More treasures to share

Some years after my mom passed away, my dad had remarried and the house he was living in had an explosion. So many treasures from my family were lost in the fire and I'm so very thankful to have salvaged a few photos from my parents collection of our family.

It could be from my recently creating "Grandpa's Little Monkey" but whatever the reason, my mind has been drifting back to days gone by, when my biggest worry was when summer would be over and we'd have to head back to school. ♥

I thought it would be fun to share a few of the pictures that my hubs has scanned for me - some of my family and some of his.

Here is a picture of my pop, as a child with his parents -

I love the expression on his face ...

Here he is as a handsome sailor in uniform -

... and another where he is surrounded by his some of his sisters and neices and nephews. My dad was the youngest of 9 kids, so there were always lots of folks at all of our family gatherings!

This is my mom, Marjorie and her older sister Winona

Here I am with my Grandpa and Grandma Lynch - I dont remember a whole lot about them, except drinking coffee out of those depression green glass coffee cups and making Sausage Biscuits with her in the kitchen.

My brothers and me at Christmas

I call this one "a happy Cookie" ♥

My hubs father - sweet Patriotic Phil :)

Phil and his mom - shoot 'em up cowboy!

Phil and his dog - isn't this a great picture?

and lastly ... Phil rides off into the sunset ♥

Happy Trails!

My Treasures

As I was getting my listing together in my head yesterday, so many thoughts went to my Grandparents and the impact they had in my life.

They were such loving, caring folk and I loved them dearly!

I remember it was one afternoon after my Gramps had passed away, and I was spending time with Nan. We were going through her family pictures. She kept them in an album on the living room coffeetable and we grandkids would thumb through them every time we went to their house.

She was explaining the relationship of who I was looking at and she gave me quite a few of them.

Included was this picture of her and Charlie (my dear Gramps) - I'm not sure when it was taken, but it was shortly after they got together.

I miss you both and can't wait for the big reunion ♥

Grandpa's Little Monkey

Growing up, my Grandad always referred to me as a "monkey" - and oh, how I loved my Gramps! He could get the whole lot of us grandkids giggling till we cried with his sweet antics and wonderful disposition.

So when the idea came to me about this doll , I found my mind wandering back to those awesome days on "Mitchell hill" where my loving Grandparents lived - reminincing about my time with Nan and Gramps and the sweet nicname my Gramps always used when he talked to me.

I was blessed to have them in my life - both of my Grandparents left a mark on my heart that will never fade ♥

Pippa will be featured on The Humble Arts come Feb 1st. Be sure to stay tuned!

Honeysuckle Lane is having a giveaway!

Our sweet Lana of Honeysuckle Lane is having a giveaway - and it's a really fun and different way to participate.

Being determined like she is, Lana was lucky enough to purchase a gorgeous antique couch at a great price - and it's up to us to guess how much she paid!

So make your way over and join in the fun - the drawing will be on Feb. 27th.

Oh, btw.... she is also going to start selling on ETSY, so don't miss her debut ♥

ummm... 'scuse me but...

did someone say MONKEY TOGA ??

The Queen of Love

I know I've been scarce lately, but it's not for want of being here, I promise ♥ I've been working on a special order for a special friend and thought I would share my newest Valentine girl with you.

Her name is Ruby and Kenny Rogers just keeps running through my head as I'm posting this.

I enjoyed working on Ruby and experimented a bit with some of her features. I loved the materials that came together to make up her ensemble.

Perfect for an Americana home, don't you think?

An awesome surprise from Goldiloo!

I got home from work on Friday to find a package waiting for me on the counter. You've gotta know I dropped everything in my hands to focus on the package and return address and see what it was ... words can't express the depths of my delight at seeing my buddy Pam's name of Goldiloo Woodworks out of Arkansas.
Now, I'm sure most of you are familiar with her work, but if not I really encourage you to go to her website and check out all of her wonderful work! She makes the most awesome signs and gameboards - so you can imagine how my heart was racing to get this box open!!

There was a note inside saying something to the extent that she didnt see any gameboards in all of my pictures of my home and hoped I would find a spot for these things! So that is exactly what I did, right then and there! Let me just show you what I received and where I put them ...

A couple of years ago, I found a sweet little wooden table that was getting tossed out from a Boy Scout auction, and knew I needed to rescue it and bring it home. Now it sits in the corner of my dining room, filled with some of my favorite treasures like a framed sampler, several prized wax goods from Beecharmers Cottage, a grain scoop filled with pips, berries and the sweetest little Onion Patch mousie perched up on a strawberry, and now, on the lower shelf, I have a Goldiloo chunky sign to finish the ensemble!

I found a spot in my kitchen for both of her handiworks - it's the room I spend the most time in, it seems and that way, I can admire them always!

Oh, by the way... if you like these pieces, you can find them on ebay right now! I love mine and know you would too!!

Getting Your Groove Back

The dust has finally settled down a bit from the holiday hoopla and after taking a moment to catch my breath, I'm starting to feel the creative juices flowing again.

We enter 2009 with hope in our hearts, so lets encourage each other and make the most of it together!

The TDIPT Mercantile has changed it's format a bit from the past and tonight is the first month that I will be participating with a couple of items I've got ready. I've got a piece I call "love in flight" - that can serve as a wall hanging, cupboard heart or pinkeep. And sweet Eros will also be featured tonight. So, make sure to set your clocks, dvr American Idol and don't miss the fun - the goods will be featured around 8pm and I know the girls won't disappoint!

The Wrestler

I didn't watch the Golden Globes last night, but I read the list of winners and saw that Mickey Rourke took home Best Actor award for his role in "The Wrestler".

