New Years Goals--Not Resolutions

Happy New Year Everyone! It's almost here, so I thought I'd post my New Year's Goals--not resolutions, because you know we never seem to keep those. Goals are different--aren't they.

So here goes...................For 2009 I plan to......

Work on my needlework and sewing more and get more projects done. You know like those patterns that I bought that have been sitting around forever and that list of ideas that keeps getting longer by the day. I know I won't get them all done, but I'd sure like to take a chunk out of them all.

I have 2 secret projects that I'd like to work on and no don't ask, because they are secret and I won't tell. I'm a good secret keeper!

I recently discovered The Toy Society and I really like their idea, so I've decided to give it a whirl.

Get healthier--yes that means eat better (chocolate still included!) and to exercise. I still have my old Richard Simmons Sweatin' to the Oldies VHS--yes I said VHS tape (and I still have a VCR--2 in fact) and get busy exercising!

And last but not least is to create more patterns! I have lots of ideas floating around in my head and in my notebooks and it's high time I got them out and onto paper!

AND!.............................I'd like to start 2 new collections......Hey that can be a New Year's Goal and I may even add to the list throughout the year. hehehee!

For 2009 I would like to start collecting (in addition to my older collections of course!)......

China doll heads--I have 4, so I officially have a collection, but I really need more. I'd also like to find some molds for the old style china dolls. I have lots of fun ideas I'd like to try with these.

And then also I'd like to collect Things That Are Pink. Odd? Maybe, but I love pink and want to make our master bedroom the one room in the house that is Shabby Chic/Vintage Cottage/Romantic Homes style, so I need to find some pink knick knacks and rose floral fabrics and such. I do have a start, so hopefully by years end my hunt will have paid off and that room will have been transformed.

Well I have tried to keep it simple, so hopefully I will have some success.
Have a safe and Happy New year and don't forget to set some new, fun goals!

Some of My Christmas Treasures

Now that things have slowed down a bit and getting sort of back to normal I thought I'd share just a couple of my favorite Christmas gifts I received this year......

I got a wire dress form! We had went to the mall to visit Santa when the husband had to stop at his favorite western store--that also happens to be going out of business, so while he looked at hats I looked at the store fixtures--but I some how missed this little beauty. He was the one who found it when I drug him over to the fixtures corner to show him the shelving and decor items. They had 2 different styles of dress forms and this was the one I wanted, so after inquiring about the price and finding out it was $40 he bought it and told me it had to go under the Christmas tree. That was alright by me! In fact I'm considering letting it live in that spot after the tree is put away--which just happens to be where he puts his western collection. hehehee! Oh yeah I named this one Mae--Mae West, because she's from the western store--Corral West, so it only made sense, however I'm pretty sure she won't be dressed western. ;)

Then I got a sewing basket! For so long I've wanted one of these little sewing baskets and now I finally have one! My folks sent me this and my mom filled it with all sorts of little treasures and even wrote out a "geneology" of how she had acquired each little treasure through the years. She has no idea how fun it was to open this and pull out each little piece. This is my favorite kind of gift!

A peek at some of the goodies found inside...... a fabric jelly roll, crocheted basket and pot holders, china doll!, little bitty beaded pink purse, pink enamel necklace, sterling silver tatting shuttle (she found at a garage sale for a dime some 20 years ago), silver ladle, belt buckles, clothespins, bobbin, thread, antique lace, button card, wooden needle holder, and even 2 little old milk bottle paper tops, a couple of hankies that were my grandmother's and a darling dress dishtowel.

Pretty darned good treasures I'd say! I was tickled pink with them that's for sure! In fact I told my family that I think next year all gifts should either be handmade or 2nd hand from the thrift stores or antiquety places. Much better than store bought!

A closeup look at the darling little dishtowel dress. Isn't it cute!

Yup, it paid off being a good girl, so I guess I'd better keep on track for next year too. hehee!

The Christmas Donkey

This is one of those Christmases when a Christmas Wish was granted. Our youngest (9yro) daughter has talked about nothing but wanting a donkey of her own, since we pastured a few donkeys for a neighbor this last summer, so when Christmas got close and talk of Santa started that's all we heard--I want a donkey. And she didn't care if she got any other presents. All she wanted was a donkey. Soooo we're thinking ok--how do we do this..........................

Last Thursday the 18th I logged on to our local Freecycle Yahoo group-- (www.freecycle.org) and posted a want ad for a donkey. In case you're not familiar with freecycle, it's a nationwide group of local yahoo chapters and you can post for things to giveaway for free or that you are wanting--but it all must be free. Well within the hour I had a family with a donkey they were willing to give to us--free! We made arrangements to go meet the little donkey and we fell in love with her and knew she was the one! Next we made arrangements with our neighbor to help pick her up and so on Christmas eve the husband and neighbor went to pick up little Dixie Donkey and brought her home, where we hid her out in the barnyard until Christmas morning.

Bright and early Christmas morning everyone was up and dressed and soon gifts had been unwrapped and then it was time for our daughter to head out the door to take care of the ducks--and that's when she found the lead rope with a note from Santa attached and then she was like a bolt of lightening off to the barn, because there was a donkey waiting for her--her very own donkey! It was love at first sight for both of them!

