This is just too cute!!!

A Cup of Tea

One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me. I was maybe 2 1/2 years old and someone had given me a little 'tea set' and it was one of my favorite toys.

Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought Daddy a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Mom came home.

My Dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!' My Mom waited, and sure enough, here I come down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy and she watches him drink it up.

Then she says, (as only a mother would know :) 'Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet?

LOL that would be all my luck too!!
Hope yall have a great night!!
talk to yall tomorrow
~HUGS~
Darlene

More handmades

At it again!! Using found objects to make fun and funky jewelry that is!!! LOL found these cool glass bubbles at a local discount store and thought hmmmmmmmmmmmmm to creative side!! So with that I added some cool photos of angels and fairies, some mini word stamps and a bit of soldering and VOILA!! a cool altered pendant!!

SORRY the pics are not that clear, it is hard to get em good with the glare from the glass. I did use all the right settings on this digi I think??LOL

Love this little gal!! THESE are all on my etsy site too!! $7.95 plus a mere .90 cents for USA traveleing expenses and one can be all yours!! I did not include a neckace to these, that way you could use whatever you would like. Black satin ribbon looks fabo!!

OK this framed collage is a gift for my step-daughter BRANDI her bday is sunday and she will be the special 16~~~she is a fun loving funky lovin kind of young lady and loves purple. WELL this is special because there is a story behind the elephant in this collage. Did u see an elephant when u looked at it??

LOL for the most part you can make him out!! When she was a little kid she would come to our house and would never and i mean NEVER be without her blankie!!! she carried this thing around until it was so ragged and worn we had to get rid of it. Believe me it couldnt be fixed or mended anymore!! that poor kid would literally ball when she couldnt find it and would or could not sleep without holding onto it. Well I do remember one day we bought her the cutest, softest stuffed dog to replace the poor blankie. It did take some convincing and we did have to hide what was left of mr. blankie but i managed to save a few vital pieces, in hopes of one day givin it to her as a remembrance. SOOOOOOOOOOOO here is one of the bigger pieces I had hidden away in a drawer. Gosh that was in that drawer for 12-13 years now. LOL see i dont throw anything away huh!! So I put him on this collage along with a few purple flowers and her beautiful picture from this winter. She is absolutely a gorgeous kid!! I loved these funky chipboard black and white letters and attached them to the outside of the glass and a matching little heart. We are giving it to her this weekend at her party. HOPE she likes it!~! I sure do!!

Well off to get more done, it is almost 43 degrees outside and it feels like spring!! YEAH!~cant wait!~! so have a wonderful day and will chat more later!!

~~HUGS~~

Darlene

Early Easter goods

HP PRIM EGGS FOR SALE!!!

These are my grubby primitive handpainted paper mache eggs. I love the colors. There will be bags of 5 asst color eggs and some of the nest filler and a stamped strip of grubby muslin for $4.95 a bag. Email me or leave a comment if you are interested in some. The shipping is pretty reasonable as they are very light.

I made this cute bunny head on a rusty spring. His head is paper mache and ears are painted and grubbied muslin.

I will measure these. They are handpainted blocks of wood for $8.95 a set plus travel expenses.

Easter Blessings wood stack set. $8.95 set plus travel expenses. I will get a measurement of these.

HEY YALL!!! Hope yall are having a great week so far and it is hump day! I have been working up at the flower shop gettin ready for all the changes we have in mind and boy it is kickin my butt bigtime!! LOL well anyway it is exciting and also I have been makin some new altered jewelry pieces and some altered cards which I hope to have finished up soon and can start postin pics of all that. I did want to share abit if exciting news!! I AM GONNA BE PUBLISHED! YEAH YIPPEE!! that is why some of my altered fairy pics are gone for right now!! SORRY!!! I will put more on asap!! O am goin to be in an online ezine mag for march and april so had to take the pics off here. DONT worry though I did manage to capture a few more of these smart little fairies so they will be in the spotlight next!! LOL Anyway it is 37 degrees and really damp outside and raining!so our snow wont last too much longer and it will be back to being wet and mucky outside!! Oh I just cant wait til spring!! Cant ya tell with all the new goods for sale!! LOL

Have a blessed evening!!

