It's Been a While...

     Phew... You all have been busy! I have been trying to keep up on reading through Feedly and Facebook! I do feel like a cheater reading on Facebook. 

     I haven't written much because, I haven't had much to say! God is good in His protection, love, and blessings! My school has grown from 60 (you know, when you all prayed because of fear of not having a job) to 200 students.

 (I am in this picture...)

     What God can do! I have had the blessing and privilege to see this school over the 14 years I have taught there. I was their first fourth grade teacher. I started with 5 students. This past year, I had 22. It was one of my favorite classes ever. We had such a great time! I guess with all of that talking to them, I ran out of words. I talk so much and write so much as a teacher that it is sometimes refreshing to be silent. But, I missed you all and love you all. I didn't want you to think I had forgotten you all, because I have not. 

     We did not get the pool open this year, so I do not have any bat stories for you. That is just fine with me. I have spend the summer thrifting, purging, and cleaning the house. Oh, and working on my classroom.  Because my room got moved. Again. Ugh. I also did not have a car for a bit. A deer attacked it while I was driving to school on the turnpike. Truly. I did not hit him; he hit me. He crossed the westbound and eastbound lanes to t-bone me in the driver side door. God so showed mercy on me. It could have been a lot worse. 

Charlie and Bailey have been my faithful companions this summer. 

     So have Etsy and Ebay. Yeah. That again. They should have a support group. EEA. I think you can figure out what THAT stands for. Aw, gee. No Benadryl was involved in any part of my purchases. I have changed my style around a bit, so THAT probably is a bit of the impetus for my friendships. I have the whole house pulled apart to revamp my style.  Right now my style is "Get the stuff put away and vacuum, for crying out loud". My craft nook/closet (the closet is in the room, not the other way around) is coming along. Although, right now it is a battle of wills-clothes versus crafts. I will keep you posted on that! So, I guess I have painted a picture in your mind of my house as a war zone. I am not going to try to convince you otherwise. It is. Truly. 

I did do some crafting. I did a couple of garage sales.

 

  This is my dad at the sale. We were bored so we stickered ourselves. My mom thought he wasn't priced low enough. He wasn't selling. Lol. The "open" sticker flew off the tent we were using. Think of it as a gold star on his forehead. 

     I have been trying to sell more with etsy, rather than eBay. I still am not sure which gets more exposure. I do have a sale running now until the beginning of September. The coupon code is "backtoschool14". 

I hope this finds you well! God bless! Lots of love and hugs!

Heather

New on Etsy and EBay!

     I just finished adding some new goodies to my etsy store and ebay store.   My eyes can bearly stay open.  Time for this marm to hit the hay!  It was a long week.  I will have to tell you all about it when I am sure that I am typing coherent sentences on here!  Yikes!

Thank you for stopping by and looking!

Love and hugs!

Heather

New on Etsy!

     My daddy has been a busy beaver! He has created some candle keeps and trains that are listed on my Etsy! I also have a few new vintage finds!

     Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement and just simply taking the time to look at my stuff. It means a lot. 

     I still have Christmas decor pictures trapped on my iPod. I hate using the mobile blogger, but, I may just!

     I hope all of our Midwest friends are staying warm. Your temperatures. Wow. Tuesday we are supposed to have windchills of -20. That's bad for us. I secret hope they cancel school. The thought of having kids at bus stops and just walking around our campus, well, I dread it! We did get some lovely snow (and a snow day yesterday... Yeah. There may have been a seriously embarrassing happy dance that ensued after the call.), but it is frigid!

Warm blessings and hugs, friends!

Heather

Pass the Catch-up, Please...

     I am just terrible. Being a teacher has swallowed up my blogging. Having 22 students (rather than my normal 12) has kept me on my toes, but I love it! I have a dear, sweet group of students and a wonderful aide. God is so good! But alas, my blogging time has suffered. Please forgive me!

CREATE...

     I have been busy crafting. It is, as many of you know, very therapeutic. I have been doing some sewing but mostly painting. 

     This is for my sister-in-law. Shhhhh...

