Lots Of Pics From My NC Trip!

Just got home from our vacation on Saturday from our week long trip to North Carolina. We were there visiting my daughter, son in law and family for my granddaughters baptism. We did lots of shopping, sightseeing in the mountains, saw elk and the highlight of the trip, white water rafting in Nantahala, NC! You can see a pic of us here. It was a blast! The ride was a level III if you were wondering. You can see my hubby on the front left, my daughter behind him, I'm behind my daughter and my daughters boyfriend beside me in the back in front of our guide Jessie. Jessie was full of jokes and stories through out the trip.

One day we drove up into Cataloochee valley. The road trip up there was like a roller coaster ride. One lane gravel roads with lots of corkscrew turns. Sometimes it was a little scary. I tried not to look down over the side of the road.

The Elk of Cataloochee Valley



Also there were a couple homes and a barn from the early settlers there. Very interesting. You could walk through their houses as it was back in the early 1800's. The houses still had some of the old wall paper on the walls.
Here is a picture of Cora sitting on the front step of the yellow house. She loved walking through all the rooms.



Here are a few pics of the barn. It was HUGE!



And here is a picture of a little tiny shed that was behind the house.


On another day I went shopping with my daughters while my hubby visited the Biltmore House in Asheville with his mom and her friend. I had been to the house a couple of years ago and didn't go, but hubby got some amazing pics of the gardens that were in full bloom.





The tulips were just amazing! They were everywhere!





Another day we visited the North Carolina Aboretum in Asheville.
This is my daughter Becky and her boyfriend Harry



Grandpa and Cora. I love this pic!








This little frog sure was making a lot of noise! LOL
2 froggies in love :)

A little skink that was in the crack of a step




One morning we got up really early and drove up to Mt. Pisgah, elevation 5,000 ft. and had breakfast at the Inn. It was kind of a cloudy morning but the view was amazing.

Here's our cabin that we stayed at Lake Junaluska. It was a little cozy place with pine paneling on the walls and ceilings. It smelled so good when you first walked in the door.

My Thrift Store Redo

OK...so this is my first attempt at redoing a wood project. I found this little shelf at the Goodwill for $1.88, and have to say it turned out pretty good! I'm pretty pleased with it. I sanded it down really good, then gave it 2 coats of black paint and then 1 coat of white. Then sanded real good again and stained. Then nailed some rusty square nails for some pegs. I have it hanging up in my kitchen. I really need to get rid of that wall paper we have. We've had the same wallpaper for about 25 years.





Here are a few pics of some of the flowers blooming in my yard.

Spring Weekend Pattern Sale!

Another beautiful sunny spring morning today. A little cool though 36º, but should warm into the 60's. Think I'll take some pics later on when it warms up, of whats blooming in my yard.

I haven't had a pattern sale in a long time so I thought I will make a weekend pattern sale! This sale will be April 9th through the 11th. This will be a BUY 2 GET ONE FREE! After you have bought the 2 patterns, let me know in a email which you would like to be your free pattern and I'll email it to you. This can be when you buy patterns from Pattern Mart, My Etsy Shop or My Website.

The picture above I took last year of my blooming Purple Spiderwort. I also have a pink colored one too which I don't have a picture of. Will do that this year when it blooms.

Everyone have a wonderful weekend! And remember the sale ends Monday April 12.

Beeswax Bunny

Today I received in the mail the sweetest little beeswax bunny, that I ordered from Melissa at Farm Field Primitive Goods from her selling blog.

I've got him sitting on my built in primitive shelf in my living room and I have to say he looks perfect there with my collection of prims. You would not believe how good he smells! He comes with a little nest of dried grass.

Sweet Prairie Dolls

Hope everyone had a great Easter!! We sure did. Had togethers with both sides of the family. Nice weather the first part of the day then had thunderstorms late with pea size hail. It was kind of nice hearing thunder again.

Well...I took these dolls that I made awhile back and changed them up a little with some of my own personal touches. I stitched them sweet little faces and made a little kitty doll to hold in their arms. I almost want to keep them now. But will be listing them on etsy tonight and tomorrow night.

Primitive Rocking Horse

Hello everyone, You've probably been wondering where I have been. I've been in a slump every since my daughter and granddaughter went back to NC last month. I miss them. So today I finished up this little primitive rocking horse, isn't he sweet! I will get him listed in my etsy shop tonight. Then will work on a pattern for him this weekend. I'll post a link for the pattern here on my blog when it is finshed.

