Cozy Crochet

Virginia is a beautiful state, but there are quite a few weeks in the summer that are downright miserable.  When the heat index is 107 and the only creature stirring outside is a hungry mosquito, the last thing one would normally think about is wooly scarves!   Crocheting is actually quite accommodating for indoor, air-conditioned days when the kids are stuck inside reading, practicing their instruments, and ...well... watching way too much My Little Pony (friendship IS magic, by the way).

It was a very long, hot summer!

These scarves are in my Etsy shop.

Of course I had to make a "Rainbow Sash!"

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-...

Haunted

Happy Halloween!

"Haunted" song by Karen Altman © 2011, artwork and photography by Karen Altman

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