Valentines and A Trip to the Antique Store

Hello, friends. I hope you are having a good day. It is cold, windy, and snowy here today. Nothing is supposed to stick, thank goodness. I thought I would show you a couple of the things I use to decorate for Valentine's Day. I really don't have much and have made most of these things in the last year. I would like to add a few more things also. My header picture shows the display on our kitchen table. I made the hearts last year and added the little pillow this year using a pattern by Primitive Stitches. I made the stocking a couple of years ago using a pattern from Tennessee Ridge Primitives. I have put it in other places, but this year it greets our back door guests. I finally got around to changing the shelf in the kitchen. I has pretty much been bare since I took Christmas stuff down. I have a little pinkeep I made last year using a pattern by Jenny Hoffman.

I think these little cupboard hanger/pinkeeps are my new addiction. I enjoy making them and just love how they turn out. It is good busy work while waiting on kids.

Yesterday I decided to go to a local antique store. I was really on the lookout for a 20 gallon crock. I have one in our kitchen that is turned upside down for a table, but I would like one to use as a clothes hamper. Ours is about shot and I just can 't bring myself to pay what they want for them. Most of them are not very prim looking or large enough for a family of 5. Anyway....I did see a 15 gallon one that was way out of my range. It can have cracks for what I am needing it for. I guess I will have to keep looking. There were several things that caught my eye. Actually, I think I could have spent over $500 in the first booth alone. I just kept walking. My first treasures were these little tin cookie cutters. They were in two different booths and kind of hidden away. It's strange that I even found them. Must have been my prim ESP calling me to them!! Won't they be perfect for Easter decorating??!

I did see a really cute tin pitcher that I was thinking about. I could just see it displaying fresh flowers. I had to change my mind though when I came across my next treasure. (Maybe next time!!) I have been admiring all of your pics that show one of these and have wanted one for a long time. It's a good thing no one was close to me when I saw it cuz I probably would have knocked them over trying to get it. It was only $22. I thought that was pretty good. So now all I have to do is find a spot for it.

I have finished a couple of bunnies,dolls, and an Easter garland that I will be listing on my selling blog. Stop by to check them out. Here is a peek at Mrs. Hops. I have her in two different dresses.

Have a good evening and thanks for stopping by.

Take care.

~Melissa~

Help a Sick Kitty & Rag Stuffing Help

Hi. I just came across this story. This is Misty whose owner needs help in paying for a major surgery. I know many of you are cat people like me, so I wanted to make you aware of the situation. I have some money in my paypal account so I helped a little. If you can do the same, I'm sure it will be very much appreciated!! In case the above link doesn't work, here it is again.

http://www.love-and-hisses.com/

I have been working on a few things here and there. Nothing too big and exciting. It seems this time of year is so blah and it is hard to get motivated. I am counting down the days til spring and am enjoying the fact that each day is lasting just a weeee bit longer than the day before.

I have some coffee dyeing to do and I would like to go through some fabric that I know I will never use. I thought about selling some of the bigger pieces. What do those of you who do rag stuffing use? Can you use fabric strips? Any other tips would be great. Thanks.

Have a great day. Take care.

