White Christmas

Happy day after Christmas! Here in Maryville, TN, which is just outside of Knoxville, we woke up to a white Christmas. And, it's still snowing the day after! Guess my daughter and I won't be going out to exchange gifts. We must have about 4 or 5" so far. This picture is in our back yard.

I know for those of you up north a few inches of snow is nothing. But I'm originally from Florida and snow is kind of a big event for me!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone.

Dirty Santa

Isn't this a darling snowman couple? I won them in a Dirty Santa gift exchange a couple of weeks ago. I attended another Christmas party the next night where we also had a Dirty Santa gift exchange. My luck ran out! LOL I ended up with a very ugly ornament. Guess whoever brought that gift took the Dirty Santa thing too seriously!

House of Santa Mouse

Thought I'd share a few pictures from my last craft show. It was put on by the Blount County Arts and Crafts Guild, of which I'm a member. They call it The House of Santa Mouse. It was another great success, growing bigger every year.

The first picture is of my table. We had everything from country, fine art and beautiful jewelry.

Crafting Frenzy

My Thanksgiving company have left and I'm finishing up my items for my last craft show. Here is a sampling of my newest items. Another batch of mice pin keepers, another set of painted spoons, a few new snowman ornaments, hand painted snowman pendant slides with Swarvoski crystals (I had to buy a large magnifying glass), and Christmas stretch bracelets - some with a vintage charm. After staining my eyes on those tiny snowmen I had a bright idea! Paint them larger and reduce on my copy machine. Voila! Much easier. I have an order for fabric stocking ornaments, so that's my project for today. Next year I'll start sooner.................I always say that!

Tassels and Pincushions

Just thought I should show some of the things that I make in my creative chaos! All the little mice sold, some of these tassels and the pale yellow cottage pincushion.

I will make up more mice pin keeps for my next show, The House of Santa Mouse.

I'm also working on hand painted snowman pendants and some with just an image inserted. It's such an eye strain painting in a one inch area. Think I should paint big and reduce the size to fit. Hey, that will be my project next week!

Have a great week, all you creative crafters!

A "Real" Craft Room

A room where I create! I almost didn't show this, but hopefully after the holidays I can clean up the mess. My daughter calls it organized chaos. LOL The publication, Where Women Create, shows such big, beautiful organized craft rooms. But since we downsized I work out of a small bedroom. I finally got those tan slacks ironed you see draped over my chair!!! At least it's at the end of the hall and nobody can see it!

I was getting ready for the Fall Harvest Festival at Maryville College here in TN. It was in their brand new Clayton Arts Center and I had great sales. One more show to go the first weekend in December.

Foothills Fall Festival

It was a beautiful weekend, great weather and good crowds. I sold more Swarvoski stretch rings than anything else, which you can't see in this picture. My friend, Laurie, grows and makes the fabulous gourds. One of the garden clubs decorates with all the scarecrows and pumpkins. Don't know why the second picture is sideways and I couldn't fix it. Two more shows to go!

New Batch of Sachets

For you fellow crafters out there - you know how stressful it is getting ready for a show when you are so far behind! Guess I get more done under pressure. LOL Just finished up another batch of my handpainted lavender sachets. Today will work on tassels.

Happy Crafting!

Mouse Pin Keepers

I do a craft show the first weekend in December called The House of Santa Mouse. Thought these cute pin keeps would fit right in. I have a couple of fall themed ones too, which I'll put out to sell at the Fall Harvest Festival in Maryville,TN. That will be Oct.8,9 & 10. I changed the pattern a little to fussy them up. Funny how real mice scare us but the stuffed ones are so cute!

Happy Birthday To Me!

These come around way too fast! But it's a very happy day as my husband got out of the hospital yesterday. He had back surgery Aug.10th and again on the 16th to remove a blood clot. That makes 5 surgeries in 13 months. He was moved to a transitional center for rehab.

Haven't had much time to blog lately. Getting ready for 3 craft shows. The first one is in two weeks. So I'd better get crackin'.

Hugs,

Karen

Monogrammed Sachets

These sachets are on their way to Canada. A sweet lady in Surrey,BC ordered them for two baby girls. She has been a great repeat customer of mine. Guess that proves it helps to list new items occasionally in my Etsy store. :)

I've had to sew on a vintage 1951 Singer Featherweight that once belonged to my Aunt. My much loved Bernina is in for repair having the circuit board repaired. Ouch- but not as costly as a new one. It's kinda slow going with the Featherweight, but it gets the job done!