Will show yall more asap

~HUGS~~

Darlene

More captured fairies

Here are some freshly made goodies to add to my sweet shoppe!! The carmels come in 6 oz containers and are individually wrapped, made fresh shipped fresh!!
Handmade from scratch wrapped carmels!! SUPER soft, chewy and BUTTERY!! made with all quality ingredients. $5.00 each plus travel expenses

These arent hershey kisses!! These are specially made from scratch and there is a Chocolate dipped espresso beans hidden in each chocolate kiss! pkg contains 12 of these tasty morsels and is $3.00 plus travel expenses.

AND THESE ARE THE BEST!!! Our homemade Turtles, pecans are the base then topped with homemade carmel and a mound of milk chocolate on top. SUPER YUMMY!! I love these!! $1.50 each (individually wrapped) plus travel expenses.2 in across and nice and thick.

CARMELS in paper containers. These are goin in my etsy sweet shoppe too but you can order from here!!

LOL HEY YALL~~ It was a great fun filled sunday working in my craft studio~! And yepper we sure got alot of snow overnight and it is still snowing****

This is my pendant :bakery princess: but i did make a few to sell now. On the back it says "she wants to make her cake and eat it too!!" LOL yep that is soooooooo me!~!

This started out as a store bought framed mini pic filled with silk flowers and ribbon, so i took it apart!!! painted, sanded, and lightly antiqued the frame it is soft pink color now, added a layered paper flower and stamped the word cherish on the bottom. In the inside I added a captured fairy some decorative patterned papers, the definition of the word cherish a couple of pastely pink flowers and moss for the fairy to stand in. I think this turned out so cool it hangs from pink ribbons. This will go in my etsy shoppe today.


This is one of my collaged microscope soldered pendant necklaces. This one is Fashion Diva and the back has patterned papers the the saying "Always ready to strike a pose"

OK off to add these goods to my etsy shoppes!! DONT FORGET you can always order directly from my blog here!! I accept paypal and money orders.

Enjoy your afternoon and will be back tomorrow!!

TAKE CARE!!

~~HUGS~~

Darlene

Life in the 1500's~

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:


Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water..

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying . It's raining cats and dogs.

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence the saying a thresh hold.

(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old..

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat..

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family go t the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realised they had been burying people alive . So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a ...dead ringer..

And that's the truth...Now, whoever said History was boring ! ! !

HAPPY WEEKEND~

I posted this when I first started my farm blog but wanted to share him again. THIS IS RED FRED!! he had a rough start to life being a mean, top dog of the coop at a friends house, so she gave him to another friend of mine where he acted up quite a bit too!! HE would stalk her and was terriblely aggressive so instead of the stew pot for him we took him. I AM A SOFTIE for any animal in need and hubby and I thought he was too pretty to cook!! SOOOOOOOO RED FRED came to our farm, well he was a pistol!! yepper he would run out from behind something and chase me or he would attack with his massive spurs. Both my mom and I would have welts on the backs of our legs from him until we both started carrying the pitch fork with us or a big stick, when he would attack he would get pushed away from us, which only helped for a min then he would wait for us to walk away and you could here >>>>>>>>>>>feet running behind you and turn quick to find him aiming at your legs!! I swear when he stalked he was good too if you turned to look behind you sometimes he would stop right there and look around casually as if he didnt even know you were there and then as soon as you would turn around to walk away HERE HE COMES!! LOL CRAZY!! he is one crazy rooster~~ FOR the last couple of years however he is more like one of the dogs, i would call him OH RED FRED COME HERE RED FRED and he would come running to be near me!!! when i work in the gardens he would be really close by and do his dirt bath and lay there watching me, I pick him up and carry him around the farm AND some of my customers ask about him!! several even had their pics taken holding him!! so he is quite something here. We sat and figured out the other night he has got to be 12 years old now or dang close to it but still is my beautiful RED FRED~~

WOW it is the weekend!!! I havent had a day off in so long now that I can just play all day in my pjs if I want!!! LOL right!! still have chores to take care of but that is ok!! I am just happy not to have to go anywhere or be on a clock today!!! YEE HAW!!!

