This one's for me!

It's been a while since I've posted.  I have been very busy crafting.  My sales are growing each year.  That's a good thing!  I rarely keep anything that I make, but time's are changing.  I couldn't let this go.   I have one for sale in my Etsy shop, minus the second shoe.  Just the mousie with his stocking.  There is another up for auction on Ebay.   I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving.  I had lots of family on Thursday, and Friday.  I'm all turkeyed out!   I can't wait to get my Christmas decorations up.  I see so many of you have already started.  I ordered an artificial Christmas tree for this year and my family is having fits.  The kids are all out on their own, and still think they should have a say. LOL... I have a thing for over decorating my tree.  Every year it droops within 3 days, and I hate it!  I'm getting stubborn in my old age.  The artificial tree can stay up longer, and handle my huge ornament collection.  The saga will go on.  I'll let you know if it's going to be the real thing,  or not.   

I always told my kids that there was only one real Santa.

 I just finished 50 of these little Santa ornaments.  All are sold. It's been a busy preseason.  I think the one on the bottom is the "Real Santa".  Hee-hee!

I've been enjoying the Shameful dog photos posted on the internet.  This is my version of my Sami.  We have to learn to keep the downstairs bathroom door closed.  She chewed up one of my little Santa's too.  I have to be careful about leaving stuffed doll parts where she can reach them.
Getting used to being a new doggie Mom to a beast is not as easy as I thought, but I'm in love with her.

I've been busy with Christmas and Winter orders.  It's crazy how fast the season comes.  I just finished this lot of baby snowmen.  They are all sold.  I'm up to close to 100 so far. 

Sorry,  my pictures could be better!!! LOL... I want to give a tip.  I spray them with cheap hairspray, sprinkle with Glamour dust, and spray with hairspray again.  It works great!

It's been a while

Oh my, it sure has been a while since my last post.  The Summer is zipping by.  I've made some changes to my crafting.  I started selling wholesale, and then I set up a display in the newly opened  local Amish Farmers Market.
I went on my usual shore/beach vacation the last two weeks in June.
When I came home, we adopted a 15 month old German Shepherd. She was already named Samantha, which is ehhhh in my book for a dog name.  I call her Sam or Sami.  That works!  She is a dream.  No house breaking, or puppy chewing up everything.  She's all set.  Free too!  LOL...

Sami is in Mommy's favorite chair.  It sit here and do my hand work while watching T.V.  It's a No-No in our house for doggies to sit on furniture.  It was just so cute that I had to snap a shot! Then she got down.

 I just made some, or a better word "lots" of mini pumpkins.  I call them jack be little pumpkins.  This is a pattern by Old road primitives.  I'm putting some in Vintage muffin pans, and the rest bagged up for bowl fillers.

Take care, I hope to be back soon!

Where did all the flowers go?

It twas the Ducks!

Sid is not doing his job!

The flowers are almost gone!!!!

I finally got my motivation back

I think my slump might be over, and I'm climbing out of this funk.  The first task on hand is getting a Pedicure!!! What do you think?  I need one bad.  My little friends don't mind one bit!

I finally listed some new items on my website and etsy shop.  The first is a little Patriotic Raggedy.  She's one of my favorites.  I'm keeping her sister for now.

 The next is a remake of my very popular BOO pumpkins.

To get back on track with the season, I made some watermelon bowl fillers.

I have some new stuff made from my own designs.  I need to learn how to make e-patterns.  I want to list them after my e-pattern comes out.  I fear the dreaded copycats if I don't.   Any help would be appreciated.   Everyone have a wonderful week, and thanks for peeking at my creations and toes!!!

This is what Mother's day is all about...

I had four children that I love to pieces, and are my life. The best reward for having them is my Granddaughters. (I hope to have many more!).
This is my 5 year old Granddaughter Grace playing in her first year of t-ball.  Am I a proud Grandmother?
You better believe it!!!

Happy Mother's Day All!!!!!!  I hope you all get to spend it with your family and loved ones!

Upcoming open house

Pam Burton asked me to join her open house this year at Firefly Gardens.  We've been working hard getting ready.

  Pam will be selling her beautiful floral wreaths along with fresh flowers and herbs.

I've been sewing like crazy.  I have new Raggedy's  watermelon door hangers, along with new Christmas and Halloween prims not yet listed on my sites.

 If you live in the South Jersey area  we would love to see you!

Information below.

 Mother's Day Open House at Firefly Gardens!

