The Night Before - an Etsy treasury

An Etsy treasury of favorite things, accompanied by my original song, "The Night Before." The following Etsy shop owners were kind enough to let me use their images in this movie...

Cookies and Milk for Santa plate and cup set by claylicious
http://www.etsy.com/shop/claylicious

"Bedtime" by Toadbriar
http://www.etsy.com/shop/toadbriar

Christmas Flannel Nightgown in pink by The Baby Duck
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thebabyduck

Colonial Home No.26 by The Oak Leaves
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheOakLeaves

T'was the Night Before Christmas Gift Tags by Modern Scrapyard
http://www.etsy.com/shop/modernSCRAPYARD

Folk Art Santa Claus hand carved by Trieste Prusso Design
http://www.etsy.com/shop/triesteprusso

"Winter Woods" by Gothicrow Images
http://www.etsy.com/shop/gothicrow

"Forest Festivities" by Jahna Vashti
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Jahnavashti

Gingerbread Sugar Scrub Body Polish by Nevermore Body Company
http://www.etsy.com/shop/NevermoreBodyCompany

Christmas Carols/Words Christmas stocking by Wonderful Life Farm
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WonderfulLifeFarm

Mistletoe earrings by Made by Mada
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MADEbyMADA

Lovely Little Swan by Little Elf's Toyshop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleElfsToyshop

"Clara and Mice" Nutcracker series by The Artful Bumblebee
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheArtfulBumblebee

"Bunny Races" by Amber Alexander
http://www.etsy.com/shop/amberalexander
Swan Lake, Hand Painted Earrings by Tuckoo and Moo Cow
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TuckooandMooCow

Snow Day mixed media art print by VintageNiki
http://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageNiki

Mouse King and Nutcracker printed card by The Artful Bumblebee
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheArtfulBumblebee

Bunny Rabbit handmade coffee mug by Abby Berkson Ceramics
http://www.etsy.com/shop/abbyberkson

Winter Birds earrings by Made by Mada
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MADEbyMADA

Winter Fawn by Tuckoo and Moo Cow
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TuckooandMooCow

Snowman needle felted decoration by Little Elf's Toyshop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleElfsToyshop

Grain Sack Farmhouse Christmas stocking by Wonderful Life Farm
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WonderfulLifeFarm

Squirrel and Acorns ceramic soup mug by Abby Berkson Ceramics
http://www.etsy.com/shop/abbyberkson

Eggnog Body Wash by Nevermore Body Company
http://www.etsy.com/shop/NevermoreBodyCompany

LInks to the treasury...
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NzI3NjUwMXwxMzc3NDkwNDk5/the-night-before?index=1
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NzI3NjUwMXwxMzc3NjYzMjg3/the-night-before-ii?ind...

"The Night Before" is from my recently released album, "Once Upon a Winter Eve."
"The Night Before" by Karen Altman © 2011
http://twigstudio.net/Music_by_Karen_Altman.html

Once Upon a Winter Eve, an Etsy treasury

A treasury of wintry wonders from Etsy set to my original song, Once Upon a Winter Eve. The following Etsy shop owners were kind enough to let me use their images...

"Wanderlust" by Jody Edwards
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jodyvanB

"A Night In" by Toadbriar
http://www.etsy.com/shop/toadbriar

Needle Felted Owl by Daria Lvovsky
http://www.etsy.com/shop/darialvovsky

"Sugar Shack" stained glass panel by Tainted Toad Glass Works
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TAINTEDTOAD

"Magical Partridge In A Pear Tree" by Juli Cady Ryan
http://www.etsy.com/shop/JuliCadyRyan

"Pumpkin Spice Latte" perfume by Solstice Scents
http://www.etsy.com/shop/solsticescents

"Winter Earth Lights" by paperplanet
http://www.etsy.com/shop/paperplanet

"Winter Moon" by Gothicrow Images
http://www.etsy.com/shop/gothicrow

"Snowman Family on Blocks" clay folk art sculpture by indigo twin
http://www.etsy.com/shop/indigotwin

"Barn Owl" hand-sculpted OOAK art doll by The Voyagers
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheVoyagers

"Scented Fall Berry Wreath" by Wild Ridge Design
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WildRidgeDesign

"Wander" by Kathryn Beals
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kathrynbeals

"Starry Night Pottery" platter by Dirt Kicker Pottery
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DirtKickerPottery

Pale Blue Chalcedony Necklace by Firebird Jewellery
http://www.etsy.com/shop/FirebirdJewellery
"Winter Night" by Sweet Somethings
http://www.etsy.com/shop/FilledWithFaith

"Polar Bear Hug" by Gretchen Kramp
http://www.etsy.com/shop/GretchenKramp

"Funny Face - Snowy Owl" by Wendy Wetherbee
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PureDichotomy

"Winter's Icy Hands" by Jean Ladzinski-Saxon
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PhotoLadz

"Winter on the Farm" by The Contented Gypsy Boutique
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheContentedGypsy

See the treasury on Etsy...
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NzI3NjUwMXwxMTE2NDc2NjM5/once-upon-a-winter-eve?...
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NzI3NjUwMXwxMTE5NTA2Mzcy/once-upon-a-winter-eve-...

