You See, It Was About A Bed...

You see, it was about a bed...a flower bed.  Our long-lasting vinca plants had seen better days

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and we knew we had to yank 'em and re-plant.  Having reached this decision at summer's end and as autumn approached, it wasn't the ideal time to be planting perennials, even in Arizona.  So, the dismal, barren bed just sat for a few months.

While cleaning out the garage, Ron found bag of wildflower seeds which we purchased eons ago at Native Seed Search.  Feeling we had nothing to lose, he sowed them and watered.  We were patient and soon sprouts appeared, then seedlings, and finally a flower.  It was now winter and we didn't think our wildflowers would endure what can be brutal, freezing, low desert nights.  But they have!!

And what a difference they've made along our walkway.  We've even planted flower shop plants that eventually need to be moved outdoors.  Here's a chrysanthemum plant from my November birthday, flowering and growing.

So, we are delighted with the Lord's hand on our flora and look forward to these "wild things" regenerating each year.

That's not all that's been blooming in our home...Today the girls and I will head to Phoenix for my first visit with Cosette Lilliana.  I'm over-the-moon about our visit and meeting this sweet precious baby girl.  So much so, that I've created my one-of-a-kind baby book for her.  This is a book of baby "firsts."  Here is just a sampling of the pages ~ there are actually 25 in all.

I love this type of book because the busy mommy just has to slip the page out of it's pocket, record the date, and slip a photo in the pocket below.  The album is a landscape orientation.

SURPRISE ~ SURPRISE!!
Sweet and generous Kasia at Chatelet, who won my giveaway recently, created a lovely for me.  She told me she was working on something, but never in my wildest dreams would I have envisioned THIS....

The sweetest, most delicate little nafta lamp.  Of course, I will not burn oil in it....it's too pretty!!

Thank you dear Kasia, for you generous, kind, and creative spirit!.   You are a treasure!


I've been finishing up on some swaps...Here are some pix you might enjoy...

Tee at the Altered Paper hosted a pin cushion swap and my partner Elysia at Mischieveious Crafts created this darling "cake" for me.

And they came with these custom designed altered pins...

the little thimble to the left is actually a necklace!

Elysia is such a generous heart and included these sweet images as well....

Here's the pin cushion with altered pins that I created for Elysia...

I'll be sending these bad boys off to JeriLyn this week.  They're altered coasters for a swap with my Paper Trader's Group.  We alter 7 and get back a book with 7 different ones from the artists in our group.  I was really excited to do this swap since I'm in the heart of "cowboy country," and Arizona just celebrated it's Centennial!

created an extra for our hostess JeriLyn ~ this is the front of the coasters

back of the coaster with a pocket

and a little postcard....

which says it all!

Each one is wrapped "cowboy style"....

And I've included an Arizona post card for each member, thanks to sweet friend Sandy B who gifted me with her post card collection!

I have a special favor to ask of you....my sweet friend Sue, who lives far from me, has been diagnosed with lung cancer.  She battled breast cancer, and won!, 9 years ago.  The doctors think the new cancer is somehow related to the old.  Please keep her in your prayers ~ we have such a powerful network in blog land, and prayer is the most powerful tool we share.  Love you all.

Have a most beautiful week, dear friends.   I'll be busy in the studio working on some jewelry for my Etsy shop, and of course you'll be the first to see!  Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy day to visit with me, and for your sweet comments, too!!
xoxo
Karen