Friday, February 29, 2008

~ We are on the EVE of BIG Things!! ~

I've got two very exciting celebrations to share and it will benefit YOU!
Over on the Humble Arts, we are celebrating one year as a Marketplace where you can find one-of-a-kind offerings from some very creative ladies! March is a very special month - last year at this time, we were just breaking ground with HARTS - I still remember the mile long list of names that we all came up with before settling on "The Humble Arts".
I'm happy to say that it's been a successful year and we want to celebrate our One Year Anniversary with YOU! In honor of our birthday, the talented girls have donated some unique and special gifts as our way of saying Thank You. Its as easy as signing up to be on the mailing list for the Humble Arts ... so I would encourage you to get your name in the drawing, if you are not already signed up for the newsletter.
Also, make a purchase on the Humble Arts during the month of March and we will make sure your name is entered into the drawing again! I just love parties and presents, dont you?
Now, my second party invitation is just as Exciting! TDIPT Mercantile is also having a Birthday - and you cordially invited to stop by and celebrate with us!
Make your way over to the Merc to toss your name in the hat for some amazingly divine offerings donated by the talented artesans there. And it gets better ... if you make a purchase on the Mercantile, your name will get entered TWICE!!! Buy 2 things - you will be in there for a chance of the drawings THREE TIMES! Now thats wicked cool :)

~ I'm Speechless! ~


From reading past threads, you all know how much I love swaps. I got home from a very very long day yesterday and found a H-U-G-E box on my front step from Deb / Bittersweet Pastimes. Holy Macaroni... it was like Christmas in February!
I think I unwrapped gifts for an hour ... and there is such a beautiful array of wonderful things!
The blues I was feeling from mailing out my Smitten quickly went right out the window as I unwrapped these adorable little whimsy guys -
And I just couldn't believe the workmanship in this beautiful & suave patriotic fella:
Aren't you green with envy? She has pampered me like royalty!! Yup... I love me some swaps!!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

~ My Little Cherry Blossom Delight ~

Here is my sweet little Vada Rose ... all ready for the release of the Humble Arts and holding tight to an apron overflowing with fruit!
To be honest with you, I was more than a little surprised when this little girl was completed. She didn't try to wiggle out of the image I had in my noggin when it first came to me. Oh, trust me - there have been stubborn children in the past, bound and determined to come into being the way that THEY see fit - but not so with this sweet girl.... thats my Vada Rose! :)

Monday, February 25, 2008

~ Head Dressings ~

Or better known around my house as noggin' covers :)
I was creating a new doll for the Humble Arts release on March 1st, and my sweet little Vada Rose kept telling me she wanted a bonnet to wear with her new outfit.
Now, I've never made a bonnet in my life but in the furthermost recesses of my mind, I remembered I had a pinkeep of sorts that belonged to my Nan. It is in the shape of a cute little bonnet and on the inside, there are strips of felting to hold your needles, pins and other "pokey" things.
So, I rooted around the dungeon yesterday trying to remember where I PACKED IT UP FOR SAFE KEEPING. (which means I stashed it away and forgot where I put it!) I would have to guess it's over 50 years old. If memory serves me correctly, I remember seeing this in her sewing drawer from the time I was interested in seeing what she held in them.
Anyway, I started inspecting the goings on and when I finally thought I could attempt it, I pulled out my pencil and started measuring and drawing a mockup.
I was about 1/2 through the template stage when I decided I needed to photograph the process just to make sure I remembered what I was doing the next time a little girl needed something on her noggin. You know... all in all, I am quite pleased with myself! It has a cardboard brim and is fully lined. Not bad for the first time round, eh?

Friday, February 22, 2008

I L♥VE SWAPS!

One Ebay group that I belong to is just jam-packed with talented ladies that love to swap. Now I have to be real honest with you - I would much rather swap with a sister than sell on ebay any old day!
And these girls over at TDIPT really know how to put on the dog -
it seems we finish one swap and the mob starts begging for another to start. Its like a wonderful fabulous frenzy and believe you me... I'm right there in the middle of the fist shakers screaming out "GIVE US ANOTHER SWAP!"
I've gotten so many treasures over the years from so many artists -every single one is something I hold close to my heart and keep in high regard.
I dont know how I got so lucky but Deb / Bittersweet Pastimes is my swappin' buddy and I knew I had to come up with something she would like - especially since this is her first TDIPT swap!
The deadline is fast approaching for our Spring Swap and scarey as it sounds, I was actually ahead of the game this time round (don't even ask me how - I'm clueless)! Anyway, last week I shipped this little girl to Debbie so she would hopefully have it before the weekend. She emailed me yesterday, telling me how everything will fit perfectly in her home. But if you know Debbie - you know what a gracious and kind lady she is! :)
I'll let you know when I receive mine. I'm sure I will be the talk of the town showing off my basket... wooohoooo :)

