Aunt DeeDee's Designs

The Kraft Journal blog

2011-10-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

All things happen for a reason I believe. Last September I found myself unemployed. After 6 months of unemployment I finally found a job that also came with quite a commute. I was there for 6 months and truly enjoyed working there. Great work environment and great co-workers. But when an opportunity came to me to work closer to home (only 2.4 miles from home to be exact) I couldn't pass it up. While I was sad to say good bye to all of the great people I was working with, I was also excited to start on this new chapter in life. I started on Tuesday of this week and I really feel like this will be a great experience! And now that I'm not giving 3 to 4 hours a day to commuting I can be back online, checking up on all of my great blogs I follow and also can get back into the craft room and get creating again!

So, in my new found free time tonight I came across The Kraft Journal blog! Oh you HAVE to go and check it out. I've only briefly have browsed through it and have found some great techniques and tutorials. I'm sure you'll enjoy!!!

Be on the lookout as I will now be back to posting regularly and I feel a giveaway is in order so stay tuned!!

Aunt DeeDee

Hurricane Irene Aftermath

2011-09-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone on the east coast got through the storm last weekend ok. I get frustrated reading news articles how the media hype didn't live up to the storm because New York didn't get hit as expected. Excuse me newscasters but did you get a look at how it hit the other states before it got to NY???   I feel so bad for everyone who had extensive damage. I know some people are still without power. Many people didn't think they're in a "flood" area and unfortunately didn't buy flood insurance.

I implore everyone.......BUY FLOOD INSURANCE. I can't tell you how many calls our agency got on Thursday and Friday asking how they were going to be covered. There's a waiting period for flood insurance and trying to get it 2 days before a hurricane is about to hit.....welll it's not happening. OK....that's my 2 bit public service announcement! :)   But seriously, everyone should really question their insurance policy. Don't always assume that what you were given 10 years ago when you first purchased your policy is adequate now. In a weeks time, our area experienced an earthquake and flooding as a result of the hurricane/tropical storm....both of which are not covered under homeowners.

Well, my family and I were personally lucky. We live on a hill. I was on storm watch all night long. About 1am I went out on my front porch and stood under my small peak out of reach of the rain. There was a good wind blowing at that point but it was actually pretty peaceful out there.   I went back inside when the lights started flickering. Figured better get upstairs to bed before the lights went out. Many people were still on facebook on their own storm watch patrol. I finally gave up and went to bed when my wireless kept going off and on. I turned off and unplugged everything in case the power went out.

At 4:45am my phone rang. I was sleepy and first grabbed my cell and realized that wasn't the one ringing. Then a bit of panic set in thinking OH NO!! Who is calling this early and what happened???? It was an automated message saying that Branchville Boro may be evacuated.   What???? I thought HOW BAD is it out? I looked out my window and we didn't have any down trees, power was still on and it didn't look bad out. I went back to sleep.

When I woke up in the morning I called my aunt who lives on the other end of town and said did they really have to call that early? She said uh yeah! Downtown was bad. We have a brook that runs along town. People were evacuated, some had to be taken out by boat. I finally got out around 11am to see what things were like in town. I thought it was bad then and throughout this week I've seen videos and pictures taken earlier and I can't believe how my lil hometown looked.

Our baseball field was under water, the tennis courts looked like a raging sea. Parts of the road caved in at certain points. Houses were partially underwater. We managed to make it through the night with our power. But after the hurricane passed and the rains stopped, we got hit with the winds that seemed worse than they were during the night. We lost power around noon. It was out until the next day. I feel so fortunate that it was out for such a short time. I know that others are still without power as I type this.

And now they are tracking Katia and not sure what she's going to do. I hope she goes right out to sea. The eastern coast needs time to recoup and rebuild. Get back on our feet.

This is a video of the tennis courts and ballfield:

Here are some pictures that I took that morning, here you can actually see some of the baseball field but earlier photos I've seen.......the entire area was flooded.

Aunt DeeDee

Sharing a great Halloween giveaway with all of my "ghoul" friends!

2011-08-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

Wow is all I can say about Country Creations by Denise! So far, I've been drooling over her great creations! I'm looking forward to reading more posts from Denise!!

She's have a SUPER giveaway and sure to please any Halloween fanatic like myself, so bop on over to her blog and check her out. I'm sure all of my blog friends will take my word for it but just to give you a teaser and a peek at her creations.........

See!!!! Told you so! WOW right????

Night all!

Aunt DeeDee

Black Creek Primitives

2011-08-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

Oh my.....found another blog to follow! This one is a selling blog and she has adorable prims for sale at very reasonable prices. I found some fall goodies that I put on my shopping list for next pay day!

She is having a great giveway so hop on over to check out BLACK CREEK PRIMITIVES!

Aunt DeeDee

Check out Prim Bear's Cupboard

2011-07-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

I'd like to introduce you to a newer selling blog.....Karen from Prim Bear's Cupboard . Karen has quite a few great prims listed for sale including a really great Prim Pear Painted Pineapple (brought to you today by the letter "P"....sorry had a flashback to Sesame Street there!!)

Hope all is well with everyone. I'm taking a moment on my lunch break to catch on some of my blog reads. I hope to have a moment in the evening to sit down and write a proper blog post and catch up on some things I've been working on. Ok....ok to use up my last 10 minutes of lunch wisely!

Aunt DeeDee

Better Late than Never? GIveaway @ Tolentreasures

2011-07-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

I've been so far behind on my blog reading that I totally missed this great giveaway by http://tolentreasures.blogspot.com/2011/07/500th-post-giveaway.html She's having her 500th post giveaway. It ends tonight so hurry on up and check it out. She's got a few giveaways, one for new followers too!

Stay cool!

Aunt DeeDee

I'm still here!

2011-06-16T19:18:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been awhile but things had been so hectic here! The new job has been great. The commute is a bit much. I had switched my hours from 9:30-6 to 10-6:30. There had been a lot of construction going on and it was taking me 2 hours to drive to work. I couldn't imagine going in any earlier so i opted for the different shift. It's not so bad except now that the construction has died down, I've been getting to work now a 1/2 hour early. But I just take the time to sit in my car either reading, listening to an audiobook or going through bills.

Since March, my Mom has been in and out of the hospital 4 times now. First when she first had the kidney failure and started dialysis, then a blood clot, colitis and then another clot. But she's been doing much better now. She's doing the treatment she can do from home. I think it's called Parataneal. She does it at night when she's sleeping rather than go for dialysis several times a week.

So we are still busy here setting up her supplies and stuff but hopefully things will start getting back to a little normal. I just put in the application for the one show we do in November so I have to start concentrating on crafting on the weekends. I get home so late now that getting anything during the week is just impossible.

With that said, I couldn't stand it any longer not being able to get on the computer at night when I come home so I broke down and got the Inspiron Duo from Dell.

Isn't it the cutest?? The screen flips so you can use it as a tablet or a laptop. So at least I can come home at night and sit with it in the living room rather than go upstairs to the computer/craftroom. And I take to work to use during the day at lunchtime. So hopefully I won't feel I'm missing out on checking in on all of my great prim sites and blogs!!!

Hope everyone is doing well! Now to check in all of the blog posts I've been missing out on!!!

Have a great night!
Dawn
"Aunt DeeDee"

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-08T07:50:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-07T19:41:00.000-07:00

And Happy NSD to those happy scrappers out there! Sad to say I've just gotten a moment to myself to sit down and get on the computer and hopefully can find some good NSD scrapbook sales still going on at this hour. I haven't had the chance to get on the computer much in these past few weeks. Mom had gone into the hospital on Good Friday. She wound up with a blood clot up by her neck and an infection with the 1st port they put in for dialysis. So she had a 9 day stay in the hospital. They removed that port and put in another on the other side of her chest. And they also put the one in her stomach for the kind of treatment she can do from home rather than going to dialysis. This one has to heal and she has to be trained on how to do it so in the meantime she still needed the chest port to do regular dialysis.

