Welcome to Magnolia Blossom Art Blog ..

... where fellow crafters and lovers of crafts come together to share, explore and learn about the world of art.

AND THE WINNER IS ........................

This week's (February 20, 2009) Fabulous Friday Freebie winner is ..... Ta Da ... KittsKrafts. Here is her blog KittsKrafts if you want to check her out! Congratulations ... I know you will love the Clutch Purse Card that Robin has offered from her Etsy shop Robin's Arts & Crafts. ... You lucky gal!!!!

Friday, January 30, 2009

CANCER AWARENESS ITEMS ...

Okay, so I haven't posted much this week, and it's for a reason! I've been very busy, with the kiddies here at my daycare feeling somewhat under the weather with winter colds I haven't had much time to do much but make them feel better, which usually requires holding them! In my free time (when and if they did take naps!) but mostly at nights, I was creating some new items. As you have seen, I love making the Crazy Quilt purses in all different colors and this week's brain storm (I have to be careful of them ... they're dangerous!!) was to expand my purses by creating some cute, funky, chique purses that would bring awareness to the different types of cancer. Being very active with our local Relay For Life, on of my passions is to not only raise money for the research to find a cure for cancer, but also to bring awareness to the community at large of the disease, cancer, and how we can all work together to try to put a stop to this horrible invader that has touched so many people. ... So last night I created my first of hopefully many Colors of Cancer Purses. This first one is in PINK .. the color for Breast Cancer. My grandmother lost her life to breast cancer when I was 12 years old and I miss her dearly ... but my mother is a Breast Cancer Survivor of 10 years and for that I celebrate her life and this purse is in honor of her!! It is a cute rectangle embellished with ribbon and buttons, fully lined and ready to be proudly carried in honor of all those who are or have battled Breast Cancer. I am keeping the prices very reasonable on these purses and will donate part of my proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

I also started working on Colors Of Cancer Key Chains and Bookbag Pulls. These simple ribbons come in any color which represents a type of cancer. I will be making them in a number of colors, but if you tell me what type of cancer you would like represented, I'll make the keychain iin that color! As with the purses, these keychains and pulls are very reasonably priced with part of the proceeds going to ACS.




You can find both of these items in both my Etsy and Artfire Shops ... help us with the cause!!!

AND THE WINNER IS ........................

.................... BLUE VIOLET ... one of our followers. Congratulations!!! You're the lucky winner of that lovely, yummy Valentine Heart Necklace .... YEAHHHHH!!!

THIS WEEK'S FABULOUS FRIDAY FREEBIE

Another great freebie this week! It's from a fellow artisan who has absolutely BEAUTIFUL jewelry. In her Etsy Shop, Adorn Me Jewelry, Tina offers "Handcrafted Jewelry that fits your body, your style, your life." She has offered a lovely pair of earrings for this week's freebie. As you can see from her Etsy Shop Welcome, she is having a Valentine's Day Sale ... check out how you can get some fabulous items for a terrific sale price ... details on her welcome page.

Check out Tina's Blog Adorn Me Jewelry... give it a read:-)

Also, visit her Website ... Adorn Me Jewelry ... it's fabulous!!



There are several ways to enter for this week's giveaway ... don't miss out ... you won't want to pass this up!

Here's how it works ...
1) Go to her Etsy shop ... Adorn Me Jewelry

2) Browse Around ... feel free to do some shopping :-) Don't forget her Valentine's Day Sale!!
3) Pick your favorite item in her shop
4) Come back here
5) Leave me a post about your favorite item
6) You're in the pot for the drawing!!
Want more chances to win? ... you can do one or more of these things after you post about June's shop and you will have additional chances to win !!
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Etsy Shop and tell me what you like the best ... 1 additional chance to win
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Artfire Shop and leave a link of your favorite item in a post here ... 1 additional chance to win
* Blog about this contest ... 1 additional chance to win ... Leave a comment here with a link!
* Become a follower of this blog ... 1 additional chance to win ... no need to leave a comment! All Followers will be entered in our Fabulous Friday Giveaways!
* Let your friends know about this contest! ... 1 additional chance to win for every person you send an email to ... (include me via CC at magnoliablossomart@gmail.com)
* Buy something from Adorn Me Jewelry ! 5 additional chances to win for every purchase made by a Magnolia Blossom Art Reader!
GOOD LUCK ... HAVE FUN!!!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

NEW BLOG ...

