More candy corn & a new chapter...

Well I have been busy sewing the last couple of days...so now I need to stuff, stuff, stuff.. I did get these done yesterday!!!

Here is another set of my very large candy corn ornies/pillows.. I just love them too and don't quite know yet where I will put them. I may wait and see how my other set does on eBay before I list this set. They do have a bid, but really would like them to go a little higher..here's hoping. I made this set do the ribbon can be on or off which ever is preferred..

And my hubby is starting a new chapter in his trucking career, kind of!! His beloved Peterbilt sold just the other day and I'll tell you what that was hard to see the old girl go out the driveway and down the road knowing that Joe wasn't the one driving it.... He has had that truck for 17 years and it has been a good truck, but with the way things are for us right now, something had to go. He actually has three trucks and has had them all for sale and just said which ever one sold the first he would just drive the other... easy to say hard to do when you are attached to something like he was that truck..

So now he will be driving this truck. Nothing wrong with it really...it's a big ole Kenworth, but he has always been a 'Pete Man'...he is already making noise that he will trade this for another Pete...lol...MEN!! But we are thankful for the sale, it has taken some pressure off..for now..but I still haven't been able to do my school shopping and Brandon's birthday is next week too...so there ya go!!
Have a blessed day.. and if you see our old truck give it a wave!!

Fun Fall Giveaway !!! Check it out!!!

Morning all...Look at this cute, cute, cute wooden scoop... Won't it look great in my kitchen!!! lol... Seriously this is painted by my very good friend Chris of the antique pallet, she is giving this away on her blog and you just need to visit her blog, and leave a comment to get an entry, or become a follower and link to your blog for more chances...Yippee.. Chris is a dear friend and I am lucky enough to have some of her work, but I want more, so I hope I win, but good luck to you. Pop on over to her blog and enter up. You can see more of her amazing work there, and tell her I sent ya!!! Have a very blessed day!!!

Won't this look good in my...aw I mean your house!!! lol

Some things I have been working one...finally!!!

Okay and one more fair picture!! This is the last night we went. The kids had a blast and it was well worth then money to see them smile and laugh so much.


Just to prove I haven't been just napping in the sun ALL summer!! I have starting working on more projects for fall and the shoppe where I put my things. I do have this set of candy corn pillow listed on eBay but they will go to the shoppe if they don't sell there. I just haven't had much luck with eBay lately and the shoppe is selling well, so I'm going to try to get more things done for them. These are almost pillow sized. They are 9" tall and 7" wide at the base. I love them and my just have to make myself a set also.

I love...love..love this piece, it is a very old and prim oil can with no handle. The fall flowers and pips look just so awesome in it. I took it to the consignment shoppe and it sold right away...and I don't have more flowers unless I do the road trip thing again.. Maybe this week sometime for school shopping and I'll sneak over to Hobby Lobby for more!

The arrangement is very pretty too, the pictures doesn't really do it justice. I took it to the shoppe also and they said I had my things priced to LOW!!! Well that was good to hear that I'm not overpricing them, but from now on I'll just take the tags and have them help me with what they think I should be asking. I have a hard time pricing things because I can't afford much these days it's hard for me to ask a price I can't pay myself...make sense!!??

I'm so proud of this hutch. It is child's sized and made by my dad. He does pretty amazing work for 75 and not have the best of eyesight anymore. This is one of four he has made so far. He has done two in the old color green and white and now two in the classic old red/white. One is a bright red and white and the other is a more prim cinnamon/red color. They are just adorable. I put them in the shoppe and they have been very popular and I guess they have had people ask if he could make an entire kitchen set!!! I don't know if he is up to that but these hutches are just adorable and I want one for me too!! I'll have to do some sweet talking!!

Speaking of school...my kids have to go back on the 26th. We did do some shopping here yesterday. I don't know if I'm ready for both of them to be gone. Ashley will only be there 1/2 a day.. that is good...break ME in slowly!!! I will miss them, but I think they will be ready once they get to see all their friends again.
I hope the rest of you are having a good summer and thanks for still checking in on me. It has been a trying, year and a fast summer and I'm hanging in there and with all of your encouragement it has really helped a lot!! Thanks for being my friends. Have a great day!!! Hug someone you love!!

Fun At the Fair!!!

