Round Robin

I was inspired by Kim's take on our Round Robin journal swap:

A portion of Kim's journal cover

So when Kim's journal came around to me, I decided to

stay with the theme and do my version of a Round Robin. 

This bird will be an international traveler!

He is rather round, and I hope they don't charge him extra for two seats.

If so, he may just decide to make the journey with his own two wings. 

Awfully difficult lugging the suitcase though. He may have over-packed.

If he's glimpsed on the other side of the Atlantic, 

he may not be recognized, since this is what a robin looks like over there:

But that's okay, maybe he'll become a celebrity,

being so different and all. Celebrities are all the rage right now,

and one hardly has to do anything to become one.

Surely he is as remarkable as some of those people who are

famous for nothing more than having TV cameras follow them around.

Perhaps he'll be discovered by some paparazzi.

At any rate, he's looking forward to the journey.

So true, isn't it?

I've decided to link this to Paint Party Friday

since it is Friday and I haven't played in a while.

I'm going to try to visit as many blogs as I can,

and I apologize if I don't get around to everyone.

I'm heading out on my own journey, albeit in the opposite

direction to the round robin. My internet access may be spotty,

although I hope to be able to check in from time to time!

Have a lovely weekend!

It's Mermaid Week!

I love mermaids.
So does Lou Anne of Misplaced Mermaid,

one of our newish members at Inspiration Avenue 

and author of this week's challenge. I say "newish" because
it feels like she has been with us much longer than she has
due to her enthusiasm and friendliness!

Check out her blog as well as the challenge at IA.

I'm on a postcard roll ever since our Postcard Swap at IA.

So my entry this week is of course a postcard.

I took a vintage photo of a little girl and transformed her into a mermaid.

Not just any mermaid, but a bewitching one with a magic wand.

I think she has just made a fish disappear. lol.

Some other mermaids I've done
(and most likely have posted before)

This one is sold but I have a print :)

"Bad Hair Day"

"The Butterfly Garland"

(available in my shop, as is the little witchy mermaid)

This is a merrow, you can tell by the red hat
and her webbed fingers. An Irish mermaid.
I never listed this in my shop...
Hmmm, wonder if I should?
I think I considered that she wasn't finished,
but now I'm not sure why I thought that...

Visit Inspiration Avenue on Sunday to see the Mermaid Gallery of entries.
Or pop over there now to get the info on how to enter.
There's plenty of time ~ you have til Sunday at 12 noon eastern time.

Ta ta for now.
I'll be back to show you the postcards I received in the swap
as well as the ones I sent. And a Round Robin update.
Happy Thursday!

Wednesday’s Child

Full disclosure: I'm not a Wednesday's child. I'm a Tuesday's child.

I don't feel particularly sad, but woeful Wednesday 

seemed more interesting than my day.

And anyway, I'm not graceful either :)

 

When Kim set the challenge at Inspiration Avenue this week,

(Days of the Week), I really wanted to do a Wednesday's child.

Kim was sweet enough to bend the rules and allow us to do 

another day of the week if we wanted to!  

So here is my Wednesday's child! 

I thought I would have time to do both, but who was I kidding?

I started with some blobs of purple and blue alcohol inks

and they turned into her dress. I cheated a bit and gave her a Madonna face.

Botticelli was a master of sad, beautiful faces.

The poem by Anne Bronte:

Oh, I am very weary, 

Though tears no longer flow; 

My eyes are tired of weeping, 

My heart is sick of woe.

It seems to be raining a bit in the background,

and the owl is weeping too. But otherwise, it's rather

cheerful with the bright colors, and lollipop flowers.

Pop on over to Inspiration Avenue to see the entries.

If you have time before Sunday, join the challenge!

On what day of the week were you born?

Happy May Day!

Round Robin and Postcard Swap 

Lilies of the Valley

It's finally May, and I am itching to get outside and plant some pretty flowers.

