Christmas Shopping trip...

I hope y'all had a Happy Thanksgiving....we did! We had so much good food and we're still working on it today! I made deviled eggs, baked beans and pumpkin bread drizzled with cream cheese icing. Momma baked a turkey and dressing and we had lots of casseroles, etc. Yum!

Tomorrow morning we're taking a short trip to Pigeon Forge. We're going to stay at The Inn at Christmas Place! I love going the the Christmas Place any time of the year, but it is even better at Christmas time! I love all the lights and decorations in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg at this time of year. I haven't been in a couple of years, so we're all excited to go! I wonder what all the kitties will get into while I am gone? It will only be one night, so hopefully they will behave!

My friend, Donna, shared a favorite recipe....I wish I had found the time to post it and even try it myself before Thanksgiving, but maybe I'll get to try it for Christmas! Thanks for sharing, Donna!

Peggy's Fruit Salad

16 oz Cottage Cheese (4%) or  I like small curd the best
16 oz Cool Whip, thawed
1 LARGE Orange Jell-O, dry 
3 cans (small cans) Mandarin Oranges, DRAINED  I drain them in a colander rather than holding the lids against them, you don't get enough juice out that way.  If the large cans are on sale, you can use them, and use 2 cans or if you like a lot of oranges, throw them all in.  It's up to you. 

Mix the cottage cheese, Cool Whip, and Orange Jell-O together until really blended.  (I like to do it in a really large bowl or pot because you don't want to do it in your pretty bowl, otherwise you'll have a mess).  After these ingredients are blended, FOLD the mandarin oranges in (you don't want them all broken and smashed).  Then you're ready to put all this wonderful salad into your pretty bowl.  Cover with some Saran Wrap & you can chill it for a few hours and serve.

County Fair

Waaay back in September, I entered a bunch of stuff in the County Fair. Even though the judges looked at me like I was a little strange when I brought my folk art dolls, etc. in there, I did actually win some ribbons! I even won some for my photographs which makes me really happy! My nephew, Tyler, was happy because "his" photos won ribbons. He does make a pretty cute picture!! Below are some pictures of stuff I entered with the ribbon they won....the first photo, the crow purse, is from a pattern by Elinor Peace Bailey. I love her patterns....they are really a challenge to me because they are so much different than what I usually do, but that's how you learn, right? That purse is the first time I put a zipper in that actually looked like something! And you might recognize the cat Collector sign. Its from a pattern by Hickety Pickety, another one of my favorite pattern designers! The rest of the stuff is out of my own head....oh, except the painting. I saw something similar and painted it for my living room!

TGIF!

I am working in my parents' office most of the day today....something I am not used to! Of course the phone has been ringing off the hook and people have been in and out all day. It is usually pretty quiet when I'm here....but not today! So now I'm GLAD its Friday! Tomorrow we're having a birthday for my youngest sister--she'll be 24! I'm going shopping for a gift for her and a coat for myself. I haven't gotten myself a good coat in a few years, so I'm going to splurge tonight! Its not like it ever gets too cold here, I can usually get by without one, but still, its getting cool and I want a new coat!

Hopefully I will have time to add the rest of my patterns this weekend! I'll be working on tearing down "the pink elephant" too if its not too cold!

And I really, really, REALLY need to do some Christmas shopping! I ordered two books for my husband from Amazon.com (hope he doesn't read this!). I bought him one about  treasure hunting....I hope that isn't a mistake. LOL! He may start spending his spare time hunting for buried treasures! That's all I've done--ordered 2 books! My niece always gets a hand-made doll, so I am going to pick out some fabrics tonight. And I always get something for my kitties.....but what do you get the kitty who has everything? ha! I used to have a stocking for each kitty, but now I just have one and put a few toys, treats and catnip inside. One year I bought them a bed and they opened it before Christmas! Oh, and the ones that lose their id tags always get new ones! I'm sure they could care less, but I enjoy it!

Only 39 days??? I better get busy sewing and cooking and shopping and all the other things I have planned for the holidays!! I would love to hear comments about what you all have planned....if you've finished your shopping or just started like me!

My Studio....

Well, I officially started on my studio this week! We cleaned out the ol' shed first of all. It looks gray in the picture, but it is PINK! We don't have the stuff from t he side or the back gone, but the inside is pretty much cleaned out. And it was PACKED!! I took a picture after we were halfway through the shed....wish I had taken one before we started, but you'll just have to take my word for it that is was packed full. I never thought I would see the back of that shed! If my hubby hadn't been helping, I never would have gotten this much done!