I just started a new blog ... Team For Abie ... I'd love for you to give it a look and tell me what you think. I'm hoping to use it to keep our team informed as well as to bring awareness to fellow bloggers about Relay For Life. Any tips, suggestions, ideas you could thow my way would be greatly appreciated ... I'm lovin the help from my blogger friends :-)

Friday, January 23, 2009

READY FOR ANOTHER FABULOUS FRIDAY FREEBIE???

Here we go .... this weeks giveaway is just in time for Valentine's Day! June, owner of "I Sew Cute" has a special Valentine's Day "pretty" for our blog giveaway. Take a look at her shop ... very unique and yummy jewlery. Her things are so adorable ... sweet and lovely.
June has selected this beautiful heart necklace "Sugarlove" for our lucky winner. Sugarlove is perfect for Valentine's Day or anyday you're feelin' the love!


There are several ways to enter for this week's giveaway ... don't miss out ... you won't want to pass this up! Check out June's Blog I Sew Cute... and draw pretty nifty also! ... give it a read:-) Here's how it works ...
1) Go to her Etsy shop ... I Sew Cute
2) Browse Around ... feel free to do some shopping :-)
3) Pick your favorite item in her shop
4) Come back here
5) Leave me a post about your favorite item
6) You're in the pot for the drawing!!
Want more chances to win? ... you can do one or more of these things after you post about June's shop and you will have additional chances to win !!
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Etsy Shop and tell me what you like the best ... 1 additional chance to win
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Artfire Shop and leave a link of your favorite item in a post here ... 1 additional chance to win
* Blog about this contest ... 1 additional chance to win ... Leave a comment here with a link!
* Become a follower of this blog ... 1 additional chance to win ... no need to leave a comment! All Followers will be entered in our Fabulous Friday Giveaways!
* Let your friends know about this contest! ... 1 additional chance to win for every person you send an email to ... (include me via CC at magnoliablossomart@gmail.com)
* Buy something from I Sew Cute! 5 additional chances to win for every purchase made by a Magnolia Blossom Art Reader!
GOOD LUCK ... HAVE FUN!!!

AND THE WINNER IS!!!

The winner of this week's Fabulous Friday Freebie is Renee Henderson from Something Homemade ... CONGRATS!!! If you go to Jenn's shop and convo her, she'll instruct you on how to pick out your earrings!! Thanks for playing along .. and thanks to all who played this week ... ready for another one???

Thursday, January 22, 2009

LEMONADE AWARD ... WHOO HOO!!


Julie, at Julie's Daily Inspirationals recently nominated me for the Lemonade Award. I appreciate the nomination, thank you so much. The Lemonade Award is for sites that show gratitude and a wonderful attitude. I think that’s a good group to belong to!

Rules for the award:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Nominate your favorites and link to this post.
My Choices for the Award:

RELAY LIKE IT'S 1985!!




My husband, daughter and I went to the Regional Relay For Life Kick-Off tonight and we "Rocked Like It Was 1985"!! Not only was it fun, but it is so inspiring to hear all the survivors and caregivers tell their stories with such courage and strength, to hear all that has been accomplished in cancer research, and to witness the numbers of volunteers that work so hard to raise money to help toward the goal of finding a cure for cancer. We all have our stories of loved ones who have battled cancer, some winning the battle, some not, but to be there with the hundreds of others who put hour upon hour of volunteer time for such a great cause is so rewarding. We had a great time dressing in '80 garb, sharing fun and excitement with others, but more importantly, just knowing that it's the beginning of another year of preparing for the big event this summer that will bring more money to go toward reaserch, treatment and prevention of cancer is a wonderful thing!! RELAY FOR LIFE ROCKS!!! Our team Relays for the Elizabeth River Event in Portsmouth, VA which will be held this year on Friday, June 5, 2009. We have already raised over $2400.00 and have another fundraiser in March .. our annual Tea Party! We have a great group of people on our team and we all work hard while we have fun raising money for cancer. My daughter is Chairperson of the Activities for the Event and I help her by taking care of the children's activities .. it's fun ... we're busy ... WE LOVE IT!!!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Okay ... Have to Share this!!

