This week's smiles...week 121

Early morning Hello,

We have had a 1/2 hour lightening show....followed by rain, then a downpour and now a steady unwanted rainfall.  We had to use our truck 2 days ago to drive down our gravel road from all the water we have had.  The wind and sun of yesterday, dried it out but who knows what it will be by 8 AM.   But I should not complain.  Dallas, Houston and other small towns in Texas are losing homes, cars and people swept away, by daily rains...30 ft of water in areas. The news said their drought is over.

Annie at A STITCH IN TIME hosts a fun Friday post, we all can partake in Friday Smiles. Well I have a few.  My son and family are back in the USA . So we can share photos again.  They are living on the East Coast so have not had a chance to visit yet.  But the photos are of my granddaughter who turned 1 while they were gone. This is her "Birthday" dress.

 I have not seen this little doll in person as yet. She was born in Germany a few months after we visitied. I think she is loving the I phone !  

Thanks for visiting, have a wonderful weekend. We have a list of things we have to do this weekend. So it will fly by fast.

WOYWW # 312 ATC Exchange

Welcome to What's On Your Workspace Wednesday.  Today is the day we sign up with a * by our name to partake in the once a year ATC Exchange.  Love it !!!   Julia at the STAMPING GROUND  has been our gracious host for 6 years weekly.  So many from all around the universe partake in this fun day.

My workspace is pretty cleared off.  Envelopes ready to address and mail to a few far away friends.
I also just received the Tim Holtz Flower making dies, and hope to have some time to play with them today. As it is once again raining so will be inside all day.  Will post photos of my ATC's next week.

Our 4 day Memorial Day weekend went fast, enjoying Alumni Friday night, a Saturday parade and park activities as it is the last year for our current school. Then off to visit my son and family in southern Iowa. Granddaughter's softball was called off due to unending rain. But we had fun, dinner out, celebrating her 10th birthday  and my hubby's 62nd.  Due to the holiday traffic we took the BACK ROADS home.  Quite fun, lots of pretty sights along the way and many deer venturing the road ways and wild turkeys out and about.

Thanks for visiting and I am thankful for your kind comments.  Have a wonderful week and enjoy the WOYWW ATC exchange.

WOYWW # 311

Hello Everyone.

Just cannot believe my last post was last week Wednesday. So busy and yet so much yet to do.
It is the day of the week that we share our workspaces.  Julia at the STAMPING GROUND  hosts this fun day and she has all the facts on her blog if you want to join the fun.

I've a LOT of May birthdays, so tried to get the most necessary ones done today and back to working on my ATC's.

My granddaughter has a 10th birthday next week. She is quite the little athelete, so this card was made with her colors, her #, and a "Motto" inside.  The 10 tag will attach to her gift.  The little baseball paper pouches  will hold money for her and her brother who had a birthday in April.

I got quite innovative with the # sign.  Didn't have one so used the Tim Holtz fence die and cut it to resemble the # .    Matching "blues" took me the longest on these projects.

I also made a card for my brother in law and my husband, will post at a later date as I know some family pop in.  

Our weather has been so cold, rainy and windy. Actually running the furnace again and wearing jeans and sweatshirts. Put the blanket back on the bed.   34 last night and in the 40's today.  Hopefully it warms up by the weekend. As our neighboring town is having a 4 day celebration with the closing of our school.  So will be lots of Alumni back and much to keep us entertained.

Thanks for stopping by. And thanks for all the lovely comments last week.

WOYWW #310

Good Day to all of you visiting.

It's Wednesday, the day we share our workspace. Julia at the STAMPING GROUND  has been our gracious host for quite sometime.  It's simple, it's fun and it's addicting.

We have had cold, windy, stormy days here lately. So cover the flowers towards evening, uncover them early am. Then stay in and play, clean, organize or whatever the notion tells you.  I've been still sorting the storage room and I've at least gotten rid of a LOT.  And I have had sometime to work in my creative space. Mostly picking up after my last ATC swap. Of which I've a post just next to this one.

I've saved a few KFC containers and have used them for small storage items. I've added some lace in the vintage jar, as I found 10 more of them boxed up in the garage. Click the photo to enlarge.
I will be starting to make some ATC's for our WOYWW swap...if interested let me know will be happy to exchange. It will be here before we know it.

Have a wonderful week. Thanks for visiting.

