* A little journaling and some Chrissie Cards ...

Double spread in my journal today.  Linking to The Butterfly Effect.

 

Also a couple of Christmas cards completed.

 

Thanks for dropping by my Pretty's.  

Nightingales are put in cages because their songs give pleasure. Whoever heard of keeping a crow?  Rumi

* Oh Katie ...

Goodies just keep coming!  Katie, over at THE RED TIN and I have been friends for awhile.  We met through a snail mail/mail art group and then connected through our blogs. 

Last week goodies arrived!  I think Katie picked up on the fact I was finding it difficult to obtain good card stock.  Among other things, I now have absolutely top quality card stock.

Feast your eyes on this good mail day!

 

Thank you, darling Katie.  I love every piece and can assure you I will have tons of fun!

 

“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.” – C.G. Jung

* Does she look any different?

I personally can't see it, although I spent a lot of time with her today.  Thought I would post anyway.  There is so much gold metallic paint, it's difficult to get a photo without doing weird things to the light.

 “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
― Rumi

* Expect Miracles ...

These are the only two words she has uttered since I began blocking her in.  "Expect Miracles".  I am assuming that is her name or the name of the painting.  This is a very very rough draft.  Many changes to come I'm sure.

 

The nights are getting cooler here in San Miguel.  December is the coldest month of the year.  Frost is possible.  There are doves who have adopted the large tree in the jardin.  In the evening when it begins to cool, they come and sit on the tiles of the back terrace, which are still lovely and warm from the afternoon sun.  There, they snuggle and chat until the evening cools the terrace.  It's lovely to watch.  Usually there are four of friends.  Tonight there are only three, so I'm a little concerned.  I managed a few photographs.  I hope you enjoy them.

Thanks for popping in.  Sorry I wasn't home when you got here!  Take care and have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  xx Donna

French Proverb
Gratitude is the heart's memory.

* And the WINNER is .....

YVONNE of Artic Blonde Creations, you are the winner.  A fellow Canadian to boot.  Congratulations Yvonne.  Send me your addy please and I will get this off to you.

I was just over to visit your blog and I see you have done a "Frida" piece.  We must have been on the same wavelength.  :o)

Thanks to everyone who joined in the fun.  Welcome to those of you who are relative newby's.   Don't be shy.  I love your comments, and would adore getting to know you a little better.

Thanks for stopping by my Pretty's.  Have a wonderful creative day no matter what you are up to.  xxoo  Donna

"What you do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say."  ~ Ralph Waldo Emmerson

* Tomorrow is Givaway .. adding one last goodie

I do hope all of you who wish to enter for my celebration giveaway have done so by now.  I AM GIVING AN EXTENSION OF ONE DAY, JUST IN CASE.  So, tomorrow is the big day. November 23, 2011.  Remember, you must be a follower, so please make sure you are signed up.  Thanks.

To read the rules, leave a comment and see the photos simply click HERE.

Today I am adding a traditional Mexican bark painting, hand made and painted by a local artisan.

Good Luck everyone.  Thank you for your ongoing inspiration and support.  I receive that from all of you on a daily basis.  xxoo Donna

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.  ~ Mark Twain

* Christmas Cards and a Little Mail Art ...

Had company yesterday.  We had lunch in the shade outside and played in the studio all afternoon.  I made Christmas cards and did a little mail art which I will try and get to the post office this week.

"A Little Heat From Mexico"  ha ha.  Sometimes I just love doing mail art.

Thanks for dropping by today.  Keep on keeping on.  We will see you soon.  xxoo Donna

“Every moment you get is a gift. Spend it on things that matter. Don’t spend it by dwelling on unhappy things.”

* The ABUNDANCE just keeps coming ...

Another story of abundance.  It's simply everywhere in my world.  How lucky am I!  Many weeks ago, a blogging friend of mine, NANCY, sent me a parcel.  It was around the time I had my surgery.  She wanted to keep it a surprise, so didn't say anything.  Well ... as you are starting to figure out, Mexico is not known for it's instant mail delivery.  Six weeks went by.  Nancy was getting figidty and finally sent me the tracking no.  I took the tracking number to my mail service.  Yes, they had received it in Laredo.  No, they had no idea where it was now.  It took another week and a half or so.  Late this week it arrived.  Full to overflowing with treasures.  Not a square inch left unpacked.  I know I missed a few things in the photographs.  There were old National Geographics, one on Canada's first 100 years (1967), there was a gorgeous bundle of wide white lace.  I hope I didn't miss anything else.  Let me share the bounty ...

