The Stockings Were Hung

Well, they were....But Christmas has come and gone, and truly was Christmas in a Hurry. We had a lovely time. It was our turn to host the family, and our little house was overflowing with people. Lots of stockings as you can see. The bag is a German Christmas custom, although we aren't German. I bought it years and years ago from a favorite mail order company called Gerlachs of Lecha in Pennsylvania. I have no idea whether they are still around or not. I couldn't find anything about them. They published several books about traditions and holidays, and carried wonderful crafts supplies. Sigh. A little trip down memory lane.
Anyway, I use the bag for the grandchildren now, because I've run out of stockings! I hang up eleven of them now. Christmas stockings have always been an important part of the holiday for me.

Christmas in a Hurry

Well, the holidays are approaching even quicker than usual this year. I am doing bits of decorating rather than a big lavish production. Christmas is the only time I miss our old house. It did Christmas really well. Lots of places for greenery, an open stairway...sigh. Our cottage does suit us very well though. This is a picture of the front room. This is an old dental cabinet. Isn't it great? I think I mentioned before that I have an obsession with drawers. I don't wear a lot of jewelry, but this is my jewelry box. Yes, I know, it's in the front room.
At the windows are these great star lights that I found at Ikea. My signs say "It's a Wonderful Life". I keep that one out all year long. Sometimes I need to be reminded. The other one says "We have Christmas Lights". I found that one last year and had to have it because it was our first year ever for decorating outside.

Happy Days

Tess is finally home and things are getting back to normal. Thanks to all for prayers and warm wishes. It was a long and frightening week. She kept losing weight and had an infection that they never did identify. Everyday she was tested for something different. Everything looks good now, and I am ready to start Christmas. There is certainly a reason why we have our children when we are young!!!!

Finn and Baby Sister Tess

A busy month. My time never seems to be my own. I wanted to post at least once more in November! Baby Tess is in the hospital for the second time. She has pneumonia now. They still haven't gotten the feeding problems solved. She's lost quite a bit of weight, cries nearly all the time, and is just not a happy girl. I'm from a large family, have a large family, and now seven grandchildren, and we have been so lucky to not have health problems. It is just so scary when you feel helpless. I don't even know why I'm posting this, except I want this blog to be a record of what's happening.

Better news next time.

New Banner!!!!!!!

Isn't it great? I just love it. This banner was made for me by Kris at Blissful Elements and I'm so happy to have it. She also made a banner for my new Etsy store. So far I've just added one item, but I'll be getting more listed soon.
This has been an incredibly busy week. I've been trying to help my daughter as much as possible with the new baby and almost two year old Finn. She's had a few problems, but everything is going much better now. Amazing how much time and worry revolve around these precious little people. Tess is our seventh(!) grandbaby and only the second girl. What fun we'll have!

Are you sensing a theme?

Here I am, apologising again. I still can't seem to work this into my schedule, can I? I have lots of pictures to show you and lots of new things to talk about. I just always seem to get on the computer on my way out the door.
NEWS: A new grandbaby, born today. Welcome to the world, Tess Margaret. I know we will have lots of happy times together.
Other News: I will be opening an Etsy shop very soon. I'm so excited about the banner I am having made. It's a secret til it's up, but I think it will be just the thing.

Remember Me?

Okay, I know it's been about a million years. I totally dropped off the face of the earth this summer, but I'm back.
Computer problems, locked up email, poor memory for passwords, and lack of time have all contributed to my delinquency. This time I am really hoping to be a faithful blogger. I would really love it if someone comes to visit.

Back From The Moon

Wherever have I been? I thought I would take a few days away from the computer, because I was becoming obsessed with reading blogs. I was becoming more involved in other people's lives than my own. Is that a hazard of the internet? And now, it's been almost a month. Our big remodeling project has taken over my life. Picking out cabinets, and floors, and paints, and furniture, and tubs, and sinks and fixtures, and having people coming and going all hours of the day and night. And the noise!! ( I work nights, and have to sleep during the daytime. Not easy with construction). It is almost finished--about 2 more weeks; and then maybe I will finally feel that I am all moved in. Our little cottage will have a lot more space. All my craft and sewing supplies will be out of boxes and put into my gazillion-no exageration-cupboards and drawers. And I will finally have a bathtub.
I have been terribly lax at keeping in touch with my swap partners. Everything sort of fell apart at once. My emails started bouncing and then I lost my password. And I could never find time to sort it all out. Everthing dolly is finished now, and I hope my new glittersisterfriends forgive me.