We have had a busy summer. It seems like at the beginning of it all I got done was mowing!! Our place looked better than it ever has and I actually got some flowers to survive. We have bad soil and salty water, so I have to plant everything in containers and water with "good" water...but with all the rain I used buckets and caught most of the water for the plants and they thrived.. I was so proud!! lol
We did get to the lake, my last post, and then just a couple of weeks later was a small fair the the neighboring community where I grew up!! It is a nice small fair and everyone knows everybody and it is just a blast for the kids, they all get to ride the horses and enter the rodeo for $1 an event and it's great to see all your family and friends. We have tagged it "The World's Fair" and it is good homegrown fun.
Ash was so excited for the fair, they have a 'stick horse' race for the tiny tots and they all get a ribbon no matter what and Ashley bought her a trusty steed at our garage sale for $1!!! His name is Brownie! and he is FAST!!! A few years ago at the fair when Ash did the stick horse race for the first time, she got gone with her turn and came and told me that her horse ran away with her, which was so funny, since she is the one doing the running!!! Anyway...here are some of the pictures from the fair. Good times!! Brandon didn't feel good, so he didn't make any of the pictures that I have. Poor guy was having allergy issues and slept in Grandma and Grandpa camp trailer most of the day!! :(.

YES SHE DRESSED HERSELF!!

Running as fast as she can!!

Made the run and didn't break the pattern!!



Sometimes things do go as planned at the fair!! I love this shot. This is my niece Paige, she had just finished up showing her chickens, I even got to help. She did get first in her division, but lost over all to a pigeon!!! She was heartbroken and her daddy, my brother Scott was there for love and support!!!! She did a great job and we were all very proud of her!!!

The bigger County Fair starts here this week and it has a carnival with rides.. the kids are excited about it... I'll get pictures and do another post...
BUT DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH!! I have been kind of slow, but I really appreciate all of you that follow me and check in on me.. I'll get better once it slows down when school starts... I have been sewing a lot too and have that to share with you too!!! Keep looking I may surprise you!!

Vacation!!! Fun in the Sun with my family

I have been gone for awhile...Me and the kids got to go to the lake wiht my family..we always have a good time.. Dispite Joe being laid off AGAIN that week, we had a good time and needed the break!! Check out my smilebox album..that is a fun site go check it out http://www.smilebox.com/. it is fun!!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Great things do come in small packages!!!

The old saying in my title couldn't be more true...
Needless to say most of you know that my family has had a tough winter/spring and it hasn't gone unnoticed by my friends and one in particular wanted to do something...so she did what she does best...make something from her heart!!! Jody, Star Spangled Pretties, we became fast friends... We meant in an eBay group. We are neighbors after all.. she is from Wyoming and we share the love of the flat land we both live on and we both almost used the Platte River, which runs through both of our states as a possible part of an eBay seller name at one time or another!!! She is so very talented with her dolls that I have always longed for one but never have had the money to buy one, but Jody fixed that... when not just myself but two other of our group members were having a tough time this winter with hubbies out of work, Jody went to work!!! She was in the midst of remodeling her house, yet still found the time to make all three of us dolls!! She made one with a red dress, blue dress and my 'Jody' doll with this creamy white dress!!! I just love her and Jody filled my box with lots of little extras that she know I could and will use on my projects!!! She is just the best and I can't wait for the day I can see her in person and give her a hug!!! She really did brighten what has been a dark time for me and just knowing that she cared that much has given me some new hope that things WILL get better!!! Go peek at her blog, her and her sweetie did an amazing remodel on their home... I want them to come to mine now!!! Thanks Jody, thanks for caring enough to share your heart with me!! LOVE YOU!!!

Isn't she just the best!!!??? I added the firecrackers, but I can change them out to match the holiday!!!

The detail in her face is just amazing..I just stare and her and am amazed!!! What a talent!!!

She is so little and so grand all at the same time!!! Doesn't she just look like a princess... she looks so good with one of my lamps and rag balls I made and didn't sell!! Now in hindsight...I'm glad they didn't, they all look like they were made to go together!!! LOVE THEM!!!! I'm such a lucky girl to have such a good friend!!!! :o)

Where Have I Been???? 061009

I know, I know.....where have I been??? Very busy as I'm sure a lot of you are at the end of a school year and beginning of summer. Actually a lot has gone on it seems since my last post over a MONTH ago!!! I have been so bad!!! My DH is finally back to work!!! But we are still kind of day to day with it, so we still have to be very careful and hope that this work holds out for him and that we don't have to sell anything else we really don't want to, to just keep going. We have also had a rough spring with deaths in my small hometown community. We buried two friends in a week and 4 since Dec. So it has been a difficult time for lots of people I love. I have such great friends and family with great support, I'm just glad I grew up in the community I did, they are always there for you when you need them most!!!

