Goodies are coming!

I have a few Christmas goodies that just

arrived in the mail

sooo cute!

I thought today however  I would share

some of our fun

decorations from the last few years.

I tried to make them kid friendly 

so that if my son decided to handle them there would be no big loss!

The Putz Village was out of reach on purpose!

This was taken with my point and shoot

sorry it isn't as nice as usual.

I have been collecting Putz houses since I was in college

so 13 something years...

Ughh. Doesn't seem like that long.

Anyway!

I have all kinds and I don't discriminate!

My home is almost 100 years old,

so yes there are cracks in the wall here and there

I call it character...

This year the village will be moving to the dining room I think

I promise to take much better photos!

Again, horrible point and shoot

that won't rotate

but

for my sons first Christmas we used all soft knitted

ornaments

It was so cute!

Last year he was so focused on decorating this tinsel tree

I decided to let him have it as his own this year in his room

We are going to decorate it this weekend...

We used this skinny tree for lack of space and time

last year

All the ornaments are plastic

This is probably the best it looked

because little Keeper loved taking the ornaments off when we

weren't looking and then putting them all back on the bottom

It was pretty funny for a while

A year later i am still finding the tops of those ornaments all over

because every time he took one off the hook piece would pull the eye off!

By Christmas there were only a few that could be hung because they

still had the eye!

No remorse though because they were not my "special" pieces

I would highly recommend if you have toddlers

as children or grandchildren to keep your precious ornaments

out of reach.

They know no what they do!

If you have that perfect kid who does absolutely everything you say

then good for you!

You are like 1% of the population if you are telling the TRUTH!

This was Gingerbread Saturday Night!

We had so much fun

I let go of my need for perfection and we lathered on

(and ate)

 so much tacky sprinkles,candy,and icing it got to be

quite Hee-larious!

You can't even see my nice piping work on the front

because my son wanted those trees right there!

I gave up and my sister and I had great laughs during the whole thing!

I highly recommend an activity like this with little ones

because they really can't mess up

and they really feel like they are doing something big!

This was from a kit but they are so easy to make with simple graham crackers

and icing,candy you can buy on your own.

No baking involved!

The end of that night will be forever known as the

Great Village meltdown...

pictures of my son throwing an absolute tantrum when it was all over because

he wanted to demolish it or something

will be reserved for blackmail in his later years!

Priceless,

 I caught him with my camera just as he decided to throw his hands down

face bright red and demand he get his way!

 Hope you are getting into the holiday spirit....

Can't wait to share pics of my Vintage Christmas finds

and our new village scene next week!

Happy Wednesday!

Know how I know Christmas is coming?

The last two days I have been

finishing up my projects for the Christmas swap

I am participating in...

TOP SECRET

for now until everyone receives their packages!

Spending lots of time with

glitter and glue at the table.

Yesterday I took a break to run some errands

and decided to make a stop at Trader Joes because

it is that time of year boys and girls...

when that special treat comes out

and

once they are gone they are gone...

(Unless you can find a box on E-Bay)

and yes there are people who stockpile and sell them on E-bay!

If you don't know what I'm talking about

then lay your eyes on the box that can lead to an

all out frenzy if it is the last one on the shelf....

I had to open this box while my husband and son were down for a nap!

Mainly so I could get my share to hide....

My husband has been guilty in the past of eating a few more than his share

and I have to admit I was actually upset

when I went to get one and they were all gone!

Especially since they were sold out for the season!

What

is so special

about these cookies you say? 

They are not just some

O-R-E-O

  wannabe...

The Candy Cane version has tiny candy cane pieces in the creamy center

and they use real peppermint oil

not flavoring - there is a difference...

Great with Coffee, a Latte, or a nice mug of milk...

are you drooling yet?

Well it gets better

they came out with a chocolate coated version as well..

Oh, they are to die for!

That box is hidden to go into a Christmas stocking...

Last year my hubby found the one I had stashed for myself and almost got divorced over it!

(kidding of course)

SO

You know how I know Christmas is coming?...

The appearance of the Candy Cane Joe-Joe of course!

Now

 let me go find my mini vac so I can get the crumbs off my laptop!

Happy Thanksgiving

Just wanted to wish everyone

a

Happy Thanksgiving..

Thought a good chuckle would be great

especially since we talk about this type of food all the time

and which version is better...

via...