Are these not gorgeous cabinet cards?  Now I can make a book!

Nancy's own hand painted papers.

Hand made journal pages (by Nancy), a home made journal bag (by Nancy), very fifty's very vogue material, tons of ledger pages and wide decorative tape with my initial on it.

Vintage Bingo cards .. great for journal covers, a Donna Parker novel, (love making personal journals out of these .. what a hoot), 'stuff' with my initials on it, fiber, and a pack of cards which says "Make yourself at home ... clean my kitchen."  HA!

Nancy!  You know how much I covet all this 'stuff' ... Thank You lovely Lady. 

I began another painting today ... she's blocked in however I will wait to post her.  Also made a card to send to a friend.  These sequin hearts are very "San Miguel" and I think they make lovely cards.  Who ever receives it can re use the heart for their art!

"From One Creative Heart to Another"

So that's it for today my Pretties.  Hope you are having a grand creative time wherever you are.  Thanks for stopping by.  xxoo Donna

Without the playing with fantasy no creative work has ever yet come to birth. The debt we owe to the play of imagination is incalculable." ~ Carl Jung

* A lovely thing happened to me on the way to the Forum

I wonder what really happened to people on the way to the forum?!  A lovely thing has happened to me.  Bear with me.  A while ago my Full Tilt Boogie (Book Making) group had a swap.  Everyone who wished made some pages and sent about ten sets in to be swapped out.  I opted out because of the mail situation here in Mexico, although I really really wanted to do it.  Soooo .... the other day, I get an envelope in the mail.  It's full of hand made journal pages to make a journal.  There is a little note attached from the lady who headed the swap saying she hoped I enjoyed these pages.  My first inclination was, "This is a mistake, I will send them back immediately."  Then, as I flipped through the pages, I began to recognize the style of people I knew in the group and a little light bulb went on.  They had arranged this as a surprise just for me!  I made some inquiries and sure enough --- that was it.  I am absolutely tickled pink.  I am delighted.  I am honoured people I have never met would think of me!  Last night, I put together a quickie journal -- I couldn't wait.  It's coil bound, that's why it's quicker.  I made the covers from chip board and covered them in ledger paper, then decorated.  I'll show you a few pages.  Don't you think that was a wonderful, lovely, thoughtful thing to do??????  And it happened to ME.   YEAH!

Now, I'd like to share with you what's happened on the upstairs terrace.  The one outside my studio which overlooks the mountains.  I went to a garage sale.  I haven't really played with anything, but it definitely has possibilities.  Looking much better than 'empty', and gives me a lovely place to sit when I want a break from creating.  Not a bad place for a sangria either.  :o)

And  last, but not least, a double journal spread I did today.

The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.”

Ashley Montagu

* Medicine Woman Completed

For those of you popping over from The Butterfly Effect, this Medicine Woman carries with her the essence of the ancient Celtic Goddess Brigid, from about 450AD.  For those of you unfamiliar with The Butterfly Effect, please pop over and check it out.  It's fun!  

My journey with Medicine Woman has been an interesting one.  Actually, I would apply the same statement to all the women who have come through me to my canvas lately.  I am still amazed and in awe at the process.

As you know, this painting, before I even had her on the canvas announced she was Medicine Woman.  As I worked with her she told me she was an 'ancient Celtic healer'.  Doing research I found the definition of the word "ancient" as it relates to Celtic lore would be approximately 450AD.  When I searched the words 'ancient Celtic healer' the first thing which appeared on the screen was The Goddess Brigid.  There was a shrine built to Brigid, near Kildare.  This shrine was built very close to an old Oak tree.  A tree considered so sacred by the Druids no one was allowed to bring a weapon near.  I was unaware of this fact when I painted this figure so close to the large tree.  Brigid is a tri Goddess.  She is a healer, a medicine woman, obtaining her healing properties from Mother Earth.  Known for her hospitality to poets, musicians, and scholars, she is known as the Irish muse of poetry.  She is also considered the Celtic goddess of fire (the forge and the hearth), or what we would know as metal smithing.  It is said that wherever she walked, small flowers and shamrocks would appear.  That was absolutely unknown to me until after I completed the painting.


