dreamy cornflower skies...
flowing on soft spring breezes
and some sweet birdsong

***

MondayUPs




Monday's can be rough... But I'm here to help.
In celebration of my 15th year selling my handmade stuff...
 I am going to be featuring things I've seen on blogs, on the internet, in books...
wherever inspiration strikes! On making new items from old goods...
hence, MondayUPs (upcycling)...

This week I am focusing on things you can do with old books.
As you know, I list alot of envelopes in my shop on Etsy; made from old book pages and paper ephemera.
They are fun... and functional!
But what else can you do?
All it really takes is a little imagination...

Most of us have heard of making things with collaged papers...
making beads from bookpages...
making journals with old book covers like this:



But how about a book garden?

or a desk?

or  clock?


Guy Laramee makes them into sculptures....here

Here's a bunch of ideas on Pinterest

Here's a whole bunch of cool ideas... here

and of course... you can recycle them directly... here
little birds singing
....easy like Sunday morning...
melodies of life

***

I woke way too early this am... for having gone to bed 
way too late last night.
But the birds are lovely.
Photo is of my neighbor's yard.



moonlight on my face
water lapping at my feet
winding to the sea

***

(photo is of the Rio Grande here in ABQ)

friday finds




I read... alot.
I love the written word.

I have decided to feature some of the blogs I read on friday's... hence the title... Friday's Finds.
I have about 250 blogs currently on my reading list... and I'm going to be sharing those links over the course of this year... on Friday's.
(plus any more I come across).
If you have a blog.... or have a favorite blog that you want me to feature... just shoot me an email (moongipsies@msn.com).

Today's finds are all about ART!

Today's Finds:

Amber Leilani Middleton
Michael DeMeng
Got Art? 
Geninne
Junker Jane

***

photo is of some fab neon here on Route66



ah... the best laid plans of mice and men...

Sorry for not posting yesterday... chaos reigned the past couple of days... causing all sorts of upsets...
But in the good news... my mom's lump (she had a lumpectomy last week... and didn't want anyone to know)... has turned out to be not cancerous... my son had another day in court.. and it (mostly) went well... the hubby is getting better after his bout with depression... the daughter has amassed a HUGE amount of art for her Etsy shop...
and I am slowly... but surely... getting a few things done... in spite of being in a flare.
And so on it goes.

Tomorrow I re-open my Etsy shop.... and while I got alot of editing and re-organization done...
I didn't get as much new stuff made as I thought I would... but alas.... such is life.
There are new sections.... new items... new ideas for growth and creativity.


***

the photo is a shot I took of a colorful mural down on Central Ave here in ABQ.
I just think it's cool.


 come and sit with me
and feel every sad refrain
deep within my soul

***

MondayUPs



We've all been there. Driving along along.. when >>>BLAM<<< there goes your tire.
These past couple of months, we have spent $1100 on new tires... for 3 different vehicles (mine, BAJs, and the son's)
... and it got me to thinking about tires.
Yes... they are very expensive... and, very necessary.
But what can we do with them once they can no longer be used on our vehicles?

I remember growing up in PA... we had a local junk yard full of them that were essentially used for "target practice"...
And of course... most every house had a "tire swing"... or some such... 
and then there were raised beds like these...


or these


 They can be ground up and used as flooring... and used in parks to break your fall off the slide...

But here are some sculptures!


and furniture!


And even accessories...


to learn more:
read more about recycling tires


sometimes I feel trapped
like a big fat bug ... wiggling
trying to break free

***



her eyes.... reflected
the darkest of all the blues
and deepest shadows

***
.
photo taken on a short trip to Tuscon... edited today

friday finds





I read... alot.
I love the written word.

I have decided to feature some of the blogs I read on friday's... hence the title... Friday's Finds.
I have about 250 blogs currently on my reading list... and I'm going to be sharing those links over the course of this year... on Friday's.
(plus any more I come across).
If you have a blog.... or have a favorite blog that you want me to feature... just shoot me an email (moongipsies@msn.com).

Today's finds are all about photography.
As a photographer myself; I love to see what inspires other artists...



I wish for you peace
love, joy, health and happiness
for all of your days

*****

it's been a trying week here.
Job issues, health issues... money is tight.
Frustrations, sadness, and anxiety...
And another family member is having some health concerns...

But today... I woke to snow on the mountains
... and I just feel like everything will work out.


tranquility sings
a lullaby of serene notes
and untroubled peace

***

This is a photo I took at the Wat Buddhamongkolnimit temple here in ABQ.
The main temple is shown in the bottom left hand side of the photo... 
while the feature of the photo is actually a small shrine towards the back of the lot.
You can read more about the temple: here


I'm leaping into
the great ... unknown... future me
...letting the past be.

***

Monday UPs



Monday's can be rough... But I'm here to help.
In celebration of my 15th year selling my handmade stuff...
 I am going to be featuring things I've seen on blogs, on the internet, in books...
wherever inspiration strikes! On making new items from old goods...

This week I am focusing on things you can do with old gift cards.
As you know, I list alot of guitar picks in my shop on Etsy; made from them.
They are fun... and functional!
But what else can you do?


Here are today's links for MondayUPs!

cute little notebooks
mosaic mirror frames
earrings
coasters
a purse!



having a huge LUPUS flare... so I am not really accomplishing much of anything.

So today... I slept (finally) for awhile... waking just in time to make some dinner
(fresh blackberries, sockeye salmon cooked with lemon and spice, basmati brown rice, wine... coffee)
and to introduce some songs to my daughter by Jimmy Durante. 
gods I love the old stuff :)

listen here:


***

photo is of the "Three Sisters"... dormant volcanoes here on the westside of ABQ



It's been interesting having the Etsy shop closed for an overhaul.
I've been going through items I've had stored (items for sale)... and gifting some of them...
and am planning on listing some of the items on Ebay soon as well. I also have a few collectibles that I will list on Ebay...
and some vintage items... just to clear out a bit.
I've been collecting and wrapping up some items to gift people in the mail...
Cleaning out my cupboards and fridge... and thinking about this year's garden.

One of the things I will be changing in my Etsy shop, are the names of the shop sections.
I am changing them all to verbs.
I realize it is a somewhat inconsequential thing... but I believe in the power of intention... and the use of verbs
 makes me envision things moving out of the shop... flying to their new owners... and growing our income.
Sometimes... it's the "little" things that make a BIG difference.

friday's finds




I read... alot.
I love the written word.

I have decided to feature some of the blogs I read on friday's... hence the title... Friday's Finds.
I have about 250 blogs currently on my reading list... and I'm going to be sharing those links over the course of this year... on Friday's.
(plus any more I come across).
If you have a blog.... or have a favorite blog that you want me to feature... just shoot me an email (moongipsies@msn.com).

Today's Finds:



dearest..... I love you
( just like every other day )
you're my valentine

***



oh - to be a flow'r...
such everlasting beauty
floating in a cup

***

thinking of Valentine's Day coming up...
and so I worked on this photo of a pink orchid.
♥