Did a little yard one day this week when it got up into the 60's. Sure felt good to get out in the sunshine! My tulips are popping up, and already having to battle with the deer again. I bought some stuff that really works good last year to keep the deer away. It's called, This 1 Works Deer Repellent, by Fertilome. I highly recommend it. I am so ready to get out and plant flowers. I know its still a ways off before I can do that. Just happy the days are warming up. Should be in the upper 60's maybe 70 next week!!! yippie! Hope everyone has great weekend!!

Beautiful Spring Day!!!

It got into the 60's today and just had to get out in it! First I went down to the Mississippi river to see what was happening. There were quite a few people down there feeding the ducks and geese. So I got a few pics of them. I should have brought some bread to feed them, then they would have gotten closer to me. Then headed to one of my favorite stores, Target to pick up a few needed things. Then to the grocery store for a few things, they were setting up their outside garden center!! That makes me happy. Then headed home and got a picture of a robin!!! Bought time I see one! He was in my neighbors backyard and he wouldn't come any closer, so its a tiny picture. Yay...spring is on its way!

My Cora Fairy in a Jar!

I came across Dawn Edmonson's blog yesterday http://the-feathered-nest.blogspot.com/ and just had to make one of these little fairies in a jar. Dawn has several tutorials for sale on her tutorial page http://thefeatherednestshoppe.blogspot.com/

I changed the little girls face with my granddaughter Cora's face. Isn't it the most sweetest thing!! It was pretty fun and easy to make. So I did get a little creating in yesterday :)

Then and Now

I haven't had a whole lot of time to create, as my daughter and granddaughter are visiting from North Carolina. My son in law comes into town in a few days. My daughter is graduating from Chiropractic College on Friday. I'm so proud of her! We dug out the little rocking horse from the attic that was my daughters when she was little for my little Cora to ride. She just loves it! My father in law made it when my daughter was just a baby. As you can see in the pictures they look so much alike.
So next week I should get back to a normal schedule of creating.

My daughter Tara at 13 months old.

My granddaughter Cora at 19 months old. She is wearing grandpa's hat on backwards.

On Etsy's Front Page!

My daughter and granddaughter flew in yesterday from North Carolina and it's so good to see them. I sure have missed them. I'm amazed how much Cora is talking now. She will say just about any word you ask her to say. She sure does make me smile.

Last night I got a bunch of emails from my facebook friends telling me congrats and had no idea what they were congratulating me on. Then I checked it out and I was on the front page of etsy for one of the Shabby Chic Cottage Birds that I make out of vintage cutter tablecloths. You can see it at the bottom, right hand corner. It's a big deal when you make the front page.



Also, I've been getting requests to make some finished robins to sell. Will be listing one on etsy tonight.

Hawk Outside My Window!!!

This morning I was sitting in my living room listening to my ipod when something caught my eye out the front window. So I ran upstairs to my sewing room, grabbed my camera and tripod and took a bunch of shots of him. He sat in the tree for quite awhile. I literally had a birds eye view of him!! I couldn't believe it. Looked him up on the Internet to see what kind of hawk he was and he is a Ferruginous Hawk. We have lots of Red Tail Hawks around here but never seen one like this before. Isn't he beautiful!!!

I've spent the last couple of days working on 2 sets of my feather stitched eggs for 2 customers. I've got them painted and all I have to do now is the fun part of feather stitching them. As soon as I get the eggs done, it's time to work on more of my little folk art birdies to replenish my stock in my etsy shop after Stef in Australia bought a bunch.

Springtime Robin!!

I've been so busy this past week making 50 birds! A lady in Australia has been buying my birds to sell in her shop. She has a boutique vintage store where she sells collections of vintage pieces and handmade treasures. To bad she lives so far away. I would love to visit her store. Its called Newspaper Taxi http://newspapertaxi.com.au/

Today I finally finished up a special order for 2 robins. Someone is getting these birds as gifts very soon. I'll be making a pattern for him as soon as I can figure out a glich that I've run into when making my patterns. I'm sure ready to see some real robins. More snow tomorrow :( My sister and I have a contest every year to see who can be the first one to spot a robin. Last year I won when I saw one the last week of February.


**Update**
My Robin pattern is now available for instant download at Pattern Mart now. Click on the link over on the sidebar.