Karen's Muse and Musings

Envelopes, Bracelets and Puppies

If you follow my blog, you may recall that I recently wrote how I discovered double-sided scrapbook paper made a fabulous envelope. (Click here to see that post.) Well, that very afternoon I received a fabulous, innovative package from Lenna.

She took an entire sheet of double-sided paper, folded it in thirds, and sewed the sides closed on her sewing machine. No enveloped template needed! Then she decorated it with lots of stamping and a beautiful label. Isn't she clever?

I also want to share this bracelet my mother made. I've been meaning to post it for quite a while. To let you know how long, I've had it since Christmas!

I was lucky to receive this because my family was having a White Elephant gift exchange. (I wondered if my mother knew what that meant!) Anyway, somehow I was lucky enough to snatch this lovely beaded bracelet.

Lastly, we have a new puppy, a Maltese. He's been with us for about a month now, and he is training us very well. His name is Jasper.

As you can see in this next photo, he and grandson Bobby love each other very much.

In Memory of Misu

Misu, April 15, 1995 - December 30, 2010

Last Thursday my little Misu passed away. Half shih tsu and half toy poodle, she was precious to me and everyone that knew her. I was fortunate to have this personable, often mischievous dog for 15 years. When she was just a puppy, probably a couple of months after the above photo was taken, I took her for a walk. I lived in an intown Atlanta neighborhood, not far from the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. So Misu and I walked there, and we stopped to rest beside the reflecting pool in front of the library. I was just standing there when all of a sudden, I heard a splash. I looked down, and my tiny puppy had jumped into the pool! A guard came over as I fished her out. Apparently they frowned on dogs swimming in the pool.

This photo was taken when she was 7 weeks old. That's a man's cap on the ground beside her, so you can see how tiny she was.

And this photo was taken years later when she was 9 years old. Didn't she have a sweet face?

I can't write any more right now. The pain of losing her is too new, too fresh. I know I will feel better eventually, but now I just miss my baby and best friend.

Thank you, Vicki!

I received this delightful Christmas doll in Thursday's mail. I participated in a secret sister Christmas ornament swap in my Avid Art Peeps group, and my sweet friend, Vicki Sun, had my name. Aren't I fortunate? I just love this doll. I have her displayed on my piano, at least for the moment. Grandson Bobby is fascinated with her, and I need to find a place where he can look but not touch! Vicki has some posts on her blog about how she makes these dolls. Click here and here to see some of the other dolls.

Vicki wrote me that she wanted the dog to look like my Zoe, but she couldn't find any photos of her on my blog or Facebook. It has been a while since I posted any pictures of my pets, but Zoe is white with brown spots, so Vicki has a pretty good memory. Here's Zoe's picture.

A Bird in the Hand

Les Petit Dolls with Suzi Blu continues to be so much fun, and this piece may be my favorite yet. I drew the girl with the bird, and then as I was looking for text in one of my bird books, I found these words, "What Bird Is That?" — perfect, I thought.

Speaking of birds, I added a ground feeder to my collection of bird feeders in the backyard. The nice man at Wild Birds Unlimited told me that it would attract indigo buntings who are migrating through our area. So, I sat it up and added the recommended bird seed. A little while later I look out the window hoping to see a swarm of brilliant blue birds. No birds, but my cat Annabelle was there, slyly positioned by the planter, and I think she was saying, "Come here, my pretties!"

Official Easter Basket Inspector

The inspector is my cat, Annabelle. I had just finished this basket for an Easter basket swap when Annabelle jumped up to check it out. She gave it 2 paws up, so now it's on its way to Karen Campbell, also affectionately known as Karen Brattypants.

Once the basket was in the mail, I finished a necklace I started a few days ago.