AlphaStamps is having Giveaways!

ALPHA STAMPS : Don't even get me started on how much I love this shop!! It's a paper crafter, mixed media artists dream shop! Leslie is right on the ball with the best and newest things that the artists are doing right now. She has a vibrant artists community with some really talented artists who do up samples for her, to give you some ideas on what to do with some of the new items on the market. She is having a Giveaway a Day promotion right now--from today until Jan. 4th, daily giveaways, and all you have to do is check out her blog and leave a comment. Don't forget to click on over to her shop, you will not be disappointed!!

Let it snow and snow and snow and snow and snow

Holey Carps! It's snowing again. And again, and again! Just like so many other parts of the country, we have really been having the weather so far this winter. We get blessed with what they call "lake effect" snow--part of the joy of living on the shores of Lake Superior!

A friend of mine--I met her through a little shop I used to consign my crafts at and through doing craft fairs--has just opened a little consignment shop. We got to talking and she asked me if I'd be interested in working here now and then...fill in and for when she needs a day off. Sounds good to me! Gets me out of the house once in a while and out amongst the peeeples. I'm here right now, it's my first day. Sadly,we are experiencing some of that "lake effect" snow I was talking about before, and there aren't too many people out and about today. I've only had one customer so far.
Happy to say, we did get our tree up. Kind of a funny story....every year we buy a tree from this funny old character-- hubby actually used to work for him when he had a logging company back in the early 80's. He now is retired (I would guess he's about 86 or 87) and sells trees from his front yard every year. This year we ended up coming so late that he only had 6 trees left--and 5 of them were pretty sad looking! (picture Charlie Brown). He refused to take any money for the tree...but insisted that the only way we could have one tree was to take 2 of them home with us! LOL He said he just doesn't have the heart to burn them...never has in all the years he's been selling them and isn't about to start now. So now we have 2 trees, one in the living room and the other propped up out in the snowbank. I think I'll ask the kids for help in stringing some popcorn and making some bird friendly ornaments for our little chickadee and grosbeak friends.
Well, I guess I'd better get back to work! lol Have a wonderful Christmas, all my dear bloggy friends!!

Is it Christmas yet?

Holly Bird ornament

Hello. How's everyone coming along with their Christmas preparations? I am so sad to say that we haven't even started! Can you believe it? I'm ashamed. We are going to brave the cold (predicting -40 windchills tonight and sub zero temps tomorrow!) and go get a tree tomorrow. It was our plan to get one this past weekend, but the blizzard put the kibosh on that idea. AND we have to get our Christmas cards finished and mailed out. Sheeesh. I don't know what's wrong with me, I'm not myself this year. Monkeying Around gadget pouch

I do have some exciting news---I just passed my 1000th sale in my Etsy shop!!! Yeah! I had intended on doing a drawing to celebrate the occassion, but haven't got it figured out yet what I want to do! So, someday soon I'll be doing something....stay tuned!

Sweetly Pink Love Dove ornament

Pink Grapefruit Day Planner
Well, I wish you all luck and joy in your Christmas preparations....and hope to have more to talk about the next time I write! lol

Hugs! Karen

Wearing your Art on your Sleeve

You know what surprises me?? That no matter how old you get, there are still things that surprise ya! lol It's an amazing thing.

Just the other day I got a convo on Etsy from a gal, Mandy, who had been looking for a nice retro floral pattern for a project she was working on and she happened to find this Maywood studio fabric that I've used a lot in my work. I just love the retro feel of the pattern and the fact that it came in 3 different colors:
Yellow
Sunshine and Roses Tissue keeper
and PINK
Retro Roses Day Planner
and an Aqua Blue (you've might remember seeing it in a few of my past projects) Well, here is what she did with that pattern!! Yes, that is her arm!! lol Isn't it beautiful? I don't have any tattoo's, and have no plans to get any....but if I were, this one would be for me! Thanks so much, Mandy, for sharing that with us--this is my favorite project of the year!

Pressing cloth
Do you guys use a pressing cloth when you iron?? I have had the same pressing cloth for about 20 years....(yes, really!) and a couple of days ago, it died. She finally passed onto that little laundry room in the sky. :o(

Then came the hunt for a replacement, you would think that would be easy, huh? Nope. She was sheer and smooth and steam went right through her--all I could find were some cheeseclothy, icky things. Sooo, I went on the hunt for the perfect fabric to make one for myself. That was not easy either! It is very difficult to find a sheer fabric that can withstand ironing--and lots of it! I finally did find a fabric that works and made a couple for myself (a small one and a big one)--and I also made a couple extra to put in the shop.

I Love You Honey Bunny
Here are a couple new items I've added to my Etsy shop over the last few days. This little Honey Bunny--so sweet!!

Verdant Snowflakes Birdy tag setI really like this paper---there's not a lot of green snowflake items out there, this one reminds me of snow in the pines!


Love Dove bird ornament
I love making these little bird ornaments...there's something so relaxing about doing hand stitching in the evenings while watching my fav programs on TV. This one, I think, is the sweetest yet! I did it in honor of the Pink Christmas event that the CSST sponsored on Etsy. If you like Pink for Christmas--check out the LINK!! You will not be disappointed.

OK--I am going to try, really hard, to set up my LOLLISHOPS shop over the next couple days! It's so crazy hard to find time these days and sadly the shipping set-up over there is complicated and is going to require time and a clear head! Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted!

Have a wonderful day--HUGS!

What's your name, little girl??

Hello friends!! We are doing a promotion in our street team -- Cottage Style Street Team (Cssteam) on Etsy--called PINK CHRISTMAS, and I made up a couple of new items.

I've made this sweet little girl reindeer pull toy, with her little pink friend and travelling companion--she is made from fuzzy felt and has such pretty pink accessories. I am having a hard time thinking up a name for them and decided I'd come to you creative people to help me out! What do you think???

Here's another little cutey....a pretty cream color Love Dove ornament to bring a smile to your face! She is listed in my Etsy shop. Click the pic and it will take you there.

Oh, one more thing....I got a treasury today and did up one all about pretty Pink dreams....stop by and say HI and check out some really lovely items too! Click HERE to see.