Marie has been located

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Yup you read right Marie has been found!!!!! Turns out she was mailed out before the said player went AWOL and has been waiting in customs. Apparently Marie was man handled by custom officials her package bore the proof of her mistreatment. However feeling guilty for what they had done someone in customs took the time out to repackage her all pretty like and send her on her way. So she is now in the safe hands of fellow player Cindy and will be recirculated into the round robin game. I'm afraid as of yet Sandy's book is still M.I.A keeping my fingers crossed that her story has a happy ending just like mine.

Even though I wasn't sure where my book was I still had plans on completing the books that came my way I worked on Becky's page just the other day I still have her second page to finish but here is a sneak peak of page numro uno.

So ya see there is such a thing as happily ever after... ah the power of positive thinking

until next time Hugs Deborah

Marie Antoinette goes M.I.A

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Looks like my Marie Antoinette altered book has gone M.I.A . I received a email last night from the founder and uber talented Cassandra of the Marie A. mail art group I belong to stating my book has disappeared.

It turns out that one of the players of our round robin decided to go AWOL and allegedly all the facts have not been uncovered so I don't want to make accusations without knowing the whole scoop. But we think this person has nabbed my book and Sandy's book (another wonderful talented artist).

How things went down as I was told by Cassandra herself, so this isn't just gossip it came straight from the horses mouth (now you all knowI love horses so Cassandra this is not an insult). When Cassandra received her next book to add to she was very upset to see the poor quality of the previous pages from (our un-named poopy player goes here), since we all have worked very hard to make each book super special that way when the original owner gets back their book they will be thrilled with the end result. You can understand substandard work is not a good thing.

Being the founder and standard setter of the group Cassandra emailed poopy player to discuss her work. Which of course resulted in no reply from poopy player after sending numerous emails and the discovery that poopy player had now removed her email address and any means of contact from her profile page (hmmmm I some how get the feeling she dosen't want us to find her what do ya think) Cassandra decided to put on her sleuthing hat and go to work.

Turns out this person has pulled out from several groups she has belonged to and there has been much talk about her where abouts and how she has left others stranded. So how does all this tie in with me, Sandy and our books. Poopy player was the last one to see our books they where in her possession when all this went down. So we is all thinkin she went AWOL with our books in tow.

It has been over the alloted time we are suppose to keep the books, they should have arrived at the next person down the line and yet they remain M.I.A.

We are all hoping that she had a smidgen of decency and sent them along the way before she decided to jump ship. I hate to pass judgment and I hope that in the end there is a reasonable explanation on why she is unable to play and that there was no malice or ill intent on her part and this is all just a misunderstanding, and things will work out in the end. So for now I will just say my book is lost in transition until I know otherwise.

Always looking for the bright side of things
Until next time hugs Deborah
Oh and if you see a lost and lonely Marie Antoinette altered book floating around cyber space please let me know,I miss her and want her to come home.

Places kitties don't belong

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Places kitties should not venture but dare to go HMMMMMM let me see if your Stumpy that would be, the fridge, the pantry cupboard,the shower stall, mom's sock drawer oh and the DRYER!!!!!

We just learned a very expensive and scary lesson, if you open it he will come, so you better check things twice wait make that three times before you shut all doors and walk away.

Poor wee Stumps had a very traumatizing experience last night one that I'm sure he will not forget in a long time.

Hubby was throwing his laundry into the dryer when I called him to another room he was going to show me his new shirt he just bought. He walked away leaving the dryer door open and came to talk to me. Conversation over he went back to his laundry throwing the rest of his wet cloths in........

(Stumpy)~Oh this is where it gets very sad and way scary~ Not knowing Stumpy had decided the dryer was a great place to play hide and seek he shut the door turned on the dryer and walked away.

(Spanky)~ Drama, Drama, Drama thats all it is with that brother of mine~So hubby saunters back to the bedroom to continue our conversation. Meanwhile I'm hearing a clunk, clunk coming from the dryer sounds like someone threw a shoe in there, but not thinking much about it since the dryer is old and makes funny noises we continue to talk for about 3 minutes. Hubby decides to go check things out because the noise isn't letting up.