This time we said we did not want the same surgeon who did it the first time. HORRIBLE bedside manner. She had gone to him just a day or 2 before she got so bad and in such pain that she finally went to the ER at the hospital. He didn't seem concerned by what he saw when she visited him. Ugh! And then just this past Thursday I had called home from work to check in and was worried when Dad said she was sleeping every time I called. Told my sis she had to go and check on her when she got out from work (she's a teacher so she gets out earlier than me). Such a big down side to my job - not getting out until 6 and the good hour and fifteen minute drive home, and that's a good night without traffic! So she was pretty bad but Mom was adamant about not going to the hospital and they didn't argue with her. I was so mad at them for not just calling 911 to come to the house. So by yesterday she was feeling so bad she finally decided to go. We were really worried that something was happening with the stomach port. Turns out to be colitis and after treating her for the day she looks so much better! She'll most likely be coming home tomorrow. Thank goodness!!!

However, I told her the next time I have that feeling that she is that bad I'm just calling 911 from work and that's the end of it. Or else I'm calling my uncle, her brother, who will simply go get her and put her in a car. My aunt asked why I didn't call him and I said I had trusted that my sister and father would be able to "handle" my mom and get her to the hospital. Oh well, lesson learned. Mom better hope she stays on the mend because I have full intentions on making good on my threat next time!

So hoping my momma will be home in time for Mommy's Day tomorrow! She had to spend Easter in the hospital, I would like to have her be able to spend Mommy's Day home and on the front porch taking in the nice weather.

Ok...off I go to try and find some good scrapbook deals!!
Wishing all Moms out there a happy Mother's Day!
Dawn
"Aunt DeeDee"

Swan dive off the sidewalk!

2011-04-10T16:26:00.000-07:00

So if things weren't hectic enough with everything else going on, I decide to take a swan dive (and it most likely resemble more of a dodo bird landing) off our sidewalk on Wednesday. I had just finally gotten to my regular hours at work and no more training, so I had to readjust the time I leave for work on Wednesday (luckily later in the morning as I'm now working 9:30 to 6). I walk out of the house and go down the front porch steps fine. Nothing was wet, the sun was out, no frost on my car. Walk down the sidewalk and step off the last step into the driveway and a flying I go! I had NO CLUE what had just happened except that I'm now laying in a muddy driveway, my travel cup opened up and ice goes all over. I knew I hurt my knee and eventually got up. Put my hand on the step to help myself up and wouldn't you know it.....it was FROSTY! Couldn't even see it! Luckily it was my knee and not my ankle. I've twisted that ankle so many times, the last time it was MONTHS that it hurt to walk on it. So I had to hobble back inside and change clothes and got to work. It was sore throughout the day but manageable. Stupid me didn't think better when I came home to put ice on it or anything and night time was horrible trying to sleep. Thursday morning....couldn't walk. It was so sore, swollen and stiff. I had to call out to work. Just killed me to do so since I've only been there a month and to waste a day on something like that. Grrrrrrr!!!!!

Thanks to everyone with their kind words last week, still trying to get back to my replys. Mom is still hanging in there but just depressed. Hoping we can get her spirits up a bit.

On the crafting front, my sister brought me 2 big bags of soda cans so I have to start cleaning them out. I've been cutting out 3d barn stars and snowflakes out of the tin with my Big Shot Pro (I am in LOVE with my Big Shot Pro!!). I've got to get going on some stitcheries but I seem to do those more in the spring and summer months sitting out on my porch so I'll get my mojo back on those soon!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!

Dawn
"Aunt DeeDee"

Life got hectic and I'm tired!

2011-04-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted recently but life got a little hectic and worrisome at home. Mom had to go into the hospital. She has a cancer but more recently had gotten sick in October and November which was what her regular doctor chalked up to pnuemonia, but she never quite shook it. So she finally got back to her specialist doctor and had blood work done. Her doctor called one morning and said I want you in the hospital. She had fluid in her lungs and her kidneys were down to less than 10% function. So she was in for just over a week and is now getting dialysis (probably spelling that totally wrong!!). So we are all working together to get through all of this. I am so glad I moved into the other half of the house. Now that I'm working further away from home I at least know that when I am home, I'm just next door.

So between helping out my parents and getting into the swing of things with the new job I haven't had a chance to be on the computer much. But I'm hoping to have some time this weekend to work on projects....oh and get caught up on laundry, the cleaning.......but I swear I'm fitting in some crafting time!!!

Take care,
Dawn "Aunt DeeDee"

Giveaway Winner Announced!

2011-03-08T16:23:00.000-08:00

Whew....it's been a long past two days for me! Rough getting back into the swing of things with starting a new job. But after almost 6 months of unemployment it's most definitely a welcome change! The ONLY downside I see so far in this job is the commute. REALLY not used to that at all but it is what it is! I'm hoping that once training is done and I start my normal hours which will be 9:30 to 6 that I will miss a good portion of rush hour. Without the traffic the drive is 45 minutes. Today it took an hour and a half and I didn't have a minute to spare. So tomorrow I'll leave even earlier. You just never know with this major highway of ours what may pop up and delay traffic. But otherwise, everyone has been so nice and I think it's going to be a nice work environment!

OK......so on to the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!   Please excuse me that I don't have pictures of the list of entries or a screen print of the random # generator but the camer isn't charged and I wasn't sure how to get a screen print of the # generator. But after listing each entry and the double entry for those adding it to their sidebar, there was a total of 27 entries. The random # generator picked # 26 which was...................

LIL RAGGEDY ANGIE!!!!!!!!!    CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please email your mailing address so Peter Cottontail can jump in his box and be mailed off to you!!

And to show my appreciation of all of those who took the time to leave me a comment and also those who helped spread the word, I picked 5 more winners! Please email your info and a lil something will be on it's way to you as well!

1. Carmen @ primcats
2. Connie
3. Amy @ cottageprims
4. Michelle
5. Lecia @ Farmhouse prims

I had a few inquiries on the shabby barn stars, if they would be for sale. I should have some listed this weekend and will post a note here when I do for anyone that may be interested.

Have a great night and thanks again to all who entered the giveaway and helped spread the word about my blog!   I'll be planning another giveaway soon so stay tuned!

Aunt DeeDee

Barnstars and a GIVEAWAY!

2011-02-28T22:26:00.000-08:00

Well good news.........I was offered a job!! Woohoo!!! I accepted and now it's just subject to the background check. So once that goes through ok, then I should get the final offer and start date. So now I'm preparing to going back to working days and because of the commute.....longer hours. But my nights and weekends will still be my crafting time!! I'll be working this weekend in getting all the cleaning and laundry done so I don't have to worry about it coming home at night. And I also found time to work on some new stuff.

I had gotten the Sizzix Big Shot for Christmas and have been playing with it since. Was excited to get the 3D 5 point star die and experimented with recycling soda cans and I also had some nice cardboard/chipboard type of scraps. Where I used to work in an insurance agency, we ordered ID card holders. And they had these nice strips of cardboard in the packaging. I had been grabbing those for awhile knowing they could be recycled somehow. I used a lot for Santa Key doorknob hangers. And then I knew I could use them for the 3D star! (Mental note to contact one of my old co-workers and see if she can still collect those for me!)

So here is the one made from recycled soda cans. It took 2 and 1/2 soda cans to make one star. I die cut the pieces, embossed them with the curly embossing folder and then used Ranger alcohol inks (total of 3 colors and a little gold) to color the pieces. And then assembled.

The 2nd one is made with the recycled cardboard pieces and used a nice shabby set of coordinating papers. Distressed the edges with inks and also assembled.

And now onto the giveaway! With spring and Easter on it's way, I decided to offer up one of my Peter Cottontails. He's really looking to go to a nice loving home and I hear he's planning on bringing some extra goodies along with him. So what is needed to bring Peter to your home? Easy! Just be a follower and leave a comment for one entry. Want a second entry? Post on your blog or facebook and let me know in your comment and that will earn you the 2nd entry. New followers......the more the merrier! Please enter!!! Signup by Monday, March 7th Midnight EST. Winner will be announced on March 8th! Good luck!

Have a great night,

Dawn "Aunt DeeDee"

Still unemployed but getting craft mojo back!

