Mimi Kirchner Dolls

As I was trying to get into my Etsy this morning, it was down for some tech problems and instead offered a video to watch while waiting. Well I wanted in. I had work to do! So off I went to other internet things I needed to do and when I came back there was that video still, so I thought ok, I'll watch. It turned out to be a wonderful little video on Mimi Kirchner. I love Mimi's dolls and have for quite some time and I follow Mimi's Blog too. In case you're not a familiar with Mimi's charming, whimsical dolls or maybe you're a fan too, then I hope you'll enjoy this short video on her creations.

Beautiful Books Review

This past week I've received 3 of the prettiest books in the mail and I've gotten all 3 of these from Paper Back Swap. I've had so much fun doing this. I've received about 15 books so far and I'm even doing some Christmas shopping this way.

I thought I'd give you a peek at a few of these pretty books. They're all 3 from the mid to late 90's, but still current and they have such pretty photos and fun projects.

I love the art of Sandy Clough and this book is full of her gorgeous artwork. I'd almost be tempted to take it apart and frame some of it, but it's just too pretty to do that.

She has little stories mixed in with her artwork, so there's even some reading to go along with the pretty pictures.

And I love the books by Mary Jo Hiney. She has some beautiful projects that are timeless. I have several of her books on my wish list, since this is the only one I actually have in my library so far.

Pretty little box using some vintage ephemera

A pretty little ditty bag

The Santa book has all kinds of wonderful vintage Santa's to make from chalkware Belsnickels to the Victorian candy bag Santa's and more.

Wonderful little cotton batting Santa's with chalkware faces. Now to find me some molds. These are at the top of my list to make as soon as I do find a mold.

Even a pinecone Santa! Isn't he too cool!

I have a few more pretty books on the way and I can't wait to see them. I love these books and I love the Paper Back Swap site!

Noritake Squirrel

I just love this little Noritake squirrel and I just listed him in my Etsy Shoppe.

Isn't he adorable! And I just love his coloring. He's done all in lustreware and this beautiful blue really makes him pop against all the pretty fall decorations.

The leaves, branch and nuts are all dimensional and he's 3-D, so he sticks out away from the vase.

And he has the early Noritake mark on the bottom with M inside the wreath. It's stamped hand painted Made in Japan. This marking was used up until the early 1950's, so that makes him older than me! LOL! Anyway these little squirrel pieces by Noritake are hard to find and are valued rather pricey, but he can be adopted for a very reasonable adoption fee.

If you'd like to take a peek at him in my Etsy Shoppe please click HERE

Whooo Hooo! I just found out my little squirrel vase has been entered into an Etsy Treasury found HERE!

SOLD!

Thank You!

Finally A Finish!

Happy 2nd Day of Fall everyone! The best time of year is here! The beautiful colors, crisp air, pumpkins and hot chocolate all leading up to Thanksgiving and then the Christmas season! It's my absolute favorite!

Well I finally got a project finished--you know one of those that was stared oh a couple of years ago and then got tucked into a drawer and sort of forgotten. Well here it is! You might recall I blogged about it way back in January for The Procrastinator's Challenge. I think I won--I procrastinated past the date by um.....several months! Anyway this is my primitive/vintage Santa stitchery. It's a pattern by Leah Smith of The Country Cupboard that appeared in a 2006 issue of Create & Decorate Magazine. I think I got it a little darker than I wanted, but I think I like it, although I think I would like to find a different way to display it than in this frame. I know I don't want a pillow--maybe a different frame. Something unique or something totally different--not in a frame. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Now that I have one project finally finished, maybe I can get myself on a roll and finish something else. Anyone want to take bets. hehee!

Our US Constitution

I had a fabulous learning experience this weekend. I went to a day long seminar about the US Constitution and it was fun! Yes, I said fun! I learned so much! This past week was Constitution week. Did you know that? I didn't. It's not even on any of my 3 calendars. How sad is that. Well now I know.

I took my 10 year old daughter with me--she insisted on going and this was a 7 hour long seminar with only 2- 10 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch and she sat still the entire time and soaked it up. We had workbooks to follow along with and today she took hers to school to share with her teacher.

The seminar was given by Earl Taylor president of The National Center for Constitutional Studies. They have seminars all over the country and they also have a free Webinar (the same thing I went to) or rather Webinars, because it is divided into 4 1/12 hour series. Click HERE to check it out. There are even worksheets you can print out to follow along with. The in person seminar was quite fascinating. Of course you have lots of audience participation, so it's a bit different. I think this would be great for home schoolers too. Their website if so full of wonderful information for everyone!

It truly was an eye opening experience about how far we have strayed from the Constitution and an excellent history lesson that I intend to keep pursuing. A very good weekend indeed!

Simply Scrumptious Cinna Bun Satisfaction--In A Mug!

Remember one of my older posts Dangerously Divine Chocolate Cake in a Mug? Well today I decided I wanted something ooey gooey and cinnamony, so going by that recipe I devised a simply scrumptious cake in a mug that tastes like a cinnamon roll only in cake form.
It is soooooo goood!

Enjoy!

Simply Scrumptious Cinna Bun Satisfaction

In a big mug...

Mix together:

4 Tablespoons flour

4 Tablespoons sugar

Mix in (stirring after each addition):

1 egg

3 Tablespoons milk

2Tablespoons oil

Stir in:

1 Tablespoon cold butter, diced

Mix together:

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Fold this into the cake.