Sanctuary: An Etsy Treasury of Images and Music

by SixSassySisters on Etsy

The images in this movie treasury define my sanctuary, a place of solitude, meditation, and beauty.  

The Etsy shop owners featured have given me permission, as well as much-appreciated enthusiasm and kindness, to use their artwork in this movie.  

by Celtic Visions on Etsy

Sit a Spell

by moonlightphotography

When Petals Fall Like Tiny Stars
by InmostLight

Irish Dream

by alitaleader

Bluebells with Sunrays
by arpadlukacs

Water Lilies
by alneniu

Scene Over Pond
by WicksPix

The Path to the River
by RobEastman

Fading Stone Sunset 3
by CelticVisions

Irish Blue Bells
by CoulterGallery

My Secret Garden
by intrinsicvalue

Meditating by the Stream
by SixSassySisters

Meet Me at the Gate
by FlashForward

Little White Rabbit at Home
by bluedogrose

Enchanted Castle
by reflectionsoflight

The Journey
by soundslikerain

A Shelter of Redwoods

by Jansart3

Palmetto Bluff
by heatherexley

Church Yard, Bergen, Norway
by LoudWaterfallPhoto

I have another movie treasury that I am working on, "Fall," which should be published soon.


View Sanctuary and Sanctuary II treasuries on Etsy.

A Different Kind of Treasury

Here is my latest Etsy treasury that I curated to accompany my recent song "New Snow."  

"New Snow" is a remake of an older song I composed last year, "First Snow."

Featured Artwork and Artists...
Ice Orchard in Blue
by CountryDreaming

Rose Sparkle
by JulieMagersSoulen

Full Moon
by sylviagrantins

Freeze
by soundslikerain

First Snow
by elgarboart

Winter Waterfall
by robtravisphotography

Hiding From the Owl
by bluedogrose

the village from under apple tree sleeps at the winter time...
by vlad

First Snow
by bartos

Scene Over Pond
by WicksPix

Tribute to Vince Guaraldi Let It Snow
by reniebritenbucher

A Winter's Day ~ Colorado
by SimplyLodge

Christmas Village Wish Upon a Star
by leinerje

Silver White Winter
by klbaileyART

Winter Snow
by firstlightphoto

Winter Twilight
by krystarka

Handmade Holiday Ornaments

These are very messy but a lot of fun!

You will need the following:

• clear glass ornaments (found at Michaels and other craft stores)
• floral moss (sheet moss, reindeer moss, etc., found at craft stores and florist shops)
• small plastic berries, twigs, leaves, etc. (they have to fit through the opening in the ornament)
• glue, preferably low odor (Tacky Glue works well and is available in clear)
• small cheap paintbrush for applying glue (optional)
• glitter (I prefer "crystal," which is a shimmery white color)
• Diamond Dust (optional...if you use this please read and follow the "warning" on the label)
• cheap, disposable "bowl" or jar (I use old salsa jars and large yogurt containers)
• plastic spoons
• a wire cutter (for trimming the artificial twigs, berries, etc.)
• an accommodating workspace that can be cleaned up easily (I always use old newspapers to cover my work area)

Warning: This is not a project that I would recommend for children. The glass ornaments are fragile and they will shatter if handled improperly. Some glues need to be used in a well-ventilated area. If you happen to use a strong-smelling glue, let the ornaments air out for a few days in an appropriate area before placing the cover back onto the opening. Finally, Diamond Dust is BEAUTIFUL but it's basically tiny bits of crushed glass. Using glitter (preferably white...it looks classier) will achieve a similar effect.

Now for the fun part! Select which berries/twigs/mosses (I will call these "ingredients") you want to go inside of your ornament. Lightly coat parts of the ingredients with glue, then drop them into a bowl of glitter and/or Diamond Dust. Use the plastic spoon to swirl them around in the glitter, giving all the glued areas a good coating. Scoop them out and gently shake any excess glitter into the bowl. Carefully remove the cover from the opening of the ornament. Gently place your newly frosted flora into the opening. You may need to shake the ornament a little to arrange the flora properly. You can put as many "ingredients" into the ornament as you like, but I personally think that the ornaments are more striking with just a few simple components.

You can stop here unless you are daring. If you like the look, leave the ornament sitting out for a few hours without the cover, to allow the glue to dry. If you want to add a little more sparkle, carefully brush or squeeze some glue into the ornament along the sides. I like to just drizzle the glue directly into the ornament making circular patterns. Then pour a spoonful of glitter into the opening of the ornament, and swirl it around a few times. Make sure the glue areas are thoroughly covered with glitter, then gently shake out any excess. You can also add glitter to the outside of the ornament if you like.

This is an entertaining project that requires a bit of experimentation to determine the look(s) that you like. The ornaments look beautiful on the tree, especially when strategically placed near lights. I like to hang them around the dining room light fixture (see photo above) to dress it up for the holidays. Have fun!

(I realize that I have about 5 different fonts in this post... it's not by choice).