The Sunshine Family

Earlier this morning I checked my email for the first time since Friday, and I have 137 messages. My husband would laugh at me and say "that's nothing!" For me, a creator and purveyor of pressed flower things, that's a lot of emails! I think I'd rather write a blog post instead of dealing with those just now.

I spent the weekend at the Prairie Waldorf School's Yuletide Faire in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. I'm thankful that despite the shaky economy I did fairly well, but what an experience.

Do you remember the "granola" like Sunshine Family? My sister had those dolls from the 70's, and while at that Faire it seemed as if I had found myself immersed in their world. From what I understand, Waldorf schools apparently are based on experiential learning, with a focus on nature, crafts, and the natural rhythms and energies of the universe. For a conservative Christian like me, this atmosphere was a bit foreign, but I found it very interesting. Most amazing to me, though, was the children themselves. It seemed as if the entire school body was present through out the Faire; performing, helping, serving, selling, etc. The kids were amazing - calm, polite, inquisitive, respectful, and unusually well behaved. I was definitely impressed with them.

Now, time to get back to those emails...

You frame it Friday

Plum mums. Plum colored mums, spiked foliage, highly textured handmade paper, acid-free white 8 x 10 mat.
Ready to frame.

I think the succinctness of twittering is having an effect on me.

I've been preoccupied with catching up with orders, getting ready for the show I'm in this weekend, and gearing up for Christmas, so I apologize for my spotty blogging lately.

Despite my busyness, I happened to come across a blog recently (isn't it amazing that no matter how busy one is, there is always the urge to surf) that has really stopped me in my tracks. It's called ali's african adventures. Take a peek at it and see what you think.

Graceful Leaves

Due to life in general, this is the picture I had intended for last Friday's "You frame it Friday" picture.

Now, if you think a picture comprised of two skinny leaves is far from intriguing, that's ok. Those feelings are perfectly normal. Feel free to click elsewhere, but please come back on Friday when I post one of my more traditional pressed flower pictures.

For the rest of you, aren't these leaves beautiful? They are from the understory from the north woods of Wisconsin, picked the very afternoon before the season ending hard frost. Each leaf was growing directly out of the ground underneath the tall pines, and the leaves reminded me of single Solomon's Seal leaves. Up close I can see the pretty delicate veining in the leaves. The graceful stems are a reddish brown. I wish I know exactly what they were.

These graceful leaves have been mounted on my handmade paper, and sealed with UV resistant polymers. They are matted in a white acid-free mat, and are ready to be framed on an 8 x 10" frame.

Come and see me!

I'll be at the Prairie Waldorf School's Yuletide Faire in Pewaukee, Wisconsin next week!

I'll be bringing my framed and un-framed art, pressed flower cards, autumn leaf cards, my botanical journals, and, hopefully, my paper making kits. Lot's of "green" gifts for the shoppers who attend.

I am kind of a "wimp" when it comes to shows, and have never done a two day show before. Friendly visits will be much appreciated!

Friday, November 21, 2008

2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Prairie Hill Waldorf School
N14 W29143 Silvernail Rd.
Pewaukee, WI

For more information, please visit www.prairiehillwaldorf.org

You frame it Friday

This week's unframed pressed flower art features kind of an abstract picture of wildflowers and grass.

Despite a few moderate frosts here in southern Wisconsin, these wildflowers I pressed earlier this week continue to brighten up their corner of the world.

It's somewhat hard to see in this picture, but the flowers are mounted on a 5 x 7" piece of my textured handmade paper, which in turn is mounted on a piece of highest quality Gilbert Oxford card stock.

This pressed flower picture could be framed in either an 8 x 10, or 11 x 14" frame. In an 8 x 10 frame, the mat would neatly cover the edges of the handmade paper, and the 11 x 14" frame would allow the interesting deckled edge of the handmade paper to show, for a more organic look.

I will happily include an acid free white mat for either size frame (8x10", or 11x14") upon request. Just state your mat size preference in the "comments" section when ordering, or email me.

From far away...

Here's a shout out to blogging friend Tim Challies, who is blogging with his son this week from the Dominican Republic, by invitation from Compassion International.

They will be experiencing how the children of that area live, and what Compassion International is doing in an effort to make an impact in their difficult lives. Tim's son Nick, is also blogging about the trip, from an 8 year old's perspective.

This should prove to be an interesting read, and I imagine their insights will help us get into a thanks giving frame of mind, when we consider how blessed we are in our country.