LET ME HEAR ....

Recent collage bookmark... Pilar, Peyton, Olivia, Tito, Elena, Eli, Sonny the cat, Luke the dog,, the rabbit in the yard, the old cat Rodney, the squirrel, and Sunshine, the cat who went to heaven to be with Rodney, her brother.... Grand dad and Mimi.... Grandpa, Grandma, Jimmy and my Kellie.... Julius, the donkey with a cat...size is weird....but he is a miniature donkey in real life!! The ever popular old golf cart that each kid learns to drive on in front of the water slide!! The play house.... And our Olivia...in front of a nest of mockingbirds in the tree behind her............................................................................................................................ For me to do art with children is to be still in my soul .... while playing ... and sometimes I TRY TO LISTEN and feel or know His loving kindness and care. Sometimes I have a REALLY STRONG hunger and thirst for Him more than at other times.....and especially His affirmation of my worth. Why, I don't know exactly, but it is an area where I struggle still. I think children are much easier than adults, who require so much of each other. High expectations drive me crazy and cause me to rebel, probably because I grew up pleasing people, which fed me for a long time but never lasting. That is what I love about Him, He loved me before I was fixed or cleaned up. He just wooed me to Him and I said "yes" and He said "You are worth it" .... and died a horrible selfless death on the cross. Life is too hard "without" Him, and I am thankful for His forgiveness and promise to me, no matter how I feel or perform at times..... life eternal with Him was my gift. Where is that "grace and mercy" when we deal with one another? He didn't do it because we were sooo good, He did it because we were soooo rotten and hopeless, even trying to be our own Gods as though we could really do a better job than Him .... I don't even want to try anymore, I just WANT to REST in Him .... knowing He loves me and cares for me and even blesses me with these children that are so fantastic, artistic and creative .... that I get to do art!!! THESE PAPER DOLLS from cereal boxes will be living in a fold out book with pockets and scenes from Mimi's house with the cousins and animals and other visiting grandparents .... we have been working on it .... Olivia, 9, and I , so she will have it with her when she moves and begins to miss us all. All of us are represented and there will be many more scenes and memories...... THIS PROJECT was from Carla Sonheim ,under tutorials, hope I spelled it right .... I will post the link ..... it was a week of fun creating it with "special moments" with my eldest grand daughter .... Olivia .... one of my artists. ENJOY and BLESSINGS!!! Also added a bookmark I made with scraps.

Meet "Meek"...

She can't believe they consider her to be meek.... Petals from collage paper of my zinnias outside..... I've been delaying my post because I had a fabulous teaching that I heard that I wanted to share and just can't seem to come up with the right words to portray the depth of meaning it had for me...so I will wait on it and may have some art to go with it at a later date.....BUT.....BUT....today I was encouraged to show Ms. Meek.....(meekness) and maybe I'll add Peacemaker to it. It was the result of just a fun class with Mystele and a response to an artist by the name of Jill Krasner with her wonderful collages. I just had a couple of small gessoed pieces to work quickly on and used only left over collage stuff on my table...and some bright colors as the base.....when I found or saw the faces I began and just added what was there to collage with on my table of scraps...they are the size of bookmarks....and they just make me smile or giggle. I hope you enjoy them..... I do love collage!! Blessings for a New Year! And sorry I have been sooo busy and not posting....but I did add the Valentine stuff in the shop photos to the left.....ENJOY!!

Good Mornin' Sunshine!