2011-02-12T15:59:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been awhile since my last post! I've been still searching for a job. In the beginning when I was laid off, it was like "Ok, I haven't had a vacation in awhile and let me take some time". After the 1st week or 2 you get motivated into finding a job. By the 4th, 5th, 6th month.....PANIC sets in! I found that especially towards the end of the year there were absolutely NOTHING posted jobwise. I think most places are wrapping up their end of year stuff and not looking to hire. Now that it's the new year, things seem to be picking up a bit, but the problem is...there are so many people out there unemployed it's almost like playing the lottery.....not great odds! Next week I have a 2nd interview on Monday at which they said it's between 2 of us and they'll most likely make a decision that afternoon. I'm really hoping for that one. It's a little less money, but still local....15 minutes from home! If that one doesn't pan out, then I have a 3rd interview for another place that has seem promising up to this point. This is supposedly my last stop in the interview process. Everything seems really great about this job except for the commute. When I calculate the cost of gas alone I'd spend in the year, I'd probably be making less than the closer job. But at this point, I'm hoping one or the other hires me.

So I've had some time on my hands. I got back into researching the family history more and got a bit added onto the family tree. Finally came across some older photos of my one grandfather which was nice. Up to that point, all I had were really old ones of my grandmother when she was little and her side of the family and then my grandfather once they were dating and then married. So nice to find older ones of him and some of his family. We know that one my direct ancestors (a great great etc grandfather) came over on the Mayflower, so that's exciting. I'm trying to get photos that go back to at least my great-great grandparents and then I want to try to incorporate those photos into some sort of altered craft or scrapbook type of item. Here's one of the photos I found of my Great Grandparents. I just love the old vintage looking photos.

And I've tweaked my bottlecaps a little. My parents gave me a Sizzix Big Shot for Christmas and surprise! I can flatten my bottlecaps with it. That was probably the coolest thing I've done with it yet! When my camera batteries are charged I'll share photos.

And I've noticed that the # of my followers is starting to creep up. Stay tune this coming week, as I think it's time for some sort of spring giveaway!!!!!

Hope all is well with everyone!
Aunt DeeDee

Christmas and New Year's Wishes!

2010-12-28T21:00:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and are looking forward to starting a brand new year! I spent a nice quiet Christmas with my parents. This is the 1st time in my 39 years that I didn't sleep at my parents house! But since we live in a 2 family house connected by a garage in the middle and all I had to do was wake up in the morning, go through my kitchen door into the garage and into their kitchen.....just sayin' it's not really much different!!! BUT it was nice to sleep cigarette and smoke free for once on Christmas Eve! Mom decided to bake a ham so she didn't have to cook much in the way of dinner.

I had mentioned about how we used to always get a puzzle for Christmas when my sister and I were little. And then mom commented how she thought a Thomas Kincaid puzzle would be pretty. So I wound up getting her a 1000 piece Thomas Kincaid puzzle and she wound up getting me 2 Springbok winter puzzles- one 500 pieces and the other 1000. Christmas day we put together the 500 piece one and the last piece was put into place at 3am! Boy that was hard!! And the other day we started the Thomas Kincaid one and we've been cursing that one out ALOT. I have no clue why we thought puzzles were so much fun!!! Here's the one we did on Christmas, it was pretty when finished.

The most fun I have at Christmas is taking pictures of my parents cats on Christmas morning. They currently have a total of 8 cats! Yikes! This year I didn't even get pics of all of them put here are a few of them:

This is Jack, but I call him Mr. Jack. He and his sister Jill aka Beanie were mine for awhile. We had found a home for them but the person had to give them back. I kept them for a bit while trying to find a home for them but got in trouble when the landlord found I had them. So mom took them for a bit and we knew at that point they'd stay with her. She already had their brother so it was a happy family reunion with them. Jack is still my baby boy though. Isn't he just the most handsome lil guy??? And he ALWAYS hangs his legs over the edges of things. Sometimes he has both hanging down....he has unually long legs.

This is Jill aka Beanie. She's just a teeny tiny tot. She is really a small little girl. All of the mean kids in the family seem to pick on her, but just like her brother, she's still my lil girl!!

And this is Woody, their brother. Caught him in mid yawn! Guess we were tiring him out!! His a big ol' boy! I think he and his brother got all of their mama's nutrients and poor Beanie didn't!!

Awwww.....the newest additions to the house! My parents lost 2 of their males this year within a week apart. They were Dad's boys and he was really missing them. While at the garden center this summer, we found the farm had kittens there and well......here are Gizmo (left) and Ralphie (right). I hear them getting yelled at alot!! But they had fun on Christmas morning. Ralphie loves to shred paper...at which he gets yelled at for. Well, he thought Santa was just the coolest for bringing lots of paper to shred that morn!

And should my mom EVER find out that I posted this picture I will surely meet my demise, but I just had to. Snapped this while we were baking peanut butter cookies. I'm pretty sure I got yelled at after snapping this!

And here is my little tiny prim and country tree. You can see a bit in the above picture of my mom's tree. She still does a more traditional tree....colored lights, various ornaments, garland. When I went out on my own, I went different. I love the white lights opposed to the colored lights. And the past few years, I've participated in prim ornie swaps so just about all of my tree is handmade ornies. Only the top portion has store bought ornaments that are small, but still prim in nature! :) And then I have some wooden candy canes and metal icicles that were also bought. I found a new tree at Lowe's that I wanted to buy this year, but after losing my job I couldn't justify buying a new tree. I always think I need a new tree but then after putting my little Charlie Brown tree up, I just love it. So I think it will be a keeper for at least another year!

And finally I must post a picture of one of my girls, Gracie. I tortured her this year by buying a Santa cape. She was the only one stupid.....uhhhh I mean gracious enough to leave it on long enough to snap a pic! She really was not amused by it!!!

Have a safe and Happy New Year!!

Aunt DeeDee

Giveaway by the Rusty Thimble

2010-12-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

Brenda from the Rusty Thimble has been so generous with her giveaways this year. Each month she has offered some wonderful items and given them to lucky followers of her blog. As we close in on the end of 2010, Brenda has one last giveaway and it doesn't disappoint!!! Go on over to her blog and check out the darling snow girl ornies that she is offering to a lucky reader!

http://therustythimble2.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-giveaway.html

Now I'm off to do some errands and visit the craft stores.

Take care,
Aunt DeeDee

Hard Candy Christmas

2010-11-28T19:48:00.000-08:00

Tonight I was listening to my Christmas music and Dolly Parton's Hard Candy Christmas was playing. And as I was listening to the words, I was thinking that yes in deed, this is a hard candy Christmas. Being out of work since mid September has been depressing. I've had a 2 jobs in particular here in town that I wanted so bad and came really close but not close enough and all of the other jobs have quite a commute attached to them. When I was first laid off, I thought well at least I have time to get ready for our November show but I just lacked the enthusiasm to craft. The show finally came and I had stuff prepared but not like I would have liked. However at the end of the day and tallying up sales, you know what? I actually had better sales than last year. Huh? How did that happen? So that started to get my spirits up and at least it has renewed my creativity and I have the desire to craft. And the job hunt continues. So I've decided that....

I'll be fine and dandy, Lord it's like a hard candy christmas, I'm barely getting through tomorrow, But still I won't let sorrow get me way down........Dolly Parton can be SO inspiring! :)

I hoped everyone had a great Thanksgiving and had a special time with friends and family. It's hard to believe that Christmas is approaching at a very rapid rate. I hope to get the house cleaned up and start decorating this week. I've been listening to Christmas music, well I've been actually listening to it before Thanksgiving but I so love the music of this holiday. I could listen to it all year long. It's just so inspirational.

And lastly, I'll leave you with this story!

As you can see my Gracie Ann is not a small cat. She prefers to be called fluffy and I don't have the heart to tell her that her fur isn't all that fluffy. You would imagine it's hard to misplace a cat of Gracie's size, errr sorry, FLUFF. So one day I can't find her. I look in her all of her usual sleeping spots (since that's all she does all day long). I cannot find her anywhere. This is a small apartment, where in the world could she be? Then I notice my kitchen cabinet ajar. She has a really BAD habit of opening the cabinets under the sink so now they all get locked. But never would I have imagined what I was about to discover!