MAY ATC SWAP - JOIN THE CIRCUS

Good morning dear friends:

I just finished up my ATC's for Kim's swap over at her blog ArtJoyStuff. May's theme "Join the Circus"   ~~~~ kinda makes me smile.  There have been a few days here that I felt I should run away and Join something.    But sunshine is suppose to appear, with warmer temps  and that will help my spirits a lot.  Being confined to the house, cleaning the unending storage area and preparing for a garage sale is not my idea of too much fun.

My ATC's for this swap:

Little packaging fun

We swap three and I made a larger Tag with this theme for our lovely hostes Kimberly

You can click on the photo to enlarge.

 The little bit bigger for our hostess. Always love her monthly swaps. And fun to work with the themes.

Seems in all my crafting years  I have always liked to work with "little" projects. My cross stitching were small ornaments, wood items were on the tiny side, Barbie doll clothes and next I want to do some "TINY" fabric projects with lace & trims. Just seems more of a challenge I guess.

Thanks for stopping by, always love your comments and interest in what I am up to in this lifetime.
Have a wonderful week.

WOYWW #309

Welcome dear blogging friends.  Today is Wednesday, the day to share our workspaces.
You can get all the info and check out lots of other spaces around the world, by checking out our hostess Julia at the STAMPING GROUND ...It is addicting and you can partake if you wish.

Truly I am kind of embarrassed with the mess, but seems that is how my life rolls. I was gone  last week with some friends to a Flee market kind of day. Click on photo and it will enlarge for a better grasp of this fun mess.  Hope to organize later, but hubby is planting beans and when the phone rings, I'm off to move him and equipment to other fields.

 So some of the things here are from that and also the Junk Bonanza. So excited about the quilt strips. Have some good ideas for using them with my cards and my fabric books.  The little aged animals no doubt were puzzle pieces.  The little cup will no doubt be a pin cushion and hoping to make ribbon flowers from the sari silk ribbon    But then I'm a dreamer too !!  The doll part heads ? don't have a clue but just knew if I didn't buy them, I'd see a project and regret it.  I love the little playing cards too.

Well, I've delayed it long enough I MUST make my Mother's day card, and a few birthday cards that are do in a few days also. Some how I just don't get things done in a timely fashion anymore.

I did do a couple of posts just below this one on the ATC exchanges if you are interested. 

Thanks for stopping by, always love to read your comments and I'll be around to visit. Enjoy a wonderful week.  SPRING is here and it has kept me outside for 3 days. Planting flowers, cleaning the garage and garden shed. It's always a good feeling.

GIFTED by a LITTLE TREASURE

Oh how happy I was to have our mail lady arrive a few days ago. The lovely Dorthe Hansen sent me the lovely thank you gift.   She creates the most beautiful items. Little did she know I do collect hearts.

 Precious little face with lovely fabric and lace  makes up the ANGEL HEART

Also a delightful tag in a colorful wrap.  My camera batteries are gone so didn't get a photo alone of this ROSES tag but it is so pretty.

THANK YOU dear Dorthe.........It will have a special place and I treasure it and your friendship.

FRENCH GENERAL ATC SWAP

A Good Sunday to all of you....

Our spring weather finally has arrived and I have been enjoying the great outdoors. Taking a Sunday break from doing the SPRING things inside and outside. My body needs the rest !~ Forecast is for storms and I love a rainy day.

I received my French General ATC's from our special hostess Kimberly at ArtJoyStuff.

 The packaging is always special too.

A gift ....a special  tag from our hostess Kimberly....she also enclosed the makings of a banner, with lovely choices of paper patterns.  I'll post it when I get it put together.

 From Jesse, just lovely papers, and that special image

 From Jane, so many fun layers

From Alexandra, some unique stamping and the cute little image

Thank you Kim for hosting the fun swaps. And Thanks to all of the above for the special time and effort you have shared with your adorable little ATC's. They hold a special place in my heart.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy a wonderful Sunday, doing what you enjoy most.

FRENCH GENERAL ATC'S

Good Morning dear friends.......Happy Sunday. I am excited I've Swap mail coming and our forecast is a warm up with sunshine.  Nothing better to put me in a cheery mood than visiting with my grandkids.  

Processed and in the mail.....ATC's from Kim's swap "FRENCH GENERAL" from her blog ArtJoyStuff

The ones I created are:

and after I saw Kim's post I realized I had forgotten my wording.....covered up under other papers on my desk.  Just too many interruptions with other real Life happenings.

 A tag I made for dear Kim...she is a wonderful hostess for her Swaps.

