Madylene, A Wise Woman

I can't tell you how much better I feel seeing your kind comments, immediately thought of my mom, Madylene, who always told me a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved, she was so right! My mom had a somewhat difficult life and still remained always optimistic. I remember her telling me when I asked about what it was like being a child during the depression, always struggling to make ends meet, she seemed surprised, "Oh, honey, the good things always outweighed the bad." In grade school, when I swear the school system was determined to have a generation prone to nightmares with the constant showing of educational films on nuclear war, I was freaking out just a bit at the thought, she calmed me right down, told me no one can predict the future, so the best thing to do is enjoy the day you are living right now. Wasn't I lucky to be the daughter of such a woman? One more thing, she could make pancakes look like teddy bears and snowmen and sharks all free-form pancake batter pouring!

I'm adding some pretty pictures to enjoy, love of flowers and old crusty things turned beautiful is another gift from my mom.

It is Pumpkin Time

 I used a whole pint of pumpkin milk paint and finally finally finished most of my fall projects--I put the paint powder in a bowl two weeks ago, thinking I was ready to mix it up.  Every time I sat down to paint, something would stop me "Mom, I need a ride to class!  Mom, can you help me with editing this paper?  Elaine, can you take the dog out?" lots of stuff like that and before I knew it, 2 weeks passed by.  I was also fretting about finding a good photo back drop, when the Labor Day flea market supplied me with two great finds--first, an early early huge flour bin for only $20.  The reason for the low price is the bottom is hanging by a thread, but it makes a great backdrop.  The second is a wood laundry basket from the Amana colonies, set on end, it looks like a great old cupboard.

I actually started making Christmas goods before fall.  The laundry basket and an old feed sack are perfect for the photos.

May The Haunting Begin

 I am so late working on fall, but just got the first batch done.  I am pleased with the results.

      This skeleton is about my only Halloween decoration that I keep for myself. 

     He was a Martha Stewart design from a few years ago.  I do like him, he is a good model.   He is full length, but folds up nicely if you only have room to show half.                                 

this little oil painting is a bit spooky, I think--it is antique, not my work

the tombstone breadboard, I painted the back with black milk paint and added an old tin type

The latest in the haunted portrait series.  I would totally have this doll in my house.

why cute twins are considered spooky, I do not know, but they are

this is my favorite, it is a tiny little mirror given away by a hardware store and the twins are perfect for it

Finishing up odds and ends, hoping I will someday be able to walk through my craft area without danger of falling amidst all the stacks of unfinished projects.  I admit to creatively thriving while surrounded by a mess, but this is getting out of hand even for me.  With that said, maybe I will finally start my pile of goods that need their Halloween black paint.  After that, I found a nice little cupboard that will look great with pumpkin paint and I think some crocks will be pumpkin as well.  I bought a new brand of milk paint that I am eager to try, they are greens that look wonderful on the package, we shall see.

 

Blue Calico and Laundry Goods

 I really should be making Halloween things but got distracted by a box of early blue calico scraps.  They are just so pretty, I couldn't stop wrapping things up.  I also found the piece of early ticking that I have been looking for forever, much needed to pair with some old chunks of lye soap.

Stencil Madness

 I don't know what got in to me.  I was browsing Etsy and started putting dozens of stencils in my cart.  I did edit down to one dozen, but I still don't know exactly why I bought them all.  Unfortunately, one I didn't realize that I hadn't removed and spent $20 on it!  Yikes, never pay $20 for a stencil!  Yet, I did.  It doesn't seem to be a re-useable one either.  Live and learn.  Trying to get some of the mad money back, I took some of my already finished goods and added a stencil to them.  They do look better this way, so I am happy.

Hot Summer Days at the Flea Market

What Cheer, Iowa has several flea markets every year and we attend most.  The weather is often just horrible, hot and humid or pouring rain or early frostiness in the fall.  One never to be forgotten day, we were out in the sunny hot field when a storm came out of seemingly nowhere.  We ran to the nearest building and got inside just as lightning struck near the door.  Winds came up and I was sure we were goners.  The girls were 10 and 13 and I told them to hang on to me and not let go if the roof came off.  Fortunately, the tornado skipped over us, every thing back to calm as fast as it went wild.  All the poor dealers in the field had their goods flown about and flooded.  It really was a miracle that no one was hurt.

This weekend, the weather is amazingly beautiful and the market had so much good stuff to buy.  I took this picture where a dealer had all these wonderful ladders propped up by the cornfield. 

This is my unpacked booty, and when I will find time to clean, sort, paint and beautify everything, I do not know.  I think it is about 5 miles of walking through the market and it was hard work to do it!  So, here I sit with one million projects and ignoring them all to write this.

I did get some photos done today and have so much listing to do.  Sales still very uneven--I go from thinking I will sell everything to worrying that I am selling nothing--a crazy business.

and last but not least, a picture of my black-eyed Susan filled garden