The Blackberry Briar

Let It Snow ~ Let it Snow ~ Let it Snow

The season is here!   Cold, snowy days filled with wet cloths and runny noses!!!   My little angels sure are having fun!   Today it is WAY to cold to even go out and play in the snow though.   1 degree without the Wind Chill!    Brrrrrrrr......   Hope you are inside somewhere warm and cozy!

Tis the Season to be Thankful

Tis the Season.   The Season of Happiness and Giving.  The Season of Magic when we live through the Eyes of our Children.   There are so many Good things in life to stay focused on.   I am trying my hardest this year to focus on being appreciative for each and every little thing.   My Sweet Husband who is my soul mate that I couldn't imagine life without.  My two precious Angels that make me laugh and cry and sometimes even yell!  :0)   My two doggies and my White Kitty Jack Frost.   I am so thankful for my Home which provides shelter and heat in this winter season.   I am thankful for my loving parents and my sister and brothers and for all my wonderful friends.  I am thankful for each and every one of you that chooses to read about me, my life, my art and my candles.  

All to often we get caught up in the "rush" of the Christmas season.   The hunt for that one gift.   Standing in line at 4 in the morning and getting aggravated that we might not get that item we so desperately want to give as gift.  Baking, Cooking and Preparing......  We become stressed out and overwhelmed with all that needs to be done to insure a "perfect" holiday.   What is your idea of a perfect holiday?  In the end what truly matters in life?   So often I hear complaints about having to go visit family because of a dispute that is lurking.  So many of us can be affected during this time of year by all of this.    

Really....truly though it is all a matter of choice.   We can choose happiness and magic over Drama and Stress.   I am not saying that it is always easy.  I would even be lying if I told you that it was easy for me....... but if we can just focus for a moment on our childhood memories or other happy memories in our life.   If we can focus on a spark of hope and Good right now....maybe we can achieve a moment of happiness that might turn into a season of happiness.  What is it that you remember about the holidays?

For me it is a bunch of memories.   Singing my heart out at church on Christmas Eve.  Spaghetti dinner that my Mom made year after year that is still carried on as a tradition in my family.   Making Cookies with my Auntie Theresa and my sister.   The most adorable little tin candle that had a chimney print on the outside with a candle inside.  The smell of this candle is imprinted on my brain and recreated in my Wish Upon A Star Scent.  The years when we were little and came home from church on Christmas Eve to Appliance sized boxes full of toys that "Santa" left for us.  (Thanks Uncle Tom and Uncle Al)  I remember Auntie Theresa's Jello Molds and Gram's cookies and Angel Food Cake.   I remember plugging in the Christmas tree lights and feeling all fuzzy warm inside.   I remember all of these things so much MORE than remember any material item.   It is the warmth of Family and Friends that make happy memories and happy hearts.   

I Wish you all a Magical and Happy Holiday Season.  May you find Peace and Joy in your Hearts.  

Crazy Month

Wow! What a crazy month I have had. I have done 4 of my 6 shows! 2 more to go. One tomorrow and another on Monday!
I apologize for my absence and hope to be back to normal after next week!! Lot of exciting news to share. I have listed 3 new places to purchase my candles up top. Here is a quick picture of my last show. Thanks so much to everyone that has come out to support my art and candles! I will be announcing a giveaway soon to!!

Happy November!

I can't believe that it is November already!   Hop on over to TDIPT for our Christmas Open House!    There are so many wonderful offerings this month.   We also have a Giveaway on the Blog

Here is a photo of the grouping that I have to offer.   A couple Santas and 7 NEW Christmas Candle Scents!!  Here are the scents and descriptions:

Old World Santa
Spicy Cinnamon, Rich Butter and a hint of Apple. My FAVORITE scent!

Believe
A Rich Buttery Vanilla Cake Mix. STRONG!

Silent Night
A Soft Bayberry mixed with Spice that is swirled with a hint of Peppermint! WONDERFUL and Nostalgic!

Boughs of Holly
Wonderful Mix of Bayberry, Pine Cinnamon and Clove. Shouts Merry Christmas!

Winter Wonderland
A brisk fresh air Evergreen scent mixed with berries that screams Winter!

Sugar Plum Fairies
Sugar Plum Berries and Cinnamon Sticks! Very Strong!

Wish Upon a Star

Clove with a hint of Spicy Cinnamon. (Strong on the Clove)                               

You can order directly through my WEBSITE  or from the My TDIPT Page.

Brand NEW Website!!

I am SO excited to announce that I have my very own Candle Website!   This has been a very long time in the waiting, but I am so excited to announce that it is finally here!!!  I want to give a BIG shout out to Wendy and Kelly at Trittenhaus Design    I couldn't have imagined a more BEAUTIFUL site!!  Thank You both!

I have some great scents listed with descriptions that are sure to please any nose!  The scent menu is broken down into categories:

Spice Chest

Clean & Fresh

Bake Sale

Holiday Favorites

I invite you to visit today and have a look around.   Kick back and relax with a cup of Coffee or Warm Tea.  There is also a Gallery Page to View my past Doll Creations. 

As always, thanks so much for taking the time to view my Art and Candle Creations.   I will be announcing a Giveaway really soon.   Oh and those adorable little sprays in the picture above.....those are NEW!!  Purse Size!!!  Perfect for traveling anywhere!

New Dollies

It has been some time now since I have had the time to create.  I have two new dolls available.