The kids are both out of school now and enjoying their summer break thus far. We have had an unheard of, for Colorado, amount of rain the past month so our out door activities have been limited. No pool yet, but I really don't want to get into a bathing suit!!! Oh my eyes!! lol
This picture of Brandon was at his school track meet!!! No his hair was not fixed like that on purpose... The wind was blowing so hard it made it just stand on end... It was terrible, but the kids really didn't seem to mind and they had a fun day and the ALL got awards no matter what. He is officially a 4th grader now!!!! Oh he isn't suppose to be growing up that fast!!
This was Ashley's last day of school. She didn't want to leave because she doesn't think that she want to go to kindergarten "with all those spelling words", as she so tearfully put it!!! Her teachers Jo and Karen were just such a joy for her to have and she misses them terribly, but we have promised to visit next school year.

I was also, in my absence, working on things for the spring open house at my mom's antique shop. It was a bitter sweet day. They have decided to close the shop this summer for good!!! :( The economy as claimed yet another victim. The past few years have been hard on the shop and they want to close before they 'have' to and just enjoy time at home. The four ladies who own it are all good friends but all lead busy lives outside the shop so they will not be lacking for something to do I'm sure!! But is it sad to see it close. They will be open through the summer then lock the doors. But on an exciting note, I have put some of my things into a shoppe here in Sterling. It's called French Creek Market. It is a very neat shoppe with quite an eclectic variety of offerings, old, new, candles, specialty teas and classes. I'm hoping it will be a good outlet for me. Ebay has been slow for me and If I can get something going here that would be great. This is just one of the things I made for the open house. I have many more but it would take up too much space.... The shoppe I'm in doesn't have a website or blog yet, but once they do I'll post a link so you call see all the goodies there. I'm excited and hope it is a good thing for me!!

Oh, my sweet little helper Ashley!!! I painted my room and she wanted to help so badly, so I let her help, but it really didn't last too long, but she is dressed for a mess don't you think!!! Since she is only 5 the topless things is okay for now!!! lol She has on her dad's 'mowing' hat and raggedy jeans...perfect painting attire in my book!!!

From all white to this!!!

It needed it's Spring cleaning anyway, so while I was at it I just painted two walls. I just LOVE it!!! It was just all white before and now it is "Spartan Stone". It is just such a pretty calm color and my room actually looks bigger. The bedspread is a very old chenille bed spread that my mom gave me to make snowmen out of, but it only has a few flaws, so I am using it until I can get something else make. The quilt is from my Grandma, who just turned 99, and is all done by her. It is hand quilted and it a treasure for me.

I don't have a picture of my front yard, it actually looks good too with all of this good rain we are getting. I'll save that for my next post... I miss everyone and what is going on in your lives. I'll be better, so don't give up on me!!! Busy summer has just begun..we still have VBS, swimming lessons, a lake trip and two fairs in the future!!! I hope you are all having a great summer!!!
Off we go!!!

Happy ODD DAY... 050709

HAPPY "ODD DAY "!~ 050709

Just a piece of useless trivia I heard on the morning news this morning. It only occurs 6 times a Century..when the DAY/MONTH/YEAR are all odd numbers that are consecutive and it will happen next June on 060810.. Now you have that to look forward to next June!!! Don't you feel so much smarter already??? Hey they may use that question on a game show and you will know the answer!!! lol

I haven't been posting much because I have been sewing up a storm. I did sell some things on eBay and now have some more things listed and do have lookers so maybe things will pick up there for me.!! My mom's antique shop is also having a spring open house at the end of the month so I have been trying to get things done for that too!!

I just love the crow pillows and hope that they turn out to be good sellers for me. They are listed on eBay too!! Go take a peek and see what I have been up too. My laundry pile is telling me I need to take a break for a day and get some wash done. :0)

These pinwheels are listed too, I had a lady ask for set right after the auction went off so I got busy and made more, I have three more sets almost done, just waiting for the bells to rust. My DH even went to Hobby Lobby and got more for me!! He is a keeper!! lol

I tried my hand at making this pantry/vanity box. I really like it but haven't listed it yet, I may save it for the show, but then again if someone wants it, it can go now!!! I lined it with some pretty tissue paper and make it look shabby. It is pretty.

My poor DH, as most of you know he has been in and out of work, mostly out, all year. We are struggling and he has about given up hope. He was just in here talking to me and said the he .." I have NOTHING to hope for anymore. I have been told "NO" so many times in the past two months I just don't know what to do anymore.". Just made me tear up and just rips at my heart. He has called and called and called, but just keeps getting the same answer..."it will pick up"...but not soon enough for us. I'm at a loss and not sure what is going to happen. I keep praying that things will get better. He just can't sit and watch it happen anymore. I feel so badly for him, he thinks he is letting us all down. Please keep us and all the other families that are struggling in your prayers, we all need it!!!

Until my next post, have a great day !!

'bout time!!! I have finally been sewing again!!