Friday & Saturday, May 11th & 12th from 9am - 4pm 

48 Old Mill Rd., Greenwich, New Jersey 08323 

856-451-3834

FEATURING: Unique and original Rustic Wreaths & Primitive Country Floral Creations using high quality Hand wrapped floral's and Berries  Handmade and Created by Pam Burton 

PLUS: Fresh flowers and Live Plants in Vintage Treasures

For Directions, email me at pam@fireflygardens.com

www.FireflyGardensByPam.etsy.com

www.fireflygardensbypam.blogspot.com

Like us on Facebook! 

ALSO: Guest Artisan: Patti deWilde of Ahl Cooped Up - Vintage Primitive Stitches by Patti - Offering primitive dolls, Ornie's, Raggedys, Bowl Fillers, Door Greeters and more for your Country Home Decor

www.ahlcoopedup.com

www.ahlcoopedup.etsy.com

www.ahlcoopedup.blogspot.com 

PLEASE NOTE: Firefly Gardens is ONLY open to the public on these special events

Look what came in the mail today

My daughter Kate ordered six mallards. The local post office called this morning to tell us they were there and we needed to come pick them up.  Oh my Goodness!  How cute are they?  She wants to raise them and let them loose on our lake.  I'm worried that there are too many predators and they won't survive.  We shall see. I have to think positive!

Prim Pillows and Little Dot.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.  We sure did.  The granddaughters were so precious in their Easter dresses.  We had a huge family tractor/wagon ride with all the cousins, aunts and uncles to two secret egg hunts.  They had a ball!  At the second hunt location there were five loose kayaks on our lake.  Three of them held an egg with a nice cash prizes inside.  This was a nice distraction for the big kids, and oh so funny to watch while the little ones ran around the yard egg hunting.
On to my newest craze.  PILLOWS!  I had fun with paint and stencils.  I think my favorite is the flag one.
Each is hand painted and walnut stained.  I really love walnut stain.  No stale coffee smell!!

This is little Dot that I made from a sweet meadows farm pattern.  She's so sweet.

I need to get busy listing everything. I hope to be back in a few days with the finished bathroom pictures.  It's almost finished!   Have a wonderful week everyone.

We are slowly moving along, a new doll and a Birthday girl.

The bathroom project is turning out to be truly a project. Oh my!! The walls are up and the floor is in.  I'm waiting on the tile guys to come back to put the subway tile on the bottom 48" of the walls. In the mean time, we decided to finish sanding and start painting. I do see a light at the end of the tunnel.  LOL..

Last week we celebrated Ava's third birthday.  I can't believe how fast my sweet granddaughters are growing.  Ava and Grace just love their Auntie Kate.

I just finished three of these dolls.  One is up for sale in my Etsy shop.  I gave the other two to Ava and Grace. I made them with hair colors like the girls, and holding their favorite flavors of ice cream. They turned out so cute!

I used a sweet meadows farm pattern to make her.

Bathroom update and a few new listings

It's been busy hear on the Farm.  My new bathroom is coming along.  I never thought it would take so longs, but realize it's good to sometimes be naive, or nothing would ever get done.
We have all the plumbing set to go, and the new shower is in minus the glass doors for obvious reasons.
The sub floor is down and the tile man is coming in the morning to put the next layer down that the tile will go on. The drywall is almost up but still needs to be taped and joint compound applied.  I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.  It will be awesome.  I may want to just move in and sleep in the new tub. LOL...
This week between sweeping, dusting, and sweeping some more,  I got on a heart bowl filler kick.  I still have several more in my head that I need to get made, but it's been fun sifting through my fabric stash and coming up with more ideas. 
Here are some photo's of the bathroom and the hearts. (What a combination!!)

 The new shower, and plumbing.  I know the plumbing doesn't look like much, but to me it's alot!! The last photo is where the claw foot bath tub is going.  Yippee!!

The new hearts all listed in the etsy shop.
Happy St. Paddy's day everyone!!!

Two new Etsy shops you must visit.

I have two very talented friends with brand new Etsy shops.  One is Chris from The Antique Pallet.
Chris makes beautiful jewelry and is also a very talented folk art painter.  My Daughter and I are the lucky owners of some of her pieces. Here is a beautiful key necklace made by Chris.

Pam is a local NJ lady who makes beautiful floral wreaths.  Pam's shop is called Firefly Gardens by Pam.  This is one of my favorite wreaths in her shop.  I always seem to pick red!

I'm still under construction in the new bathroom.  The shower is going in today which makes me a very happy lady. Schlepping to my Father's house for a bath is getting very old. I'll post some updated photos soon.

Oh Boy, I'ts been a while but I have a good excuse.

