Angels in her belfry

Welcome!

Kaleidoscope by inkspired

and so our story continues..

Ruth you are just not going to believe 

what just happened to me!

I was filling our household water jugs down at the well

And one of those 

smelly sheep-kissers from outside town

walked right up to me, bold as can be!

Wanted to borrow my ladle to use

as a drinking cup!

Yes, yes, of course I told her to get lost.

Ick.

But that’s when things got strange...

She just kept standing there with a dazed look on her face.

Obviously sunstroke, I could tell.

Artist Anton Mauve

Well, you know dear what a generous and giving woman 
I am, so I drew some water 
and put it in an old broken cup and gave it to her.
It’s the least I could do, poor thing.
Yes, yes, Ruth I am trying to tell you!
This ‘shepherdess’ started talking about light 
and singing and something about a king.
I didn’t quite get it all, but it sounded like
a king had just been born!
As if that’s news. Everybody knows
about King Herod and all his little look-alikes
spread all over Israel.
But,
I’m sure she said there were angels singing.
Can you imagine seeing an angel?

Artist Irina Y. Lombardo 

Why I would just faint on the floor 
I would be so scared!
This little sheep-herder said the angel told them
To not Be Afraid!
Then she said the whole sky was full of angels
And they were all singing!
Obviously she was delusional, don’t you think Ruth?

Found on Pinterest from a post on The Shinbone Star 

Just imagine,
seeing that many angels!

Unknown artist

She still looked a little overheated...
or something,
so I led her over to the half wall to sit in the shade there.
It was the least I could do.
You wouldn’t believe how bad she smelled...

No Photo credit found.

Well!
I never!
Ruth just up and left; looked like she was headed
to the well. Wonder what she wants there?
I didn’t even get to tell her about that whole 
Peace On Earth thing.
Well, it’s her loss.
I’m feeling a little hungry for some dates...
or maybe some new grapes would be just the thing...

The saga will continue...

Meanwhile...
I want to share with you some beautiful
paper cut work by
 Odeta Brazeniene.
I am a member of the Papercutters Guild with her.
She came up with a very clever idea of
‘Angels on a stick’!
Kinda’ catchy, but oh so pretty!

Paper angels by Odeta Brazeniene


She even was gracious enough to share a pattern with us.

You should be able to take the base pattern and 
add your own embellishments/designs.
Affix to a stick, 
and look around for the decorating opportunities!

Wouldn’t these be beautiful as a 
 vase arrangement of real or silk flowers
and a bevy of white angels?

Take a gold or silver pen and highlight 
a few spots on the angels.
Place in a silver bowl with large white ball ornaments.
Tuck in a couple gold leaf embellishments as accent.
Elegant!

Take them to the country with an enameled water can.
Fill with marbles, and place angel sticks in side.
Color your angels with markers,
Gel pens, whatever you prefer.
Tie torn strips of gingham around each
Angel stick, and the handle of the can.
Throw in some jute for added effect!
Charming!

I hope you have enjoyed my little saga,
and do try out Odeta’s angel pattern.
Then share!

‘Til next time, 
Inkspired

Kaleidoscope by inkspired

Memorial Day Memories

"One flag, one land,

one heart, one hand,

one nation evermore."

- Oliver Wendell Holmes

photo credit unknown

Today is Memorial Day in the United States of America.

It is a day to honor and celebrate our nation's veterans from all wars.

These are men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice -

their lives

to protect the land that we call home.

Many have died on ground that was not mainland USA.

Many have died here on this homeland.

They all died to protect the freedoms that we so value.

"Some people live an entire lifetime

and wonder if they have ever made

a difference in the world;

but our military doesn't have that problem."

- President Ronald Reagan

(1981 - 1989)

photo credit unknown

"For those who fought for it,

freedom

has a flavor

the protected will never know."

- scrawled on the cover of a C-ration box,

Phan Tiet, Vietnam

1968

vintage World War II poster, 1944

courtesy of Dover Publications

I thought today I would let others speak for me.

 Jes Wilhelm Schlaikjer, 1945

"Peace is not made at the Council table

or by treaties,

but in the hearts of men."

- President Herbert Clark Hoover

(1929 - 1933)

c.1871

"We need not fear the expression of ideas -

we do need to fear their suppression."

- President Harry S Truman

(1945 - 1953)

c.1905

courtesy of Indiana Music Libraries (see address to the right)

"One man with courage is a majority."

- President Thomas Jefferson

(1801 - 1809)

c.1903

"True patriotism doesn't exlude

an understanding

of the patriotism of others."

- Queen Elizabeth II

c.1915

"That's all a man can hope for

during his lifetime -

to set an example-

and when he is dead,

to be an inspiration for history."