Natalie Dee.com

Now eat, drink, and go take a nap...

and

If you are going out for early black Friday...

just remember to be nice

and that people who are working probably missed time with their family in order to work

in the store you are visiting...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Precious Metal Clay

This weekend I took a class

from my new friend

Bronwyn Evans

at her studio

"BE"

She has been making jewelry with Precious metal clay

for about 10-12 years now.

I had never heard of it until I met her

and couldn't wrap my head around what it was until I took this class.

You can visit

The Precious Metal Clay Guild website

to learn more about it

but the interesting thing to me

was that it is made from silver by-product that

Mitsubishi Corporation

wanted to put to use....

and they hired someone to develop this!

We spent a great 1/2 a day working on our pieces...

I didn't take photos but Bronwyn has an amazing home

on a riverfront near here

and an amazing  inspiring view from the studio!

Here are the pieces that

I made as a Metal Clay Virgin...

 

I did not take photos of the process so I could concentrate

plus my hands were not camera safe!

But basically you shape, press, mold your pieces

and then let them dry

we used a dehydrator to speed up the process...

Then

clean up the edges with a file

and place them in the kiln to fire them

They are white when they go in

and once they come out and cool

you can scrub them with a brass brush

and / or even put them in a tumbler

and like magic

they are silver!

The piece above was polished only...

( I put that awful string on just to show where the charm hole was)

This set was aged with sulphur and then polished again

with a fine rubbing powder...

I wanted to be able to see the design better

and the sulphur makes the design stand out...

This pair was aged the same way

The pattern was achieved with what looks like a tiny rolling pin.

You have to have a kiln to fire these so

not something you can at home unless you have one or know someone

who does. 

If you can find anyone who is near you

who teaches a class in this I would definitely recommend it!



I had a great time

and would definitely do it again!

Please remember about the journals for my

Stocking Stuffer gifting...

I could really use some help

I plan to work on them during Thanksgiving...

If you didn't hear about it check here...

http://thefinderskeeper.blogspot.com/2011/11/journal-donations.html

Thanks so much and Happy Tuesday!

Journal Donations........

For the last 3 years

I have donated stocking stuffer bags to a local charity.

The idea came to me a few years ago when

my mother in-law told me about the "shoebox" gifts her church gives at

Christmas.

I sent her a few things to contribute to the family

she was taking care of.

For these children in rural WVA this box contained probably the

only new socks, shoes, and clothes they may get for the year.

They also of course would include some candy, books, and a few toys.

This reality still exists in OUR country!

The year I was pregnant with my son

I had a lot of time to think about things when I was at home...

he was born in December.

So the holiday surrounding this time was very

different for us living on one income.

However,

I started thinking that even though it was different for us

and even though we were financially in a different place,

we still were in a better place than a lot of people.

There are 3 churches within walking distance of my home,

they feed and give shelter to the homeless in wintertime...

Let me tell you that the homeless are not always

drug addicts, mentally disturbed, or men unable to hold down jobs...

They

are

children.

They

 are

families,

who at this time

have lost their jobs

and homes

due to our failing economy...

To see young children,

teenagers,

having to sleep on a church hall floor

is just heartbreaking,

especially at the holidays.

I thought the one way I could contribute

in a small way was to make

"stocking stuffer" bags.

The first year I asked the doctor I worked with

to donate toothpaste and toothbrushes for 40 children.

I added candy and some small toys, goodies to the bags.

I donated them anonymously .

I did not want it to be for self gratification.

In the last two years I have managed to add

20 women and 10 men to the mix.

I have tried to gear the bags towards small things to make them smile

and have a treat.

I have had a few friends who have donated money or items to help out

and two other doctors who have donated the dental products

so that we could expand our numbers.

We are operating on a pretty small budget.

Last year was the first year I personally delivered the items

with my husband...

Christmas Eve I found myself looking through

the window of the church seeing

young teenage boys and men making pads to sleep on the floor.

When we got back in the car I was so

thankful for what we do have.

This year I

wanted to ask for some help from my readers

not necessarily with money or items

(although we would gladly accept them)

but instead

inspired by

the "Little birdie told me quotes"

I receive from

Brave Girls Club

I decided to try and add

a small journal with pen and or crayons.

Each to include an inspirational message.

I have felt personally like my journal and blogging this year

has helped me grow tremendously.

I am hoping that by including the journal

that children could be able to color and draw in their OWN

little book.

Adults can take time to write down thoughts

in order to have a release from the pressures they are facing..

