Sending Best Wishes.........

for a very Happy Thanksgiving to all my American blogging friends.

Yes, this time has rolled around again and how fast the seasons come and go. This year, like none before, seem to be busier then ever. I do not remember a time my studio has been so crazy busy!! Having said that, also come many thanks for the blessings God has given over this past year.

As 2009 comes close to an end, I can't help but reflect on the joys this year has brought to myself, family and friends. Too many to list, but felt in the heart and seen everyday.

Thanksgiving was always a special time when I was growing up. My Mother and Dad prepared for a big day and wonderful dinner for a large family and friends that would gather at our home.
Mom would prepare for days ahead after work, making special dishes, cookies, cleaning and setting the perfect table to hold many.

We lived in a small sweet 1949 cottage bungalow with 3 floors. But we always had plenty of room in the basement that dad finished, with room to hold many guests.

In the center, was a large table where our feast would take place. Once everyone arrived and the turkey was baked, we took our places at the large table, held hands and dad said grace. Thankful for our loved ones and the food set before us once again. It was a special time full of love and peace right there in the basement.

Through the years this tradition continued. There were times the snow was knee deep, times dear loved ones had passed away, times when tough events would fall on family members. But through it all, in sickness and health, we looked forward to gathering together to give thanks.

In our home today, my Best Guy and I, still carry those same traditions. We are so thankful for blessings that we see and feel within our hearts. The love that fills our home is very special. Although we don't have knee deep snow, we share the same message my mother and dad displayed so many years ago.

I hope for you, this holiday is special. Wherever you are and however you celebrate Thanksgiving, may it be one that is blessed with plenty and hope for the future.

We plan a special week with a long time family friend who is coming to visit. I have been preparing many days while working, just like mom used to do. Thankful for the season and thankful for time to share our blessings with others.

Over the past couple weeks I have missed having the time to visit all my blog friends. Missed my daily posts too, as it seems I paint, ship and start all over again. This season is wonderful proof that more peeps are shopping on line like never before. I look forward to getting back to a normal routine after the holidays and for Christmas sharing lots of holiday decor and hand painted treasures in posts still to come.

In the meantime, Best Wishes for a special and Happy Thanksgiving!
Love to you and blessings be yours, Celestina Marie

Where Did the Posts Go?

Hello blogster friends. Well, after a week of MIA and involved in tons of creative work, I am back to try and catch up. But first, I want to thank Jan from Rose Haven for the new look of my blog, she so creatively designed for me during the Christmas season. Thank you so much Jan for the new look. Stop by Rose Haven and say hello to Jan and visit her blog and read about the events she has going on for Christmas. It will be a fun visit!

This Monday I marvel and would like to share the awards I received from Tatting Chic. She is so kind to pass on these 3 awards to me and I will add them to my award list. Thank you Tatt Chic for your kindness. Congrats to you for receiving them first, as you are so deserving. And I pass these on to all those today when you visit. Visit Tatt Chic and marvel at her wonderful posts and talented creations using her skills for the beautiful and gorgeous tatting pretties.



Next on my list for catching up is to share the gifts I received from a little chain letter swap I was in this past month.
From JuJuzBeads, I received a beautiful bead necklace with storage pouch. I love it. She is so talented. Thank you so much Judy. Stop by Judy's blog and visit her etsy shoppe to see her pretty creations.

Look at this darling card from Amisha from, gorgeous and fun. I love this and you can visit her too here.

Mary from Kentucky sent a precious fall tag and decorative clothes pins. I love these Mary. She is so talented and I will really enjoy these sweet creations. Mary did not send a blog site or name, so I can't send you there. But you may know her, and if so, please pass her blogsite name on to me. Thank you so much Mary!

The talented and amazing Bertie from Aunt May's Cottage sent me this gorgeous fabric pumpkin. Oh is it gorgeous. She designed this one with pinks and black with roses and sheet music fabric. It looks great in my art studio. Thank you so much Bertie. Take a moment to visit her too and marvel at her gorgeous pretties. You will enjoy your visit.

Laurie from Charming Designs sent this darling little fridge magnet of a snowman under glass. It is so cute and I enjoy it everyday that I open the fridge. Thank you so much Laurie. Visit Laurie and view her beautiful blog and see her creations here.

