Wow....it's been a while......

I know, I know..........it's been F-O-R-E-V-E-R since my last post!!!! I really didn't mean to be gone for so long, but I had to step back and re-evaluate some of my priorities over the last year and honestly blogging was way lower on the list than making memories with my kids who are growing like weeds and that precious time I can never get back......Sage is 9 now and Chad, 6.......wow, where does the time go?? Even though I haven't blogged about it, I am still making my primitives and such..... 

I used to consign, but over the last year I have become a member/partner in a local seasonal store called 12 Days of Christmas and it has been great. I'm so busy making things for the store I don't really do much selling online these days. These are a few of the signs I stenciled and took in before we opened this weekend....check out our blog: www.12daysofchristmasshoppe.blogspot.com

 I also made this snowman kit.......it's one of Becky's patterns (Tennessee Ridge Primitives)...I love her patterns!

 I still make my dolls, but I couldn't resist making some critters, too......The cat on the left is one of Pam's (Soft in the Head) patterns. He is a Halloween design, but I couldn't resist making one with him all tangled in christmas lights.  The other is one of Stacey's (The Goode Wife) designs......aren't they fun??

Well, chickees I will try to post more often, but THANK YOU to the girls who sent emails checking on me during my "sebattical".......you know who you are! :0) I'm sooo in the mood to start decorating for the season and have some updated Christmas pics..........

Our prayers have been heard........

....and the Lord called her home to Heaven late this morning. It was so upsetting seeing her suffering and knowing all we could do was pray for her and try to make her comfortable.....I know we will see each other again when my time on this earth is done, but in the meantime I will miss her sooo, sooo much. She was such a special person to me ~ more than 'just my aunt' and brought me such joy whenever I was with her.....she always had a smile and a hug for me... I will miss our camping trips and sitting at the kitchen table visiting whenever we were in town, catching up on the lastest goings-on. I will miss our phone calls. I will miss hearing her laugh and watching her and Uncle Glenn joshing around with each other...... I will never forget after high school ~ before I started college, she let me live at her house when my parents moved away....that was a special summer and I will always hold all those memories close to my heart. I suppose that is why losing a loved one is so hard......knowing all you have left is the memories you shared and knowing there will be no more new ones to create......I just pray they never fade from my heart and mind....

Please keep our family in your prayers as we grieve...........Rest In Peace Aunt Joann, you meant the world to me.......

Please pray for our family....

.....and a special loved one, my Aunt Joann, who is losing her fight with cancer. She has chosen to spend her final days at home with family by her side. Please pray that she can be as comfortable as she can be before her journey to Heaven and that the Lord will give comfort to our family during this difficult time as we prepare ourselves for goodbye to a beloved aunt, sister, wife, mother and grandmother....We love you, Aunt Grizz, more than you will ever know......Truly one of the hardest things in life is letting go of the ones you love the most......

Christmas pics~ front room and entryway...

Ok, I finally finished editing these...whew! So here they are...not really in any particular order I don't think and I'll try to leave this post with more pictures than words, though there are a few things I wanted to share....like this wonderful red wall cupboard my local friend Jeannie made...

Isn't it a perfect fit there? Jeannie does Twelve days as well and when I saw this up there I knew I wanted it to come home with me. If you are local, you should head up to Twelve Days and check out her primitive furniture (if there's any left!). She also has some aged breadboards with shoo-fly screens and some other neat primitives, too. Twelve Days is up at Sunrise Mall this year in the old Flower Gallery space. They are open daily until Dec. 23rd....I believe their hours are 10:30-5:00 (could be 5:30~ can't remember for sure) Monday thru Saturday and Noon-4:00 on Sundays.....

I found this Christmas Countdown box at a second hand store...Its a Primitives by Kathy and sells for over $100 brand new. I only paid $20 and it has all its original ornies in each drawer. The only thing missing was the feather tree, but that was an easy fix.

See the sheep on the mantel? I got his wool penny rug blanket from Karen (KM Primitives) last year and let me tell you, her work is beautiful! I didn't realize when I bought it on her site that it is actually "reversible" until I got it out of the package at home. This side facing out has a Christmas feather tree to display for the Holidays and the other side facing the wall has a willow tree for everyday.

