Keeping It Simply Natural

Hello Friends!

It's that time of year again when we are all super busy with preparations leading up to Christmas when time seems to fly rapidly, while we try to keep up with an endless TO DO list.  If you are that busy then it is time to slow down and enjoy the season!  Take time out of your busy schedule to enjoy a cuppa something warm, take a breath and enjoy the moment.  I don't know about you but I have to remind myself to sloooooow down!

As December approaches I get super busy with craft projects, decorating and gift making.  I like traditional decorating but try to switch up the traditional each year with a few newer ideas.  This year I'm keeping it simple with natural elements.


Cinnamon scented pine cones in a wooden bowl on a quilt brightens up the coffee table. 

 Last year I made a few cone trees decorated with pages from a dictionary and added paper snowflakes punched from recycled Christmas cards. This year they join the angel next to a vintage basket stuffed with pine boughs.

And a few more cone trees decorate an entry table....they are favorites of Sunshine & Lollipop. They love the bright green and silver tinsel trees decorated with red buttons and wooden stars.

JOY!  My newest chalkboard design holds court over a painted Santa sign and mini Christmas tree decorated with nuts and berries.  The silver and gold basket holds a silver pear. 

A new hand-made faux boxwood wreath hangs over the wooden nativity near my chair. 

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Another natural element: silver and bronze tin pail holds more greenery and a little red star.

Our beautiful porcelain nativity with vintage trumpet candle holders announce the birth of Jesus.  That's a wooden chopping board painted with chalkboard paint to herald the blessed event.

What creative ideas have you come up with to decorate your home?  I don't know about you but I have a zillion ideas but only a few make it to the final cut each year.  That's the great thing about decorating, there's always lots of ideas and they can wait until next year.

  I do have a few more decorating projects to show you, so please come back soon!  

BEE CREATIVE!  

Suzy

OVER THE BRIDGE AT ARTPRIZE

Hi Everyone!

Welcome back to the ARTPRIZE adventure!

Last week we were in downtown Grand Rapids, MI at ARTPRIZE, a month long international art competition displayed in venues within the city.

Today we are crossing the bridge to see what's on the other side.

Temperature was in the high 50's to lower 60 degrees, it was overcast with the threat of rain and the wind was blowing pretty hard as we crossed over the river, you can see the artful display of flags in the river were flapping  in the wind.

Crossing over and walking under the bridge to get to the Gerald R. Ford 

Presidential Museum, we saw Earth Giant by Benjamin Gazsi. Made from found natural materials within a grapevine and wire armature. He was massive in size, as was the crowd that wanted to view him!  It was tough to get a good angle on him with the crowds.  Won 6th place.

UP Lifting by Andy Sacksteder: A stunningly beautiful bronze sculpture water feature of Native Americans.  3rd prize winner! 

Dancing with Mother Nature by Paul Baliker a fourteen foot sculpture from cedar wood. Won 4th Place. 

Sleeping Bear Dune Lakeshore by Ann Loveless.  A four panel landscape art quilt using a collage of fabrics and machine applique.  Grand Prize Winner!!!

If you would like to see a complete listing and photos of the ART PRIZE winners work, please click HERE. 

Being a quilter myself I was delighted to see the landscape win the Grand Prize!  Was it my favorite?  Stay tuned for that answer......

Please join me again next Thursday and we travel back to town and visit the GRAM (Grand Rapids Art Museum) for more ART PRIZE and I'll reveal my favorite work of art.