A Christmas Greeting...........

"Golden sunlight;

Heavenly sky;

Sweet fresh air;

Merry bells.

Oh, glorious. 

Glorious."

Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol.

Have a beautiful time with your family and friends. Merry Christmas every one. xx

Just So Sad............

"Lately, the world felt fragile, like a blown egg, as if it might shatter beneath a careless touch".

Kim Edwards-"The Memory Keeper's Daughter".

I visited a friend's blog today and she had used this quote.....it resonated with me.....it expressed exactly the way I have been feeling the last couple of days.

Most of you lovely friends who visit me here have young children; you know where they are and what they are doing, you keep them safe and tuck them in to their beds at home, every night. But children grow up...they become young adults, have a life of their own and live independently as do my 2 daughters who are 22 and 24 ( but they will always be my babies and I will do every thing possible to  protect them and make them happy )When something unforeseen  happens to cause them pain, it is heartbreaking to see.
       Last week, my youngest daughter learnt of the sudden, tragic death of her close friend who was, at the time, on holiday overseas. My daughter of course was shocked and inconsolable  and as her mother it has been difficult to watch her become consumed by confused disbelief and immense sorrow. When you are 22 life is fun, life is good and you have every thing to look forward to........this sort of thing should never happen.
       My heart break tho is nothing compared to that of this young girls mother. I can not even begin to imagine what it must be like to bring your dead daughter home to bury 2 days before Christmas.
       I was not going to blog about this event, what's the point, it changes nothing, and, this is the season of joy and hope and I don't want to bring down the mood. I guess what I am expressing is that because of the randomness of life, never take anything for granted, hold close those that you love and tell them often, never waste a day and always try to make it a good one and cherish and appreciate the years that your children are at home, safe and protected in your care.
       I'm sorry for the sad post, but I know dear friends you'll understand.

Beautiful Papers...........

VINTAGE POST-CARDS

A BAG

A DRESS

These are some projects made from the beautiful papers available from Meg's Garden.These papers are so pretty and so detailed, they stand alone. I have deliberately avoided the use of lots of embellishment with what I've made as I believe the papers speak for themselves and need very little enhancement.

A dress, inspired by Marie Antoinette, made entirely of paper, paper doilies and paper lace.

A little bag made from a recycled brown paper shopping bag. The string handles are wrapped in red velvet, it's lined with painted cardboard to give it rigidity and then covered in Meg's beautiful paper. I've added some hand made flowers and velvet leaves.

"Vintage" post cards made using collage papers, lots of distressing, stamps and inks.

All collage images, papers, paper and real lace, velvet leaves and mini paper doilies available from Meg,s Garden.