Birds of a Feather Blog Party and Victorian Valentine Winners.....

"Birds of a feather, flock together."

People ("birds") who are similar to each other ("of a feather") often spend time ("flock") with each other ("together").

(click on any photo to enlarge for better viewing)

Valentine's Day is most commonly celebrated as a holiday to express love and appreciation, most often in a romantic relationship. Today, I want to celebrate Valentine's Day in the relationship of friendship. I am blessed to have two very close friends, going on a twenty year friendship, who have stood beside me though thick and thin. I am doubly blessed to have "met" so many new friends in the blog community. I do consider my friends to be "birds of a feather", sharing similar tastes and spending time with one another.I joined with a group of artist through Soul Journal in participating in a Valentine Blog Party. The theme of the party is "Birds of a Feather". The idea is make an art journal page playing with the theme. I took one of the suggestions to pay homage to friendship. I created a two page spread in a small art journal I just began. I used images, words, and phrases that are symbolic of my friendship with my two oldest and dearest friends, Pam and Sharon. I think this definition pretty well sums up what true friendship is: Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more people. In a sense the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge , esteem, affection, and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crises. Friend's will welcome each others company and exhibit loyalty towards each other. Their tastes will usually be similar and may converge, and they will share enjoyable activities. They will also engage in mutually helping behavior, such as exchange of advice and the sharing of hardship.
A friend is someone who may often demonstrate reciprocating and reflective behaviors. Yet for many, friendship is nothing more than the trust that someone or something will not harm them. Friends have the tendency to desire what is best for the other as well as provide sympathy and empathy. Friends are honest, even in situations where it may be difficult to for others to speak the truth. Friends have a mutual understanding.I chose a nature theme for my collage journal pages. The base paper for this friendship collage is really special, it is ledger paper that my friend, Pam, used in her accounting class in college and it has her handwriting on it.

"A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails"

~Donna Roberts~"A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg even if you are half cracked."

~Author Unknown~"The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship."

~William Blake~

"Friendship is a sheltering tree."

~Samuel Taylor Coleridge~"A True friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart."
~Author Unknown~"If you're alone, I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want to hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile. But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me."

~Author Unknown~

As a special Valentine gift to you, dear blog friends, I made up a sheet of vintage bird images for you to use in your art. These are from various sources in my personal collection. Notice that each one is different, unique in shape, size, and color but they flock together so beautifully on the page. These birds represent the blog community of friends I have made, each one unique in skill, talent, and ability with blogs that differ in content but that sing so harmoniously the song of friendship, community, and connection.
Now, on to the winners of Victorian Valentine Give Away! If you missed the tutorials for these, you can visit here to learn how to make your own. And the winners are.....

#3 ~ Lady Farmer

#8 ~Tiny Bear

#11 ~ Vee

#15 ~ Laura

#24 ~ Becca

#30 ~ Dawn

Congratulations Ladies! Please email me your mailing information so I can get your packages on their way. There is a bit of a surprise involved as I will not tell you which one you won, you will have to wait until they arrive!

Happy Valentine's Day,

Miss Sandy