My Saturday...

This is how I spent my Saturday... spackling and painting and sanding and some more painting. I haven't been able to sit down and create for awhile.... I am longing to do so. Some folks have probably grown quite bored, I am so sorry... but this is my life... and I think it is beautiful. We are readying our home to sell and take the next big step God has for us..He only knows and that is okay.

It is amazing all the little holes and cracks I have found today! lol! One wall in particular was kinda hard to paint over.... it is the wall that we measured the boys every so often on. We would measure them and write a little something important by the date.."#1 almost as tall as dad"..."#2 first time riding a bike"... "#3... potty trained..." So many more entries on that wall... we all took a moment today remembering each time.. 7 years seem to have slipped by in an instant gazing up at the wall...But you know, it's okay. The paint may be able to cover it up on the wall, but it will never cover up the wonderful memories we have had here.

We are looking forward to the next step..the new place God has for us. Dh has actually finished quite a few classes and is doing well in college.. School for the boys will be ending in a few months.. Spring is coming.. I was able to look out as I was painting the hall window today and saw some grass!! lol... not a big patch.. but it's there and as each day I can see more and more of it, I will embrace the wonderful rebirth.. of the land and our family.

Happy Saturday.

Xo

Freshning up!

Well I'll be!! Would you just look at the beautiful header and 'tag' Cathy of
Avalon Rose Web design created for me!!
I just love it! With the ad about to make it's 'debut' I wanted to spruce the store up... Cathy helped me do it. Cathy is so nice and patient, I'm so glad that I was able to have her help me.

This is the home page..each page has the beautiful header and tag on it... it's freshened up for Spring. I also would like to change the 'favicon' for it... I was able to create one all by myself for my typepad blog, let's see if I can do it for blogger and the store.
Never heard of 'Favicon'?.. they are the fun icons in the address bar that are a picture identifying the site... what do you think of my typepad one?
I think when the ad finally appears.. I will have my first evers sale! 10% off for my blog land friends.. I'll have to work out the details for that.
Happy Friday..
XO

Spring Fun

I joined this fun swap over at GypsyMermaidLife
a bit ago and was finally able to complete my contributions... sorry soo slow...
This is a fun swap where you mail your items in and then they get sent to some one else... I like that because it's a surprise as to who winds up with what...


The theme was garden/tea....

And you had to include a pretty bird and a butterfly... my butterfly is funky, the body looks like a big cigar or something..but in all... fun stuff!

Can't wait to receive my swap items in the mail!! They will be strung on a garland or ribbon and I will be able to hang them up and add some fun Spring freshness to our abode... goodness knows we have Spring fever bad here!!lol!

Happy Wed. everyone.

XO

Fun Spring Necklace

Fun Spring necklace here! I used vintage elements like the pendant and the large crystal on the back pendant... Some is silver plated some is sterling... there are crystal Swarovski crystals.. Rose quartz and the Bali silver head pins...

Didn't the back pendant turn out cool? And I used a unique heart clasp... You know the fun thing is.. I can keep adding or taking away as the inspiration hits! I will eventually list this in the store as well...I think I need to find some rhinestone buttons and add them some how..!!

I can't wait for time in the studio to solder!! Its been 'burnin' in my brain' to do some..unfortunately I haven't had a chance.. I have an idea to solder a larger charm for Bennie's great-granddaughter that was born just a week before Bennie passed... Some little something that her dad & mom can hang in her nursery.

I also have an idea for a unique 'bridal party' gift.. some kind of charm to commemorate the date.

I have a realtor coming tomorrow to start the process of listing the house.. I'm really nervous but then again I'm not. Kind of interesting turn of events everyone... DH and I just recently (as in the past 4 days..) received job offers in of all places... Idaho!! Don't get me wrong... luv ya Esther Sunday! but talk about a curve ball. This is just soo out of the blue.

But...but... we all wanted to move to Texas.. and the warmth..and the sunshine...and the warmth... lol...secretly I have always wanted to live in Texas...But a few Summers ago I was able to visit Idaho and it was beautiful....