Thats when I hear Deb Stumpy is in the dryer and I'm thinking no he can't be cause it was just running, what do you mean he is in the dryer. Then it dawns on me just what he is saying OMG STUMPY IS IN THE DRYER....... Hubby rushes the poor wee guy in to me and all I can see is his once pale pink nose is now glowing red like Rudolf the red nose raindeer and the rim of his eyes are beet red and he is having trouble breathing. OMG he is going to die......I call the vet as fast as I can try explaining this emergency without coming across as the worst kitty owner out there, ya my cat was in the dryer for about 3 minutes, no you don't understand it was running for the said 3 minutes, you know fluff and fold kind of running.

(Spanky) Ye gads if I got to hear this story one more time........This kind of gets the receptionist attention, okay yes bring him right in. Oh you would think this is where things would get better for poor Stumps nope we are not done traumatizing the wee guy just yet. We stuff kitty in his carrier and speed ahead to the vets, pulling into the parking lot a van pulls out in front of us hubby has to slam on the brakes and the carrier in the back with our precious kitty flies of the seat and does a face plant on the floor kitty and all. So not only has Stumpy been tumbled Dried we can add being sent air born from his safe haven at mock speed.

Finally we get him in the clinic where he is assessed by the vet turns out all his vitals are normal- Good, his temperature is back to normal-Good and she can feel no broken bones-Good. When she puts him on the floor to see him walk he walks with happy tail straight up in the air towrads the open garbage to see what trouble he can find waiting in there-Good!!! Looks like he is back to bad self.

She gives him an ejection of pain medication cause he is gonna feel this for sure and gives him some fluids under the skin and sends him home with a one lucky kitty award. We had to keep an close eye on him because sometimes it takes a while for internal injuries to show up.

I knew things where back to normal when I found this first thing in the morning. Silly Spanky doesn't know better you run when Mom comes. I walked into the laundry room where the litter box and extra litter is kept Stumpy was standing on top of the knocked over litter bucket but as soon as he saw me he high tailed it out of there as fast as he could leaving Spanky to take the blame. By the time I got my camera Stumpy was long gone and well lets just say Spanky isn't the brightest bulb in the box so he just hangs around with a what it was like this when I got here look on his face.

So that was my night how was yours. I know I sound kind of glib about this whole could have been very tragic tale but trust me my warped humor is only a mask, If I allow myself to play the what if game I will drive myself mad. I am so grateful that this story had a happy ending though I'm sure Stumpy is now only playing with 7 lives. Both Hubby and I realized just how much we care about this wee guy and would be devastated if things had turned out differently.

Until Next time hugs

Deborah

Cottage Charm Giveaway WINNER IS.............

WELL IT LOOKS LIKE I'M LATE ITS 1:00 AM AND I JUST DUG OUT MY NAME PULLING HAT, I COULDN'T FIND THE DARN THING AND YA CAN'T HAVE A DRAW WITHOUT A HAT.............

OKAY HAT FOUND NOW ITS TIME TO PULL A NAME

DRUM ROLL PLEASE....................

AND THE WINNER OF LAND OF NOD'S COTTAGE CHARM GIVEAWAY IS

SUE-GOSSAMER CREATIONS

CONGRATULATIONS SUE ALL THIS LOOT IS COMING YOUR WAY ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS YOUR ADDRESS AND WE ARE SET TO GO.

Thank you everyone who stopped by for a visit, I wish I had gifts for all of you. Your comments and enthusiasm brought me so much joy, I really had fun and appreciate you taking the time to check me out. I hope this is not the last we see of each other I would love to have you stop by from time to time to check out the going ons in the Land Of Nod and who knows I just might get the urge to give away more goodies.

Take care Deborah

It's May and that means it's time for the 3rd Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway event! This is a month long event (all drawings will be held on the same day - May 30th) it is a great way to discover new cottage, romantic,and vintage oriented blogs, as well as vendors and talented artists.

