WELCOME AUTUMN!

Today is the first official day of Autumn, and for me, I welcome the cooler days and nights with changes of color to arrive hopefully soon. Here in the Lone Star state it starts gradual, but very welcome when we get a break from the high temps we experienced this wonderful summer. I love fall and I like to view this time of year as mother nature's way of blessing us with a restful time when her glorious Godly creations can rest for awhile till we welcome back beautiful blooms in the spring.
Time to be outdoors enjoying daily walks and cozy times inside enjoying our homes and families. I just started to spruce up for the season and here are a few pictures to share today. But first, I received a special award from Sherry at Edie Marie's Attic

Thank you Sherry, I am so honored you passed this award on to me. I love to visit Sherry's blog. Each of her posts is a reflection of a kind and wonderful friend. She so deserves this award and Sherry I congratulate you.
Now I have to pass this on to 7 more blog friends. But before I get to that list, I want to also tell you that Sherry is having her 100th post GIVEAWAY to be drawn on Monday the 29th. Hurry over to read her post and leave a comment to enter. Her unique giveaway is just GRAND! Sherry, Blessings and Best Wishes for many more wonderful posts. Click on the link above to visit!

Now to pass on the Award.
1. Amanda from Catching up with Amanda
2. Randi from In My Mother's Name
3.Ruth from Artful Creations
4.Amy from Bunny Rose Cottage
5.Betzie from Time Enough
6.Joan from Joan's Journeys
7.Arleen from The Tea Room

A FEW TOUCHES OF FALL






In the Dining room I like to add to my tea display by adding fall candle rings around the cups using the saucer as the base. I fill the cup with a battery tea lite. These work great in places you do not want heat and will be unattended. I have also used these in my Irish candle holders to keep them clean. Have you tried these? They are gorgeous at night and the batteries can be replaced when needed.






Before I say so long for now, I just wanted to share with you Miss Beazy Lee and her sweet Lizard friend as they visit at the window. This lizard arrives each day to the studio window to visit with Beaz, and as you can see, Beazy is just fasinated! Sweet Lizard is smart though, knowing the window is between them.




Until next visit, Blessings and Blue Skies.
Celestina

PRAYERS FOR FELLOW TEXANS!

Texans woke up Saturday to headlines and pictures reading "Take a Hike IKE" but to terrific dismay IKE did not. Galveston, Texas took the worst with flooding and great loss over the entire island. Houston, Texas was also very hard hit with much damage, flooding and no power predicted for a few weeks.
We in North Texas also braced for rough weather, but in the end the winds went east and we missed the worst. Although our hearts and prayers go out to all those that became victims south and east. North Texas shelters housed thousands of evacuees fleeing the hurricane. Our continued prayers go on for our many friends and relatives that live along the southern areas of Texas. May the power be returned quickly with homes and lives rebuilt.
Below is a picture from our morning paper on Friday.


On a lighter note, I have been very busy and just wanted to share a few new treasures I added to my studio. Storage is always something I need, so when I found this magazine book rack, I knew it would help organize files and books. My son put it together for me and then I decided the front insets needed some art too. So I did some creating with mixed media on the three shelf fronts with toile papers, sheet music, victorian graphics, ribbons, buttons and graphic roses. It looks like the front of books, but it really is right on the wood.


The toile lamp is also a new addition that I created and I shared this last week on the window party. It is working out very nicely, and yes, Ann is going to let me keep it here. Thank you my dear friend!! I love it.

A few weeks ago I was in one of my favorite antique malls and found this sweet pink poodle. She sits on the shelf and a nice companion to the black and white check poodle that I also have in the studio. Of course Miss Beaz would love to have this for her toy, but for now, it is only to enjoy on the shelf.

This small table I am really excited about and I made it to hold a very special Toile Basket made by Bertie from Aunt May's Cottage. I found this table with a basket weave top, but needed to be painted and adding another bottom shelf. I cut a piece of wood to fit the lower area and covered that with fabric. To that area I added a small toile trunk that I embellished and use for storage. But my favoite part is the way the basket sits on the top and holds supplies handy for ready use and a pot of roses to enjoy. Bertie, this has been a joy to have and is gorgeous in this spot. Many thanks always.

Very treasured is my newest pretty from Vickie from Vickie's Visuals. It is this darling black and white Southern Belle figurine. I love this Vickie and it looks gorgeous in my studio. You can see many wonderful treasure from Vickie's web shoppe by going to her blog and linking from there. She has lovely items.