Place in microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high power.

Topping:

1 Tablespoon butter. melted

Stir in 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar

Add just a tad of milk, so that it's not stiff.

Pour over cake and ENJOY!

More Thrifty Finds

Lucky me, I found a few more thrifting treasures this week! Besides these things below I also scored a yard of winter white wool for $2 !! Yee Haw! Some sort of vintage zipper fix it tool, a couple of books and then these...............

....a lovely old turkey plate that even came with a plate hanger attached. Gotta love that! I think I have 2 turkey plates now--1 more and it will be an official collection! ................

...this one is more of a platter and not a plate. It'll be good for serving chocolate cake on don't you think!....

...and I was tickled to find these little angels for only .75! I have a set of itty bitty china angels from about the 50's and these will go very nicely. Their little red dresses are actually red flocking. I thought that was kinda neat......

a little pile of new victorian scrap for cardmaking and also some victorian floral cards I forgot to snap a pic of......

...and then this oh so cool red & white sewing basket that is missing it's lid. I actually passed this up the previous 2 trips and then it's like--DUH!--make a new lid!! I have no idea, what was wrong with my brain before. I also got a huge pile--lifetime supply I think--of needles, pins, snaps and hooks & eyes. And one pair of sock monkey socks!

I just love good thrifting trips don't you!

Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI

Aren't they beautiful! I just their soft coloring. I think Marie and Louis are candle holders, because they each have a hole at the top of their heads, but I'm not sure. In case you're in love with this pretty little pair you're in luck! I've been deabating on what to do with them and finally decided to list them in My Etsy Shoppe, so please feel free to take a peek if you'd like.

Here's a close up of each of them...........

SOLD!

Thank you!

The Simple Woman's Day Book--My First

I thought that I would give this Simple Woman's Day Book a whirl. I'm not a good journal keeper, but I find this intriguing......

FOR TODAY
Monday, September 14th...

Outside my window...are blue sunny skies, birds twittering in the trees, water in the canal, horses happily grazing and a hint of fall in the air.

I am thinking...do I really need to make a chocolate cake? You know one of those 3 minute in a mug cakes. I will just eat it and I don't need it--do I? And I really need to start working on some Christmas projects.

I am thankful for...the impending arrival of fall. My favorite time of year! The peace and quiet throughout my home at the moment.

From the kitchen...the dishwasher is humming and all is clean and quiet--until dinner later tonight, which I think will either be Jambalya or Beef Stroganoff. Hmmm... we'll see what sounds best as the day progresses.

I am wearing...a favorite green button up tee shirt with brown pants and sandals.

I am creating...my first Day Book entry...and then I will be finishing up a thumb pincushion for a swap that I'm doing.

I am going...only to the Post Office later to mail out some patterns and books, oh and to pick up my daughter from school--it's an early release day--thank goodness for reminder text messages from the school!

I am reading...my scriptures and a new to me book-- Heirlooms from Loving Hands by Sandy Lynan Clough. It has gorgeous pictures in it and I will be sharing about it later this week.

I am hoping...for something fun to arrive in the mail today. I am expecting some books and a payment for an order. That's really fun stuff!

I am hearing...the flag's ropes clanking softly against the flag pole, Boomer the black lab breathing/snoring as he sleeps, twittering birds in the trees just outside my window and laundry tumbling in the dryer.

Around the house...all is quiet for the moment as I'm the only one home. The yard is being flood irrigated and all is well.

One of my favorite things...caramel apples, pumpkins, spicey scented candles, soup and homemade bread, a fun apron to wear when I cook (yes I always wear an apron and I have for years--I'm a bit messy ;)..................

A few plans for the rest of the week: Finish a pincushion, start a Christmas gift, teach a jean skirt class, go to a fireside/seminar--The Making of America.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...it reminds me of the last of summer and the beginning of fall.....(ps feel free to save it and use as you'd like).

If you'd like to read other bloggers entries to their Simple Woman's Daybook or to participate along please click HERE.

Just For Fun...

....a few snapshots from around the yard this morning.......

Good morning sunshine....a little burst of yellow..............

.........weeds and old wood.....who knew it could be so quaintly pretty......

...........Miss Dixie......always the center of attention...........

....Mildred.........................

....a peek into the cow pasture.......

.....my favorite cow......

..............the fence...............


Happy Saturday!

A Few Treasures For The Day

I snuck off today by myself for a change and decided to do a little treasure hunting and I found a few treasures that appealed to my country/folk art/ primitive side........................

A cute little milk bottle to match my pfaltzgraff dishes in my chippy brown cupboard.......

.....a creamy white antiquety pitcher for only 1.50! I've been looking for one this shape, so I was very happy!..................

.......and then this fabulous folk art painting of a little girl painted by Karen Wood--and I have no idea who she is, but she does beautiful work! This one was only 3.50! What a steal! And it's big 19 1/2 x 15/12. Originally I thought I'd buy it and resell it, but I'm getting quite attached to it, so I may just keep her. If I do she needs a name and I haven't a clue--yet.

I had such fun today I may repeat it all tomorrow--and see if I can find some treasures for my frilly girly shabby chicy side!

Yankee Candle Coupon!

Yankee Candles is offering a great coupon! $10 off of a $25 purchase and I believe they are even having a sale on top of that. Click HERE to get your COUPON. It's good until September 7th.