful illustrations. This will be an instant classic you can enjoy year after year with your children and grandchildren. Wonderful as a gift, too! Please allow approximately two weeks for delivery.

 

This exquisite nativity scene is made from hand-painted gourds by Linda Faber. The size of the pieces range from 7.5 to 10 inches tall. The width ranges from 4.5 to 5.5 inches. The baby is just a bit over 3 inches. 9 pieces in all. The bottom picture shows a closeup so you can see more of the detail. Exquisite detail and top quality workmanship.

 

This is an original watercolor painting by Martha Dollar Efurd. The dimensions of the painting are approximately 10 x 13. This painting is triple matted with a medium blue, and then dark blue mat, plus a beautifully texture linen mat, as well. With the gold frame, the dimensions are 12.5 x 15.5.

 

LAST DAY TO ORDER IS TOMORROW, DECEMBER 9TH!  A ornament for the teacher! Say “thank you” to a wonderful teacher by giving her this cute ornament she can use from year to year. Wooden heart attached to the bear’s bottom for personalization, such as to: (teacher’s name) from: (student) (year). Please indicate your choice of “tan” or “white” bear, plus personalization desired in the special comments section of the order form. THIS IS A DECORATION ONLY AND NOT A TOY. NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 13. Please allow approximately 2 weeks for delivery.

 

Each mitten is handcrafted by Linda Lewis. The base is wood. Some of the mosaic pieces are stained glass, and round glass beads for accents. The piece is approximately 3″ at widest point and is approximately 4.5″ high. 1.8 oz. It has a shiny metallic silver ribbon hanger attached. This decoration could be hung on a wine bottle, drawer pull, window pane, door knob, lamp switch; affixed as a decoration on a present, and of course, hung on your Christmas tree. Nice as a gift. 4 are available. Please indicate your preference: “Light Blue,” “Turquoise,” Red Orange,” or “Deep Red” in the special comments section of the shopping cart. Please allow approximately one week for delivery.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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December 7, 2016 · 1:47 pm

I Love Christmas Trees – Take 1

This has to be one of the prettiest trees I’ve ever seen. I love the fatness of it. The lights and ornaments are just perfect.

When we built our home over 30 years ago, we loved the design. We still love it, although we would make it larger now. The biggest change I would make is figuring out where we would put our Christmas tree every year.

How could we build a house that doesn’t have a good place for a Christmas tree?

The main windows in the front of the house are in our office. My desk is pretty immovable, and it is right beside the window. It would take an act of Congress (I know – we’ve had such inaction for the past several years this cliché almost has no meaning… ) to move it enough for us to put our tree there. Moving the desk would also displace the dog bed and make our built-in shelves unusable.

We move to the living room –

We can’t put it close to the fireplace, so that’s one whole wall we can’t use. We CAN put it in the corner in front of some built-in shelves, but we have to take a table out and put it in the garage, move the couch, the table by my chair and my chair….

We CAN put it against the wall behind my chair – but then we have to take out that same table and move everything forward so we can’t use our shelves, but we can just barely walk between the Christmas tree and my chair. This is a main walkway in our home, so it’s a problem.

When our son was young and at home, we did one or the other each year. We’ve also gotten a table sized tree and set it up in the corner. That works okay, but I love a full-sized tree…

We’ve decided that when we win either the mega-millions jackpot or the Publishers Clearing House contest, we’ll build a new home on a lake somewhere. We’ll start with the Christmas tree, and then build out from there….

Merry Christmas, everyone. :0)

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December 7, 2016 · 1:33 pm

Kids Participate in Difficult Christmas Experiment

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The experiment took place at a Boys and Girls Club in metro Atlanta, where 83% of the kids come from low-income families. One by one kids are brought into a room to answer several questions. At first, they are asked what they want for Christmas. The video shows different clips of the children revealing their most desired gift – from a dollhouse, to an Xbox 360. Then, the interviewer asks what their moms (or families) would like for Christmas. Each of the kids name a gift that they know that their person would love.

Here comes the hard part of the scenario. The kids are presented with their dream gift, and told that it is theirs to keep. Everyone is thrilled…but then they are also given their family’s gift as well. They are told that they must pick between the presents. Although it seems as if it would be a tough choice, every single one of the kids chooses to act selflessly – and picks the family gift. All of them provide answers for why they made their decision, which are so heartfelt, they will bring you to tears. Wow, what amazing kids!

