Happy New Year!!!

Well, this is a time for thinking about the past year....what we wanted to get accomplished, what we actually got accomplished, and what we are determined to get accomplished this next year.


This past year has been a rough one, but has only made me more motivated and determined to get things under control. One thing I would really like to improve on is the amount of posting on this blog. I would like to start promoting other artists from my groups...Old FarmHouse Gathering, CaaT, and Folk Art Fans. And since one of my BIG goals is to create and paint way more throughout the year, I will post more often about the new ideas and creations I come up with.

Of course, I will be doing all this working around my new work-out schedule at the gym, and writing out menus so I can start eating better...............I'm sure that all sounds familiar??? No, really, I'm gonna do it, really I am!!! LOL!


To everyone and their goals for the New Year:

God Bless and Happy New Year!!!

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I won......I won.........I won!!!

Coming from Las Vegas, you would think that winning was no big deal and a regular thing for me, huh? Wrong!! I gave up slots and any other type of gambling cuz I could never manage to win, and it just ain't any fun if you don't win. My sister, on the other hand, always managed to win some whenever she hit the casinos, but when I gave her money to play with to win for me, do you think she won?? Uh, NO! LOL!

But I won today!! Not $$, but something just as good, in my opinion. Deb, from Deb's Primitive Country Kitchen , had a drawing over the weekend for one of her awesome primitive grungy beeswax cones. And I'm one of the lucky winners!! Thanks, Deb.......I can't wait to get it!!!

Be sure to go check out her other great primitive items in her etsy shop. You won't be disappointed!

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I've been featured!!!

I just got a convo from Sydnei from SimplySentimental telling me that she has featured my Ginger Ornies! Woo Hoo! Thanks so much, Sydnei! Be sure to visit her blog..........she loves featuring etsy sellers and doing giveaways.

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GingerBread Ornies............

Here's my latest creation. Kim, from I Love Etsy, asked me if I would make some of these. Silly me, I had never even thought of it !! Where was my head? Anyway, these are made out of paper mache balls, and I just had to add some diamond dust to the icing for some bling. Doesn't show up real well in the photos......they look much better off camera, lol. Can't figure out how to manage the flash yet.

I will be adding these to my etsy shop soon, selling them in sets.

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RagggedyAngel's Giveaway!

I have just been to an awesome blog by Beth of Ragggedy Angel and she is having a giveaway that you don't want to miss! It is an awesome wine bottle candelabra with some other goodies included. Go check it out, leave a comment, and you will have your chance to win!

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I'm on a roll!!!

Well, I have made it through two craft shows so far, the second being the most dramatic by far. It rained the night before and the first day, resulting in two collapsed canopies, running to stores to replace them, setting up late, but all in all it wasn't too bad. I sold enough of my larger items that I have to get busy replacing them, and yesterday I managed to start a new item that was finished today, and I absolutely love it!! So, of course, I need to show it off, LOL!


I just listed it in my etsy shop, so be sure to go check it out! Just click on the picture.

Stay tuned for more new listings as I get the creative juices flowing and the paint brushes moving!!

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Some more critters............

Yes, if you count in the last picture, you will see that there are 6 deer this time!! There was one baby, 1 or 2 small males, and the rest looked female. I love seeing wildlife in my backyard, but hopefully won't see any scary ones!!

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Special visitors yesterday.........

Well, yesterday morning we got up to the sight of our cat sitting at the sliding glass door to the back deck, trying desperately to get at something that was outside. This is what we saw. First they were all just standing around, but the pics I took didn't turn out. These pictures were taken about 30-40 minutes after we first saw them out there. I thought they had all left and went back inside, but no, they were still there and had made themselves very comfy, LOL. So out came the camera again, and I made very sure that these pics came out. Enjoy!!

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I've been awarded!

This awesome award was presented to me by 2 different people! Thanks to Deb of WillowTree Treasures and Jody of PrimGals Primitive Palette .

This next one was also awarded to me by Deb. I haven't gotten a whole lot created in the primitive style, but I think she has faith in me, LOL. Thanks, Deb!!

I am now supposed to pass these on to 7 more people. Boy, this is gonna take me a while to go through, but I'll git 'er done. I have not had a lot of time to read blogs lately, but I know there are some that I just have to go visit when I do have the time.

1. Life in the Craft Lane with Mandie

2. CordWood Cabin Primitives

3. Country Life Gifts
4. Ewe-n-Me Printables

5. Rock River Stitches

Ok, I know I was sposed to come up with 7, but so many people have already received one or both of these awards! Wow! So congratulations to all the blogs listed........you guys all do a great job!

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The OFG SpookFest has begun!!!

Well, over at the Old FarmHouse Gathering, the OFG SpookFest has begun! Quite a few of our very talented members have submitted their items for your enjoyment of the Halloween season.

Here are my 2 offerings:

These are both for sale in my shop....just click on the pictures to check them out. Be sure to type in OFG Spookfest under >tags, titles, descriptions on http://etsy.com/ to see the rest of the wonderful items available.