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Woke up this morning to ICE and SLEET! Arrrrgh... how much more can a person take? I'm telling ya... I think Pharaoh would have surrendered the Israelites if he lived in the midwest this winter!
But there was a bright spot in my mailbox today that I just want to tell you all about [Big smile goes right here]!
Suzanne of Pear Tree Prims has blessed me with the "You Make My Day" Award. What a spot of sunshine in the middle of this endless winter-blues!
I've gotten to know this treasure of a lady from one of our ebay groups and she is always uplifting and encouraging! A real gem - to be sure.
My assignment is to pass this on to others, whose blogs I visit that brighten my day with sunshine, encouragement and inspiration. And I must say Suzanne, I direct this right back to you - I love coming to your blog :) There is always something fresh and thought-provoking going on in your little corner of the world and I walk away feeling just a little more edjamakated!
So let me share with you those that I make a point of visiting - for a giggle, an out and out laugh, an insight to a new creations or just a warm-n-fuzzy feeling:
♥ Goob - CountryFolk Keepsakes
♥ Renee - Birchberry Farms
♥ Aboo - Chickadee-lite!
♥ Dana - Eccentricities Studios
♥ Doreen - Vermont Harvest
♥ Pam - Soft in the Head
♥ Pea - The one true Peapicker
♥ Stacey - Tattered N Torn

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

*sniff sniff*


I'm going through a bit of the blues right now, so you'll just have to forgive my 'melancholy molly'. You see, awhile back I created a lil dolly that just captured my heart. If you are an artesan, I'd bet the barn you know what I'm talking about. Every once in a blue moon, you will create something that just touches your heart. It doesn't happen all that often but when the love bug hits, you know it. And that's the story of my Smitten. She's the type of lil girl that just makes you say "awwww" without even knowing it. This sweet lil punkin was adopted over the weekend and I know she went to a good home and a wonderful lady who will love her like I did but still - the emptiness is so noticeable everytime I walk through the living room. Eventually, the void in my heart and the vacancy on my postal desk will be filled but for now.... I'm kinda Blue when I see the bare lace doily.

Anniversary Celebrations

To celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the TDIPT Mercantile, we will be having a celebration during the entire month of March!
Many of the gifted artists have created treasures for YOU to win!!
The beauty of it all is that you only need enter your name to have a chance to win one of many wonderful items. I've attached a photo of my donation for the birthday fun - so make sure to stop by March 1 and put your name in the hat!

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Wandering Ponderings

I grew up during an era of great, great music. I was enamored with the likes of the Beatles, the Stones, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Jerry Garcia and Bob Dylan. So many artists had alot of influence on me, but none greater than Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. They always seemed to spark a fire in my heart and sing about so many things I could relate to.
Stephen Stills is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist who Nash, Young and Crosby nicknamed "Captain Manyhands" because of his instrumental prowess. One of my all time favorite songs of his is 'Johnny's Garden' from a project with Manassas. On Jan. 3, his 63rd birthday, Stephen Stills went in for Prostrate Cancer and his wife reported following surgery that it all went well. I'm happy to say that he joined the rest of the group to play Sundance on Jan. 25th!
Now some of you might see 4 old hippies, but I only see Rock-N-Roll heroes. ~Party on, Garth~ :)

The Eye Exam...

