WOYWW 236: the one where she shows her completed Christmas cards

Julia at Stamping Ground is once again hosting WOYWW, the best Wednesday blog hop on the planet.  Click on her name to visit and see links to many, many other Deskers.

Today, however, I'm not at my desk, but in my kitchen so I can spread these cards out.  I used six stamps I showed last week and, after cutting or tearing the images apart, sewed them onto a background.  I mounted each mat onto some green card stock.  I tried to make them all a bit different, but each had a Santa.  I made a total of 12, six of which I sent to "Holiday for Heroes," a sight that collected cards to be given to service personnel.  It is sponsored by the Red Cross, so I knew it was legitimate.

See that black pigment ink pad on the left?  It's no secret I normally only use Staz-on black, but our dear, thoughtful Julia sent this to me, thinking it might help my stamping abilities.  I admit, the ink made the stamping much clearer, but I didn't always get good coverage, because I'm so used to a larger stamp pad.  However, I can see where this ink would be far better for stamping than what I've used in the past.

Here is the front of my tip-ins, too.  Cara asked me what a tip-in is, so I tried to show what they should look like.  I only made six, and need to make four more.  Hopefully, I'll get that done in time to mail them before it's too late.  The backs are also decorated, but I forgot to show the back before these six went in the mail today.

I know some of you will feel cheated, but the only rocking horse today is the one I've stamped.

I'm not normally this talkative, but wanted to get everything in that needed to be said.

Please remember, if you came from Julia's, please, please leave your number.  It worked out really, really well last week!

T Stands for Tuesday Tree Mugs

If you were here yesterday, you saw I used the clear glass items as part of my mandala.  Today, this tree collection now acts as an extension of my coffee bar.  The cups/mugs and glass, all with trees, are ready whenever visitors stop by.

And even though the temperatures are frigid, I've chosen to drink eggnog, something I love, but only get at this time of year.

Since I've become addicted to showing close-up images, I thought this would show the creamy goodness and flakes of nutmeg floating in my mug.

And if you want to see the mug up close, here it is.  

Share your drink, weather, art, down time, up time, whatever.  If you link below, Bleubeard and I will be by for a visit.  And stay awhile if you like eggnog.  I can just hear Julia (of WOYWW fame) saying how much she LOVES eggnog (NOT!!!!).

Mandala Monday prepares for T Stands 4 Tuesday

Today I'm joining Dawn at Girl Unwinding for Mandala Monday.

I agree that this is a bit wimpy, and I might have found more things to add to this mandala, but it's cold in my house, and I simply didn't have the energy and ambition to add to these tree mugs and plate.  Sometimes simple is (hopefully) good enough.  After all, there is a center and points radiating away from that center.  And that defines a mandala.

Now for a few close-up photos.

These two will be used whenever a couple visits
I can't decide if this one reminds me of the silly images I used to make with the help of my old dot matrix printer from the late 80s, or if it reminds me of country style decorations.  I'll let you decide.

This glass used to be a candle holder, but since it was immune to heat, it could be used for hot items in a pinch.  I like its elegance.

Don't forget to join Dawn for Mandala Monday.  I know she won't disappoint.

I'm also showing this on Creative Every Day (CED).

Continuing my trip to the Butler County Museum

As I promised in yesterday's post, we are back at the Butler County Historical Society Museum.

We've now left the gift shop behind and passed through a door to a room that greets you with overwhelming stuffed animals in a semi-natural setting.

You can barely see the door we passed through that is directly behind my friend Sally, who I managed to cut off.  Of course, I was really interested in the pelts they showed.

I was rather saddened that animals had to die in order to be in this exhibit, but I suppose that's the nature of the beast.

More wildlife was featured, this time in photos and descriptions.

Next came the flora native to Kansas.

An overview of the wall as we work our way to the corner.

Next came rock and pottery shards, along with native arrowheads.  This all led to

this sign that showed how the Tallgrass Prairie was eventually replaced with new technology.

When I took this photo, I wasn't sure anyone would be able to read it, since I was so used to my old camera.  I was thrilled when I could read ever word.  Feel free to enlarge these photos.

I have about a thousand more photos (OK, that's a slight exaggeration), but I will save them for another day.  At this rate, I'll show them all by 2016!

A trip down memory lane

In case you missed this museum my friend Sally and I visited on Smithsonian Day (September 29), you can check out the previous post here.  As promised, I'm back to show more of the photos.  Since I'm busy blog hopping and coming off a month of posting, I need a breather, and these few days when I'm able to show photos I've had in my camera forever, will help.

I thought I'd start with this wall of people and photos, since this was the next area we visited.

Feel free to click to enlarge.

Although it was obvious to me that I wanted photos of the oil fields, I got lots of pictures of people, too.

