Wild Tiles by Chrissie Grace

Greetings friends,

It's a beautiful day and the sun is shining. There's even a warm breeze out to caress the skin. I can almost believe Spring has finally set in.

I spent a couple hours at Hasting's yesterday. I love book stores. This one has an attached coffee shop that serves up the best lemon poppy seed muffins. Mmmm, yummy! I love looking for bargains and of course my favorite magazines too. Yesterday I found a real bargain indeed. I spotted the book "Wild Tiles" by Chrissie Grace. The suggested retail price on the back cover is $22.99 and I got the book for $5.99. Now that was a bargain. I've covered vases with glass beads before and enjoyed the process. Just flipping through the book I am thinking many of the projects could be done with paper, glue and paint. I plan to try this first. I love Chrissie's creations and am a follower of her blog. Go check it out here. She is also on etsy and has a wonderful collection of items available in her mixedmediamama shop.

I hope you all enjoy this blessed Sunday and have a beautiful week ahead.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

Goodwill Hunting

Hello Friends,
I spent part of my afternoon at our local Goodwill Store. It seemed like they had so many new things in since last I was there. I lost myself for hours.

Literally.....Hubby said he was beginning to get worried. Poor dear...

I wanted to share will you all the wonderful finds I found today. Above is a tray that will be decoupaged and a bottle of felt glue. Also a rather large artists canvas. It is 16 X 20. I had to grab it as I wondered how it would look covered in pastel-over (paint-over) roses. Hmmm!!

(Note to Peggy: I've painted more tulips.)

I'm afraid I don't have pics of the wonderful plastic little girls clock that looks like a shirt and has a certain word above the 12:00. My granddaughters name!.....I just had to buy it. And the pretty half moon plaque that was just perfect for over my granddaughters bedroom door although her mommy seemed to think it would be pretty on the living room wall.

Ahhh but the books, I do have pics of the wonderful books I found today.

I grabbed all 5 of these wonderful little paper back books and they are in great condition.

Then I spotted this hard cover book and flipped through a few pages. I fell in love with this book on the spot. I will share some of the Christian Nursery Rhymes tomorrow and each Sunday during June (I'll try not to forget). This book is in excellent condition and the copyright is 1977 with First Illustrated Edition 1978 on the inside. I think it will be altight to share here with you. The author is Marjorie Ainsborough Decker. It is inscribed "to J.J. Smith with Love from Grandma and Grandpa 1979". He (or she) took very good care of it. I will too as I share the rhymes with the little ones in my life.


Then I spotted these two little books. Isn't the praying hands book cute?! My nieces name is Angel so she will get the Angels book one day. And the other one was just too cute to pass up.

(See that dark spot on the left of each pic. Do you think maybe I should clean my camera lens? LOL!!)

Then I saved the one below from the trash bin. It is in awful condition but I thought the covers and pages would be great for artwork.
And even though it is falling apart the pages themselves aren't really all that bad. See that little leaf there....I found several leaves pressed in the pages. There are even some Winnie the pooh coloring pages tucked in the very back. Someone loved this book...
Just as I was telling myself "no more books" I spotted these two little gems.

I can't wait to read the Teddy Bear Philosophy. The introduction is a real hook. Quote: "Therapists are expensive, husbands and wives may stray. Family can make you crazy, and friends can move away. But no matter where you go, no matter what you do, Your Teddy Bear will always be there, Loving and caring for you."

Aww!! Now how sweet is that!! See, you do understand why I HAD to buy it...

This paperback will be a lot of crafty fun I think.... I love weddings and so does my youngest daughter. My son-in-law is a preacher and he has joined many hands together in matrimony. My daughter is often the photographer or decorator and she helps with writing the ceremony. Once I've read this book I'll pass it on to her. She doesn't think so but she really is a pretty crafty little lady. She has designed a wedding cake for a Halloween Wedding (skeleton bride and groom) and puts on a grand party at any budget. It's the big day and even when budgets are tight a wedding day should be one to remember and the bride should feel very special. Yep, that is their philosophy...

So there you have it, my wonderful Thrift Store finds for the day from The Goodwill Store. I bought some clothes too but hey I thought you'd enjoy seeing my books instead. It's hot out and I found some cute skirts and a couple tops.

So when were you last at your local Thrift Store?

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be You,

Tess

The Oxford Book of American Verse

Greetings friends,

I thought it was about time I get to creating another post. I wasn't sure what to post about and while looking for something else in my basement I came across this:

I have no idea where I got it. Maybe a find at the Goodwill Store or a yard sale. Maybe a left-over from my mother-in-law. She loved poetry too. All I know is finding this little book has been a joy. The first page reads:

The Oxford Book of American Verse

"Chosen and with Introduction by F.O. Matthiessen"

New York

Oxford University Press

The Copyright is 1950 and this book is a third printing dated 1952.

The Table of Contents contains a list of 50 poets including the likes of Conrad Aiken, John Peale Bishop, E.E. Cummings, Emily Dickinson, T.S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Edgar Allen Poe, Carl Sandburgh and many I admit never having heard of. Of course I skipped straight to Emily Dickinson, one of my favorite poets.

'I felt a cleavage in my mind'
I felt a cleavage in my mind
As if my brain had split,
I tried to match it, seam by seam,
But could not make them fit.

The thought behind I strove to join
Unto the thought before,
But sequence ravelled out of reach
Like balls upon a floor.

I have felt exactly the same way before and I'm sure my Bobbie has. Oh and I must share this that Emily penned as I found it rather humorous.

'Faith is a fine invention'
Faith is a fine invention
For gentlemen who see,
But microscopes are prudent
In an emergency!

'Tis true, 'tis true; ah but faith and a good prayer do help too.

So since we are on the subject of poetry how about this. Leave a comment and tell me who your favorite poet is. I'll see if I can find a passage for you from my book.

Oh and don't forget to enter my giveaway, then you'll be reading some of my poetry too. Not nearly as good as the poets in my book but I hope you won't be too disappointed. My giveaway deadline is August 31st. Please comment for the giveaway on that post and tell me who your favorite poet is on this post. Fun! Fun!

Many Blessings,

Tess

Poets Reading Update

Greetings this fine Veterans Day. If you missed my poetry reading today you can still hear me and other wonderful poets and authors read by logging onto http://www.internetvoicesradio.com/ Enter the site and look to the left and click on What's Happening. On the next page scroll down until you find the list of topics. You are looking for:
November 11 30 Minute Poetry with Dianne Tegarten
The entire show is there for anyone to listen to at anytime. I have to say this was a wonderful experience. I felt out of place and humbled by the quality of some of the other poets and yet when it was my turn to read it just flowed. You must listen to Christian read his poetry. He writes poetry in the written word style and it is meant to be heard with jazz in the background. Even without the music I felt the jazz. He is a wonderful poet and speaker. I was amazed at how easy this was and if you write poetry and have never read it out loud to yourself or another, please do. What you hear in your head and how it sounds when you read it may be the same and it may not be. I had to read my selections out loud several times to really get the tone I was hoping for. I was so nervous but listening back to it I don't think I came across that way. I am so grateful to Diane for giving me this opportunity. I hope you will find some time to make a cup of tea and tune in and listen to this wonderful broadcast.
Blessings to you all,
Tess