I participated in this giveaway last year and had a blast so when Kim Bouldin over at

One Woman's Cottage Life

Invited me to come join the fun again this year I scrambled to gather up my goodies and head on over to be added to the ever growing list of participating bloggers willing to part with there treasures.

This giveaway is open to all even if you don't have a blog, I'm willing to ship worldwide so no excuses come join the fun. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, if you don't have a blog please leave some form of contact info~email where you can be reached if you are the lucky winner. I will be drawing the winning name 6:00pm my time I think its Eastern time May 30th.

Okay so my goodies list is a bit different than last years I'm hocking my own wears this time and of course I did add a bit of bling and some rust just to keep every one happy.

On with the show the winner will receive

3-handmade soldered pendants

1-vintage rhinestone necklace

set of vintage glass salt & Pepper shakers

mini watering can with antique book pages dated 1733&1880

rusty altered tin *Beauty*

3 handmade altered art tags

Everything is not shown in this picture so please scroll down to see everything

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A hand made soldered (lead free) pendant I created using vintage/modern bling called *Romance*

Handmade soldered pendant (lead free) She Sells Sea Shells

Soldered art pendant (lead free) Fairy Princess

Vintage Rhinestone Bling necklace~ this is vintage so please keep that in mind it may not be perfect, like who is.........all the stones are there and the clasp works which means you can wear it......


Vintage (I'm not sure how old these are so I don't want to call them antique but I think they are) glass S&P shakers I don't know much about this kind of stuff but I do know the tops are mother of pearl and have some tarnish and they sure are pretty that I know.


A new mini water( bought it just the other day) can with antique book pages great for mixed media projects. First lot of pages are from Paris ( they are inFrench) and have a copy wright date of 1733 and they show their age, they have had some water damage who knows how many years ago and have lots of stains. For me this is what makes them special, second lot of paper are from a children's illustrated book quite a few images with a copy wright date 1880. These to have seen better days but in my eyes this just adds to their charm.



Hand made altered rusty tin (of course created by moi) called *Beauty*

this is the top the flower at the bottom is antique.

Inside tin all these ladies are reprints of antique photo's from my personal collection.



Bottom of tin reprint of from an old postcard.

Hand made mixed media tags these make great book marks or would look wonderful hanging on a gift for that special someone

There you have it my Giveaway loot if you want to see more great stuff head on over to

Cottage Charm Giveaway

to see all the amazing goodies waiting to be won.

Remember My giveaway is open to all so don't be afraid

drop me a line who knows you just might win something

Hugs Deborah

Finally My Altered book is complete

Looks like I've been up to my lazy tricks again its been some time since I have popped in and visited my own blog Shame on me. Hubby has been very sick with the stomach Flu keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't decided to take up residence in my carcass, cause it sure is a doozy.

I have finally managed to get my Altered Art Book (My very first ever) done for the Marie Antoinette mail art group I belong to. It is now on it's way to the first recipient Sandy for her to add her artistic touches. There are 9 people (10 including moi) who signed up for this round robin I'm so excited to see what everyone creates, this is such a cool idea.

Of course the book needed to be Marie Antoinetteish in pinks and blues very soft colours, this is not my usual colour pallet I'm an earth tone girl so creating with these colours was a challenge in itself. I had a hard time not dirtying it up I love rust and grunge so frills and lace don't come easily to me.

Here is the front cover

Inside cover, I made tags for all the gals hope they like them.

My instruction page No rules for my book.......Play and have fun!!!


The sign in page

My page pondered over this one for the longest time, what to do what to do.....

Spine used letters that have been hanging around my studio for ever just never had the right project to use them on, I thinks they worked 0ut just fine.


more envelopes in the back for tags

More tags this is the back inside page

finally the back and there you have it my very first Altered book, you bet I'll be showing off all the wonderful art work that everyone adds.


Some more ATC's I have done for trades.

Mona Marie

Another Marie a little bit out of the pink a blue box I'd say.

this one is for a trade called a little bird told me.

words of wisdom swap, poor Binx look what she has been reduced too........

