Redwood Retro

Eighty years ago this week, the classic film The Wizard of Oz was released in theatres.  This movie ( and the original book series) have always been a favourite and I have collected Oz memorabilia since I was a kid.   I asked my daughter to draw me a set of sketches for the Oz Anniversary and this is what she has done so far. Isn't she amazing!! I can't wait to see the rest. AloraWillow2019 AloraWillow2019 This is a graphic my daughter drew for me to use as a cover photo AloraWillow 2019 I came across a damaged copy of The Wizard of Oz at a yard sale and used it in a bunch of scrapping projects including this notecard.  The Yellow Brick Road background is scrapbooking paper.  I carefully removed the first paragraph by tearing it slowly. (I like the abstract look of torn paper edges and use it often in my projects.)  I lightly brushed the paragraph with emerald green artist chalk. You can also use eyeshadow in place of chalk.  Dorothy and Toto were c

Vintage Ship and Boat graphics from old magazines and newspapers. Click the image to enlarge it, and then save. (On PCs, right click the enlarged image and choose Save Image As...

 Did you own any of these? I had the Sunshine Family Craft Store when I was a kid. My Mom made me tiny dipped candles and fabric bolts for the store ( probably my earliest introduction to making minis)

I have pretty much skipped the garden centre this year and have been attempting to grow everything from seed.  So far the only things growing are herbs and Marigolds.  The bunnies have pretty much eaten all the veggie leaves that have sprouted and the squirrels literally dug up and took off with the peanut plant. I don't mind. I enjoy seeing the little critters and don't mind if they help themselves to a snack. So until something else pops up in the garden I will be snapping Marigold pictures.

Free Canadian Genealogy Links -  Ontario  *I haven't posted about genealogy for a while and noticed many of the research links I use are now outdated or no longer exist. So I am starting from scratch with a new list of sites. If you know of a free / or own a genealogy site not listed please let me know and I will add it.  I try to stick to the free stuff and  FYI...a good percentage of the records on the "Paid" sites are available for free in other places..you just have to do a little digging. I do use the paid subscription sites now and then, especially if I have a tree to do in a hurry. Paid sites like ancestry make it super easy to find information, but for my own trees, I prefer to take my time and research the old fashioned way.  Genealogy is like a puzzle and to me, it is not very fun if you are given all the answers right away. *This list of links is an ongoing Work In Progress so please check back often for updates :) Toronto City Directories 

Who doesn't love sunsets? It is hard to resist snapping photos of free artwork in the sky. I have taken hundreds of sunsets pictures over the years. Here are some of my favourites. Most were taken on a phone.

I've recently discovered the Schleich brand of toys and now I am obsessed.  For plastic animal figures, they are very well detailed and pretty close to 1:12 inch scale. The company was founded in Germany in 1935 and is one of the largest manufacturers of toy figurines.  I'm sooo bummed that it took me this long to discover them. The main reason I collect figures is for photography.  I photograph the miniatures I make myself on a daily basis (for selling online ) but taking photos of toys is just for fun.  Schleich Cow photographed with a Google Pixel and edited in Snapseed - Redwood Retro I like to use other toy brands as well.  When I found this lovely creature in the garden, I couldn't resist posing it on a Hot Wheels car  (yes, I collect those too lol).