     This little snowman was inspired by a tutorial shown by Wendy of Ravenwood Whimzies. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. 

     My dad and I have been making trains out of scrap wood. This one has wool for steam. It is made from parts of the legs of an old stool! 

     It is not a toy, more like a decoration. I used one in my Christmas decorating this year. 

     

     I went with a "Cabin Christmas" theme this year (in my 80's bilevel home...)

     Then, finally, my big project was a heron for my mother-in-law. I might make another one to sell or an owl in that 3-d style. 

COMING SOON...

     I hope to be posting Christmas decorations pictures soon! I have to back-up my IPod! It is chock-a-block full and slow as molasses!

LOVE...

     I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I know it is a hard time for many as well. My dear 101-year old great aunt passed away on Christmas Day. She was beloved and treasured by my family. Please pray for my cousin. She has lived with and cared for her mother for 78 years. That is a truly special bond between mother and daughter. 

     My thoughts and prayers are with all of you this Christmas and in this New Year!

Love and hugs!

Heather

PS- Check out my Etsy to take advantage of my Noel Sale that ends on December 31st!!!

PSS- Charlie says, "Hey! Check out my Christmas sweater that I don't want to take off!" (Seriously. He has it on right now. ) 

10% Off Sale Ends Tonight at Midnight!

Check out my Etsy shop to see newly added Christmas items! Thank you for stopping by!

Blessings, Hugs, and Love!

Heather

Sale!

Sale on my Etsy store this week! 

Use coupon code GOLDSTARS1. I will be adding more Christmas items through out the week!

Blessings and hugs!!!!

Heather

My fingers hurt... It's all good though...

   

     I am off this week, so my desire is to catch up on blogging. I hope to have some final fall decor pictures to post AFTER Thanksgiving. I have some Christmas items that I got on a road trip with Woolie Granny. She had the "experience" of watching me spend my tutoring earnings that I had saved up at the first place we stopped. In 15 minutes. Well, all but $1.50. But some awesome prims made by the daughter of my parents' pastor. Money well blown. No Benadryl was taken. Yup. 

     Phew! I have been doing some sewing. St. Nick's, pennies, snowmen...  I get up (Dogs wake me up.) at 5:40 am on the dot. Trust me I know. I am daily sending a mental message to my dogs, " IT'S 5:40!!!!"  I have to do it through ESP so as not to wake Steve WHO IS STILL SLEEPING!

     But waking early has its advantages. It allows me to do 2 things to calm my mind and spirit before starting the day: devotions and stitching. Oh, and drink coffee. Mustn't forget that!!! ;)

     I have been able to put some Christmas goodies on my Etsy. I did make this Santa and a smaller version. But Steve wanted me to keep them as "prototypes". That is such an encouragement when your husband likes a prim. I must be getting more successful in turning him to the "prim side". I will try to put some St. Nick's on my Etsy, but that big one did my hands in. 

     My sore hands give me such an appreciation for all of you artisans out there. The time, love, and effort that you put into your work is so evident! I understand why it is called "handiwork". It makes you reflect on how awesome our God is. God, in His omnipotence and supreme intelligence, put such love and detail and creativity into each minutiae of His creations. And we are HIS workmanship! How humbling and what a blessing that is. 

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." --- Ephesians 2:10

Blessings, dear friends! Happy Thanksgiving! I am truly thankful for the blessings of your friendships!

Love and hugs,

Heather

I gotta rock... No, no, wrong. I gotta store!

  
    So, I took the leap.  I have been stewing and praying over how to best "peddle my wares".  Don't worry, I am not a gypsy, and I do not sell shampoo that turns red hair to raven black (AKA- GREEN.).  I am just peddling prims. On Etsy.  If you have the time, please check it out.  I only have four things listed.  I will try to list more this week, particularly Christmas items.  It takes soooooo long for me to list them. I do like the set up a bit better than Ebay.  I will be taking a break from Ebay for a bit.  However, I do have a few items that don't fall under the umbrella of Etsy's qualifications, so who knows... :)  If you have the time, go check out Old Lady Morgan!  She just opened a real, physical shop!  Show her your support!  Also, another lovely lady who opened a shop is Dianntha from Ohio Farm Girl.  Please visit her as well!  Two ladies with two very different styles but both with HEAPS of talent!

