The Train is Pulling into the Station -- New Year Approaching

Happy whistling
Grinding wheel
The train is on track.
Stay?
Switch?
New transport?
2011

H. Berger

Created a treasury with this theme on 12/22/2010.

'The Train is Pulling into the Station -- New Year Approaching' by MagMoment

Happy whistlingGrinding wheelThe train is on track.Stay?Switch?New transport?2011

Caboose Necklace themorosebee $15.00	PRINT - There is nothing tha... thebigharumph $20.00	The Majestic Crossing Signal... ScooyouPhotogr... $20.00	whistle while you work retrostiletto $14.00
Get Ready - 2011 Planner - S... Phizzwizard $25.00	HANDMADE GREETING CARD INSPI... SusanTracie $5.00	Alice I Have Been. dreamsbythesea $50.00	2011 Wall Calendar, I Dreame... jessicarogers $35.99
Railroad Tracks 30 inch ORI... benwill $189.00	Aloft cathynichols $28.00	BLISS - Cottage Floral Wallp... PreciousPastim... $14.50	Retired Caboose, Original wa... KarenHollyKrea... $225.00
Pink surprise - daily planne... MadalinasCraft... $22.50	Green and Yellow Bird Whistl... gypsypottery $28.00	The Book of Good Thoughts. I... GILDBookbinder... $49.00	Boys train with wall letteri... walldesign $45.00

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'In a mood... inspired by ivorymoon' by MagMoment

Every now and then one needs a kick in the seat of the pants. Ivorymoon selected a beautiful treasury tonight, so I am now motivated. You're it. Saw my first kingfisher in Florida in November. I'd love a horse farm. I think that owl is a Van Gogh! "Ribbons down my back" Barbra. Children are everything.

Winter Horses / fine art pho... NicholasBellPh... $30.00	Silk Ribbon Bracelet with Si... charmeddesign1... $32.00	Modern Circles Necklace - Bl... TheBrokenPlate $75.00	Large Metallic Silver Silk R... Brydferth $24.00
Sea's Mystery. Original... FrancesPhotogr... $75.00	Guardian Angel with two Chil... Andreatdesigns $5.00	Sweet Silver Bells Repurpose... ClothandPatina $16.00	Blue Earrings - Sterling Sil... hildes $23.00
Aurora ivorymoon $28.00	Brushed Silver Heart Drop Ea... MojoSteph $45.00	Kingfisher - Original 9x12 F... sstormster1 $150.00	Silk Kimono Clutch/Purse/Bag... puck513 $75.00
PICASSO'S Owls - Vintage... chloesvintagej... $34.00	Vintage Silver Love - Oblon... TheHomeCentric $21.90	NEW. Wonderland. Star-Drop E... caughtredhande... $15.00	Vintage 70s Navy Velvet Hat pistolpoppy $18.00

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How I Learned about Handmade

Rehearsal Dinner Dress

I lived in Rochester, Minnesota until I was sixteen. It was so cold in the winter that there were many days we didn't venture outdoors. During that time, my mother taught me to knit, crochet, embroider, and sew. Her mother taught her those arts, so she was able to teach me. With the teaching my mother taught me a special value for handmade. Both grandmothers also had these skills and reinforced the importance of do-it-yourself (DIY). As I accomplished those crafts, I also learned a lot of self-confidence. After all, not many of my school friends were working with hooks and needles. And, I had some finished products. (Yes, I was a member of the local 4-H group.)

College Formal Dress

What have I done with those skills? I attended Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, and I made every single dressy dress I needed for four years. Pictured on the right is a flapper style dress I wore to a dance in college. After that, I made my Rehearsal Dinner Dress for my wedding weekend. I still love it, and it is pictured above in green. I created a lot of Halloween costumes and most recently hemmed  a chorus dress.

As for knitting... we made a few items slippers and bags when I was young, but nothing really stylish.  Last winter I bought this wonderful knitting book pictured to the left and made a pair of fingerless gloves. They weren't that hard. For my daughter's bat mitzvah project we knit or crocheted preemie beanies for the local hospital. Read about the project here. I designed simple knit and crochet patterns, which are included in the post. I recommend this book as a gift for someone who knows how to knit, but needs a little push or direction.