Good Morning Everyone! Well, it is morning as I write this and the sun is coming up through my window and I hear the birds singing outside....even though we have a real November nip in the air! I wish I could get up as chipper as this every morning!! ....but I am a nite person and usually sleep rather late! But not today...it is really beautiful outside this morning! I don't have anything special to write about except that I love life, my art, my kids and grand kids all around me, my friends and family and my precious little church I have gone to for four years now. I have honestly never experienced such a precious place as my little church. You would have to be there time and again to understand why. Anyway! ... here is a fun collage I did last week ...on gessoed cereal box cardboard, something I save for the kids to do art on...and one of my very favorite substrates to work on with collage....and with all the grandkids living next door for a while I have an unlimited supply of empty cereal boxes to prep!! Honey Nut Cheerios being the favorite! The background words are from Psalm 51 ... where David's heart is broken with his own sin ... a great Psalm for beginning again and laying it at His feet. I love that He can't begin anew in us until our heart is contrite and broken from our own weight of sin and we give it to Him asking for help and forgiveness. What I love is our broken hearts are the ONLY acceptable sacrifice to Him. Like a Mama that has her stinker child crying in her lap with big tears of sorrow....doesn't every parent welcome a child's sorrow over his bad behavior! I love how it mentions rebuilding the walls .... our walls to our soul.... fixing our house so to speak. I love His words... love them! Enjoy my little house collage ... it was fun play! I forgot to mention that I tried a doodle they call a tangle....and I decided to call mine "Prayer Doodles"...a free form shape you add design and doodles in with no plan....just a relaxing doodle that gave me a special time to think and pray for certain people including myself, I need it too! Blessings and have a great week. Thanksgiving is soon you know....

A SNEAK PEEK AT WHAT IS COMING!!

We are busy cleaning the new room of the shop, here at GREENPECK'S for a new look and new goodies!!! I can't wait to have "MY ART" mixed in with this new product!! The "patriotic line"will be here the middle of May...so we have to get to painting!!! I'm putting these photos on with permission, so just remember the designs are copyrighted....but of course a flag is a flag!! I was in luck that we have all the shabby windows, doors, shudders, buckets, tables, old screens and old painted shutters and ladders to decorate with already!!! THANK GOODNESS the "rat" didn't force the "pack" to throw that stuff away!!! We are "packrats" to the inth-? degree!!! So thankful I have persisted in keeping all that expensive display...HA!! We have truly been praying about what to do in this time of our lives....the shop, my art, us going on dates, not worrying so much anymore about the future and trying to live one day at a time and really enjoy life and one another...you know, like the Pioneer Woman and her "Marlboro" man?!! We already have great people in our lives so that didn't need prayer, but I'm sure the Lord will send more! Dick said, "We really should keep busy doing what we love to not get old mentally!" Of course, I don't think we are old, just our grandchildren do....but what do they know?! Old people must really be cool because those "grandkids" always want to be over HERE!! God's special blessings to you all.....sherry

COMING SOON....

Welcome to the shop!...at GREENPECK'S....some of the new items coming this week! Where your garden can bloom and grow....can't wait to get this on one of my tables!!...with real flowers in the little tubes... OH!...I'll have geraniums ALL year!! Email me for prices...or just come see!! MY BIRDS WILL LOVE THIS....I think I ordered four of these!! Wouldn't these be cute on a little girls wall, or your porch!? Napkin rings....I think I will put a place setting with my antique dishes and these! SO TRUE!!....and you can't believe how pretty the wildflowers are right now...we have pink primroses and purple wild verbena all over the back field....come to the shop and walk to the garden with me!! We'll pick a bouquet!!...I have free jars and water! I love this cross....and my daisies by the shop will be blooming soon! IS this sweet or what!? And I ordered lots of tulips to sit in the windows of the shop...the shop will look different....and I'm ready for a different look to go along with the art from the "artists" in there....Patty, Adam,Tito, Pilar, Peyton and me (greenpeck)....and more! I'll be open Thursday thru Sat ...10 to 6...or just knock on the door and we'll mosey over to the shop if it is a Monday or Tuesday! We have been VERY busy planting our garden and taking advantage of our beautiful SPRING weather! Our backs are sore but our hearts are happy! And the birds are busy with their nests too!! There is just nothing I like more than having my hands in the dirt....except for maybe having them in paint or using my art supplies! Where we live is a "special place".....a special place that has had a "special connection for sooo many people!! Like Jeff and Debbie" ......where it all started with a (metal) heart....now called "The Round Top Collection". An inventory to tempt you every season with beautiful and colorful items to decorate your home. Dick and I are pleased to announce that we will carry "The Round Top Collection" here right in Round Top at our shop...GREENPECKS. We will add it to our WEBSITE soon....email me for anything you have a question about. We are getting the first tempting items this week that are for Spring and Summer ..... shown above. Then the BIG 4th of July will be right around the corner with all of those items coming in MAY. We are also going to enlarge the shop space and get a new sign or TWO! We are both excited about it and are having fun planning for new ART as well and maybe a few other little surprises! I have still been doing the GUT ART CLASSES, although barely getting any painting done for working in the garden.....but I LOVE Mystele's GUT ART classes....and am working on more art for the shop! I've made some art paper journals (with original art on the covers) for those who like to journal and paint a little. There will be some rearranging going on in the shop too!! THEN wait til you see what will be here for the 4th of July!!....a sort of duplicate of the Round Top Fire Truck to hang on your wall or office or boy's room!! ....the shop will be open on the 4th this year...with our old original "Round Top FIRE TRUCK" parked in front! Well, have a blessed week.....I just wanted to catch you up on the "goings on" at the place here on our three acres...it is wonderful to have the store on the same property with the B&B and the garden!!....that way the grandkids are with you and helping too!!....and I've planted all my zinnia seeds....get ready for lots of blooming around here!!...the roses are already in full bloom.....so beautiful!! BLESSINGS!! GOD IS GOOD!...always has been!