The weather is getting warmer and I hope it stays that way,

because I'm gonna plant my plants regardless.

Lily of the Valley is May's flower. They are so delicate and pretty

but every part of them is poisonous. Just a word to the wise :)

May also holds Mother's Day (U.S.) and my birthday. 

It's almost my favorite month...but that distinction goes to June.

That's when the peonies are in bloom:

Inspiration Avenue's Postcard Swap is in full swing.

I got my 5 names yesterday and can't wait 

to start making postcards and get them in the mail.

This will be a month filled with art-making.

I have Kim's GORGEOUS journal in our Round Robin swap.

front

back

It's always intimidating to start, 

when I have worries of messing up this wonderful book.

Kim's art is so amazing, I love the way she decorated the 

front, back, and inside pages.

Speaking of Kim, she is the host this week 

of Inspiration Avenue's weekly challenge.

Do you know the poem,

“Monday's child is fair of face,

Tuesday's child is full of grace,

Wednesday's child is full of woe, 

Thursday's child has far to go.....”

The poem is the theme of the challenge.

Do you know what day of the week you were born on?

If not, Kim has included a link to find out.

Tuesday. 

My favorite day of the week and the day I was born.

Not the reason I like Tuesdays though, I'm sure.

Tuesday is good because of course it's not the dreaded Monday.

And yet it's very early in the week, and anything exciting might still happen!

Time still to get things done. 

Never mind that I probably won't accomplish nearly what I'd like.

The possibility is there.

Have a fabulous May!

Round Robin

I've finished my pages in Stephanie's journal for our Round Robin swap.

Steph hinted she might like a mermaid . . .  I hope she likes this one.

Of course, this one's like all young mermaids, a shell phone glued to her ear.

She would rather talk than text, which is a bit unusual.

Her eight pet goldfish are oblivious to it all ~ 

they are having their own fun.

The journal will  be on its way to Lisa soon, for her to add her magic!

Stephanie's journal

I'm the very first one to add my pages to this journal, a bit scary at first.

I already have Kim's book to start next. Will do a post on it soon!

I had thought to add this to Paint Party Friday, but I've been having such 

a hard time getting around to visiting blogs, that I feel bad if I don't 

reciprocate the visits. So for now, no PPF. 

Visit there today though if you get the chance! You'll be inspired!

PPF button is in my sidebar.

Don't forget the Postcard Swap at Inspiration Avenue!

You can still sign up until April 29. 

This is going to be tons of creative fun!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Post Card Swap!

Love to send and receive Snail Mail? 

Join the Inspiration Avenue Postcard Swap

HERE!

Grab a badge to place on your blog!

You're awesome for helping to spread the word!!!

Foliage

I just started doodling, and what do you know,

it turned out to be an entry for Jenn's Foliage challenge

at Inspiration Avenue!

It's relaxing to just sit and doodle . . . I am not that handy with a pen ~

my lines are messy, but I still kind of like her, and I'm calling her

Primavera

So ~ a quick, simple entry calls for a quick, simple post.

That's all I've got!

******************

Oh, except for one thing.

I got my own URL for my blog!

“The Magpie's Nest” was not available (of course),

so I am now The Fanciful Magpie.

In case you didn't notice.

If only I could figure out how to delete the

Cutest-Blog-on-the-Block background that has

attached itself permanently to my html.

I have to cover it with white so it looks like I have NO background.

Still have the little logo in the corner, though.

Gr-r-r-r.

 The next day...

O.  M.  G.

I just created my new grabbable button for The Fanciful Magpie 

(very proud of myself because it worked the first time)

And even better than that ~

when I went to remove the html for the old button,

THERE was the code for 

that *^&%#*@ CBOTB background hiding in the widget!! 

I never had so much satisfaction clicking "Delete" :)

 So now I have a new button, and a blank slate for my background!

You probably have no idea why I am so happy.

But I am.

:)

Have a super fantastic weekend!