So I spy with my little eye a bit of FLUFF sticking out of the upper cabinet!

I seriously have no clue how she got up there, she's not the most agile of cats! And to see this big ol' girl curled up so tightly in the bowl, I couldn't even be mad at her. She must have thought that was the most uncomfortable bed!

So next time you open that kitchen cupboard, BEWARE! You never know what may be lurking inside!

Have a great night!
Aunt DeeDee

7Gypsies New Holiday Goodies!

2010-10-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

Oh my 7Gypsies has their new holiday goodies out and they are just great!!! The holiday stamps are awesome. Check out their blog and new products and their holiday giveaway.

http://sevengypsies.blogspot.com/2010/10/very-merry-gypsy-holiday-indeed-and.html

Update on life and GIVEAWAY alert!

2010-10-12T18:14:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit! I was laid off from my job a few weeks ago and I've been in a bit of a slump. Not many hiring out there for what I do so it's a little discouraging. I've got my fingers crossed and saying prayers for a job here in town. The office is just at the bottom our hill....it would be so nice to be that close for work. No worries about the cost of gas, wear and tear on the car, etc. But since Mom hasn't been able to craft since they are working on an addition for their side of the house, I've got the time right now to be working on stuff for the show in November. So I guess that's a plus! I'll post pics soon of things I've been working on. I just did a big batch of bottlecaps on Sunday and they're hard now so I can work on getting them made into pins, magnets or necklaces.

Now for the giveaway alert.....not one from me but Brenda over at the Rusty Thimble! She's got a GORGEOUS prim santa up for grabs for a giveaway this month made from a pattern of Sandy's at The Olde Country Cupboard. Check it out!!!

Until later,
Aunt DeeDee

By Your Hands Blog...Have you checked them out?

2010-09-18T07:41:00.000-07:00

Good morning! What's everyone planning for their weekend??? My day is going to be cleaning. I have so much crafting to do but everyone thing is a mess and disorganized so I thought I'd feel better taking today to do a good cleaning and then I can concentrate on crafting tomorrow.

So have you found By Your Hands Blog ? It's a great blog that showcases Featured Artists, Tutorials, Tips on Organizing (I really enjoy that one!!), Trash to Treasure and many more different elements. Go on over and check them out! They also have a giveaway this month from Krsital Norton of Rags N Tags .

Click here to visit By Your Hands Blogspot!

Aunt DeeDee

Some of my favorite things!

2010-08-31T18:55:00.000-07:00

Fall, Halloween and mice!!! I just think fall babies (I was born in October) just appreciate and love fall so much! Whenever I come across a person that loves Fall, they always seem to be born in the fall months. Halloween is my ultimate favorite holiday....LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! And well, mice?? I've loved mice since I was little. I love collecting things with mice on it....they are just so cute!!!! They don't make go EEEEK....just Awwww!

So what has brought on my love fest of my favorite things? Well, that would be Old Road Primitives newest creation and giveaway! She is having a giveaway of a Fall Meadow Mouse n Witch Hat.

Head on over to her blog for a peek....just don't go EEK when you see the mouse! :)

Have a great night,
Aunt DeeDee

Another day closer to fall!

2010-08-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

It's supposed to get warmer today, about 90 I believe but I can take it now. I know we are one day closer to fall! Well I didn't get much accomplished from the to-do list from yesterday.   Mom and Dad are still working on their addition. Mom had bought the cabinet pieces from Lowe's and the sink vanity isn't the same brand and although we were told they matched the other pieces.....it didn't. So we had to pack my van up with the sink vanity and sink top, a tall cabinet and the medicine cabinet.....not that any men around here offered any help! And off to the next town over to return it. That and food shopping took up pretty much half of our day.

Earlier in the day when I went out to run errands I went past a yard sale and saw a nice set of drawers. From the road I could see I liked it. (Wish I took a pic!) So went back home and grabbed mom to go look. It was GORGEOUS! It needed to be refinished as the woman who was selling had started the process. Once we saw it we knew it was an older piece. Nice and heavy. I've been trying to find something to use as a new TV/entertainment stand. I knew the $60 I grabbed on the way wasn't going to be enough but I was in love with and was willing to spend $100...............turns out she wanted $500! WAY past my budget! So now the search continues!

I came across another blog to follow today and another great giveaway!!   Hop on over to Cricket Hollow Primitives and check out her great Halloween giveaway!!!!!

Ok...off to check email, run to the local grocery store and then off to accomplish some of those items from yesterday!

Aunt DeeDee

Look at what I won!

2010-08-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

What a GREAT way to wake up this morning. First of all, the weather out is perfect. Sunny and warm but not too warm. And then, I just checked on my favorite blogs and found out that I won 10.....TEN!!!.....stitchery patterns from Samantha's Accessories. That was so hard picking out just 10 patterns, so I also have a shipping list now too!

Samantha has been talking on her blog about being more organized which I really have to start doing as well. So my list today is:

Take mom into town for shopping
Sew up the blocks for 2 rag quilt table toppers
Sew up the strips for rag trees
Go through the UFO (UnFinished Objects) pile I have and see what I need to complete them!
List the Halloween Bottlecap necklaces on Etsy

That should do it for the day! What is everyone else working on today?

Aunt DeeDee

Giveaway Winners!

2010-08-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

Yes, I said winners! Both Brenda from of The Rusty Thimble and "B" from Wood N Stitches have both won a bottlecap necklace. AND..........so has "B"s granddaughter!!! :)

I'll be emailing you both and thank you for posting!!

Enjoy your night and for those who didn't see this post or get to sign up in time, there will be more goodies coming down the line!

Aunt DeeDee

My 1st Giveaway!

2010-08-01T16:31:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm settled in the apartment a bit more and am able to post and craft more, I wanted to do a giveaway. And this giveaway is to just my current followers! I'll do another one soon in hopes to gather more followers but right now the only thing needed to enter this giveaway is to be a current follower and comment on this post. Nice and easy!!! This will be a quickie.....I will pick a winner tomorrow night so all comments to be posted by 9pm EST.

And what will be the giveaway? A bottlecap pendant that says "Hope" because we could all use a little Hope in our lives! Although the picture does not show it, a necklace will be inclued with the bottlecap.

Aunt DeeDee

Ahhhh Cooler Weather!

2010-07-31T15:32:00.000-07:00

So happy things have cooled off around here. Still warm but lower humidity and nice sleeping weather at night. Now this is the kind of summer weather I can live with, you can function in it!

Mom and I went out shopping today. We're on the border of PA and there's a super Walmart in Milford PA so we headed up there but EEEK! They were having "Milford Day" and the traffic was horrible. We did stop out a few yard sales on the way and I picked up 2 wooden bowls to paint for $1 so yippee!!!

My parents are getting an addition to their side of the house but for some reason I'm getting all of the junk over on my side! I came home yesterday and looked down at my garden and was like ACK! They...they being the work MEN (yes I stress MEN because what woman would do this???) dug up this big round cement circle and instead of putting it on the grass it was in the corner of my little garden and crushed all of my......well I don't know what it was! LOL I'm horrible with gardening! I buy plants that appeal to me and then get frustrated when my mom explains that it will only bloom for another week, or won't come up til next year and so on. I "think" the stuff in the front of my garden is alysum or something like that. Anywho......they crushed it!!! Grrrrrr!!!!! Oh and I'm SO keeping that round cement thingy!! Not sure how to use it yet in the garden but it is kind of cool!! The white cicrle is where that big round thing WAS until I moved it. MEN!

And picture of said junk surrounding my lil garden!

And this has been my favorite plant this year....a gerbena daisy (and I only know that because I just yelled out the window asking mom what it was called! LOL)

It's hard to see in the picture, but there's a neat old cement wall around my garden. I'm more excited with my plans for Halloween for the side of my apartment! Tomb stones in the garden, neat black fence around it, cobweds....can't wait!!!!