Later, when Christianity appeared on the scene, St. Patrick dragged this Goddess into the present and endowed her with Sainthood.  I have a sense from working with her essence in this painting, that the Christian Saint has absolutely nothing to do with what the Goddess originally stood for, when women were revered and respected for their knowledge and wisdom, held in high esteem, listened to, heard and honoured. 


The other important information I sense from working with her is this.  This painting in and of itself is NOT the Goddess Brigid.  Medicine Woman does however carry her essence and attributes; in other words, everything Brigid believed and stood for.  She has allowed me to bring the very essence of the ancient Celtic wisdom into the 21st century.   The most important message I received while working with her were the words "Love is the Greatest Healer".  Think about that.  


During the creative process Medicine Woman specifically asked for the Celtic knot, which symbolizes no beginning/no end thought.  Once energy is created and in place, it can never be un created.  I think physics has proven this.  She asked for hearts and heartlets, telling me she cannot make her potions and medicine bags without love.  Four leaf shamrocks were requested.  Three leaves were not acceptable. They did not hold enough power.  She sits deep in the forest beside a huge tree.  It's my feeling the tree symbolizes strength and everlastingness (is that a word?)  A bird sits near by, symbolizing messages from the Universe and the ability to receive, hear and understand Universal information from another dimension.  It's been a ride, and a most interesting one.  So without further adieu, I give you "Medicine Woman".  I hope you will see and feel under the surface to her very essence, which is pure love.

Thank you all for dropping by.  Thank you for listening and understanding.  xxoo  Donna

This is the very first quote I came across when I went looking for an appropriate quotation.  Odd, because I think that, in a nutshell, is exactly what Medicine Woman has come here to say. 

“Eventually you will come to understand that love heals everything, and love is all there is.”  Gary Zukav

* A couple of things

A quiet day today.  Did a couple of things I would like to share.  Completed a banner.  Really the first one I have done, except for my little bird cage experiment.  Don't have it strung together and not sure how I'm going to do that - however, here it is without it's hangers.

 

Also did a double page spread in my journal which is expanding nicely.

 

That's about it for today everyone.  Do hope you are having a nice weekend.  Thanks for stopping by to have a lookie-loo.  (I love saying that!)  xxoo Donna

I want to share excerpts about autumn by two of my favorite poets, Keats and Shelley.  As different as they were, they were part of a era, they were friends.  In London, I used to hang out at a very old pub on Hampstead Health called "The Spaniards Inn".  Keats, Shelley and Byron were among the group of poets who frequented the pub in days gone by.  I used to sink into  the layers of time in that place, and imagine them and their peers spending evenings perhaps in the same place we were sitting, or who knows, if time is only an illusion, perhaps they were sitting next to me.  :o) You know me ... always the romantic.

O Wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being
Thou from whose unseen presence the leaves dead
Are driven like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing,
Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red,
Pestilence-stricken multitudes! O thou
Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed
The wingèd seeds, where they lie cold and low,
Each like a corpse within its grave, until
Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow
Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth, and fill
(Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air)
With living hues and odours plain and hill;
Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;
Destroyer and preserver; hear, O hear!
Percy Bysshe Shelley

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.
John Keats
Ode to Autumn.

* It's a long way to Mexico ..

After approximately three months on the so called mail road (is that anything like the silk road?), the envelope from Valerie in Dusseldorf surprisingly showed up late last week.  I had pretty much written off ever laying my eyes on it.  However, just shows you -- miracles happen on the mail road.  The postcard, which I think was posted prior to the envelope is still  in transit.

Naturally, as is Valerie's trade mark, the envelope was full of beautiful hand made goodies for me to enjoy.  Halloween being her favorite holiday, I got a real kick out of the beautifully detailed Halloween book she made by hand of course.  Tucked inside a gorgeous copper miniature shopping bag was a hand made tag and a beautifully decorated note book.  I know I shall use that a tremendous amount.  I'm always looking for places to jot things down, so that has gone straight into my purse.

Here are some photos for you to enjoy.  It was difficult to pick pages to photograph .. it's a big book.  I tried to choose some which particularly tickled my fancy.

