Peppermint and Gingerbread

It was a peppermint and gingerbread Christmas again this year.  I find myself putting less and less decorations out every year as you just have to put them all away in a few weeks, right?  The peppermint towel hanging on my stove is from Cracker Barrel.  I'm into more peppermint decor now than gingerbread.  The red and white is so cheerful.

My daughter and I played around with making peppermint candy beads with polymer clay a few days ago.  Need a lot more practice.  As she said, "trial and error".

Happy New Year to all!
Hugs,
Karen

Little Stitchery Pictures

I made up some little stitchery pictures for last minute gifts for a few of my crafty friends.  I found the frames at ACMoore.  Now I have all kinds of ideas swirling in my head for spring!

Wishing everyone a warm, cozy blessed Christmas Eve.

Hugs,
Karen

Last Craft Show for 2011

A few pictures of my "creations" before the show started.  I made the black and white polka dot displays by covering cork boards with fabric.  Again, most of my pincushions sold from the mice to the cupcakes.  And I sold out of my hand painted snowman pendants and snowman earrings.  I was pleased with my sales and after a little break will be making items for spring.

I still have to finish up some Christmas shopping and looking forward to our daughter's arrival Thursday.  We have a busy time planned with family.  Can't believe yet another year is almost over.

Wishing a happy, healthy Christmas and New Year to all.
Hugs,

Karen

Drapery Rings Ornaments

I have a whole box of drapery rings that aren't in use anymore when I changed out my drapes.  I was asked to make and donate a few ornaments for my upcoming craft show this weekend.  This is what I came up with.
Hugs,
Karen

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Hugs, Karen

Busy, busy, busy

It's getting down to the wire for my last craft show.  Thought I could at least show a few things that have been keeping me busy for weeks.  I see a few of  you actually look at my blog, I think. LOL  So I should really keep up.  I do keep up with all of you.  I love all your creative ideas.

Plus, I have company coming today for Thanksgiving.  Fortunately we'll be Giving Thanks at my older daughter's house so that's one less thing for me to stress about.

Hugs,
Karen

Harvest Craft Show

I can take a few days off now that my fall show is over. Next one will be Dec. 1-3. The pictures will show you what has been keeping me busy. I hope all you crafters out there are having good sales.

Hugs,

Karen

Rings and Things

I haven't posted in so long as I've been busy working on special orders and getting ready for a craft show Oct.22.

The little snowmen and pumpkin pendants, plus the two stretch rings are going to a lady in FL. I made tiny boxes for each one. The bunny and cat pincushions went to a lady in New Orleans. I still have a cute witch doll to make for her, and then I'll work on my inventory. I'm sure all you crafters are busy getting ready for fall shows.

Hugs,

Karen

Cupcakes - Faux and Real

A darling cupcake shop opened here in Maryville called KupKaties KupKakes. She makes minis now so you can try more flavors. Wonder why I gained a #???

They go perfectly with my chenille pincushions and cupcake oven mitts. Yum!

Hugs,

Karen

Mice Pincushions

After several weeks and many interruptions, I finally got two more mice completed. They waited for their tails for days. lol My fall craft shows will be here before I know it. Hobby Lobby already has their Christmas decorations out! Anybody else working on Christmas crafts?

Blogger won't let me comment anywhere! I've tried many times. So I just look and browse at all your pretty blogs.

Hugs,

Karen

Happy 4th of July and a Flip Flop Tree

Yesterday was my husband's birthday and we took a ride to Townsend. It's just outside of the Smoky Mountains National Park. We stopped by to see a friend who has a house on the river and watched the tubers float by for a couple of hours. I'm sure they were much cooler than us! It was 92 degrees and the water temp around 70!

Every season they collect flip flops that the floaters lose and hang them on this tree. They get so many they have to throw them away and start over each year!

Wishing you all a very Happy 4th of July!

Karen

Father's Day

Our Father's Day plans were to have a picnic in Cades Cove in the Smokey Mountains. But we had rain and were under a tornado watch until 8:00 PM. At least I was able to take my husband out for breakfast.

I had made Brownie Pops using the Wilton Brownie Pop pan to take to the picnic, but now they are all for us! Yum!

Look Who Came to Visit!