     Thank you all for your support in this endeavor.  For talking out selling possibilities and sharing your own experiences.  Thank you for your thoughtfulness and encouragement in crafting in general. I would never have taken the leap to put my stuff out there if it weren't for the kind little pushes you all gave me!  Thank you!

Thank you for sticking with me and for being my friends,

Love and hugs,

Heather

Shopping on Benadryl... Good Times!

I am having so much fun continuing to sit on the couch, taking my Benadryl every few hours, watching "Downton Abbey" re-runs, and checking out blogs.  I have also discovered the world of etsy.  Oh.  My.  So much great prim stuff!  I will continue to add the places I find to my section on my blog, "Favorite Places to Snoop and Shop".

Here are some of my shopping places up-to-date (Um, today on the couch):

The Rusty Thimble - I bought an adorable black wool felted sheep on a little hanger.  I love black sheep.  It's not because I am a rebel or anything, I just love the color in prim decorating.
Some of the other things I loved on this site are the pillow tucks and prim pumpkins (I am not ready for Fall, even though it is my favorite season.  I am falling prey to influence.  Thank you, Christine, for making me feel like I should be eating ice cream and jumping on the Autumn bandwagon).  Great graphics, cute little faces, and very affordable.  This will have to be a purchase for another day.  I think telling my husband that my shopping was "Benadryl induced" probably won't fly. :S


  http://therustythimble.blogspot.com/

The 1890 Gable House Goodes
 I bought a Barn Owl Candle (I love owls.  My last name is "Wise"- get it? That's why I am a "wise-cracker") Listen to this scent (some of my favorite smells!) -"Roasted Coffee Bean & Maple Cream ~A Yummy Country Brew."  Ahhhhh!  I can't wait to shove my nose in that when it arrives!
 
 http://gablehousegoodes.blogspot.com/

So, some things I have been looking at that I might get hooked on are cross-stitch little pillow tucks or old bags with the cross stitch samplers attached to it...  There are a lot out there! My friend, Christine, at Preferably Prim does beautiful ones and has some cute patterns I want to try.  I have the material and thread.  I just don't know what to do with it. I think I have sewed "crookedly" for too long!

I was visiting another blog, The Cranky Crow.  She was talking about the history of spin tops.  I never realized how beautiful they are.  You should definitely read about their history and look at her collection.  I might have to purchase some and put them in a bowl. 

YIKES!!!!  I would like to take this moment to thank you all for feeding my habit.  You may never hear from me again after this because my laptop will be taken away because of overuse...

*SIGH*

Blessings!
Heather

Coffee Talk for the Today- Talk amongst yourselves.  I am on etsy...

Tuesday Travels- Tales from Blogging World!

Well, the Giveaway thing is new to me!  There are so many blogs and artisans out there that I think I am going into overload and need a second job!  I will post as many Giveaways as I can so that you can participate and look at these talented people's blogs!  I look forward to a time when I can do the same thing! 

The Giveaway

    Here is one featured talented lady -Sara at Salmon Falls Prims.  Check out her beautiful items!  Favorites- the "We Gather Together..." signs and items for storing away little needfuls (K-Cups!!!!) from cluttering up your counters!  Check out Sara's Blog, Salmon Falls Prims,  and get signed up for her giveaway before midnight of August the 23rd! Here are some ways to check out her giveaway and beautiful things:

Coffee Maker Cover

• She has an ETSY Shop. Lots of beautiful things there!!!  Salmon Falls Prims's Etsy Shop

•  Here is her blog where you can see all kinds of comforting creations: Salmon Falls Prims's Blog

I will be puttering around and seeing what I can dig up each Tuesday!  I am getting lots of puttering time today thanks to an allergic reaction.  Please excuse any "slurring" in my writing.  I am pretty much in "la-la land" from lots of Benadryl!