Last but not least, is a gorgeous card I received from Karen of A Scrapbook of Inspiration. She so creatively designed her dress form pretty into a card that says,"Embrace the magic around you." It is just beautiful and Karen is such a talent. A visit to her lovely blog will be a real treat and sure to inspire you as it does me. Thank you so much Karen. I look at this card everyday and it brings magic to my days.


It is back to my brushes and then off to visit blog friends. I have missed so many during this very busy time. So glad you could stop by. Here are just a few creations that were born in the studio last week and found homes for Christmas. Thank you so much and see you again soon.










Many more hand painted treasures are on the way to my etsy shoppe, stop by anytime to browse as you are always welcome HERE.
Blessings and blue skies be yours. Celestina Marie

The Trail of Glitter!

Welcome to another Thrifty Thursday, junkin and journeys. Let me take you on a little journey through glitter land. In my Studio that is. Full of goodies on their way to my shoppe. Every inch of table space is covered with creations.
See, I told you I'd show my messy studio at some point. You did not believe me, did you? Well, I own a vacuum and it gets a workout! LOL!!
Join me, in taking a peek into my busy world today.


Now let's sprinkle some fairy dust all over the Christmas ornaments. This little distressed treasure box is on it's way to my etsy shoppe Friday. It is made of wood, repurposed in pink with a little fairy painted on the lid and she is sprinkling fairy dust on the roses.

Oh and let's sprinkle Miss B with some fairy dust too as she takes a nap. Look at those long eye lashes! Her fur is sparkley. You can't see it in the pic, but glitter has found her too.


Did I ever show you the charms I have on her collar? She wears a little angel, dotted heart and a charm that says, peek a boo which is her favorite game to play.

And Miss Beazy drinks from a pink princess bowl. Yes, she is my girly girl!

Oh and look at the goodies that Miss Ann (my dear friend from Ann's Finds) gave to me Monday when we met for her Birthday lunch. It's was her special day and she brings me goodies. Well, I gave her lots of presents too. LOL She works in resale and finds the greatest stuff. And a few weeks ago, someone emailed me for a breadbox very shabby and chic. The spoon rack is very vintage and will be perfect for a little cottage scene that I am getting a vision for. The sewing drawer is always a welcome treasure. Can't wait to get these finished. Thank you Ann, I always love what you bring to me!

Okay, I have stalled long enough. Here is the rest of the goodies among the mountain of mess and glitter.












Okay, let's take a break now and have a cup of tea. And if you missed my post for the spice tea recipe, take a look below at that post for the holidays.

Thank you for joining me in the studio today for Thrifty Thursday. I hope you have a great day. With the season very busy, I will be listing new items Friday and this week skipping my normal Friday post, but I will see you here again on Monday for Marvels and Musings. Till then, have a happy and safe weekend.

Smiles, Celestina Marie

~From the Mouth of Babes~

Greetings from the Toile Studio dear friends. I hope you are having a good week. I am very busy in the studio, but did get some time off yesterday to meet my sweet friend Ann from "Ann's Finds" for her birthday lunch. It was a delight to spend time visiting with her and celebrating her special day. Happy Birthday Ann.

So, since I am head over heels in paint and glitter. Oh my the glitter is everywhere!! LOL!! I promise to share and show new hand painted items soon! Till then, I thought I would share with you a recent letter I received, What Does Love Mean? from the mouth of babes.
It is very sweet and worth taking a moment to read. I know we are all so busy and most are not a fan of long posts full of reading, but this may give you a Wednesday smile, so I wanted to pass it along.

What does Love mean?
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?"
The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:



"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.
So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Rebecca- age 8


"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy - age 4


"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl - age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy - age 6


"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.
My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"
Emily - age 8


"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"
Nikka - age 6
(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
Noelle - age 7



"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6


"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.
He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
Cindy - age 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody
You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
Clare - age 6

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine-age 5


"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris - age 7

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day"
Mary Ann - age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren - age 4



"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image)
Karen - age 7

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
Jessica - age 8


And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge...

The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,


"Nothing, I just helped him cry"


When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need.

Aren't these thoughts and words so sweet? I hope you have enjoyed these as much as I did. My brushes are calling so back to the studio I go. Lots of new treasures are on the way to my shoppe. And, many of you have asked for more pink, so more pink is on the way. Shabby roses and chic pink rules, right?

Blessings and Blue Skies be yours always, Celestina Marie