I always seem to get my pictures out of order, but you get the idea. lol

I didn't want to leave you with this image so adding a picture of three little peg girls I made. I've had these pegs in my stash for years and finally did something with them. Actually, I was going to make them into angels for Christmas ornaments. Guess I could always add some wings. I'm sooooooooo easily distracted! Do you think this little harmless garden snake wanted to come in to escape the heat? Actually, it was about 4 1/2" long. I watched as it slithered down into bushes only to find out it went next door to our neighbor's house.

Memorial Day

Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe Memorial Day.

Christmas Crafts

Trying to get a head start on my fall shows, which I should have done several months ago. But you know how easy it is to get side-tracked! Just thought I'd share a couple of new things with you. The "Happy Sewing" mouse sits on top of a vintage child's enamel cup. The "Mouse Couture" is just a sweet romantic mouse.

I have a production line going now of the Snowman Bottles. I'll show you the rest when they are all finished.

Hugs,

Karen

No Sew Dust Ruffle

I'm finally starting to feel a little productive once again and got into a creative mood this past week. I made a long awaited dust ruffle to go with our summer coverlet by tucking the fabric between the mattress and box springs and hand gathering. It's a small red and white check which is hard to tell from the picture. We have a king size bed so it took 7 yards, which I cut in half to make it full enough. One day I may actually gather it on my machine, but right now I have too many other fun things I want to do.

I also finished two more mice pincushions and a snowman bottle I started last year! It turned out so cute I have a production line going now. Will post those pictures later.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

Hugs,

Karen

Happy Mother's Day

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day. My daughter, Kristie, sent this sweet flower arrangement to me yesterday - pastels and polka dot ribbon. She knows me so well!

Hugs,

Karen

Easter Eggs and Cake

To those sweet bloggers who check for new posts from me, I apologize for not having anything new. But, there is a reason. My husband has been in the hospital and then in a rehab facility since Jan.24th due to back fusion surgery. I've spent almost every day with him and have not had a lot of free time. He was told he will be released to come home maybe this week or next. Yeah! Hopefully things will get back to semi-normal.

Yesterday I did something I haven't done in years - dye Easter Eggs. I belong to a Fun Group, and every month someone is in charge of planning something. One of the ladies made a beautiful cake with a raspberry filling. And, I won the prize for the prettiest eggs.

Have a Happy Easter.

Hugs,

Karen

Cupcake Mouse Pinkeeper

Another one of my pinkeepers is on it's way to Michigan, this time a little mouse with a cupcake theme. Funny how the stuffed mice are so cute, but the real ones - not so much! LOL

My bunny pinkeeper sold a few weeks ago in my Etsy shop. I must get back to creating. I'm a big time procrastinator!

Hugs,

Karen

A Little Dining Room Redo

How time flies! Today is March 6th and it's SNOWING here in TN! It's also my sister-in-law's birthday. Happy Birthday, Sarah.

Thought I'd show you an inexpensive makeover in our dining room. These heavy white drapes were here when we bought 6 years ago. They looked rather blah so replaced them with ones from Walmart, their Better Homes and Garden label. My daughter cut the wood rods down to 18" each and mounted them just on either side of the window to make the window appear wider and to let in more light. She did the same thing in our office which is opposite the DR. It's great to have daughter with so many talents. She also laid tile, wood flooring, redid the master shower, wallpapered, and the list goes on.

Hello Sweet February

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, but my sweetheart is still in the hospital. They found a blood clot in his leg so are treating it with meds. Maybe when that is dissolved he'll be able to go into the Patricia Neal rehab center so he can get back on his feet again.
Hugs,
Karen

Is It Spring Yet?

Okay. I've been really lazy about this blogging thing. I spend and hour or so each morning reading lovely blogs, forgetting to leave comments and neglecting my own.

I thought I'd get a lot done when we were snowed in - wrong! All I wanted to do was curl up on the sofa in front of the fire and watch TV. I had several friends that said the same thing. I did get a new little bunny pinkeeper made the other day and got it listed on Etsy. I designed the bunny pattern myself and was surprised when she turned out the first time!

I've also been pre-occupied as my husband is going in for his 6th back surgery Jan.24th. He is having fusion this time and I hope he will have a successful outcome. It's miserable to live in constant pain.

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

Hugs,

Karen

Snowed in Again!

I should be able to get some crafty things made today as almost everything is shut down. I live outside of Knoxville and this is the most snow we've had yet in the six years we've lived here.