A terrific fellow artisan with beautiful work, Joani, wrote a great post on her blog that I just must share with you ... it is so nicely put and so true!! Go check it out ... Inspirations In Clay .... enjoy!!

Friday, January 16, 2009

AND THE WINNER IS .....

ADORN ME JEWELRY , (her shop) (her blog) ... one of our followers ... congratulations! Thank you all for entering our Fabulous Friday Freebie Giveaway featuring Kitt's Krafts. CONGRATS again to Adorn Me Jewelry!!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Fabulous Friday Freebie

This week's giveaway ...you pick!! Our artisan, Jenn, is willing to allow the winner to pick a pair of earrings of their choice from her shop.

Her work is really beautiful ... you must check it out. She's a lovely gal and her shop is so nice. Her jewelery is outstanding and reasonably priced.

Don't you just love these frog earrings .. they are so adorable!










There are several ways to enter for this week's giveaway ... don't miss out ... you won't want to pass this up! Check out Jenn's Blog ... give it a read:-) So Bead It Jewelry Blog

Here's how it works ...
1) Go to her shop ... So Bead It Jewelry
2) Browse Around ... feel free to do some shopping :-)
3) Pick your favorite item in her shop
4) Come back here
5) Leave me a post about your favorite item
6) You're in the pot for the drawing!!
Want more chances to win? ... you can do one or more of these things after you post about Jenn's shop and you will have additional chances to win !!
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Etsy Shop and tell me what you like the best ... 1 additional chance to win
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Artfire Shop and leave a link of your favorite item in a post here ... 1 additional chance to win
* Blog about this contest ... 1 additional chance to win ... Leave a comment here with a link!
* Become a follower of this blog ... 1 additional chance to win ... no need to leave a comment! All Followers will be entered in our Fabulous Friday Giveaways!
* Let your friends know about this contest! ... 1 additional chance to win for every person you send an email to ... (include me via CC at magnoliablossomart@gmail.com)
* Buy something from So Bead It Jewelry! 5 additional chances to win for every purchase made by a Magnolia Blossom Art Reader!
GOOD LUCK ... HAVE FUN!!!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

They Just Jump Out Atcha!

I decided last night to make some new Thumbprint notecards for my Etsy and Artfire shops, so between watching the kiddies, getting an order ready for the mail and having a Vacation Bible School meeting here today with my VBS co-chair, I got them finished. Whoo Hoo ... they are so cute they look like they just want to jump off the paper right at you! After I get some more crazy quilt purses done, I plan to create more designs of these adorable notecards. As my tag under my name displays, I love making a variety of art. I've self diagnosed myself as adult ADHD ... I get board quickly working on one item, I have to break from it and do something else for a bit ... so I decided to break from the purses and create a few of these notecards ... so much fun, so cute ... I just love them!!
I am only putting 2 of the sets here, but there are 4 complete sets listed in the shops :-)






Tuesday, January 13, 2009

MY POOL IS GREEN!!