Safety Pin Bracelets

Remember these from years ago? I saw them in a gift shop last spring so just had to make one for myself. When my friend was visiting last month we had fun making some. Think I have one to go with every outfit now. As they say, what's old is new again!

If you want to try one, they have about 66 safety pins and the amount of beads depends on the size of the bead. String them on elastic cord. Hobby Lobby has bags of multi-colored glass beads which works well. In two bracelets I used size 8 beads from a bead store and one has beads from Walmart. Just remember to pinch the pin closed with a small pliers before stringing them up to keep from popping open.

Happy Birthday Traci

Today is my older daughter's 42nd birthday. This was taken 3 years ago at her Charleston beach wedding and the scanned in pic really turned out dark. As you can see, she likes to sunbathe and I don't - at least not anymore. I heard the sun causes wrinkles! lol

Happy Birthday, Traci.

Love & Hugs,

Mom

31st Wedding Anniversary

Well, I forgot! Not our anniversary, but mentioning it on my blog. As they say - time flys! My dear parents made it to 70 years, which doesn't happen too often. There is still quite a bit of hair under my husbands hat! lol

Our daughter took this picture at a 4th of July party in Indiana. We were there visiting her and her fiance.

Summer Projects

I'm almost finished with my summer projects around the house. Will post all the pictures one day soon, I hope. Finally painted the front door black to match the new board and batten shutters. Supervisors Lucy and Sadie are making sure it's done right!

Shipshewana, IN Vacation

Who doesn't love cupcakes? I thought this chair was so cute in the Garden Gate Cafe.

For those few ladies who look at my blog from time to time, I'm back. At least this is kind of an online journal for me. lol

We had a lot of projects around the house, which are almost finished, and also managed to get in a mini vacation to Shipshewana, IN with our 28 year old daughter Kristie

Shipshewana is a large Amish community in northern IN. It has a lot of cute stores and a darling eatery called the Garden Gate Cafe. It had a cupcake theme with cupcakes everywhere, not to mention ones to eat. And, they were yummy! It inspired me to sew up a batch of fresh chenille cupcakes when I got back home.

The summer is going by way too fast, don't you think?

Hugs,

Karen

Garage Sale Goodies

Last Saturday I went to a subdivision garage sale. Those are the best since there are a lot of houses in a concentrated area. I'll paint on the ornaments for my Christmas shows. I also got a bag of silverware, which can't be seen very well. The spoons will become ornaments and the forks I'll make into photo holders.

The hand painted tray was a wedding gift 40 years ago - only 50 cents.

The never been used Pflatzgraff casserole dishes - also 50 cents a piece.

Not pictured are two plate stands and a basket to hang on the front door. It's already been spray painted and waiting for a flower arrangement. Not a bad haul for about $15.

Graduation Day

Our granddaughter Casey graduated from high school this past Monday night. This picture was taken in front of a restaurant afterwards. With her is older brother Brandon who just finished his freshman year in college.

She graduated with honors and was fourth in her class. Way to go, Casey! We're so proud of you!

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

From what I understand, this recipe has been floating around the internet for some time now. I received it about a week ago from a friend in Seattle and decided last night was the night to give it a try. It has a different texture than one baked in the oven and is more heavy and rich. It's not that great, but will do if you're desperate! lol Next time I'd add a pinch of salt. I used this old bunny mug just in case it exploded or something!!!!

A little funky looking!

I only ate half.

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

A small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug (micro safe)

Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips, if using, and vanilla extract. Mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little and tip out onto a plate if desired. This can serve two. (I beat the egg separately before adding)

Have a great chocolately day!

Dollywood

Guess it's about time I posted a little somethin' somethin' on my blog, just in case anyone wonders where I've been! lol I spend so much time reading all the other blogs I neglect mine. Plus, I can't think of something to write everyday like most of you. A friend and I went to Dollywood yesterday since we live only about an hour away. It's a fun place to visit. For some reason I only took a few pictures, so this will be short, but sweet! I was serenaded to by one of the Gem Tones singing Calendar Girl. The a cappella singers complete with the "nerd". Well, that's all folks!!!!