Christmas in the South...Florida Style

Well I spent 3 days at the Prime Osbourne Convention Center participating in "Christmas Made in the South." We (Deb & myself...Dodi was running a booth at the O'Connell Center at UF) set up on Thanksgiving morning and I still had time to eat my hubby's wonderful cooking with some of the family (hubby, me, my mom & dad, and my oldest son) in the afternoon. My youngest was on duty serving and protecting Putnam County, FL from crime but his girlfriend stopped by to say hello. My oldest son's girlfriend came for dessert (Southern Pecan Cake...made by yours truly). I neglected to remember to take pictures of our booth until Saturday morning. We had great sales on Friday, so the tables and trees don't look as full as when we started. 

It was a lot of fun meeting new people and seeing past customers who come looking for us. I really missed two ladies who weren't there this year (Sandi...The Olde Country Cupboard  & Cyndy...Crafty Stitchers) so I didn't do much shopping. Guess I will just have to get my fix on their blogs. I was lucky to have Monday off from school but had to return on Tuesday. It is going to be C-R-A-Z-Y until Christmas vacation in just 2 weeks. I have listed some of my goodies on my Etsy site and have already begun thinking about next year!

-Darlene xxoo

Sad News But the Show Must Go On...

Last week was a rough week around our house. As some know we are "Lab Lovers" and have three in our family...Bear, Riley, and Sydney. They are all siblings from two different litters. My oldest son Justin was the best friend and owner of the big brother Bear. The photo above is his smiling face! Well about two months ago he was diagnosed with cancer and was given 6 months to a year. His journey came to an end Friday night and he has moved on to wait for "his boy" to meet him on the Rainbow Bridge. It was devastating to my son and as a mom I hate to see my children in pain. This was him a few weeks ago with "his boy."

He was a great dog and will be missed by "his boy", sisters and all "his human peeps" each and every day.

Well the show must go on....and I need to get back to work for the Thanksgiving "Christmas in the South" event. I only have a couple more weeks to go. These are a couple of items I have finished.

These cuties came from a pattern by Sew Many Prims called "Lil' Prim Pals". They weren't originally made for Christmas but I do believe they turned out adorable.I also have eight of the micro mini Annies started and I will dress them for Christmas. Don't tell anyone but they are naked right now waiting for me to stitch their clothes! Hope to have them done by next weekend...that is if I finish all the wood in the next picture....

It is going to be a painting marathon around here! I saw this idea on Pinterest and adapted it to produce these personalized ornaments. I even plan to make some of them into "Gators, Dawgs, and Noles" ornaments. Here are the finished product...

Well that's all for tonight...better get my paintbrush working...

-Darlene xxoo

Finally...Busy Again!

Things are finally beginning to calm down in my household so....busy again on what I love to do.  Show is just around the corner so I have been working all day on ornaments. I have finished the Santa snowmen and are beginning on some orange and blue (Go Gators!).

I am also working on some cute little bunnies, bears and raggedies that I am turning into ornaments for the show. I'll post when they get done!

Mom Update: Saw her Thursday and she looks so much better! She is up and around and has even started working on her plastic canvas ornaments again. I sell them for her in the show. She got her new hearing aids (digital) and they are working great for her....no more yelling at her. She can even talk on the phone with me again without having to read the closed caption.

Well back to the room...ornaments await...need to work until nine when I can take another break for "The Walking Dead" season to begin!

-Darlene xxoo

September was quite a month...

Thank goodness September has come and gone. Too much drama at my house! In my last post, I had great intentions to get busy again and even posted pics of projects on the table. Well...that didn't happen. The week after Labor Day I came down with sinus trouble and even though I continued to work...I thought I was going to die. On a good day, I deal with kindergarteners who wear me out but WOW try doing it when you are sick. Then if that wasn't enough...my 94 year old father calls me the next weekend and says there is something wrong with my 86 year old mother. I ask if he has called 911 and he tells me he wants me to come there and talk with him first. I live about 15-20 minutes away so needless to say I broke the speed limit and maybe the sound barrier getting there to find her in bed, very confused, crying, and telling me she couldn't hear me. I called 911 and she was admitted that night in the hospital. After many tests, she was diagnosed with an infection and she had suffered a seizure. Four days later she was released and ended up spending the next weekend at my home. I told my dad I needed rest and I needed to keep my eyes on both of them. Good news...she is getting stronger every day but continues to be on the seizure meds. Dealing with my mom and dad is often like dealing with 5 year olds...don't they say as we age we revert back to being children again? I love them dearly and am lucky to still have them after all these years. Well after that crisis passed...my oldest son's dog "Bear" has been diagnosed with cancer and has been given 6 months to a year to live. He is dealing with it better than I am. We have Bear's two sisters living with us and have been told that this type of cancer can run in the family. We are keeping our fingers crossed that it doesn't develop in them.