Examining the envelope, I do wonder if perhaps it was held in top security until 'all the President's men' could clear it's entry into the country.  :o)

Thank you, Valerie.  You are such a delight.  Wish we were closer so we could play in person!

Thanks to all for dropping by.  Hope you have a lovely weekend planned.  Take care.  xxoo Donna

“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” Garrison Keillor

* Ancient Celtic Energy

Had errands to run this morning.  I'm certainly not back up to speed.  It wore me out, which is really annoying.  Got home, had a nap.  Habibi did the same ... it's hard work staying home waiting for Mommy!

Later I wandered up to the studio and spent some time with Medicine Woman.  The more time I spend with her, the more grounded she becomes on the canvas, the more I can feel her ancient energy.  She speaks to me in ways I can't explain in words.  She has led me to the story of Bridgid, the Celtic Goddess.  Who am I to question.   I'm not finished yet, however, when I am, I will tell you the entire story.

Here's what happened today.  Probably one more day of work will complete her.

I was poised, paintbrush in hand, to paint a bouquet of herbs in her hands when suddenly I heard the word 'heartlets'.  "Heartlets?"  I was baffled.  "A bouquet of small hearts.  After all, love is the greatest healer.  How do you expect me to make my potions and medicine bundles without adding love?"  I painted heartlets.  I also began to paint the shamrocks with three leaves.  It was part of why they were coveted by the Celts.  Again I heard "A shamrock with four.  You have no idea the power they contain and impart to those who hold them.  Yes, I want shamrocks with four."  And so it is.  Shamrocks with four and heartlets. 

Tomorrow I may be able to complete her and tell you the rest of the story.  Until then ... thank you for stopping by.  Take care and let's see how creative we can really be.  ha ha.  xxoo  Donna

Celtic beliefs.   "Women were highly honored, female symbolism formed the most sacred images in the religious cosmos, and the relationship with motherhood was the central elements of the social fabric the society was held together by common allegiance to the customs of the tribe loosely organized around the traditions of the goddess"

* Carding, Painting and Journalling ...

Hi to all YOU lovelies who read these pages.  You make me smile! I'm happy you have dropped in.  I'm experimenting with Christmas cards at the moment.  Have had a couple of garbage incidents, however this vintage one has possibilities.  I found my inspiration over at Cindy Atkins blog.  She has some fabulous vintage Christmas ideas for us there.  This was a test run because I have a certain vintage label image in mind to use and didn't want to wreck it if it didn't turn out.

The label I am hoping to use is of a girl on an old fashioned sleigh.  I have some miniature sleighs I will tie to the ribbon.  

Next I sat with Medicine Woman for awhile.  She is revealing herself to me in ways the others have not.  She asked that her medicine bowl to be wrapped in a celtic knot.  When I researched the meaning of the Celtic knot, the basics are this:

"The Celtic knot symbol, is also referred to as the mystic knot, or the endless knot. The more esoteric or spiritual meaning of this symbol eludes to beginnings and endings. In viewing these beautiful knots, we cannot see a beginning or and end, and therefore we are reminded of the timeless nature of our spirit. This translation harkens to our most primal selves as we contemplate the infinite cycles of birth and rebirth in both physical and ethereal realms."  As an added point of interest, they began appearing in Celtic history after approximately 450 AD.  (hold that date)

The next thing she asked for was shamrocks.  This is what I found out about shamrocks in the ancient Celtic lore.

Ancient Celts revered the clover because of the trinity of its leaves. These people had a deep understanding of their connection with nature, and had a myriad of powerful beliefs based on triads, as we see in the triskelion, triple spiral, triquetra, Druid marks, and various knot-work illustrated by the artists of the time. The occurrence of three's, depending on how they were depicted, indicated aspects of goddesses, gods, time, and balance of energies pertaining to the triple mark. 

The symbolism of the shamrock actually changed tremendously when St. Patrick came along and pitched Christianity to the Irish people.  Since she has told me she is an "Ancient Celt", I am going with the ancient interpretations.

That was my big clue ... the other day when I was sitting with her, she indicated she was an "Ancient Celtic Healer".  I instantly googled those exact words and up popped the Goddess Bridgid who existed about 450 AD. (told you to hold that date!)   I will tell you more about her as the painting progresses.  It is a little complicated.  Suffice it to say, she exists in the Ancient Celtic lore.  I LOVE IT!