- President William McKinley

(1897 - 1901)

c.1916

c.1919

"The mere absence of war

is not peace."

- President John F. Kennedy

(1961 - 1963)

George Washington and scenes from the Revolutionary War

"The country clubs, the cars, the boats,

Your assets may be ample;

But the best inheritance

You can leave your kids

Is to be a good example."

- Barry Spilchuk

stampincatstudio Rose's Walkers 2005

stampscapes

unknown source

"If there must be trouble

let it be in my day,

that my child may have peace."

- Thomas Paine (1737 - 1809)

from an outdated wallpaper book

from the BackStreet Design book "Forever Free", out of print

from the BackStreet Design book "Old Time Signage", out of print

from a book of BackStreet's Ornaments, out of print

from an out dated book of wallpaper samples

"Show respect for all men,

but grovel to none.

- Shawnee Proverb

(a Native American tribe)

a Statue of Liberty handpainted and stamped

recycled domino magnet

by inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

c.1918

vintage song sheet cover

courtesy of Indiana Music Libraries

"May there always be work

For your hands to do;

May your purse always hold

A coin or two;

May the sun always shine

On your window pane;

May a rainbow be certain

To follow each rain;

May the hand of a friend

Always be near you;

May God fill your heart

With gladness to cheer you."

- An Irish blessing

Arlington Cemetary

Thank you

from the bottom of my heart

to all American veterans.

Your sacrifices have not been in vain

and are remembered

daily.

- inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

A snuggly day

Rauha

Finnish for 'Peace'

"First Snowdrop"

http://www.willowdot21.wordpress.com/

Today is a snuggly kind of day. The sky has been overcast so everything is just a kind of dull white. It's cold, even though the temperature says it isn't. The wind is blowing just enough to make it too cold.

A good snuggly kind of day!

http://www.vintageholidaycrafts.com/

If it were just a bit colder, we might have snow.

I like the way the snow covers up everything, and makes it look all clean!

sorry, I don't have info on this other than it looks like a neat layered card!

A perfect day to grab some scissors and old wrapping paper

or origami paper

or just plain white office type paper -

and cut up a snow storm!

Here are three wonderful patterns from

http://www.vintageholidaycrafts.com/

Now, that last one is so pretty, but I am not brave enough to attempt cutting it out. I would however like to try my hand with some caligraphy pens and duplicate it for the front of a card.

If it takes up too much time, then I think it would be very pretty framed.

Then I can scan and print it for cards.

Note: personal use only!

Side note:

Did you know you can get caligraphy felt tip markers?

They come in colors, and different tips and are super super easy to use.

They look professional, and you don't even have to know how to do it!!!

This is a purchased card. I thought the idea was terrific, and easily duplicated.

You could use those fancy dimensional stickers

or rubber stamps

or clip from recycled junk mail

or even draw!

Since you have your scissors out, why not cut out these cute paperdolls.

They are in serious need of more clothes, so get that box of assorted paper scraps you have, and create some!

This set is from the 1940's I believe.

I'm pretty sure I got these from http://www.origamibears.com/

Thanks!

I thought, thinking about snow and all, that I would like to explore some

Snow Queens.

Here are a few that I found:

a Russian Snow Queen

by Marina Davydova

The Pale Shade of Darkness, http://www.likeaflyonthewall.wordpress.com/

I have to say, she is one of my favorites!

'Snow Queen' wallpaper

http://www.naturedesktopnexus.com/

A beautiful beaded necklace -

Snow Queen necklace

http://www.dreambeadweavers.etsy.com/

"Snow Queen" by Meg Fox

http://www.endicottstudio.typepad.com/

Next are a couple of pictures that I like to use as my computer background:

'Snowy Church'

'Snow Svenski'

"If we had no winter;

the spring would not be so pleasant;

If we did not sometimes taste of adversity,

Prosperity would not be so welcome."

---Anne Bradstreet

"A Paler Shade of White" original Collage Art Doll

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

another purchased card:



I'm going to try and 'duplicate' it with my Sizzlet Snowflake set

and use card from used Christmas cards.

Then I'll probably dot a few Stickles glitter glue around.

Maybe glue on a few silvery clear beads.

mmmm.....pretty....

I have a book waiting for me,

and a yummy soft 'lap' blanket my sister gave me for Christmas.

Maybe even a cup of hot tea

"Come along inside...

We'll see if tea and buns

can make the world a better place!".

- Kenneth Grahame, 'Wind in the Willows'

"Snow queen" by Ata Alishahi

http://www.advancedphotoshop.co.uk/

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

Well, that's it for today.