So Much to Do!

 I really should not be taking time to do this, but I really want to save the photos of the Christmas goods I have been making.  I still do not have my trees up, it is the rush rush rush time of year.  Fortunately, much of that is shipping and more shipping, but my project list has grown to monumental proportions and hoping to make a crack in that today and get some actual painting done.  Sun is out at last, but it is sooooo cold and windy, so no photographing today.  Here is what I have been doing....

Farewell, Clarinda, I am Outta There!

 In a miracle of miracles, we have sold the Clarinda house.  We put sooooo much work in to that place, but there was sooooo much work that would need to continue to be done if we kept it.  I have spent the last month dealing with the consequences of my bad choices--just leaving everything there to deal with "someday".  Someday came and oh, dear!  I gave away a mountain of things that I had stored from the craft shows, I threw away even more, then there was all the furniture to move.  Big house, big furniture, old people....not a good combo.  My amazing brother and his wife came for 2 weekends and helped move the furniture to our unfinished shop building.  My little sister took away all the kitchenwares and the couch.  A wonderful woman named Lori works finding things for people in need and her organization took all the beds and linens and odds and ends.  There was also 3 trips to the thrift store to give things to them.  I am exhausted to say the least.

Here is miracle 1, the empty craft room.  It used to be my very messy craft room, then became storage after we moved.  It really is a pretty room emptied of its junk.

And here is my last look at the house, I truly never thought I would get everything out of there, but we did, and had an entire 15 minutes left before we had to hand over the keys.

Now the place I actually live is piled with boxes to unpack, furniture to find a place for.  I want a clean house so badly, but have to accept that I will be lucky to get there by Thanksgiving.

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.