Rejoice in Hope ~ Tag ~

Lately I seem to enjoy Computer graphics more than making my usual crafts, well it is still a kind of craft.

Today I made two new bookmarks which I have shared on my Whimsical Blog.

This evening I was going through some pictures I have taken in the past and found one I really liked and turned it into an Inspirational Tag/Tile.

Hope you like it! What do you think?

January Memories

January holds many memories and last year one more was added since the passing of my dear Mother. So today being the first anniversary of her demise, I would like to add this post and poem in her memory.

We remember your smile,
Love's glow on your face,
Your guiding words,
Your sweet embrace.
You left us precious memories
And, although we are apart,
We feel you close beside us
For you live on in our heart.
~Doreen~

Sweet Mama', we love you and miss you!
We know you still guide us from your heavenly home.

~o~o~o~o~o~

SUE'S WEEKEND SHADOW BLOG LINK PARTY

Welcome friends from far and near!

Sorry this is a little late in posting but I had problems with trying to post this by scheduling the time on the post...it did not work for me! Anyway here I am posting it direct...

This week I accepted my sister Sue's invitation to participate in her

Weekend Shadow Blog Link Party.

I chose a picture from my files which I had taken a few years ago at San Anton Gardens, my favourite place to stroll about or read a book in or just to take in the serenity of this wonderful place which also forms part of the Presidential Gardens in Attard.

The Shadow of the Trees

I enjoy the shadow of the trees
It fills me with awe-inspiring peace
I take in the moment,
Let it encompass my soul,
Till it becomes a part of me...
God's wonders make me whole.

D. Scerri © 2011

I could not resist writing a poem

to go with the picture I chose.

Thanks Sue for this opportunity to take part in
your Weekend Shadow Link Party : )
You are an inspiration!

Figolla Recipe Success

On Saturday April 11th, 2009 I wrote about our traditional Figolli and posted a recipe for making them...click here for the original post http://doreenscreativespace.blogspot.com/2009/04/maltese-figolli.html

It was lovely to hear from Michelle, one of my followers, and to know that she made these the first time using the recipe I posted and that they turned out so well. Thanks Michelle for sharing your success with me and as promised here is the picture you shared of one of your yummy figolli. Although the photo of your Bear figolla is quite small, one can tell you did such a fine job!

Well done Michelle and thanks again!

Fruit and Vegetable Festival

It is the time of year for outdoor spring activities and what better start

than to go to Fairs and Festivals with an exciting array of attractions

and yummy treats in beautiful surroundings.>

My recent craft show was at the Fruit and Vegetable Festival held in the Presidential Palace Courtyard on Sunday April 3rd. I am so glad my daughter urged me to attend as there was a great turnout and the day was lovely, in fact I think it was the warmest spring day so far.

Here are some pictures from this lovely festival.

My Craft Table

One of the beautiful fabric ornaments that Sue made for me and which was sold to one person along with another similar craft, thanks Sis : )