I've been having so much fun creating for all the swaps I joined and the best part I'm learning new things like what a chunky book is how to do post cards inchies and the list goes on. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks after all.

until next time take care

Hugs Deborah

New stuff in Etsy

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I'm so ashamed of myself these two pendants have been done for well over a week and I'm just getting them listed in my etsy shop Land Of Nod Studio's

I know I am one very S.L.Poke but the idea of spending my day trying to list two tiny things on etsy might be one of the reasons I'm so hesitant to go there, I can't say it enough UGGGGGGGG etsy is the slowest site on planet Internet!!!!!!!

Any-who it's all over now I'm calm and these two Soldered pendants are up and running.
How do you destroy a house in a few shorts months anyone? Easy get yourself two kittens make sure one is rambunctious and naughty and your house will look like a disaster zone in no time.

If your lucky you just might need one kitten to do the job especially if he looks like this, no need for kitty # 2 cause ones like this can accomplish the same amount of destruction all by themselves.

These pictures are not staged no this little hellion managed to come up with this one all on his own. I have had these fake flowers (tacky I know but they brighten up the room like nobodies business) for years without incident. Then comes along wee Stumpy and makes mince meat out of my arrangement in no time. How he got up the 2 foot plant stand without knocking everything down is beyond me. Actually after many episodes of removing his carcass from smack dab in the middle of the flowers I decided to stick around and watch the whole procedure. The little bugger scaled the leg of the stand like it was nothing pulled himself up into the bucket and presto I'm sitting pretty in Mom's flowers, aren't I adorable!!!!



All the while Spanky watches and cheers him on go Stumpy!!! you see Spanky would love to join in the fun he is too clumsy thank goodness not sure how I would handle two agile kitties. Spanky got to enjoy the fruits of Stumpy's hard work when Stumpy starting tossing flowers out on to the floor for Spanky to bat around. The bucket of flowers has now been removed and sent to the dark dreary basement out of harms way. I'm still finding flower remains scattered though-out the house.

Atc swap card

I have been going hog wild and have signed up for way to many atc swaps, I have jumped on board so many I now need a book to write them all down. I just hope I haven't bitten of more than I can chew.

Marie Antoinette Atc swap

Atc's for words of wisdom trade

I think I have signed up for 9 swaps oh my what have I gone and done, all these ATC's and so very little time. I really need to cut back but I'm having so much fun ATC's are soooo addictive. I still haven't found my way into the mohair closet but I'm getting real close who knows maybe I'll manage to squeeze in some teddy creating.

Until next time Hugs Deborah

More ATC's for swap

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I knew joining the Marie Antoinette Art group would be a good thing for me, it forces me to get cracking and get my lazy butt in the studio. Now I know these aren't awe inspiring but it's nice to just be creating again. I have been taking it easy for the past month and its high time I get back to tinkering about with my art supplies.

Here are a few ATC's I did for a swap called Rosy Marie, we had to incorporate one or more roses in our card and of course have a Marie Antoinetteish theme. I have sealed all these cards in wax I just love how it gives the cards a 3d look.

This card is one for the host but SHHHHHHH don't tell her its a secret, since this was an extra I opted out of using roses. I'm such a rebel!!!!

This card was me playing around with different ideas for the background it has nothing to do with the swap just me experimenting. I was very pleased with how the texture turned out but then like the silly nilly I am I covered up all my hard work with stuff. A case of not knowing when enough is enough, STOP ALREADY!!!!!

The grand lady herself in her later years. looking at these cards makes me realize they are very similar to my last ones hmmmmm better change things up or people are going to call me a one trick pony.

I went a head and signed up for 3 more swaps with all this swapping going on I'm not sure how I'm going to squeeze in some time for new stuff for my etsy shop. I think I will head back into the mohair closet and birth a bear its been a long time since I have felt the softness of mohair, and I could use a hug and there is nothing better at hugs than a teddy bear.

Until next time take care

Hugs Deborah
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