And I finally made a rag quilt. This is a table runner I made for Mom and I love how it turned out so I will definitely be making more of these. I take my big rag quilt that someone made me to use as a table cloth at our craftshow and every year people want to buy it, so hoping to get some done for our show in November!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and come back tomorrow as I will be posting my 1st GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Aunt DeeDee

By Your Hands Blog

2010-07-24T17:26:00.000-07:00

By Your Hands Blog is a great blog featuring many different and talented artists! When you have a moment, go check them out...you'll be amazed at all of the talent over there!!!

http://byyourhands.blogspot.com/

Hope everyone is keeping cool is this heat! Would you believe that there isn't one single air conditioner to be found in ANY of the local stores?! They're "SEASONAL".....ummmm......and exactly WHAT season is this??? Hmmm....perhaps the season you'd actually buy an air conditioner in???? Uggh!! The craftroom is so hot that I haven't been able to get anything done. Luckily my aunt that lives down the street has a spare that I'm going to go pick up tomorrow. So hopefully I'll get that in and be abe to accomplish something tomorrow!!!

Stay cool!
Aunt DeeDee

Well, what did I accomplish today?

2010-07-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

Even though those darned construction workers had me up early this morning it was so hot today that I still didn't get anything done! Well, not totally true! Mom and I went to check out a flea market and went through a few antique centers. And I did get 2 digi scrap pages done for my niece's album. I'm so proud of Becky. She is such a thoughtful little girl....she's so active in girl scouts, donates her time at soup kitchens on the holidays and just donated her hair to http://www.locksoflove.org/ . All of this and she isn't even 9 years old yet!! I think that's totally amazing. My sister got some great pics of her getting her hair cut and I was able to work up 2 more pages for her album. These pages were done using the kit Wild Heart from Little Dreamer Designs.

So there you have it....been awake for 15 hours today and this is all I have to show for it!!

Aunt DeeDee

What to do today??

2010-07-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

Well, the construction people are here on a SATURDAY working on my parents half of the house with an addition. SATURDAY?????? What's up with that?? Ughhh....after a long week at work I was looking forward to sleeping in but that didn't happen since a cement mixer was running outside of my bedroom window before 8am! Grrrr! So I'm up, I've done cleaning and have some more to do before I can start crafting. I just hope it doesn't get too hot today otherwise the craftroom will be unbearable to be in.

What is everyone else working on today?

Aunt DeeDee

I Love 7gypsies!

2010-07-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

I do, I do, I do!!! If you're not familiar with the 7gypsies brand....oh my, you MUST go and get acquainted with them. Their stuff has such a nice vintage feel to them and perfect for those of you who like to do paper crafts and altered art! Go on.....scoot....go check them out!

Help spread the word!

2010-06-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

Jodi from Raggedy Haven Orphanage has asked for help to spread the word of her Ebay auctions. Please take a moment to check out her sweet and adorable creations up for adoption at the orphanage!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Primitive-RAGGEDY-ANN-Folk-Art-HANDMADE-Home-o-t-Brave-/260627427929?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Folk_Art&hash=item3cae9af259

Thanks and have a great day tomorrow!
Dawn/Aunt DeeDee

Remembering my Grandmother

2010-06-28T16:09:00.000-07:00

It's been a year since my grandmother passed away and it just seems impossible that she hasn't been a part of lives for that long already! I was going through some of my pictures and scrapbook pages and came across some of the pages I did for a little album for her and just wanted to share them today as a remembrance to her. I know she's a constant presence in our lives and think of her daily, whether it's walking past one of her paintings or seeing her in a picture, she is thought of often.

Giveaway @ The Old Cupboard Door

2010-06-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

Willa is generously giving away a gorgeous handpainted enamel spoon. Hop on over to her blog to check it out!!!

http://www.theoldcupboarddoorblog.com/

I really hope some relief is coming with this hot, sticky weather!!! Since moving, I have no air conditioning here and trying to get motivated in the craftroom is getting pretty hard. I have a 3 day weekend coming up next weekend and hoping it cools down some so I can get something accomplished!

Hope everyone is keeping cool!

Aunt DeeDee

Adorable Country Classics blog

2010-06-24T17:15:00.000-07:00

It's so neat finding new blogs to follow. Carol from Firecracker Kid posted about a great giveaway happening at Adorable Country Classics. Oh my goodness....what talent!!! Please stop by and check her out!!

http://adorablecountryclassics.blogspot.com/2010/06/4th-of-july-giveaway.html#comment-form

Dawn/Aunt DeeDee

Meet Michelle of Raggedy Pants Designs

2010-06-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

I just love coming across new blogs to follow and get even more excited when I realize...."Hey, I have some of her patterns!" LOL Michelle has an offering for a free pattern offer for spreading the word about her blog. Unfortunately she has also just suffered the loss of her favor, so she could really use some LOVE right about now too!!!

http://raggedypants.blogspot.com/

Enjoy the weekend....it's going to be a hot one here!

Aunt DeeDee

Soft in the Head is 3 years old!

2010-06-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

Well....3 years old in blogtime that is!! And she is having a fantastic giveaway! If you're a lover of mice and halloween you definitely need to check her blog out!!

http://softinthehead.blogspot.com/2010/06/im-three-and-having-giveaway.html

Aunt DeeDee

Painting Thyme Needful has 300 followers!

2010-06-02T16:42:00.000-07:00

Wowzers!!! But it's no mystery that she has so many followers when you see her blog and the gorgeous creations she comes up with!! If you haven't checked her blog out, please do so!! And for reaching over 300 followers Lynn is doing a giveaway! Check out those neat watermelon creations!!

http://paintingthymeneedfuls.blogspot.com/2010/06/thyme-for-picnic-and-summer-thyme-give.html

Have a great day!
Aunt DeeDee

Gizmo has a brother!

2010-06-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

And then there were two! Well Mom went back to the garden center to pick up her patio plant that she forgot to get when she was sidetracked by kittens and came home with Gizmo instead. She mentions that the kitten is doing well to one of the girls and they mention that the mommy won't feed 2 of the kittens now. Mom thought it was the 2 kittens we left at the farm but it seems that the 2 that were taken by someone else were returned. So now Gizmo has a brother Gremlin! We think they're from the same litter but won't be sure until she talks to the owner of the garden place. He is a mouthy lil guy and he LOVES your face. Another cutie but Mom and Dad have their hands full of feeding, sleeping and playful babies! Luckily they have a built in babysitter living next door and I'll go get them ANYTIME they need a break. Although my girls didn't think much of me sitting on my porch tonight holding this baby!!!! I was tempted to go get the little girl kitten but I have my 3 girls and Nutmeg has been acting strange and the last time I had 2 kittens living with me for awhile she totally went nuts so I don't want to put her through that.

Gremlin's first baby picture.....

Getting Settled!

2010-05-31T15:41:00.000-07:00

Wowzers...I haven't posted in AGES! Well, I'm all moved into the apartment next to my parents house. It's a little getting used to......it's SO nice having a porch to sit out on and enjoy the fresh air but I was used to alot more privacy than I do now. My "girls" like having Grandmommy next door. Well Gracie Ann does at least! My mom comes over and gives them treats all of the time. Pumpkin is starting to warm up to her now but Nutmeg....no way Jose!!! She still won't come out of hiding for anyone.

I still have boxes that haven't been unpacked (then again....I moved boxes to this place that were STILL packed from the last move!! LOL) and things still have to be hung up.

My parents lost 2 of their cats within a weeks time about a month ago.

Mischief was diabetic (their SECOND cat with Diabetes...what's up with that???) and unfortunately the illness became too much for him. He was a kitten when he was dropped off at my parents house about 17 years ago. He was such a lil man!

Freddie was Dad's other boy. He and his two sisters were the litter after my two girls, Pumpkin and Nutmeg, so he was their younger brother. He was 13 and we still don't know what happened to him but he had a whole bunch of things become wrong with him all of the sudden. He was such a good boy, never bothered anyone and usually more scared of everyone and everything!