There is still a lot to do on the painting, however we did make progress today.

More and more, I feel her becoming part of the earth and part of ancient knowledge.

Tonight I was really restless.  I KNOW ... this post is getting LONG.  I'll cut to the chase.  I went back to the studio and did a double spread in my journal.  I was shocked at what appeared on the page.  It's exactly what I'm feeling like.  

... like I'm going to explode if I don't 'do something'.

I'm going to STOP now!  You are all saying "FINALLY"!  Thanks for dropping by ... thanks for bearing with me.  Take care, and come back soon.  xxoo  Donna

Sara Paddison, The Hidden Power of the Heart
Stress is inner biofeedback, signaling you that frequencies are fighting within your system. The purpose of stress isn't to hurt you, but to let you know it's time to go back to the heart and start loving.

* A Quiet Day At Quinta de la Luz

My energy level was low and I putzed doing laundry and sitting in the sun on my terrace.  Allyson came, shopped for some groceries, and cooked me a lovely large pot of home made chicken soup as well as a couscous salad which I love and haven't had for a long time.

When she left, Habibi and I watched a movie and napped, after which we did venture up to the studio.  Didn't work on Medicine Woman, although she did impart further information, which I will fill you in on later.  I attempted to design a Christmas card which I will share with you probably tomorrow.

Wendy popped in later in the day with a lovely little pot of home made lemon curd (drool) which I will put on my toast the next time I have some.

Because I don't have any updates from the studio, I will bring for you today, the offering of a piece of my writing which I did last autumn.  I hope you enjoy.

* Total Freedom

by:  Donna Parker

November, 2010

And so we sit

naked in the late

afternoon sun

drying ourselves.

Habibi wrapped in an

orange towel -

me plopped in all

my 64 years of glory

in a blue chair

on the back terrace.

Hair once on my belly,

fondly known as

my 'hair strip'

has found it way to

my chin.

I sit with a ten times

mirror, attempting

to rectify the invasion

if only temporarily.

The warm Mexican breeze caresses

my skin

and drys my hair.

I glance once or twice

behind and upward

to see if anyone

may be gazing

down at our private moment

from the nearby roof.

The shadows are long

and form exact shapes

on the courtyard walls.

Birds begin their even song,

cocks crow,

distant traffic makes its way

to unknown destinations.

The sun sets as

I will set one day

Always there

Always in existence

Only disappearing

from our limited view.

So you have some 'visual stimulation' I am enclosing a photo of a recent painting of San Miguel.  It is by a local artist.  Unfortunately, I am not able to give credit as I didn't take note of his name.  For that I apologies.  I do like the painting very much.  It is a lovely rendering.  Enjoy.

Thanks for coming to visit.  Hope you have yourselves a great day.  Hopefully I will make it up to the studio to work on Medicine Woman today.  Take care.  xxoo  Donna

If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be too cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.
--Annie Dillard

* Tricked again ...

I sure didn't feel like painting today.  I was lured to the studio on the pretense of doing some photo copying.  Realized the new ink I purchased is not the right ink!  Humph!  So naturally ... she lured me over.  She's good at that.  Worked 'til late afternoon.  Lots more to do.  She's progressing.  Didn't speak a word to me today ... so we spent a very quiet day together.

Medicine Woman

So many of you popped by and left such lovely comments.  Thank you for that.  It really lifts a girls spirits.  Hope you had a lovely weekend.  We're off into another week at full speed.  Enjoy.  xxoo Donna

Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.  ~Lewis Carroll

* Hello Easel ...

Went up to the studio quite early today.  Thought I would continue organizing and perhaps finish, at least as much as I could.  Sitting at my table.  "Why don't you just come and sit with me?"  I looked up.  Medicine woman was speaking.  "I don't want to.  I'm not ready."  'I know.  You might just sit here with me and look at the tree or the sky."   I didn't reply.

Soon, I found myself getting my paints out, sorting them into the colours I required.  Before I knew it I was seated before her.  OK, I thought.  The tree would be a good place to start.  And so it began.  I spent the better part of the day with brush in hand, playing.  Her roots are in ancient Ireland.  A Celt.  A woman.  A healer.  She has 'wisdom'.  Deep knowings of the mystical kind.  As she told me when I sketched her in the first day.  "Love is the greatest healer."