Okay, so we have only had our in-ground pool for about a year and a half and there seems to be a debate in the household (which only consists of myself and hubby, since Maggie and Blossom can't really give their opinion, and if they could probably wouldn't cause they hate the pool anyway). Here's the thing ... last year I followed the instructions of the pool installer thinking he just might know what he was talking about ... shocked the pool, backwashed it, added DE to the filter, etc, and then set the timer to run the pump 4 or so hours each night so the pipes wouldn't freeze. Well this year hubby decided he would take over the task of "closing" the pool, except he didn't do ANYTHING to close it! He every once in a while goes out there and skims off leaves and pine needles (not really necessary) and hooks up the Phantom (robot vacuum, which BTW ... now it's green too) and will run it for an hour or so. Now don't get me wrong, he's a great guy, loves me more than life itself (and me him) is a great husband, wonderful father and best "Big Dabby" in the world, but he usually argues with most of what I have to say ... something in the testosterone I think! So when I suggested we shock it he debated that it wasn't needed and rambled about the whys and whatevers that it was necessary. If I make mention that it appeared to be turning green his only response was that the water wasn't green, it was only on the bottom ... WHAT?? I've tried to not get upset or emotional when bringing up the ever greener pool so as to not get his male parts defensive and this past Saturday as I had Maggie and Blossom out back giving them a well needed bath we "tried" to have some sane discussion about the ever growing "stuff" in the pool and there were more ramblings about what it didn't need and what the solution was (not sure what it was, nothing I thought relevant, but anyway) I did mention that it was getting to the expensive point just with the chemicals that would be needed to open it this summer and that I was concerned about the pipes freezing. More ramblings ... we'll get some DE and backwash it, I'll vacuum it ..... what about trying to CLOSE it (just my thoughts). I did convince him to set the timer to run the pump for a couple hours each night as the forecasters were predicting below freezing temps this week ... he had some rambling about that as well ... “We probably don't need to run it without backwashing the filter and we can't backwash the filter without DE (we ran out, imagine that!)” ... oh my goodness, what's more expensive, again my thoughts, the filter or new pipes that just happen to be UNDER CONCRETE!! Anyway, the timer got set!
Last night about midnight I let Maggie and Blossom out for one more potty before bed and the noise was quite loud from the pool pump area ... went outside (freezing by the way .. me, not hubby, he's sound asleep!) Not much flow in the pool ...hum that's not so good ... but it's cold and I'm tired! Off to bed...
So this morning when I went outside to fill the dog's outside water trowel (well they're almost as big as horses!) I decided to turn the pump on to check it out ... not a good idea. My emotions finally got the best of me. My beautiful NEW pool is green, the pipes are in jeopardy of freezing, the cost is now going to be high to get the mess cleaned up .... urggggg.
I got my self together and placed a calm (somewhat) but firm phone call. “We need to talk about the pool. What are your plans? (this is where I almost started crying) What are we going to do to fix this?” I went on to tell him about last night and the “no flow” I observed this morning. He broke ... okay we need to get a handle on this (you think?) this is what we'll do. So we, together!, came up with a solution about how to get this under control ... now that didn't hurt, did it (didn't really say that, BUT WANTED TO!).
So why am I bogging about it, you may ask ... well, first, cause it's good therapy .. and second ... to share that after 38 years, there are still things couples need to work out and work on and we're prime examples of that. Besides that ... it's really funny if you think about it. I'm at the age that I can often look forward, I used to say “It really is funny after looking back on it” ... now I try to find the humor in it at the moment ... makes life easier to live while living it :-)

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Excitement Fills The Air

I went today with my daughter and two members of our Relay For Life Team "For Abie" to a Regional Leadership Training Session ... it was awesome!! We are so excited about this year's Relay For Life Event. My daughter in Chairman of the activities for the event and I serve as a sub-chair for the activities for the children. The other two team members co-chair the entertainment. We got so many ideas and are pumped up for the event in May. We have LOTS of planning and coordinating to do between now and then ... but we're ready to get busy. In addition to that my daughter and I are co-chairs for our team, so we have to work with our team to plan fundraisers between now and the event (including a Tea Party in March) and deligate duties for the 24 hours of the event. The theme this year for the Event is "Hollywood" and we are brainstorming how we can decorate our site and what fun things we can do as far as fundraising.

I, as have most people, have been touched personally by cancer. My father-in-law for who the team is named, lost his battle with cancer as did my grandmother, my grandfather as well as my step-father last summer. My mother is a breast cancer survivor and we have many friends who have or are currently battling cancer. It is such a tough disease and touches so many, but we also have seen major strides in the development of ways to treat and prevent cancer and our hope is that in years to come, with the help and support of all that help fight this battle, we will see a cure!!

I just wanted to share our excitement and enthusiasm as we work to Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back. Our team has cookbooks we are offering for a $5.00 donation and also we have Luminaria bags we will be glad to light for a loved one for you with a donation to the American Cancer Society. There is a link here on my website where you can make an online donation and if you leave me a comment telling me if the donation is for a cookbook or a luminaria bag (be sure to give me the information about the loved one you would like to have a bag lit for) then I'll get the cookbook out to you and be sure to light a bag for you. If you are donating for a cookbook, please email me with your address.