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Fall Celebration with OFG!!!

Starting today, the Old FarmHouse Gathering Team on etsy is beginning their Fall Celebration. There are SO many wonderful items being offered, and in a huge variety of styles. Everyone on that team does such awesome work, it would be a shame to not go and check out the different items. Just grab a cuppa coffee and click on the picture above, and Have Fun!!!

Here are my contributions:

These are both available in my etsy shop......just click on the pictures.

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Breathe!!!

Wow!! Talk about a whirlwind of activity and chaos! God is truly amazing! He has answered sooooo many of my prayers, and those of the wonderful people that have been praying for me and my boys the last few weeks.

The boys and I are now in a "new" home........not settled yet, but moved in. All of this happened in the space of less than 2 weeks, and only happened by the grace of God. We are out of the old mobile home we lived in that was causing health issues and financial issues, and into a wonderful house that has actually been sitting vacant for several months. I believe that God was holding this house for us for just this perfect time. I don't expect it to be easy sailing from this point on, but I know that God will get us through anything that comes up. These verses say it all:

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?...Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"
Matthew 6:25, 6:27 (NKJV)

Meanwhile, Sandra of BabyCakesDesigns has honored me with my very first award.....

Thanks, Sandra.......you're the best!! Now, I am to 1) Put the logo on your blog. 2) Add a link to the person who awarded you. 3) Nominate at least 5 other blogs. 4) Add links to those blogs on yours. 5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

So here are a few wonderful people:

1) Dorothy

2) Heather

3) Joann

4) Julie

5) Stephanie

I really enjoy checking out their blogs!

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Things don't always go as planned...........

I had every intention of posting links to all the treasuries that OFG members have snagged showing off all the Challenge entries, but my life has just been way too crazy these last couple of days, and I know the treasuries are just about to expire.

God is opening so many doors right now for me and my boys to get into a different house, it is just incredibly amazing! Something that seems so impossible just starts falling into place and you know it's only because of His mercy and grace. I will be madly packing my house up in the next week and a half........the world's fastest move, LOL! Hmmm.....wonder if Guinness has any records for that?? I will hope to keep my blog updated, but we'll have to see. I just pray that He will keep opening doors until this move is complete, but His will be done.

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OFG ~ Old FarmHouse Gathering Patriotic Challenge

Starting Wednesday, June 25, the Old FarmHouse Gathering is showcasing our Patriotic Challenge on Etsy.com. There are a lot of wonderful entries depicting the patriotic spirit in each of us. Click on the picture above to go to all the listings. We will also be featuring as many treasuries as we can snag, and I will post those tomorrow.



Here is my entry:



Check us out...........you will NOT be disappointed!


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Beauty Rising Above Destruction.........

Aren't these pictures gorgeous? My sister took these from the local lake, Lake Paradise, last week when we were all fearing that our whole town would have to be evacuated due to a huge fire. You wouldn't think that when looking at them, wouldja? At first glance, they look like pictures of a beautiful sunset. I guess there really is beauty in everything.

Life has been interesting, to say the least. Believe it or not, my last post was actually posted today, but it shows the date that I saved it as a draft. My life has been full of fires, car repair, computer repair, home searching........I'm ready for it to be boring for a little while.

As I posted previously, I am having to trust God completely in so many areas, and it isn't easy. But He has graciously provided so much for me and my boys so far, I have every reason to believe that He will continue doing so, even when it seems hopeless. There were so many prayers going up about the Humboldt fire last week, and I firmly believe that He saved us from it, and kept it from causing more damage and harm than it did.

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Life in the Craft Lane with Mandie has Tagged Me!!

And I am wayyyyy behind on getting this done (sorry, Mandie!!), but my next post will explain why.
Here's what I have to do: Tag the ABCs about myself. Each player then tags 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

A -Attached or single: legally attached, but separated
B- Best Friend: my twin sis
C-Cats: 3
D-Day: Sunday
E- Essential Item: body lotions and sprays
F- Favorite Color: green
G-Gummi Bears or Worms: worms, but have to be sour
H-Home town: Magalia, CA
I- Indulgences: wayyyy too many
J- January or July?: July......do NOT like cold weather
K-Kids: 2 boys
L-Life is incomplete without: my boys
M- Marriage Date: August '95
N- Number of Siblings: 2 sisters, both older
O- Oranges or Apples: apples
P- Phobias or Fears: that something will happen to me while I'm alone
Q- Quote: if you're gonna do something, do it good!
R- Reason To Smile: my boys
S- Season: spring
T- TagThree:
1. Robyn at MotherLode Toad
2. Mandy at Wyatt's Magic Wagon
3. Dorothy at Dorothy Did It
U- Unknown fact about me: both of my boys were born premature
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: um, how do I answer this? both
W- Worst Habit: buying things to paint when I have too much already
Y-Your favorite food: pasta
Z: Zodiac Sign: gemini


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