So Mom and Dad kept talking about getting another kitten (had to be another orange boy for dad) from a shelter. But Mom kept holding off saying they never went out seeking a cat; one (or more) always seemed to find them. So on Saturday Mom and I were at the local flower/farm place and saw some people holding kittens. There had been 2 litters of kittens recently born on the farm and up for the adoption! The woman took Mom and I out to the field by the barn and there were 3 ADORABLE AND TINY kittens. 2 buff colored (male and female) and a black female. Even though they were still so young, Mom wound up taking the lil boy. The ower was afraid that the mommy would wind up moving the kittens now that people were taking them. He's only about 4 weeks old, eyes are open but doesn't look like they've been for long and he's still shakey on his feet. His been drinking kitten milk from a bottle and is just THE CUTEST! Because he's Dad's, he got to name him., so here's...................................................GIZMO!

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend! I actually got some stitcheries done this weekend and I just have to frame them now, so I feel somewhat accomplished!

Aunt DeeDee

A little update and a giveaway alert!

2010-02-24T16:56:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in a bit but more recently I've found out that I'll be moving. To where??? Well I've gone full circle....heading back home. Well, to the other half of my original home to be exact! LOL My parents tenant is moving out and even though I only live 3 houses away now and giving up my SPACIOUS apartment here, I decided to move into their apartment. Even though I have more space here and I think a bit more privacy, I'm on the 3rd floor which is ICKY. Now I'll have an apartment with an upstairs and downstairs, a HUGE craftroom and a nice porch. Ohhhh, I'll have a little garden too and I'll be surrounded by family just like when I was growing up. Mom and Dad will be in the other half of the house. My great aunt and uncle still live in the house on one side (along with their little dog that doesn't like me too much!) and my uncle now lives in what was my grandparents house on the other side. So needless to say I've been packing away and clearing out some stuff since I won't have as much room now. I am DETERMINED to fit my prim hutch in my living room one way or another. Do I really need a couch???? :) I'll take pics once I'm in......Mom and I think I'll have a cute lil prim place!

And now onto the GIVEAWAY ALERT!!! Head on over to Firecracker Kid's blog to see the great giveaway Carol and her hubby are giving away and read the cute story about their first date!!!! So cute to see they still talk about it today!

http://firecrackerkid.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-st-patricks-day-first-date-giveaway.html

Take Care,
Aunt DeeDee

My Tim Holtz Prize Came!

2009-12-31T16:35:00.000-08:00

Ok....so last year I came across Tim Holtz' 12 Days of Tags and just fell in love with all of the neat techniques he used. So I made sure to catch this years too! I never knew he gave out so many generous prizes during the 12 days either. Each day I checked out his blog before leaving for work in the morning to see what neat creation he posted overnight. Never did I expect to win anything as he has such a following.....each day could get 2-3,000 comments!!!! OH MY STARS!!!!! But on Day 12 he posted the winners from Day 11 and there was my name amoung about 20 other people. I had to double check, make sure that's how my name appears in my posts.....sure enough it was me. And then when I finally got my envelope.....oh my, not only was he so generous to so many people.....I would have been happy with any little tidbit he sent but look at the goodies I got!!! Journaling Tickets, Chipboard Thickers, gorgeous glittered stickers, an awesome christmas rubber stamp....very vintage christmas!, a mask and the neatest tiny paperclips. So now that the holidays have settled, I'm off to play with my new found goodies. Off to youtube to check out his tutorials!!!

The Barely There Primitive Bear Giveaway

2009-12-13T11:51:00.000-08:00

I just love coming across new blogs, sometimes I get so caught up in going from one blog to another to another that I sometimes stop and wonder "How did I get to this one???" Well, while reading Willa's new post from The Country Cupboard Door, I stumbled upon The Barely There Primitive Bear. Her name is Karen and I'm looking forward to catching up on some of her latest posts. She's got a current giveaway going on right now, so hop on over and go meet Karen!!!

http://thebarelythereprimitivebear.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-christmas-give-away.html

Here's a picture of her giveaway, isn't it adorable?

The show was a success!

2009-11-22T16:24:00.000-08:00

Wow!   I'm still tired from yesterday!! The past few years I've taken the week off before this show just to finish up last minute items and all of that....although each year I swear I'm doing it differently so I'm not doing things at the last minute. But I think most of us that do shows are always gluing and painting right up til the last possible minute!! :)

Mom and I set up our display the night before. Unfortunately we had a late start on Saturday morning and knew we were going to be rushed to set out our products. We walk in and go ACK!! The night before, the booth to our left was all set up. The booth to our right just had tables set out....but we didn't realize that they were going to bring a 3rd table and butt it right up alongside our table. Well we had our display facing so people would walk around the outside of it. So we had to scramble and rearrange our display. I think if I would have checked, I think the other booth was over their markings but at that early hour in the morning I didn't want to start a neighbor feud! :)

All in all, it was a successful day. Sales were up from last year and I noticed that more of the bigger items going this year as opposed to last year. Always great to see repeat customers....we look forward to seeing them each year as they seem to be to find us! Great to also hear from the woman who kept waiting for our website to open and she made a point to tell us she already knew it was done and she's visited it already.

Prim is starting to catch on a bit more though...some extra competition this year. Our "neighbor" came back and said that this persons stuff was too cheap, said it was handmade but she didn't think so. She showed me what she bought and I said, no way.....this is handmade and I couldn't believe her pricing. So Mom and I eventually checked out her items.....adorable prims and many of the same patterns Mom and I use. I have a rule for craftshows that I'm selling at......I don't allow myself to buy anything.   I go as a shopper to other craftshows and buy til my hearts content......but I was SOOOOO tempted to buy from this girl......way cute stuff!!!   And she eventually made her way over to our table too and we laughed that we both had to check each other out. It was really nice to talk to her....we discussed other patterns and supplies and everything.

SANDY......Olde Country Cupboard/You Are Special......if you read this she did up your snowman head wreaths!!!!   As soon as saw them I knew whose pattern that was!!! :)

So now for the annual cleanup/clean out of the craft room. I use our display for my storage in the craft room so the night before this show everything gets dumped out and I come home to a horrible mess!!!

Didn't have too much of a chance to take pics of all of our booth, but I took a few. I wish I had taken a picture of the new building we were in though. It's 3 buildings connected.....a greenhouse, then our building (which is gorgeous inside....some of the pics you can see the gorgeous wood in there and the lights...loved them!!!) and then a 3rd connected building where they had a few more crafters and the concession stand and tables.    And shhhhhh.....don't tell Mom I caught her in a pic.....she will be sooo mad at me!!!!   But isn't she so cute!!! :)

You can see part of the building in these next 2 pics! Check out the chandelier light in the top left corner pic.....they were nice prim lights.

Dawn "Aunt DeeDee"

We're off to our show!

2009-11-21T04:43:00.000-08:00

Mom and I are off to the craftshow!!! A dollie wanted to wave goodbye to everyone!! Not sure if we like the setup in the new building yet but we'll see how it works out. We had trouble setting up our display last night. Nothing seemed to look quite right but we think we finally got it to where we like it. Now to go finish packing the car!!

Dawn "Aunt DeeDee"

Getting ready for the craftshow!

2009-11-18T11:49:00.000-08:00

Mom and I narrowed down our craftshows to just one a few years ago. In our area it's hard to find a good quality craftshow that brings in the not only the customers but other great crafters as well. So a few years ago we decided to put all of our effort into one of the local shows for the Northwest Christian School. We've had a spot at this craftshow for many years....first it started with my parents when they made birdhouses. Then they gave me their spot after I got out of college and started doing my own shows with country items. I stumbled upon the world of primitive thanks to a wonderful crafting community called Primmart http://www.primmartcommunity.com/ and that started me towards my path of primitive crafting. At that point my mother started crafting again and we now do the show together.

The show is always the weekend before Thanksgiving and it seems like a perfect time for the show. This year they are using a new building at the fairgrounds so I'm not sure what to expect...luckily we can get in the night before and set up our tables and display and be able to see how the new space will work.

So while other people tend to take vacation time at work to go away and visit places....I take my vacation time the week before the show to get ready and finish last minute items!!

Ack.....so much crafting to do....so little time!!!!

Dawn "Aunt DeeDee"

Not a creature was stirring......