And here are the stockings hung by the chimney with care...lol

This was another find of mine at Twelve Days this year....see the old rocking horse?

I have always wanted one but any I've ever seen have been out of my price range. (Like $400 and up....)I had some money saved up from some fall handmades I'd sold and I had just enough to buy him. And let me tell you I didn't even pay HALF what I've seen them go for....it was like early Christmas for me!

He's in really good shape, too. I mean his mane and tail are gone and the saddle is really worn and barely there, but he still has both his leather ears, bridle and jewel eyes and his paint job has held up well. I think that kind of wear shows he was well loved by many kids in his day, and he'll continue to be loved by this big kid, too...lol.

I hate this couch. lol. I think I would like it better if it was a different pattern or something, but its still in good shape and serves its purpose, so I will probably just make a slipcover for it or something.

I picked up this dough box coffee table below for $5 at the thrift shop. Another steal! It will be getting a makeover when the weather warms up, along with the other coffee table I still need to redo, too. lol.

I think all of the pics are clickable so you can get a better look...some of the whole room shots make everything look so far away.... I might sneak a few more Christmas pics on here this week of my kitchen, etc. if time allows. :0) And I will hopefully have some pictures from an ornie swap, but don't know soon cuz I haven't got them in the mail yet. Take Care!

A few things for sale....better late than never!

I just updated my picturetrail with a few things I've finished for sale.....I do have a few Christmas pictures ready, but I had a heck of a time with the lighting and ended up taking them at night instead of daytime. I know natural light is best, but they were all way too bright. I tried overcast days and sunny days~ same result. Oh well, the pics at night still turned out pretty good I guess........ I have to finish editing and then I'll post again when they're ready. :0).

~Jody

Time for another giveaway!

The PFATT blog is having their winter giveaway starting at midnight tonight! Be sure to go to their blog anytime from Dec. 1st thru 7th to enter! Click ~HERE~ to go there! Here is a peek at the handmade I am donating:

Sorry for my absence again. I have been sooooo busy getting things done for Twelve Days of Christmas here. They are open for shopping now and I have finally been able to relax a little and just yesterday started getting my Christmas stuff out of storage~ still have lots to finish putting out but I will be back with pics to share again this year. :0) I'm also working on a few things to offer for sale online as well, so be sure to check back. I'll be back soon, I promise! :0)

~Jody

And the winner is........

I used random.org to pick our winner. There were 16 comments left, but two comments were left by one person, so that made 15 entries.......and the #3 comment was Denni! Congrats Denni! I'll be getting a hold of you and get your goodies in the mail asap! Thanks everyone for entering and following my little place on the web! :0)

~Jody

Finally...the owls are ready for their appearance...

The owls are finally ready to make their appearance~ sorry it took me a few days to get them on here. I didn't have a chance to take their pics until just yesterday. I had made nine, but three have already been spoken for so now its down to six. I've added them to my picturetrail.

I also made up a few of these....also another Chestnut Junction pattern. They make up quick and I even made an extra for myself. hee hee. A tad more dirty/grubby than what I normally do, but I really like the look. These are also on my picturetrail site if anyone's interested.....

~Jody

Fall signs done....check!

I finally got the photo uploader to work for me today and here is one of the signs I have on my picturetrail for sale..... Click here to go there. I only made 5 and I won't be making any more as I need to get cracking again on my things for christmas~ the shoppe opens in less than two months and I still have a lot to get finished. So the signs and other Halloween/fall goodies will be sold on a first come/first served basis. My hootie owls are drying from their coffee bath and I should have them ready and listed on my site tomorrow. Remember, you still have about a week to enter my giveaway! I need to scoot so I can get some more things done. Toodles!
~Jody

Faux Candy Apples Are Ready....

Ok, out of the two dozen I made for this last batch, I only have nine leftover~2 red ones and 7 green ones. I added them to my picturetrail site if anyone is interested. I should have my hoot owls and fall signs done tomorrow and will add those there as well when they are ready. Toodles!
~Jody

Now its GiVeAwAy time!

