Up Late

I was up late last night, designing a few new pieces. There is nothing like having the kids in bed to get the creative juices flowing.

This necklace is the only one I have taken a photo of so far. It's made from various components, like a Sarah Coventry necklace, garnets, fresh water pearls and the focal point is from an antique necklace that had fallen apart. I like it, it's whimsical.

Productive Day with New Camera

I Love my new camera! I have spent most of today taking photos of vinti goodness and jewelry. I've been working on getting a more cohesive look for the shop and trying to spend more time promoting my shop. Neither one seems to come easily to me. Hopefully today's pics will help... What do you think in comparison to the last batch I listed?

Where is Flower?

Newly listed on etsy

Cutie hair pins made from vintage rhinestone buttons















delicate sparrows













sparkle faceted rock crystal

Visit my shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/dulciesdaughters
I'll admit, photographing for etsy is very different than taking shots for ebay. Hopefully I'll get a handle on this soon.

Favorite Things...

My linen drawers in the buffet. Every piece holds a memory, some were made by Dearie, my great-grandmother, others were gifts and all make me smile.

Camera!!

Last year, while at the zoo with my kids, some dirty bastard stole my camera!? My source of income, imagination and memories. I hope seeing the pics of my smiling sweet little faces gives them nightmares for eternity. But I'm not the bitter type of anything like that...

Yesterday my husband gave me a new camera! WooHoo!! I can really get working on etsy since the phone camera just doesn't make the cut.
check out my shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/dulciesdaughters

And remember, take the chance on your best friend. I did and I have a lifetime of thoughtfulness and love. Okay, all sapiness aside, my husband rocks!

Winter Solstice

Did you light your path and put out goodies for the wee creatures?

At our house, we light our front path, have window candles and we make sure the birds, deer (yes, even here in town), squirrels and even the raccoons have all have tasty dishes to eat.

We have fresh suet with seeds and berries and we fill our bird feeders, put out nuts, orange slices and thin slices of a special sunflower bread that my friend Gina makes every winter. And since it is so cold, we have our bird bath plugged in. If you ever come across a small bird bath that fits on a deck rail and plugs in to keep it from freezing; buy it! You won't regret spending the $20.00, the birds and smaller animals make use of it every day.

Happy winter solstice everyone!

Comments you Never Imaging Saying to Your Kids

"Don't put your tongue on that pooollle!!!!"

My Elly is one smart kid. She can read a Junie B. Jones 1st Grader in record time. She can subtract multiple didget numbers asnd she has always followed common sense. Until last night, that is.

After a family Christmas party at Uncle Brians church; we were helping the more elderly members of our family get their cars and get safely into them. From across teh parking lot, I noticed my kids playing in an island garden. "Good", I think, "Safe from cars and not complaining". All is good.

Until I see my 7 year old walk up to the flag pole. Face forward. Tongue out. OMG!
She jumped a mile and fell into the snow in a fit of giggles when she heard me yell out. That is one Christmas story I really don't want in my own family.

The Gift that Gives Comfort to Many

I'm calling all of you crafty mama's and caring people out there to make pillowcases for Conkerrcancer. Their goal is to give a bright cheery pillowcase to every seriously ill child in North America by 2012.

Ian received several of these pillow cases while in hospital, even though he has Von Willebrand's (a blood clotting disorder) and not cancer. And since he was admitted during the height of the H1N1 epidemic, Elly was not permitted to come visit him. So the kind volunteers gave her a pillowcase to match one her brother had been given. This made my kids feel closer together and miss each other a little less while apart.

Please, even if you aren't into sewing, the ConkerrCancer web page has super simple directions - Just check out the link below

Thanks!
http://www.conkerrcancer.org/pillowdirections.html

Requesting Prayers for a young boy

Jarell is one of the little boys that we met while Ian was in hospital, he had AML, which is a form of Leukemia (the blood clot patients and the cancer patients share doctors and floor in hospital) . He finished his treatment and was able to go home at the end of October while Ian was still admitted.
Sadly I've heard that Jarell is not doing well. There are signs his platelets are dropping which could mean he relapsed. If he relapsed it is very difficult to get him back in remission. Would everybody say an extra prayer for Jarell and his family.

Mmmm - Cookies

The cut-outs are baked and decorated. The kids are coming down from the sugar high, the kitchen is tidy and I'm as happy as a fat cat.

I love this Christmas!

Time Fly's When Your Having Fun

We had such a great summer and early fall. Elly started 1st grade and new friends moved to the street. The house looks so cute; well except for Toby's project, the dining room ceiling. But I knew what I was getting into when I married a finish carpenter and we purchased an old home with textured ceilings.

Then late fall Ian had a relapse of low VWD counts, he also caught H1n1. The combination landed Little Man in Children's for a week. Not all was doom and gloom, he made cut outs with the 'cookie lady, had several doggy visits, watched the blimp and our heros-the Medivac Nurse Unit take off and land and he and Elly both received several cute pillow cases. If you could, please make pillow cases and contact conkerrcancer.org, they donate pillowcases all over the country. Actually, amny quilt shops are drop off locations-Thanks!