2009-11-17T15:18:00.000-08:00

I have loved mice ever since I was little. My sister's nickname for me when we were younger was "Mouse" and I have so many mice ornaments that I could decorate my Christmas tree with just those (hmmmm.....maybe I'll have a theme tree this year!!)

So when I came along Old Road Primitives blog and her adorable giveaway I just had to share it!!! HOW CUTE ARE THOSE MICE???!!!!

http://oldroadprimitives.blogspot.com/

Keeping my fingers crossed on those cuties!!!

Lookie what I won!!

2009-11-17T14:23:00.001-08:00

Well, first I have to say what an "icky" Halloween we had here! We were without power most of the day....so not fun! But then I check my email (somewhere between the first power outage and the second!) and I have an email from Brenda at the Rusty Thimble saying I won her giveaway! Let me say the picture she had on her blog did not give her creations justice! I was so surprised when my box of goodies got here, they were so much bigger than I expected! So I now have some new stocking ornies to go on my prim Christmas tree, a neat prim Santa on a spool, a new prim dollie (she's already made friends with the other dollies!) and the COOLEST dove on a rusty spring...which I just LOVE that one to pieces!! Thank you so much Brenda!!!!

If you would like to go see some of Brenda's creations, click on over to her blog (while you're there click to follow her and visit some of her other blogs too!)

http://therustythimble.blogspot.com/

Ok....back to the sewing machine I go.....EEEK, only 3 more days of crafting left before our craftshow!!! Why do I procrastinate??????

Dawn "Aunt DeeDee"

Lynn @ Painting Thyme Needfuls is Celebrating!

2009-11-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

Now what exactly is she celebrating you might be asking? Well you'll have to hop on over to her blog to find out what all the excitement is for and you might find a surprise!! Ok...you'll find a HUGE suprise....a giveaway that is for her 100th post. So go on now, shoo...run! What are still waiting for...OH!!! You need the link huh? Well here it is!!

http://paintingthymeneedfuls.blogspot.com/2009/11/im-celebrating-my-100th-post-with-give.html

Pumpkin Patch Primitives Quilt Shoppe

2009-10-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

My oh my....I just keep coming across the cutest blogs and neat giveaways!!! You have to go check out this AWESOME giveaway.....a MUST see for fabric lovers!!!

http://pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-happy-halloween-giveaway.html

Aunt DeeDee

Sugar Creek Hollow Blog and Giveaway

2009-10-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

I hope anyone visiting my blog is enjoying all of these neat blogs that I've been posting about! Here's Sugar Creek Hollow who has an etsy store as well and is also having a fall giveaway. Go peek!!

http://sugarcreekhollow.blogspot.com/2009/09/halloween-candle-trio-giveaway.html

New Blog Alert: Mill House Primitives Giveaway

2009-10-02T15:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I came across another great blog and another great giveaway. Scoot on over to check out her blog, new website and giveaway.

http://millhouseprimitives.blogspot.com/2009/09/fall-give-away-and-sale.html

Aunt DeeDee

Old Farmhouse Gathering - Fall Giveaway

2009-09-25T18:28:00.000-07:00

Ok....one more for the night!!! :)

Old Farmhouse Gathering is having a GIGANTIC giveaway that you just have to go over and check out!!!! Such great talent...you have to peek at all of the different artists!!!

http://oldfarmhousegathering.blogspot.com/

A Birthday Giveaway - Stitchinsprims

2009-09-25T18:14:00.000-07:00

I keep coming across all of these great blogs lately and so many of them are being so generous in treats and giveaways!

Today's find is Stitchins House of Prims who is doing a great birthday giveaway!!

http://stitchinsprims.blogspot.com/2009/09/birthday-giveaway_21.html

Go over and take a peek!!!

Aunt DeeDee

Another great giveaway.....Thimbleprims Studios

2009-09-18T16:03:00.000-07:00

Creepy crawl over to Thimbleprim Studios for another great Halloween giveaway!! I for one, am a HUGE Halloween freak....just LOVE the holiday and I love coming across all of these Halloweenie blogs!!!

Go check it out.....
http://thimbleprimsstudio.blogspot.com/2009/09/announcingthimbleprims-studio-blog.html

Aunt Dee Dee

Fly over to Painting Thyme Needfuls!

2009-09-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

My oh my this is a week of giveaways!!! Hop, skip or FLY over to Painting Thyme Needfuls and check out her WICKED giveaway!

http://paintingthymeneedfuls.blogspot.com/2009/09/thyme-for-my-first-give-away.html

Giveaway on Krazy Kraft Lady's Blog!

2009-09-17T06:21:00.000-07:00

Denise is having a giveaway on her blog for an ADORABLE Pumpking Mouse shelfsitter. Go to her blog to check it out!!

http://thekrazykraftlady.blogspot.com/2009/09/time-for-fall-giveaway.html

Aunt DeeDee

Halloween Giveaway!

2009-09-14T19:03:00.001-07:00

For all of your Halloween lovers out there, I just came across a great Halloween giveaway over on Artistic Halloween Queens! Head on over and check it out!!

http://artisticthalloweenqueens.blogspot.com/2009/09/halloween-queens-are-celebrating-their.html

Rainy day weekend..things accomplished!

2009-09-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a nice fall-like rainy day and I was able to stay in and get some things done! Mom and I cut down to 1 show a year and that one show is coming up in November and I've been busy getting ready. Mom and Dad had some home projects going on this summer and Mom hasn't been able to craft like she usually does. She'll be able to get back into the craftroom soon but I've been trying to stock up for the show in case she doesn't get as much done this year. Although I hope she gets a good stock done of her ornies as they are always a great seller for her!!

So I was finishing up some of those "unfinished" profects I had sitting here before I fully got into the Christmas craft mode!!

I finished up a framed Black Hat Society stitchery (pattern by Chestnut Junction)

Next I finished up some Americana Stars bowl fillers(pattern by Megan at American Prims)

And lastly are some Pinkeeps that I made from a tutorial from Robin at Bird in the Hand Primitves.

So....a little accomplished but YIKES! My "in the works" stand still has quite a bit of stuff on it waiting to be finished!!! So back to work I go!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

Aunt DeeDee

Found a great giveaway!

2009-09-10T06:24:00.000-07:00

I came across this great giveaway and discovered a new yummy website that was posted on The Jolly Jabber blog!! What an awesome giveaway!! Hope you go check it out!! And check out The Fig Club too...sounds like an awesome club for quilters!!!

http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/2009/09/bom-mini-series-part-6-fig-tree-club.html

http://www.fatquartershop.com/Fig-Tree-Quilts-Fabric-Moda-Fabrics.asp

Infinite Grace

2009-08-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

My grandmother passed away on June 27, 2009 and it feels like we lost such a huge part of our family. My grandmother was a talented artist and most of her paintings were of animals and wildlife. She had such a love of animals. While going through some of my digi scrapbook pages, I came across one that I had done with a picture of my grandmother when she was younger. I thought I'd share it here.

I had come across this great poem that I had asked the pastor to include it in my grandmother's service. I just felt it really expressed how so many of us viewed my grandmother. It's called The Living Presence - author unknown.

The Living Presence

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is this the long way?” she asked.

And the guide said, “Yes and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.”

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years.

So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them and taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth.

The sun shone on them and the young Mother cried, “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.”

Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms, and the children said, “Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come.”

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, “A little patience and we are there.”

So the children climbed and climbed. They learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world.

Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope and most of all unconditional love. And when they reached the top, they said, “Mother, we could not have done it without you.”

The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she became little and bent.

But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage.

And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, “This is a better day that the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children.”

And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers.

One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill, they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.

And mother said: “I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them.

And the children said, “ You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.”

And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said:

“We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence.”

Author Unknown

Aunt DeeDee

Aunt DeeDee's Designs is finally opened!

2009-08-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

Whew....it seemed to take forever but Mom and I finally opened up the website.

Please stop by for a peek! And please please please tell me if you see any boo-boos, typos, words of stupidity! I kept looking it over and over hoping that everything was good but I'm sure I missed something.

Today we're having a picnic at my sisters house for a combination of multiple birthdays including our Dad's and also my sister finishing up her Master's Degree.