Sorry I've been MIA again. That seems to be the story of my life lately. But it really has been for good reason. lol. I thought with Sage in school all day and Chad now in preschool for a few hours twice a week that I would get so much more done- NOT the case! lol. But I have been accomplishing quite a bit since my last post anyhow. I have been soooo busy trying to get the things for my giveaway done and also finish a few fall handmades to offer for sale. Sorry about the delay, but I wanted to wait until our PFATT giveaway was over before I posted about mine. Here's what you'll be getting...(Click on the pic to get a better look) *An osnaburg ditty bag with a stitched flag made by me filled with sweet annie. It has been aged and grubbied with cinnamon and has a drawstring for hanging.

*A prim 5 x 7 stitched FReeDoM sampler (made by me using a design by Stacy Nash) in a distressed frame. It has an easel back so you can hang it or set it on a tabletop.

* A set of 35 count clear silicone lights dipped by me. (They're not perfect like the store bought ones, but hey- they're free!)

*An OLD GLORY metal wall hanging. (not made by me...lol)

*And lastly, one of my faux candy apples (a design by Char Sethman) just cuz its now officially fall.

So now that you know what's up for grabs, here are the rules to enter:

*I would like to have this giveaway for my readers here in the USA and Canada only. I know I have a lot of friends overseas who visit and I don't want to disappoint anyone, but given the size of the box, I'm afraid the postage cost would be scary...

*You must be a follower of my blog. My followers are the reason I'm having this giveaway, so feel free to join in on the celebration!

*Please do not post about it on your blog. I want this to be for those folks/friends that visit my blog to see what I'm up to and to share ideas- not just to win free stuff. I will share it on Facebook with my friends and I don't mind if you want to do that, too- I just don't want it to end up on one of those blogs that only post about giveaways.

*Please be sure I have a way to contact you in case you are the winner. Either via your blog or if you don't have one, please leave me your email address.

I'll leave it open for a few weeks and draw a winner on the night of Monday, October 4th and post the winner here the next day. Good luck to all! :0)

I wanted to share a few pics of what I've been working on while I've been gone......I have made two dozen of these faux caramel apples using Char's tutorial in both red and green. These are already all sold, but I'm working on another batch that should be ready in a day or so.

I have also been taking advantage of the warm weather while it lasts and I've dipped about 400 bulbs for our Christmas tree this year. I just clothespin the strands to the clothesline and fill a styrofoam cup with plain clear silicone and get to dipping.....its definitely a learning process. This was the first time I've dipped bulbs and they're not absolutley perfect like the ones you buy, but I'll get better with practice. The silicone sets up pretty fast- especially when you're out in the sun, so you have to dip fast.
I've also been working on these hoot owls from a Chestnut Junction pattern. (Right now, all of their Halloween patterns are on sale for 25% off- I don't know how long their sale is lasting, so go take a peek.) I only did a few last year and they "flew" out the door quick. I think I only had one left, but he went to a good home a few months ago with a swap I did. So this year I'm prepared and I made nine of these guys. They still need painted, but for now they sit naked on the table waiting for me to finish them.
I wanted to share this corner cabinet makeover with you. I bought this thing cheap at a Flea Market that was in Casper one year. I've probably had it for about 4 years now and it has always just sat in the corner of my dining room just as it looks in the picture. For some reason the previous owner decided to saw the whole door in two to make two doors, which I always hated, but didn't really know how to "fix" it and make it look right.
Then I had the idea to make it into a hanging corner cabinet. I cut the rest of the cabinet a little further down from where the front was already cut. I made a new wood piece to fill in below the door. Then I painted it cream on the inside and leftover red paint from our front room re-do on the outside and then sanded and antiqued it. I painted the existing brass hardware oil rubbed bronze.
I added some heavy duty cabinet hangers to the back and here it is in its new home. Definitely a better look I think. And it also matches the stepback cupboard in the other corner of the dining room. Now what to do with the bottom part.....lol. I'm sure I'll think of something.

