stamp collage

My husband found all these wonderful stamps at an estate sale one weekend.  I would have missed them had he not spotted them.  I've had them for years and suddenly thought of this great idea of doing a collage with them.  Mrs. Alice Miller had carefully saved them in pristine condition.  She made tiny envelopes out of plastic and staples for some of them.  As I trimmed the airmail envelopes off the edges of each stamp, I thought of her and maybe her daughter, whom she must of had a long correspondence to create such a beautiful collection.  They are mostly from Thailand.  I am in love with the muted yet rich colors.  Made me nostalgic for my high school years receiving long letters from my boyfriend in the same thin envelope with the red, white and blue border. They should have stamped it "Love Mail" instead of "Air Mail".   I hope my collage can capture some of that.

garden 2015

Here is a little tour of my garden this spring.  I will have to say one perk of staying in one spot for nine years is having the pleasure of enjoying a mature landscape.  I don't know how many yards we have landscaped and then moved on.  I go visit my wisteria I planted in Raytown thirty years ago.  So glad it is not in my current yard.  Yikes, those things can take down a house.  I worked at a garden center for years and my experience really paid off. 

 pot of pansies

 redbud

 pansy

 California poppies

 bleeding heart

 Jane magnolia

 Jane magnolia

 flowering pasque

Jane magnolia

gelli plate fun

I think I need to put these paints away and start with a new palette.  The colors look better in person but enough is enough.  

 Spring is finally here and Jane is blooming.  Also another shot of the craft room.  The paisley in the curtain matches the paint in natural light but my camera says no.

easter egg shirt

Looking at this with fresh eyes I'm not even sure I will wear it at home.  Yikes.  I got my chakra's  upside down!  

big fail

I had another big fail with a tshirt.  So glad it wasn't brand new.  I did learn a few things so calling this a learning experience.  All I could think of last night is how I would look just like a easter egg if I wore this out.  HA!  I WILL art in it all day long.  :)

gourds

I've been collecting gourds and it is time to stop.  I have nine here and love them so much they stay out year round.  I usually change my display with the seasons but the gourds anchor everything.  I love the organic feel and colors in them.  The little altar is new.  I've had the idea for a while but haven't found the perfect tray.  This old film can is good, but plan to expand.  The display needs work.

Happy Easter!

Riki loves his little duckie he got for Easter.