A TOUCH OF FEVER...

"It's Spring Fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but is just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"

-Mark Twain-Hi friends! I promise I have not dropped off the planet I have had a touch of a fever. Yes, Spring Fever has hit and it has hit me hard. I cannot seem to keep myself inside. The only cure for Spring Fever is to take in healthy doses of sunshine, rely on aroma therapy by burying ones nose in sweet scented buttercups, wild violets, jonquils, and dandelions, explore treatments such as nice long strolls in nature taking snapshots of budding growing things, let sound therapy sooth your soul by listening to birdsong, buzzing bumble bees, and wind through trees, read a book in the sunshine. Lastly, to rid oneself of Spring Fever one must pack a picnic and sit beside a stream, a lake, a pond, a puddle, or an ocean and savor this brief and beautiful season! I have been doing all these things.I think I am almost cured. My little creative break is nearing an end and I have a new tutorial in the works to share in the near future. I wish I had something glorious to share here, perhaps, it is my cure you needed to hear. Slow down and savor the season!

Blessings,

Miss Sandy

SPRING IN MY STEP...

"For, lo, the winter is passed, the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come..."

-Song of Solomon 2:11-12-

Today, there was a new spring in my step...

For the winter has indeed passed...

The rains of last week are over and gone, flowers are appearing on the earth...

The singing of the birds is come...

This morning I heard the call to arise and explore the world beyond my door. The first blush of spring is arriving here at the Quill and its sweet song puts a new spring in my step. I felt compelled to gather a few blossoms from the Hawthorne trees...

And who could resist jonquils like these?

What's this among the plants? A wee Butterfly Garden Fairy Cupcake Pick dance!

(To learn more about this and other Artist Class Garden Party offerings, please visit this link - be sure and use the discount code of: quillcottage to save $10.00 off the class fee!)

These first fruits of spring called out for an extra ordinary way to put them on display. Flea market frames...

And chubby little china booted legs...

Dance across the studio walls...

To the tune of Spring Song...

(FREE IMAGE)

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A graceful and grown up sister perches on the old window pane...

While her twin practices her floating butterfly ballet amid sparkle and shine...

These happy accents of spring grace my creative space, bestowing fragrant beauty and blessings.

Praying grace, fragrant beauty, and blessings are yours today!

Blessings,

Miss Sandy

ALICE HAS ARRIVED...

Alice: I'm sorry I interrupted your birthday party. Thank you.

March Hare: Birthday? My dear child, this is NOT a birthday party.
Mad Hatter: Of course not. It's an unbirthday party.

It felt like the very merriest of unbirthday's to me as THE most wonderful and magical tags have arrived at my doorstep from the Alice Tag Book Swap hosted by Karla Nathan of Karla's Cottage. Please do click on the photos to enlarge them to see all the stunning details! I have also listed links to each artist so that you may visit them if you wish.

Karla designed a tag book cover for each set of six tags received in the swap...

I love the little door that opens onto a view of the magical garden in wonderland...The back of the tag is covered in the most luscious flocked wallpaper...Andrea Tarling of Vintage Bella Studio made this precious pink, black, and white beauty...Pretty posies and vintage sheet music cover the back of the tag...

Sissy of Samaras Faeries Pages made this darling "Drink Me" tag with a sweet little crown charm gracing the corner...I adore the back of the tag with the colorful white rabbit against the vintage paper background...How clever is this little bottle shaped tag from Junkgirl Studio...Love that the back of the tag is covered in text from the book...The dreamy gorgeous cream, pink, and blue dream was created by Nina Little of Little Moment Of Peace...The back is covered in a elegant blue and white paper...I "heart" this Alice design by Jessica Rodarte...It gets and "A" from me...How cute is the back...

Last, but certainly not least is this lush creation of vintage flocked wallpaper and silk trim by Danielle Muller of The Vintage Dragonfly...A sweet and subtle back...Karla sent along a sweet little trinket as a memento of the swap, a darling little "Drink Me" bottle. I placed mine on a shelf in my studio...I hope you have enjoyed viewing these lovely creations and meeting the artist as I did photographing them in the out of doors and showing them off to you. I am now looking for a clever way to display them so I can enjoy them.

I hope you are having a very merry unbirthday today too!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

CUPCAKES, TAGS, AND WAX...

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow."
-Proverb-

You might be wondering what cupcakes, tags, and wax have to do with one another and the answer is...nothing, except that this is what I have been up to creativity wise recently.

I have agreed to be a contributing artist in the April session of Artist Class, so, today I will be in studio all day finalizing my project before I begin the tutorial and photography. I'll be demonstrating how to make a Butterfly Garden Fairy Cupcake Pick like the sample below: The theme of this session of Artist Class is a Garden Party, below is a collage of projects put together by Mary (Green Paper), the hostess of the event:If you are interested in signing up for the class, which begins on April 5, the class fee for access to 12 unique projects, each individually designed by 12 artists, is $49.00 BUT if you use my discount code: quillcottage, you get $10.00 off the class fee making the price $39.00. To find out more about the class, artist, and projects, visit the highlighted link that reads: Artist Class above.

I will still be away from the computer most of the week but will respond to comments and emails as I am able. I still have few posts scheduled so posting will take place even if I am not around. I cannot thank you enough for all the moral support over the last few days. It has meant so much to me. I deeply feel the quote at the top of this post, in time and season, all things do get better. Thank you for being there.

I gave you a preview of a trio of tags I was working on in an earlier post. I was experimenting with printing on tissue paper. Not one of my better ideas. I did manage to salvage pieces of the printing but it was very delicate and hard to work with yet kind of forgiving in the application process. I loved how it felt thin like onion skin, which gives me an idea, I wonder if they still make onion skin paper? I'll have to check and see. Anyway, below are the trio of tags in their finished state.

I think I may have already shown you the first one, Bird House:This is my favorite of the three. The image is from an old book cover. I used one of the hand painted nut shell eggs as an embellishment in an acorn cap nest lined with moss.Friendship:This is such a sweet little image taken from an old photo. They were probably sisters, the very best kinds of friends. The mini paper flowers on this piece gave me fits!Show Me The Money:This tag was a tongue in cheek kind of design. The image is of an old check written in 1907 for $100.00. I used the "Benjamin" as a reference to the amount of the check. The dog image was on the corner of the check. I thought the money charm was a fun touch.As for what's on the worktable at the moment, besides my Artist Class project of a Butterfly Garden Fairy Cupcake Pick, are a set of bees waxed collage pieces. I am still playing with backgrounds, embellishments, and framing ideas. I like the springtime feel they have.

I hope wherever you are and whatever you are doing that your heart is singing with the joy of spring."May brooks and trees and singing hills

Join in the chorus too,
And every gentle wind that blows,
Send happiness to you."
-Irish Blessing-

Blessings,
Miss Sandy