My friend Sally was quite engrossed, too.

She pointed out Leon Smitherman, whose name I recognized because he's on one of the local TV stations.  I think he is a weatherman.  It's obvious I must not watch whatever station he's on!  Just this morning I learned he's on an early morning show, and yes, he's a weatherman.

I wish I knew what that contraption is that was mounted to the front of that tractor.

I had NO idea there were so many oil rigs on farms around El Dorado back in its heyday.  I also thought the guy in the lower left looked a bit like my recollection of photos I've seen of Humphrey Bogart.

I fell in love with this photo of old cars and gas pumps, even though it was hard to see because of the recessed box it was in.

Sally knew the artist who painted these focal images on the wall.

She owns two small art pieces by the artist, who I thought she told me died recently.  She said one of her pieces is even smaller than this tribute piece.

On our way to the next area, I stopped by the gift shop.  As promised, I will show you what I purchased at the end of our museum visit.

Our next area will include mostly the history of the land we call Kansas!  I'll be back with that tomorrow.

Friday Smiles #47: O Tannenbaum

It's been three weeks since I joined Annie at A Stitch in Time for Friday Smiles.  I know several people have asked me to show my Christmas trees, but today,


I'm giving you just a tiny peek in my "bird sanctuary" (also known as the powder room, the loo, or the throne room).  I hope this tree and possibly this room, makes you smile. 

Originally, all I had planned was to show the overall shot. Then I thought I would give you a closer look at the tree.  That's when I remembered

there were other trees that live permanently in the "bird sanctuary."  It's amazing how we get so used desensitized to something that lives in the same spot day after day, year after year.

This tree holds a candle, while

this one is an incense burner.  As an aside, I just realized this incense burner was a tree I had failed to put away last year after Christmas.  So all those waiting for trees, you've had a small peek in the "bird sanctuary," which hopefully puts a smile on your face.

Don't forget to start your weekend with a smile.  Drop by Annie's for links to other Friday Smiles, too.  They'll appreciate it as much as I.

WOYWW 235: the one where she starts thinking about Christmas

I'm once again joining a bevy of other Deskers showing off their messes, projects, or maybe even new toys or techniques.   All this is under the watchful guidance of our beloved Julia at Stamping Ground. Just click on her name and you'll be magically taken to her site.
After spending an entire month linking to "Art Every Day Month" (AEDM), I was ready to get serious about Christmas.  I even got out a Christmas rocking horse.
On my very dirty looking grungy work table are some papers I've just colored and allowed to dry.  I've picked them up and they'll be ready to turn into cards and tip-ins shortly.
I realize the reason some of you dropped by was to see the latest rocking horse, so here's another one, this time in a frame.
Now it's time to get to work, or Christmas is going to pass me by.

If you're playing in WOYWW with Julia, please leave your number.  I fear I'll never reciprocate if I have to spend time looking for you.

T Stands 4 Tree Tuesday

This might also be called late T, because that's how I feel.  Early this morning, before the sun came up, I was still working on getting my Christmas decorations in order.  In the past, I've always decorated my house the Friday after Thanksgiving, even if I had company.  That started when I was in undergrad school, when I had a four day weekend and holiday from work.  Friday was always for decorating the house, and the rest of the weekend was for polishing off any term papers or reports that had to be turned in later.  But this year, Thanksgiving came late, and apparently, so did my motivation.
 Yesterday I said good-bye to my weekend guests and headed for the basement, where I drug nine large boxes of decorations and 11 small trees up 14 steps, then a landing, then three more steps.  Each box was large and none had handles, so I was one tired puppy when I was finished.  I decided it was time to scale back on my tree collection, so that's what I'll do this year.
 And of course, that's why I need a good, strong cup of freshly ground French Roast coffee with just a hint a decent amount of half and half.
Some of you may remember I purchased this tree last year on clearance at the thrift store for less than $1.00 (USD).  I have no idea why, because after digging it out this year and adding a tea light, I think it looks tacky. Really, really tacky.   I had a hard time getting the candle to show in a photo, although it looked far better when the overhead light was out, as it was in the second photo above.  BTW, I decorate my entire house with only trees and tree related decorations (and rocking horses, of course).

Do you buy Christmas decorations that don't really fit your style?  Or am I the only one who rushes to buy anything with a tree (or rocking horse) on it?   Or do you even celebrate Christmas? 

Whether that's the case or not, whether you have started (or even finished) with your holiday decorations, share your T(ea) inspired stories today.  You don't have to drink tea, you don't have to drink anything.  You can always show art related to a mug, cup, tea bag, or anything else that is reminiscent of whatever you're drinking today.  And you don't have to take your photos today, either.  But in order to play, you must link your relevant post below.