As my fellow journalers know...

sometimes simply writing the thoughts you have in your head down

makes you feel so much better and  like you are able to move

ahead now that those things are not dancing around in your brain anymore...

So

my call is to all my crafty friends out there,

If you could take one of your creative moments and create

a journal -

it doesn't have to be huge,

under 20 pages

use paper you already have

and make a cover .

Put to use the scrap we all have lying around

and help me on this journey.

If you want to make  1 or 10

it would be greatly appreciated!

I would love to share the photos of the works that come in

and plan on documenting the whole process this year...

Even if you can only send one or you want to help in another way

get in touch with me and we can talk.

Link me to your friends,

Pass this around...

Here is throwing out a cosmic wish to the wind

to see what we can do!

Thank You so much for being here.....

Back at it!......

I have taken a small break from

my thrifting habit to focus on my artwork....

but after 3 weeks I had to go out!

I was having withdrawel!

I got these great items at a twice a year Flea Market

in a nearby city...

I got this great big piece of Toile
from a lady clearing out her project stash
.25 cents!
I jumped on that, missed a nice piece of barkcloth by a few seconds!
The Homer Laughlin plate was $1.00!
This was the pattern my great grandmother had so I try and pick up cheap pieces
to add to the set.
I love the soft colors of it and how light and airy the flowers seem.

These tiny shakers were also $1.00
I think I will try using one or two in a soldering project
and maybe some of them for fabulous glitter shakers?

For some reason I have been wanting a compact lately...
Drooling over lots of great vintage ones on Etsy
and then at the same booth where I found the fabric and the shakers
I found this lovely little Avon compact
$2.00
it is in great shape for plastic of its' age.
The little butterfly is a vintage hairclip and I couldn't resist the bluebird
I am always attracted to the color in these little painted pieces.
I paid $1.00 for both!

Got to get the Sparkly on!
The bow is also a hairclip
and the necklace has a nice patina on the metal now
I really like that it is not perfectly shiny.
$4.00 for all.

The blue rhinestone piece has a clasp so it can hang from a necklace
or it has a hole where I think a jumpring could be attached or maybe a pin?
I thought the horseshoe piece was so vintage but something you'd see on
Carrie from Sex and the City!
It is a brooch or necklace.
$2.00 for both!
I had some great jewelry scores this day...
I have not always been a jewelry collector but when pieces
capture my attention and they are as great a deal as these I pounce!

Head on over to
Her Library Adventures
and
2nd Time around Tuesday
to see the other treasures from this weekend.
Happy Sunday!

Veterans Day Thankfulness.....

I can't believe it is Friday already!

Where did this week go?

I've had a lot on my mind lately...

Family

Money

Hardship

Holidays

Giving

Inner Reflection

Reminiscing

and

being Thankful....

I have shared in the past the struggles my family

has faced in the last few years..

a few weeks ago

I stumbled across a book at my grandmothers

full of accounts of people

who lived through

The Great Depression...

I asked her if I could borrow it...

This book has reminded me where I came from and how lucky I am.

Some of the stories I am reading are stories

like my grandparents and great grandparents have told me.

Let me tell you though,

I have learned a lot that has shocked me too .

It is all too much to get into in one post...

but the best part of the

book is the hope and actually the fond thoughts the writers

have of those hard times...

"We did not have money,

but we didn't know we were poor"...

I'll be sharing some of the stories and some of

my own family....

Today for Veterans Day

I thought I'd share two vintage family photos

The young man on the right

is Alton Earl Gray

my grandfather on my dads side of the family...

Doesn't he look like a young Paul Newman?

I absolutely love this photo.

I know he was in the Army and fought in The Rhine River Valley..

Sadly I don't know a lot more...

He liked to talk....but we never talked about The War

We are doing some research though...to be continued...

This is a photo of my Great Aunt and Uncle

Mannon and Nathaniel Cameron

I love this one too because it was taken on the front steps

of my Great Grandmothers house...

I was told this was taken on the day they got married...

might be true..?

Obviously he was in the Navy,

Doesn't she look amazing?

I thought I'd share these because I realised there is a whole generation

of our family where every male served in some branch of the

armed forces...

We were lucky to only have one not come back....

another story for another day.

Hope I have inspired some of you to do some reflecting

and to all my current family tree branches who

are serving our country...

Thank You.

How beautifully leaves grow old.

How full of light and color are their last days. 

~John Burroughs

Wishing you a happy Autumn and a wonderful Monday!

Words of Advice....

Last month my grandfather

turned 80.

