Hope

It is hard to believe that my last post was for Thanksgiving. The time has flown by and then came the tragedy at Newtown that leaves me speechless. Yesterday I walked outside and saw this amazing complete rainbow and knew I needed to share it. A reminder that God is here and offers us

His love and hope.

Happy Thanksgiving

Bakersfield, California

Twice a year I head to Bakersfield to visit my Mom and Grandmother. This year had the added bonus of getting to spend time with my daughter Martha. She finished her year with Caravan Ministry in Mexico and is now in Bakersfield for a year of internship with a church that is going to help support her in the mission field. So my week was full of wonderful visiting plus Mom and I love to antique when we are together and Bakersfield has some fun shops.

 I also had the urge to try my hand at photography and get a few shots of special places in Bakersfield. The arched Bakersfield sign is kind of nostalgic because even though it has been moved to be near the Buck Owens Crystal Palace it was originally part of the hotel where John and I had our wedding reception (looong ago).

I am so glad that efforts are made to keep and renovate some of the older buildings and landmarks.

Now here is an important landmark--Woolworth's Drug Store turned into two floors of fun Antiques. It is like walking through a museum.

I can't believe how perfect this turned out.

  I absolutely love that they kept the lunch counter. Mom remembers eating here when it was a drug store. Fun to come and get a good hamburger:)

Mom and Matha in front of Mill Creek Antiques.

 Okay, now this was fun. I met Chris Parker, a kindred Etsian at the Mill Creek Antique Mall where she has a booth. We had a great visit talking Etsy while I admired her tarnished silver pieces. While not everyone sees tarnish on silver as a good thing, we both share a love for all that beautiful patina:)

You can see some of her goodies at her new Etsy shop Horseshoes and Chandeliers.

I couldn't resist these sugar and creamer sets. Don't ask me what I'm going to do with them,
they were just too cute.

The first few years that John was in the Air Force we received many packages of Dewars candysent to us from the First Baptist Church of Bakersfield. Yum!!!

 We decided ice cream would make the best lunch.

Martha loves to pose for a picture as well as her mother and grandmother:)

Thanks for being a part of my trip to Bakersfield -Talk again soon.

Felting up a little Christmas

It is time to get into gear for Christmas:)  I sold two Nativities at my one little craft fair in Stratham and one on Etsy. I have two left and I probably should make another. It is fun to pick out the color combinations.

These trees are fun and easy to do. I love seeing how the swirls will turn out.
I have been wanting to do these for over a year but I didn't like my first ones because I felted
the trunks and they just seemed flimsy. So the solution is using a clay base which I get to then have fun
painting, glittering and varnishing:)

When Liz was here we gathered up some ex large acorn caps. She has asked me to
make some glittery white felt ones for her tree. These are my first attempts using gold
glitter and clear German glass glitter.  However Liz wants silver glitter so I have on order
silver German glass glitter. I can't wait to use it.  They say that over time
the silver glass will tarnish giving it a vintage look.

Hurricane Sandy in Rye and a Special Visit.

Our daughter (#3) and her husband Steve came for a visit and ended up stranded here for an extra 

two days because of Hurricane Sandy. We were so fortunate to not have any damage or loose our

electricity. We had a wonderful cozy time together.  Really praying for those who are still suffering

in New York and New Jersey.

A few hours before Sandy

Liz and I taking pictures.

We went acorn and pine cone hunting the
day after the storm

It was still a little drizzly.

Success!

Just enthralled with the beauty,

the subtle colors,

and textures!

Last night together until Thanksgiving.

Tomorrow is my one little craft fair for this year. I really liked doing this fair at a local library last year.

It maybe because it was my first fair ever or I just enjoyed the people who came to support their library. Anyway I am looking forward to it even though Kate will be at school and John's working so this time

I am on my own:(

Sold:)

So in June I took some of my birds and owls to a beautiful handcraft gift store on Market St. in downtown Portsmouth.  I was beginning to think that I needed to bring them home because I hadn't heard anything and I was being a coward about checking on them:(  A wonderful and encouraging surprise (a check) was in the mailbox on Saturday. I sold two owls and one bird in July and August. It makes me happy because now I feel like making more.

I love the glass buttons that I used for this owl's eyes. I have looked all over
looking for anything close to these and haven't found any. I have one more set that
I will keep for myself.

I overdyed the herringbone in red food coloring.