So are yall wondering how I am goin to spend my day??? WELLLLLLLLLL I am getting all my giveaway prizes off in the mail since I got everyone's addys and then work on a couple of new jewelry pieces that I have been thinkin about all week, make a nice supper (hubby hasn't had too much of suppers the last couple of weeks with everything goin on round here) I have to work on a couple of labels for some treats I made that will be on the menus for market this season, and alot of catchup work on puter!! This is the first time in awhile the computer is on and I am not on a strict time limit!!LOL YEAH!!

So we got more snow the other night and now they are saying today there is a storm coming thru along the lake again. ALRIGHT!! I know what yall are thinkin.........isnt this the gal that was just singin LOUDLY SINGING let it snow let it snow let it snow and doin the happy snow dance all around!!!??????yepper that was me~~BUTTTTTTTTTTTTTT Now that we got a taste of spring in the air 2 weeks ago and all our snow melted it was a nice feeling!! so what I am saying is I AM GETTIN SICK OF SNOW (just for this winter of cource) LOL and am wanting to get out in the greenhouse and plant~~~it isnt a heated one so unfortunately I am stuck waiting for that for a while yet. LOL

Since I dont have any new pics to post of any new creations I will post my boys!! I love these pics, it was in feb of 08 when we brought our little Barney home. He always is laying with his big brother Buster. Bubba usually is in his waterbed but does play quite abit with his baby brother. In the pic he almost looks like if he could talk he is asking what is this squirt that looks like me doing on my couch?? LOL oh LOVE my boys~

Hope yall have a wonderful weekend I am off to check a few things and then do chores and in my studio of me!!!

Talk to ya soon!!

~~HUGS~~

Darlene

Captured Fairy Bottles

Here are some pics of my newly created ALTERED CAPTURED FAIRIE BOTTLES!! LOVE THEM!!
This is the back side which has the verse "May all your wishes come true" added along with some glittery fairy stardust!! On the front is celebrate life stamped on green cardstock.

I used some vintage girl photos I had purchased, altered them with butterfly wings and crowns and added some moss and our own dried sweet annie sprigs and words to some purchased glass bottles!! These are the mini ones and they are darling!!




This is my FLOWER FAIRIE!! She has the verse "May all your weeds be wildflowers" attached to the back of bottle.















FUN FUN FUN!! Altering and paper are my favo things!~~LOL also came home a bit ago after goin and picking my mom up at hospital~~ she was discharged~~ YEAH~~ wasnt the same round here without her~~ glad she is back home where she belongs!!!with all of us!! They said it will be a few months of slow healing but at least the worst is behind her hope and pray and it she is on the road to recovery and being back to herself again!~~ THANKS to everyone and to our GOOD LORD ABOVE~~ I have to add everyone and I mean everyone~~ all the staff at HOLLAND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL~~they are just the best around!!! I have never met a more dedicated, caring, nice bunch of people~And to all my blogging online friends!! IT is amazing to be such good friends with folks you have never actually met in person!! from all over this world!! LOVE AND CHERISH YALL~~

Ok well it is back to work tomorrow for me!~DARN~~ was enjoying being at the flower shop and being able to create something!! IT is a great sense of pride for me and a great stress reliever too~~ so hopefully will be back with more creative goodies for yall to veiw! Have a blessed evening and will keep yall in my prayers~

~~HUGS~~

Darlene

Happy Sunday~~

HELLO everyone~~ wow kind of glad the valentines day is over!! Well love seeing all our customers but now it's time to get busy and make things for my spring show in march!! SO busy creating the next few days!! YEAH YIPPEE YEE HAW!! got a few new ideas flying around in my little creative head!!! LOL always something i swear!! HEHEHE ok will that said I just have to share this video that someone posted on a super duper wonderful primitive forum I am a proud member of~~ delphi forums primitive and rustic decorating 2~~ IT is the best and such a caring community glad to be a part of it~~
Here is an awesome Budweiser commercial made in 2006 (first time i seen it) but from what i read it cost them 2 million to make and it only aired one time~~ It was made after 9/11 and really touches your heart!!! I had tears wellin up in my eyes after seeing it~but love all their commercials with those truly amazing gorgeous clydesdale horses~ so her it is take a peek ir really is beautiful~http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoxxix0QQdU
So have a blessed day I am off to get ready to head on over to take Buster to see my mom in the hospital!!
TAKE CARE~~

~~HUGS~~
Darlene

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/4946/sc...reateartyo4.gif

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY~~

Here are some of the choc dipped heart cookies on sticks I made to add into arrangements or for a stuffed animal to hold onto.