Catching Up.....Again

Okay, I just don't understand how all you other bloggers do it. Time just always gets away from me. There are always about a hundred and fifty projects going on in my life it seems. We've started the big remodeling project. Soon I will have a sewing, craft, and laundry room with all the storage we have been lacking, a family room, and new bathroom with an air tub. We've been busy picking out everything, and things have been going pretty quickly, now that they have started. Since I work at night and sleep during the daytime, the last couple of weeks have been pretty hectic. You just don't realize how loud plumbers, electricians, and carpenters can be until you try to sleep through the noise.

Lately, I have been spending a lot of my time practicing for a really big show. Yes, I am a secret closet belly dancer. There, I've said it. (This is obviously the gypsy side, not the victorian). I started taking lessons a few years ago as a present to myself on a significant birthday. I've been going to practice and even joined a troupe. But, I've always been afraid to dance. I think I have really deep psychological problems dating back to my first and only recital when I was seven, and compounded by a horrible slumber party experience in my early teens. My dance sisters have always been encouraging as I retreat to the back row and say "don't look at me!!!(the very straight laced victorian side). I've gotten nervous and backed out whenever there has been an opportunity to perform. But this time I am not giving myself that option. No matter what happens, I'm going through with it. Wish me luck.

AND THE WINNER IS...........

Well, I cut out all the names, put them in a hatbox, shook it up, and here is the winner.........
Lizzy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was fun, and exciting. I really enjoyed getting all these comments on my blog. I hope that lots of you will keep visiting. Thanks to everyone who participated and to Lisa for getting it organized.
I would love to send out free samples of my "Wishes" to anyone who participated. Just send me an email with your address, and I'll mail you a dozen Wishes.

It's Almost Here!

Well, there is only one more day until the One World Give-A-Way. I know I still have a few participating blogs that I haven't visited, so I'm hoping to get a chance before Wednesday. I think most of us are having our drawings on the 21st.
I've been excited to see so many people visit and leave nice comments. I hope many of you will be back again. I know I have found lots of new people with such creative blogs and creative lives. It is always so good to find a kindred spirit. Good luck to everyone. I hope we all win something.

Top of the Morning

Well, it is almost Saint Paddy's Day, which is one of the top holidays around here. I visited my daughter(Erin Kathleen--she has sisters named Meghan Elizabeth and Bridget Eileen) in Kansas City last weekend and we went to the Brookside "practice parade". We also visited a leprachaun. Here are two of my grandchildren learning magic leprachaun tricks.

One World One HeART

So many people have signed up for this great give-a-way! Have you been to all the blogs to visit? Don't forget to sign up for all the wonderful treasures. I've enjoyed finding new blogs. I really didn't know that there were so many out there, and I have barely scratched the surface.Lately it seems that I spend all my computer time reading about all the interesting things going on in other people's lives. I've heard it said that blogging is addictive. I haven't become addicted to writing one yet, as you can tell by my lazy postings. But I am certainly supporting my blog habit by reading, reading, reading.

One World One Heart Art Swap

Here's my entry for the One World Art Swap hosted by Lisa. This is a collaged journal. To enter, just post a comment on this blog by March 20. On March 21st, I will draw a name and promptly send it to the winner. Sounds like fun. Come play.

Whoops---no picture last time

February Doll to Lisa

This is the doll that I made for Lisa. She got it today, so I don't have to keep her a secret now. This was the first doll for our year long swap. Her name is Enysa (a-nees-a). She is part mermaid with a sprinkle of fairy. She carries whimsy in her heart and will always help her new owner to remember the good. She is small, about 9 inches, I think, and is always dancing.

My First Swap Dolly

Look at the cutie I received from Liz. Isn't she great?(Sorry for the poor quality of this picture--I haven't had time to mess with my camera. She's standing on a window ledge) She has beaded trim and sparkly hair. This is the first doll from our year long swap. This month's doll is a healing and guardian doll. The tag says "This Healing/Guardian Doll was made with loving intent, focusing on peace, time efficiency and relaxing thoughts. The rose quartz rosary is to bring love into everything, and the tea cup to remind you to take time out." I'm having a cup of tea right now as I appreciate her. Thanks to Liz for my first doll and to Robyn for getting this started. My doll will be going out soon. She is still in the embellishment process.