A couple of weeks ago, I made 2 appointments - 1st was to have our taxes done and 2nd was to have our yearly eye exams. Now, I was absolutely certain that they were both scheduled for noon on consecutive Saturdays! We went last week and had our taxes done, which was relatively painless -just hand over our life history during the past year and listen to our tax lady type information into the computer (from the back side of the monitor where we cannot see a blasted thing!) - 1 hour later, *VOILA* she hands out our sentence. Would you like some cheese with that whine, she asks?? No thank you, just a tissue to blow my nose and wipe away the tear, thank you very much!
So this morning I woke up knowing today was the day for the dreaded "puff of air" test. I was sipping my coffee, sitting at the computer waiting for 10am to call and confirm the actual appt. with the front desk. DeGreve?? says the voice on the other end... you dont have an appointment at 12 OR 12:30. Aaah - wait here it is, you are scheduled at 10:15 this morning. Time froze... I quickly looked at the bottom right corner of the monitor to see it was 10:08!! And sorry, we are booked solid for the rest of the day. (sigh) I told her we would be there in 15 minutes and ran like a banshee downstairs to break the news to hubs that he had to get dressed and meet me at the car in 2 minutes. Now, some things you will never forget - no matter how young in life they happen to you. For me, it was the feeling of waking up late on a school day, scrambling around looking for my glasses and looking up just in time to see the big yellow blurrrrrrr of the school bus as it drove right past my home! HORROR OF HORRORS!!!
As all heck broke loose and hubs was just this side of a rant, we managed to brush our teeth, get dressed, jump in the car and make it to the vision center at 10:30 on the nose. ~ whew ~
So I'm waiting for them to call my name and I started looking at frames, knowing full well I was getting a new pair whether I needed them or not. I grow bored with the same thing day in and day out so new glasses were definately in order. All was going along just fine and then I heard it... Karen and Darrell, ready for your tests?? I've been having eye exams since the 3rd grade when I had to start wearing glasses and I can tolerate alot of things - but I hate the Glucoma Test, better known as the "puff of air" test. My palms sweat bad enough waiting for the wavy spots and clicking the clicker at the right time. Then you get to read the line lowest on the line up - and I know I can never read that bottom line, which makes me feel like a failure! The farm house in the distance has always been the calm before the storm to me because I know the last and most dreaded test is the one where she tells me to press my forehead against the bar and stare with eyes wide open at the infrared light that is boring a hole in my head. I know it's coming - and she is trying to distract me but my eyes wont stop watering or blinking because I'm anticipating what is coming - that puff of air! arrrrgh... I have go through it twice and usually I blink at least one time so they have to do it all over again.
So in the middle of all this, why does my mind always wander back to Alex in "Clockwork Orange" when his eyes are pried wide open to expose him to things he would surely turn away from if he could?
Well, I made it through the rest of the exam and frame selection and as we are driving home, $950 lighter in the wallet, hubs turns to me and says "that wasn't so bad, was it?" RRRRIGHT....at least I have a year to recover until I have to go through this all over again!

What a Wonderful Surprise!


I got a message from Karin (known to many as Peanut, better known to me as GOOB) of Countryfolk Keepsakes fame yesterday and I've just now found time to come up for air long enough to give it the attention it deserves.

This prize has arisen from the daily visits that I dedicate to many blogs which nourish me and enrich me with creativity. In them I see dedication, creativity, care, comradeship, but mainly, ART, much art.

To be honest, I would pass the torch right backatcha, Goob - you are so caring and considerate (not to mention creative!), no one could ask for a truer friend!
I must say there are 2 others that I must give honorable mention to:
Janet of BeeCharmers Cottage and
Carol (Jinxie) of Nostalgic Folkart. If they had blogs, theirs would also be listed here.

But it was a no-brainer who would get the torch passed from me. I'm handing it over to:
♥ Bee - Pond Creek Primitives
♥ Susan - PrimandProperFolk
♥ Patty - Tails from the Dogpatch
♥ Annette - Confounded Concoctions

Thursday, February 14, 2008

♥ SPECIAL DELIVERY ♥

I would rather have one rose and a kind word
From a friend while I'm here than a whole
truckload when I'm gone!



Happiness keeps you Sweet.
Trials keep you Strong.
Sorrows keep you Human.
Failures keep you Humble.
Success keeps you Glowing.
But Only God Keeps You Going!

Happy Valentine's Day, Sweets

Just wanted to wish
a special Valentine's day
to each of my dear friends
I've had the pleasure of
getting to know over the years ...
I hope your day is as special
as you are to me!

♥ There are spaces between our fingers so that another person's fingers can fill them in ♥

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

A New Face Emerges

This sweet little girl is starting to come together nicely -
Her hat is a prototype (which is a technical term for "dagnabbit, gimme a piece of paper cuz I forgot how to make a sailor cap")
I showed a picture of her to a lady I work with and her first response was "I don't think sleeves are such a bad thing - her arms remind me of mine"
♥ LOL ♥ I about split a gut on that one... thanks for the giggle, Annie Ann!
Anyway - I just thought I'd share the beginnings of my new doll under my new name and post it on my new blog.
It all sounds rather fresh, doesn't it ?

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Isn't My Banner Lovely ?


I tell ya, with all these changes going on, I feel like Cinderella at the ball! It's exciting and scary all at the same time when you make drastic changes like this. And as small potatoes as I am, I still worry that I'll be forgotten :)
I woke up this morning and had the most wonderful surprise waiting for me in my mailbox!
Jan Davis of Big Brown Dog Graphics found the sweetest image from Kate Greenaway's Mother Goose and (having the eye for these things like she does) just KNEW it would be perfect.
I have a hairdresser that I trust implicitly - she knows what I like and how I like it without me saying a word, and I just realized this morning - I feel the same way about Jan's work! She just does what comes naturally!

Monday, February 11, 2008

The Artist formally known as Prince -

Ok, so Prince I'm not ... but I'm sure glad to see you've found your way over to my new blog site.
I'm just getting started here and will be adding more day by day -

Stay tuned Sports Fans :)