A Simple Joy for You Today

Roger brought this to me this morning. He was stacking hay in the barn and it seems that some of the hens prefer the hay to the cedar shavings that are in their nesting boxes. Isn't it the sweetest thing? It's just barely 1 1/4" long!

I thought it was sweet of Roger to bring it to me. He could have tossed it and I'd never have known. This meant as much to me as if he'd picked a bouquet of wildflowers.

~*~

Ready to Fly Away Home ~ UPDATED

Only two of the "A Bird in the Hand..." pieces are left: #5 in the photo above, and the one in the photo below.

~*~
There is also one silk ribbon embroidered pillow left:

Please visit Honeysuckle Lane to see them.

~*~

Thank you!

~*~

A Bird in the Hand...

I'll Take What I can Get

A few weeks ago, my husband came hurrying into the room making hand motions as if he were taking a picture. I looked puzzled, and he pointed at my camera and motioned for me to come with him. Okay, our kids are actually not kids anymore, they are 22, 19, and 17, but just the same, it was as if we were trying to keep a secret from them, by miming everything instead of just saying it. I'm sure they were sitting there thinking, "I'm so glad my friends aren't seeing my parents right now!" Then my husband whispered... "the sunset!" That was enough for me. I grabbed my camera and we ran out the door yelling to the kids we'd be back in a little while. I was delighted that he thought of how much I love to watch the sun set and was trying to help me catch the last bit of color washing across the sky ~ how romantic and thoughtful! We live in a "swag" surrounded by trees, so we miss many a sunrise or sunset unless we drive down the road to higher ground. One of the best places to watch is 2 miles away where a new, very high, bridge was built across the river. When we got there, we thought we had missed the color show, but we sat there and watched for a couple minutes, and right before our eyes the sky just came to life! It was breathtaking! The longer we stayed the deeper and brighter the colors became... as if God were painting it just for us.

When we finally headed home, my husband took his time driving back down the country road. With the windows down, we could hear the crickets and a few evening birds, smell the fresh cut hay ~~~ and see the deer that had come out into the fields at dusk. Oh yes, it finally dawned on me! Now I know why he was in a hurry to get out and about before the sun set! Dear Husband loves to drive around and see all the deer grazing in the fields in the evenings... oh well... I'll take what I can get! It was worth it, wasn't it?

Dear Dolly

Do you ever feel like this dear dolly? I sure do. Old & worn, cracked & peeling, beat & battered by life. I'm sure she's seen some rough times, scorching hot days, and bitterly cold nights. She's probably been chewed on by the cat, yanked away by a big brother, and squeezed a little too hard by a young girl. But take a closer look... it looks as if she's got a hint of a smile still! And she's looking up! She seems so fragile, and yet so strong to have made it through all that she has lived. After all that she's been through, she is still around, still bringing joy to those who will accept it, and still a beautiful, dear dolly.

This doll belonged to my great grandmother who was born in the 1860s. I'm not sure how old the doll is or when my great grandmother acquired her. I remember my Mama showing her to me several times over the years, taking her out of the cedar chest and unwrapping this precious old doll. A few years ago, Mama told me she wanted me to have the dolls (there's another small china doll that belonged to Mama's mother) but I wouldn't take them just yet. I told Mama to keep them as long as she wanted so she could take them out and look at them once in a while. Last autumn they became mine. Very soon I will have them displayed in my workroom so I can be reminded and inspired every single day...

~*~

A few more left...

I've updated my Looking for a Home post. Two thirds of the items listed in that post have cleared out! Feel free to browse the remaining items... here.

Thank you!

~*~

Just a little "peep"...

That's all I'm showing for now... until my secret BIRD SWAP partner receives her BIRD items in the mail!

~*~

Bunny Swap Goodies

A big thank you to Suzan Buckner of Thrifty Collage Artist!

Just look at all the detail in that sweet box. It is filled with things I love ~ simple joys: old music sheets, buttons, the colors, a little sewing machine, and the old torn pages of the lily of the valley and pussy willow ~ Suzan didn't know this, but those are two of my favorite plants that my Mom had at her home! She even put a copy of my artwork in a little frame! She also sent a very sweet vintage post card, another whimsical sculpted bunny with an egg, and a Beatrix Potter egg ~ I love Beatrix Potter! I can hardly wait to get my workroom remodeled so I can display all my things from other talented artists! Thank you so much Suzan for being my swap partner.