I need to get going and get back to work on my fall stuff. I'm also working on a few pumpkins with crows, some pumpkinhead girls and some fall signs, so be sure to check back this week! Then I need to get back to work on my Christmas stuff for Twelve Days of Christmas..........oh, speaking of that I wanted to let my local girls know that Twelve Days will be up at Sunrise again this year. In addition to my dolls and stitcheries, I will also have lots of prim painted Christmas signs for sale. The little shop in Casper that I was selling in closed its doors this summer so I'm hoping to have more to offer at Twelve Days since thats all I'm doing now. Hopefully be back soon with some fall goodies! Toodles! ~Jody

It's the PFATT Blog Fall Giveaway!

Just had a quick minute to let you know the PFATT blog is having their fall giveaway! Click on the banner to go there - leave a comment under that post to enter to win one of the awesome handmades! Hurry though, it ends Sept. 7th! :0)

I've been super busy and hope to be back with pics to share what I've been up to!

~Jody

A little rearranging, a few finishes and a makeover to share.....

First off, I wanted to share the blackened beeswax nubbies that Ann had sent along with the basket I swapped her for (they are actually hanging on that basket she made. ) Aren't they wonderful? :0) Thanks again, Ann!

I have also done a little rearranging, too. I moved my old Victrola cabinet over to this corner by the stairs. I think I like it here better.

This old child's pressed-back potty chair was my mothers day gift from Craig and the kids- it fits right in with everything in our bathroom. I LOVE it!

Craig was working all weekend over the fourth so me and the kids spent Friday thru Monday in Riverton with my dad. They had TONS of fun with the fireworks- the sparklers were their favorite, can you tell?

We drove to Lander and watched the Fireworks show. I have to say that these were better than the ones in Casper- at least in my opinion.

I made a blanket crane using one of Kris's tutorials (click here to go there). It was way easy and I got it all put together in a day.

Sorry about the funky angle- hallway pictures are hard to take. lol. And the bowl rack I made also. I used a pattern from The Wooden Nail. I cut all the pieces, Craig put it together for me and I did the finish work. I think it turned out great!

I've had this bunting since last year and never could find the right place for it- then realized this was the perfect spot. Duh! Don't know why I never thought of it before.

I am really happy with this makeover. I had this old porch post for a few years now (this isn't the one from a few posts back- that one is way chunkier). I had debated on making a birdhouse for the top to put outside, but never got around to it. Then I had an idea to turn it into a floor lamp for the front room. It was 8 ft, so I cut it to size. As luck would have it- it has a hollow center that hides the power cord and I made the base from a square piece of 1x6 wood and moulding. When I had bought the post it was already painted white, so I left it as it was. A little sanding and staining...and wa-la! It turned out awesome!

The finish is very similar to the pie safe, isn't that neat?

Remember this little lamp I found for $3? I finally got a shade for it.

And this is what I did with the corner by the fireplace...

I had found this old door at the ReStore on one of my trips to Riverton to visit my dad. It was $10 and I thought at the time that it would make a nice prop for craft shows- you know with some shelves on the front or something. Speaking of craft shows-I know I have a handful of locals that read my blog and didn't know if you had heard, but I found out through a friend that Highland Park is no longer doing their annual November craft fair. I'm bummed. We used to have three holiday craft fairs in November. Meals on Wheels canceled theirs a few years ago and I have no idea if the Rec center is doing them anymore...what a shame. Looks like Twelve Days is all we have left folks. I haven't heard where the shoppe is going to be at yet this year, but I'll be sure to post it on my blog when I do find out.....so anyway, back to the door.....

Well it had been in the garage since then and I brought it in a few weeks ago and cleaned it up. Am I a crazy person to have a door propped up their front living room for decoration? Craig think so. lol I moved the big ladder into our bedroom- I'll share that in my next post though. I wanted to have pictures of the bedroom makeover this time but I'm working on some curtains for the windows and hopefully then it will feel like it will be finished.

Mine and Craig's 10 year anniversary is on Thursday. For the first time since we got married we will get to go out to dinner on our anniversary- every year since then he has been scheduled to work on July 15th. I'm really excited! :0) Talk to you soon!

~Jody