~Melissa~

~~~Mr. Snow & Giveaway Winner~~~

Mr. Snow has made an appearance over at my selling blog. Stop by and visit. Also.........the winner of my one year blogversary giveaway is..................................

Kath from The Olde Weeping Cedar

Thanks to everyone who entered. I wish I could give you all something. Have a great weekend. Kath, just get back to me with your address and I will get your goodies out to you.

~Melissa~

New Pinkeeps on Selling Blog

Good almost afternoon, everyone. Hope you are having good day so far. I am trying to keep busy as DH is on a plane headed back to the states from his mission trip. It will be good to hear his voice after a week and better yet for him to be safe at home. He is to be in Chicago tonight at 6:00 and then has the 3+ hour drive home. So anyway...back to staying busy. I just finished a couple of pinkeeps and have listed them on my selling blog. Please stop by and check them out if you get time. The link is on the left of this page. Now, back to work.

**Remember my giveaway drawing will be this Friday. If you haven't entered, please post a comment on the birthday post. Thanks** Good luck.

Take care.
~Melissa~

Selling Blog Update and a Hint

Good morning. It is bright and sunny here today and for a moment you might think it's warm out, but no, not yet!! I wanted to let you know that I have added a new prim doll to my selling blog today. She is a Jackie Schmidt design. Maybe with the holidays over, I can get to making some more things!!

If you haven't yet signed up for my one year giveaway drawing on my last post, make sure to stop by and do so. You need to leave a comment on that post only. Here is the hint....you may see this doll in your mailbox if you win!!

I survived my DD's sleepover. There are just a couple of girls left to be picked up and things will return to normal. I will have to say, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it went. They played Wii Just Dance forever and just loved it.

Lastly, I wanted to share this picture with you. You cat lovers out there will get a hoot out of it. This is the path they made from the tree to the house the other day after the snowstorm. I pity the poor kitties who were the first to set out!!

Have a great Sunday and I hope you get to do something fun!!

Take Care,

~Melissa~

Busy....Snow on the Way

Good morning...almost afternoon here from snowy NW Ohio. We are under a winter weather advisory with 3-5 inches of snow until tomorrow. Oh, boy!!!! Not much for you hardy northern types, but enough for us!! The groceries are bought and maybe activities and school will be cancelled so we don't have to go out.

Today is my blogversay. It was one year ago that I started and it has been a wonderful journey. I have learned so much, been so inspired, and found some really awesome friends. I can't believe I have so many followers. Thanks to all of you who drop by either with or without leaving comments. I appreciate it so much. I am going to have a giveaway to honor the occasion. It is such a surprise, I don't even know what it is going to be yet!! You need to be a follower and leave a comment on this post and you will be entered. Please don't post this...I want to reward you loyal followers. Notice I didn't list it in my title. I will have a drawing on the evening of Jan 15. Good luck!!

The last few days have been busy with just stuff. Putting away Christmas and cleaning. Why is there always cleaning??? With the kids back in school, so starts the homework and the running around. They started in the new school Monday. They had mixed feelings about leaving the old school, but this is so nice. DH left Tuesday on a mission trip to Nicaragua with 3 others from our church. I guess things are going well. He can't call from there, but the minister has a laptop he can email from. He will be getting back next Tuesday. Please keep add them to your prayer list for a safe rest of the trip and travel back. Does anyone else seem like their prayer lists keep getting bigger??? I wonder if it is because I'm getting older and that is more important to me or if there is really so much more bad stuff. I keep so many of you all in my prayers as well when you have a need. Please don't be afraid to ask....there are many of us willing to help in anyway we can. Okay...enough of my preaching!!

Tuesday was also our DD Emily's birthday. She turned 14. Wow!! I made her a strawberry cake. Obviously I am not a cake decorator so don't look too closely. She got a couple of new Wii games and a gift card to American Eagle. It's hard to buy so close after Christmas. This way, she can buy some new fun spring things. If that season ever decides to show up! She is having a slumber party with 7 girls Saturday night. She caught me at a weak moment. My DH owes me big time....notice we scheduled it while he is away. What a good wife I am!!!!

Wow, that is not a very good pic of me!! The Santa picture behind Emily was another half off Christmas item I picked up. I think just about everything I bought had an old fashioned Santa on them. I guess that is my new addiction!!! By next year, I will have forgotten about them and be really surprised when I open my Santa box. Can't wait!!!

JoJo was hiding under the footstool watching Emily open her gifts. Maybe she was waiting on one for herself!!

I don't know if it my computer or Blogger, but I am having a terrible time uploading these pics. Ugh....computers are great when they work. I guess I'll go for now. I have a little cleaning to finish, and then I am spending this snowy afternoon crafting.

Take care.

~Melissa~