~*~

Christmas in July

The Primitive Gathering (please see link at left) has updated their website and you might as well get ready to shop! When you visit, you will find so many wonderful handmade items by a variety of artists. Below are the items I am offering this time. You may see more detailed photos on my website.

Coming Soon...

I am a member of an online market, The Primitive Gathering (see link at left sidebar), and this month our theme is Christmas in July. We update on the 1st and 15th of each month and I am in the 15th section of the website. Be sure to visit our website Sunday morning for lots of eye candy. I'm sure you'll find something for yourself or for a dear friend.

I've made these cones to sell for a few years now... and actually I've always had a love of old papers and trims and such... I had just never known I could sell them until a few years ago! All use authentic vintage and antique papers unless otherwise noted. Most of the embellishments are old as well, but if I use something new, I do tell you.

Here is a sneak peek of some of my offerings that will be available...

Angels for Brianna Update

Thank you to all who have responded so generously by bidding or donating money to this cause.

There had been a few glitches with the photos and the email address but everything has been taken care of and more bids may now be placed using the NEW email address which allows more email traffic: AngelsForBrianna@gmail.com.

Please keep in mind that the auction ends Saturday @ 6:30 PST.

You may visit the auction here: http://www.angelsforbrianna.blogspot.com/

Take Care & God Bless,
Lana

~*~

Looking For A Home...

UPDATED JULY 20th:

Don't worry, I'm not begging you to take a stray puppy or kitten, though I'm sure there are numerous softies out there who couldn't resist!

Actually, things are winding down for me for the summer. Orders are getting finished this week and I will be packing up the contents of my garage... finally! I will have to be willing to sort and separate and purge. It's definitely going to hurt, but I have to let go of some things I've collected and saved for so long. I've got to get down to business and decide what to keep and what to pass on to someone else to enjoy or dream up a creation for a particular treasure. I also have to get the rest of my inventory out the door so I can start with a clean slate the end of summer. I'll have a new workroom (or studio if you want to call it that), new ideas, new creations... I can hardly wait! Of course I will be working on my old tried and true designs for the holidays as well. I will have enough trouble storing all my supplies, props, and tools without trying to keep my hand made items handy in case someone wants something while I'm remodeling. I wouldn't turn away a sale, but I might have a little difficulty finding a needle in a haystack!

I will post photos and prices of items that are here with me and need a home. If you see something you would like to have or something that would be just the thing for a friend, please email me (my address is in my profile at the left of this page) and I'll get back with you on shipping and the total. You may also find these on my website, Honeysuckle Lane, and contact me through the link there.
~*~

Autumn Bouquet Wall Hanging: I designed this wall hanging and sold patterns to quilt shops across the US. This is the original and was shown at a couple of Quilt Markets by National Nonwovens, a wool felt company. $60

~*~

Vintage Baby Shoe Pincushion: How sweet and spring-like this piece is! This make-do pincushion is made from an old ... planter possibly? Just look at all the little crazing under the glaze. There is one very old chip that is visible, but in my opinion it just lends to the vintage charm of the piece. The pincushion is made from a cotton damask tablecloth and stuffed with wool scraps. I've added a few old buttons and pins ~ all of which are vintage ~ faux pearl, faceted bead, purple glass... all kinds of tops on the pins. For a touch of vintage whimsy, I added a piece of old-fashioned tinsel around the base of the pincushion. 5" tall. Signed and dated on the bottom, Lana Manis 2007.
$25
~*~

Fraktur Bird with Folk Art Frame: Inspired by early-American folk art motifs. Hand painted on aged watercolor paper; detailed with sepia India ink. Signed Lana Manis 2007. Frame: custom-made, pine with walnut block corners; painted brown and blue with blue watercolor flowers on the walnut blocks; combed waves, dabbed circles; distressed; hand rubbed beeswax finish; brown paper dust cover; saw tooth hanger.
One-of-a-kind ~ 12" x 14" including frame

$75

~*~

Fraktur Bird Watercolor: Inspired by early-American folk art motifs. Hand painted on aged watercolor paper; detailed with sepia India ink. Signed Lana Manis 2007. Frame: Painted black, sanded and distressed with hand rubbed beeswax finish; Brown paper dust cover with saw tooth hanger. This piece is behind glass (added after photo was taken).
One-of-a-kind ~ 10 1/2" x 12 1/2" including frame

$50
~*~

The following items are no longer available:

Thank You & God Bless! Lana
~*~

Angels for Brianna Auction Begins TODAY!