I grew up with a father who lived, breathed and dreamt wrestling. Some of my fondest memories were spending every Saturday night in front of the TV, suffering through Paladin, just to be able to stay up and watch Wrestling with Bob on KQTV2 with my dad! Once in a blue moon, we would buy tickets to the Municipal Auditorium and go see them live and in person. I remember every time we got to go, there were two ladies who were identical twins that would sit ringside. They were as hooked as my dad and never missed a live performance. They each had a cane that assisted them, and when the ref made a judgement call they didn't like, they would go after him with sticks flying!

I was a daddys girl through and through - no shame in that! Whatever my dear dad loved, I loved. Whatever he was doing, I was right there watching and trying to help. I was his shadow and I don't think he minded one bit either. And when my nephew, Darby was born, he felt the very same way about dad!

Once cable TV came on the scene, my pop was in hog heaven ... he could watch wrestling every night of the week and never ever grew tired of it. And when Darby was old enough to understand what Grandpa was watching, he was glued to Grandpa's side - watching every body slam, bear hug, sleeper hold, spinning toe hold and atomic headbutt right along side dear old dad - and it really came as no surprise that Darby developed the same love and obsession to wrestling that my dad had.

When he was home, Darby would practice his moves by jumping off the stairs onto a pile of couch pillows that positioned to take the abuse from an 7 year old kid. So I decided it was time to give the pillows (and his mothers love for her furniture) a break. Back in the day, the wrestler that held the Heavy Weight WWF belt was a mammoth guy by the name of the Ultimate Warrior. And come to think of it, it must have been about the same time that KISS came on the scene because looking back, I see more than a SLIGHT resemblance to Gene Simmons!

I'd been sewing for a good number of years and don't even know how I came up with the pattern for this guy, but I made a wrestling buddy for Darby to wrestle. When he turned 8 yrs old, they came down to celebrate his birthday and I devised a little scavenger hunt for him to go on in the house to find his present. He had to follow the clues that took him downstairs to search through closets, out in the garage and back up to the main level, where he eventually found the Ultimate Warrior waiting to be discovered in a back bedroom closet. I can still hear his excitement as I think back - I'd never heard so many screams come from one kid as I did that day :)

Darby had more fun with his buddy - it stood toe to toe with him for a good long while, but as Darb grew and got the upper hand, I was called on to patch and restuff parts. He played with UW so much, he wore the face clean off and buttered me up enough to get an emergency patch job done!

I had forgotten all about this guy until we were talking about the movie - and I asked Darby if he still had UW. Yup... I should have known his mom hung onto it and stored it in his old bedroom closet. ~ After all these years, the old meatball STILL looks like he tear into some of you whippersnappers!~

A Small Request

♥ In loving memory of anyone you know

that has been struck down by cancer or is still living with it. ♥

My challenge is to commit 2009 to pray for a cure for Cancer!

Will you accept my challenge?

♥ Eros ♥

I really don't put alot of concentrated effort into creating things for Valentines Day. Maybe it's because of the time of year. With the holiday hangover, it's hard to get back in the creative swing of things.

I decorate my home with a few things but I dont go overboard, decorating every room like I do for Halloween and Christmas.

This year, my mind has been thinking about Cupid and I wanted to search the history behind this sweet little boy. I'm the first to admit it... I have never been too intrigued with Greek and Roman mythology - and I can't really pinpoint why, but I may have to do some more digging because it is a new curiousity swirling round in my brain.

What I discovered about Cupid is this in a nutshell:

Cupid was the son of Venus - the Roman goddess of love. In Roman mythology, Cupid was the god of love, erotic and beauty. His name Cupid is a variation on Cupido ("desire"), and this god was also known by the name Amor. Cupid and Greek god Eros are equated.

In popular culture Cupid is shown shooting his bow to inspire romantic love. If Cupid's arrow hits you, you will fall hopelessly and madly in love with the next person you meet.

So with that in mind... I have created my first piece of the new year ... and I'm happy to show off this sweet, impish boy! I hope his arrow hits you ♥

♥ THE HEART WEIGHS SEVEN POUNDS ♥

Last night, we decided to spend the New Year in a different way than years past - and instead of having a party and filling the house with good friends, we spent a quiet evening going out for dinner and catching a movie.

But this wasn't just a ho-hum movie - it was a masterpiece called "SEVEN POUNDS" with Will Smith in the lead role.

Now I must say this outright - when we decided what movie to go to, I didn't know too much about the show. From the previews, I thought it was a tax man who was investigating people, making good and lasting impressions on their life. A good storyline - but not the type that just reaches out and grabs you.

Blame it on the advertising for the movie - but in hindsight, I now understand they could not reveal too much in previews without giving away some important details as the movie plays out.

I also determined myself (in advance) NOT to review or dig up any information about the background on the film - I wanted to be caught totally off guard.

Holy smokes - what I saw nearly blew my socks off!! This movie has been on my mind all night and (as you can see) STILL leaves a lasting impression on my mind and heart.

If you haven't seen it, do yourself a huge favor: clear just 2 hours out of your calendar this weekend and GO directly to the theatre. Do not read any reviews, do not research the movie online. GO - with no other indication about the film except that it will rock your world ... and *minor detail* .... grab a handful of kleenex as you head out the door.

I HIGHLY recommend this movie - I am so glad that I started 2010 with the sentiment that this movie has left on my heart!

Bravo Will Smith ...

you have accomplished a wonderful and moving film

and I admire you even more as a fine fine actor!