Thanks to all who help us and may all of us that have been touched by cancer continue to work toward finding a CURE!!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Some New Crazy Quilt Purses !



I just finished these two crazy quilt purses and two pouches and listed them on my Etsy shop. They are so much fun to make. I had an order for a green/brown one and decided to make a couple extras:-) Have two more orders for different colors ... they're so popular around town!!

LAST WEEK'S WINNER ...

Drum roll please ... the winner of last week's Fabulous Friday Freebie is Jo from Smilemosters! Congratulations ... the bracelet is beautiful, I know you will enjoy it!!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

THIS WEEK'S FABULOUS FRIDAY GIVEAWAY!


These are so adorable and unique ... I WANT ONE ... I am so excited to add them to our Fabulous Friday Giveaway !!
Dani makes a variety of art which is displayed in her Etsy Shop ...
... these Koolaid notebooks caught my eye.
I have had a good time browsing around in her shop. She is a great artisian and I have enjoyed convoing with her about art, the blogging world and more :-) She is a great person and I'm sure you will enjoy the crafts in her shop. Check out her NEW blog at ttp://kittskrafts.blogspot.com/
Once again this week you have a chance to win another great item from a great artist!
Here's how it works ...
1) Go to her shop ... Kitt's Krafts
2) Browse Around ... feel free to do some shopping :-)
3) Pick your favorite item in her shop
4) Come back here
5) Leave me a post about your favorite item
6) You're in the pot for the drawing!!
Want more chances to win? ... you can do one or more of these things after you post about Dani's shop and you will have additional chances to win !!
* Go to my shop Magnolia Blossom Art Etsy Shop and tell me what you like the best ... 1 additional chance to win
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Artfire Shop and leave a link of your favorite item in a post here ... 1 additional chance to win
* Blog about this contest ... 1 additional chance to win ... Leave a comment here with a link!
* Become a follower of this blog ... 1 additional chance to win ... no need to leave a comment! All Followers will be entered in our Fabulous Friday Giveaways!
* Let your friends know about this contest! ... 1 additional chance to win for every person you send an email to ... (include me via CC at magnoliablossomart@gmail.com)
* Buy something from KITT'S KRAFTS SHOP! 5 additional chances to win for every purchase made by a Magnolia Blossom Art Reader!
GOOD LUCK ... HAVE FUN!!!

Too Adorable Not To Share!

Okay, so as you may have noticed, we have two Saint Bernards, Magnolia (AKA Maggie) and Blossom (hence the name, Magnolia Blossom Art) who are our mid life crisis children and we treat them accordingly! They are so funny and loving, in their own special ways. We got Maggie first, a sweet smooth coat (short hair) gal with a gorgeous head and perfect mask. A year or so later we decided to get another girl and named her Blossom. She is a large, big boned, rough coat (long hair) with a large head which has no mask. How do you tell a 145 pound dog her spot is on the floor when she thinks she's a lap dog!! She can't quite understand why her whole body won't fit in our recliners with us, but she gives it a good effort!! Oh, I could go on and on ... anyway ... we got them from Wanda Pevahouse in Jackson, TN. Wanda and I have developed a great long distance friendship over the past couple of years and we keep in touch about dogs and grandkids via email. Wanda sent me pictures the other night of her new litter and I just couldn't resit sharing them ... they are just adorable!! I told her I wish I had a farm I could fill with Saints .. they are a great breed of dog. Wanda has beautiful dogs, with great pedigrees and most importantly, it's evident how much she loves and cares for them. Saints are a large, sweet, kind gentle breed of dogs ... I just love them so much!!
By The Way ... the Papa of this litter is the same dog pictured on Wanda's button to her website ... Papa Louie ... Maggie's Papa as well. Blossom is from Banker, another great dog of Wanda's ... you can see pics of him on her website :-)




Oh ... aren't they just ADORABLE!!!!


