Christmas Stockings-Yay!

Life's been busy...such an understatement!

On the 5th of November, Taylor and I had a girl's road trip-
to Boston.

She's moved there to find a job.

It was a beautiful trip.

However, I kept getting these emails on my phone.

Confirmation of an Etsy transaction.

I got lots of them!

First batch-16 Christmas Stockings.

Today I finished 6 shower curtains and a floor length gathered/cord table cloth.

I'm a fast sewer-as in sewing.

So...as of right now, I only have 104 more stockings, a couple of pairs of panels and some dog beds...as of right now.

Oh, and throw in the Christmas music that's already on the radio 24/7.

I'm a fast sewer.

However, my studio is a casualty of being this busy.

The good thing is I know where everything is...kind of.

I'm very flattered and excited that so many people like and appreciate the things that I make.

It's like Christmas for me, ok-I'm a fabricaholic, when the weekly fabric order arrives.

20-30 yds of different fabric makes my heart go pitter-patter.

I guess I should get back to work, after all, I have my own personal projects that need finishing before Christmas.

It's a good thing I'm a fast sewer!

ann marie



November Garden

Evergreen Wisteria

Lantana

Rose on Trellis

Mini Rosebush from the grocery store.

You know, the ones that are about 8" tall.

 It's about 2 1/2' tall now and blooms all summer until we get a freeze.

Shrimp Plants

Lavender

They're all blooming better than they have all summer.

ann marie



Blue Angels = No Work!

I took these pictures standing in my driveway or 5 houses down by the park.

Randolph AFB, which is 3 miles from my home had an Air Show this weekend.

Living by an AFB gives us our little dose of reality.

At 6:30 am, we hear Reveille.

At 5:30 pm, we hear Retreat.

And at 10:00 in the evening, we hear Taps.

I'm pretty sure that troops all over the world have these same traditions.

Enjoy.



They're very impressive to watch, and I apologize for the bad pictures, but I only have a point and shoot.

When these guys fly, they're cruising.

They're also rather loud.

My husband used to tell the girls when they were younger that the sound of those jets flying overhead was

"the sound of freedom".

You can hear them, but you have no idea what direction they're coming from until they're right over the house. 

I got one shot per pass...sometimes.

I really couldn't see the little screen on my camera either.  As you can see, it was a gorgeous, sunny, day!

This following shot is taken over our neighbor's house.

Buck was born on April 29, 1918.

He still volunteers every day at the clinic on base!

This is the same view we have of the 4th of July fireworks.

Small town America, you've gotta love it!

A few other aircraft I was able to run out in time to capture!

These guys were so pretty.

They reminded me of colorful birds.

C-5

Blue Angels

Needless to say,

I haven't gotten much work done this weekend.

ann marie 

DIY Over the Carriage Doors Rose Trellis

This is the climbing rose I planted last fall.

souvenir-de-la-malmaison

I was lucky to just keep it alive after the summer we've had.

Hot and no rain.

Now that it's gotten a little cooler, she's started to grow.

I sat with pencil and paper to draw a very simple rose trellis for over the carriage doors.

I used regular pine lumber because I knew I was painting it and it's pretty protected.

You could use cedar too.

I bought 2-2x4x8's, 2-2x4x10's and 4-2x2x8's.

My brackets are as simple as I could keep them.

I figured it wouldn't show very much once the rose covers it.

I used wood glue and 2 1/2" screws to assemble.

For the pieces that are perpendicular to the house,

 I just cut the 2x2's into 2 foot lengths.

I had 16 pieces.  I measured my 2x4x10's, they had a few inches cut off because of the light fixture and divided that number by 15.

Then I measured and marked and glued and screwed each one on center.

Add some paint into the mix...

Voila!

A nice vintage detail for our little cottage.

Can't wait to see how it looks in the spring!

ann marie



The Cute Kid Photo Op

Is this not one of the cutest little girls you've ever seen?!?

This is my grand daughter-Matry

She's in the running for this-

Parents Magazine's

Parents Photo Faves

Congratulations!

Thank you for sharing your photo with Parents Photo Faves while visiting TheCuteKid.com. Your photo is currently in the running to become a weekly winner. The photo with the most votes in each category will take home the honors!

So go to this link and vote people!
(You have to click on the refresh button after you vote a few times until you get the code)

http://photos.parents.com/category/vote/photo/1084148

Let me tell you, every time I look at this picture, I can't help but smile!

When she smiles, she lights the whole room up!

And she smiles alot, she's a very happy baby!

Thanks!

ann marie



Estate Sale, New England Style!

Recently, I flew to Boston to visit Andrea and Mark...

and of course, CAF, aka Caroline.

She's growing so quickly and I don't get to see her as often as I'd like.

She's very active and always exploring.

At the end of the day, she gets her bath and is ready for bed.

Her puppy, Bretten, skips the bath.

Directly to bed for her.

Anyways, I just had to share.

Now, the Estate Sale.

During the week I was there, a sign for an estate sale was posted on the telephone pole in front of their home.

It was at the old farmhouse behind their house. 

At one time, they owned all of the land around them.

Now there are houses and apartments that cover that land.

It started at 9am and I was the only one there!

Gorgeous old home and the family was so sweet!

I had $22 cash and this is what I walked away with.

Federal Style Convex Girandole Mirror

About 2 feet tall.

Wood.

Smaller one, thrown in for free.

You can see brush marks where the mirror finish was applied.

Amazing hand made table with the most delicate legs I've ever see.

And it survived in the barn for years.

Small alabaster or marble lamp.

Wood tray, about 2' wide.

Somewhere in the past there was an inlay in the center.

Andrea blacked it out with a sharpie and put their monogram in gold paint pen.

Here's the brass handles.

Finally, an oval side table with pretty tapered legs.

Can you believe I got all of these wonderful things for $22 !!

These are some of the things I had to leave behind with a heavy heart!

2 antique bear skins, if I had to guess I'd say one was a black bear and the other was a grizzly

antique beds and dressers

spinning wheels

6 antique small scaled windsor style chairs used daily in their kitchen

All these plus so much more.

And the really amazing part?

This was their second sale!

I'll remember this one for a very long time.

ann marie

Linking to...

Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

$25 Guest Room Makeover!

I've got family coming into town and my Mother in Law will be staying with us.

And the guest room was looking sad and dingy.
Time for a facelift!

So, I had one day to do something about it.

Off to Lowes I went.

I bought a gallon of Olympic's One- a paint and primer combo.

$25

The existing color was quite a bit darker, but it took two quick coats and that was finished.

I also put a coat of paint on the baseboards and windows.

I shopped my home for the panels and whipped up a new Dust Ruffle with some Natural and Black Ticking I had on hand.

I need to dig up some shams or maybe a couple of vintage embroidered pillow cases,

 I know I have a stash of those hanging around too!

Not too bad for a day's work!

A big silver pitcher full of roses and I think mom will be very comfortable!

ann marie