I WON!!!!

What a wonderful surprise to log on to Blogger this morning and in checking the daily updates...I read MY name as a winner!!! Pat from All Thing's Bright is a VERY talented doll maker and I was lucky enough to win not one, but two of her precious raggedy angels!!! GOTTA love those red haired sweeties!!! THANK YOU PAT for such a wonderful offering!!! You are too sweet!

Click here for Pat's sweet blog and click here to go see the wonderful things she has for sell in her Etsy shop!!!

A year???? And a finish...

Have mercy...has it really been a year??? I guess so. I remember when I last posted...life was about to get hectic with two shows going on on top of work and life and then I guess I just began using the excuse that I'm too busy.  Well, I guess that happens to all of us..

If I believed in resolutions, I'd resolve to making regular posts...I do know one way...the whole reason I am here writing this now - my boyfriend. He mentioned it the other day and I shrugged it off and he said to post because "ya had some good stuff on there" - so without any hesitation, I am posting!!!

The past year has been a good one to me. New friends and new places. Many laughs and yes, tears, but thankfully many tears have been those of happiness. A new position at work which has brought so much happiness to my work day! That goes far in one's life - I mean last year I was ready to become a Walmart greeter. New car. Two new pets. And this past season, a regular football seat in Clemson. I mean, who could ask for more????? :)

This past year, I've had the most wonderful memories made with my best friend. I'm not just saying this because he will read this...I mean it. They say you shouldn't let someone control your happiness, that it should come from within. Well, he does...but let me tell you why...

I've never had anyone in my life (ok, aside from parents that love their children) that was so "pro-me" before (me as in...well, ME...not as in HIM saying the word me!) ...he does everything he can to bring out the best in me...he encourages me...he inspires me...he makes me realize that I do have worth. And then the more he pulls from me...the more it makes him smile and love me. Which in turn makes me want to do even better....to try harder...to keep finding those parts of myself that so few really know about me AND BE COMFORTABLE WITH THOSE PARTS!!! Aside from this, he is such a wonderful man with the most thoughtful and caring heart. And he makes me laugh!  He has a really good looking moustache to boot!  And he makes me laugh! He not only likes when I talk and often ramble on, he encourages it! And he makes me laugh!  He loves Clemson, awesome music, and animals...and he makes me laugh! He is so good looking..and my stars, he has these awesomely gorgeous eyes that make me melt!!! (Did I mention how much he makes me laugh???)

And the really cool thing...is that he says I give him something to believe in. See? That's cool, isn't it???   It's a copacetic deal...or is it symbiotic...well, shoot, maybe it's just both. Whatever the heck it is, I sure am lucky to have to someone that loves me like that!!!

So that is how he brings me happiness...not only by being his wonderful self, but for helping me see how much I have going for me. For helping me see that I have the happiness already there within. For helping me see that I have a smile that always lives in my heart...and it isn't gas.  You don't find altruism like that very often...especially in a...yeppers, I gotta say....especially in a MAN!!!! LOL!!!

OK...on the blog...I've not really done much in the way of my primitives lately. I am already regretting not taking pictures of my Christmas displays (that I put up November 11 and they lived with me until New Year's!). I have been cross-stitching after an...oh about an eighteen year hiatus! This sampler I finished is rather prim I guess and I can't wait to have it framed. I didn't buy many new things to use at Christmas in 2012 (I always load up on Christmas decorations after Christmas during the sales, but didn't this year, so this will be the piece that I will find great joy in adding to my Christmas collection!!!)

This sampler came from the December 2010 issue of Just Cross Stitch. It was designed by Margaret McKee Huey from Margaret & Margaret  chart designs. It will probably also mark the last one I do in linen...I used to love using linen but with this one...I don't think I've ever ripped sooooooooo many stitches out!!! It's not really that I can't SEE the linen, I just couldn't focus on it for long. Reading glasses did NOT help, so I think Aida cloth will be loving me from now on.

Those little French knots for the wreath kicked my tail, too!!! It took me three tries to get a wreath I was SOMEWHAT happy with!!! (I don't think Candlewicking is in my future!!!!!) (And yep, I did go back and pull out the date and restitch!!! :) )



Now...the dilemma of what to start on next...big piece-wise that is! I do want to cross stitch some more...I had forgotten how therapeutic it is!!! It is so very soothing and relaxing to push and pull those stitches. <3

Snow days!

You'd think with all of the free time I've had with 3 days from work due to the snow, that'd I get to update here...well, I've been busy working on lines for 2 shows and working on this and that. I just wanted to do a quick update and post some give aways on the sidebar offered by some dear folks!!!

May you have...

a wonderful new year ahead of you...Happy 2011!!!

A great giveaway! HURRY! Ends December 5th!

Go now and sign up for these gorgeous candlesticks!!!!!   Here is the blog!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

May your holiday be a wonderful time of special times with family!

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

***I started this late last nite and wanted to post but needed more pics...then I've not felt well today and got tired of trying to rearrange the pics...the codes are a bit odd, so I just finally gave up!***

Well, my day was spent lugging boxes back and forth to the storage shed, cleaning up, and decorating. I really didn't get cranking until about 3:30 an by then I was already praying for more hours in the day. Bon enjoyed helping me decorate some (hence the cringe I felt as she was placing ornaments on the tree like all kids do - in one spot!); she did put out the Snow Village for me and did a pretty good job! It just needs some snow now! Chase hung the 3 ornaments that were his and then called it quits and hung out playing in his room...that may have been better in the end!

The tree is decorated and casts the most serene feeling in the den...it needs to be topped with the star and that will happen if I can talk my best friend into using his height to place it up there! The nutcrackers are all at their posts...the stockings hung underneath the mantle. Everything else is in its place and I must say I am already dreading when it will have to come down because everything looks so peaceful and the way it is supposed to be.

My study is complete with all the little vignettes - my Clemson tree, the village, my snowmen and red and bright green Santa and reindeer...ecletic, yes.

My kitchen does sport the gingerbread gathering, but I've yet to put up my everygreen branches and birds...I was trying to decide what to do in there...I am wanting to redecorate some...new curtains especially, so I was thinking of when I was going to do this...I have decided to wait until the first of the year...it'll give me something to look forward to after the holidays to hopefully forego those after-Christmas blues!

The bathroom is so sweet with the new hand towels and some new displays. The end of the hall is is home to my snowman and baskets and baskets of ornaments!

The hall though...HAS to be my favorite...it looks like a little gift shop in there! It is so pleasant and peaceful...the pics do NOT do it justice...the soft glow of white lights and little tea lights make it so warm and literally makes me stop everytime I walk by. The stockings add some more

color to my bench and hopefully the pillows will be updated with something wintery this week!!!

This is my newest gathering...a little bench I got at the antique place in Edgefield...an old bell from last Christmas...a lantern I've had for years...and two new treasures from the Ragpicker! The old quilt is soooo worn but the colors are beautiful. It is only a piece of an old quilt...which was probably best...I don't think I could have afforded a whole one! AND...the lute...the tag said old guitar, but it is indeed a lute. Very worn and cracked but that adds to the charm. I LOVE how it looks leaning up against the bench!