Wednesday, January 7, 2009

ALL THINGS PINK!!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, why not hook your sweetheart (or yourself ... LOL ) up with something homemade and pink to show the LOVE!! Here are a couple of things I think will do the trick ...

She'll (or you ... hehehe) will love this Crazy Quilt Purse in Pinks and Browns. It is handcrafted using high quality cotton fabrics in a quilt design and machine embroidered in a variety of stitches using pink thread. Fully washable with a removable insert in the bottom of the bag.













Or how about this "My Heart's Desire" Necklace and Bracelet ... make her heart go pitter patter!!











"Pretty In Pink" .... Absolutely!! Beautiful ... necklace, bracelet and earrings ... sold separately.

For Valentine's Day or any day ... these All Things Pink items are more than perfect for that special someone ... visit my Etsy Shop for details and to place your order.

OMGoodness ...

This blog thing is challenging for us middle agers who aren't very tech savvy ... but my new blog face is pasted on ... would love to know what you think :-)
Mandie from H B Corner made it for me and very happily guided me through applying it, I might say ... she's awesome! Check out her website Life In The Craft Lane with Mandie I grabbed her button and you can too!! She has some GREAT designs for all your web needs!! I got some great business cards from her as well .. worth checking out:-) Thanks Mandie!!
Some changes coming up for the GiveAways ... more ways to win ... keep checking .. and don't forget to leave me a post about Dragonsfire Etsy Shop to get in on the bracelet she'll be giving away Friday ... this is so much fun ... won't you join us!!!
Have 6 Crazy Quilt Purses cut out and getting ready to sew some up ... will post pictures as soon as I get one finished ... they are so rewarding to work on from an artistic point of view ... making the colors work for each one is just plain FUN!! I think these greens and browns will be the first one I put together ... love the colors!!!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

New Scarf ... so pretty

Getting some things wrapped up so I can cut out some Crazy Quilted Purses ... bought enough material last night to make more than a dozen ... so excited, they are so much fun to make and design. The colors of the new ones range from navys ~ browns ~ blacks/greys ~ red/blacks ~ greens/browns ... I can't wait to get going on them.

In the mean time, I finally got around to taking some pictures of a scarf I finished over the holidays and listed it in both my Etsy and Artfire Shops. It is so pretty in shades of orange, long, soft and cuddly! My prices are very reasonable as I am always on the look-out for yarns on sale and I use ones I have had on hand ... take a peek and grab one at a GREAT Price!












Off to cutting and slicing some cottons ... yippee ... can't wait to share the finished products!!

Catchin' Waves

Catchin' Waves
For two days they didn't want anything to do with the beach ... then ... wala ... what fun is this!!!

Thumbprint Notecards

Thumbprint Notecards
Sure to make anyone smile. Come with envelopes in sets of five.

Maggie & Blossom

Maggie & Blossom
Lovin' some time in the waves at Nags Head !! What fun they are.

Girl's Jumper

Girl's Jumper
Precious brown jumper with hot pink polk-a-dots

Christopher and Blossom

Christopher and Blossom
She loves a cowboy and he loves a horse ... what a perfect match!! Grandson # 4 with our "Little" girl Blossom.

Croched Cell Phone Case

Croched Cell Phone Case
Any colors ... any size ... great when matched with a Crazy Quilt Purse!

Eat ... sleep ... and be merry!!

Eat ... sleep ... and be merry!!
So what's better than fillling up on spaghetti and then taking a snooze ... that makes for a very merry little fellow. Grandson # 5 ... Benjamin ... how cute is that!

Pink Crazy Quilt Purse

Pink Crazy Quilt Purse
So fun ... my crazy quilted purses are eye catchers ... great as mother/daughter sets ... larger for mom and smaller for daughter ... how cute are they!!!

Just a day at the beach ...

Just a day at the beach ...
Nick, Maggie & Blossom trying to catch some waves ... the girls wanted to try their hands (paws) at skimboarding ... give it a try gals!

Warm and Cozy Scarf

Warm and Cozy Scarf
Soft and Warm ... what a combination .. and beautiful to boot!!
I Took The Handmade Pledge! BuyHandmade.org