My buster!!! Love ya baby!!

The front main counter

I just love these pink roses!! we made hearts from asst color pipe cleaners to add into arrangements.

Here are some of our handmade chocolates and carmel pkgs. A friend makes the little container for them ARENT THEY TOO CUTE!!

Here are a few of the frosted sugar heart cookies I made.

This was an order for a heart of red carnations surrounded by baby breath, had to add a few more carnations to make it look more like a heart shape.

Cooler

Cooler

HAPPY HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!! Hope yall had a super sweet day. We closed a bit early today and went to visit my mom and then did a bit of grocery shopping and are spending out night with the boys!! NO where else i 'd rather be!! I love working valentines week and mother;s day week at the shop and it is nice to see our regular customers and meet new ones!! We had fun~missed my mom but at least got to spend some time with her today. AND this is sooooooooo way cool!! Tomorrow Buster is goin with me to see her in the hospital!! HE is going to be so excited!! Hubby and I both have always said we should have gone to the training for him to be a therapy dog since he LOVES everyone and is so mellow and he listens so good!! Will have to tell ya about his first experience in a hospital!! We are goin to surprise her~ cant wait!!

Well the "girls" are laying good again so the farmstand has eggs each day!!

If anyone is interested in seeds for 09 season let me know I am putting in an order and will be listing a few extras for sale!!!Some of the seeds are the following:

teddy bear sunflowers, autumn mix sunflowers, italian cream sunflowers, cosmos, most varieties of veggies, shasta daisys, marigolds and different pumpkins!!

Will post when they come in.

Have a wonderful night!! talk to yall soon

~~HUGS~~

Darlene

OWOH WINNERS!!

OK EVERYONE! Here are the randomly chosen winners for OWOH giveaway!

MARY ISABELLAAND KILEY TOO!
Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...
OOOOOH I do love surprises!!! Please enter me...m.
January 22, 2009 7:17 PM

The second is
JENDY

I would love to be entered into your drawing! And if you haven't done so yet, stop by my blog and sign up for mine. Thanks for the inspiration!Jendy
February 8, 2009 7:48 PM

AND THE WINNER OF 3 Of MY HANDMADE CARDS IS:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;
Amy Wilges said...
wowza, very cute and creative cards you've done! love them! :)
January 26, 2009 8:51 AM


CONGRATS EVERYONE!! ANd thanks for entering it was fun to read all the comments and also play along too!!
I am off to the shop Valentines Day is tomorrow!! Will post some pics of the shop when i get back home tonight!!
Have a happy friday Yall!!!
~~HUGS~~
Darlene

SURGERY IS OVER!!

MY MOM is now out of surgery and the surgeon says it looks good now! She had most of her colon removed and they were able to resection it!! YEAH!! NO signs of cancer and things look better. I am so thankful to everyone's prayers and thoughts and well wishes!! It is kind of cool the hospital here has a puter with internet for visitors to use so thought i would post this!! They have all been so good to her and my dad and I here!!
I thank the good Lord above for our good news and all the many blessings we have had.
THANKS to everyone!! Will be posting some more goodies tomorrow!
Have a blessed day

~HUGS~~
Darlene

Happy weekend yall!!

Had some time to work on some new cards today. This one is thinking of you, i love the light olive color mixed with pink and brown.

I painted these violets on thick paper then cut them out and added a bit of glimmer mist and a thinking of you stamped image. The stamp is from k and company. I love it!!

A fun hello card using stamped daisy flowers and light pink ribbon.

I love this k and company bird stamp. Also green and brown might be one of my top color mixes now!!

Many thanks card. I used a stamping up stamp for the many thanks you are appreciated tag, added some layered torn cardstock and flowers.

It got to 49 degrees today and believe me as nice as it was outside it stinks now because we are having major flooding!!! Our driveway was just water and more water and my poor pasture is underwater in alot of spots but we did loose ALOT of our snowpiles!! CRAZY either 0 degrees or warm this winter!~

My mom is still in hospital but they are planning on surgery wed am. I hope and pray they fix this and dont find anything inside.
I want to thank everyone for the prayers and well wishes THEY ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!