If the link above doesn’t work, please copy and paste the following URL into your browser – http://www.faithtap.com/5188/kids-particpate-in-difficult-christmas-gift-experiment/?utm_source=shared&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=main&src=shared

 

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Thank you to http://www.faithtap.com via Lenore Garnhum, Facebook

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December 6, 2016 · 12:50 pm

“A Hallelujah Christmas” by Cloverton

I heard this version of “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen several years ago. I was swept up and carried away by its beauty. This band was playing in a doughnut shop, I think. The noise died down as he began to play, and the audience was singing quietly along. If you haven’t heard it, I wanted to share. If you have heard it, please enjoy it again.

If the link doesn’t work, here is the URL to paste into your browser –  https://vimeo.com/55641900

The lyrics are different from the ones Leonard Cohen wrote. Here they are –

“I’ve heard about this baby boy
Who’s come to earth to bring us joy
And I just want to sing this song to you

It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
With every breath I’m singing Hallelujah
Hallelujah

A couple came to Bethlehem
Expecting child, they searched the inn
To find a place for You were coming soon
There was no room for them to stay
So in a manger filled with hay
God’s only Son was born, oh Hallelujah
Hallelujah

The shepherds left their flocks by night
To see this baby wrapped in light
A host of angels led them all to You
It was just as the angels said
You’ll find Him in a manger bed
Immanuel and Savior, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

A star shown bright up in the east
To Bethlehem, the wisemen three
Came many miles and journeyed long for You
And to the place at which You were
Their frankincense and gold and myrrh
They gave to You and cried out Hallelujah
Hallelujah

I know You came to rescue me
This baby boy would grow to be
A man and one day die for me and you
My sins would drive the nails in You
That rugged cross was my cross, too
Still every breath You drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah”

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December 3, 2016 · 3:46 pm

More Christmas Goodies from Creative Artworks!

"Winter Dawn" - original painting by Martha Dollar Efurd

“Winter Dawn” – original painting by Martha Dollar Efurd

 

 

 

 

christmasshopping

 

Note Cards – “Christmas-Shopping”-Set/8 by Lenore Garnhum

 

 

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December 2, 2016 · 1:21 pm

Christmas Mailbox Decorations – Part 1

oldchristmas

We just put this Christmas mailbox decoration up. It’s one of the first decorations we did using the new CNC equipment with the plasma torch. If you look carefully, you can see the old style black metal we used to attach it to the mailbox post.

 

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This is the back of the piece. If you look carefully at this side, you can see where the black mounting piece goes across the Christmas tree design. I tried to paint it so that it wasn’t too noticeable.

We decided to use the old decoration through the 14th, and then put up the new decoration from the 15th through the end of the month/year.

We talked about enlarging this design and doing it again with a new mount, but then found another design that included a tree with a boy and girl that we liked better. We’ll do that one for next year!

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November 28, 2016 · 11:44 am

Some Christmas Ideas from Creative Artworks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Shopping!

 

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November 24, 2016 · 6:40 pm

Santa Mailbox Decoration is Finished!

santa-befsnotex

This is the mailbox decoration before I had fun using my new Snow-Tex and glitter glue.

 

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I had trouble getting pictures today, but the left mitten gives you an idea of what the glitter glue does, and you get an idea of the Snow-tex on Santa’s eyebrows, etc.

 

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This is a close up of the Snow-Tex. As my husband says, when you’re driving past the house at 45 mph, you probably won’t be able to appreciate the texture. I think my husband would have preferred I left Santa as he was before the new experiments, but I had so much fun doing it, I’ll just let his opinion slide. HE can paint the next one… :0)

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November 24, 2016 · 11:23 am

Happy Thanksgiving 2016

Victoria Park Animal Hospital

Victoria Park Animal Hospital

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. ” ~William Arthur Ward

I’m grateful for MANY things this year – these are some of them –

  • I’m grateful we discovered my husband’s diabetes and that he is no longer in denial or depression and is actively working to cut out the sugar and get healthier.
  • My efforts to get my lard off and move more are paying off, giving me the motivation to continue to do all I can to be healthier.
  • My husband and I truly enjoy being together after 47 years of marriage. Our lives are so rich and full!
  • Our son is living his dreams. Although he’s across the world from us, we chat almost every day, staying close.
  • Our animals are enjoying their lives, even though some are getting a little long in the tooth – as we are.
  • I have friends who mean the world to me.
  • Our cousins in Louisiana have both weathered health crises and are still bringing joy to everyone lucky enough to know them.
  • I have a sister-in-law in North Carolina who is truly my friend, sharing giggles and challenges every day.
  • I enjoy my life so much – having the time and freedom to try to create things, either in the shop or in my art room, trying out new media, challenging myself to do the best I can.
  • Our raised bed, square foot garden is perfect for my needs for years to come. I love trying to grow some of our own food.
  • We’re surrounded by flowers most of the year. We built planters with irrigation systems that allow us to feel rich in blooms.
  • I have too many things I would like to do in any given day.
  • I have the joy of reading – in books and the Internet, allowing me to learn as much as my brain will allow.
  • I have my husband, sitting across the office from me, scowling at the computer, trying to design a phone answering machine specifically for us to block calls we don’t want.
  • I have a warm, dry home filled with love where I can watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade, enjoy football games, wash clothes and fix a turkey dinner today.