I added some photos in my photo album....click on the "my studio" photo album on the left to see pictures and comments. I went over and cleaned out a little in the house tonight. I'm almost done with that and can start ripping out carpet, etc. soon!! :)

Can you tell I'm getting in the Christmas Spirit with my music now??? If you prefer not to hear the music, click the pause button on the right.

Guess what....new Santa listed on ebay!! Click here to go to my auction page and see all the pictures of him.....there are lots, so wait on them all to download! I bought this upholstery fabric last year planning to make a Santa suit from it...I love how it turned out! Don't forget to check my other auctions for the paperclay head Santa--he still doesn't have any bids, so you can get a bargain!!

Also have some peppermint sticks listed on ebay...this is for a group auction challenge for A Time for Primitives. Just search for "atfp" on ebay to see more auctions from the group. Click here to see the auction for my candy sticks! They even smell like peppermint stick! I started them at $2.99 with FREE SHIPPING! You can't beat that....just a fun way to start off the holiday season!! Click here for the peppermint stick auction!

New patterns added!

I finally got some new patterns added today! Check my website for the first set of new patterns....I will put the newest patterns on the right in the featured section. Today I added a snowman pattern, Sock monkey, funky birthday girl...and more! Here is a sneak peek of the patterns I will be adding.....keep a watch on my site to grab them once they are added! They are all available as epatterns too!!

And I just had to share this video below....it is hilarious! Check out all the cat toys in the floor too!!

Santa Claus

Since I didn't get to go to my show, I have plenty of Christmas stuff for sale! I just listed the first Santa on ebay. I have had his body made for so long and didn't ever like his head. I made his head, not even knowing what I was going to do with it and it ended up being the perfect size for the body! I think I have had the body made for 2 years!! All I had to do was add the scarf and his head! You can go to ebay to see more pictures of him...and bid on him! :) His head is hand-sculpted from paperclay, so there isn't another one like him....I would love to hear feedback about him!

I need to sell him--I had to make another trip to the vet today! Sissy had some mouth problems so she is on medicine for a week or so. Hopefully every kitty will be well for a long time now! I'll be listing more Santas soon and I have a bunch (probably 20) new patterns to list on my website!

The studio is almost cleaned out, so I will be getting to work on that soon. I think I will start this weekend. I can't wait! I will definitely get some before pictures so we can see the progress!

Grapevine Hollow Swap

I signed up for the Halloween swap on the Grapevine Hollow forum. I had been admiring Kathy's work already, so I was so happy when I opened my package and it was from her! She sent me a journal, a witch tag, key chain and hand-made card. I love it all....swaps are the best!

I sent my swap to Kat --sent her a little papier mache pumpkin head guy and some other Halloween goodies. I have a hard time saying no to swaps....they are such fun!

Owl Swap

A while back I did an owl swap....how fun! It was funny because I had just designed an owl doll when I found the swap! I swapped with Beth at Enthusiastic Ramblings. I sent her an owl painting and she sent me a big round stuff owl and an owl ornament. I love them both. Thanks, Beth!

Jackpot!

The ladies cleaned out the house I bought for my studio and had a yard sale....the owner was a quilter, so she had lots of fabrics. Here are some of the things I got....I got boxes of fabric, a lot of it is pretty old, some feedsack, muslin and other white/off white fabric I can use for doll bodies, a cutter quilt top (wedding ring pattern), some quilt blocks, trims, lace, an old stool, a wooden ironing board. Also got an old christening gown set, some skirts (or slips) made of cotton with lace trim and a pair of bloomers from the same fabric! All this will go right back in the house  it came from. LOL! I was so excited to bring all this home and I brought about all that would fit in my truck!!

Don't be too jealous....I hardly ever find anything good like this at yard sales! I was due for a treasure!!

Oops....I did it again!

On Saturday, I turned my ankle over when I stepped in a hole. Then....just when we were getting ready to leave for my show, I DID IT AGAIN! This time, it was much  more painful, so I wasn't able to go to my show. I'm disappointed and every day I think about how I should be at my show, how I'm missing out on sales and most of all, missing out on seeing people I only get to see at shows. :(