It's like riding a bike....I haven't forgotten how to sew!!!
I just haven't felt up to it, but I know that I need to do it to get my mind off of 'other stuff'!!! It's like connecting with an old friend. I made four Americana Primitive pillows this week. DH claims he thinks they are the best things I have done so far!! I don't know about that but he really likes them and it was such a nice thing for him to say!!! He is a sweetie...

I also made some so cool papier mache star bowl fillers, covered with fabric.. I love them and really want to keep them, but I was only able to get four of the stars and need to sell something to help out even if a little bit!! DH also thinks I start my things way to low, but I have struggled with that from the beginning of my selling days on eBay. If I start them low, I get lots of lookers and then only a bid or two and if I raise my prices I don't get bids at all. I've tried the "buy it now" option and that hasn't done it for me either!!! So I start them low and hope that I get lots of bids!! I can dream can't I??? lolThis blue/white one is my favorite I think, the colors are pretty but it is simply prim!!

One of two different "Lady Liberty" designs.

All four together, they make a neat grouping...go ahead buy them all, I'll let ya!! :)

The fabric covered papier mache stars. They are kewl, and glittery!!
So pretty and prim!!

My pinwheels, I have made several sets for about every holiday, but 4th of July has to be the most popular.. They are fun..
I hope you will go to my eBay page and take a look, I'd love to have you!!!

I'd better get back to my machine, while I'm in the mood!!
Have a great weekend ... until next time!!!!

Spring Break Trip to Grandma's House

Hello Friends!!! I has been awhile since my last post...I've been counting!!! tee hee.. See previous post!! I've been trying anyway.. Things are still tough here but we keep praying for things to break loose and work to pick back up. Thanks all of you for your prayers and good thoughts... your nice comments and support help me more than you realize. I have been feeling pretty down lately and alone, so your friendship means the world to me.
The kids and I got to take our trip to Illinois after all to see DH's mom.. Grandma Locke. DH was worried about us taking that long drive without him but 1523.8 miles later we made it there and back without any problems, Just fought the wind driving there. But other than that it was a great trip. I have tons of pictures but only have space for a few and I don't want to bore you, so here are a few of my favs!!! Joe's mom lives in Quincy, Ill, but has tons of family history in Historical Hannibal Missouri.. I could live there in a second!!! I love, love, love the river and could sit and watch it for hours. Grandma Locke's Great Uncle was a boyhood buddy of Sam Clemens, aka, Tom Sawyer. Family history is very important to Kaye so we got a really interesting history lesson while there. It was fun and I hope the kids remember it all. We WILL go back and get more..we all loved it!! Okay now to my pictures.....This cutie is DH's Grandma!! So she is the kids Great Grandma!! She is a tiny one!! Brandon at 9 is already taller than her and look where Ash is at!!! She has almost lost her sight but she still lives in her home and cleans and cooks for her self. Joe's nephew lives with her but she does a lot on her own. We got to take her to the store for groceries, that was a fun trip and the kids loved it. This is the first time she has been able to meet them. She doesn't travel much and we have only been back to Ill a one other time since we have been married, Joe's mom comes here most of the time, and last time we were there she was sick and didn't want company.. understandable at 98!!!

The kids and I were on our own most days, since Grandma had to work but we found out way around pretty well. This is the riverfront in Quincy, ILL and this bridge takes you to Missouri. They had a great time and got to see a very big barge and tub boat.. My first too!!! We had a great day!! I love my kids ....

This is Hannibal Missouri, what a neat little town. Which if you don't know is over the river from Quincy. Kaye lived there for awhile and we love it, so we try ti visit it also when we can. So much history and neat shops there!!! This is the view from Lovers Leap that is south of Hannibal a few miles. It was such a pretty day and we there was a riverboat taking a test drive that day, so that was a treat for the kids to see. Far in the distance in this picture you can see a lighthouse, we climbed the hundreds of steps up to it!! What a view and well worth it!!!

This is the walking path up by the lighthouse. It was fun and you could see for miles and miles. The kids slept very well that night!! I didn't get a picture of the Tom Sawyer cave in this post, but I'll do a remix or something and get more on here, it was so interesting and where some of our family history is. Sam Honeyman's siggy is in the cave and he was the friend of Tom Sawyer, who knows, he may have been with him when he wrote hisname on the wall..

Grandma Locke!!!The kids just love her so much, well, so do Joe and I, but she really has a special connection with the kids. They would move in if she would let us! She has a cute home and lives a great life. She takes care of Grandma Hoagland and is a Red Hat Lady and keeps herself busy with friends and fixing up her home!! We hope to go back this summer to see her again. Hopefully DH will get to go this time.

Have a great day everyone I hope to be back soon!!