Then, from the bargin isle at my local Hobby Lobby, I found this sweet Victorian Lady for a mere 2 dollars. She was in perfect condition, and of course, I had to showcase her in my studio. She seems to be watching over the room.

Also on a recent shopping afternoon with my dear friend Lori, I found this beautiful ballerina. This past year I have been inspired with ballerina designs since my dear friend Liz and customer invitied me, with other artists, to take part in a fund raiser event given in honor for her daughter who passed away suddenly 4 years ago with a heart condition. I can not even imagine this kind of loss and my heart goes out to her. The funds raised went towards a scholarship for another school girl in the school that she attended. My friends daughter, was a young adult teacher dancer/ballerina and thus the theme for her honor. The fund raiser was a huge succuss and she has asked me to design 120 dinner guest gift bags for next years event. I have started and it will take the whole time to get done, but I am so excited to be included once again. The ballerina dancer is beautiful in my studio and inspires me everyday. Thank you Liz for your constant inspiration and encouragement.

Liz sent me the brochure for the event and I designed just for her, a treasure box to hold keepsakes inspired by the brochure layout. I sent her this with my hand painted fund raiser item, last spring.
I had so much fun with this creation.


Lastly "Through the Cottage Door" is a new design I worked on a couple weeks ago. The painting is done on a fabric sheet canvas and cut to fit this oval distressed frame. It was a blessing to sell this one and I am painting a few others similar.

Thank you for stopping by. This season is always very busy for me and I seem to only get to my blog about once a week to post and visit. But, I try and visit as often as possible and enjoy it so much when I can see what everyone is up to. Till next time, have a great day and blessings always.
Celestina

ENCHANTING WINDOWS PARTY! MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2008

Welcome to the Enchanting Windows Party hosted by Cielo of The House in the Roses. Today you can visit wonderful windows from all over the country featured by so many of our friends in blogland.

The idea is to feature a favorite window in our homes or other places. I had a hard time narrowing it down to just one, so I will share a few of my favorites. Remember to click on the link above to visit many more participants in the party. It will be fun and we may get some great ideas along the way. The above photo is a faux window I created with shutters at the top of a staircase.

Some of my favorite windows are positioned with comfy chairs to relax, read, work on a project or just have a cup of tea and gaze outside. The just sitting and gazing outside doesn't happen too often, but I can dream anyway.

This first window is the one I love to sit by in my studio while working, or on a break. The lamp is my newest design done on an old vintage lamp. The style and shape is very unique and I covered the shade with black and white toile fabric and trims. I left the bottom original in the basket weave pattern, but painted the bottom and top portion of the base, black. It makes a very cozy lamp and looks nice from the outside, looking into the window. This lamp was actually given to me to redesign by my friend Ann, from Ann's Finds. The idea was for me to give it back for her to put in her shoppe. Well, Ann, I love it here, so I guess I will be buying it now. We'll talk later okay! LOL!!

The next window I really enjoy, is in the master bedroom. This over looks the backyard and the perfect spot to read by the window and have a cup of tea.

For guests, I have a spot by the window with an old wicker chair and tea table set with a teapot ready to fill, sweet cup and saucer, and some books to enjoy.

This corner is really my favorite, and the spot I enjoy most every evening. It is the corner in the library where I am right now blogging. I can read here, work on a project, watch TV or take a nap. Ya right, a nap. That doesn't happen either, unless I am sick! LOL!

These roses look lovely against the backdrop of the sheer window treatments framed with vintage style rose drapes (Waverly) given to me by my friend Lorri. It makes this corner in a bedroom so inviting next to a red plaid comfy chair and vintage lamp.

Lamps are an addiction for me, and this window is perfect to center this shabby ivory floor lamp. It graces this big window draped with white eyelet floor length curtains. Next to this lamp is also a comfy chair and located in a bedroom.
Lastly, I will share these master bedroom windows that are topped with lattice, shaped to fit the curve of the windows. I hand painted rose bud garlands above the headboard window and all the smaller windows and door window in the sitting area. The lattice really gives a cottage feel to the room. Sorry for the glare in the window. It is really hard to picture this window.
Thank you for visiting my window party and please remember to click on the above link to The House in the Roses to view many more wonderful windows.

Until next time, I'll be painting and designing. Blessings and Blue Skies, Celestina