My mobile/purse charms and peg your notes magnets

Some more of my crafts

The crowds enjoying the warm day and the stalls

Beautiful succulent strawberries

Another stall with strawberries

Flower Stalls

Yummy chocolate covered Maltese nougat

~~~ Be on the look out for news of my next Fair ~~~

Perfect Gifts from Canada!

~ Let's celebrate fall

with the perfect cookies,

chocolates and coffee

the Canadian way ~

Thanks to my cousin and her husband

for the wonderful gifts they brought us

from Canada:

GirlGuide Cookies ~ special edition

celebrating 100th Anniversary

Tim Horton Coffee

Laura Secord Chocolates

What more would we want?

Thanks cuz and thanks also to both of you

for visiting and for the memories : )

Thanks also for the lovely Maple leaves from your yard

which I have pressed!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With apologies to Angie, I'll share a couple of cookies or chocolates if we meet, just say when : )

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

A Thanksgiving display in our hallway ~ can you see

the REAL Maple leaves my dear cuz brought us from their yard?

I know I am posting this a little late and our Sunday is over but just wanted to post to wish all my Canadian friends

A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

~ well, it is still Sunday in Canada : )

We had a lovely day with my Mum and my dear cousin and

her wonderful husband, on holiday here from Canada

...it was indeed very special

to have them

spend this day with us.

“Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.”
Edward Sandford Martin

Blessings to one,
Blessings to all,
Blessings especially during this fall!
Doreen : )

Wordless Wednesday ~ Photos of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Malta 2010

Collages created from photos taken from TV transmission

If you click on the pictures, you can view enlarged images.

Artisans Market during Valletta Day

Yesterday's Craft Fair went very well.

We were invited by the Malta Crafts Council in collaboration with

the Valletta Council and the Malta Tourist Board to take part in the

festivities of Valletta Day.

There were many participants, we had lots of people browsing and

admiring our work and thankfully, some were also buying : )

As you can see from the above picture, it was sunny (sunglasses) although cloudy,

hot (me wearing a light top) and windy (tablecloth flapping)!

Here is a close-up of my table.

The picture above shows my beaded accessories for

mobiles, keychains or purses. I was quite surprised and

pleased to have a customer returning and asking whether I had

any more with ladybird charms since the one she bought from me

at a previous sale was so very well liked. She bought two more!

These are the new additions to my table...my acrylic painted

watering cans which I decorated for Easter...these attracted quite a few people

who complimented me on them...and I sold a couple too : )

Here are a few of my smallest tealight holders and at the back

is a set of glass painted glasses with a sunflower design.

More decoupage...tealights in different sizes and decorative bottles.

More decorative items in decoupage.

One side of my table.

On the right hand side you can see some of the other stalls in the Artisans Market.

This picture was taken quite early when the market opened so the crowds had not quite set in.

Bagpipes

A band march by the Wallace Pipes and Drums along

some of the main streets

in Valletta provided enjoyable Bagpipe music.

The Wallace Pipes and Drums in Queen's Square

Here are some photos of In Guardia displays

During the day I met one of my high school teachers, a nun whom I had not seen for several years, also a cousin again whom I had not met in a long time.

The Mayor of Valletta visited all the stalls and he stopped to chat for a little while with all of us.

A few other friends stopped by as well...it seems the market is quite the place to meet ~ how lovely!

My children came to help me again, we set out quite early and my husband also joined us after work...I guess this is becoming quite a family concern : )

By 3.30pm we were all set to go home, tired but happy and a little sunburnt!

Hmm...must make a note to pack some sunscreen along with my crafts next time!

Irish Blessing

This is so totally and uniquely beautiful, I had to share it here with you especially today being St.Patrick's Day.
Do not be put off by the first part which you and I may not understand although it still sounds so soothing. I am sure you will want to listen to this more times than just once.


The Song comes from the CD "Healing Angel" By Roma Downey (Monica in Touched by an Angel), with music by Phil Coulter.

Hyacinths in bloom

Above is a picture of one of my hyacinths ready to bloom...

and here is one in bloom. I have never taken care of hyacinths before and I think they are beautiful flowers. The bulbs will bloom in future seasons with proper care. I have done some research on the net to learn more about the bulbs and the lovely flowers they produce. Funnily enough on the first page I found an article about Hyacinth Bucket (which she pronounces as Bouquet), the character portrayed by Katherine Patricia Routledge in Keeping Up Appearances. We always enjoyed that show and its re-runs : )

My husband bought me these three bulbs in a basket which I am keeping in my kitchen for the time being since there is good lighting there but I may transfer it to another room later on. Hmm, maybe I could use the flowers in full bloom for 'one of my Candlelight suppers' as Mrs Bucket would say LOL!

P.S. Sorry about the picture not being very clear.

Wordless Wednesday...My Year-round tree in Fall

Especially for Debbie H.~thanks for your reminder : )

If I had Wings ~ A Tag

THANKS CATHY

for your welcome suggestion

to make my poem and photo into a tile/tag...

I hope you like it : )

If I had Wings ~ A Poem

~If I had Wings~

If I had wings

If I could fly

I'd spread my wings

I'd span the sky

If I had wings

I'd feel so free

My friend won't you

Come fly with me

The wind will lift us higher

Far above the clouds

If I had wings I'd fly with you

Far from all the crowds!

Doreen Scerri © 2009

I took the above picture only a few days ago when I was taking pictures of clouds. Have you ever tried to take photos of birds in flight? Gosh it is ever so difficult to get them all in one perfect frame. It was getting kind of dark then, but this is the best one I got and I am quite happy with it. I think capturing birds in flight will be my next challenge : ) Have you ever thought about how fast birds fly? The photo inspired me to write the poem. Poetry takes me into worlds and places I may never get to, it frees my spirit and my mind travels anywhere it fancies, anywhere it longs to go and through my verses I can travel beyond the horizon and back again.

Thank you Lord for the wind beneath my wings

every time You inspire me

with Your wonderful creation.

On theThreshold between Summer and Fall

On this side of the world we are just about crossing
the threshold between summer and fall.

I love the above picture...it is of clouds rising from the north

with the fiery red setting sun in the west reflected in them.
They are as beautiful as ocean waves yet they have a beauty of their own.

I love looking up at the sky, the clouds are just awesome.

Take time to look up once in a while ~ the view can be very uplifting! We have been gifted with so many God-given wonders, but sometimes we take them for granted. You don't have to pay to watch the skies, the ocean, the birds, the flowers, the fields ~ enjoy them and give thanks!

At the start of the past season and after the long winter months, most of us were yearning for summer, sunshine and beaches, siestas and all that summer would bring along with it.

So it may not be everyone's cup of tea to be thinking of going back to school, schedules and timetables. But certainly fall, or autumn as most of us like to call this season, is here once more. Isn't it just wonderful that we can see it happening with the dimness of autumn's continual lessening light and although we feel it in the decreasing energy our bodies go through to adjust to this quiet season, there is a certain calmness there with each and every one of us, if only we stop long enough to experience and appreciate it.

As you can tell, I am definitely in the mood for fall, looking forward to the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen especially soups and casseroles and baking (surely not summer food at least not for me), anticipating the expectations of getting ready for Thanksgiving and the fun part of Halloween and if I may say so, yes even the thrill of getting ready for Christmas!

Clouds are wondrous in the sky

Catching colours from earth's surface,

Fewer hours light our day

Making home a cozier place.

Our nights are much cooler
We dream soundly in our sleep,
Changing winds forever blowing
A crisp rust carpet for us to sweep.
Pumpkins, scarecrows, autumn leaves
Blend to help us remember
As we cherish sweet memories of seasons past
And enjoy these bountiful days of September.
I long for walks along the countryside
Wait for inspiration along the bay,
I love the scent of the first rainfall
Fall is here to stay.
Doreen Scerri © 2009

A Fall Decoration for your Yard/Patio

As Fall approaches we will be putting our summer

decorations away and making room for pumpkins,

multi-coloured leaves and autumn wreaths

as well as this season's centre pieces

along with Thanksgiving and

Halloween decorations.

The picture above is a lovely and creative display of

pumpkins and gourds on an old weathered bench.

Fall flowers, turkey pokes, a

sunflower/birdhouse-designed

watering can and a cute little scarecrow made

from dish towels complete the look.

Many thanks to my friend Calico on my favourite forum

'Craftsayings' who made this fall presentation and also

gave me permission to feature it on my blog.

Thanks Calico : )

I hope you will all be inspired by this creative idea!

Please add any ideas you may have to the comments section ~ thanks!