Here is Bear in his daddy's truck...

Well enough about all the drama...just had to unload and let you know where I have been!



I did have a special order to fill for a great customer named Gloria from New York. She seems to have fallen in love with the Micro Mini Annies and had ordered 6 more. So 6 of those "naked" bodies in my last post photo transformed into....

 

 

I think they turned out so cute and hope she loves them! Now to only tackle the rest of the projects on the old drawing board. Hope to finish some of them soon and I'll post to show my progress. The "Christmas in the South" show is fast approaching and I sure want a full booth. Guess I better get off this computer and get busy....

 

 

-Darlene xxoo



Well it's about time...

I got back to blogging! Sorry for being away for so long....but major changes have come about for me. I was just enjoying my summer one day and the next day SURPRISE I was moved from teaching first grade to kindergarten. Now it's not like I haven't taught kindergarten before...but it has been ten years. I also had to move 34 years worth of stuff to my new classroom along with cleaning up a mess in my new room. I found stuff in there from as far back as the 50's. A lot of my stuff was already packed because we were having summer school, however, I had not packed to move. Then I was told I only had 1 week to move and unpack before preplanning. Well I got all moved in with a little help from some dear friends...still have boxes to unpack...and oh yeah...I can't find anything! I have been in school for 8 days now and I must say...I am too old for this...they are wearing me out! I have been blessed with 17 young kinders to nurture and they are busy little bees. I have been praying for strength and stamina to keep up with them!

As you can see from the photos below, I had lots of things on the drawing board in different stages of completion before my daily life changed. I am so tired when I get home that I haven't even stepped foot into my studio much less pick up a needle or paintbrush. I'm hoping to get back to work this weekend since I have 3 glorious days off. I'll keep you posted on progress...

 

-Darlene xxoo

The winner of the raggedy pair is....

Valerie at Yorkie's Primitives! I want to say thank you to all who joined my "Raggedy June Give-away." I wish I could have drawn all of your names...stay tuned for my July give-away...coming soon!

-Darlene xxoo

My Mom's 86th Birthday!

This past weekend my mom celebrated her 86th birthday with my family at my son's home in Satsuma. I drove down with a carload...mom, dad and the girls (dogs) on Thursday night so my dad could get in a little fishing. He caught a cooler full so he was happy! My mom was thrilled when we sang to her....she actually giggled out loud! I can only hope to live as long and as full a life as they have (94 & 86 years). Of course, it rained...another tropical storm. My son is beginning to think we are a jinx...he says it rains every weekend he is off and when the whole family comes...we bring a tropical storm!

Now I'm back home and ready to begin working (sewing & painting) again. Before I left for the big birthday weekend, I finished the teacher appreciation basket. I think it turnrd out cute so I will make some more for the show in November. I finished sewing some doll and animal bodies and need to get busy stuffing and dressing. Here's the basket...



I'm going to fill with Hershey kisses for a sweet treat...who can resist! Well enough for now...off to work!

-Darlene xxoo

"My Patriotic June Give-Away"

Well I just finished my patriotic Annie & Andy for my June give-away and they sure turned out cuter then I imagined they would! As an avid "Annie" collector...it is going to be really hard to give them up. I adapted them from a pattern created by "Raggedy Smiles" and they are holding ribbons and pins I had purchased to include with this give-away.

Here's how you enter: Be a follower on my blog and leave a comment on this post saying you would like to be entered. If you don't have a blog...please leave an email address so I can contact you if you should win.

If you would like to post this give-away on your blog you can earn an extra entry...so please let me know in your comment so I can give you your extra entry.

This give-away will end on July 4th. Good Luck to all those who enter!

-Darlene xxoo


"Schools Out For Summer"

Well another school year has gone by and I only have 3 1/2 more to go before retirement. This year has flown and...yes...there is an end in sight!

