Creating "With Friends"

My annual art sale was this past weekend. I didn't have the inventory I usually do, but I did have some new things and thought I'd share a few of them here.

I love this piece of ephemera -- I use this little mermaid all the time!

I use this guy all the time, too! He may be a tabby and not orange, but he reminds me of a Gypsy I know! The lace (a huge box of lots of different kinds) came from my friend Mary Jane, who gave me a huge box of her mom's craft supplies when she was trying to pare down her house.

This lady was kind of pretty, too. The ribbon is very old ribbon from France, sent by my friend Jerry.

I made a number of journals in various sizes. This large one sold the first night. Some of the pieces on this and other journals I did were courtesy of Linda (Shoreacres) who sent me a lovely package filled with beads and earrings and keys, perfect to glue on things! Thanks, Linda!

Here's another I like with pink vintage bits. I bought the dragonfly at Artiscape.

And these are smaller ones. More for a purse than deep recollections. The square bit near the top came from an earring I bought at a Jane Rosemont yard sale before she moved to Santa Fe. I miss Jane and her fabulous yard sales! You'll see more "Shoreacres" jewelry and naturals from the lake and Myrtle Beach.

Then, the birdhouses!

These were two of the new ones. Loved the holiday feel of the red and white one. The mushrooms and birds were from the Mary Jane box!

Then I started pulling papers I'd made in a Jacqueline Sullivan "Artiscape" class for this one. And a Shoreacres key! The glass firefly was from my San Francisco friend, Cathy.

Meanwhile, this one was nice and rustic. Can't beat cinnamon sticks for steps! A Mary Jane bird, a "Shoreacres" key,,,

Then I got on a "bottle kick." You'll note more Shoreacres earrings on the tops, with cork stoppers from my friend Kate!

I was just fond of the pretty holiday feel and I really loved the vintage tinsel, which I bought last year in Arizona.

As you can see, part of the joy is in the making. But in almost every piece I do, there is some personal connection with a friend, a holiday, a special surprise or a vacation. That makes all the things I do so meaningful to me. Other people might not know or care. But for me, the art of creating is also an opportunity to think of people I love!