Hat knit hat with baby blue and variegated blue yarn

But my favorite find has been a simple Martha Stewart knit winter hat pattern. All three children asked for them in different colors one winter, so I knit quite a few. In the summer, my daughter carried around her bouncy ball collection in one of them, so it looks a lot like the mitten in Jan Brett's The Mitten. I just finished another hat last night, this one to match my ski coat. I did not use a bulky yarn and added a few extra stitches, but you get the idea. And, it will be in the teens here in Georgia; I will need it for my dog walk today. So I want to invite you to make this beautiful hat. It is knitted with two yarns, so that it goes quickly.

Some of these arts I took to another level beyond what my mother taught me, like sewing. I bought a serger and learned  how to finish seams another way. And, I picked up jewelry wire wrapping easily and created an etsy jewelry shop. Teach your children what you know or find someone who knows and will teach.

Found Hobby Lobby

Over the Thanksgiving holidays, we visited my aunt and uncle and many cousins in Tennessee to celebrate my aunt's birthday. This was a fun family reunion! to be sure... But I also learned a great deal in a brief conversation with my uncle. I am always thinking about new products and The Gift Box in Big Shanty suggested that items under $20 would sell best this holiday. (I have my art at Big Shanty till December 17th.)

I do sell ACEOs, which retail for $5, but I have been thinking about creating another inexpensive product. So as I was exploring my Uncle's garage with him... we discussed framing and he told me to visit Hobby Lobby. Weird that I haven't been to this particular craft store, as I love that kind of shop.

When I returned to Atlanta, I searched Hobby Lobby and visited the Ashford Dunwoody location. Here's the video from my tour.


And, yes, I found the stretcher bars. I am practicing stretching my own work... but it will be a while before I start selling my own stretching because I am determined to sell a high quality product, and it is hard to gallery wrap pre-printed canvas.

As a caution... hobby lobby is not open on Sundays. But I do recommend visiting their shop another day. The chain has 462 stores in 39 states.

Search Etsy for Real Inspiration for Your Art

Etsy can be a true inspiration for art, ideas, and motivation. I created this treasury today thinking about holiday giving for my daughter. Chanukah is in a few days... and Christmas is in a few weeks. The initial pendant below by RitzyMisfit is a sure winner with a girl for the holidays. They are light weight and unique. I love the beautiful lockets created by Starsb117. Today she has this pretty heart version available on the bottom left. And, I was excited to find this shop by jewelrybynatsuko today. Let me know what you think.

'Growing up and out of the house... girls becoming daughters' by MagMoment

Pretty, pretty.. just like the smile on her face.

Plum Chunky Knit Hat wi... OopsIKnitItAga... $35.00	SALE 3 Pc Shabby Distre... SundayTreasure... $13.00	Ballet Pointe Shoes Fin... lindaboucher $18.00	Dress Slip Layered Blue... amberdark $115.00
Cherry Blossom Wrap pokodeko $42.00	1in CIRCLE GLASS PENDAN... HipsterDesigns $4.50	Ritzy Misfit Wax Seal P... RitzyMisfit $30.00	IRIS-Fabric/Crystal-Ear... kangas $22.00
Netbook Mini Laptop Sle... bertiescloset $19.99	NEW Open Edition ACEO P... Purrr $5.00	Purple Agate Swarovski ... BlingGlamouran... $36.00	Pink Flower Pouch Zippe... Noonew $9.00
Rustic Hammered Heart L... starsb117 $29.00	Poppy bouquet on silver... jewelrybynatsu... $65.00	Crayola Colors - lightw... prettypanda $15.00	OOAK Tweedy purple hand... UnravelMe $38.00

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Florida's Blue Spring State Park is for the Birds (and the Manatees)

I did ask as I checked into my camp site if there were birds at Blue Spring State Park, which is located outside of Daytona about 30 miles. The employee said no not really they were migrating...  but a woman stepped into the conversation and said, that yes there were birds there.

I took the two hour river cruise on the St. John's River through the park service for $22 and took 187 photographs on the cruise of mostly birds. If I didn't get a good shot, we found another of the same bird further down the river, so I could try again. (Not on purpose, but that gives you an idea how many birds there were.) It was stunning.