I want to thank Deana over at "Old Goat Primitives" for sending me such a generous prize in her giveaway. My husband said, "You hit the jackpot!" Here's pictures of my new additions...

Thanks again Deana...love all my new treasures!

I have finally gone into my studio (fancy for craft room) and have brought out some new patterns I ordered from "Raggedy Smiles." I see a little patriotic Ann & Andy for my next giveaway. I am also finishing up a small basket for appreciating the teachers in your life using wool, paint, and a little ribbon...also doubles as a "share" at my next wool class. If it gets good reviews from my partners and all of you, there will be more made for "Christmas in the South." Stay tuned for pictures...

I also added a patriotic Annie back into my Etsy shop from a pattern by "Meme's Quilts." Check her out!

-Darlene xxoo

May Give-away Winner!

...And the winner is...Sandi @ The Primitive Skate...
Congrats to Sandi and many thanks to all of you who entered my recent give-away. It warms my heart to think that you girls like my work and I love seeing all the creative things you do! As soon as school is out next week, I will begin working on my June give-away. I'm feeling patriotic and I'm seeing a patriotic doll or two in my future. Stay tuned...

-Darlene xxoo-

Memorial Day Weekend

I'm back! It's been a while since I posted...lots going on. The school year is winding down in first grade ...between state testing, DRA2's, report cards (4th 9 weeks & final grades), and just keeping 37- 6, 7, and 8 year olds entertained...I am worn out! Spent the weekend with family and friends on a well earned little vacay. Started it off with my friend Dodie working on some wool on Saturday morning. We had a challenge to create a book cover to bring to our meeting and we created a nifty bookmark while there. I'm thinking of some variations of the bookmark for the holiday season.  Here is a photo of both...

Saturday afternoon I packed the dogs in the car and off to my son's home on the river for some R&R and fun. Spent the day with both my sons, their girlfriends, and friends playing on the jet skis and getting some sun.

On Sunday, my hubby returned from a rifle competition and joined us for some more fun on the water. The day started out lovely and then.....Beryl arrived!

We rode out the storm Sunday evening and Monday morning watching the trees sway and the rain fall (our view of the river). I packed up the dogs and headed home around lunch time to check out the homestead and discovered that my oldest son's fence blew down in his yard but no damage at our home. Finished report cards, laundry and I'm ready for the end of the school year countdown...7.5 days left.

Don't forget to enter my May give-away...drawing will be May 31st.       Darlene xxoo

May Giveaway!

Here is my May giveaway...a wool scissor case with a pair of stork scissors! It is made out of wool felt with accents made of dyed wool. It is embellished with perle cotton and pearls. I figured it was time to show some of what I have learned in my monthly wool class.

 Here's how you enter: Be a follower on my blog and leave a comment on this post saying you would like to be entered. If you don't have a blog...please leave an email address so I can contact you if you should win.

If you would like to post this give-away on your blog you can earn an extra entry...so please let me know in your comment so I can give you your extra entry.

This give-away will end on May 31st.

More Micro Mini Annies

I finished some new micro mini Annies for my Etsy site. They are holding wool felt flowers with a button center. A little touch of spring...check them out!

New bodies (Annies, bears, & rabbits) on the table ready to be stitched...come back soon and check out the progress.

Darlene xxoo

Congrats to my April give-away winner...

Karen~The Bearly There Primitive Bear! I want to thank all of you who have entered my give-aways and have begun following my little blog. This has been so much fun and has kept me motivated to keep working on my creations...something I truely love. I finished four more micro mini Annies which I will post and place on my Etsy site tomorrow evening. I am also considering what will be on the table for a May give-away...think I will switch it up a little...check back to see what I come up with! Again congrats to Karen (lucky number 10).

Darlene xxoo

I'm so excited...I'm hoppin' over to live with Karen!

Happy Easter Everyone!

I have been busy at work this holiday weekend finishing up a ballerina bunny and working on micro mini Annies! Here is the bunny and some fabric chosen for 3 more! I like the plush felt much better than the flannel...

She has the cutest face! Here are the fabrics chosen for the next 3...

Hoping to finish the Annies today and I will post as soon as they are done!

Yes, we are naked and awaiting arms!

Check back for the completed Annies and have a "Happy Easter!"

Darlene xxoo