My packaging this time.

Wishing you all a wonderful week.
 Prayers to the countries with the sad news of devastation from the earthquakes, it makes cooler weather and gloom seem good.

WOYWW #307

Good Morning Wishes to all of you....here, not such a great morning, temps are at freezing, winds are blowing and we are all tired of rain and gloom.

On a good note, I've blogs to visit and cards to create for many birthdays and upcoming Mother's Day.

My desk shows signs of sorting: (click the photo to enlarge)

Missed last week as 4 of us went to the cities (Minneapolis) for an overnight get away.We had wonderful weather, stayed at the Mystic Lake Casino, won some money and had good food and libations.  On Thursday attended Junk Bonanza(,long lines and really don't like people taking photos.) but lots of fun things, stopped at a great meat market in Nicollet, and a few shops in Mankato.

Thanks to Julia at the Stamping Ground as on Wednesday's we can share our workspace and visit others who are addicted to her fun.  She has all the info if you are new to this.

Have a wonderful week, thanks for stopping by.

A SMILE FOR FRIDAY !!!

Good morning dear bloggers...so enjoying a sunny warm Friday here.  Had a minute to partake in Annie's  Friday Smiles on her blog   A STITCH IN TIME

I saw this on facebook earlier and still smile !!  We raised baby ducks while I was growing up and they are the cutest.

I spent a few days away with my sister and 2 friends before field works starts here. We ventured to Minneapolis and enjoyed a wonderful stay at Mystic Lake.  Visited the very fun "Junk Bonanza" at Canterbury Park.  Stopping at a great meat market on the way home. And our best shopping area in Mankato Minnesota.

Have my meals all prepared for the weekend, potato salad, pea salad, the fresh hot dog buns, and those tasty homemade wieners (from the market) .  Some spaghetti and meatballs, Meat market bologna and sauerkraut.  So I'm off to my creative space.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy yourself a wonderful spring weekend.

Our Fairy Garden ATC's SWAP

Hope you are having a good Sunday. Our sun is out, but the wind is howling no doubt colder in the house than outside. Too busy to go out and check.  

I'm late, but as promised here are the ATC's I received from Kim's  swap with ArtJoyStuff

 This is how our host Kim wrapped up our little favor gift, and I did not take a photo of the contents, but there were so many fun things for us to use in our creations forward. Thank You Kim.

Kelly created this sweet little ATC, with so many  beautiful embellishments and cute little images.

 Karla created this ATC with an iridescent fairy images and beautiful lace, flowers and embellishments.

Jane made the ATC (sorry the photo does not do it justice) layered images and beautiful lace and flowers.

These are the ones I sent off for Kim to share with the others.

Thanks to all of you.  I love to play along with this swap and I'm so happy with all of the ones I have received.  I am trying to create a way to display them as I love the inspiration with colors, layering and arrangements.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a delightful day.

WOYWW #305 Lots of Photos

It's Wednesday for real....and time to visit blogging friends workspaces. Julia at the STAMPING GROUND hosts this weekly event. Any and All are welcome to partake. She has info on her blog.

I usually do this late Tuesday night, but could not load photos...no clue why, but my patience ran out. and Spent more than an hour today trying and FINALLY.   I had spent the day in the City, doing a little shopping, and later some laser surgery on a tooth. I think all is ok...pain meds make it that way for now, but a day away makes me very tired as my list is long when I go there ALONE!!!! .

Click to enlarge the photo for a closer look.  The desk...this week are my bar stools, they hold some "LittleTreasures" from the city's thrift shop....so excited.

The 2 above photos cost me $15.   A wedding dress in a preserving box. Haven't had time to open it.
with the special hat..that I will keep intact for sure. Have to see the dress to decide.

 Oh some more "LittleTreasures" except for the rubber stamps, all were $1 or under


This next grouping is one wedding dress...huge...$15....the trim is magnificent...so much beautiful satin   "Fabric Books"...."Snippet Rolls"  the creating bucket list goes on and on.

 And underneath the netting...and linen..(flowers in mind) ...

And my DH wanted you to see a mother and babe....when it warms a bit they will be out in the pasture enjoying the sunshine.  We have 3 others like this so far. But lost a set of twins. So sad. They are so fun to watch.

Thanks for stopping by...I've got to get some ribs in the oven for lunchtime....I'll do an ATC post later on our Fairy Gardens exchange,  and my WOYWW visiting later too.  Enjoy your day