My favorite was the Anhinga. Their open wings had markings, which resembled the Spanish moss and made the birds blend in.  I use this photograph above on the right to illustrate my point. Hopefully it also shows the large size of the bird.

Here are a few other birds we spotted on our trip. Below is a black crowned night heron. The image is titled "Asleep."

Here are three white ibis. My son studied these when he was in kindergarten. Funny where life leads you. I had no idea what they were then, not too long ago.

We learned from our wonderful tour guide that the Audobon society began with a women's group who opposed the hunting of birds for the feathers for women's hats. Upon further reading, this group was led by Boston's Harriet Hemenway, who called her friends in the Boston Blue Book, high society and invited them to join the group. Interesting.

And, as you can imagine. Although, I didn't think about it. There were a few alligators in the park as well.

This park's spring is home to 271 manatees because it is 72º year round. I admit, I didn't study the manatees as much as I studied the birds. But it's okay to leave something for the next visit.

Here is a three minute video of the park cruise to entice you to take the trip!


As a heads up... I stayed at a campsite #14 in my tent and it was very noisy at the park. There is a train close by; the first night I counted four loud passings. And, in between a rooster crowed her way through the night. She must not understand the wee hour wake up, which would have been okay in light of the early hour awakenings. But the view of the birds before the park opened was worth the sleepless night, and I was so tired the other nights, I slept through all the noise. And, many different birds woke me up at daylight, so I could make it to the river. What a really wonderful place.

All of these images are copyrighted by Hazel Berger. Please do not use without permission. I apologize to the tour guide. I did not mean to capture so much of his voice. Next time I will know to ask permission.

Already Planning my Return to Cades Cove -- Side Trip to Tennessee

Oh so pretty! Such a beautiful place four hours from Atlanta. Here are some photographs. We drove the 11 mile loop in Cades Cove in a couple hours, but I could have taken 11 hours... for sure. I can't wait to camp there and photograph with more time.

A Photographer's Morning

Wake up.
Get dressed.
Pull a diet coke from the fridge.
Watch the sun rise from behind the camera lens.
Drive to town looking for photographs for sunset.
Grocery shop.
Prepare orange french toast.
Wake up the children.
Blog it.
Eat.
Shower.

Got to love those kids!

So, for me anyway, part of having children is really having fun with them. Do you laugh hysterically at some of your kids' antics? It's required. I found this tonight while I was cooking. It wasn't funny... the funny part is wondering if I contributed to the mess?

My oldest and I text funny things at least once a day. Share something special with one of your kids today. It will add a smile to your day and make everything (all that hard earned money?) worthwhile.

I was able to unwind this and toss the pieces without a hitch. I showed them, but wasn't looking for a culprit.

Tag from Art Plus Blog -- You're IT!

1. If you could have any wild animal(not domesticated) as a pet and this animal would never live behind bars and it would be safe for both you and the animal, what animal would you choose.

That's hard to decide because I wouldn't want to make a wild animal a pet. But I choose a horse. I am so wanting a horse farm presently. But I see it says not domesticated... so a small elephant because Jungle Book was one of my favorite stories as a child.


2. What occupation would you choose if you could do it all over again. You cannot answer that you would not change anything. And, how would you go about achieving your goal. You are twenty again.

I would start shooting photographs right there and then, not wait 20 years to become a photographer!
3. What advice would you give your child in today's world just before he or she leaves home for good.

I don't think the kids will leave home for "good." We are texting, so that will be a choice and also video chatting will be good then. But one of my mantras is to try everything at least once. So, I would suggest falling back on those things tried and unliked and to try other things for diversity in life.

4. If you had all of the time in the world and had access to all libraries of the world, what topic would you spend your life researching and why.

I would spend my time researching Monet's art because it really fascinated me in France. I would like to visit all the museums that hold his work and read all the commentary on his work. But I would especially like to visit his gardens.

Thank you Carole of Art Plus for selected me for tag. I would like to tag four artists from Etsy. But will do the research shortly.

My questions:

1. When, where and how did you sell your first piece of art?

2. Who is your favorite artist? Why?

3. What is a personal goal you have now?

4. How will you accomplish the goal?