ANTIQUE SHOW OVER....TOMORROW CAN BE A NEW BEGINNING....

Everyone is packing up on the last day of the famous Round Top/Warrenton Antique and Marburger Shows....and it is quiet in our small town again...a little sad and lonely feeling as we sit on the front porch watching all the trailers going by with all their show stuff....and we are hoping they had a good show....and have a safe trip home. We had fabulous visitors, especially Kelly and Mandy, love you!...and we also had fabulous weather!! One of our new guests who is in an Antique Mall in Denton, Texas, Barbara, gave me a nice little surprise...the OLD print with "TEACH ME THY WAY OH LORD"...it is perfect colors and everything for my house! Thanks girls!! It should have been a present for Dick since he cooked the "scones" every morning!! I meant to get pictures of our B&B guests with their "goodies"...and in the fun I forgot, so I will post some little things I got on a quick run and some OLD FEED SACKS I have had tucked away for a long time....to some day do something special with. They are from some local Feed Companies near here and date from 1926 through 1950's. I think a couple of the big graphic ones would look awesome framed!! The cute little rabbit has a special message....standing in front of my bargain pillow cover from "Gatherings" in Georgetown....a PRECIOUS gal and shop!!! I did get some display goodies from her for the GALLERY....she almost sold out of her whole booth!!! The Zinnia wool pin I bought from Nina Miller...?(also a great artist!)....I think was her name at the FOLK ART BARN in Round Top....as well as the FLOWER PRESS made by the people from Colorado on the card above....these are dried flowers on the top of the press....something I plan to do with the grandchildren...from our garden blooms. They had gorgeous pieces framed with nothing but dried flowers...scenes and collages....just amazing things!! He said the trick is the special paper that makes the flowers dry faster leaving more color in them. Then today while it was slow I began to work on a cover for the GUT ART CLASS I'm taking....I had no plan, but we are to incorporate, sewing, paint, words...whatever comes....and this is what I ended up with....it is so personal that I put a frame on it and my favorite Bible story/scripture around it....on a brown bag background....the red is thick reddish yarn I zigzaged with loose threads, a painted collage paper and words I found to cut out....thus the red written part to complete what the brown words say....and really in my heart a celebration of what tomorrow represents for all of humanity for an eternity....He came to save the lost....enough said....have a glorious in heart day tomorrow ...and everyday too! BLESSINGS!!....and thanks to all the people who came to our little spot in Round Top!!....OH!! I wanted to thank Jinx and Nathan for coming!! We sure liked Nathan Jinx....he was a sweetheart....you tell those lazy girls they better be back next year or I'll give their spot to Nathan....teehee....missed you all! Jinx and Nathan have an Antique shop in Glen Rose....going West out of Glen Rose....can't wait to get there some day!!....AND if you ever need any silver replacement this is the place to get it....Antique Cupboard.com ....in Wisconsin....they have it all!! they stayed with us too....a long drive from Wisconsin!!