Will post some pictures when I get back home tonight.

Hope everyone is having a great Summer!
Aunt DeeDee

Great Father's Day!

2009-06-23T18:51:00.000-07:00

We had a great Father's Day on Sunday! We went to my Uncle Greg's cabin at Lake Swartswood with my parents, grandfather "Poppy", Uncle Greg, and my sister and her family. Had a great picnic and watched my niece Becky fish for awhile. My uncle got the boat in the water and first he and my mom took out Becky for a ride around the lake, then Becky went out with her parents. All in all great day with the exception of me getting a little sunburn. And unfortunately we were missng Aunt Patty; Patty is a nurse and sometimes misses out on some of our get togethers.

Becky, Nancy and Ben

Mom, Uncle Greg and Becky

Aunt Dee Dee and Becky

Poppy and Becky

Grampa and Becky

The Lone Fisherman - Rebecca!

Great Giveaway at Krazy Kraft Lady's Blog!

2009-06-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that Denise at Krazy Kraft Lady's blog has a great giveaway! She has a great blog and lots of neat reading!!! Check her out!!!

http://thekrazykraftlady.blogspot.com/

Aunt DeeDee

Craft It Forward Girls!

2009-05-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy to see that 3 people have continued the Craft It Forward idea!!!! Keep on eye out in your mailboxes in the next few weeks.....you never know when a package may be on your way!

Aunt DeeDee

Craft it Forward!

2009-04-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

I was visiting a blog tonight ..... http://memoriesforlifescrapbooks.blogspot.com/ and she was hosting a Craft It Forward, which I am now continuing on my blog!

What is a Craft It Forward you ask??? Well the first five people to respond to this post will get something handmade by me!

Here are the restrictions that come with this:
*There are no guarantees you will like what I make...although I sure hope you do!
*What I create will be just for you
*You'll receive it this year (2009)
*The item will be a surprise to you and can be ANYTHING handmade
*And in return, all you need to do is post this text into your blog, email me the link back to your Craft It Forward blog and make 5 things for 5 people.
My email address is: auntdeedee@embarqmail.com

Let's keep this going!

Aunt DeeDee

Giveaway at KeepsakesbyMelissa!

2009-04-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

Any fellow paper crafters out there?

I was browsing around paper crafting blogs tonight and came across this one and wanted to share it!!!

http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/

She's got a great giveaway going on right now!! Stop by and check it out!!!

Aunt DeeDee

National Scrapbooking Day 2009

2009-04-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

Well that just figures!!! LOL When my computer had that NASTY and EXPENSIVE virus last month, I found out that I only had 4% left on my computer!! OOOOOPPS!!! I guess all of those digital scrapbook graphics have added up!!! SO I went out and bought a 750GB My Book external harddrive. Was a good girl, cleaned everything up and got organized (well....somewhat!! LOL) and now what is about to happen.............

NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just THINK of how much I can download this year in awesome graphics with all of this new room I have for storage.

Shhhh.....don't tell my mom.....she doesn't think that I need anymore graphics. That's like saying I don't need anymore fabric, or patterns, or craft gadets.....ok ok ok let's just say all craft related items as a general topic!!! :)

I really do like digital scrapbooking. I started out paper scrapbooking but that was just too expensive for me. I like digiscrap because when you buy a set of graphics, you can reuse them whereas a sticker, a piece paper, etc you can only use once!!!

If you want to peek at some of the scrapbook pages I've done, you can see them here....
http://www.picturetrail.com/auntdeedeesdesigns

Well, I'm off to bed and try to sleep off this icky cold I have!
Aunt DeeDee

Remembering the Past

2009-04-10T13:09:00.000-07:00

I'm finally getting back on track now! While in the midst of us preparing my grandparents 60th anniversary party, my computer got infected with a nasty virus and had to go into the computer repair shop for about a week.....a WHOLE WEEK without my computer!!! It was pure torture!!!

But it's back and totally healthy, and I was able to get the anniversary party favors and the digital scrapbook done in time. While working on their scrapbook, I went through alot of their old photos and I started getting interested in our family history. So I started working on our family tree, and I'll admit that once you get started on genealogy.....it becomes quite addicting!!

Here are some of the photos I came across for their scrapbook:

For anyone interested in looking into their family history, here is a list of some websites to get you started:

http://www.ancestry.com/

http://www.myheritage.com

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp

And if you're like me and also like to digiscrap, this site has awesome graphics for family history pages:

http://www.heritagescrap.com/

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter!

Weekend Project

2009-02-01T19:44:00.000-08:00

Well I can't believe it, but I made a HAT! My crafting ability usually lies in primitive crafts and paper crafts, but this month I took some time and tried my hand at knitting and crocheting. Normally I can manage to just do some straight knitting and make a scarf or crochet some granny squares (but they never seem to make it into an afghan). But you know how the wrappers on the yarn usually have free patterns??? Well there was a pattern for a hat and scarf set. I turned it over and looked at the directions.....hmmmmm it's SAYS easy or beginner. Ok, uses a big crochet hook and 2 strands of yarn.....I prefer that. AND ONLY 10 ROWS????? Say it isn't so!!!

So at 11pm Friday night I start on it. I was half way through it when I decided I needed to head to bed. And a few hours on Saturday and IT WAS FINISHED!

I was so amazed that it actually resembled a hat!! I really like it.

God Bless Us Everyonel!

2008-12-25T19:07:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas! Time has flown by so quickly that it feels like we were just celebrating Thanksgiving and now Christmas has been here and gone. I wanted to share a cookie recipe that I started making with my grandmother and uncle when I was younger. I still like to make them each year with memories of sitting at my grandmothers kitchen table. Enjoy!

Chocolate Almond Butterballs

Ingredients:
1/3 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 Tbl milk
3/4 Cup soft butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 Cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 Cup sifted flout
1/2 Cup chopped blanched almonds

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix chocolate chips with milk over hot boiling water. Let chocolate cool. Cream butter and salt until light and fluffy, gradually adding sugar. Blend in vanilla and cooled chocolate mixture. Mix in flour then almonds until well blended. Dough may be stiff and can be kneaded by hand. Chill dough for at least one hour. Shape dough into 1 inch balls, roll in granulated sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

Christmas Wishes to Everyone!

2008-12-17T19:13:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog! I've finally joined the Blog-Bandwagon! And what a better time to start than at Christmas time? It seems like every year we get bogged down by the hustle and bustle of the holiday season....rushing to the stores and buying this and that for our loved ones on our Christmas lists. Funny how when we're young, it's all about the presents but now as an adult it's not the presents that I look back on and remember but it's memories and traditions that I hold most dear.

My sister and I would go to bed on Christmas Eve and leave our stockings on the foot of our bed. Santa would fill them and sometime in the wee morning hour, we would feel the weight of the stocking lying across our feet. Now Santa had some thought process in leaving those stockings on our beds as it gave Mom and Dad a little extra sleeping time while we opened them up on our beds! Sneaky Santa!!

Stockings done, now it was time to get to the tree. Dad would first go downstairs and turn on the lights. Nancy and I would peek from the top of the stairs and we were always excited to see the presents and all. Once Mom was up and ready, we were allowed downstairs.

As the years passed, we grew up. There was a year that my mom and I decided that our stockings could finally be placed under the tree so that we could open them up along with my parents and their stockings. Sad to say, a certain sister who was of COLLEGE age actually had a hissy fit that morning when she discovered her stocking was NOT on the foot of her bed! (Ooops....mental note to self....don't let sis know about blog!).

My sister has since married and now has her own family. Santa now leaves my niece's stocking on her bed just as he did for her mommy. Being single, I still spend the night at my parents on Christmas (yes, even though I only live 3 houses away!). Mom and I enjoy going to the candlelight service at church. We come home to last minute wrapping and hopefully a Christmas movie. My mom has always told us that the animals are to talk at midnight at Christmas Eve and we always stop to listen, although they never seem to have anything to say.

Although the traditions have changed slightly over the years, it's still a special time of year for our family. I'd love for you to leave a comment and tell me about your favorite Christmas tradition!

Merry Christmas!
Dawn