This is the piece I donated for this auction. I can hardly wait to see all of the angels! Last count I saw was over 70 artists were participating.

Please visit this post in my blog to read all the details and to see the auction link.

God Bless,

Lana

~*~

A Peek @ My ~*~ Angel ~*~ Collage

Just a peek, mind you, until it the auction begins. Please see the previous blog post for the auction details.

~*~ Have a beautifully blessed weekend ~*~

Lana

~*~

Angels for Brianna

The auction start time is Sunday, July 8 at 10 am pst.

The end time is Saturday, July 14 at 6:30 pm pst.

http://www.angelsforbrianna.blogspot.com/

Artists from several facets of the art community have come together to donate angel themed artwork that will be auctioned off as part of a silent auction starting on Sunday July 8th and ending on Saturday July 14th. This auction is being held to honor the memory of a lovely girl named Brianna, whose life was cut short from a disease called MDS. Brianna was diagnosed with MDS in October of 2006, and fought the battle of her life for 8 short months. Unfortunately she lost the battle on June 15th 2007, but her spirit lives on, and she is a reminder to us all to cherish each day that life brings, and to love those closest to us with all of our hearts.

Iva Wilcox, Brianna’s mom, is a talented part of the art community, and this is how we’ve all come to know and love Brianna….through Iva’s beautiful stories and photographs of her daughter. The money collected from the auction will be used to help cover the funeral and medical expenses incurred by the family, and to fund a wonderful program that Brianna started at her high school called the National Art Honor Society. This group, whose primary focus is to promote artists and their work at the high school level, was something that Brianna was passionate about, and she had so many plans for the group that she wasn’t able to put in place due to her illness. Our hope is that the proceeds will help get the group off to a wonderful start this fall, and that she will be an inspiration to other young artists to pursue their talent, and realize their dreams.

I am proud to help promote and support this fabulous event, and I hope you will join us in bidding on an angel or two of your choice, and bidding high to help raise some much needed money for this family, and to honor Brianna’s memory. All of the angel artwork you’ll see is completely handmade by each artist, signed and dated, and will come with a special tag as a reminder of this event. We were moved by Brianna’s story, and all of us felt compelled to do something to help her family in their time of need, in a way that Brianna would have loved. This is why the auction was formed, and we want her memory to live on, as she does now with the angels above.

Thank you!

To read more about Brianna please visit;
http://iva-and-family.blogspot.com/

~*~

Happy 4th of July

Take Care & God Bless,

Lana

~*~

Bunny Swap

Suzan... don't look and I mean it! LOL! I'm sure she's listening to me... then peeking!

I am hoping to find more swaps to participate in ~ this was so much fun! So, if anyone sees a swap and thinks I might be interested, pop over here and email me or leave a post on my blog. I was so sad to see I'd missed a terrific Tiara Swap, oh well, maybe next time.

Now, for Suzan's Bunny Swap items:

1. I made her a whimsical cone with a copy of an old bunny postcard. It has a little grass nest so she can add eggs for Spring. It also has a tinsel handle. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of this. Maybe Suzan will post a picture on her blog when she receives it.

2. A whimsical collage using a vintage scrap of a rabbit and chick, tea stained paper, vintage buttons, hand pleated crepe paper ruffles, and a hanger made of vintage seam binding.

3. A rabbit inspired by the old lithograph rabbits of the late 1800s - early 1900s. I made this of fabric, stuffed with sawdust, then painted in layers, painting and sanding to get an old worn look. I made one like this last Spring and planned on making more to sell, but didn't have the time. I hope to do more next year.

Hope she likes them!

~*~

Just a Peek...

I joined a Bunny Swap very last minute (hosted by Debra of Hip Hop Jingle Boo) and will be mailing it out tomorrow. Suzan, my partner, is so patient and understanding... I hope she likes her bunny items! I'm attaching just a sneak peek in case Suzan is looking. I'll show all of it in a couple more days.

~*~