If you get a chance stop on by to www.makingmemoriesforyou.com it is a great scrappin forum and they have alot of challenges and valentines contests goin on!! ::LOTS OF FUN:::

Take care and will take more tomorrow!!

~~HUGS~~

Darlene

Thursday

I LOVE THIS FEB info block!! It is from my dear friend Olde Dame Penniwig!! LOVE the color too!!

HAPPY THURSDAY YALL!! BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR it is -7 degrees right now and surely feels it!!

My mom is still in hospital the surgeon is coming in this am to discuss what they are goin to do so hopefully they will take whatever it is out and fix her up!! We miss her at home.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE WELL WISHES AND PRAYERS they are very much appreciated!! I will keep all my bloggin friends close to my heart!! TY!

I am heading over to the her flower shop to work on some more valentinesy things up, oh will have to take my camera with huh!! can share some pics. I love valentines and mother's day at the shop they are 2 fun flower holidays!! We will have some gourmet handmade chocolates this year from a dear friend and we are planning on making up some cookie baskets and bouquets!! FUN FUN FUN!! so probably no scrappin/craftin for a few days :( oh well that is ok it just means next week i can make more things!!

I hope yall have a wonderful day and will try to get back here this weekend.

~~HUGS~~

Darlene

Tues

Happy happy tues! IT IS SNOWIN AGAIN~~ yeah~!

This is the front of my book

altered a paper bag album themed for well DOGS of cource!! Made this this am, each of my boys has their own album but thought it would be fun to make one for all 3 since I HAVE UMPTEEN MILLION pics of them!! LOL If you would like one I will custom make one with your theme all you have to do is add your pics when it arrives. how much you ask they are $22.99 plus us travel expenses. As you can see each inside page is done up plus there are 3 end pages that open and have hidden tags in there or journaling or they are big enough to put a pic on it.

Here we go again!! Can you please please keep my mom in your prayers one more time, she is back in hospital and they are planning on doin some surgery in the next couple of days. She got so bad over the weekend she couldnt even stand up or walk so we agreed enough is enough and found a gastroenteroligist who advised us to bring her asap. He is very nice I feel he is taking really good care of her sofar and hope and pray when they do go and check things out inside that they dont find anything and fix what is wrong. I may not be on for a few days so will keep ya updated at the end of the week depending on what happens.

THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN!!!

Have a wonderful night and talk to ya soon!!

~~HUGS~~and primitive blessings

Darlene

HAPPY MONDAY!

I created this page for sale. LOVE the flourishes and flowers!! Too much fun!! OH LOVE PAPER!! LOL

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY MONDAY YALL!! {got a call this am NO work for me today} YEAH YIPEE!! u all know what that means!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> CREATIVE DAY!! IF u could see me now i am all about doin my little happy dance!! LOL i get to be with my boys all day and in my studio for sure!! GEE i still cant believe it is feb already!!

OH AND GUESS WHAT!!! i won a challeng over at
http://www.makingmemoriesforyou.com/ scrappin forum!! {which by the way is a great forum all about scrapping and fun!! IF you are all interested in paper stuff please head on over there the gal that runs it is a sweetie!! they are all very friendly and helpful}

So here is the layout i made. I used pics of the ranch where Appy my horse was at.

I would go there to work in the summer as a trail guide so I could spend more time with him, then bought him and the rest is history!! They closed and I sure miss spending time out there with all the horses. it sure was fun!!

WAY TO GO STEELERS!!! did u watch the big game?? We did and what a game it was!! the Cardinals really played good and hard!! It was a super exciting game and oh WHO DOESNT LOVE THE COMMERCIALS!!! I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE EVERY bud commercial with the horses!! The horses can fetch too was awesome!! I could cry they are so beautiful~~someday maybe i will have one or more clydesdales. they are so amazingly smart not to mention gorgeous horses!! Ok well just love horses anyway!!

SO I am off to MAKE ART HAPPEN , well after mornin chores and another cup o joe! LOL

HAVE A SUPER DAY MY FRIENDS

~~HUGS~~

Darlene