Here's the thing, I would only have to work 3 to 4 hrs. a day and work at home via a company laptop!! I would be a safety officer of a growing trucking company... DH would actually with his job offer work only two weeks a month and make the same amount he slaves for being gone soo much.. The boys are only getting older and quite frankly they need their dad to keep them in line... it's something about when dad's deep voice says 'knock it off'..

We are soo torn up with confusion right now... not sorrow..just confusion. I mean, is this some way to throw us off target? I did check..and there aren't as many flea markets in the area of Idaho we would move as Texas..but there are sooooooo many more than here..(we have 2..both seasonal )LOL.. Some Bible believing churches.. And shopping!! So it wouldn't be bad there..in Idaho, just cold like here in the winters. That is the huge thing about us moving, we can not afford to keep wasting money on trying to stay warm!! I know that we would not have near as large of utilities in Texas as here or Idaho.. I don't know..I'm just really confused now.

Sorry for such a long winded post.. Can anyone tell me a little more about Idaho?!!

Hope your Monday went well.

XO

It's a Family Birthday!

Yay!! Happiest of Birthdays my baby!!! You are our peace maker... our love.. you are always there to help and to give a hug!! All of 9 years old...hmmm..sometimes I think you are wise beyond your young years.... Your family looooves you!! So thankful for you..
I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday... the cord would have killed ya... you came just at the right time.... our beloved son and brother... Happy Birthday to you!! May you be blessed with many more years.

Marshmallow can be yummy!

During our travels today... I stumbled on these yummy teeny pink and yellow ducklings.. Oh my gosh! They are yummy. I've never been a big fan of marshmallows... too sticky too sweet...well #3 is a big fan of marshmallows and since it's his birthday tomorrow I figured I would indulge him. We arrived home and let me tell you, these amazing confections are delicious.

I found these babies at well... can you guess? Okay..okay.. I'll tell ya... Williams Sonoma! Can you guess I looove this place? It actually wasn't my idea to go in there tonight, it was DH.

I found a scrumptious sounding recipe that I will have to try. It is from The French Laundry Cook book

INGREDIENTS:
3 envelopes of unflavored Knox gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cups corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar for dredging
PREPARATION: In the bowl of an electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water. Soak for 10 minutes. Combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan.

Bring to a boil and boil hard for 1 minute. Pour boiling syrup into gelatin and mix at high speed. Add the salt and beat for 12 minutes. Add vanilla and incorporate into mixture. Scrape into a 9 x 9-inch pan lined with oiled plastic wrap and spread evenly. (Note: Lightly oil hands and spatula or bowl scraper). After pouring marshmallow mixture into the pan, take another piece of plastic wrap and press mixture into the pan.

Let mixture sit for a few hours. Remove from pan, dredge the marshmallow slab with confectioners' sugar and cut into 12 equal pieces with scissors (the best tool for the job) or a chef's knife. Dredge each piece of marshmallow in confectioners' sugar. Yield: 12 large marshmallows

Recipe Source: French Laundry Cookbook by Thomas Keller

Enjoy! and Happy Spring!

XO

old stuff

Well, I was cleaning out the studio and found these two older collages I've done.... look familiar?
Gosh... I can't believe I have soooooo much stuff stashed places. The studio was the children's play room...and class room ( I used to home school when they were smaller) till I kicked 'em out and made it mine..ALL MINE !Muaw hauaw haw!!! LOL! just kidding... seriously, I can't believe what pack rat I am!! It's amazing what you can accumulate over 7 years.

This one I really like! Seein' I have boys and all... I made this one into a larger soldered charm and was able to sell it at Assemblage Studio. This cleaning out is really time consuming, but I know if we put some effort into it.. the house will fare well and we will be able to sell in a reasonable time. I think it's going to be funny at all the things we find that were 'mysteriously' lost over the years! Like the first T.V remote ( had to buy a universal one.. ) Those all important Star Wars pieces that because they are lost... Obi One's ship wont fly! Hey maybe the galaxy will be saved after all..LOL

Thank goodness it's almost the weekend! Hey.. #3...my youngest..my baby will be turning 9!! Yay...

Happy Thursday..XO