A Lovely Valentine

I participated in the Valentine swap hosted by Miss Robyn, and here is the present I received from the lovely Lady Laurie. I got a beautiful heart sachet, rose scented candle, which was wrapped in a tulip and rose handkerchief, a box of chocolates, and a handmade valentine. (I forgot to put the card in the picture, so I'll add that later. Thanks Laurie. This was such fun. I'm just getting back into swapping after taking some time off (the big move, you knowLOL). I love to receive presents and making new friends. I just jumped right in. I'm sure some of the ladies I'm swapping with are wondering who in the world I am.

Catching Up

Okay, let's just say that I haven't quite mastered the every day (or week) posting thing yet. Lots going on at the house. Jim tore the bathroom apart, put up wainscoating, painted and bought a real vanity. So it is starting to go with the rest of the house. A little explanation here. When we bought the house last summer, it was decorated very differently than what we wanted. I liked it, but it just wasn't me. The front room was tangerine, dining room was dark teal, kitchen was lemon yellow and purple, etc. etc. And all very funky and modern with track lighting, and unusual details. (Stecilled pressed wood flooring in the kitchen; pressed wood counter top for the bathroom sink; table legs stuck in bowling balls, etc) The former owner was an artist and had large canvases everywhere that went really well with his colors. We are going for the more traditional Craftsman look, so it's just a litttttle different. Here's a picture of the bathroom walls before. I'm not exactly sure what you call the metal siding that he used for the walls. It was pretty different. Sort of an auto mechanic's garage effect.

We haven't started my craft room yet. Final estimates are supposed to come in next week, but I think we'll probably wait until spring, since it's part of a pretty big project. I finally put a table upstairs and have been bringing my supplies up little by little. I'm in a few swaps so I've been working on projects again. Creating makes me happier.

A Bit of Whining

Don't you absolutely hate it when things don't work when you expect them to? Tonite the plan was to make a collaged and very personalized picture frame for a gift exchange. Of course, the printer went wacko, and I spent my whole evening trying to figure out what was wrong. It is still not working. Mechanical things have been very trying for me this whole week. My ATM card demagnetized itself for the gazillionth time just when I needed it. And now my printer won't work. I also had a very scary time uploading all my pictures from my new camera and thought I lost them. I have spent hours on this computer this week and accomplished very little.

Since I couldn't get my project made--(and remember, my materials are stored in a dozen different places, and I can't find most of them) I decided to go with a clipboard that I had already finished. This isn't it---instead of chocolate, imagine belly dancers.

More on the Cupboard

Well, we got the cupboard home from the auction--which was an adventure, but it all worked out. I love it. All the drawers have places for labels. It is now setting in the garage waiting for the great basement remodel. We moved here a few months ago, and are getting ready to put in a tv room, full bathroom, and laundry/sewing/crafts/art room. Once it is finally done it will be wonderful. I'm so tired of having things in boxes. "My room" will be 26 feet long. We may have to do some surgery on the cupboard. We measured everything to make sure we could get it in, but we may have to do a little maneuvering at the doorway to the room. I've got everything for the room now. My garage is full. Just waiting for everything to come together.

Look What I Just Bought!

I just bought this cupboard for my new sewing and craft room! Isn't it the biggest thing ever?? I still can't believe it. Since we've moved, I've found some of the most wonderful furniture pieces. And, yes, I have a thing for drawers. I'm going to start making labels for these, even though it will be a while before the room is done and I can get everything put away. All of my supplies have been packed away for months, and I am at the point where it is hard to do any sort of art work, but I'm really getting anxious. We are getting closer, and soon I will have my dream room. I also have another cupboard with 49 drawers. I think I'm done now.

Fuzzy Thinking

Ok, I'm just not sure how so many people can do this everyday. I admire you all tremendously, as you post with such dedication. It seems that I have been reading blogs one upon another lately. Funny how quickly I'm getting to know you. I guess I'll just be the mysterious gypsywoman for awhile.

The only times I'm online recently are right before work and just before bed. Neither of these times find me particularly filled with wit.

I got a new camera for Christmas, but haven't downloaded any pictures yet, so will be getting something here soon. My husband's reason for buying it was to get me back onto Ebay. I sold quite a bit last year, but since our move, I haven't done much at all. He's afraid I'm going to get all cluttery again. We did quite a bit of downsizing when we moved to our little cottage. I love our new/old (built in 1918) house, but it's a struggle everyday not to fill it with collections. What can I say? I love Stuff.