Dixie, daddy and daughter out in the snow in the barnyard. Lots of snow! And yes Dixie has her very own stall all to herself in the barn, so she can keep warm. Don't you love her pink harness she's sporting. She about 2 1/2 years old and is a lovely chocolate brown with cream muzzle and belly and she has the sweetest personality.

She was one happy girl with her big Christmas Wish granted.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry and Joyous Christmas!

New Vintage Sewing Ephemera CD

I have a new CD available now filled with 350 beautiful sewing images that are copyright free and made to use for your altered art, crafting projects, blogs, graphic arts and more. You may use these images as you wish. These images are all sewing related and a few knitted images can be found as well. The categories are: Girls Sewing, Women Sewing, Sewing Trade Cards, Sewing Ads, Sewing Machines and Misc Sewing. The images may be sized to suit your project needs.

You can find them at Patternmart or on My Etsy or if you prefer you can order through me via email and I will gladly ship internationally. Happy Stitching!

T’was the week before Christmas and all through the house there arose such a clutter. I really wanted a nap-just a short afternoon nap, but with shopping to do and cookies to bake it didn’t appear it would be my fate. So instead I rebelled. Yes I did. I sat in my big comfy oversized chair, popped in some Christmas tunes and wrote MY letter to Santa. And this is what I asked for…….

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is….

A featherweight sewing machine…

China doll heads of any style or color of hair or the whole doll would be ok too or even a mold to make my own.

Calendar for my sewing room (something sewing related)


Anything pink for my new anything pink collection


Shopping spree at one of my 2 favorite quilt shops--Black Bird Haven and The Quilt Shoppe


China jewelry


A pair of Heart Scissors from Stacy Nash Primitives

or a pair of Putford Scissors--also from Stacy Nash Primitives

A subscription to any of the following magazines….

Where Women Create

Somerset Mags

Inspirations Embroidery Mag

Paint Shop Pro Program

One of Whendi’s Elephants

Thrift Store box of surprise treasures chosen especially by you Santa--Rudolph can help too.

PS I have been very, very good this year.


And now I feel better! If you can’t nap, then dream a little.

More Swap Ornies

Well the swap is finally finished. It's always a little sad when a swap comes to an end--no more surprises in the mail--until the next swap of course. I received many really cool ornies though and so I thought I'd share these last few......................

Sharon Mitchell made this really cool grubbied beeswax reindeer. She does some of the coolest grubbied beeswax pieces. You can see more of them on her blog.

She also made another really cool reindeer out of painted fabric.

Christine Rohloff appliqued this beautiful Christmas stocking. Talk about perfect stitches!

I had a few applique pieces, so I decided to make a little grouping of them here on the wall. The cardinal was made by Christine also.

What a cute guy this snowman is by Kathi Rode. He looks like he's looking up at the other ornies--keeping a watchful on them.

And this little mousey made by Tracey/Jeanie Yarbrough looks like he just snagged the snowball and is going to run off with it! Isn't he too cute!

A big thanks to all of my friends for swapping with me! I can't wait until it's time to swap again!

Santa Mugs & Some Ornies

There are 3 different Holiday Home Tours that I am adding my blog link to, so please make sure to also visit these 3 wonderful bloggers parties to see oh so many more gorgeous Christmas homes........

Boo Mama
Pretty Petals
Hooked On Houses

It just doesn't feel like Christmas til the Santa mug collection appears! I've only been collecting these little mugs for about 3 or 4 years now and I hope to for many more--even if several of them are the same. They're just so happy and cute!

Do you have a Santa Mug Collection? If so I hope you'll post a link to your collection using the Mr. Linky at the very bottom of this post. I'd love to see them and I know everyone else will too.

Here's goes....

This little one is actually a turn about mug--he has the same face on the back side of the mug.

This one is actually a napkin holder, but we let him anyway.

And then there is the big singing, dancing Santa!

I wanted to share a few of my favorite ornies on my prim tree, so I put them into a slide show for you to enjoy.

Please share your Santa Mug Collections with us all. Just type in your name and then copy/paste your blog addy (url) into the 2nd space. Please note if someone eles's name and info is showing up in those spaces just delete them and enter yours--it won't delete them off of the Mr Linky List). Thanks!

Beautiful Nativity

This past Friday we made a trip down to Salt Lake City, which meant we had to stop at my favorite spot--Temple Square. If you've never been to Temple Square--whether you are LDS or not it's truly a must see!

Right now they are all decorated for Christmas, which is mostly beautiful lights, however we missed that this time, but I did get to enjoy the beautiful Nativity. The figures were so life like and everything was life size. It was truly beautiful as I hope you can see in these photos.......

The building in the background is the Tabernacle--home ot the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

A view of the temple in the background. I just love these wisemen and the shepardess and little girl.

See how lifelike they look.

A view of the backside of the temple. There were 2 newlywed couples there that day having their wedding photos taken and our 9yro daughter was so in awe of them in their beautiful gowns with the temple as their backdrop. She thought it was better then Cinderella and her castle. We had a wonderful trip and finished up the evening with dinner with my brother and his family.