Had great difficulty getting a good photograph.  Not sure why, however the colour, texture and clarity is the pitts.  :o)

And so, I have begun.

Thanks for dropping in everyone.  xxoo Donna

"Live with intention.  Walk to the edge.  Listen hard.  Practice wellness.  Play with abandon.  Laugh.  Choose with no regret.  Continue to learn.  Appreciate your friends.  Do what you love.  Live as if this is all there is."
-  Mary Anne Hershey

* Thank you my Lovely's ...

Oh, you are all so wonderful.  Thanks for all the information that came through your comments and your e-mails.  I am well armed with the proper facts to now order some good quality card stock and all your suggestions for paper are so appreciated.  I am getting the hang of this.

I don't have much exciting news to share with you today.  I've actually been feeling a little emotionally off kilter, which I am told is perfectly normal after surgery.  It is somewhat disconcerting though.  Allyson is coming back for a few visits to put things right and give me some much needed TLC.  She came for a couple of hours today, went grocery shopping and left me with some wonderful made from scratch polenta, fresh chicken salad, pita bread, and made from scratch vegetable broth.

I did make an attempt to create in the studio, but to no avail.  A while ago, I attempted to make a hand made journal with chip board covers.  It was raining that day and I used some glue made in Mexico which is suspect.  Too much water in it I think.

Anyway, the entire project turned into a bit of a disaster.  When I punched the holes for binding with the all, the paper sort of shreaded, the holes got distorted and the binding looks terrible.  When I made the covers, I used the suspect glue, which left the covers warped even though I left it sitting over night under heavy books.  Ah well.  It was going to be part of the giveaway, however I have shelved it for private use at a later date.  At the time, I liked my choice of paper.  When it was finished, I wondered what I had been thinking.  It was one of those projects you just want to finish and move on from.  So I did.

I'll show you the photographs though.

 

That's it for today.  Perhaps my muse will show up a little later and we can play.  Thanks for all your help.  You are such very lovely ladies and I am honoured to have you in my life.  xxoo  Donna

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

  

* Request For Assistance ...

Not up to much today, however did manage to experiment with my new sizzix butterfly die cut.  I'm sure there is a  number of processes one could apply, however I kept it very simple.  Doubled up each butterfly to give it a bit of body and did a little embossing both on the background and the butterfly itself.

I actually have difficulty embossing as sometimes it cuts right through the paper and falls apart in areas.  Any advise on that one?  This is the first attempt.  Not at all happy with the way the card stock folded.  As you can see at the top, it sort of cracked leaving white bits showing because it's not coloured at the core.  My first attempt at this card was pretty much a disaster, so I took it apart and put a piece of embossed paper on the top.  Forgot to round the top edges and I really don't like the look at all.  So, Dolly Miss Marie ... super card maker of all times.  Where are you when I need you!!!???  Experimented with my Martha Stewart deep edge punch.  Not happy with that look either.  The punch itself worked well, but the look ... well, not so much.  HELP!

The second attempt is marginally better, however still not very professional looking.  Any and all advise from all you experienced card makers out there will be graciously accepted and gratefully appreciated.  Carolyn ... would you like to come over and play?  Your cards are always such perfection.  I'll put the sangria on!

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE.  Let's just pretend there is a huge paper shortage in Mexico!  (I hope you are all rolling in the isles laughing.)  Paper has to be ordered from the good old USA.  Card stock for instance.  I am very unhappy with what I ordered and received.  The weight it a little too light and obviously it is white core not colour core.  Question:  1.  Where is a good place to order from on line.  2.  Do you have any brand name recommendations?  It's really the same with decorative paper.  I'm not always over the moon when it arrives.  I'd appreciate any suggestions on where to order and good quality paper I will be happy with.   PLUS, and this is a big one ... I want it to be PRETTY.  Some of these paper stacks are pretty 'iffy'.  Thanks for your help ...

There is just so much new 'stuff' to play with out there.  I think the answer is to simply do more of it.  

So my Lovely's, what did you get up to today.  I will find out as I make the rounds of your blogs this morning.  Such talented woman, all of you.  I learn so much from each and every one.  Take care, and thanks so much for stopping by.  xxoo Donna

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards. - Vernon Saunders Law