We had a small party

for him at home.

My grandfather has never been a man of many words

and as he has gotten older sometimes I find myself

struggling to try and find what to talk about with him.

He does enjoy when we come to visit,

watching the kids run around,

and a good meal.

So on this birthday...

after he blows out his candles on his cake,

my mother asks him-

"Dad, do you have any words of advice or wisdom for us now that

you are 80?"

He stared for a long time, and said "No."

My mom couldn't believe that so she said

"Really? Nothing? Oh, come on..."

He stared again for a few minutes and then said

"Life

is

 hard...."

I didn't expect this man of few words to have come up with

some long speech.

So I thought it was kind of fitting, kind of funny.

What else could you expect from someone

who enlisted in the Navy during WWII

when he was actually underage (probably under 16) ?

Who lived through that war and saw God knows what as a young boy/man?

Who lived through the Depression in the rural south and

whose parents were Scotch Irish and Cherokee Indian.

(Unfortunately ,socially, two things people did not want to admit to at that time)

Who married at an age when most of us were finishing

or

 still in high school

and

 had a child to support?

Who could have handled that kind of pressure before the ago of 21?

Even though all these were common practice and totally "normal" for that time period.

Who struggled with alcohol but finally beat it....

He lost his middle child unexpectedly several years ago

and is the only surviving child in his own family now.

I imagine life has been hard....

but

I do know there were ,

and are

 good times in there too.

There is a good part to this story ...

As we were leaving that day...

My 3 year old walked out onto the back porch...

( let me explain my grandmother has a bit of a thing for thrift shopping too...

like that is a surprise!)

But

she has a good portion of her back porch stacked with some of her "treasures"

which is always a bone of contention between

my grandfather and her....

So

as I was saying...

My 3 year old walks out onto the back porch and looks around

motions a sweeping gesture with his arm covering the "pile"

and says

"Gees' whata' MESS!"

"All Junk!"

I could not help myself ,

I burst out laughing!

My grandparents were behind me and my grandmother didn't hear what he had said...

but

my grandfather sure did!

I whipped my head around to look at him

and out of that quiet, tiny man

came the biggest grin and laugh I have ever heard from him...

He then said

"See, even a 3 year old agrees with me! Who needs to be 80 to have wisdom?"

We all burst out laughing and then of course had to

explain what went on to grandma...

Who in the end had a good chuckle herself too!

I'm not sure if this story had the point some of you were expecting

but

I just had to share it..

Life does not always hand us what we wish for....

but there are some true good times and some true hard times..

Many people look back on those Hard times and realise those are what

make us who we are

what really taught us lessons

and made us for the better.

I think Life is how you decide to view it and your attitude that keeps you going.

Life is a big Mixed bag if you ask me.....

Images of Fall...

Can you guess?

Halloween Love......

Halloween was always fun as a kid...in the neighborhoods I lived in, I only remember one or two that really did up their whole yard. One of them I would never go near because the guy who lived there always dressed up jumped out at you. People hanging from trees,etc. Too much for "little" kids in my opinion.....
The neighborhood I live in now is absolutely amazing when it comes to Halloween. Some of the yards are like stage productions!


( 1st Halloween)

(2nd Halloween)

After my first year here I really got into it too.

Then when I got married my husband became totally obsessed with our display!

The markdowns the day after Halloween are like his own type of

Black Friday!

The last few years we have had to back down a bit

with Baby Keeper around!

The first year was just too much.

Then work and weather got in the way the last two.

Baby Keeper really was not totally aware of what it was all about either...

Until....

(4th Halloween)

This year!

They have talked about it at school and he was ready!

He even asked to be a Pirate this year!

I was totally giddy of course with my Pirate love and all...

but there went the whole Star Wars theme I had collected all year....

We decorated in a kid friendly manner this year.

Still not to the extent that we normally do.

To our surprise he was not afraid of much last night .

Went and tugged on the Wolfman, talked it up with a Zombie and a totally decked out Witch!

They were stage worthy costumes too,

not something off a rack!

My point being...

Mr.Keeper was totally into it too and I saw

that spark back in his eye!

Even though we were all so worn out we went to bed by 9!

Today he was up and out in search of a few markdowns for next year...

I know he is hoping this will become a tradition our son will love too.

I'm thinking he will...

He crawled into bed with me at 6:30 a.m.

snuggled up and asked.....

"Hey mom, can we do Tricks or Treats again tomorrow?"

Hope you had a Happy Halloween!