My Hubby, along with some contractors are enlarging and making me a brand new bathroom.  It's been fun picking out the vanity, lights, etc. along with my new claw foot tub.  I can hardly stand it!
We are tripling the size of the bathroom.  We sacrificed a small bedroom for a large closet in the connecting bedroom and the bathroom expansion.
There are some not so fun happenings with remodeling an 1864 home. The last two weeks I have persevered tearing out, along with the noise, dust, dust, and more dust. A hole in my living room ceiling from the plumbing leak, no hot water for 24 hours, then the washer broke.  (this was all today! UGH!).
Now, I don't have a shower/bathtub for several days.  I'm thankful that This Old House has a half bath, along with this full bath, or I would not survive.
When it was built, there were only out houses.   Heaven help me!!!
Here are some pictures of what I'm up against.

Behind this sink is the new expansion. 

This is after the sink was taken out.  We still had the lonely Tub/shower.

Now the tub is gone.

The tub was on the left.

Yeah! Some new walls going up!!!  Tomorrow the new shower is due to arrive.  It will go where the old bathtub was.  The claw foot bath tub is going along this back wall.
I'll keep updating, for those that like remodels.  I hope this is my last major redo.  We've done so much to "This Old House".

And the WINNER is.................

I want to thank all you sweet ladies who entered.  I enjoyed reading all the nice comments. I was overwhelmed with entries, so I decided to have two winners.
I numbered everyone according to their number of chances. Then used random.org to pick two numbers.
Winner # 1 is Deb from Paxton Valley Folk Art. 
Winner #2  is Ellie from Ellie's Country Accents
Congrats to both!!! 

200 followers deserves a giveaway!!

Thanks to all my awesome blogger friends, I made it to 200 followers today.
I want to celebrate by giving away a set of my little fat snowmen.  I know most of you are into hearts and bunnies this time a year, but I'm struggling to break away from Winter/Christmas.  It's my favorite season to craft for.

 The rules are simple.  1 entry for posting a comment, 2nd entry for being a follower, 3rd entry for posting this giveaway on your blog, and 4th entry for liking Ahl cooped up on Facebook.  I'll pull the lucky winner on Friday Feb. 17.  Good luck to all.

My new boots.

Good morning.  I've been very busy this last week.  When I think about it, I'm very busy all the time!
I had my annual visit to Wills Eye hospital in Philadelphia last Monday.  I have an extremely rare thing-a- ma jig on my retina that has to be followed.  Today I took my father for cataract surgery.  He goes back next week for the other eye.  That makes three eye Dr. visits in 3 weeks.
I'm getting very excited about my soon to be bathroom expansion.  We are going from a 45 sq. ft full bath to 130 sq. ft. Life is backwards.  I needed the big bath and all the other house renovations we've done when the 4 kids were all at home.  We didn't have the time or money then.
It's been fun picking out new fixtures and stuff.  It looks like a claw foot tub is in the plan.  How cool is that??  I'll have to post pictures of the construction, when it starts.

On to my post title.

 My father gave me this pair of boots that my  mother bought while antiquing 30+ years ago.  I can't imagine how narrow the ladies feet were back in the day!  UGH,  they would hurt.  I wear a size seven and my feet are much too wide to fit in these.  Don't they look a bit Witchy?  I plan on putting them on top of an old trunk in my spare bedroom.  The old top hat would look nice next to them.

Not sure if she's a goose or a duck

I just made three of these cutie pies.  I think she was intended to be a duck.  She reminds me more of a goose, so that's what I'm calling her.

Thanks to Vermont Harvest folk art for the pattern design. 
You can  find her in my Etsy shop.

Family fun with some hand dids thrown in.

Our family had two birthday celebrations this week.  To make an adult birthday party fun for the little granddaughters, I bought balloons.  Needless to say, I think the big kids had as much fun as the little ones!

My next photo is a dragon pull toy that my 83 year old father made for my granddaughters. When the dragon is pulled the wings and tail go up and down and the mouth opens and closes.  It's amazing!
He is such a talented woodworker. 

My latest listing on Etsy.  I made this bunny Momma and children using a blue moon beginnings pattern.

Last but not least, a photo that I found on my camera.   It's so wonderful to be loved! LOL...

Back in action

Geesh! Where did the time go?  After a lovely Christmas and long break I'm back to sewing.
It took me a while to regroup.  I think I had a bad case of burnout.  I'm very thankful to all my awesome customers and for all the Christmas orders, but was ready to take some time off.
I've decided to skip over Valentines day and move right on to Easter and Spring crafting.
I made this Angel in December, but never got her listed.  She's finally in my Etsy shop.
I used a pattern by Bittersweet folk art to make her.

I've been keeping up with all your blogs, and hope to do more posting here.  Happy belated New Year!!