Ms. Owl Girl is half Girl and half Owl.  She is for Sale on Early Works Mercantile 

Lumina Pumpkion is a Pumpkin with a bit of a Cross Breed.  She was planted a bit to close to the Onions.   :0)   She is available for Sale on the TDIPT Mercantile

I am also working on another Moon Man Doll and hope to have him up for Sale by the end of this week.  He just needs to be put together. 

Thanks for taking the time to view my dolls. 

Don't forget about a Candle.  Fall is the perfect time to burn my Newest Scent!  Pumpkin Spice Latte!

The Seasons of Change

Fall is upon us now.   For me here in the Midwest, it almost feels like a bit of the summer we didn't have.  The days are warm with the exception of cool nights.   The leaves are just starting to change in some spots and I am hoping for that crisp fall air to roll in soon.

Change is unavoidable.  I am learning this more and more as I get older.   Sometimes change is Wonderful and then Other times we need to work to see the good in it.     As I am getting older I am becoming scared of change.   My children are growing and both in school now which is very very hard for me accept.   Nothing can be the same as it was, we have entered a new chapter.   As the Chapters of life progress, it seems that life gets more complicated.  More intense at times.  Whether the intensity is happiness or sadness depends on the day.

I have been working in my studio for the past weeks.  Mostly on Candles, but here and there on some art.  I am really feeling the need to create.  To release something from deep inside.  My Fears and My Dreams.  They are all wrapped up together.  Bottled up and ready to be released.   I am sitting quietly trying to listen to what my soul is telling me.   What are the angels trying to say?   Which direction should I move in?  So many choices, so many colors to choose from.   Life is so full of color, if we choose to let it in.

Here is a recent painting that I finished the other day.  I am working on a few new dolls and hope that they will be finished up in about a week.  

How about you......What does Change mean to you?  How do you feel about it?  

Stepping out of Our Comfort Zones

I apologize for my absence here in blogland.    Life has been very different these last few weeks.   My children are both off to school which leaves me time for creativity and work.....  I thought I would have a ton of spare time and that has proven to be a wrong thought.   :0)   Someone so kindly put it in these words..."You are running 8 years worth of errands".   So I have taken each FULL day as it comes and I am grateful.    I hope to get some time to create soon.  I have tons of un-finished projects and so many future projects swirling in my brain.



We all are forced to step out of our comfort zones every once in a while.  I feel that it is needed to grow.  Whether that growth is spiritual, creative or in wisdom.   I am sharing with you a picture of my Studio in Progress.   This is the best version of "Organized and Clean" as I can get it....  Oh Yes...It gets way messier than that!

Wishing you all a Beautiful Labor Day Weekend!

Change

Well, I am back from a WONDERFUL Vacation on Cape Cod, MA.!!!   My husband grew up there and we are lucky enough to be able to visit his family every year.  It is such a beautiful and relaxing place.  I would highly recommend taking your family there if you haven't already.  The picture above is one of the many wonderful Dinners that we ate.  My Mother and Father in Law really outdid themselves in spoiling us!   Thanks Mom and Dad S!   We miss you guys already!



Here we are on one of the many BEAUTIFUL beaches.  It was Low Tide so we are standing in a little pond where normally water would be to deep to stand.  That fascinates me.    We hunted for crabs, shells and of course the ever desired Sea Glass!!    We didn't find any Sea Glass on this beach, but we did get some beautiful Rocks!



Now that summer is approaching a FAST END.  I am facing new changes.   Both of my beautiful children will be attending school full time this year.   It makes me really sad to know that they are growing up.  It seems like time goes by faster and faster each year.   I now need to face the reality that someday they will be all grown up and gone.    Change is inevitable and not always bad.   It just seems harder to deal with as the years of my life go by.   I have truly learned that the most important things in life are not Things. 

On another note......

I have been working on my beautiful Garden all summer and will have some pictures to post soon.   I am so excited with the results of the seeds that I planted this year!   Also, I hope to have a few more dolls finished up soon.  I am going to have lots more time to work on those.



Also, it is that time of year again to cozy up with a Fall Candle!   I am working like mad to get stocked up.  I already can't keep Pumpkin Cheesecake in stock!   Please order one today.  There are so many scents to choose from:  Caramel Apple, Teachers Pet, Cider Mill, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Spiced Pumpkin, Apple Clove and so many others!   My newest scent is a wonderfully Spicy Cinnamon Clove Blend and it will be called Wish Upon a Star!!  It is AWESOME!!!!

2 New Birdie Dolls and Vacation!!!

I invite you all to join me in Celebrating Halloween at the TDIPT Mercantile!    Tonight there will be Pumpkins, Witches, Goblins and of course OWLS!!!  Well at least one anyhow.   Here is my offering for the Halloween Bash.    Introducing Ms. Owl........

Now, I also am Offering another Birdie Doll on EarlyWorks Mercantile.   Ms Sparrow is making her debut.  Poor thing was all ready to live here, but her nest blew away in a storm the other night.  

See, here she is practicing to fly away to her new home. 

She had to take a break for a moment.  Her wings were getting tired.

Hope you enjoyed viewing my newest creations.  Each One is made from Cloth and Paperclay.  Has Wire Beaded Legs and is made to sit or hang.   They are about 7-8 inches tall.   Each Bird is $45.00 including Shipping.  Thank You for taking the time to look.

I wanted to let you know that I will be on vacation as well.  I promise to give you an update when I get back!!  Looking forward to Fun and Relaxation!  See you when I return!