Someone help me! I'm addicted to Pinterest!

I'm a very visual person!  I love to look at photos!  Love to be inspired!  Love to see things I've never seen before!  Love to learn new things!  If you are too, check it out at Pinterest.

I have boards on color, art, embroidery, jewelry, bugs, birds, mixed media, photography, gardening, portals, fashion, flowers, dolls, vintage, etc, etc, etc, and even used tires!

You can check out my boards by clicking on the red follow me on pinterest button in the column on the right.   Signing up is free and then you can start pinning from your favorite blogs onto your own boards. I have to warn you though, it can be addicting!

Craftsman Farms

While I was away in New Jersey I finally was able to visit Craftsman Farms in Morris Plains NJ.  Gustav Stickley lived there for part of his life and he had hoped to start a school there. It is the only house he designed and built for his own use.  This has been on my bucket list for at least the last decade.  I have always admired the artists of the Arts and Crafts Movement and while I wouldn't like a house totally devoted to the style I did manage to snag an original Roycraft side table/bookcase at an auction. I love old oak furniture and I admire the philosophy of a simpler life.  There are current artists that work in the style. Laura Wilder is one that comes to mind.  My blog header for fall was photographed at the farm.  It is well worth the visit.

On the road again!

I have been away for a while.  I spent the last few weeks in a variety of places. Spent two days driving to Louisville where I spent a glorious week with my extended family. I loved spending my days with my two beautiful godchildren Isabel and Sophia. I also attended the St James Court Art Show, where I spent a lovely fall day perusing the works of 750 artists.  I also found time to fit in a few antique malls where I found a few embroidered pieces I liked.  Hope you enjoy them.

More Book Making

And here is the other book published by Blurb.

My husband and I live on the beach and we are are always taking pictures.  I made this book to remind us of how lucky we have been to see all the wonders of the changing landscape off of our balcony.

Looking East by Dorene E. Bradley and Stephen R. ImMasche | Make Your Own Book

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope all is well in your corner of the world.

Maddy Update

She just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Book Making

I love Groupon.  It's a great way to try out services you were unaware existed.  I've purchased some great deals.  I was able to purchase two certificates to Blurb for a fraction of the regular price. The only bad thing is not watching the expiration dates.

I didn't leave myself enough time to edit photos and lay-out like I wanted. But I am pretty happy with the results.  And the groupon served it's purpose.  Now I'm addicted to Blurb.  There are some great books being self published.  Check it out at www.blurb.com.



The Gift of Isabel

This is to my goddaughter Isabel.  A woman without child is a woman left out of the club of motherhood.  Occasionlly there will be a mother who is secure enough to let the childless woman in and trust her with her child.  This is a wonderful gift and I chose to honor it with a little book.

The Gift of Isabel by Dorene E. Bradley | Make Your Own Book

Never give up!

Sometimes things happen we have no control over and sometimes we lose control over things we think we can control.  Keeping control can be for some people the most difficult thing in the world.  I may be one of those people.  Anyway,  I'm glad to be back.

While I was away two new members have joined our household.  Maxwell and Maddy.

Four months ago I started taking walks around our grounds and a cute little kitty decided to join me.  He met me every evening on the walk and played leap frog of a sort with me.  Having lost Oliver this year I thought maybe he and Luigi (Oliver's brother) might hit it off.  He was available for adoption. He is what is referred to as a friendly ferral from a colony maintained on the property.  He and Luigi hit it off and he fit in very easily.  The sad part is that he is related to Oliver and suffers from the same congenital heart disease that took Oliver's life. His name is Max and his life may be short, but I intend to make it a good one for him.

Two weeks ago a neighbor was given a three week old calico kitten to watch for the weekend.  Supposedly it could eat on its own.  It couldn't. The neighbor couldn't get it to eat but I was able to.  Do you see where this is going? I said I would keep it till it was stable and able to be adopted.  Now I can't give her up.  We gave her the name Maddy and she is now livening up our household.