I hope you have a lot to be thankful for. Take a few minutes and realize how lucky you are!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  ENJOY YOUR DAY!

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November 23, 2016 · 11:35 am

Present to Myself

It’s not my birthday. It’s not a holiday when you get presents, but I got myself a present recently and I’m grinning from ear to ear.

 

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Robyn Soules is one of the talented artists on my website, Creative Artworks.

She makes beautiful jewelry and Christmas ornament wraps from gazillions of tiny beads.

I liked this necklace –

 

I wrote to Robyn and said, “I love the design of this necklace, but can you make it in all white? She immediately wrote back, saying, “You bet!” She got more details, such as how long I wanted the necklace, and whether I wanted her to use all white beads or would prefer clear Swarovski crystals. I asked her to do what she thought looked best, but that I loved ‘sparkly.’

 

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These photos just don’t do the necklace justice. I wore it out with friends Monday evening, and they were already talking about my necklace even before I took off my vest! It lies down perfectly, staying nicely spread out like this as you wear it, rather than bunching up like some other necklaces do. Robyn really listened to my love of sparklies. The crystals catch the light and reflect it beautifully.  I’m delighted with her work and feel really special when I wear it. :0)

Besides these gorgeous beaded necklaces, she makes earrings, luxurious ‘garden’ bracelets, sports bracelets, and Christmas ornament wraps.

See Robyn Soules’ work on Creative Artworks!

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November 23, 2016 · 11:17 am

Thanksgiving Wednesday

What's Trending

What’s Trending

“Thanksgiving is America’s national chow-down feast, the one occasion each year when gluttony becomes a patriotic duty.”  ~Michael Dresser

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November 22, 2016 · 11:45 am

Thanksgiving Tuesday

Pinterest

The Lucky Penny

The Lucky Penny

“Love wholeheartedly, be surprised, give thanks and praise – then you will discover the fullness of your life.” ~ Brother David Steindl-Rast

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November 21, 2016 · 2:48 pm

The Merry Christmas Santa is Coming to Life!

mcsanta1

Yesterday I finished the second coat on the front of the mailbox decoration. Today I’ll flip it over and do the 2nd coat on the back of the piece.

I checked on my order of Sno-Tex, the textured white paint I want to experiment with on this. It had not been shipped! I cancelled that order and ordered from another source, so it should be delivered tomorrow. HOORAAAY!

When the 2nd coat is on the back and is dry, then I get to play.

Clipart Kid

Clipart Kid

I already have my glitter glue to make some things sparkly. THEN the Sno-Tex is supposed to make things like Santa’s hair, mustache, bear, and fur on his mittens and hat 3-dimensional. I’ve never used these before, so I’m like a kid at Christmas.

I’ll show you some progress on these two things as I can.

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November 21, 2016 · 11:32 am

Thanksgiving Monday

“We’re having something a little different this year for Thanksgiving. Instead of a turkey, we’re having a swan. You get more stuffing.” ~ George Carlin

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November 20, 2016 · 1:27 pm

“Advice on Cooking Your Thanksgiving Bird”

This is a repost of a blog by Pobept of Town & Country Gardening. I laughed out loud several times, and thought you might enjoy it, too. If you’re interested in wise words about gardening, food, DIY, Health, homemade, and more, please check out and follow this website.

Advice on Cooking Your Thanksgiving Bird

If the link above doesn’t work, here is the URL to paste into your browser –

Advice on cooking your Thanksgiving bird

ENJOY!

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November 15, 2016 · 9:29 pm

Thanksgiving Lewis Mailbox Decoration

novmailbox2

Today before we went to town we put up our Thanksgiving mailbox decoration.  People stopped as we put him up, saying they enjoy driving past our driveway to see what we’ve put up lately. Can you think of a nicer compliment?

 

 

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November 11, 2016 · 10:29 am

Veterans Day 2016

Loud Here

Loud Here

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